sweetlou

Washington is definitely still in win now mode...but Burakovsky is getting buried on depth chart in Washington and only playing 10 minutes a game. Getting rid of Burakovsky for the rest of this season allows them to make a trade for someone else and Nylander gives them young prospect for future.

Trade ideas leading up to deadline- Nylander to Washington for Burakovsky... Burakovsky gets a chance to play top six minutes, 2nd line LW, RFA that Buffalo could sign to multi year deal for around 3.5 million Nylander can continue to develop this year and then step into role next year with Washington when they will need young cheap forwards to fill out there roster. Beaulieu/Scandella, Evan Rodrigues, and San Jose 1st to Ottawa for Cody Cici and JG Pageau Pageau can be 2nd line Center for this year and next at a good salary of 3.1 mil cap hit Cici gives Buffalo a 3rd RD, physical and an RFA Ottawa can choose either more experience Scandella or younger, cheaper Beaulieu Rodrigues gives them cheaper option than Pageau Ottawa gets a 1st rd pick which they lost to Colorado in Duchene trade

Not sure if anyone has made this point...ROR was traded to make room on the roster for Mitts, long term. JBotts tried to find a bridge player and that is why he got Berglund in return. That part has failed so far. The other side is that the Sabres probably didn't have cap space to trade for Skinner, a fast, speedy goal scoring winger to play with Jack, unless he traded ROR. JBotts keeps ROR, then no Skinner. That is why it is imperative to sign Skinner long term.

My bad...I got Guhle and Samson mixed up. Guhle is from Edmonton. I think Philly getting a number 1 overall pick in Nugent-Hopkins is enough to get Couturier. Edmonton gains in cap space by dropping Nugent-Hopkins...they also can control Samson contract as he would still be an RFA. All forwards have similar numbers in past two years, just different style of players. Couturier better center defensively, better on face-offs, more grit. Nugent-Hopkins is probably better play maker and more speed. Reinhart good play maker and scoring winger.

I thought of interesting three way trade this morning and wanted to get some feedback. Trade involves Buffalo, Edmonton, and Philadelphia. Buffalo sends Edmonton Reinhart and Beaulieu. Reinhart goes home and gives Edmonton wing scoring. They can drop Draisaitl to second line center. Beaulieu is LD and would get chance to play in Edmonton. Edmonton sends Philadelphia Nugent-Hopkins. Nugent-Hopkins gives Philly a new fresh center behind Giroux. Just mainly a flip flop of Nugent-Hopkins for Coutier. Philadelphia sends Buffalo Couturier. Couturier gives Buffalo much needed second line center. Edmonton sends Buffalo Benning.- RD that would fit in nicely on third pairing for Buffalo. Trade breakdowns for each team. Buffalo trades Reinhart and Beaulieu for Couturier and Benning. Philadelphia trades Couturier for Nugent-Hopkins. Edmonton trades Nugent-Hopkins and Benning for Reinhart and Beaulieu. Maybe could add other prospects or picks but this would be the core of the trade. Enough going each way? No one is pending UFA. Each forward has term or team control for a couple of years.

So some centers JBotts should be looking at as gap fillers for the next couple of years until Mitts is ready for second line duties. Jean-Gabriel Pageau- Ott. Signed through next year at 3.1 mil. Good on face-offs, and willing to throw his body around. Charlie Coyle- Min. Signed through next year at 3.2 mil. Sean Couturier- Phil. Signed for two more years after this season. Radek Faska- Dallas Nick Bjugstad- Florida. Signed for two more years after this season. Could us change of scenery to get back on track. I would give up San Jose pick and prospects and depending on who we could get maybe even more.

No I'm talking more about picks and prospects for players like Bjugstad from Florida or Burakovsky from Washington.

https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BUF/draft.html I have never understood the obsession of holding onto late first rd picks or later round picks when you have the opportunity to obtain a player who has already worked their way up to the NHL? If I had to give up a late 1st rd pick and prospect for a player that was already in the league and signed to some term, I would do it in a heart beat. So many people think of the potential of players and are always afraid there going to miss on that third round pick who becomes a star, but those are far and few between. If you look at the history of the Sabres drafts, having a lot of picks does not translate into success. I feel JBotts should acquire a young player who is already in the league and just not getting a chance because of the team they are currently on. So for the next four years are you looking to build around picks, prospects, or players??

If you were JBotts would you trade Reinhart, Scandella and Larsson to Edmonton for Nugent-Hopkins, Matt Benning and Zach Kassian? Nugent-Hopkins gives them a #2 center for next three years. Kassian gives Buffalo some needed toughness on the forward lines. Benning fills in nicely at 3rd line RD. Skinner- Eichel- Nylander Sheary- Nugget-Hopkins- Thompson CJ Smith- Mitts- Okposo Girgensons- ERod- Kassian McCabe- Risto Dahlin- Bogo Pilut- Benning

If Buffalo plays 60 minutes this should be a 4-1 win...they should hold nothing back with having the next 11 days off!!! What are you made of Sabres!!!!

Good thing for Sabres and JBottsl is that they start February off with seven home games. Should definitely be able to tell if this Sabres club is a contender for playoffs. Only two of the seven games are against teams with a better record then Buffalo. Buffalo really doesn't have any players you would consider rentals, pending UFA's, so if Buffalo runs off another win streak look for JBotts to add a piece for playoff run. If they continue their downward slide then look for call ups and auditions to finish out the year.

I still would keep Beaulieu and trade Scandella. Beaulieu is 2 years younger and $1.5 million cheaper. Beaulieu is better skater and more physical. He has definitely played better this year compared to last year. Scandella should also get a bigger return.

OP here and the idea behind sending Scandella is because Philly has a young d and could use some experience on the back end. If they wanted young d to build more for the future then I would be willing to part with Guhle. Reason trade works for Buffalo- they have plenty of left d. With the emergence of Pilut, and getting Dahlin in the draft it really drops Guhle down the depth chart. Buffalo would have still have McCabe, Dahlin, Pilut, and Beaulieu on the left side. Why Philly may trade Couturier- they have a high end player in Nolan Patrick centering their third line behind Giroux and Couturier who could easily step up and be their second line center. ERod becomes their third line center. Philly will also be trading Simmonds as a rental to another team because they won't risk losing him in the off season for nothing. Philly knows they are not going anywhere for the next couple of years. No goaltending and young defense. I will edit my original trade idea- Buffalo sends Guhle, ERod, and San Jose 1st for Couturier.

Taking a look into the next 7 months and what the Sabres need to do to improve... 1. Sign Skinner to an eight year extension. Dollar amount should be between 60-64 million with an AAV between 7.5-8. 2. Look at players to add for playoff push this year. Only look at younger players between 23-26 that still have term left on their contracts and will contribute more than just this year. options- a) Sean Couturier from Flyers- 3 more years after this year on contract with AAV of $4.3. Solid #2 center who can give you 20 goals and 45-50 points. (trade would be Marco Scandella, ERod and SanJose 1st for Courturier and Philly 2nd rd pick) 3.Free agents to pursue- a)Michael Ferland- love his grit. True power forward who can score 20 goals. Four year contract at $16 million. AAV $4 million Offer sheet Kasperi Kapanen of Toronto a two year $4million contract. This would only cost the Sabres a second rd pick. Also keeps him as an RFA because he would not be 25 by June 30th of his expiring contract. JBotts was with Pittsburgh when they drafted him so there is a connection. Toronto is going to be up against the cap if they sign Matthews and Marner so they will not be able to pay a premium. Also would be a little payback for Babcock not coming here a few years ago. And last, it's the Leafs so who cares if they hate us. 4. Sign our free agents- Girgensons- 2 years $4 million, AAV $2million Larsson- 1 year $1.75 million McCabe- 5 years $20 million, AAV $4 million Beaulieu- 2 years $5 million, AAV $2.5 million Extend Reinhart for 6 years at $ 36 million 19-20 line up Forwards- Skinner- Eichel- Ferland Thompson- Coutuier- Reinhart Sheary- Mitts- Kapanen Wilson- Larsson- Girgensons Okposo on bench as suitable replacement for injuries or buyout Defense- Pilut- Risto Dahlin- Bogo Beaulieu- McCabe Goaltenders- Ullmark Hutton

So Ryan Reaves 8 goals, and William Carrier 8 goals, as fourth liners on Vegas have more goals for the season then everybody on the Sabres except Jack, Skinner, Pommer, and Reinhart.

Surprised Ullmark didn't come in after fourth goal. Goals are not Hutton's fault but he is clearly fighting the puck.

I am really impressed with Ferland's game. I would love for them to go after him as a UFA this summer. Put him on the top line with Jack and Skinner. Creates space, and could be the protector of your top players. Also knows how to put the puck in the net. Kind of like a cleaner version of Tom Wilson.

Almost looked like Larsson hurt his knee on hit with Faulk. Be interesting to see if he comes back.

I never liked the idea of putting TAGE with Jack and Skinner. Has a shoot first mentality which doesn't fit with Skinner.

Food for thought...Cliff Pu has one goal and three assist in 32 games for Carolina's AHL team. Safe to say JBotts won that trade!!!

Ferland intrigues me as a player Sabres fans hoped Foligno would develop into. A power forward that will hit, fight, block shots, hustles all over the ice and can get you twenty goals. I'd give him 3.5 for 3 years as a UFA this summer.

When Jack comes back I would like to see him with Tage and Sheary...Want to see if he can help give them a boost offensively. Also want to see a second line with Mitts centering Skinner and Reinhart. Give Casey some talent to play with and see if he can get going. Keep the third line with Larsson, CJ and Okposo. Fourth line ERod, Sobotka, and Girgensons/Wilson/Remie

Coyle and Niederreiter still interest me from Minnesota. Could we entice them to take on Okposo contract if we give them Guhle and CJ Smith? Also as far as off season I am still trying to get either Johnson or JT Miller from Tampa. Give them Scandella and San Jose first for JT Miller. Would be perfect second line center for a year until Mitts proves he is able to take on second line duties. 19-20 line up Skinner- Eichel- Reinhart Nylander- JT Miller- Niederreiter Olofson- Mitts- Coyle Wilson- Asplund- Thompson Dahlin- Bogo McCabe- Risto Beaulieu/Pilut/Nelson/Borgen/UFA's

So trying a different approach to get some depth scoring. Three way trade including Minnesota and Chicago. Buffalo sends Minnesota Okposo and Scandella. Buffalo sends Chicago Reinhart, Guhle, CJ Smith, and 1st rd pick. Chicago sends Buffalo Patrick Kane. Chicago sends Minnesota Kahun. Minnesota sends Chicago Niederreiter. Minnesota sends Buffalo Coyle. Breakdown for Each team: Chicago trades Kane and Kahun for Reinhart, Niederreiter, Guhle, CJ Smith, and 1st rd pick. (Salary out- $11.5M, Salary in- $10.5M) Minnesota trades Niederreiter and Coyle for Okposo, Scandella, and Kahun. (Salary out- $8.5M, Salary in- $11.0M) Buffalo trades Reinhart, Okposo, Scandella, Guhle, CJ Smith, and 1st rd pick for Kane and Coyle. (Salary out- $15M Salary in- $13.7M) Sabres lines- Skinner, Eichel, Sheary Nylander, Coyle, Kane Sobotka, Mitts, Thompson Girgensons, Larsson, ERod Dahlin, Bogo McCabe, Risto Pilut, Beaulieu

I still think a trade with Minnesota is still an option. They are looking for help on D with Dumba out for 3 months. How about sending Okposo home for a change of scenery trade. Minnesota receives Okposo, CJ Smith, Guhle, and 2019 1st rd pick. Buffalo gets Coyle and Niederreiter.