Are those who don't want Stamkos in Buffalo the minority here? Just don't see how it adds up in the future cap-wise honestly.
- SabresNHL

I don't think there is anybody who doesn't want Stamkos here. There's just a lot of variables that go into signing him. 11 million dollars to him, than how do you pay Eichel, Risto, Reinhart, and the 2016 1st rd pick when they want their long term deal? Who gets moved permanently to wing? Is Stamkos going to have diminishing returns?Some argue that he is already not as productive since braking his leg. Will his contract cripple us in the long run? Does signing him leave a giant hole on the defense because we can't afford another top pairing defensemen to play with Risto?

Are those who don't want Stamkos in Buffalo the minority here? Just don't see how it adds up in the future cap-wise honestly.
- SabresNHL

I'd say most ppl want him
As far as the Cap goes...
You follow the Blackhawks model. Pay top $$$ for top talent, then fill in around them

We have the potential to do this
Hockeysfuture.com has us with 18 forward prospects they rank with 3rd line talent or better
Of course, not all of them will work out...
But we should have enough talent to fill in the gaps that will eventually occur
Plus, we still have a bunch of picks in the next 2 drafts as well

There are a lot of ways I don't see it adding up.
- Wetbandit1

True, he may not even want anything to do with Buffalo.

I don't think there is anybody who doesn't want Stamkos here. There's just a lot of variables that go into signing him. 11 million dollars to him, than how do you pay Eichel, Risto, Reinhart, and the 2016 1st rd pick when they want their long term deal? Who gets moved permanently to wing? Is Stamkos going to have diminishing returns?Some argue that he is already not as productive since braking his leg. Will his contract cripple us in the long run? Does signing him leave a giant hole on the defense because we can't afford another top pairing defensemen to play with Risto?
- sskkoo1

We would have to answer the questions you bring up for sure

We would have to answer the questions you bring up for sure
- jdfitz77

If we sign Stamkos, Murray better be able to get everyone on bridge deals for the next few years until we can get out of Moulson's and Bogo's contracts. Dumping them could free up close to 9.5 million of Stamkos's 11 that it would take to sign him. We don't need Bogosian moving forward.

Risto - ??
McCabe - Pysyk
Guhle, Borgen, Martin, other prospects, UFA's, who cares

If we sign Stamkos, Murray better be able to get everyone on bridge deals for the next few years until we can get out of Moulson's and Bogo's contracts. Dumping them could free up close to 9.5 million of Stamkos's 11 that it would take to sign him. We don't need Bogosian moving forward.

Risto - ??
McCabe - Pysyk
Guhle, Borgen, Martin, other prospects, UFA's, who cares
- sskkoo1

I'd rather not do any bridge deals. Sign them long term and lock up the core.

If Maatta got 4.5, Risto should get 5
Reinhart could be around what Landeskog signed for
Eichel should get 7 plus after year 3

Are those who don't want Stamkos in Buffalo the minority here? Just don't see how it adds up in the future cap-wise honestly.
- SabresNHL

Not a fan of it . The cap hit down the road scares me . His numbers have gone down since the injury . I know he is great. But it just scares Me . It could cripple us for years to come cap wise.

I just did a very rough estimate on our cap for 18/19 season and came up with 80m lol. That is with Ennis and Moulson still on the roster. You can maneuver that a bit but how much do you save. Not a lot.

Lehner 4
Risto 5.5
Pysyk 2.5
McCabe 2.5
ROR 7.5
Reinhart 5
Eichel 5.5
Stamkos 10

That's not the whole team just some of the guys. No idea how you get Stamkos without moving others in a few years. Bogo, Ennis, Moulson will probably need to be off the roster by then.

Things I have been wrong about this year:


Robin Lehner

GMTM


That is all

Are those who don't want Stamkos in Buffalo the minority here? Just don't see how it adds up in the future cap-wise honestly.
- SabresNHL

I want nothing to do with him ............. he would kill this team financially over the course of the contract. With the money it would take to get Stamkos we could get 4 really good players that would all be upgrades over some of the boat anchors we have now on the team. We have an excellent pick coming up plus a bushel of picks from which to trade and aquire more talent.

If we sign Stamkos, Murray better be able to get everyone on bridge deals for the next few years until we can get out of Moulson's and Bogo's contracts. Dumping them could free up close to 9.5 million of Stamkos's 11 that it would take to sign him. We don't need Bogosian moving forward.

Risto - ??
McCabe - Pysyk
Guhle, Borgen, Martin, other prospects, UFA's, who cares
- sskkoo1

For the near future...
Letting Gionta leave after next year & somehow getting rid of Moulson almost equals what we'd have to pay Stamkos

Further down the line...
Guys like Bogosian, Kane, Ennis, etc very well could be guys that we need to replace with cheaper guys like Guhle, Bailey, Fasching and so on

Or...
Would it be better to be able to keep 2 of those guys and not sign Stamkos?

I'd say sign Stamkos
But I can certainly see why someone would have the opposite opinion

I'd rather not do any bridge deals. Sign them long term and lock up the core.

If Maatta got 4.5, Risto should get 5
Reinhart could be around what Landeskog signed for
Eichel should get 7 plus after year 3
- sbroads24

I would rather not do bridge deals too. But I'm not sure if we can truly get around them if we sign Stamkos. We would need to buy time until we can dump Moulson and Bogo's contracts. If we sign Stamkos this summer at 11, than with Moulson and Bogosian they take up 20-21 million on three guys. I haven't studied the books long term but I'd bet there won't be enough left in two years when Reinhart and Eichel come up for contracts. Not if Risto gets long term now, Murray trades for a partner for him this off season, possibly Kane sticking around past his current contract. Oh, and Lehner proving he's a legit #1 and than needing a legit #1 contract after next year.

For the near future...
Letting Gionta leave after next year & somehow getting rid of Moulson almost equals what we'd have to pay Stamkos

Further down the line...
Guys like Bogosian, Kane, Ennis, etc very well could be guys that we need to replace with cheaper guys like Guhle, Bailey, Fasching and so on

Or...
Would it be better to be able to keep 2 of those guys and not sign Stamkos?

I'd say sign Stamkos
But I can certainly see why someone would have the opposite opinion
- jdfitz77

Signing Stamkos would be the move of Murray's career, totally boom or bust. If it works, we'll have cups in the near future. If it fails, than the rebuild fails and we'll be set back 10 years.

Do we want to win tonight or help our tank and hurt the Leafs tank?

Either the Sabres beat the Leafs (again), or we hurt their position in the standings.

Sounds like a win win. Just hope for no OT.

For the near future...
Letting Gionta leave after next year & somehow getting rid of Moulson almost equals what we'd have to pay Stamkos

Further down the line...
Guys like Bogosian, Kane, Ennis, etc very well could be guys that we need to replace with cheaper guys like Guhle, Bailey, Fasching and so on

Or...
Would it be better to be able to keep 2 of those guys and not sign Stamkos?

I'd say sign Stamkos
But I can certainly see why someone would have the opposite opinion
- jdfitz77

I say let Toronto sign him and cripple their franchaise for years to come. The only way it makes sense to get a guy like Stamkos is do what TB did ........... get lucky and get him in the draft. TB won't pay him 11 million or they would have already. They are smart enough not to do that. They already got the best years out of him at significantly less then 11 million per ........ they know what it would do to their long term health to resign him.

I say let Toronto sign him and cripple their franchaise for years to come. The only way it makes sense to get a guy like Stamkos is do what TB did ........... get lucky and get him in the draft. TB won't pay him 11 million or they would have already. They are smart enough not to do that. They already got the best years out of him at significantly less then 11 million per ........ they know what it would do to their long term health to resign him.
- fastek

Sabres are 100% in on Stamkos, bank on it.

I don't think there is anybody who doesn't want Stamkos here. There's just a lot of variables that go into signing him. 11 million dollars to him, than how do you pay Eichel, Risto, Reinhart, and the 2016 1st rd pick when they want their long term deal? Who gets moved permanently to wing? Is Stamkos going to have diminishing returns?Some argue that he is already not as productive since braking his leg. Will his contract cripple us in the long run? Does signing him leave a giant hole on the defense because we can't afford another top pairing defensemen to play with Risto?
- sskkoo1

Great post. You summed up the issues well.

I want nothing to do with him ............. he would kill this team financially over the course of the contract. With the money it would take to get Stamkos we could get 4 really good players that would all be upgrades over some of the boat anchors we have now on the team. We have an excellent pick coming up plus a bushel of picks from which to trade and aquire more talent.
- fastek

How could we get "4 really good players" for the 10-12mil Stamkos would cost?
I'd say it's more like 2 players

Do we want to win tonight or help our tank and hurt the Leafs tank?

Either the Sabres beat the Leafs (again), or we hurt their position in the standings.

Sounds like a win win. Just hope for no OT.
- rmiethaner

When I'm watching, I wanna win, especially against a team like TO. I want to see the young guys pile up points and see some nice chemistry. But when the game is over, and we're on the losing end I'm alright with it.

Do we want to win tonight or help our tank and hurt the Leafs tank?

Either the Sabres beat the Leafs (again), or we hurt their position in the standings.

Sounds like a win win. Just hope for no OT.
- rmiethaner

I want to pick up the next Stamkos in the draft ... so I'd prefer we lose tonight and every game the rest of the season.

Sabres are 100% in on Stamkos, bank on it.
- SABRES 89

Fortunately that means very little to me since 100% of the decision to play here is up to Stamkos.

I think a lost is also favorable.

Fortunately that means very little to me since 100% of the decision to play here is up to Stamkos.
- fastek

I can mean what ever it wants to you and I know for a fact.

Signing Stamkos would be the move of Murray's career, totally boom or bust. If it works, we'll have cups in the near future. If it fails, than the rebuild fails and we'll be set back 10 years.
- sskkoo1

Idk if he'll sign here...
But it certainly seems as if Murray is gonna try for him

Sabres are 100% in on Stamkos, bank on it.
- SABRES 89

I trust you info 89...don't really like it though, mostly for the long term implications that have been expressed by myself over the past week or so...and now others including those on this page.
I think it would be great to watch the team with him over the next 3-4 years...then several years of regrets. If they do go in on him and are successful, then go all in and get the necessary support structure that enables them to win it all multiple times. No holding back, go for it!