DarthEbriate

Precisely. Either move him now (maybe too close to the freeze for max value), move him on entry draft day, or move him at the trade deadline. The only other future is we make the playoffs and skate him into the ground as he becomes a UFA. And then watch somebody madly throw $7M x 7 years at him. Right now the buyouts, the trades... I don't want us to be the only team left standing when the music stops and we still have no goalie of value to protect and lose Borgen for nothing.

64 gazillion. Is that still played on a pyramid? Or are we up to hexagons? And now I'm going to listen to the $25,000 pyramid theme song in my head all day to drown out the desire to check Sabres news. For sanity's sake.

This will be a couple days long remembered. It has seen the end of Ullmark, and it will see the end of the Eichwalker (as Sabres). Potentially.

I don't think the locker room is all that bad. HCRK was the cancer as far as I could tell. Once he was gone, and Hall sat down, that team looked interested and engaged. The only disappointing thing is we didn't get to see Eichel in that rejuvenated environment. Eichel could return in Granato's attacking offense and thrive. Yes, the kids would all need to learn how to play defense/playoff-style hockey when the time comes. But simply getting a real hockey coach and, and-and-and two NHL-caliber goalies might be enough to see Eichel reach new levels. And drive up his trade value before the NMC next season. Or not trade at all. It's all still possible.

GM Sheevyn's order 66 coup to take over as emperor GM of the team is later looked upon as the best move we've made, and the trade of Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, and Rasmus Ristolainen are mentioned as a beneficial turning point in the franchise history. The team sees tremendous franchise success (multiple playoff series wins and a couple deep runs) in the next 20 years. GM Sheevyn is beloved, but never hoists a Stanley Cup as a member of the Sabres organization. In 2040 we still have no Cup.

With Dumba off the board, Risto is definitely one of the better purely-RHD that could be available in expansion (Tanev, Rutta/Cernak/Foote). We know Seattle is planning to be analytics-driven and JBot was never able to trade Risto at a value JBot thought worthy. I can them easily taking him as a top-4 rental for a season and moving Ristolainen at the deadline (for a 2nd). For this season, I'd rather see Jokiharju-Risto-Borgen down the right side than Joker-Borgen-Miller. We need to sign a top-4 UFA RHD for the latter scenario. I still offer Seattle a 6th + Miller. a 6th + Pilut's rights, or a 5th + Eakin. And I'd really lean into protecting Borgen over Risto if we're gung-ho on a future-driven team of players who want to be here. If the plan is to trade Eichel and possibly Reinhart, then let's move Ristolainen now, too. Purge the remnants of the tank taint and start clean.

--Whoa! That got him. ++I see you, Wedge Jeff. Good work. Asplund, Thompson, and Bjork are all safe. (Alternately, this frees up a spot for protecting an acquired piece via trade.)

Love the Bride of the Monster explosion. They're standing 30 feet away!!!! And of course, MST3K does that episode (and it's tied to Manos with the lovely car-selling short "Hired!"). In a similar vein of explosion... great movies also end a "big meaning" monologue. Our owners/GMs could learn a lot from Peter Graves.... as could we all.

Eichel. And Reinhart? Be careful not to go too wild on your aspirations, GM Guerin. The Wild freed up $10M, but lose that space in two seasons. Kaprizov has leverage as an RFA because he can easily go play in the KHL if Minnesota doesn't give him a competitive salary. They should have to pay Fiala about $5.25 or so. They need to sign at minimum one UFA defenseman. The GM says he doesn't have to win a trade. They have a goalie who is .919/.915 the last couple years which is playoff-caliber/starter level on a very team-friendly deal. This is where the fun begins.

Ullmark's market value increases by the day.

Minnesota has to pray that the flat cap lifts immediately. This season is fine... they can sign Kaprizov to a big deal if they want (or... <cough, cough> trade for Eichel, etc.). But season after this one, 12M, then 14M off their cap for two more seasons.... If the cap is flat through 2023-24, they won't have any money for long term contracts. Barmy and brazen. Question to the 'space: Does this inspire us to buy out Skinner this week? (Note: I don't. He's not yet lost a step and his cap hit is silly until after his signing bonus payout in a few years, until which he should still be a legitimate 20-goal/year threat. But... we wouldn't have to protect him, then.) Curious what y'all might consider, though, to keep all of Asplund, Bjork, and Thompson on cheap deals.

When in doubt, always go demon goathead.

Definitely steer clear of Parise at this point unless it's a veteran minimum (which he wouldn't do). He's the Staal now. No wheels left, wanted to go home to Minnesota to play out his days. If he goes anywhere now it's to a contender. Suter though... would be a nice veteran addition. I mean, Duncan Keith just got traded and he's a husk of himself. Suter at 3M for a couple seasons? In the McCabe role? I could be talked into that. But... again, he should only be looking at contenders. Watch, he'll go to Tampa on a 1-year $1M deal.

Droids... Prospect = mouse droid. Hall of Famer = R2 and C-3PO. Or ships: Prospect = Naboo starfighter. Hall of Famer = X-wing (original). I can provide a full list of either with a little effort. Mod shield icon = Death Star.

If the stories are true, the answer to this question will be the indicator of how much influence TPeg has on the final roster. If the owners say UPL is a Sabre this season (as stories have indicated they thought he should be up a year or so ago), then I think we're in trouble. UPL's future is bright. But before he can visit the stars, he has to dominate the AHL and get about... what... another 60? 80? professional games before we can feel comfortable in his consistency. (COVID/short season last year stunted many a prospect's future -- including Jonas Johansson, who should've been an Amerk and not wasting away. But UPL also missed out on about 10 starts last season because of the shortened season and his injury, and his games were split across the Atlantic, to boot. He's behind his development path now.) Come next season 2022-23 we can start thinking of NHL backup duty, but ideally it's just call-up spots. Then, 2023-24, earn the backup or even 1A/1B outright. Patience! Soon, he will be with us.

Okposo is a solid pick up for Seattle in a lot of ways. When healthy, he can still play really effective minutes (he's the vowel in the LOG line!) and he can still generate points in a middle six role (as we saw with that 10-game stretch with Granato). He's worn an A for years and been on Team USA. He is a fantastic teammate and even sticks up for teammates at the detriment to himself -- which is terrifying! Selfless and terrifying. And on the social side: he's African-American, which is really important to the city and area (and NHL) to grow the game and inspire more young Black (and Asian, other ethnic minority) kids to get out skating. Seattle got Fitzhugh for radio PBP and JT Brown as a TV analyst, they'll get Black players, too, for both team and community. PK Subban (1 year at a much-too-high 9M, but then extend at a lower/reasonable salary) is a sleeper expansion pick for Seattle as well, especially if NJ throws in a sweetener because of the salary. Longer-term, Okposo could easily become a coach or get involved in the front office for the expansion franchise.

Fully agree on all points except 4. I like Okposo a bunch (and I can see Seattle loving him just like we do as a person and a player [if only he weren't concussion-prone and earned $2M/year]). But if you can give Seattle a 6th to take Miller or the rights to Pilut, or a 5th to take Eakin or Okposo -- go for it. Give them that scale and say "Any of those vets, you get a pick." That goes in part with #5 because one of Asplund/Thompson/Bjork gets exposed and Asplund is XGMTM's guy, Thompson is tied to ROR-trade (TPeg/franchise pride), and Bjork is GM Sheevyn's guy. My guess is they expose Asplund... which is the wrong move based on talent level.

The key thing everyone's conversation on this thread is reaffirming is that $34M in cap space doesn't mean bantha poodoo if you don't know how to use it wisely. We had plenty of cap space in the summer of 2019 as Moulson, Beaulieu, and Pominville came off the books. But then we (rightfully, because of injuries) stockpiled defensemen (Miller, Joker) to the extent we were trading Scandella for a 4th and demoting Bogosian, then extended Skinner to $3M beyond his worth, and signed MoJo to play center instead of wing... and Vesey, too!, and we were right back up against the cap to start the season. Then, we added Frolik for $4M once we had cap space from moving out Scandella. That's some excellent cap work there. But GMTM taught us how to get to the cap floor easily: Meszaros for $4M. 🍺😇

I totally agree with you. But it's a PR campaign to appease the fan base when we get less in return than we want. Plus, then Sabres fans can boo whenever Reino handles the puck in his new sweater.

Here's the Sith in me dealing in absolutes: Skinner will remain a Sabre until one of two things happens: 1) the GMs/owners determine to give themselves a compliance buyout in one of the upcoming offseasons after the expansion draft, or 2) he is bought out sometime after the 2022-2023 season, after his signing bonus is paid. Then, his buy out cap hits will be manageable except for one season at $6M+. If he did somehow miraculously waive his NMC... remember, Toronto gave up a 1st (late, yes) to get one year of Marleau at $6.25M off their cap. That's an easy buyout. Skinner has 6 more years at $9M, for a guy who's been demoted to the bottom six by each of his coaches in the past 5 seasons (Granato, too, at the end of the season)..., and his buyout is not pretty during this flat cap period because of his upcoming signing bonus. If I'm an opposing GM, the Sabres would have to start by giving me 3 unprotected firsts for me to touch that contract and its buyout. Maybe 4 firsts... to give it the same weight as an RFA offer sheet.

KA is adamant you have to want to be here, which means TPegs is adamant you have to want to be here. Jack is at a disconnect. The old suffering guard (still young) is being moved out. The agreements are already in place and now it's up to the opposing GMs to sweeten the deal just a touch to get their 1C. Everyone is waiting until after the expansion draft to see how that shakes anything up, but mainly they're holding in place because they've set up their rosters for the draft and everyone is properly protected. The trade is announced during the trade partner's first round pick and the Sabres are back on the clock. All the coordinates are set. It's now or never. Punch it!

Of course they'd like to keep Ristolainen. Every GM and front office should be talking up all their players for either trade value purposes (whether to be moved now or at the deadline) or to keep the player's morale up on returning to yet another lackluster season for the franchise. The good news is... he's under contract this season, so it's easy to keep him until it's time to move him. Dreger wasn't saying they were looking to extend him.

So... you're saying... all we have to do is make every penny's mass equal to a gram, and every thousand dollar-bill a kilogram... and it'll work. We'll use water for dollar currency! 🍺😇. Metric Dollars!

While they do have to get to $50M as a rule... it's also incredibly easy to do without taking any bad contracts. The only bad contracts Seattle is taking are because they are receiving incentives to take them. They'll gladly take a shoddy contract for a couple seasons... but after Marleau's cap hit was moved for a 1st, that's what they'll expect. Okposo is staying in Buffalo. We let him play this season -- when healthy, he's still fine. Not worth the contract, but a viable NHLer. Then, buy him out next summer. Seattle isn't taking Eakin, Girgensons, or Miller without a sweetener from us going their way. They'll take any of the Asplund/Tage/Bjork or Borgen from us and get their meatier contracts from another squad.