But didn't they then lose in the first round to a wild card team, then miss the playoffs in 14-15?
- scottak

Lost in OT of game 7 and didn't have Barrie (our most offensive dman) for games 3-7. Avs were up in the series 2-0 before Cooke cheaped him. I wonder how the blackhawks would have faired without their most offensive dman Keith?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caCuIMmo_TM

Decisions will have to be made. Everyone that is bashing murray for this contract right now isnt looking 2 or 3 years down the road when these kids are still under contract for the league minimum. He'll have to make a tough decision in the future perhaps. But do you not sign ROR because you're worried about a cap situation in 5 Years? No. If thats the argument, its a non issue. If we have to trade one of Girgensons, rinehart or eichel in 3-5 years, so be it. We'll deal with that when the time comes. If anyone has been paying attention, Murray is executing the plan he publicly announced when he was hired. You dont have to like it, but he's doing exactly what he said he was going to do.
- seedy

This is true. I am by no means bashing Murray or his strategy as I think ROR will do well for the blue and gold for years to come. The only concern I have is how this effects negotiations for players that put up similar, if not better numbers. The big concern is in 3 years when Reinhart, Eichel, and Kane all have expiring contracts and one of them has to be let go because the starting point in negotiations is 7.5m. But like you said it's tough to tell if

X-Eichel-X
X-Reinhart-X

is better built to be a contender than

X-Eichel-X
X-ROR-X

A lot can and will happen in 3 years so I guess only time will tell. Until then though, the sabres will be icing a very competitive team which is exciting.

What will the lines be do you guys think?

Kane-ROR-Ennis
Moulson-Eichel-Reinhart??
X-Girgensons-Gionta
X-Larson-X

Wow...are you two guys paid to write this tripe? He's worth it because the salary cap is going up and he's 3m less than Toews? Most of the other reasons you cite are applicable to more players than the overall NHL cap would fit.

My favorite is that he is 24 and he has his best hockey ahead of him. Uh....that would pretty much apply to most players. If you guys can't admit he was at least slightly overpaid, you shouldn't be writing about NHL financial matters.

Wow, just wow...
- Bluey

Well, statistically, most players sing their longest high-value deal after they've had their best years. So yes, it really matters (a lot) that they signed him to this deal when he is 23 and not 27.

The Oilers had a direction .They accumulated assets and have set themselves up to be a powerhouse .Now they could have been way better for sure , but at least they tanked properly even if that wasn't the intent .Colorado has no direction what so ever .They have no depth at any position and are not even close to being a contender .The Johnson trade was foolish .Their asset management has been just brutal
- Allforhim12

[url]

Just to be fair, until your team gets out of the basement at least once (it's been close to what, 9 years now?) You shouldn't compare the oilers and avs management. I like both teams, and truly hope to see Edmonton make a comeback soon with all of their 1st round assets slowly becoming reliable players. But don't belittle the Avs prospects, they have a ton of depth and talent coming up and will now have room to sign MacKinnon Barrie and Johnson to their core player plan.

As far as the Johnson Shattenkirk trade, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. You guys have Nurse in the D prospect pool? We have Seimens Bigras Elliot all poised to make the jump soon.

This is true. I am by no means bashing Murray or his strategy as I think ROR will do well for the blue and gold for years to come. The only concern I have is how this effects negotiations for players that put up similar, if not better numbers. The big concern is in 3 years when Reinhart, Eichel, and Kane all have expiring contracts and one of them has to be let go because the starting point in negotiations is 7.5m. But like you said it's tough to tell if

X-Eichel-X
X-Reinhart-X

is better built to be a contender than

X-Eichel-X
X-ROR-X

A lot can and will happen in 3 years so I guess only time will tell. Until then though, the sabres will be icing a very competitive team which is exciting.

What will the lines be do you guys think?

Kane-ROR-Ennis
Moulson-Eichel-Reinhart??
X-Girgensons-Gionta
X-Larson-X
- goavsgo10

Im not going to speculate much on the lines.
bylsma said that ROR is his number 1, leaving Eichel And Girgensons as #2a and #2b i guess, depending on matchups.
Im most interested in seeing who Eichel gets for wingers.
And i get it regarding other players contracts. The reality is, Murray wanted to build around ROR, so he paid what he had to in order to execute his plan.
Im just looking forward to watching this team going forward. The future sabre contracts will work them selves out.

This is such a ridiculous discussion. Every time plays by the same rules. Every team has 71 million in cap space. In what way each team spends that money is entirely up to them. Are we really going to have to listen to people cry because of one teams signing will somehow inadvertently affect their team? Your GM has his 71 million to spend, it's his JOB to make it work. If he can't do it, then that's his negotiating skills, not the fault of how another GM spent his money.
- sskkoo1

I'm perfectly happy watching the sabres commit big bucks to second tier players. Tie em all up please

I'm perfectly happy watching the sabres commit big bucks to second tier players. Tie em all up please
- Isles_since_6

Everyone acts like every one of our players have huge contracts. No gaurentee Kane will want to stay in 4 years to resign, or if eichel and Reinhart take bridge deals. A couple big contracts can be done for your core players then you fill in year to year or trade big contracts like Chicago did in Ladd, buff, saad etc...

Chicago:
Toews
Kane
Sharp
hossa
Kieth
Seabrook


Buffalo
Eichel
Reinhart
Oreilly
Risto
kane?
?

We will be fine.

[url]

Just to be fair, until your team gets out of the basement at least once (it's been close to what, 9 years now?) You shouldn't compare the oilers and avs management. I like both teams, and truly hope to see Edmonton make a comeback soon with all of their 1st round assets slowly becoming reliable players. But don't belittle the Avs prospects, they have a ton of depth and talent coming up and will now have room to sign MacKinnon Barrie and Johnson to their core player plan.

As far as the Johnson Shattenkirk trade, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. You guys have Nurse in the D prospect pool? We have Seimens Bigras Elliot all poised to make the jump soon.
- Palfenier

Shattenkirk is better than Johnson... I don't think you will find anyone that disagrees with that except for maybe some homer Avs fans. Other than that I'd say you guys have a very good and exciting team that I'm looking forward to watching grow each year.
Prediction: 2017-2018 season
WCF: Oilers vs Avs
ECF: Sabres vs Tampa

You would choose, as your #1 defenseman, eating all the hardest d zone starts against opposition top line shifts, Kevin ShattenkirK over Erik Johnson. Even though Shattenkirk has never been asked to do this before, and Johnson just got an all-star nod for his offensive production despite those hard minutes.

You would choose, as your #1 defenseman, eating all the hardest d zone starts against opposition top line shifts, Kevin ShattenkirK over Erik Johnson. Even though Shattenkirk has never been asked to do this before, and Johnson just got an all-star nod for his offensive production despite those hard minutes.
- Footer52

I would take McDonagh

The Canadian Dollar is a petro currency. When the price of Oil is up, so goes the Canadian Dollar. Other reasons for the lower Canadian Dollar is the upcoming Federal Election in the fall. Canadian's will go to the polls and the way the indicators are pointing, will probably be looking at a minority government. Right now, the NDP(Labour, or socialists) have moved ahead of the Liberal Party of Canada. They are neck and neck with the governing Conservatives. Unfortunately, a close vote will cause a minority government and the Liberals will side with the NDP to turf the ruling Conservative Party, of Steven Harper.

What this will cause is an issue in the stock market. The Conservatives have run a decent fiscal ship, the last few years, since the Stock Market crash of 7 years ago. The idea of a Socialist government coming to power and opening up the spending taps, will drive down the value of the currency. What does this mean to the Canadian teams and their contribution to the salary cap? Less revenue and possibly teams being in financial trouble, with players being paid in U.S. dollars. There could even be cap regression, if the dollar falls under 80 cents, as compared to the U.S. dollar. Best hope for a Conservative rebound and keep the value of the Canadian dollar above the 80 cent demarcation line.
- PrinceLH

Seriously? They took a surplus and turned it into a massive deficit.

He is worth every penny! Let's not forget we are the worst team in the NHL, we were the worst team the year before, 7.5 is an exaggerated average that is front loaded with bonuses and heavy tHe first 2 years, and lastly, I am just excited someone with some talent is willing to sign long term with us.

Look. He may one day deserve that contract but he is making elite money when he had one 60+ season in his career. When he starts putting up 82 points a season and/or leads his team to a cup victory then he is deserving of that contract

Everyone acts like every one of our players have huge contracts. No gaurentee Kane will want to stay in 4 years to resign, or if eichel and Reinhart take bridge deals. A couple big contracts can be done for your core players then you fill in year to year or trade big contracts like Chicago did in Ladd, buff, saad etc...

Chicago:
Toews
Kane
Sharp
hossa
Kieth
Seabrook


Buffalo
Eichel
Reinhart
Oreilly
Risto
kane?
?

We will be fine.
- Fattony1187

You are comparing 5 buffalo players that are completely unproven. Eichel has not played a game in the NHL, Reinhart hasn't done anything yet, Oreilly had one good season, Kane has had issues and Risto still has proven anything. Not one of those players can be compared to Chicago's players.

Well, statistically, most players sing their longest high-value deal after they've had their best years. So yes, it really matters (a lot) that they signed him to this deal when he is 23 and not 27.
- James_Tanner

This has more to do with the Calgary offer sheet that gave him big money before he had earned it. Each subsequent deal garners a raise and he's 2 to 3 years ahead of the curve. Colorado would have bridged him for 2 more years, and gotten a better deal. He would have fallen in the 5.5. to 6 range.....not 7.5, for this segment of his career.

Seriously? They took a surplus and turned it into a massive deficit.
- billcanuck

I guess you only see numbers.....I guess that you haven't seen the destruction in the world economy the last 7 years. Canada is the only G7 nation with a balanced budget. The U.S. has rolled up a debt that will be almost impossible to pay back. Canada rebuilt infrastructure and kept the deficits to manageable levels during the same period. Keep dreaming.

I guess you only see numbers.....I guess that you haven't seen the destruction in the world economy the last 7 years. Canada is the only G7 nation with a balanced budget. The U.S. has rolled up a debt that will be almost impossible to pay back. Canada rebuilt infrastructure and kept the deficits to manageable levels during the same period. Keep dreaming.
- PrinceLH

You don't know what you're talking about.

Buffalo is a great city to live in. Sports crazy, Chippewa, Elmwood, Allentown for night life, free canalside concerts in the summer, affordable cost of living, Niagara Falls a stone's throw away, access to Canadian cities such as Toronto, and good, wholesome people. Those who bash Buffalo have never spent a day here and judge it based on the fact that it isn't a large city like Boston, NYC, etc.
- goavsgo10

Excellent points...I have a friend who lives in Toronto, she is in real estate and said she wishes she had duo citizenship because Buffalo is on the rise and there is a lot of money to be made here. Bottom line is Buffalo is a great city to live in, not on the lines of Boston or New York as you point out but it's good down to earth people. I have a friend who compares it to living in Chicago...he says the people there are friendly, willing to say hello instead of turning their head and looking the other way etc.. Haters will be Haters.

As for ROR and his contract it will have to play out as how can anyone say it will be bad or not. Who says Reinhart will pan out and be looking for 7.5 mil or more. Girgensons is a nice player but for him to get to that plateau is questionable. Eichel and Ristolainen probably. Kane is good for 3 more years so by then Moulson will be expendable and Gionta will be gone. Doubt Gorges will be here 3 yrs down the road.

Murray is not dumb, yes in time he is going to make a mistake but what GM doesn't. He stated the last year and a half we have a lot of assets (prospects + draft picks) to work with and we can't sign them all so they will be used in trades to acquire players that are 23-24 who are ready to take that next step and that's exactly what he did...Kane 23, ROR 24, Bogosian 24, Lehner 23. We won't know how much he really gave up for probably another 2-3 yrs.

When quality young players are rocketing towards free agency, a fair deal or a bargain price relative to the current going rate, meaning not what waa signed a year or longer ago, is just about a pipe dream.

It's nothing more than reality.

I tried creating an all value team for Buffalo regarding who they had on their roster at the time and who was available in free agency each of the past few seasons and it was mission impossible.

You are comparing 5 buffalo players that are completely unproven. Eichel has not played a game in the NHL, Reinhart hasn't done anything yet, Oreilly had one good season, Kane has had issues and Risto still has proven anything. Not one of those players can be compared to Chicago's players.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Omg your reading comp skills need some help. I never once compared their talent. My whole post was about salaries and how Chicago can do it by identifying your core players, paying them big then fill in salaries and roles around them. Your poor response just makes my point better. If the sabres players never equal Chicagos players than they will most likely have lower salaries. Making this whole oreilly is overpaid argument and blog irrelelevant since we won't ever need to sign the rest of our players to big contracts

We will know 15 games into the season. Until then , every comment is an opinion based on snake oil and fantasy.

Was there as much outrage when Stastny signed for $7 mill per year last July? I feel ROR brings more of an all around game and buffalo paid for 7 ufa years.

This was a good trade for both teams and a good signing for Buffalo. Each team got more of what it needs to get out of the basement. Buffalo gains some immediate experience and proven talent for their young crop of forwards. Colorado gets rid of a contentious contract problem, gains promising prospects at important positions for them, and flexibility going forward with other contracts. ROR to Buffalo = good hockey trade.

When it comes to the money, it's just not possible to know. I think most agree that it is a bit much considering the output over the years. People then cite the intangibles that can't as easily be measured like the two-way game. The fact is, ROR was not going to sign anywhere for a penny less after his last couple contracts and impending UFA status. Buffalo wanted him, great move by them to get him. Colorado didn't see him in their future plans at that price, great move by them to get some potential assets and free up cap space.

I love this trade and would hope the Avs would make it every time. It seems like most Buffalo fans are happy with it too (and the recent signing). And I think it's fair to say that this trade doesn't make either team a Cup contender anytime soon, but does address a specific need for each squad. Both these teams have plenty of shortcomings and no player is going to solve every one.

100

He is not worth the contract he signed. Plain and simple. Buffalo has a history of signing players to bad contracts.