Trettioåtta

Trade time, please

She didn't touch him, so it evens out...

Skinner has been top three in goals on this team for the last three seasons. Across that time frame he has averaged over 30 goals a season. If we buy him out, and get nothing but cap space in return, we need to somehow sign / trade for a player who can put up 30 or so goals a season, otherwise our anameic offense has just loss a significant chunk of its blood. JS may not play defense, but he is good at what he does - which is score goals - and that should not be forgotten or dismissed

I think for me, I have just tired of the rhetoric of endless 'addition by subtraction', and that the Sabres will perform better if only they get rid of one of their top performing players. Especially when we have had those players go on to perform well in cup winning teams. I am not opposed to buying Skinner out, but it is clear we are on basically every NTC list, and will struggle to sign players without overpaying. Therefore, buying Skinner out only benefits the team if there is a clear plan for how to use the cap space / roster position. Doing it to 'shake the team up' and having more cap space that goes unused, or to clear a path for a rookie who isn't quite ready to be in the NHL to make the team is simply a repeat of what we have done for for the last however many years.

I see no value in trading assets for Jeff Skinner 2.0, whilst buying Jeff Skinner out. Moreover, Jeff Skinner 2.0 is looking for a big contract. So suddenly we are paying the Jeff Skinners $12-13 million three years from now, when we have a bunch of young talent to pay. Plus on top that we also have to trade / sign a guy to be defensivley responsible. Deck chairs on the Titanic

Given our cap space, this move only makes sense if we plan on using that extra $7.5m this season. The easiest / cheapest way is probably trading for decent players who are a little overpaid for their ability and whose contracts end within the next two years. As right now we are losing an offensive top-6 player who scored goals - something we struggled to do all season - with no replacement

Lindy loves Marino in NJ, and he plays a defense-focused game. I think he's be a great pick-up

Sabres in mid-season form already

How long before someone suggests signing him because the Sabres lack truculence and aggression?

When will Dahlin or Power extensions be announced?

Anderson single handedly beat Florida on Feb 24th. He will have been two weeks rested, and has had a few rough games recently, so is due a good one... Also he is a vet and will have faced the pressure in the NHL before

The goalie choice is the biggest decision of the season. It's gonna feel like a playoff game. Both sides bringing their A-game.

Stillman probably done for the season. Ouch

I wonder what we were looking to trade for? Chychrn?

Are Washington and Detroit buyers or sellers? Weird trade deadline

Next 7 games is a tough stretch. We could feasibly lose all 7. Definitely make or break time for the season.

5-2 Leafs

Skinner is on track for nearly 70 points this season? High skill pass from Dahlin

If TT can continue this play, his greatest asset will not be his performance but his cap hit. It allows the team to aggressively negotiate with others for long term contracts: “Cozens, TT scored 100 points and only costs $7 million. We think you’re worth $6 million.” Boston and Pittsburgh have massively benefited from this.

Exciting game to watch. Anderson looked very good

It was nearly a beautiful play. I’d still rather he try those moves whilst accepting they sometimes won’t work. But yeah - woof!

Power with another wonderful shift

The game looks more even when we’re on the powerplay. Who fell over to give the breakaway?

A PP on new ice should be a good way to get the O mojo going, as i agree it was very disjointed in the first

Power looks like the worst player on the ice every time he’s out there. Hopefully just some jitters