There aren't enough wingers as is, but you then want to put Johansen on the 3rd line?
- stashu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQza-Iby_qE

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7s9PGuZ7S8

Murray isn't going to make a big deal like that to trade for Johansen, it would cost to much and this team is just starting to come together with the moves he has made. Still have to resign Gus and we need a LHD. I heard the goalie talk my start up again with the set back that Lehner has had, how bad of a set back isn't known yet.

I'm starting to get a little concerned about Kane and his play.

I'm starting to get a little concerned about Kane and his play.
- SABRES 89

I am more concerned over girgens and ennis

the pressure was off them and they were suppose to just do their thing, which they have not done

Related to what 89 said regarding the D, here is what I could find as far as attractive UFA's (that are as of now unsigned long term).

Defense

2016 - Keith Yandle, Dustin Byfuglien, Kris Russell (all of those players are in the 28-30 range and likely going to get lengthy deals whicg makes them unappealing; further, how many are actual top pairing guys? None?)

2017 - Brent Burns, Victor Hedman, Kevin Shattenkirk (Burns will be too old despite his great play, which leaves Hedman and Shattenkirk as the only two targets with Hedman clearly the top, but how will either of them not be extended? Doesn't seem likely)

Murray isn't going to make a big deal like that to trade for Johansen, it would cost to much and this team is just starting to come together with the moves he has made. Still have to resign Gus and we need a LHD. I heard the goalie talk my start up again with the set back that Lehner has had, how bad of a set back isn't known yet.

I'm starting to get a little concerned about Kane and his play.
- SABRES 89

Exactly. We can't trade for every guy available, there is a cap we need to adhere too. Johansen will want 8 million a year next contract. I think girgensons deserves no more than a bridge 2 year 3.5 million total, similiar to folignos. He hasn't showed MUCH more than that at this point and has got hurt in all 3 of his pro seasons so far in North America. He does not deserve anything big yet.

Said it when we got kane, drew staffords career numbers look similiar to Kane's seasons. Obviously I like the jam kane can bring to his game over a weiner like stafford but people are wrong when they think/thought kane would become some 40 goal scorer here. He is what he is, a 50 point a year player with some physicalness to his game.

Related to what 89 said regarding the D, here is what I could find as far as attractive UFA's (that are as of now unsigned long term).

Defense

2016 - Keith Yandle, Dustin Byfuglien, Kris Russell (all of those players are in the 28-30 range and likely going to get lengthy deals whicg makes them unappealing; further, how many are actual top pairing guys? None?)

2017 - Brent Burns, Victor Hedman, Kevin Shattenkirk (Burns will be too old despite his great play, which leaves Hedman and Shattenkirk as the only two targets with Hedman clearly the top, but how will either of them not be extended? Doesn't seem likely)
- kingcong39

Sabres still have interest in Yandle but it's known as of yet if the Rangers will try and keep him.

Forwards

2016 - The big bananas are Stamkos and Kopitar, but the Sabres have plenty of quality centers already. That leaves Andrew Ladd, Loui Eriksson, and Jiri Hudler, all who have produced and/or are currently producing, but all of them are north of 30 and long term deals for those types don't fit the timeline of the age of the main talent on the current roster.

2017 - The trio of Datsyuk, Thornton, and Marleau would all be too old (Patrick Sharp can also be thrown in that category). Unless you are some kind of big TJ Oshie fan, 2017 would be all about one player: Jamie Benn. I cannot possibly imagine Dallas not signing him long term.

Exactly. We can't trade for every guy available, there is a cap we need to adhere too. Johansen will want 8 million a year next contract. I think girgensons deserves no more than a bridge 2 year 3.5 million total, similiar to folignos. He hasn't showed MUCH more than that at this point and has got hurt in all 3 of his pro seasons so far in North America. He does not deserve anything big yet.

Said it when we got kane, drew staffords career numbers look similiar to Kane's seasons. Obviously I like the jam kane can bring to his game over a weiner like stafford but people are wrong when they think/thought kane would become some 40 goal scorer here. He is what he is, a 50 point a year player with some physicalness to his game.
- Fattony1187

I don't want to see this team end up like other teams with to many big money deals and not enough room to better the team later on if needed. I was told Murray isn't looking to make a big time deal, just seeing what's out there that can help.

Sabres still have interest in Yandle but it's known as of yet if the Rangers will try and keep him.
- SABRES 89

If they did sign Yandle, I believe it would mean they are going for an overall 1-7 type of quality defense over the common top pairing route and figuring out the rest from there that many other teams adhere by.

I am more concerned over girgens and ennis

the pressure was off them and they were suppose to just do their thing, which they have not done
- homiedclown

Girgensons not scoring is something that I'd like to change, but at the same time, he's playing very well. Ennis needs to just simplify his game and stop pressing so hard.

I don't want to see this team end up like other teams with to many big money deals and not enough room to better the team later on if needed. I was told Murray isn't looking to make a big time deal, just seeing what's out there that can help.
- SABRES 89

I like the idea of figuring out who the 3 best centers will be of the following group (O'Reilly, Eichel, Reinhart, Girgensons...Larsson) and figuring out the rest from there.

As far as the defense going forward, I completely understand it is WAY early in the game, but the young group of Ristolainen, Pysyk, McCabe, and Guhle look very promising.

Exactly. We can't trade for every guy available, there is a cap we need to adhere too. Johansen will want 8 million a year next contract. I think girgensons deserves no more than a bridge 2 year 3.5 million total, similiar to folignos. He hasn't showed MUCH more than that at this point and has got hurt in all 3 of his pro seasons so far in North America. He does not deserve anything big yet.

Said it when we got kane, drew staffords career numbers look similiar to Kane's seasons. Obviously I like the jam kane can bring to his game over a weiner like stafford but people are wrong when they think/thought kane would become some 40 goal scorer here. He is what he is, a 50 point a year player with some physicalness to his game.
- Fattony1187

I don't know of anyone who thought he'd suddenly become a 40 goal scorer, but I think the expectation is that he'd be able to perform back to his career highs with talent like Eichel around, plus O'Reilly now too.

I don't want to see this team end up like other teams with to many big money deals and not enough room to better the team later on if needed. I was told Murray isn't looking to make a big time deal, just seeing what's out there that can help.
- SABRES 89

Murray said himself on WGR about 3 weeks ago now he's not looking to make any trades, but that he is still fielding phone calls and such as that is his job after all. He said that right now patience is the key because there were so many changes made between last year and this year. Knee jerk reactions aren't really the best way to go right now.

I like the idea of figuring out who the 3 best centers will be of the following group (O'Reilly, Eichel, Reinhart, Girgensons...Larsson) and figuring out the rest from there.

As far as the defense going forward, I completely understand it is WAY early in the game, but the young group of Ristolainen, Pysyk, McCabe, and Guhle look very promising.
- kingcong39

I agree on all that except, Larsson is the question mark................ he made be trade bait.

Murray said himself on WGR about 3 weeks ago now he's not looking to make any trades, but that he is still fielding phone calls and such as that is his job after all. He said that right now patience is the key because there were so many changes made between last year and this year. Knee jerk reactions aren't really the best way to go right now.
- HonkFortheGoose

I'm pretty sure Murray has recited that word for word since the day he's been hired.

Murray said himself on WGR about 3 weeks ago now he's not looking to make any trades, but that he is still fielding phone calls and such as that is his job after all. He said that right now patience is the key because there were so many changes made between last year and this year. Knee jerk reactions aren't really the best way to go right now.
- HonkFortheGoose

I said something similar in an earlier post, he's not looking to make a trade for a big player like Johansen, it would cost to much and he doesn't see a need for it. Adding a small piece here and there now and adding again in the offseason.

The Yotes already called about Gus a few weeks ago.

I agree on all that except, Larsson is the question mark................ he made be trade bait.
- SABRES 89

I could easily see that, agreed.

I don't mind the idea of playing him as the 3rd line C assuming they move both Reinhart and Girgensons to the wing on the top 2 lines.

That would solve much of their stop winger problems, but could they then find one more top 6 winger to fill out their forward group, and if they did have Reinhart and Girgensons playing top 6 wing, would they both score enough?

I could easily see that, agreed.

I don't mind the idea of playing him as the 3rd line C assuming they move both Reinhart and Girgensons to the wing on the top 2 lines.

That would solve much of their stop winger problems, but could they then find one more top 6 winger to fill out their forward group, and if they did have Reinhart and Girgensons playing top 6 wing, would they both score enough?
- kingcong39

Ennis will be the key here IMO, the Ducks still have interest in him as they have in the past as well. I think Reinhart needs to be in the top 6 IMO.

The Yotes already called about Gus a few weeks ago.
- SABRES 89

I am curious what they offered, if it ever got that far, for him.

I am curious what they offered, if it ever got that far, for him.
- kingcong39

I heard it was just talk between both teams, i'm sure Darcy was pulling that string.

Ennis will be the key here IMO, the Ducks still have interest in him as they have in the past as well. I think Reinhart needs to be in the top 6 IMO.
- SABRES 89

Agreed on Reinhart.

I think the ideal 3rd line, with what the team has now and for next season, would be one of Moulson-Girgensons-Ennis.

Give them enough minutes to make a difference and I think they would.

That leaves O'Reilly, Eichel, Reinhart, and Kane for the top 2 lines, which to me means O'Reilly or Eichel needs not 1 but 2 wingers, if you by Kane-Eichel or O'Reilly-Reinhart is the other line.

I would love to know where those players are coming from.

I mentioned before about the Sabres and Trevor Daley, he's a LHD and the Hawks may want to move him. Very resonable cap hit at 3.3 for this year and next.