With what Sekera had to say about Buffalo when he was traded I am not sure he would return.

Sure those were the Darcy days but still...
- Stripes77

It won't be easy to get him back here but I think he's a perfect fit. Maybe he'll see the moves that were made here and with the cap space we have, it could work.

Tho, Cody Franson wouldn't be a bad fit for us either;


A 6'5", 215lbs, 27 yr old, RH, puck moving d-man, with a big shot...

Looks like a poor man's Tyler Myers!
- SuperCat

We need LD.

I like Franson, the big beef with him is he is a righty...
- Stripes77

It wasn't too long ago that it was left handed defensemen that were a premium and the right handed ones were hard to come by. The switch in this trend is weird.

Are Canadians no longer taught to play with their strong hand on top of their stick like they were in the past?

I like Franson, the big beef with him is he is a righty...
- Stripes77

While it wouldn't be ideal...

it's also possible we just say "screw it" and bring up McCabe.


Risto/Bagosian
Georges/Pysyk
McCabe/Webber

It wasn't too long ago that it was left handed defensemen that were a premium and the right handed ones were hard to come by. The switch in this trend is weird.

Are Canadians no longer taught to play with their strong hand on top of their stick like they were in the past?
- buffalofan19

I can tell you down here in Florida they aren't taught that anymore. If you write right handed you play right handed...

I can't speak for the Canadians though

I was thinking about the whole contract thing last night.

Kane $10.5
Toews $10.5
Hossa $5.25
Keith $5.5
Seabrook $5.8
Crawford $6

$43.55 Million

I didn't include the guys that should be moved, like Bickell and Sharp

ROR $7.5
Kessel $8
Eichel $7 when due
Reinhart $6 when due
Girgensons $6 when due
Risto $5 when due (his contract is up at the end of next year)
Kane $7 when due (3 years)

$46.5 total and the Sabres have 1 more player signed. It's possible to keep these guys are your core players IMO

Edit: You also need to plan smartly and hope the cap increases close to the $80 million mark (with expansion I don't think that is out of the question)
- Stripes77

Good info here Stripes.
Reading back this morning I was shocked by, IMO of the rather significant over-reaction to the moves by GMTM.
Will the Sabres win each deal, maybe not, did they get better...absolutely.
After 17 years of paralysis by analysis, I am glad to see a guy at the top with balls and conviction running the show.
I too think he "overpaid" for Lehner when looking strictly at his numbers...which are average by a young goalie...but when one considers the other factors, combined with air be as his coach...I'm hopeful we have our starter who will be Obote average at a relatively low cost that fits perfectly with our timeline.

I'm torn a bit on Sekera.

He's a nice a player, but if we're gonna pay a UFA D-man over $5 mill, I'd like him to be better than Bagosian.

Imo, if we're gonna bring in a guy and make him our highest paid blue liner, & it'd be nice if his play reflected pay...
- SuperCat

I'd offer 5 years $4.5 per.

While it wouldn't be ideal...

it's also possible we just say "screw it" and bring up McCabe.


Risto/Bagosian
Georges/Pysyk
McCabe/Webber
- SuperCat

I don't think GMTM is in a just "screw it" mode haha

Maybe last year but his moves already has shown he is serious about getting this team better

While it wouldn't be ideal...

it's also possible we just say "screw it" and bring up McCabe.


Risto/Bagosian
Georges/Pysyk
McCabe/Webber
- SuperCat

you dont trade for a goalie and ror and add kane last year to have mccabe with the big club this season IMO

I can tell you down here in Florida they aren't taught that anymore. If you write right handed you play right handed...

I can't speak for the Canadians though
- Stripes77

I went to a boarding school in PA for high school, and there were a number of Canadians that went to it. They all said that in Canada you were taught to play with your strong hand on top of your stick. I have no idea how widespread that really is up there, though.

I can tell you down here in Florida they aren't taught that anymore. If you write right handed you play right handed...

I can't speak for the Canadians though
- Stripes77

If only I could skate better

Good info here Stripes.
Reading back this morning I was shocked by, IMO of the rather significant over-reaction to the moves by GMTM.
Will the Sabres win each deal, maybe not, did they get better...absolutely.
After 17 years of paralysis by analysis, I am glad to see a guy at the top with balls and conviction running the show.
I too think he "overpaid" for Lehner when looking strictly at his numbers...which are average by a young goalie...but when one considers the other factors, combined with air be as his coach...I'm hopeful we have our starter who will be Obote average at a relatively low cost that fits perfectly with our timeline.
- IonSabres

Ion, I wasn't crazy about the Lehner trade at all but when Ottawa drafted Colin White, I thought that maybe the deal was fair, especially if Lehner works out. White's ceiling might be that of bottom 6 forward. We don't have to win every trade but more importantly to get this team better and fill holes.

Good info here Stripes.
Reading back this morning I was shocked by, IMO of the rather significant over-reaction to the moves by GMTM.
Will the Sabres win each deal, maybe not, did they get better...absolutely.
After 17 years of paralysis by analysis, I am glad to see a guy at the top with balls and conviction running the show.
I too think he "overpaid" for Lehner when looking strictly at his numbers...which are average by a young goalie...but when one considers the other factors, combined with air be as his coach...I'm hopeful we have our starter who will be Obote average at a relatively low cost that fits perfectly with our timeline.
- IonSabres

Thanks, I know the salary cap is a real thing to be concerned about, but it is something good teams are already dealing with. People get too concerned about it IMO. The teams with good people running the show like the Chicago Blackhawks are smart enough to figure this out. GMTM and company should be able to figure this out as well.

As soon as the Sabres are real contenders they will be up against the cap. As long as they don't turn into the Flyers then there is nothing wrong with it. Teams move contracts all the time...hell Pronger was just traded for crying out loud.

It's the same over reaction when it comes to moving a few prospects and picks for a real NHL player, yes you can be concerned about it but if you are a winning team with your core locked up long term does it really matter if you don't have the top prospect pool in the league anymore?

I think by adding ROR, the only way they get another upgrade up front is on a short term contract

st louis, eriksson, sharp


honestly Vrbata or Simmonds would look really good right now on this team
- homiedclown

Nuck fans talked about trading Vrbata for cap space.

If only I could skate better
- homiedclown

If only I didn't lose my hands when I was 18...

But I am left handed and I play left handed because my mom bought my first hockey stick. She went to the store and said he is a lefty and that's what I got!

If only I didn't lose my hands when I was 18...

But I am left handed and I play left handed because my mom bought my first hockey stick. She went to the store and said he is a lefty and that's what I got!
- Stripes77

Do you play golf left handed?

Nuck fans talked about trading Vrbata for cap space.
- mhp

Hmm, I would pass.

At 34 years old I'm not sure I would want to even for a year or two.

Do you play golf left handed?
- mhp

I do everything left handed.

Yes.

It's weird though my dad is right handed.

Plays hockey left handed

Bats right handed

Plays golf right handed

Hmm, I would pass.

At 34 years old I'm not sure I would want to even for a year or two.
- Stripes77

He makes 5M this season and then he's a UFA. I would pass as well.

He makes 5M this season and then he's a UFA. I would pass as well.
- mhp

The fact that he had his best statistical season last year is an interesting tidbit though

I do everything left handed.

Yes.

It's weird though my dad is right handed.

Plays hockey left handed

Bats right handed

Plays golf right handed
- Stripes77

Gotcha.

I'm screwed up as well lol.

Golf- left

hockey-left

baseball- bat left and throw right

tennis- right

bowling- right

We need LD.
- mhp

Not sure what hand Sustr plays but he's an RFA from Tampa that I wouldn't mind trying to get.

Another RFA D-Man to look at is Rasmus Rissanen. I'm not sure if he's even any good but how sweet would a Rasmus Ristolainen and Rasmus Rissanen D-Pair be?

Gotcha.

I'm screwed up as well lol.

Golf- left

hockey-left

baseball- bat left and throw right

tennis- right

bowling- right
- mhp

Yea that's pretty messed up!

You would probably been a good switch hitter if you worked on it

Does UFA signings start on July 1st or did they change that to the 5th? I thought it changed last year. Not sure if I'm right or not.

Yea that's pretty messed up!

You would probably been a good switch hitter if you worked on it
- Stripes77