sweetlou

After the first of the year Skinner will sign and Sabres can look to other options to improve second line. I think contract will be eight years. No movement clause for the first five and limited for last three. Money will also fluctuate and be top heavy for the first few years and then go down as to help in future contracts for younger players. AAV will still be good but will help Sabres in real money. I'm thinking 9, 9, 9, 8, 8, 7, 7, 5. So I'm hoping for a 8 year 62 million contract with an AAV of 7.75

1. Healthy Defense (Struggles of late is when we lost McCabe) 2. Second line center (Mitts needs another year as 3rd line center) 3. Secondary scoring (Sheary and Okposo need to score more)

If I am Jbott I would have to look at centers like Anisomov from Chicago or Couturier from Philly.

How about Okposo, Bailey and CJ Smith to Minnesota for Niederreiter and Coyle?

Just saw that happened 6 minutes before my post...Would you do Brassard for Sobotka and Beaulieu? Takes Sobotka off the books for next year?

Sprong and Brassard for Sobotka, Beaulieu, and Oglevie??

Would you do Ehlers for Nylander and 1st in the off season? This may also depend on if Sabres resign Skinner and for how much?

Do you think Hawks ever move on from Kane?? If you were the Sabres GM would you be interested in Kane for some picks, prospects to have Kane on Jack's RW for the next four years? Reinhart, Scandella, CJ Smith, and San Jose 1st for Kane??

Lots of variables this early in the season. We have to see where they are in the standings come the beginning of February. Las Vegas surprised a lot of teams last year and went to the finals, so Buffalo could do it. Skinner effect- If Buffalo is hovering around wild card spot and he has not signed an extension, does Jbott move him for more picks and prospects to get more assets for the future. Personally I want him signed to 7-8 year extension for about $7.5. If we could get a player like Pearson who is under $4mil for a couple of years, then you make the trade. Or a young struggling prospect like Sprong.

Carter was much younger then. I believe he has matured a lot since then and is a good leader. Thinking like that means we shouldn't have drafted Jack since he was a partier in college. People grow up and mature. I think Carter would be the perfect 2nd line center for the next couple of years and let Casey grow and mature as the third. Then in a couple of years you flip them and make Casey the second. Again the deal would be shedding Okposo's contract for the next five years to take on Carter's for the next four. Change of scenery for both.

Carter or Anisimov fit the role

As Sabres fan trying to expose vulnerable teams looking for change...you are not going to get any of the young players, but swap of vets could spark interest.

LA trade is change of scenery type of trade. Carter and Okie= even, Scandella and Muzin= even Saad is not producing in Chicago, Reinhart struggling again at beginning of season

JBotts loves seasoned young players with Championship pedigree...(Sheary and Wilson)(Nolan) I think Saad could be a boost to this line up, for whatever reason just not working out second time around in Chicago. What do you think it would take to get him? I would do Reinhart for Saad straight up!!

Both teams are old and full of Stanley Cup champions. Is there any players on either team that Jbotts would go after to improve depth scoring? Possible players Sabres could offer...Reinhart, Okposo, Larsson, Girgensons, Beaulieu, Scandella, and Rodrigues. Scandella, Larsson, and Okposo to LA for Carter, Lewis, and Muzin? Reinhart and Beaulieu to Chicago for either Anisimov or Saad? new line up- Skinner- Eichel- Pommer Saad/Anisimov- Carter- Sheary Sobotka- Mitts- Thompson Girgensons- Berglund- Lewis McCabe- Risto Muzin- Bogo Dahlin- Nelson Saad brings more speed and is younger but more expensive. Anisimov is natural center and cheaper, could also be a bargaining chip to lure Panarin if we lose Skinner to free agency. Carter great leader and center who can mentor Thompson.

Buffalo to Carolina- Sam Reinhart. Buffalo to Toronto- 2019 1st rd pick. Carolina to Toronto- Justin Faulk. Toronto to Buffalo- William Nylander. (Toronto gets a defenseman and 1st rd pick for a player who is holding out and that they can't afford.)

Has anyone mentioned the fact that Scandella failed to clear the puck on Domi's first goal, and that he was was lazy getting back on the would be icing on Armia's goal??

He was an All Star at the AHL level. Isn't the next progression a move to the NHL with more playing time. Don't know what the kid has got unless you play him more. I want to see him start 30 games this year. Won't happen if he only plays 1 out of 8 games.

Defense and secondary scoring is still what is hurting the Sabres. I don't like the Risto- Scandella pairing. Didn't work last year and is not working this year. They are always out of position. I'd even put Scandella with Bogo.. and Beaulieu with Risto at even strength... Changes need to be made up front... Mitts- Eichel- Okposo Skinner- Sobotka- Reinhart Sheary- ERod- Pommer Girgensons-Beglund- Bailey Send Thompson down for 10 games in Rochester to get his scoring touch and some confidence. Ullmark better play one of the two games this weekend. Kid gets a shut out in his only game, yet can't get back in the line up. Come on Phil!!

I think for the first couple of weeks you may see what you get out of the veteran players before waiving anyone. Also I would like to see the young guys go down and dominate in Rochester and then come up when injuries occur. I think having young guys play more minutes and in all situations helps their development more then playing 4th line minutes in Buffalo. My opening day roster- Skinner- Eichel- Reinhart Sheary(Nylander)- Berglund- Okposo Wilson- Sobotka- Baptiste Girgensons- ERod- Bailey scratched- Larsson, Pommers Scandella- Risto Dahlin- McCabe Beaulieu- Bogo (Nelson) Hutton Ullmark So I'd rather see Nylander, Mitts, and Thompson dominate the top line on Rochester. Use them for call ups if anyone in top six gets hurt. Smith, O'Regan would be bottom six call ups if needed. Guhle, and Pilot would be first call ups if Beaulieu doesn't show improvements over last year.

I am very optimistic that we can be the Colorado and New Jersey surprise of 18-19. A lot of one goal losses and shoot out wins going our way this year. I am looking at a 42-30-10 season for 94 points. Wins in last two games against Ottawa and Detroit ties us with Florida for last wild card. Sabres get in on tie breaker.

Cap hit was around $80 million

The roster is 80%turned over in the past two years...I think it is time to let some some of the guys we have brought in and drafted play for a couple of years together and develop some chemistry. Also I have several new players that have not played significant roles yet with the Sabres in Skinner, Sheary, Mitts, Asplund, Thompson, Olofson, Nylander, Borgen, and Pilot. More did this scenario for the contracts and trying to figure out how much flexibility the Sabres have.

Buyouts Cody Hodgson: $791,667 Christian Ehrhoff: $0 Draft Picks - Click draft pick to insert into trade DRAFT YEAR ROUND 1 ROUND 2 ROUND 3 ROUND 4 ROUND 5 ROUND 6 ROUND 7 2021 2022 2023 Delete Created or Signed Player Place on LTIR (Rookie-mode ) Place on LTIR (Pro-mode ) Buyout Add to Trade Roster Left Wing Centre Right Wing Skinner, Jeff $7,500,000 LW UFA Eichel, Jack $10,000,000 C UFA - 6 Okposo, Kyle $6,000,000 RW M-NTC UFA - 3 Sheary, Conor $4,500,000 LW UFA Mittelstadt, Casey $4,750,000 C RFA Reinhart, Sam $6,500,000 RW RFA Olofsson, Victor $1,500,000 LW RFA Asplund, Rasmus $845,000 C, LW RFA - 1 Nylander, Alexander $863,333 RW, LW RFA - 1 Rodrigues, Evan $2,500,000 C RFA Berglund, Patrik $3,850,000 C, LW M-NTC UFA - 2 Thompson, Tage $2,500,000 C RFA Left Defense Right Defense Goaltender Scandella, Marco $5,500,000 D UFA Dahlin, Rasmus $925,000 D RFA - 1 Hutton, Carter $2,750,000 UFA - 1 Pilut, Lawrence $3,500,000 D RFA ↑ ↓ Ristolainen, Rasmus $5,400,000 D UFA - 2 Ullmark, Linus $4,500,000 RFA Guhle, Brendan $2,750,000 D RFA Borgen, William $864,166 D RFA - 1

Looking long term outlook for the Sabres and with the following contract situations for both guys what would you prefer the Sabres do? Reinhart for 6 years at $6 million AAV, or Skinner at 7 years and $7 million AAV? I think both could potentially be signed long term with more money being available after this year after the Sabres shed the contracts of Pommer, Moulson, Beaulieu, Girrgensons, and Larsson which frees up $15,150,000. After 2020 year they will shed Sobatka, Bogo, and Hunwick which frees up another $10,892,857. This is why I have said all along to sign Reinhart to a two year $4.5 million. I believe his numbers will be relatively the same, 25 goals, 20-30 assists and 50-55 pts. After the two years you lock him up long term for $6-6.5 and save money for Mitts and Dahlin.