Summer of 21'

[sweetlou]

What players should the sabres be targeting in the off season via free agency or trade?  

Who will be coaching this team?

Who can come in and change the culture of this team and organization?

Who do the Sabres need to move on from?

This is going to be a very interesting off season because teams may be willing to trade players for picks because they know they will not be able to protect them in Seattle  expansion draft.

[Cal Naughton Jr]

[PerreaultForever]

Well, my view is trade Eichel and then signing FAs is wide open and it's the dawn of a new era.

BUT, we probably won't, we probably won't do much, and then I just pray we sign a goalie (or two). 

I am truly afraid this team will think it can stay the course. 

[dudacek]

We can ice this team (minus whoever goes to Seattle) in September:

• Skinner Eichel Reinhart
• Olofsson Cozens Ruotsalainen
• Asplund Mittelstadt Thompson
• Bjork Girgensons Eakin Okposo
• Dahlin Jokiharju
• Samuelsson Ristolainen
• Bryson Borgen Miller

with approximately $8-15 million in cap space to sign two goalies and make any upgrades.

Actual cap space is $31.5 million.

I'd project ~ $20 million of that to RFAs Reinhart and Dahlin (a lot), Jokiharju and Mitts (affordable bridges), Asplund and Borgen (dirt cheap)

[Taro T]

  On 4/29/2021 at 3:53 AM, dudacek said:

We can ice this team (minus whoever goes to Seattle) in September:

• Skinner Eichel Reinhart
• Olofsson Cozens Ruotsalainen
• Asplund Mittelstadt Thompson
• Bjork Girgensons Eakin Okposo
• Dahlin Jokiharju
• Samuelsson Ristolainen
• Bryson Borgen Miller

with approximately $8-15 million in cap space to sign two goalies and make any upgrades.

Actual cap space is $31.5 million.

I'd project ~ $20 million of that to RFAs Reinhart and Dahlin (a lot), Jokiharju and Mitts (affordable bridges), Asplund and Borgen (dirt cheap)

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You don't expect McCabe back?

[tom webster]

  On 4/29/2021 at 3:32 PM, Taro T said:

You don't expect McCabe back?

Expand  

Given the injury and the flat cap, I’d expect he will be back on a one year deal. There’s an opportunity to get him signed to a relatively cheap long term deal but I’m not sure he’d go for it.

[dudacek]

  On 4/29/2021 at 3:32 PM, Taro T said:

You don't expect McCabe back?

Expand  

Expect, no. I think there is a chance and I hope it happens.

It depends on a lot of factors: Dahlin's contract, what happens with Reinhart and Risto, who ends up with Seattle in the expansion draft, and how his injury affects his market value. Also his mindset: does he have unfinished business here, or is he ready for a reset?

Cap space isn't infinite and the Sabres may see Borgen and/or Samuelsson as ready to take over his role at a cheaper price and choose to spend money elsewhere.

[sweetlou]

Finding a coach with some emotion is a must...Sabres have not had a coach with passion since Ruff was let go.  I like Torts because he strives for his players to play the right way all the time.  If you aren't willing to play a 200ft game then you don't play.  Not sure if that would mesh with some of the current stars on the team, (Eichel, Sam, and Skinner) but who knows.   I also like Gallant because of his experience with Vegas. He took a bunch of players that other teams didn't want and got them to the playoffs in his first year.

Getting a solid goalie tandem is also a must.  I believe Sabres will offer Ullmark a 3yr $4-5million AAV contract. Not sure if he would get more on the open market?

One of Risto, Reinhart, or Olofsson I feel will be moved to bring in goaltender or more physical top six forward.