sweetlou

I just don't know if JBotts or Tampa trades within the division.

JBotts looking like a genius by not signing him early in the year. I still feel he will get in the 7.5 AAV range as he is a goal scorer. There are just too many other items that are holding him back from getting a bigger paycheck. He doesn't kill penalties, not good at shoot outs, and has never played in a play off game and the first year out of Carolina they have a good chance to make the playoffs. I think Skinner may even wait until the period where he can talk with other teams and realize that he won't get more than $ 7mil AAV from another team and likely resigns with Buffalo before July 1st. He likely resigns with Buffalo on June 30th for 7years at $53 million for an AAV of $7.57 million. May have some bonuses built in as playoff goals, playoff games, etc. Teams have got to start controlling the long term contracts and make them more bonus driven in order to have quality teams instead of a good team with some overpaid players.

I believe JBotts will hang onto Phil for a couple of reasons. One it looks bad on him if he fires his coach after only two years. I think he will at least give him the first 20 games next year. If they are below .500 then he gets canned. I think JBotts wants to add something different in the coaching staff. I look for the Hajt and Payne being let go and bringing in two other assistants. I believe this team needs a no nonsense type of coach who has the pedigree to tell Jack and some of the other young guys how it is and what it takes to be a professional team, but I don't think JBotts makes the move.

I think Housley will be here to start off next season. If the team struggles through mid November, like not playing .500 hockey he will be gone and they will bring Talyor up to finish the season.

I still think JBotts holds all the cards here. As discussed before, would he rather pay $5-6 each to Ferland and Dzingel then to pay Skinner $8-9 million? Could JBotts be thinking if I am going to pay someone $9 million it will be Duschene who can play center and then slide to wing when Mitts develops. I ultimately think that he will resign around the 1st of May to keep the Sabres fans excited in the off season. I want the contract to be 7 years at $53 million and an AAV of $7.57.

I'm amazed I keep falling in the trap each off season of how well the Sabres look on paper with the acquisitions they make, only to be disappointed by the results each year. I'm trying to remember the last off season where the player actually lived up to the potential or even surpassed it. May have to go back to the addition of Drury and Briere.

I do believe the game involving the goons of hockey is gone. That does not mean that fighting should be gone. Emotions run high and I feel the physical nature of the game is still needed. The hitting to me has also diminished as players are too scared of suspensions now. I love the skill and speed of the game but I also enjoy the hitting. Growing up hockey was my favorite sport because it did involve so much skill. It's a good mix of the back and forth of basketball with the physicality of football. Young kids growing up playing the game know this about the sport before they start to play. If they just want to skate around and not get hit, go be figure skaters!!!!

Skinner looking more like a 7.5 million player every day...I'm thinking Botts was right on waiting till after the season to sign him. Here is a player that has never played a playoff game, and averages 27 goals in 9 years.

I think Sobotka should go run his head into the back of Crosby's numbers and lay lifeless on the the ice...I wonder if Crosby would get suspended for a couple of games?

Interesting conversation on Instigators this morning...so who in the locker is there to hold other players accountable. I believe Okposo and Hutton are the only vets willing to step up and say something. Their play on the ice has diminished and productivity has slipped lending to their voice not having much power any more. Larssonand Sobotka to me are still bums and need to go. Girgensons shows signs of being a solid 4th liner, but not much else. Wilson I believe can be a voice that can demand respect because he plays every shift hard and is fearless. ERod plays hard but is soft on the body. Sheary hustles but sometimes puts himself out of position. Tage and Mitts show flashes but are too inconsistent to be in the NHL right now. Skinner, Eichel, Reinhart, and Pomminstein are who we expect them to be. Risto plays the body well on rushes and after the whistle but is often out of place in the defensive zone. Bogo and McCabe are solid but get hurt because no one else sacrifices their body like them Scandella is soft, doesn't tie up players or play the body. Montour and Hunwick seem solid but haven't seen enough to judge. Nelson plays positionally well defensively but also does not play physical. UFA options- another physical stay at home d- replace Scandella. (MCQuaid would be an interesting 1 year 2 million idea) Need another veteran grinder for 4th line. (Tanev for 2 years at 3 million AAV) Physical RW to play with Jack. ( I would overpay Simmonds on a 3 year 6 million AAV, or Ferland on a 5 year 5 million AAV)

in typical Sabres fashion they will come out today flying since no one is expecting much. Even though Pittsburgh is trying to catch Washington and NYI for division title, I think they have a let down after big win over Washington the other night. I going with a 4-2 Sabres win. Skinner, Reinhart, Dahlin, and Okposo with goals. PP finally clicks and score 2 goals. ............. or we could lose 6-1...who knows!!

My take on the two hits... Zadorov hit was late...initial contact was shoulder on shoulder but Zadorov takes his forearm shoves Eichel's head against the glass. I believe it should have been a one game suspension. Eichel hit on Soderberg was to the head only because Soderberg lunges forward at the last second to poke the puck away from Eichel. Should not be suspended but Eichel may get one game.

More to my point why I think we need to overpay Ferland and bring him on this team to play on the top line with Eichel and hopefully a resigned Skinner!!

Talks have been very quiet and you are only hearing rumors. I would have to think Botts is in the $7.5-$8 million range and Skinner's agent is asking $9. If you look at the comparable LW I don't think he gets above $8 million. Gaudreau- 6.75 million Marchand- 6.125 million Landeskog- 5.571 million Kane- 7.00 million I don't see how Skinner's camp thinks he is better or more deserving of more money than any of these players. If I'm Botts I stick to 7.5 to max 8.0 million. If he wants more. See ya and good luck. There are too many other young, talented players we can get. I would give Panarin 9 million before I give Skinner 9 million. Give me Dzingel and Ferland at 5 million each before I pay Skinner 9 million.

Term to me is the big question mark. I will give you 8 million AAV over 6 years. If you want longer term you need to come down on the AAV. 5 years- 42.5 mil = 8.5 AAV. (9, 9, 9, 8, 7.5) don't want to see this high of an AAV, but if I do term better be 5 or 6 years. 6 years- 49.5 mil = 8.25 AAV (9, 9, 9, 8, 8, 6.5) 7 years- 53 mil = 7.75 AAV (9, 9, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5). ** this is what I would like to see 8 years- 60 mil = 7.5 AAV (9, 9, 9, 8, 7, 6, 6, 6) could live with this So AAV may only be a difference in a million but length of contract is probably sticking point.

I'm going 5-4 Chicago OT win.

Another idea- Resign Skinner to 7 year 53 million - 7.570 mil AAV (if you look at contracts for top LW in Kane, Gaudreau, Marchand, and Landeskogg they are all under 7 mil AAV) Resign McCabe- 5 years at 4 million AAV Resign Rodrigues- 2 years at 1.5 mil AAV Resign Ullmark- 2 years at 2 mil AAV Sign Ferland- 5 years at 4.5-5 million AAV Offer sheet Kapanen at 5 years at 4 million AAV- would cost Sabres 2nd rd pick in 2020 Trade- Risto and Reinhart to Vancouver for Horvat, Virtanen, and Stecher Roster Left Wing Centre Right Wing Skinner, Jeff $7,570,000 LW, RW UFA Eichel, Jack $10,000,000 C UFA - 7 Kapanen, Kasperi $4,000,000 RW Ferland, Micheal $4,500,000 LW, RW UFA Horvat, Bo $5,500,000 C UFA - 4 Thompson, Tage $925,000 C, RW RFA - 1 Sheary, Conor $3,000,000 LW, RW UFA - 1 Mittelstadt, Casey $925,000 C RFA - 1 Virtanen, Jake $1,250,000 RW RFA - 1 Wilson, Scott $1,050,000 LW UFA - 1 Rodrigues, Evan $1,500,000 C, LW RFA Okposo, Kyle $6,000,000 RW M-NTC UFA - 4 Sobotka, Vladimír $3,500,000 LW, C UFA - 1 Left Defense Right Defense Goaltender Dahlin, Rasmus $925,000 D RFA - 2 Montour, Brandon $3,387,500 D RFA - 1 Hutton, Carter $2,750,000 G UFA - 2 McCabe, Jake $4,000,000 D RFA Bogosian, Zach $5,142,857 D UFA - 1 Ullmark, Linus $2,000,000 G RFA Pilut, Lawrence $925,000 D RFA - 1 Stecher, Troy $2,325,000 D RFA - 1 Scandella, Marco $4,000,000 D UFA - 1 Nelson, Casey $812,500 D UFA - 1 Hunwick, Matt $2,250,000 D UFA - 1

I think the trade with Vancouver would be intriguing to them and the draft is being held in Vancouver this year. They get an additional first round pick and a "top" tier defenseman. They have a number #1 center in Petterson so they may be willing to move Horvat for a Risto.

Hits for the sake of hits doesn't matter unless you play tough. To me defenseman should lead their teams in hits. As far a return there are a couple of scenarios I would look at. Edmonton- give me Puljujarvi and Benning for Risto. Vancouver- Horvat and Virtanen for Risto and San Jose first rd.

Still think Risto needs to go...I'm like Marty Biron on this one. Sometimes I love his game and how aggressive he is on the defensive end, but other times I wonder if he has any clue what is going on out there. He was literally standing still at the blue line during the break out pass on Draistle goal. He often looks lost in his own end, and his passing is not the best. I still would move him but not to Tampa, send him out West.

What free agents would fit best in Buffalo? Center- Derrick Brassard- 1 year deal for 2.5 million. Ryan Dzingel- 3 year deal at 4 million AAV. Wingers- Michael Ferland- 5 year deal at 4.5 million AAV. Who else do you like out there??

How, Buffalo would have to get 30 points in the last 19 games to even have a chance, that is 15 wins in 19 games...they are done for this year. I want to see Tage go down and Nylander up for the next 15 games...see what he has got and then send him down for the AHL playoffs. This way Botts can evaluate him against NHL talent.

Miller put up solid numbers while playing with NYR. He would fit nicely in as the number 2 for a couple of years until Mitts could take over. Miller is very reliable on defense and not afraid to use his body.

Since this team has no chance of making the playoffs after this past week it is time to look to the future. First coaching. I think Housley is JBotts man unless something else is too good to pass up. Quenville is still out there. Also if Columbus doesn't make a run with all the acquisitions they made and also the potential to have Panarin and BOB leave to free agency without getting anything in return look for both GM and coach Torts to be fired. Would you want Torts in Buffalo? I believe Buffalo fans want and appreciate a coach that shows emotion and passion for the game. That is why Nolan, and Ruff both did well here, sometimes with less talent than this team has right now. Second- players Not much out there as far a UFA's this year. I do want Botts to make a play whether thru trade or offer sheets to some RFA's. Some teams like Toronto and Tampa are so up against the cap that would only make sense to offer sheet instead of trading within the division. Some potential offer sheet players would include Kapanen or Johnsson from Toronto or Burakovksy from Washington to upgrade our wing. Would cost you a second rd pick because would offer between 2.5 to 4 million AAV. Potential trade ideas would be Paquette or JT Miller from Tampa. I would trade Risto, Nylander, and Larsson for Paquette and Miller, and Sergachev.

Tampa still has Hedman, McDonagh, and Sergachev as offensive RD. I believe McCabe fits into Tampa's d plans better. So if Tampa has to gain cap space instead of Risto could they be looking for a McCabe. Would be a couple of million cheaper then Risto. If they want RD then its Risto or Bogo. Would you do a deal with McCabe for Miller? Bogo for Miller doesn't give them cap space so there would be a much bigger deal in place. If they want Risto, I want Sergachev in return, but this doesn't relieve them of cap space.