no doubt. lots of iffy things broke his way. stamkos left tens of millions on the table to go back there, drouin shut his mouth and played hockey, and kucherov signed a bridge deal- one that still leaves him an rfa when its up. this is all after the st louis/team canada/callahan stuff. is it ever our turn? when do we get to fall in the mud and come up holding a rolex? we have an rfa that is worth 5.5 per, thats market value based on comps, that wont sign because one guy- a former first overall pick/#1 defenseman- signed for more.
- rover16

He didn't give in... wink wink, nudge nudge

People can say what they want about Stevie Y but, players take " discounts" when your team is that good, players want to stay when your team is that good. Players are on the fence when it comes to the Sabres because of their past. We still aren't a top 10 landing spot, there were a few waiver players that maybe would have helped and I say maybe.

Over the next two seasons we free up:
Moulson - 5M
Gionta - 4.2
McCormick - 1.5
Gorges - 3.9
Franson - 3.3
Kulikov (maybe, could be resigned) 4.3
Nilsson - 1

And, Kane may be done here. - 5.3

That's 24.2 million freed up, not including Kane. With Kane gone it's 29.5 million. We'll have the room to pay Reinhart and Eichel and everyone else who will be on the team will not command north of 4.5 million unless they become the next Johnny Hockey. Pay Risto the extra million now and then you have leverage on him to perform better.
- sskkoo1

Flip side, is then you can bank on paying Reinhart, Eichel, Lehner, etc an extra mil on there deals as well.

Why pay Risto the extra mill ? so when can be stuck with another Moulson, Ennis, Connolly and other bums that we can't move. Risto is good at 5 - 5.75 range.

Why isn't risto signed yet??? this is ridic.

Why pay Risto the extra mill ? so when can be stuck with another Moulson, Ennis, Connolly and other bums that we can't move. Risto is good at 5 - 5.75 range.
- SABRES 89

Id just take a 1 year deal and revisit the issue mid season.

Id just take a 1 year deal and revisit the issue mid season.
- Sabresfan-365

Like I said his camp is looking for 6-6.5 and the Sabres are at between 5 and 5.75 I believe, this can be worked out.

if buffalo starts out as a tire fire defensively it will only play into favor for Risto and his agent. Hopefully the look good without him and maybe he will side with Murray on a bridge deal

Over the next two seasons we free up:
Moulson - 5M
Gionta - 4.2
McCormick - 1.5
Gorges - 3.9
Franson - 3.3
Kulikov (maybe, could be resigned) 4.3
Nilsson - 1

And, Kane may be done here. - 5.3

That's 24.2 million freed up, not including Kane. With Kane gone it's 29.5 million. We'll have the room to pay Reinhart and Eichel and everyone else who will be on the team will not command north of 4.5 million unless they become the next Johnny Hockey. Pay Risto the extra million now and then you have leverage on him to perform better.
- sskkoo1

How so?

Like I said his camp is looking for 6-6.5 and the Sabres are at between 5 and 5.75 I believe, this can be worked out.
- SABRES 89

seems 5.75 gets it done, and probably got it done last week

Like I said his camp is looking for 6-6.5 and the Sabres are at between 5 and 5.75 I believe, this can be worked out.
- SABRES 89

As I'm sure Lindholm and Trouba's camp are as well. Probably all 3 camps working together to handcuff their teams because once one contract gets done it should set some type of market price.

Pirri?
Hudler?
- homiedclown

Do you know if he actually talked to them? It could be one or both weren't interested

Why isn't risto signed yet??? this is ridic.
- Smittyx36

It's Lemonade , read the sign, it says Lemonade.

As I'm sure Lindholm and Trouba's camp are as well. Probably all 3 camps working together to handcuff their teams because once one contract gets done it should set some type of market price.
- buffalokb

That I don't know, it seems the Trouba situation is a little different I would think.

seems 5.75 gets it done, and probably got it done last week
- homiedclown

And the weeks before that and maybe months.

And the weeks before that and maybe months.
- SABRES 89

Risto could have had his mind set on using the world cup as a negotiating tool.

Risto could have had his mind set on using the world cup as a negotiating tool.
- cabin

Whatever it is, it will eventually get done. I saw something that said it had to be done today for him to be in the roster on Thursday but I don't know the truth behind that.

In other news, with him not signed does this mean Guhle stays up as 7D? Falk cleared waivers.

Flip side, is then you can bank on paying Reinhart, Eichel, Lehner, etc an extra mil on there deals as well.
- sbroads24

I understand, but they are our new core, they will be getting paid no matter what. Look where were at now, two days away from the start of the season and we are without our best defenseman because of a contract over an extra .75-1.25M. If we give Risto a bridge deal that may be good, but if he takes the next step and becomes a Norris contender in two years, we will be whishing to go back and pay him 6M. What if we push Risto into requesting a trade? Then we're screwed, and we don't have any real stellar defensemen coming up on the horizon.

The teams at the top are paying their core players and filling in the rest of the roster with cheap plug and play players, and that seems to be a good recipe for success. But, I just think it is a little ridiculous to play hardball with your new core players over < 1M, and then be willing to sign such washed up players that we have on this team for 3-5 million range.

Also, more news, Kaepernick will start against the Bills. Classic trap game, and with a more mobile QB I could see us losing.

I understand, but they are our new core, they will be getting paid no matter what. Look where were at now, two days away from the start of the season and we are without our best defenseman because of a contract over an extra .75-1.25M. If we give Risto a bridge deal that may be good, but if he takes the next step and becomes a Norris contender in two years, we will be whishing to go back and pay him 6M. What if we push Risto into requesting a trade? Then we're screwed, and we don't have any real stellar defensemen coming up on the horizon.

The teams at the top are paying their core players and filling in the rest of the roster with cheap plug and play players, and that seems to be a good recipe for success. But, I just think it is a little ridiculous to play hardball with your new core players over < 1M, and then be willing to sign such washed up players that we have on this team for 3-5 million range.
- sskkoo1

Risto isn't that stellar yet . And night not ever be .

I understand, but they are our new core, they will be getting paid no matter what. Look where were at now, two days away from the start of the season and we are without our best defenseman because of a contract over an extra .75-1.25M. If we give Risto a bridge deal that may be good, but if he takes the next step and becomes a Norris contender in two years, we will be whishing to go back and pay him 6M. What if we push Risto into requesting a trade? Then we're screwed, and we don't have any real stellar defensemen coming up on the horizon.

The teams at the top are paying their core players and filling in the rest of the roster with cheap plug and play players, and that seems to be a good recipe for success. But, I just think it is a little ridiculous to play hardball with your new core players over < 1M, and then be willing to sign such washed up players that we have on this team for 3-5 million range.
- sskkoo1

So pay Risto the extra million you pay Eichel, Reinhart an extra mill and guess what there goes $3 million that you could spend else where.

You can't just throw money around. Murray has to be careful and spend wisely going forward.

How so?
- Mentalorgasm5

If you show Risto that you care now, and want him to be a big part of this team moving forward, then when he's 27-28 and wants another big contract (Given he lives up to his potential) He may be inclined to stay with the team and give us a hometown discount like Stamkos did for Tampa.

So pay Risto the extra million you pay Eichel, Reinhart an extra mill and guess what there goes $3 million that you could spend else where.

You can't just throw money around. Murray has to be careful and spend wisely going forward.
- Stripes77

We have 20 million right now thrown on garbage, investing in our core is never a bad thing.

Also, more news, Kaepernick will start against the Bills. Classic trap game, and with a more mobile QB I could see us losing.
- Zschalberg

I was worried about it as well, however the Bills linebackers aren't slow. Kap doesn't have the accuracy to beat the DB's and the 49er's running game is non existent against a very good run defense.

It is a trap game though, if the Bills lose no reason to watch the rest of the season, if they win they are supposed to win...

We have 20 million right now thrown on garbage, investing in our core is never a bad thing.
- sskkoo1

It's not INVESTING, its OVERPAYING...that is a bad thing.

You overpay on July 1st, you do not over pay on October 11th especially for one of your own.