GARTH'S CORNER: Sabres Earn An "A"

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
BUF has initiated compliance buyout procedures on Christian Ehrhoff. Not official just yet but BUF has begun the process.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
BUF has initiated compliance buyout procedures on Christian Ehrhoff. Not official just yet but BUF has begun the process.
- Fruitcakenipple

They can't trade him?
7 years at 4M - looks tradeable

They can't trade him?
7 years at 4M - looks tradeable
- MTL1

I guess they fear the cap recapture penalty or maybe they tried to trade him but his NTC prevented that. Either way, he is a good player and I hope Ottawa signs him to a 4 year deal at $4M per season...

I wish we could have traded him and given up Prince + Greening for him

They can't trade him?
7 years at 4M - looks tradeable
- MTL1

Ya...This one puzzling...hard to believe no one would take a chance on such a cap friendly contract...

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
I'm sure @capgeek will have details but BUF obviously feared potential cap recapture penalties if Ehrhoff retired before contract expired.

Ya...This one puzzling...hard to believe no one would take a chance on such a cap friendly contract...
- Fruitcakenipple

If he gets bought out I can see his new cap hit being higher than 4M

If he gets bought out I can see his new cap hit being higher than 4M
- MTL1

Yep...He's about to do very well...

Yep...He's about to do very well...
- Fruitcakenipple

Especially since he cashed in 10M in year 1 of this contract

If this is true Ehrhoff just won the lottery. He gets the rest of his contract plus whatever he is about to get paid. He automatically becomes the top D UFA on the market. I wish they could have made a conditional trade that stated if he was going to retire he would be traded back to Buffalo to be bought out and bypass the recap issue. He would otherwise be a valuable trade chip.

If this is true Ehrhoff just won the lottery. He gets the rest of his contract plus whatever he is about to get paid. He automatically becomes the top D UFA on the market. I wish they could have made a conditional trade that stated if he was going to retire he would be traded back to Buffalo to be bought out and bypass the recap issue. He would otherwise be a valuable trade chip.
- Themomentgood

2/3

What. The. (frank).


How does this make sense? He's good, his cap hit is excellent. Should he not at least have trade value? Also, how the hell do they plan to reach the cap floor???

What. The. (frank).


How does this make sense? He's good, his cap hit is excellent. Should he not at least have trade value? Also, how the hell do they plan to reach the cap floor???
- muffin_man

Recapture penalties....and they will likely come at a time when Buffalo is hopeful to be a contender, don't need the cap issues.

Recapture penalties....and they will likely come at a time when Buffalo is hopeful to be a contender, don't need the cap issues.
- Jeropotato

The highest the penatly gets is $3M. Whats the problem???
http://www.capgeek.com/recapture-grid

If he plays 5 more years, he will still be good for 3 years during which Buffalo intends to be a good team. You're buying out a top 4 dman with a great cap hit because you fear 3 years of a $3M cap penalty???

What. The. (frank).


How does this make sense? He's good, his cap hit is excellent. Should he not at least have trade value? Also, how the hell do they plan to reach the cap floor???
- muffin_man

Overpay Stastny and Bolland...

Overpay Stastny and Bolland...
- Fruitcakenipple

$7M for Stastny fine but Bolland is a $3M player. His overpaid cap hit will be worse than any penalty Ehrhoff might lead to

What. The. (frank).


How does this make sense? He's good, his cap hit is excellent. Should he not at least have trade value? Also, how the hell do they plan to reach the cap floor???
- muffin_man

This and Murray said that they aren't offering some of their RFA's a qualifying offer... very interesting to see what they're up to

Tim Murray must have either a couple UFA's lined up already or a trade coming that he is sure of in order to do this. Without Ehrhoffs cap hit that's one more player that they are probably going to have to overpay for.

Tim Murray must have either a couple UFA's lined up already or a trade coming that he is sure of in order to do this. Without Ehrhoffs cap hit that's one more player that they are probably going to have to overpay for.
- Themomentgood

Unless he is planning on paying a bunch of scrubs $4M each for 1 year deals, how does he expect to sign UFAs and still tank???

I am both curious and terrified to see what will happen to this team

Also if you go back and read Ehrhoffs german interviews after the season ended, it was clear he wanted out. He was much more blunt with them than with the english speaking press. Tim Murray said he does not want anyone around that does not want to be part of the team.

Also if you go back and read Ehrhoffs german interviews after the season ended, it was clear he wanted out. He was much more blunt with them than with the english speaking press. Tim Murray said he does not want anyone around that does not want to be part of the team.
- Themomentgood

Then trade his ass.

If he is traded now and retires at 35, the Sabres get 3 years of $3.33M cap penalty. Cap will be $80M by then

Are the Sabres going to win 8 games next season???

Unless he is planning on paying a bunch of scrubs $4M each for 1 year deals, how does he expect to sign UFAs and still tank???

I am both curious and terrified to see what will happen to this team
- muffin_man

I hope Ennis doesnt end up making more than Hodgson. And I cant imagine the other RFA's are getting anything close to that. Conacher isnt worth more than 1 million and it wouldnt surprise me if thats one of the ones he isnt extending an offer to, same for Hackett. Both Foligno and Ruhwedel shouldnt be getting more than a 2 million bridge contract. So they have to get it from either trades or the market. I honestly though Stewart and maybe even Stafford would be gone by now.

Then trade his ass.

If he is traded now and retires at 35, the Sabres get 3 years of $3.33M cap penalty. Cap will be $80M by then
- muffin_man

It's actually 1/2 that! The team that acquires him would get 50% of the cap recapture as well...

I'm quite shocked they did this at all. His cap hit is extremely low for a defenseman of his caliber and he carries that cap hit for likely the rest of his career. I seriously doubt he's untradeable and now I'm starting to question Murray's motives on this one. I really liked Ehrhoff and I'm sure a team like the Oilers or Avs would've taken him. This buyout is gonna bite us in the back later with the recapture penalties. Hopefully there was a legitimate reason on this.