nfreeman

Broken Arrow was a very good and underrated action thriller with Slater and post-Pulp Fiction John Travolta.

When you put it that way -- first, it's kind of a bummer that we only have 3 forwards worth protecting, and 2nd, it does seem fairly likely that they'll decide to go 4-4-1 and protect Bogo instead of those 4 JAG forwards.

But there's also the real value of getting Vegas to take one of the albatross contracts -- which is a bigger factor than keeping/losing Ullmark, IMHO.

So at this point, Vegas will likely choose one of Ullmark, Moulson, Ennis or Bogo, right? I still think they'll take Ullmark unless JBott pays them not to do so. What's it worth to keep Ullmark and for Vegas to take one of the other 3? The other 3rd-rounder? I think I'd pay that but not the Sabres' 2nd-rounder. What about a prospect? Would it be worth Carrier or Baptiste?

Very nice. Good post. Keep them coming! Good call, but I think I'd still rather expose Bogo than Beaulieu.

Also -- he's an RFA this summer, having just finished a 2-year deal at $1MM per year.

Totally agree that this is a smart value move. As for Bogo -- I'm skeptical that they'll give anything to Vegas to protect Bogo. It occurs to me that they think Vegas will take Bogo -- and that this is why Howie has been talking up Moulson and Ennis -- i.e. because they think they'll be stuck with those 2 (and not Bogo). Well, our confidence about JBott isn't really important IMHO. What is important is adding guys like Antipin and the FNG into the mix to give the Sabres more bites at the apple. Yes -- #17 overall in 2011. He's also 6'2, 205 lbs and it sounds like he's a good skater.

So this means they protect Risto, McCabe and the FNG, right? And expose Bogo?

A 2nd team in Toronto would be bad for the Sabres. This too.

If they trade up into the top 4, it's gotta be for Makar, innit? Kane and #8 for #4 and Colorado's 2nd-rounder?

This is a pretty strong move by the young fella and his bride.

Well, if it means they play in NYC more often, sign me up!

Correct -- it was closer to mid-season, Reino was centering Kane and Bailey/other winger, that line was very effective and it sure looked like Reino is a natural center. And while you are also correct that I generally have been a bit lukewarm on Reino, to be clear, my posts last night about trading Reino for Vatanen were not meant to advocate for that move. I was just attempting to interpret Howie's silence on Reino, plus free associating with the Sabres' need for a defenseman, the high market price for defensemen and the availability of Vatanen. I want to see what a good coach can do with Reino. But I wouldn't be shocked if he is traded for a defenseman.

Not good enough to be, say, Buffalo's Hjalmarsson -- a really good 2-way #3 defenseman who isn't quite elite but plays a lot, along with your top pair, and allows you to cycle through cheaper guys at 4-7? And is that type of defenseman more valuable than Reino?

Awesome.

Do you not think there is a good likelihood that Vatanen would be more of a difference-maker for the Sabres over the next, say, 7 years than Reino?

Good call. I agree with much of this too, but it's still significant to Peterson if Ullmark is taken in the expansion draft.

Interesting. In what respect do you see it as a statement to Peterson?

I'm not sure who it was, but there was a guy from the Hockey News on WGR in the last day or 2 who essentially guaranteed that Anaheim trades Vatanen before the expansion draft. He said the price is going to be a bit depressed because he had a bit of a down year and got hurt at the end of the season (I think his shoulder) and is out until New Year's. Based on Phil's presser today -- Reino for Vatanen?

I think the likelihood is fairly high that Reino was discussed in the interview and they are both lukewarm on him and OK with trading him for a good defenseman if available. Maybe, but I also think it's possible that he knows he's going to have to live with MM and Ennis for the next couple of seasons and wants to buck up their confidence. As I mentioned above, it's at least 50/50 that the omission of Reino was intentional and due to Phil and JBott having the same lukewarm opinion of Reino. Good to see ya sir!

Welcome Horseheads!

Do Capuano and PH have history together?

Very nice. Me too.

Well, you could come up with some kinda Corsi or Fenwick or other #fancystat benchmarks. Or you could leave it to the mods (who will probably find a material Bogo improvement).

I think dudacek's prediction of an under-the-radar acquisition who turn out to be legit top 4 material sounds pretty good (mostly because I think there will be bidding wars for whomever Anaheim decides to trade and any other well-known guys, and JBott will be too levelheaded to bid too much -- but I also think he'll recognize that they need another real defenseman). I've said this before, but he was the 2nd-most exciting Sabre I've ever seen. There haven't been many NHL defensemen who moonlighted as NHL centers.