not a chance in hell I would offer that for Kessel, the Leafs can keep him or pawn him off on another team.
- SABRES 89

yeah, nobody in buffalo would, and that's good. TO is gonna want a boatload for Kessel, and someone might give it to them.

I wouldn't touch Kessel and I like him, that contract is horrible.
- SABRES 89

The term is long, but his cap hit is what it cost to have someone of his caliber. Idk I love the idea. And i hope they bring back Stewart for next year after they rent him out.

I wouldn't touch Kessel and I like him, that contract is horrible.
- SABRES 89

PMed you

The term is long, but his cap hit is what it cost to have someone of his caliber. Idk I love the idea. And i hope they bring back Stewart for next year after they rent him out.
- Mentalorgasm5

Agree on Stewart. He has exceeded expectations. Guys will be able to rally around him.

Which two (within reason) would you like to seen move before Armia & Lemieux?
- jzabawa

I probably would have traded Lemeiux for sure and possibly Baptiste or Bailey or Compher. Armia I would have kept.

The term is long, but his cap hit is what it cost to have someone of his caliber. Idk I love the idea. And i hope they bring back Stewart for next year after they rent him out.
- Mentalorgasm5

I don't think it's a bad idea, I just don't think its the right idea for the Sabres at this point. He'd be a guy to bring in like Chicago did with Hossa; as a final piece to put an already great team over the top.

yeah, nobody in buffalo would, and that's good. TO is gonna want a boatload for Kessel, and someone might give it to them.
- PrinceChill

Clearly our 1st is off the table, and the isles first is probably gonna be around 22- not gonna get a ready made difference maker with that. Wonder if murray is willing to split the difference and offer our 1st next year- for the right player. Tell you what, sabres fans will have their ears pinned back in full anti-tank mode if they did. I cringe at using garth snows business model though.

The term is long, but his cap hit is what it cost to have someone of his caliber. Idk I love the idea. And i hope they bring back Stewart for next year after they rent him out.
- Mentalorgasm5

I'd love to have Kessel. He is 27 years old. What if his contract gets in the way of resigning possible superstar McEichel?

I'd make a deal something like McCabe, Hodgson, NYI's 1st and Baptiste/Bailey for Kessel.

Our first line...

Kane - McEichel - Kessel

Our second line...

Moulson - Reinhart - Ennis

Our third line

Grigorenko - Girgensons - ?

Pretty sick...

Clearly our 1st is off the table, and the isles first is probably gonna be around 22- not gonna get a ready made difference maker with that. Wonder if murray is willing to split the difference and offer our 1st next year- for the right player. Tell you what, sabres fans will have their ears pinned back in full anti-tank mode if they did. I cringe at using garth snows business model though.
- rover16

I'd rather use one of our 2nds to try and move up from NYI 1st, but this is why having so many assets is fun for the fans. So many permutations and possibilities.

I'd love to have Kessel. He is 27 years old. What if his contract gets in the way of resigning possible superstar McEichel?

I'd make a deal something like McCabe, Hodgson, NYI's 1st and Baptiste/Bailey for Kessel.

Our first line...

Kane - McEichel - Kessel

Our second line...

Moulson - Reinhart - Ennis

Our third line

Grigorenko - Girgensons - ?

Pretty sick...
- Jammerz04

I have yet to see a team lose their best player(s) because of the cap (take it back, the only exception, is the buffalo sabres), teams will always find a way to sign their best players when they need to.

If by Satan 2.0 you mean averaging a PPG in his last 4 seasons and having 7 30 goal seasons then yes. Plus if Satan could skate like the wind like Kessel can...
- Stripes77

satan was also a beast on the pk

something he never got credit for

he is tied for 105th ALL TIME for short handed goals in a career

Clearly our 1st is off the table, and the isles first is probably gonna be around 22- not gonna get a ready made difference maker with that. Wonder if murray is willing to split the difference and offer our 1st next year- for the right player. Tell you what, sabres fans will have their ears pinned back in full anti-tank mode if they did. I cringe at using garth snows business model though.
- rover16

Are you friggin serious? Murray isn't trading our first rounder for next season. The draft is in Buffalo. No way the Sabres trade that pick. Maybe the Isles pick this draft but that's about all. Also we are going to be a bottom 5 team next year. Bottom 10 guaranteed.

I'd rather use one of our 2nds to try and move up from NYI 1st, but this is why having so many assets is fun for the fans. So many permutations and possibilities.
- PrinceChill

Me too, but i figure if its picks 22 and 31, we wont get much higher than 18. Could be interesting, ive seen a few people say that even though its considered a deep draft, that there is a talent dropoff around 20. of course if hes looking for something more immediate he may move both for somebody to play next year.

Are you friggin serious? Murray isn't trading our first rounder for next season. The draft is in Buffalo. No way the Sabres trade that pick. Maybe the Isles pick this draft but that's about all. Also we are going to be a bottom 5 team next year. Bottom 10 guaranteed.
- Jammerz04

thats fine. I dont even want him. But "are you friggin serious" is what the leafs say if you offer mccabe, hodgson, the isles first, and bailey/baptiste. They arent getting girgensons, reinhart, Zadorov, or ristolainen so we dont have a legit offer to make them.

I wouldn't touch Kessel and I like him, that contract is horrible.
- SABRES 89

Navin was seen walking into your new strip club with a gas can

just sayin

I would only bring someone such as Kessel in during the offseason, and I think ennis, the other 2015 1st, and two prospects would get conversations going.
- Mentalorgasm5

http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/698772


3) Phil Kessel to Sabres for Hudson Fasching, Jake McCabe and a 2nd-round pick

Whaddya say, Tim Murray?

The Sabres don't need to admit it, but they're planning to have Connor McDavid be the face of their organization for the next decade. Now whether that comes to fruition remains, but wouldn't his presence be a perfect situation for Kessel?

With the acquisition of Evander Kane, the Sabres made their intent to contend clear the moment they place a ball cap on either McDavid or (heaven forbid) Jack Eichel and will undoubtedly be better equipped to contend with Kessel on the roster. He will score his goals and avoid media scorn without mortgaging the franchise, who sit well beneath the salary cap.

Now, the return is hardly bountiful, but for the Maple Leafs who - in planning to set themselves on fire - have decided they can't win with him, the reward isn't the personnel; it's having Kessel and his $64-million contract move on.

Fasching and McCabe are two intriguing prospects who have represented the United States at the World Juniors, with the latter likely ready to take the leap. And the pick, obviously, is just one slot away from the first round.

Yes.

Go get Phil Kessel now.
- ImThatGuy

No... Hell no actually...
He's really good at scoring, but average (at best) at everything else, and his cap hit is WAY too big...
Plus, it'll cost too much to get him

With all the teams that'll be in Cap trouble this summer,
I think we'll have much better options

http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/698772


3) Phil Kessel to Sabres for Hudson Fasching, Jake McCabe and a 2nd-round pick

Whaddya say, Tim Murray?

The Sabres don't need to admit it, but they're planning to have Connor McDavid be the face of their organization for the next decade. Now whether that comes to fruition remains, but wouldn't his presence be a perfect situation for Kessel?

With the acquisition of Evander Kane, the Sabres made their intent to contend clear the moment they place a ball cap on either McDavid or (heaven forbid) Jack Eichel and will undoubtedly be better equipped to contend with Kessel on the roster. He will score his goals and avoid media scorn without mortgaging the franchise, who sit well beneath the salary cap.

Now, the return is hardly bountiful, but for the Maple Leafs who - in planning to set themselves on fire - have decided they can't win with him, the reward isn't the personnel; it's having Kessel and his $64-million contract move on.

Fasching and McCabe are two intriguing prospects who have represented the United States at the World Juniors, with the latter likely ready to take the leap. And the pick, obviously, is just one slot away from the first round.
- homiedclown

While I can't deny Kessel's talent,
I just don't think he's a guy u win with. When a team as desperately bad as the Leafs wants to get rid of u... That should tell u to stay away
And I'd rather spend the 8mil cap hit elsewhere- with all the other teams that will have Cap issues this summer, I think we'll have better options

If you're gonna cost that much, you've gotta do more than just score goals
Let someone else overpay for that snotty punk

The guy to target from the Leafs is Bernier!
We do not have a franchise goalie...
That's by FAR our biggest weakness!

While I can't deny Kessel's talent,
I just don't think he's a guy u win with. When a team as desperately bad as the Leafs wants to get rid of u... That should tell u to stay away
And I'd rather spend the 8mil cap hit elsewhere- with all the other teams that will have Cap issues this summer, I think we'll have better options

If you're gonna cost that much, you've gotta do more than just score goals
Let someone else overpay for that snotty punk

The guy to target from the Leafs is Bernier!
We do not have a franchise goalie...
That's by FAR our biggest weakness!
- jdfitz77

Isles 2nd at most.

While I can't deny Kessel's talent,
I just don't think he's a guy u win with. When a team as desperately bad as the Leafs wants to get rid of u... That should tell u to stay away
And I'd rather spend the 8mil cap hit elsewhere- with all the other teams that will have Cap issues this summer, I think we'll have better options

If you're gonna cost that much, you've gotta do more than just score goals
Let someone else overpay for that snotty punk

The guy to target from the Leafs is Bernier!
We do not have a franchise goalie...
That's by FAR our biggest weakness!
- jdfitz77

Guys like Kessell are the reason Toronto got bamboozled by their current roster. They invested heavily on random talents from random teams. On paper it should have made sense. Talent not driven by te right attitude will be futile. You need the right blend of personalities in the locker room.

Guys like Kessell are the reason Toronto got bamboozled by their current roster. They invested heavily on random talents from random teams. On paper it should have made sense. Talent not driven by te right attitude will be futile. You need the right blend of personalities in the locker room.
- Buffalo-Sabres

We don't want to end up like the Kings, look at them they are in cap trouble and might lose out on good players 2 of them being Toffoli and Pearson. Offer sheets maybe for the both ( I don't mean from us ). We don't need anymore bad contracts in Kessel, get rid of Hodgson and we will be good.

We don't want to end up like the Kings, look at them they are in cap trouble and might lose out on good players 2 of them being Toffoli and Pearson. Offer sheets maybe for the both ( I don't mean from us ). We don't need anymore bad contracts in Kessel, get rid of Hodgson and we will be good.
- SABRES 89

Yea but before they got there they won 2 cups in 3 years. It's a salary cap world it's going to happen to all cup contender teams at some point.

I really can't think of another team that's a significantly better model to follow. Pittsburgh? 1 cup in a decade with Crosby and Malkin? St. Louis? yet to win? Minnesota? same deal.

For those interested in Kessel, keep in mind he's got a limited NTC. Even money says we're on that list. Ditto Sharp.

For those interested in Kessel, keep in mind he's got a limited NTC. Even money says we're on that list. Ditto Sharp.
- Sabresfan-365

If you read Elliotte Friedman's latest 30 Thoughts column, he suggests, and I agree, if a team wants to deal you, they'll come to you if they have a deal with a team not on your list. Chances are player would take the move just to get out of town.

If you read Elliotte Friedman's latest 30 Thoughts column, he suggests, and I agree, if a team wants to deal you, they'll come to you if they have a deal with a team not on your list. Chances are player would take the move just to get out of town.
- PassionBucket16

IMO, it depends on their skill level and pedigree.


Teams will lineup out the door for guys like Kessel and Sharp. He can have his pick of the lot and chances are even if they're "low-balling" they'll still get a decent return.