DarthEbriate

I'm amazed at how much cap space Carolina has... but then, they're not paying $10M to anyone. They matched an underwhelming Offer Sheet on Aho that locked him in on Bergeron/Marchand-like contract, and then let Dougie Hamilton go rather than pay him.

Musing: Does this open the door to re-sign Pysyk as #7 for veteran/locker room presence and forward flexibility, or do folks want Fitz as the #7 for his attitude (or Fitz to ROC to be a top call-up)? Or go get another UFA D?

Yes, it's best for the up-and-comers not being blocked. Not so much for VO or the Sabres. But if the kids are good enough, then letting VO walk in 2024 isn't the worst thing. Edit: Especially if the Sabres are in the playoffs and just getting started on their influx of studs in 2024. As to trading him: As a rental+1 year at this deadline for a playoff team desperate for scoring; 2023 draft day as a 1 year (plus possible extension); or the least value is the 2023-24 trade deadline. They all work in their own way. The driver of it all is Quinn (or other kid wingers) taking flight.

This works. Someone with the proper accounts will need to pop up all his various charts and usage info, but he fits the mold of what we're looking for without the Rutta/Manson name recognition because they made it to the Final. (or the cost) @Brawndo even beat me with the chart to my charts comment. What the hell!?

Olofsson's injury this year definitely kept this from being a $5.5+ contract. It's the perfect term for the kids, not necessarily for VO. However, if Quinn can't hack it at the NHL level or continues to miss substantial time with injuries, this is a bridge to keeping Olofsson as the team continues to improve. Pretty solid deal all around.

How many Kanes do we have on this ship anyway? I knew it. I'm surrounded by Kanes. Keep talking about Kanes, ########!

Insert some sort of popcorn-eating gif

Something fun tomorrow would be Copp or Burakovsky as the splash, PKSubban as the obvious, and then Campbell or Comrie with a solid starter's salary.

Subban is a fair Dell replacement in Rochester. Still need the Sabres' starter in UFA.

Last year he was fast, a good forechecker, and provided more offense than our bottom 6 players of previous seasons. This is a good risk-free signing and he can float up the lineup temporarily, as needed. Hinostroza's a good 12/13 F if JJP and Quinn both make the team out of camp.

Maybe, but nothing more. As @Flashsabre noted, Bishop's salary would be pretty handy for Chicago. Whatever you do, you don't overpay. Chicago has no leverage because they're dead set on stinking: shedding DeBrincat and Dach, letting Strome walk as an RFA (no, Strome's not great, but that's simply poor asset management, especially since you could sign him for 1 tank season if you believe he'll actually benefit your tank -- heck, you deal him as a rental if he's playing too well just like GMTM did with our goalies).

Much obliged!

In 2018, the Sabres were desperate for a 1LW. How desperate? Here are the other LWs that 2018-19 opening night: Sheary, Sobotka, Girgensons. (Remie Elie was scratched and Wilson was injured.) Knowing that, they traded for Skinner: Pu, a 2nd, a 3rd, and a 6th.* That's the desperation-level package to a Carolina team looking to ship him out and clear cap. I'm giving up that package at the most for 1 year of Kane because currently, my projected RWs on opening day are VO, Tuch, Okposo, and Quinn. Is Kane better than them? Absolutely, he'd push each player one line down. Are we desperate for a RW like we were for a LW in 2018? Nope. I'm against giving up valuable assets (future firsts, our top prospects, or VO) for Kane. He's a UFA next year, sign him then if VO/Quinn can't deliver. *FWIW, the equivalent Skinner package today would be: Sardarian (2021 3rd, our 2020 3rd was traded for Skinner), 2023 2nd (PHI, BUF, VGK to choose from), 2024 3rd, and 2024 6th.

We'd have to get to the cap to use the LTIR, though, correct? That'd be a lot of additional spending in order to save on the Bishop insurance.

They are paying $3.5M to get closer to the floor and keep the roster spots open for ELC players Quinn and JJP. If Quinn and JJP perform up to their AHL prowess... 5+ NHL seasons of 20+ goals and 50+ points from each (that's all line- and PP-dependent) -- this Bishop acquisition works out. If Sjodin plays a game in the NHL that's a Sabres win. (In hindsight, would I have rather seen the Yzerman trade-and-sign for Husso than the Bishop + 7th? Sure.) It's all balanced on the teeter-totter of an actual starting-caliber goalie. This is the 3rd consecutive offseason (since Hutton's eye injury) where the team needed an upgrade at either starting or backup goalie and thus far the numbers haven't improved except for Ullmark. The team getting better puck possession and offense will help, but goalie goalie goalie. 2021-22: Anderson .897 in 31gp; Toker .899 in 29 gp 2020-21: Ullmark .917 in 20gp; Toker .904 in 13 gp/Hutton .886 in 13 gp 2019-20: Ullmark .915 in 34gp; Hutton .898 in 31gp 2018-19: Hutton .908 in 50gp; Ullmark .905 in 37gp (the season of Hutton's hot start, then the eye)

We're all JAGs after the 3rd round. 🍺

Welcome to the board, @richkat2004! Hmmm... richkat 2004, Richard born 2004... Confirms year of attending UConn... Wait a minute... <fires blaster into the 'Space cave floor> Welcome to the 'Space cave! This is no cave.

In preseason, Mark Stone will get injured and opt for another surgery and the G'Knights will put him on LTIR, with "possible return" for the postseason (he'll be practicing by March but suspiciously remain on LTIR). Then, Vegas sends a 1st, a 2nd, and F Nicolas Roy to Chicago in exchange for a season of RW Kane (who temporarily waives his NMC). Pacioretty-Eichel-Kane is dynamite. But... the aging players and the lack of depth hamper the team. No one is hurt enough for LTIR. The goaltending goes cold. In a fit of rage, Vegas GM rents Kane to a team competing for a playoff bid, the only team Kane waives his NMC for: the Sabres. The deal nets Vegas the Buffalo 2023 3rd and F Anders Bjork (who had earlier cleared waivers and has had a good AHL season, then earned a recall due to injuries). The Sabres make the playoffs and charge all the way to the ECF (falling to the Rangers, who fall to Colorado in the final). Kane signs a 3-yr $9M extension in the offseason. Final Eichel trade: Eichel + Bjork ==> F Tuch, C Krebs, F Östlund, 2023 VGK 2nd (#44 overall), RW Kane I don't where you get your delusions, laser brain.

The Ben Bishop trade currently: Future considerations = Ben Bishop ($4.9M cap hit/$3.5M salary; 1-yr: optional for LTIR) + 2022 DAL 7th (C Linus Sjodin)

And thus stands the trade tree of Will Butcher: BUF acquires Will Butcher ($2.8M salary 1-yr) + 2022 NJ 5th (D Vsevolod Komarov) === NJ retains salary $910k 1-yr

I... I... I don't know what to say. A 22 year-old goalie who has had injury- and COVID-schedule-impacted seasons in terms of games played is no longer a prospect? Was Tim Thomas not still a prospect at age 23? (1st NHL season age 28). Was Dominik Hasek no longer a prospect at age 22? (1st NHL season age 26, 1st Sabres season age 28)

That was fun. Now, if we can just avoid making any judgements about the players in this draft until 2025....

If you don't sign a Worge Kreu, you'd better be drafting some Ratkovic Berndtsson.

Now... go get Kid Mitts for kicks.

Now there's a name.