sweetlou

Sheldon Keefe looks like he knows how to win in the post season. I would love to see him come to the Sabres. Also would love to see the Sabres offer sheet Kasperi Kapanen for 3 years at $3.75 mil AAV. Would only cost Sabres 2020 second rd pick. He is fast and knows how to play in his own end. He was drafted by JBotts when with Pittsburg and has developed into a solid player. Could get you 20-30 goals playing on right side with Jack. This allows you to slide Reinhart down to second line and create two good scoring lines. If you sign Skinner then you could have top two lines of Olofsson- Eichel- Kapanen Skinner- Mitts- Reinhart if you don't sign Skinner then you go after Duchene and lines become Olofsson- Eichel- Kapanen Mitts- Duchene- Reinhart

I'm just looking at the spreadsheet. I didn't calculate anything.

Iv'e seen in several posts that we need to trade Risto for 2nd line center or try and sign a 2nd line center via UFA or offer sheet. How do you propose we improve the Sabres 2nd line next year and going forward? I personally would sign Duchene for 7 years and 8.5 million AAV or trade/offer sheet for William Karlsson of Vegas, (younger and cheaper) for 6 years 6.5 AAV. You could always move Mitts to a top six LW and use ERod as third line center.

I'm not overpaying for Skinner, I would rather have Duchene at 7.5 AAV then Skinner at anything above 8 AAV. I would even pay Duchene up to 8.5 for 7 years and solve our 2nd line center. Either keep Mitts on 3rd line center or move him up to LW.

So let's look at what JBotts has to play with after signing our RFA's what they project vrs what JBotts will sign them for McCabe 2yrs/ 2.6 AAV Sabres will sign 4yrs/ 3.5 AAV Ullmark- no info ??? Sabres will sign 2yrs/ 1.5 AAV Rodrigues 3yrs/ 2.5 AAV Sabres will sign 3 yrs 1.75 AAV CJ Smith- 1yr/ 787K AAV Sabres will sign 1yr/ 900K AAV With no other RFA's players offered contracts and no trades being done that leaves the Sabres 19 million to fill a few positions. According to this site and AAV's who would you go after? Duchene 6 yrs/ 6.9 AAV. Buffalo should sign 6 yrs/ 7.5 AAV Ferland 4 yrs/ 4.4 AAV. Buffalo should sign 4 yrs/ 4.75 AAV Tanev 4 yrs/ 3 AAV Buffalo should sign 3 yrs/ 3 AAV Connolly 3/ 3.4 AAV. Buffalo should sign 3 yrs/ 3.5 AAV

Unless this spread sheet gets updated daily I am seeing different projections. Skinner 7 yrs/8.2 AAV Hayes 4 yrs/5.6 AAV Duchene 6 yrs/6.9 AAV ** this one is the same

Let's look at the numbers... Jones, 24 yrs old, 6 yrs in league, 468 games, 54 goals, 174 assists, 228 pts, -17 (+-), 148PIMs Risto- 24 yrs old, 6 yrs in league, 424 games, 36 goals, 158 assists, 194 pts, -143 (+-), 209 PIMs So Jones was the 3rd pick in 2013, and Risto was the 8th pick. Risto only played half of his first year in NHL so that is why the 44 fewer games played. Statistically they are pretty even and Jones has better (+-) numbers but there is a big difference on the quality of teams that Jones has been on compared to Risto. What would Jones numbers be if he was on Buffalo the last six years? Yes, Jones still is the better overall defenseman, I'm just saying the return on a trade would be somewhat close. In order for Buffalo to get over the hump, I think they need to move on from him and bring back a top six forward. If you can't get that in return then you keep him hoping the next coach can help improve the team and him.

Thought it to be relevant to post this in this thread. If we are looking to move Risto and gain more offensive weapon, what teams are looking to get a 2/3/4 right handed defenseman and what would be your ask from that team? In no particular order... Arizona- Hinostroza and Crouse Chicago- Saad Dallas- Faska and or pick/prospect Edmonton- Nugent-Hopkins LA Kings- Kempe and pick NJ- Wood and pick NYR- Buchnevich SJ- Meier Tampa- Miller Vancouver- Virtanen and pick I am looking for JBotts to make a mover similar to the one Nashville and Columbus pulled off in the Jones for Johansen trade. I believe Jones and Risto are very similar players so I am hoping for a return like Nugent-Hopkins, Miller, or Meier.

I'm hesitant to trade Risto in the division because he still is a solid 2/3 defenseman. Put in the right situation and teamed with the right d-man who can cover his mistakes he is not bad. Looking at Tampa I would want Miller and Cirelli for Risto and 2021 2nd rd pick.

I'd be interested but not overpaying. I think Nylander, 2019 San Jose pick and 2021 third rd pick would be enough. Vegas in cap trouble so they can't take any salary back.

Biggest thing going for Vegas this year is that they have a legit top six now.

Skinner- Eichel- Olofson Ehlers- Mitts- Reinhart Sheary- Lowry- Connolly Wilson- ERod- Okposo Dahlin- Byfuglien McCabe- Montour Pilut- Bogo

Five questions for the off season fans wish list. 1. Coach? 2. #2 center, how obtained? 3. Jeff Skinner resigned? 4. Risto back or traded? 5. Biggest UFA signing?

Could they not give him a contract front end end heavy and free up real money at the end of contract. 8 year deal at $60 million AAV of $7.5 million. year -- salary -- 1 - $10 2 - $10 3 - $10 4 - $8 5 -$8 6 -$6 7 -$4 8 - $4

Thanks for the mention, I guess my reputation proceeds me... My take if we win the first overall pick is go to Vancouver and offer the first and Sobotka. They could have the Hughes brothers be a replacement for the Sedan twins. I would want Horvat, Virtanen and Vancouver's first in return. Sobotka is a cap dump on a team that has space in order to get the first overall pick. Vancouver has Petterson that can slide into the first line center and have Hughes be the #2 center. This gives the Sabres their #2 center right away and would still get a high end pick. Virtanen gives the Sabres the pesky 3rd line RW who can play physical and score.

I would take Horvat and top ten pick in exchange for #1 pick. Horvat would be true #2 center which Buffalo needs. Also would still get a talent in the top #10 pick.

SO Toronto calls to Buffalo in Nashville game about first goal that even RJ with his bad eyes could see on the replay hit off the shaft of Smith's stick above the crossbar, and still allowed it. https://www.nhl.com/video/smith-scores-on-deflection/t-300138354/c-67419503 Two days later in Nashville they allow the goal to count even after whistle was blown. https://www.nhl.com/video/sissons-quick-wrister/t-300138454/c-67480103 But yet only two years ago same thing happened and they don't allow the goal. There needs to be more consistency in rules and make them black and white and leave no judgement calls. When plays go to review you can clearly see evidence of what happens and they still screw up calls.

It's a win win either way tonight. If Sabres win game they will have won back to back games for the first time since streak. I they lose then they will finish fourth worst in league and getter better odds in lottery.

So back to the Draisaitl idea? What would Sabres have to give up? I think Reinhart, Risto, and Mitts is a good haul for Draisaitl.

The last few good LW to sign as UFA's last year were Evander Kane, James VanRiemsdyk, and Max Pacioretty, and they all signed for $7mil AAV. Is Skinner worth more or the same as all these guys? Kane- GP- 647, G- 215, A- 192, Pts- 407 Van Riemsdyk- GP-673, G- 227, A- 212, Pts- 439 Pacioretty- GP-690, G- 248, A-240, Pts- 488 Skinner- GP- 659, G- 242, A- 198, Pts-440 I'm still sticking to my original idea that he will sign for 7 years at $53 million, an AAV of $7.57. Look around the league, who has salary cap space that they can offer him $8 mil? With projected cap at 82 million, how much team would have available, and needed players to reach 23 man roster. Buffalo- $25 million - 4 players. Plays with Jack. Florida- $20 million - 7 players. Up and coming team, not enough money to go around. Montreal- $18 million - 6 players. Good team, would probably fit in nicely, but do they have enough money to fill the roster? Ottawa- $36 million - 8 players. Lots of money, close to home, does Skinner want to go to another rebuilding team? Columbus- $32 million - 9 players. Would be a good fit. Does Columbus try and retain any of their own UFA's? NJ- $32 million - 6 players. Another rebuilding team. No true #1 center. NYI- $34 million - 7 players. Have a lot of their own UFA's. Potential team if they try new faces. NYR- $20 million - 6 players. Not enough money to go around...Panerin destination?? Philadelphia- $34 million - 9 players. They love to overpay UFA's? San Jose- $24 million- 8 players. After retaining Pavelski, how much do they really have? Vancouver- $20 million- 3 players. Opportunity to play with Petterson? Scary thought. So to conclude it looks like Vancouver, Ottawa, Columbus, NJ, NYI, Philly would be only teams making a pitch for Skinner besides Buffalo.

No, as much as I don't really care for Eichel's game I see the potential in Dahlin as an 18 year old that makes me want to keep him. Would I package a deal of Eichel, Risto, and Reinhart for McDavid? Probably

Um you forgot a piece called Ristolainen!!! I think Mitts would love to play along side McDavid.

If you read the initial post, I'm not looking at trading for McDavid. I'm looking at a new GM coming in and wanting to gut the team and rebuild around McDavid.

Reports are out that McDavid not happy with direction Edmonton is going in. They have no GM and like Buffalo he is frustrated with the losing culture. Everyone on CapFriendly is making their trade proposals of what it would take to get McDavid. I went a different twist and looked at who on Edmonton might Buffalo be able to get if they have a roster make over. My trade idea... Buffalo sends Reinhart, Ristolainen, Mittelstadt, and Sobotka to Edmonton for Draisaitl, Benning, and Kassian.

Would love to see JBotts bring in some younger vets to fill in the roster and let Nylander, Thompson start the year in Rochester. Let them continue to develop and be first call ups. I am still up in the air on Skinner. I want him to sign but I don't want it longer than 7 years or for more than $8 AAV. We need more players not just a few. Trade Scandella and 2019 6th rd Jets picked Sabres 2021 3rd rd pick(conditional- if he scores 30 goals in any of first two seasons it becomes a 2nd rd pick) to Jets for Ehlers and Lowry. Trade Risto and Sobotka to Vancouver for Virtanen, Stetcher and 2019 2nd rd pick. Use 2nd rd pick gained in Risto trade to offer sheet Kapanen from Toronto at 3 years and $4 million AAV. Overpaying but it ensures Toronto could not match. Kapanen would still be an RFA and the could sign a longer term contract after three years. UFA's Dzingel, Ferland, and Donskoi also should be in the $5 mil AAV and Buffalo should pursue at least one of them if we don't sign Skinner. Tanev and Connolly are a couple of wingers that could probably be had for around $3 mil AAV. On defense I would love to add a guy like McQuiad or Polak on a one year 2 Mil AAV. to add some physicality to the back end. What I would like the line up to look like: Skinner- Eichel- Kapanen Ehlers- Mitts- Reinhart Sheary- Lowry- Connolly(Tanev) Wilson- ERod- Virtanen Defense- Dahlin- Montour McCabe- Stetcher Pilut- Bogo Goalie- Hutton Ullmark