sweetlou

I think Risto to Jets has to be in play now that Trouba is gone. I would love to see a Risto and prospect( Smith/Thompson/Nylander) for Ehlers and Lowry.

Trouba is an RFA right now. He does not have a contract for next season. He signed a one year deal last summer for $5.5 million. He had said he would not sign another extension with Winnipeg and basically forced Chevy to trade him. Rangers now hold his rights and can sign him to a seven year contract. Rangers did not give up that much because he was not under contract. Jets could not sign him for a big contract and thus were forced to move him. It is hard to compare Risto to Trouba in trade value because Risto is under a good contract for three more years. Trouba will probably get around $8 million AAV.

So how does Matta get you a young 40 pt rookie winger, and Trouba only gets you a young 26pt defenseman. Man these NHL GM's are all over the place. If Risto is moved it better be for 2C and prospect!!

I was watching Rask highlights from years with Carolina when he played a lot with Skinner and they played well together. I did come across this beauty which gives a perfect example of why Risto must be moved. Just spinning around in circles in front of the goalie?? Doesn't even know where the puck is. Seeing what return Pittsburgh got for Matta, Buffalo would definitely get a lot more.

Here's my take on Nylander. JBotts did not draft him so he is not invested in him. If he can package him in a trade he probably will. Nylander to me is still all about potential and not actual production. He is one of a few from his first round draft class who has not been effective yet in the NHL. Does JBott give him the opportunity but if he falters then you are stuck with nothing but a player who probably goes back overseas after his ELC expires in two years. If you trade him and he develops and flourishes with another team then JBotts is considered a bad GM because he was not patient.

I believe Jack liked having ROR on the team to take some of the defensive pressure off him. Jack does not always look to be engaged on the defensive end. ROR may not have liked the way his role was with the team in that he always started on defensive face offs and Jack was primarily used for offensive zone face offs. ROR knew he could be a #1 center and was brought to Buffalo to do that. The emergence of Jack after three years changed his role to #2. So in my opinion both were at fault leading up to the eventual trade. If Jack put more effort into training and defensive responsibility and ROR excepted his role as #2 center good things could have been done in Buffalo.

I see Scandella either being moved for 6th or 7th rd pick for immediate cap relief. JBotts may hold onto him for insurance until trade deadline. If I'm JBotts I tell Sobotka you are going to be 4th liner here or you have the option to go to KHL. They won't buy him out because he would still cost 1.5 mil this year and then 1 mil next year against the cap. Pomminstein may get a 1 year 1 million offer from JBotts later this summer depending on how everything pans out. He could be a 4th liner or be someone that plays one game on back to backs to keep around. Still think he is a good vet who could be good in 40-45 games.

Im also very intrigued with Boesser from Vancouver. Vancouver looking to bolster defense. How about a Risto and Reinhart for Boesser and Stecher trade?

Would Nylander and Okposo be enough to get Zucker from Minnesota or would we have to add in another pick or prospect to off set Okposo contract?

Nelson gone for 6 yr $6 million. Hayes is probably next. Has connection with Vigneault from Rangers days.

Let's be real. No team is offering Jeff more than 9.5 million as a UFA. Doubt he would reach 9 million. Over a seven year deal that team would be offering 63-66 million. I think the real sticking points are term, and any movement clauses that may be put in contract. My two proposals would be as follows: 1. Six year, $54 million, no movement clause for entire contract. Paid (9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9) AAV $9 million 2. Eight year, $68 million, no movement for first four years. Paid (10, 10, 10, 10, 8, 8, 6, 6) AAV $8.5 million

Maybe it is taking a while to sort out contract because Skinner really wants 8 years and JBotts doesn't want to go that long. What if JBotts is telling Skinner I'll sign you to a six year contract at $9 million, if you wanting 8 years Ill see if any team is willing to give you that and then possibly do a sign and trade.

Two years in a row players lost their desire to play the game while being coached by Housley. First ROR last year and then Bergland this year. I hope players understand that it was Housley and his style that no one wanted to play and not being a player in the Buffalo organization. Buffalo has a great fan base and they deserve to put a quality product on the ice. I am looking forward to this off season as I believe there will be some great moves. https://www.yahoo.com/sports/patrik-berglund-says-hell-play-hockey-next-year-after-leaving-nhl-in-december-213239995.html

Two simple trades that could benefit two teams up against the cap. Risto and Nylander to WPG for Trouba and Ehlers. McCabe and Sheary to Tampa for JT Miller and Killorn. Imagine top three lines of: Olofson- Eichel- Reinhart Skinner- JT Miller- Ehlers Killorn- Mitts- UFA (Connolly, Tanev, or Donskoi)

Agree that Buffalo should probably not go after any top end guy that will cost them 4 first round picks. I am looking more at an offer sheet to Kapanen or Johnsson with Toronto. The only other RFA I really like at the potential cap hit is Karlsson at center which would cost about 6.5-7 million AAV. Sabres do not have 2020 2nd rd pick so they would have to trade with Vegas and not sure they are willing to give him up.

Could we snag Colin Miller from Vegas for RD replacement for Risto? I would do a Nelson and Thompson trade for Eakin and Miller.

Karlsson probably around the $6.5 million range. I would take Karlsson over JT Miller but cost about a million more in AAV. So Sabre guru's, would you rather have Karlsson or JT Miller for the next 5 years?

Tampa is trying to shed salary so they can sign Point. Carolina got Teravainen in a trade with Chicago because of cap dump of Bickell. Carolina only gave up 2nd and 3rd rd picks. Islanders got Leddy from Chicago for a bunch of garbage. Byfuglien went from Chicago to Atlanta/Winnipeg in a blockbuster trade. These are just a couple that come to mind where Chicago may not have got the return they wanted because teams knew they were up against the cap and had to shed salary.

I think this year we may see 1 or 2 offer sheets. May be mid range or up to the 8.4 million range. I think anything over 8.4 million where it cost a team (4) 1st rounders teams are reluctant. If I only have to give up a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd and get a player back who is going change the make upon my team instantly I am making an offer. If I were Buffalo I sign Reinhart to an extension, 5 years at $6.5 million before I would offer sheets any players. Why wouldn't you offer the following...on some of these Buffalo would have to get a 3rd rd pick back in a trade before making offer. But these are considerations for any team and not just Buffalo. Point from Tampa- offer 8 million on a 5 year deal. It only cost you a 1st, 2nd and 3rd rd pick. Tampa matches but may not have wanted to pay that much. Tkachuk from Calgary- offer 8 million on 6 year deal. It would cost you a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd pick. Does Calgary match and pay more than Gaudreau and Monahan? Karlsson from Vegas- offer 6.25 million on a 5 year deal. It only cost you a 1st and 3rd rd pick. That is a bargain and Vegas is already over the cap. Connor from Winnipeg- off 6.25 million on 6 year deal. Only cost you a 1st and 3rd rd pick. Again Winnipeg probably matches but may be more than wanting to pay. Kapanen from Toronto- have mentioned this in other threads, but I would love to have him as 2nd top six RW. Could offer 3 year $4 million. Would only cost 2nd rd pick. Iv'e also wondered if a GM would call a team and say... we are going to offer sheet "player X". If you are not willing to pay "player X" would you do a sign and trade or take on any of our players instead of taking draft picks as compensation.

Tampa calls JBotts offering Callahan, JT Miller, and Raddysh for Nelson and Thompson. What do you do?

Maybe Tampa wants to cleat space for Karlsson and Point. Since they don't really want cap back would they be interested in picks and prospects. I would take on Callahan's remaining one year if I also got a player and prospect. How about CJ Smith and for Callahan, and Radish? Another team needing relief would be Vegas. Interested in RD Colin Miller, Cody Eakin and 2019 3rd rd pick for Nylander and Nelson?

You want a way to make it happen... Three way trade with Pittsburgh and Minnesota Sabres get Kessel from Pittsburgh and Rask from Minnesota Minnesota gets Johnson from Pittsburgh and Okposo and Thompson from Buffalo Pittsburgh gets Zucker from Minnesota and Sobotka and St. Louis 1st from Buffalo Breakdown... Pittsburgh trades Kessel and Johnson for Zucker, Sobotka, and 1st Minnesota trades Zucker and Rask for Johnson, Okposo, and Thompson Buffalo trades Okposo, Sobotka, Thompson, and St Louis 1st rd for Kessell and Rask

I would rather trade Risto for forward help as well. Look for a Stralman, Chiarot, Del Zotto, Benn type of signing to add to our d-core in order to move on from Risto. All could probably be had on one or two year deals for between $3-4 million AAV. This gives time for Borgen to grow in Roch and eventually be Dahlin's partner.

Should be an interesting summer. Looking at RFA's out there and realistic type of moves to acquire one either through trade and sign or offer sheet. Although getting a big fish like Marner or Point would be nice, I don't see Botts looking at signing anyone over Jack's $10 million AAV. This poll is to look at the offer sheets in the $4 million AAV or trades to benefit from other teams staying under the cap.

Getting a guy like Trouba solidifies your top 3 three defenseman. It also gives you options with Scandella and Bogo to look to trade before season or at trade deadline since they are both on expiring deals. Dahlin- Trouba McCabe- Montour Pilut- Bogo Depth or trade- Scandella, Hunwick, Nelson