I'm thinking ROR is gonna end up signing with the avs...if we did move his rights it would be for defense, not more centers. Already have duchene, Mac, Hishon, Mitchell, Bleackley
- goavsgo10

OK you both got me. I'm actually working today so my focus is a bit off.

Do you think Reinhart will be #2 C or #3? (Well, I know what you think - just throwing it out there.)

I sort of believe Grigs ain't gonna make the team, and Larsson in #4 C.
- bflobillww

I've said this plenty of times before. Larsson on the 4th line doesn't do much good. He's much more of an impact player than some 4th line fill in. Maybe that's just me.

I think people are going to be surprised at the lack of activity. Not because Murray won't try but there really isn't much out there for him. No sense wasting cap on middling players. Be patient and strike when the right player becomes available. And in the meantime you learn more about the young players in your system.

I think people are going to be surprised at the lack of activity. Not because Murray won't try but there really isn't much out there for him. No sense wasting cap on middling players. Be patient and strike when the right player becomes available. And in the meantime you learn more about the young players in your system.
- Sabresfan-365

I think you are spot on..maybe a deal or two at the draft and an few average FAs but nothing crazy

Michael Pachla: An early look at the Sabres free agents
- Michael Pachla

nice blog

then again I'm drunk

nice blog

then again I'm drunk
- homiedclown

Drink more. Post more.

Carry over from last blog..





I'm bored at work so I added some extra detail to your list. I didn't take into account whether a player changed to a new number during his career with the Sabres.



- BackSlider

Freddy Stanfield, Derek Smith and Woodie were all contributors. Maguire was worth the price of admission on some nights..

And Holzinger would have been a 50 goal scorer if he just figured out breakaways..

Might be tough having 2/3 top centers be rookies. Seeing as how rough it was on Draisaitl over the first few months of the season, I wonder how BUF plans to address this
- WhiteLie

I was actually speculating that it would be interesting to see Rinehart, Eichel and Rodrigues all in Rochester next year and see the Sabres try to pick up a center with a year on his contract from a team in cap trouble. So play Girgensons, Larssons and "player X' in any combination as your top 3 centers. Then, trade "player X" at the deadline and bring up either Eichel or Rinehart, who ever is doing better in Rochester. Pretty much a perfect stop gap solution and lets both of our young centers get their feet wet at the pro level.

And Varada would have been a 50 goal scorer if he just figured out breakaways..

- Pairo11

fixed for accuracy

fixed for accuracy
- homiedclown

I was actually speculating that it would be interesting to see Rinehart, Eichel and Rodrigues all in Rochester next year and see the Sabres try to pick up a center with a year on his contract from a team in cap trouble. So play Girgensons, Larssons and "player X' in any combination as your top 3 centers. Then, trade "player X" at the deadline and bring up either Eichel or Rinehart, who ever is doing better in Rochester. Pretty much a perfect stop gap solution and lets both of our young centers get their feet wet at the pro level.
- seedy

I think they issue you'll find with this scenario is that if Eichel signs with us, it's because he's staying in Buffalo. He's not going to sign if being sent to Rochester is even a remote possibility, IMO.

I was actually speculating that it would be interesting to see Rinehart, Eichel and Rodrigues all in Rochester next year and see the Sabres try to pick up a center with a year on his contract from a team in cap trouble. So play Girgensons, Larssons and "player X' in any combination as your top 3 centers. Then, trade "player X" at the deadline and bring up either Eichel or Rinehart, who ever is doing better in Rochester. Pretty much a perfect stop gap solution and lets both of our young centers get their feet wet at the pro level.
- seedy

I think that's the scenario in which Eichel chooses to go back to school.


Welp, goose beat me to it

My Personal projections

UFAs

Kaleta - Signs 1 yr deal 2-way. Most likely in Roch unless someone gets hurt.
Ellis - Signs 2 yr deal 2-way Will start in Roch.
Meszaros - Adios unless Murray wants an 8-9th D-Man.
Benoit - Adios unless wants to sign to Rochester deal.
Strachan - Adios
Lindback - Adios
Bagnall - Possibly Rochester.

RFAs

Larsson - Re-signed. Possible 4th line Center or Roch. Will be 2-way contract.
Pysyk - Re-signed. 2nd to 4th D-Man on the Sabres next season.
Grigorenko - Re-signed 2 year deal. 2 way deal. Will start in Roch.
Dalpe - Adios
Varone - Roch if resigned.
Schaller - Roch if resigned.
Hackett - Roch if resigned.
Lieuwen - Adios
D'Amigo - Resigned to Roch.
Samuels-Thomas - Resigned to Roch
Leduc - Resigned to Roch
Sundher - Adios

I think you are spot on..maybe a deal or two at the draft and an few average FAs but nothing crazy
- yen6d1

If the isles pick doesn't end up in the teens i wouldn't mind seeing him trade down. It could make it easier to trade other prospects if the pipeline is a little deeper.

My Personal projections

UFAs

Kaleta - Signs 1 yr deal 2-way. Most likely in Roch unless someone gets hurt.
Ellis - Signs 2 yr deal 2-way Will start in Roch.
Meszaros - Adios unless Murray wants an 8-9th D-Man.
Benoit - Adios unless wants to sign to Rochester deal.
Strachan - Adios
Lindback - Adios
Bagnall - Possibly Rochester.

RFAs

Larsson - Re-signed. Possible 4th line Center or Roch. Will be 2-way contract.
Pysyk - Re-signed. 2nd to 4th D-Man on the Sabres next season.
Grigorenko - Re-signed 2 year deal. 2 way deal. Will start in Roch.
Dalpe - Adios
Varone - Roch if resigned.
Schaller - Roch if resigned.
Hackett - Roch if resigned.
Lieuwen - Adios
D'Amigo - Resigned to Roch.
Samuels-Thomas - Resigned to Roch
Leduc - Resigned to Roch
Sundher - Adios
- mattsox

If either one of those guys signs, it's not going to be a 2 way deal. They're veterans that have paid their dues. If they're going to be in Rochester, they'll still be making whatever their NHL salary is. That's the only difference between a 1 way and 2 way deal. Basically, they'll get paid their $550M-$1MM deals whether they're in Buffalo or Rochester, instead of only getting paid like $80,000.

I think they issue you'll find with this scenario is that if Eichel signs with us, it's because he's staying in Buffalo. He's not going to sign if being sent to Rochester is even a remote possibility, IMO.
- HonkFortheGoose

Good point. I definitely wouldn't put that kid in the #1 slot then. The problem is, I don't see Larssons, Girgs, Coho or Gringo in it either.
I've mentioned this before, but I just don't want to be Edmonton East next year.
Too many young Centers all at once.

If the isles pick doesn't end up in the teens i wouldn't mind seeing him trade down. It could make it easier to trade other prospects if the pipeline is a little deeper.
- Sabresfan-365

Same, Imo the range of talent gaps in most drafts are 1-2, 3-6, 7-12, 13-18, 19-25, 26-35. So falling from 20's to early second round isnt a huge loss if you can obtain another asset

nice blog

then again I'm drunk
- homiedclown

Cops and dope mix like poop and strawberry shortcake, Randy.

My Personal projections

UFAs

Kaleta - Signs 1 yr deal 2-way. Most likely in Roch unless someone gets hurt.
Ellis - Signs 2 yr deal 2-way Will start in Roch.
Meszaros - Adios unless Murray wants an 8-9th D-Man.
Benoit - Adios unless wants to sign to Rochester deal.
Strachan - Adios
Lindback - Adios
Bagnall - Possibly Rochester.

RFAs

Larsson - Re-signed. Possible 4th line Center or Roch. Will be 2-way contract.
Pysyk - Re-signed. 2nd to 4th D-Man on the Sabres next season.
Grigorenko - Re-signed 2 year deal. 2 way deal. Will start in Roch.
Dalpe - Adios
Varone - Roch if resigned.
Schaller - Roch if resigned.
Hackett - Roch if resigned.
Lieuwen - Adios
D'Amigo - Resigned to Roch.
Samuels-Thomas - Resigned to Roch
Leduc - Resigned to Roch
Sundher - Adios
- mattsox

Doesn't he have to go through waivers before he can be sent down?

Doesn't he have to go through waivers before he can be sent down?
- jochfr

Yes, and trying to sneak him through probably won't work. Teams know he's kind of a project, but there's no risk involved if they claim him. So why wouldn't another team take a flier on him if he's put on waivers?

My Personal projections

UFAs

Kaleta - Signs 1 yr deal 2-way. Most likely in Roch unless someone gets hurt.
Ellis - Signs 2 yr deal 2-way Will start in Roch.
Meszaros - Adios unless Murray wants an 8-9th D-Man.
Benoit - Adios unless wants to sign to Rochester deal.
Strachan - Adios
Lindback - Adios
Bagnall - Possibly Rochester.

RFAs

Larsson - Re-signed. Possible 4th line Center or Roch. Will be 2-way contract.
Pysyk - Re-signed. 2nd to 4th D-Man on the Sabres next season.
Grigorenko - Re-signed 2 year deal. 2 way deal. Will start in Roch.
Dalpe - Adios
Varone - Roch if resigned.
Schaller - Roch if resigned.
Hackett - Roch if resigned.
Lieuwen - Adios
D'Amigo - Resigned to Roch.
Samuels-Thomas - Resigned to Roch
Leduc - Resigned to Roch
Sundher - Adios
- mattsox

We'll probably have to sign one or two of these guys to get to the floor. Even with Pysyk.

We'll probably have to sign one or two of these guys to get to the floor. Even with Pysyk.
- Der Kaiser

We already have 42 million committed to next years cap, I don't think getting to the floor will be as much of an issue this time.

IMO reinhart to rochester next year. He can become a leader for the core of the new group they'll have. Also needs to get stronger.

Kane // Eichel // Ennis
Moulson // Reinhart // Hodgepodge
Larsson // Girgensons // Gionta
Deslauriers // Grigorenko // Foligno

That's what it's looking to be like. Needless to say, some pieces need to be moved. Otherwise, I'm actually happy with our forward line-up.
- awildmudkip

Kane / Reinhart / Ennis
Moulson / Eichel / Grigorenko
Larsson / Girgs / Foligno
Delorian / Hodge / Gionta

Varone knocking on the door...

might be missing a few...but I think they will put Eichel on training wheels for the first 10 games...make sure he's not overwhelmed......Hodge needs to be traded for a bag of pucks...

all n all this is a team that should be in the hunt for 8th place come the beginning of next march...don't think they are quite ready for the playoffs (unless Eichel turns out to be the TRUTH)

Kane / Reinhart / Ennis
Moulson / Eichel / Grigorenko
Larsson / Girgs / Foligno
Delorian / Hodge / Gionta

Varone knocking on the door...

might be missing a few...but I think they will put Eichel on training wheels for the first 10 games...make sure he's not overwhelmed......Hodge needs to be traded for a bag of pucks...

all n all this is a team that should be in the hunt for 8th place come the beginning of next march...don't think they are quite ready for the playoffs (unless Eichel turns out to be the TRUTH)
- feetontheair22

Still picking in the top ten at next years draft with that lineup, imo.