Posted earlier. He's back for the Oilers game.
- Wetbandit1

thanks.

2 thoughts:


1) Scoring is fun. Even when we lost 7-4 to Florida, there was momentum swings during the game. Actual excitement.

2) Foligno finding his game as of late has me feeling much better about the team. We have so many other roster situations to contend with and for awhile it felt like Marcus was just riding the name on the back of the jersey. But now he is making #82 a force to be reckoned with out there. And that is important.

2 thoughts:


1) Scoring is fun. Even when we lost 7-4 to Florida, there was momentum swings during the game. Actual excitement.

2) Foligno finding his game as of late has me feeling much better about the team. We have so many other roster situations to contend with and for awhile it felt like Marcus was just riding the name on the back of the jersey. But now he is making #82 a force to be reckoned with out there. And that is important.
- Buffalo--Sabres

And we're probably moving him...

And we're probably moving him...
- Sabresfan-365

Oh poop what?

Oh poop what?
- Buffalo--Sabres

Page 20, Buff39 first post.

And we're probably moving him...
- Sabresfan-365

Then this is the perfect time to move him than. At least 16 teams looking to buy right now and you have a normally mediocre player that has some grit suddenly getting hot. Sell... Sell... Sell...

Then this is the perfect time to move him than. At least 16 teams looking to buy right now and you have a normally mediocre player that has some grit suddenly getting hot. Sell... Sell... Sell...
- sskkoo1

It's another trade they would likely have trouble recovering from. That would mean more ice time for boat anchors like Matt Moulson. We have 4 more years at 5 mil per. Doesn't get any worse.

If you sign Stamkos you move ROR to wing and the Top 5 pick is a Dman.

I think that's a 5 year plan, and I think Murrays moving faster than that. Plus, we won't get Stamkos. ROR doesn't want to play wing.

We'll trade for d and pick a winger.
- Der Kaiser

A little lottery luck wouldnt hurt nobody. Still quite a few games left, wouldnt shock me if we finish 5th from the bottom and get passed by 2 teams. Which leaves us picking 7th. Maybe you get a nice player at 7, but probably not much help next year. And then imagine the cap going down. Could be playing the same hand next year.

Or...

Win one of the 3 lottery spots, pick matthews or one of the finns, drive a dumptruck full of krugerrands to stamkos door, and move girgensons/reinhart/bogosian/2017 first/whatever- for a very good lhd to play 25 min a night in all situations with ristolainen.

Lotta things have to line up for the second scenario.

It's another trade they would likely have trouble recovering from. That would mean more ice time for boat anchors like Matt Moulson. We have 4 more years at 5 mil per. Doesn't get any worse.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Probably stuck with him for 1 more year. The buyout will sting less next summer.

Probably stuck with him for 1 more year. The buyout will sting less next summer.
- rover16

I hope that's it. It's really a sad situation. Seems every player on the ice including Matt has concluded it's over for him.

I hope that's it. It's really a sad situation. Seems every player on the ice including Matt has concluded it's over for him.
- Buffalo--Sabres

I might be the only one thats surprised he hit the wall this bad. He was never fast, he wasnt exactly a bull, but he went to the dirty areas and when he played with a decent center, he scored. I can see a speed guy losing a step and falling off, but that was never a thing for him. I didnt hate signing him- never would have given him 5 years though. And now hes toast. He probably should be watching games from the press box but i dont think bylsmas gonna do that to a vet with that much term left. Ugly situation for sure.

A little lottery luck wouldnt hurt nobody. Still quite a few games left, wouldnt shock me if we finish 5th from the bottom and get passed by 2 teams. Which leaves us picking 7th. Maybe you get a nice player at 7, but probably not much help next year. And then imagine the cap going down. Could be playing the same hand next year.

Or...

Win one of the 3 lottery spots, pick matthews or one of the finns, drive a dumptruck full of krugerrands to stamkos door, and move girgensons/reinhart/bogosian/2017 first/whatever- for a very good lhd to play 25 min a night in all situations with ristolainen.

Lotta things have to line up for the second scenario.
- rover16

Highly doubt two teams past 5th would win the lotto

I might be the only one thats surprised he hit the wall this bad. He was never fast, he wasnt exactly a bull, but he went to the dirty areas and when he played with a decent center, he scored. I can see a speed guy losing a step and falling off, but that was never a thing for him. I didnt hate signing him- never would have given him 5 years though. And now hes toast. He probably should be watching games from the press box but i dont think bylsmas gonna do that to a vet with that much term left. Ugly situation for sure.
- rover16

Couldn't have said it better

Probably stuck with him for 1 more year. The buyout will sting less next summer.
- rover16

I'm not sure it makes a ton of sense to buy him out. We'd be on the hook for a hefty portion for 4 more years until 2021 if we bought him out after next season because the buyout lasts for twice the length of contract left when bought out. And according to general fanager he'll cost almost $4,000,000 against the cap in 18-19 instead of the $5,000,000 if he stays on the roster and then we'd be done with him, but if bought out he'll cost another $900,000 for 2 years after that until 2021. In 4-6 years we'll probably need that $1 million. To make matters worse Hodgson will still be on the cap until 2023 and from 2019-23 he will count $791,667 against. So that's essentially ~$2 million in dead money for a team that is expected to be in the midst of serious contention. Not great... I'd rather just bury a $950,000 savings in the minors until his contract runs out instead of taking the $1 million hit for a few years after that and we'd take a cap hit of $4,050,000 in keeping him buried instead of a $3,800,000 hit if bought out. It's not much different for 18-19 in the key year of having to sign Eichel and Reinhart and Kane should they wish to re-sign him as well. And after that it's a net gain. Not in terms of real money, but in terms of cap hit. Boy, I think I confused myself on that one...

I might be the only one thats surprised he hit the wall this bad. He was never fast, he wasnt exactly a bull, but he went to the dirty areas and when he played with a decent center, he scored. I can see a speed guy losing a step and falling off, but that was never a thing for him. I didnt hate signing him- never would have given him 5 years though. And now hes toast. He probably should be watching games from the press box but i dont think bylsmas gonna do that to a vet with that much term left. Ugly situation for sure.
- rover16

He's had a couple glorious point blank, blue paint opportunities the past couple games too. Which is more than I can say for the past 4 months. I think it's the first time in months he's actually gone to the net.

And we're probably moving him...
- Sabresfan-365

I'd take that with a grain of salt

Foligno might be someone the Sabres are willing to part with, but unless it's part of a big trade it doesn't make sense (same with Larsson)

I guess we'll see, but I'd bet he's still here
Especially if we're gonna go after Stamkos
Foligno is a lot cheaper than McGinn

Franson makes sense, teams are always looking for depth defenseman for the playoffs

He's at his best when he's at centre, which won't happen here (not for enough minutes anyways). He's been a disaster on the wing so no surprise they want to move on.
- Sabresfan-365

Hmm...
What if he's thinking something like this?

Stamkos
Eichel
O'Reilly

Also, Bylsma commented that he wanted to move Reinhart back to center either later this year or next (per Paul Hanilton)

With the versatility of a bunch of our forwards, we have lots of options

If Girgensons and a 2nd can get you drouin
Ennis and franson for a guy like fowler
Then you get a top 5 pick
Throw a bushel of money at stamkos
- Buffalo39

I have been saying for weeks to move Girgensons and 2016 2nd rounder for Drouin. I like Girgensons, but he is an afterthought right now. His injuries have not helped this trade recently.

I sure hope you know something about that happening that will all dont. Girgensons being an RFA seems exactly what TB would want.

Only question would be if Stamkos likes Drouin, cause I would rather Stamkos (if not both) considering we would only be paying him, no assets traded. I can see if Stamkos is not signed at seasons end, TB trades his negotiation rights, so he could cost something.

Fun back reading.

I would not trade a ton for Drouin, obviously he has issues and is immature. Why bring a problem on board we don't need. Scoring? There are other options. If they make a play for him, it should be on the cheap in full recognition of the risk the Sabres will be taking on. Do not overpay for this guy, can't get him reasonable then don't.

Girgensons is fine for now on Eichel's line. Trading him creates another hole to fill, and likely means they pay more to fill it.

Trading Ennis now will enable another team to steal him, Sabres will not get full value. It is obvious his play suffered from injuries...I think the prudent move is to hold onto him and try to resurrect his game next season...increasing his value for a higher return.

McGinn is more valuable than your typical 3rd liner...in that he has proven he can slide into a top 6 for a period of time and the team won't fall off the cliff. Now, they can't pay him a fortune, but they can recognize his value in the form of a higher paycheck. That said, I trade him and hope we can resign him in the offseason. Package a 2nd with him to secure a 1st...hopefully in the 20 - 25 range.

Foligno...would love to see consistent play like over the past 10 games ... But, can he deliver? The jury is out on him...trade him now if he continues to play well and maximize your return.

Johnson, Gionta, Moulson (ya right), Legwand ...trade for whatever you can get...a six pack, bag of used pucks, melted ice, 1/2 package of toothpicks...anything.

Appears to me that Jack seems a little lost over last few games. Most likely a result of Zemgus being out. Even so, seems his play away from the puck is lacking and opponents now checking him closer. Should work through this, but becoming more evident in recent games.

If you look. At my posts at trade deadlines,I get info way before. Just heard from my source. Larsson,franson and foligno all should be gone
- Buffalo39

Well if that's the case we're looking at a fire sale here. Trading those guys plus the UFA's could mean 5-6 guys could get moved. I hate the idea of moving Foligno but if he's added to a Larsson trade or whatever, I hope it's a decent return. I think Murray should feel some pressure as this TD and the draft is really important. No more stupid Moulson contracts and he better score on a trade.

Appears to me that Jack seems a little lost over last few games. Most likely a result of Zemgus being out. Even so, seems his play away from the puck is lacking and opponents now checking him closer. Should work through this, but becoming more evident in recent games.
- bflodukes

He is a little lost. But I don't think it's because of Girgensons. Sure those two clicked pretty quickly but he did play more than half the year without him. I think it's the line shuffling. This time it's out of necessity due to injuries but Bylsma needs to find a combination and stick with it for more than 2 games at a time.

I hope that's it. It's really a sad situation. Seems every player on the ice including Matt has concluded it's over for him.
- Buffalo--Sabres

It's okay though. Anchoring the team to a declining winger for five years was still a good move because "he wanted to be here".

He is a little lost. But I don't think it's because of Girgensons. Sure those two clicked pretty quickly but he did play more than half the year without him. I think it's the line shuffling. This time it's out of necessity due to injuries but Bylsma needs to find a combination and stick with it for more than 2 games at a time.
- Stripes77

If Eichel becomes as good as we all hope he does, he won't have trouble finding chemistry with many players.

Fun back reading.

I would not trade a ton for Drouin, obviously he has issues and is immature. Why bring a problem on board we don't need. Scoring? There are other options. If they make a play for him, it should be on the cheap in full recognition of the risk the Sabres will be taking on. Do not overpay for this guy, can't get him reasonable then don't.

Girgensons is fine for now on Eichel's line. Trading him creates another hole to fill, and likely means they pay more to fill it.

Trading Ennis now will enable another team to steal him, Sabres will not get full value. It is obvious his play suffered from injuries...I think the prudent move is to hold onto him and try to resurrect his game next season...increasing his value for a higher return.

McGinn is more valuable than your typical 3rd liner...in that he has proven he can slide into a top 6 for a period of time and the team won't fall off the cliff. Now, they can't pay him a fortune, but they can recognize his value in the form of a higher paycheck. That said, I trade him and hope we can resign him in the offseason. Package a 2nd with him to secure a 1st...hopefully in the 20 - 25 range.

Foligno...would love to see consistent play like over the past 10 games ... But, can he deliver? The jury is out on him...trade him now if he continues to play well and maximize your return.

Johnson, Gionta, Moulson (ya right), Legwand ...trade for whatever you can get...a six pack, bag of used pucks, melted ice, 1/2 package of toothpicks...anything.
- IonSabres

Good post Ion.

I'm not sure on Drouin and I haven't heard Buffalo is in on this guy to begin with. He's super talented but sometimes that doesn't translate to a productive NHL player. Any team that trades for him will be taking a flyer. If we're looking for a winger take Laine at the draft and plug him in as opposed to trading pieces for Drouin.

Trading Girgs would be a huge mistake imo and I wouldn't think twice about moving Ennis but I don't see him traded till the off season. I would offer McGinn 4 years at 4 per. I love the way this guy plays and he would be a valuable piece moving forward. He could be a good influence on the kids like Bailey, Baptiste and Fasching.

Then there's Stamkos. I'm of the opinion that Pegula wants him bad but in the end I don't see him here.