I look at contracts as part of a big picture. The question shouldn't be "did player x's stats live up to the money". The question should be "how much better of a team did paying player x this kind of money make me?" The answer turned out to be "not that much".

And that's my concern with Ryan O'Reilly. He's going to make the Sabres a better team. I'm just not convinced he's going to make the Sabres that much better.
- buffalofan19

I understand the approach but you also have to be productive, paying guys based upon how much better they make the team is why guys like Bickell and Bolland get goofy contracts.

ROR has good underlying stats but it's dangerous to pay a guy that type of money when he can hopefully get you 25-30 goals. I like the player hopefully the contract works out

ROR's contract assassinated JFK.
- jochfr

my wife left me bc of ROR's contract

The difference is still that Toews has proven he's worth that money and probably then some.

The reality is the Ryan O'Reilly contract is paying for potential, which is exactly what got this team in trouble in the first place. I'm okay with the gamble given what else they have, but the combination of assets given up, plus the money being paid, and the structure in which it is being paid, makes this deal a huge risk. This is far from a bargain, and will be very interesting to see how it plays out to say the least.
- buffalofan19

Disagree. Paying Eichel that money right now, if possible, would be paying for potential.

my wife left me bc of ROR's contract
- DDM-Coga

ROR's contract defeated the Avengers.

ROR's contract defeated the Avengers.
- TheSabresTaco

hey buddy, having fun with ROR yet? Hes been a lightning rod of trolls for you guys lately. Guess no one has really watched him play, just look at his wikipedia stats and start going crazy

The difference is still that Toews has proven he's worth that money and probably then some.

The reality is the Ryan O'Reilly contract is paying for potential, which is exactly what got this team in trouble in the first place. I'm okay with the gamble given what else they have, but the combination of assets given up, plus the money being paid, and the structure in which it is being paid, makes this deal a huge risk. This is far from a bargain, and will be very interesting to see how it plays out to say the least.
- buffalofan19

Not saying he's not worth it. Just blasting an idiot saying that ROR makes more money than Toews. Which is clearly not the case. His contract is big, yes, and next year, the next wave of contracts will be bigger. Inflation. People don't grasp that concept. I'm pumped for ROR and I dont mind the contract.

The difference is still that Toews has proven he's worth that money and probably then some.

The reality is the Ryan O'Reilly contract is paying for potential, which is exactly what got this team in trouble in the first place. I'm okay with the gamble given what else they have, but the combination of assets given up, plus the money being paid, and the structure in which it is being paid, makes this deal a huge risk. This is far from a bargain, and will be very interesting to see how it plays out to say the least.
- buffalofan19

Oh my

hey buddy, having fun with ROR yet? Hes been a lightning rod of trolls for you guys lately. Guess no one has really watched him play, just look at his wikipedia stats and start going crazy
- DDM-Coga

TrollBuzz.

Bust seriously. This was a good trade for both teams. Buffalo got its experience at Forward it really needed. Colorado got help on D in Zadorov.

If He can win the Byng, Masterson or Selke I think it will go a lot farther than points scored with a young team like Buffalos.

Oh my
- sbroads24

Its also a huge Risk for Colorado. If Grigorneko and Zadorov fall short of expectations ROR and McGinn will have been traded for pick 31 and a prospect.

Grigs is not signed to a new deal yet. It will be interesting to see what he gets.

TrollBuzz.

Bust seriously. This was a good trade for both teams. Buffalo got its experience at Forward it really needed. Colorado got help on D in Zadorov.

If He can win the Byng, Masterson or Selke I think it will go a lot farther than points scored with a young team like Buffalos.
- ImThatGuy

I think he will get more Selke buzz now playing in the East, just more coverage of what he can do, more exposure to the voting members. But he will need to increase those point totals while still doing what he does to leap from the Toews, Bergerons, and Kopitars. Until they start to regress, its their award to win.

I still think he has it in him to win 1 Selke in his career

Disagree. Paying Eichel that money right now, if possible, would be paying for potential.
- TheSabresTaco

It's paying for potential in a way.

O'Reilly has proven he is a good player, a very good one.

But if he has already peaked, then for the next few years it's an overpayment IMO.

Its also a huge Risk for Colorado. If Grigorneko and Zadorov fall short of expectations ROR and McGinn will have been traded for pick 31 and a prospect.

Grigs is not signed to a new deal yet. It will be interesting to see what he gets.
- ImThatGuy

Yea, and honestly the ROR trade is the least risky trade we have made

I'm confident ROR will be very good, and durable throughout his deal

Kane, Bogosian and Lehner are totally different stories

Its also a huge Risk for Colorado. If Grigorneko and Zadorov fall short of expectations ROR and McGinn will have been traded for pick 31 and a prospect.

Grigs is not signed to a new deal yet. It will be interesting to see what he gets.
- ImThatGuy

McGinn is meh to us, he was pending 2016 UFA and probably would have been too costly to resign to play on the 3rd line. They got him for TJ Galiardi so turning him into a prospect like Compher...thats a steal in my mind when it comes to Asset management.

31st is the interesting part..they turned that into the 39th (AJ Greer) and were able to get their own 2nd and 5th round picks back from SJ (basically undoing the Start trade thank god)

All good moves in an effort of building up one of the worst prospect pools and farm systems in th eleague, so I will be ok with that

It's paying for potential in a way.

O'Reilly has proven he is a good player, a very good one.

But if he has already peaked, then for the next few years it's an overpayment IMO.
- sbroads24

If ROR puts up 60-70 points yearly, It is a good contract. That puts him in the top 20-30 in scoring yearly.

But points wont tell the whole story, IMO. If he continues to turn into a shutdown center, its a win for the $abres.

If ROR puts up 60-70 points yearly, It is a good contract. That puts him in the top 20-30 in scoring yearly.

But points wont tell the whole story, IMO. If he continues to turn into a shutdown center, its a win for the $abres.
- ImThatGuy

On his own, ROR probably wont be able to put up those numbers. He just doesnt have the offensively gifts to drive an offense, but is smart and talented enough to play with players who can.

So if ROR is getting 60-70pts its bc his line is dominating and has wingers putting up that sort of production too. Realistically guys like Ennis and Kane can help do that.

Thats my own knock on him as a player, just always seems to match the level of talent on his line but never exceed it

hey buddy, having fun with ROR yet? Hes been a lightning rod of trolls for you guys lately. Guess no one has really watched him play, just look at his wikipedia stats and start going crazy
- DDM-Coga

I've largely chosen to remove myself from those discussions because I'm pretty certain I'd see a string of bans.

He's here now, I'm just biting the bullet. It's either that or female dog about it for 8 years, which I'm not inclined on doing. He's a good player, I've always admitted that, but it's always been about that contract. I don't and have never thought he'd be worth 7.5, but ya know what, it's not an awful contract.. he might score less points than Vanek (today's discussion) but he's a hell of a lot more useful and he makes about the same amount of money in a higher cap era. Player salaries are rising, and suddenly now, if a guy is making 4 million bucks scoring 60 some points a season, that's one of the best bargains in the entire league.

He'll be good for us, some will argue that he won't affect this team enough to earn that high of a salary.. but ya know what. He's signed, we payed for 7 years of UFA years, we payed for his entire prime, we payed for 60 points a season, we payed for leadership and accountability, we payed for excellent two way play (not elite, for you nitpickers), we payed for great possession and he's probably going to be a great addition to this team. Whining all day about it is not worth anyone's time. He's here and he'll do well.

I didn't want him here prior to the trade for money reasons, but if the Sabres don't think his contract will be a detriment to this team moving forward, then by all means, I'll hop on board with that. If the Penguins and the Blackhawks can exist, then so can we.

Highest priced guys now and in the future will be Kane, ROR, Eichel. Higher priced guys will be Risto, Reinhart, Bogo. Then you've got the 4-5M guys. And by then the cap will be in the high 70's. We'll be fine.

McGinn is meh to us, he was pending 2016 UFA and probably would have been too costly to resign to play on the 3rd line. They got him for TJ Galiardi so turning him into a prospect like Compher...thats a steal in my mind when it comes to Asset management.

31st is the interesting part..they turned that into the 39th (AJ Greer) and were able to get their own 2nd and 5th round picks back from SJ (basically undoing the Start trade thank god)

All good moves in an effort of building up one of the worst prospect pools and farm systems in th eleague, so I will be ok with that
- DDM-Coga

I like AJ Greer. He would have been my choice. Nice prospect.

If ROR puts up 60-70 points yearly, It is a good contract. That puts him in the top 20-30 in scoring yearly.

But points wont tell the whole story, IMO. If he continues to turn into a shutdown center, its a win for the $abres.
- ImThatGuy

He hasn't done this yet though, so that's where the potential comes from.

Same with Kane. he put up 30 once. We traded for his potential to do that annually

He hasn't done this yet though, so that's where the potential comes from.

Same with Kane. he put up 30 once. We traded for his potential to do that annually
- sbroads24

The whole "points" thing is going to get really annoying soon. There's a lot more to a player than points.

We should just get the suck sisters back together, they put up a lot of points.

McGinn is meh to us, he was pending 2016 UFA and probably would have been too costly to resign to play on the 3rd line. They got him for TJ Galiardi so turning him into a prospect like Compher...thats a steal in my mind when it comes to Asset management.

31st is the interesting part..they turned that into the 39th (AJ Greer) and were able to get their own 2nd and 5th round picks back from SJ (basically undoing the Start trade thank god)

All good moves in an effort of building up one of the worst prospect pools and farm systems in th eleague, so I will be ok with that
- DDM-Coga

Like I said, Risk for both sides, but a pretty equal trade .

He hasn't done this yet though, so that's where the potential comes from.

Same with Kane. he put up 30 once. We traded for his potential to do that annually
- sbroads24

ROR last 3 seasons, 55, 64,55 points collectively.

He is close. IMO he will become a 60 Points/season guy regularly.

The whole "points" thing is going to get really annoying soon. There's a lot more to a player than points.

We should just get the suck sisters back together, they put up a lot of points.
- TheSabresTaco

And, a fresh start helps.

The whole "points" thing is going to get really annoying soon. There's a lot more to a player than points.

We should just get the suck sisters back together, they put up a lot of points.
- TheSabresTaco

Well, you win by scoring. So it's kind of important

If you are telling me we are going to pay someone 7.5 a year to not score and just play good D, then it's not a good deal. Luckily ROR can produce

Why do Sabres and Bills fans insist on being unhappy about everything? ROR is here now so get used to it. It's not your money he's getting and I don't think it'll be a cap issue either. If some other team traded for him we'd be pissed that we never do anything. Get over it and get excited. We have teams that are being talked about nationally as 'on the rise' and 'playoff contenders'. I trust the Pegulas and the management they've hired that soon we'll be hearing 'Cup contenders', 'Super Bowl contenders' and hopefully 'Champions'

At 716 having a beer with the fam right now. This place is nice.
Love the bar designs and the layout. Heading to the practice at 1pm.