Ehrhoff, Myers, Pysyk, McCabe & Webber is still a decent corps, add a top 4 guy to that lot via FA.
- SuperCat

This is why I pretty much stopped coming on here.

Seeing as we're probably going to be pretty bad, giving up all those high draft picks for one guy probably wouldn't be the best idea.

I like the creativity, though. Nothing wrong with thinking outside the box
- Powerslave

I really only brought it up because I like Johansen and would love to have him on this team.

I think Johansen + a big trade gets us out of the bottom 5 and it does give us our top 2 centres for the future. But like with most offer sheets, it would be a ridiculous contract, one that may hinder his performance.

This would never happen but...


Thoughts on offer-sheeting Ryan Johansen? I'm a big believer in the slow rebuild but adding him would give us a top six looking like:


Reinhart/Bennett, Johansen, Ennis, Hodgson, Stewart, Stafford (the last two probably being replaced by Grigorenko and Armia once they're ready).


Just making conversation here, no need for attacking it...or me
- Sabresfan-365

He's pretty sweet... So I see why you'd want him... But I can't imagine Cbus wouldn't match any offer sheet
It would have to be such a big number, that we'd prob regret the contract
Not too mention, they'd get our next four 1st round picks
There's no way I'm signing someone to an offer sheet & risk missing out on McDavid/Eichel

Can we trade Webber and Erhoff for Edmonton pick ? I could live with that.


- Maximum Signal

Sure...
But what are the chances Ehrhoff would accept a trade there?
Probably pretty slim
Seems like he wants to go to a contender

This is why I pretty much stopped coming on here.
- Pairo11

Agreed nads.

Ehrhoff, Myers, Pysyk, McCabe & Webber is still a decent corps, add a top 4 guy to that lot via FA.
- SuperCat

You can't have Webber and the words decent corps when referrening to NHL defense in the same sentence, sorry. Ehrhoff I don't think is that great either, was never enamoured with the transaction, he was on a good team and the right time that was all, but he is ok.

I don't necessarily agree with Kevin that bc Deslauriers signed a one-way contract that he'll be with the Sabres next year...
For those worried about how we will reach the cap floor, this is one way to help accomplish this
You can no longer bury players in the minors, their cap hits still count
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see guys like Porter signed to one-way deals & placed in Rochester to help us reach the floor

You can't have Webber and the words decent corps when referrening to NHL defense in the same sentence, sorry. Ehrhoff I don't think is that great either, was never enamoured with the transaction, he was on a good team and the right time that was all, but he is ok.
- MikeyOz

Weber will bounce back, he's an NHL defenseman. We just can't pair him with Myers & play him against Crosby, Stamkos, etc
He should be shielded like most 3rd pair guys are

Expecting Ehrhoff-Myers to be the top pair & shut down other teams best is a reach at this point
And does Ehrhoff even wanna be here?

Trading our two defensive prospects with the highest ceilings seems like a bad idea at this point

I don't necessarily agree with Kevin that bc Deslauriers signed a one-way contract that he'll be with the Sabres next year...
For those worried about how we will reach the cap floor, this is one way to help accomplish this
You can no longer bury players in the minors, their cap hits still count
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see guys like Porter signed to one-way deals & placed in Rochester to help us reach the floor
- jdfitz77

4th line next year

Deslauriers Larsson Kaleta


Book it.

Weber will bounce back, he's an NHL defenseman.
Trading our two defensive prospects with the highest ceilings seems like a bad idea at this point
- jdfitz77

We might have to agree to disagree Webber sucks, big time.

Trading those 2 is never going to happen, only one reason why Webber will be on the squad next year.

He's pretty sweet... So I see why you'd want him... But I can't imagine Cbus wouldn't match any offer sheet
It would have to be such a big number, that we'd prob regret the contract
Not too mention, they'd get our next four 1st round picks
There's no way I'm signing someone to an offer sheet & risk missing out on McDavid/Eichel
- jdfitz77

If you were to offersheet him to a level that Columbus wouldn't match, you would have to do something like Edmonton did to Thomas Vanek. The point of an offersheet isn't to negotiate for the player's current team. It's to pay him such a sum that the original team can't or won't want to do it. If you offer him market value or merely slightly above market value, the Blue Jackets will match without question. However, if you offer him something absurd (say $7 or $8 million per year), then you might have a chance.

Then again, if he accepted this offersheet, he'd become a player who cares about money and nothing more, and would automatically have to be hated in Buffalo.

If you were to offersheet him to a level that Columbus wouldn't match, you would have to do something like Edmonton did to Thomas Vanek. The point of an offersheet isn't to negotiate for the player's current team. It's to pay him such a sum that the original team can't or won't want to do it. If you offer him market value or merely slightly above market value, the Blue Jackets will match without question. However, if you offer him something absurd (say $7 or $8 million per year), then you might have a chance.

Then again, if he accepted this offersheet, he'd become a player who cares about money and nothing more, and would automatically have to be hated in Buffalo.
- buffalofan19

I'd be more concerned with the lost (high) draft picks than anything else

Sure...
But what are the chances Ehrhoff would accept a trade there?
Probably pretty slim
Seems like he wants to go to a contender
- jdfitz77

I realized after posting that I had read that Erhoff did not want to back west. But it was a way to shed ourselves of Webber.

4th line next year

Deslauriers Larsson Kaleta


Book it.



- Powerslave

Might not be a bad 4th line if Kaleta has given up his old ways.

Might not be a bad 4th line if Kaleta has given up his old ways.
- Maximum Signal

I think a fourth line like that would be hell on wheels!

3 guys who can skate their a$ses off, hit everything in sight, play good D and just overall be a pain in the co©k.

He's pretty sweet... So I see why you'd want him... But I can't imagine Cbus wouldn't match any offer sheet
It would have to be such a big number, that we'd prob regret the contract
Not too mention, they'd get our next four 1st round picks
There's no way I'm signing someone to an offer sheet & risk missing out on McDavid/Eichel
- jdfitz77

I see your point but my thinking was more of what it would take for me to short cut the rebuild.

The question I asked myself on the offer sheet is that can you with a 1-2-3 of Johansen-Reinhart/Bennet and Girgensons and I think my answer would be yes you can. Or Johansen-Grigorenko/Ennis and Girgensons and you stack your D with Ekblad.

I guess my main point here is go big or go home, if the tank is on it has to be really on (alluding to your targets of McDavid and Eichel) and if you want short it, you have to bring in someone who you can sit there and say, yea i can with him and so and so as my #1 and #2 centres.

I see your point but my thinking was more of what it would take for me to short cut the rebuild.

The question I asked myself on the offer sheet is that can you with a 1-2-3 of Johansen-Reinhart/Bennet and Girgensons and I think my answer would be yes you can. Or Johansen-Grigorenko/Ennis and Girgensons and you stack your D with Ekblad.

I guess my main point here is go big or go home, if the tank is on it has to be really on (alluding to your targets of McDavid and Eichel) and if you want short it, you have to bring in someone who you can sit there and say, yea i can with him and so and so as my #1 and #2 centres.
- Sabresfan-365

But you lose the chance to draft a Bennett/Reinhart/Ekblad if you get Johanson

But you lose the chance to draft a Bennett/Reinhart/Ekblad if you get Johanson
- Powerslave

No, you lose your chance at getting McDavid/Eichel


Offer sheets happen after the draft during free agency.


We'd lose 2015,2016,2017,2018


Also keep in mind we have NYI and STL 1st rounders next year so you never know

Do I "know" LaFontaine wasn't the right hire at the time? No, just as I don't "know" that Darcy Regier, if he wasn't fired in November, would have won this team a cup in a couple of years with the plan he put in place in 2013. However, I can look at the surrounding facts and circumstances, and think that it's probably not the case. I can also look at the fact that a guy that Pegula hired to run his hockey operations got up and quit in less than four months for, not the first, but the second time, in this position. I can also look at the fact that he was hired after Pegula was impressed by the guy after he talked at a convention where his job was to tell the world why he would never be quite right in the head ever again. I can also look at the fact that Pegula has a history of being starstruck. You're right. Pegula is a successful businessman. That does NOT automatically equate to being an owner that knows how to win. In fact, nothing he has done in his short tenure has owner, has indicated that he knows how to win. Can he learn? Sure, and I hope he does.

Btw, while I know I probably shouldn't engage in your "smartest person in the room" bait, it's not something I haven't heard before. I have clients that take your approach. They're the same clients that realize a couple of years later we're not just flexing our brain muscles when the IRS comes and bits them in the ass.
- buffalofan19

Pegula is in a totally new field . He let a few folks baffle him with Bullpoop rather dazzle him with Brilliance . He is quickly learning his way around though. Again he knows he has to surround himself with the right people and is doing so now and will continue to do so and hopefully he will admit mistakes he has made on the way and rectify them as he has with Darcy. Awful easy to pass judgement when it is not your 200 million on the line .

No one knows what happens with Pat . I think he thought he would still thought he be the final decision even after a gm was hired and got bent about that . He was offered a very generous exit package to leave quietly so we will never know the whole story.

No, you lose your chance at getting McDavid/Eichel


Offer sheets happen after the draft
- Sabresfan-365

Then there is no way that happens.

I know Murray said he's not afraid to swing and miss, but if they were to offer sheet Johanson and then proceed to finish bottom two, he'd be run out of town

No, you lose your chance at getting McDavid/Eichel


Offer sheets happen after the draft during free agency.


We'd lose 2015,2016,2017,2018


Also keep in mind we have NYI and STL 1st rounders next year so you never know
- Sabresfan-365

Still not the time to hand out offer sheets or sign the likes of Callahan . I say after the 2015 draft would be the time to start making moves like that.

Then there is no way that happens.

I know Murray said he's not afraid to swing and miss, but if they were to offer sheet Johanson and then proceed to finish bottom two, he'd be run out of town
- Powerslave

That's the whole idea though. Very high risk high reward. I admit, part of me is really considering this because I really like Johansen but my thinking is if you can add him then make a 2nd big trade then the fear of missing out is no longer there.

It'd basically be our version of the Kessel.

Abso-(frank)ing-lutely

He's the best skater in this draft IMO, has an elite shot, and is strong as an ox.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

he reminds me of Corey Perry, I hope he reminds Murray of Perry too.

he reminds me of Corey Perry, I hope he reminds Murray of Perry too.
- Mentalorgasm5

It would not shock me at all to see Murray go off the board