DarthEbriate

Depends on how good your manners are... and how big your pocketbook is.

In Rochester, Clague is the new Bryson and Davies is the new Davidson. And maybe there's a Pilut back as well. Edit: That blueline needed help after Muel got the call-up, and GM Sheevyn is addressing it day one of UFA.

I'm not predicting it nor even necessarily hoping for it -- but if Patrick Kane joins the Sabres one year from today on a "homecoming" 3x$3M deal, Okposo re-signs as a 4th line vet, and Quinn proves he's a legit top-6 this season, ... plus Tuch in the middle 6. Then VO might be on the move with 1 year of term remaining.

I don't think either of them is going to interfere with Chicago's tank plans. Particularly if that's the new top line with Strome and DeBrincat gone.

This seems about right, unless they're willing to let JJP and Quinn both start in Rochester and then come up after an injury and pull some waivers upon return. For example, Bjork starts as the 13. Any longish-term injury to X and Quinn is up. Once healthy, X is up and Quinn stays up and Bjork is waived. I could see another signing of either a Colin Blackwell energy type or a bigger muscle Hayden type. Edit: Looks like Blackwell off the board.

If VO has a good season this year, but Quinn and JJP have great ones thereby rendering VO expendable.... you could be looking at the Skinner/CAR situation. Gotta move him with one full year left on the deal for the greatest return. Find a team desperate for a sniper (VGK after Pacioretty moves in UFA; or if Stone is forced to retire to injury --- and they need someone Eichel likes to play with him); get a basic return of prospect and a 2nd,3rd,6th. And then watch (VGK) sign VO to a massive extension after he puts up 40 (with Eichel). Time, like the moves of GMs, is a circle.

Now... the question becomes was everyone saying about Carter Hutton back in 2017-18? 😇🍺

I like saying Power-Joker. But Power-Lyub has its merits. But what about... unLyubushkinited Power!!!!!!

Of note, Toronto made massive strides defensively the past two seasons. They've been top half of the league in Goals Against the past 2 years.

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. 🍺