Somebody is gonna cave. It's the only way deals get done. I would like the 5 per that Reilly got for Risto but just think it's gonna be more.
- mhp

I will subtly imply there's a chance it doesn't. Right now both sides have very good reasons for not caving.

I will subtly imply there's a chance it doesn't. Right now both sides have very good reasons for not caving.
- Sabresfan-365

I'm not sure that's true

The Sabres reason not to cave is Gadreay, Reilly and DeKeyser set the market in the NHL. There is only one market in the NHL.

Risto's reasons not to cave are the Sabres need a #1 and his potential to fill that role.
There are other potential #1scavailable, and rumors that Shattenkirk can also be had.

If Risto holds out, the Sabres have other options. If the Sabres hold out, other GMs will tell Risto exactly what Murray is saying.

I'm not sure that's true

The Sabres reason not to cave is Gadreay, Reilly and DeKeyser set the market in the NHL. There is only one market in the NHL.

Risto's reasons not to cave are the Sabres need a #1 and his potential to fill that role.
There are other potential #1scavailable, and rumors that Shattenkirk can also be had.

If Risto holds out, the Sabres have other options. If the Sabres hold out, other GMs will tell Risto exactly what Murray is saying.
- Der Kaiser

I don't necessarily disagree but my view on why they have a good reason not to cave is not because of the market. It's because even if you excuse the underlying numbers, one good season doesn't earn you top pair money.

The big reason teams usually give out long term deals coming off ELC's is because you fully expect it to look like a steal after year 2 or 3 (see karlsson, mackinnon). There's absolutely nothing right now that would suggest paying risto more than 5 mil will be a steal at any point during the duration of the contract.

There may be other options on the market but at this point the odds of the sabres making that happen are very low and his agent knows that. Murrays got 1 year left, and for the first time in years there's pressure to perform well. Every game risto's not in the lineup and they drop points will sting, hard. If i was in either position i wouldn't give in.

Yeah it was practice, but no matter how much you dislike him, its bad for the NHL and the fans. I don't know if he will come back from this one. The last one he was thinking about hanging it up.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

How bad is it though? Nowadays with concussions it's "he bumped his head getting into his car(or in Kane's case the back of a cop car), he's got a concussion." Is there a video of it? I know he's had multiple bad ones, but this could just be a minor one where he'll be back next week. I know they said no time table, but there isn't with concussions and teams are discouraged from giving them.

Man there's a lot of Sabres hate in these pre-season predictions..Almost sounds like everyone wants us to fail...life of a Buffalonian I guess!

Man there's a lot of Sabres hate in these pre-season predictions..Almost sounds like everyone wants us to fail...life of a Buffalonian I guess!
- 50GinosIn07

F'em. Love the Leafs predictions too.

F'em. Love the Leafs predictions too.
- cabin

It's gonna be so awesome to watch their fans freak out after they realize they arn't better than 25th

I'd put a claim in on Pulkkinen.

I'd put a claim in on Pulkkinen.
- mhp

We really don't need him.

We really don't need him.
- SABRES 89

Maybe. Having Grant here might make some to think we don't need Pulkkinen but I would take the chance. He's young and has had a few 30 goal seasons in the AHL and if he could translate that to the NHL, he would be a solid add for a team. Can never have enough good young forwards in your pipeline.

I don't necessarily disagree but my view on why they have a good reason not to cave is not because of the market. It's because even if you excuse the underlying numbers, one good season doesn't earn you top pair money.

The big reason teams usually give out long term deals coming off ELC's is because you fully expect it to look like a steal after year 2 or 3 (see karlsson, mackinnon). There's absolutely nothing right now that would suggest paying risto more than 5 mil will be a steal at any point during the duration of the contract.

There may be other options on the market but at this point the odds of the sabres making that happen are very low and his agent knows that. Murrays got 1 year left, and for the first time in years there's pressure to perform well. Every game risto's not in the lineup and they drop points will sting, hard. If i was in either position i wouldn't give in.
- Sabresfan-365

Right, but you have Bogosian who is a 4th D man making 5.1, Gorges a 6th or 7th D making 3.9, and Risto thinking, well, I'm asked to play 24 min a night, against the oppositions best, why would I not make a decent chunk more than these guys?

Same thing will happen when Eichel needs to be resigned. Do you think he will take 7 million when O'Reilly is on the 2nd line making 7.5?

Risto wants what the #1 D on this team should get......more than what the other D are making

Right, but you have Bogosian who is a 4th D man making 5.1, Gorges a 6th or 7th D making 3.9, and Risto thinking, well, I'm asked to play 24 min a night, against the oppositions best, why would I not make a decent chunk more than these guys?

Same thing will happen when Eichel needs to be resigned. Do you think he will take 7 million when O'Reilly is on the 2nd line making 7.5?

Risto wants what the #1 D on this team should get......more than what the other D are making
- sbroads24

Exactly why im thinking both sides have a very good reason not to budge. Its not about the market for risto, its about leverage.

We really don't need him.
- SABRES 89

I like ALL the players we have on the roster now. No need to change anything out yet imo.

Exactly why im thinking both sides have a very good reason not to budge. Its not about the market for risto, its about leverage.
- Sabresfan-365

Murray and Pegula unfortunately set this precedent that they will pay big $$ tom players, which is a really good thing, but can also make things tricky

Nice to see some of the prospects playing well. Connor Hurley put up 5 points in 2 games for ND as Petersen won both matches as well. I thought this might be a break out year for Hurley. He played ok last year but he really does have a lot of skill and it is starting to show in his Junior year at Notre Dame. Each year of his collegiate career he has been on the ice, for the most part, against the other teams top line and has played well defensively finishing with positive +/- ratings each year. Now it looks like the offense is starting to come around for him. I'm thinking he could be a quality 3rd line center in the NHL if he continues to progress. He definitely has the size at 6'2'' 185lbs.

Also, Cliff Pu also put up 5 points for London in the last 2 games. That's some hot Pu!

Exactly why im thinking both sides have a very good reason not to budge. Its not about the market for risto, its about leverage.
- Sabresfan-365

Question: Game 7 stanley cup finals . Sabres have the lead by 1. Final minute of the game. What Sabres D men you put out there ?

I like ALL the players we have on the roster now. No need to change anything out yet imo.
- cabin

Risto is the only focus now

Nice to see some of the prospects playing well. Connor Hurley put up 5 points in 2 games for ND as Petersen won both matches as well. I thought this might be a break out year for Hurley. He played ok last year but he really does have a lot of skill and it is starting to show in his Junior year at Notre Dame. Each year of his collegiate career he has been on the ice, for the most part, against the other teams top line and has played well defensively finishing with positive +/- ratings each year. Now it looks like the offense is starting to come around for him. I'm thinking he could be a quality 3rd line center in the NHL if he continues to progress. He definitely has the size at 6'2'' 185lbs.

Also, Cliff Pu also put up 5 points for London in the last 2 games. That's some hot Pu!
- doppelthat

Pu got a whiff of playing in the NHL

Nice to see some of the prospects playing well. Connor Hurley put up 5 points in 2 games for ND as Petersen won both matches as well. I thought this might be a break out year for Hurley. He played ok last year but he really does have a lot of skill and it is starting to show in his Junior year at Notre Dame. Each year of his collegiate career he has been on the ice, for the most part, against the other teams top line and has played well defensively finishing with positive +/- ratings each year. Now it looks like the offense is starting to come around for him. I'm thinking he could be a quality 3rd line center in the NHL if he continues to progress. He definitely has the size at 6'2'' 185lbs.

Also, Cliff Pu also put up 5 points for London in the last 2 games. That's some hot Pu!
- doppelthat

You guys get much flooding out on the Gulf coast?

Question: Game 7 stanley cup finals . Sabres have the lead by 1. Final minute of the game. What Sabres D men you put out there ?
- cabin

Ristolainen and someone that isn't on this roster yet.

You guys get much flooding out on the Gulf coast?
- Wetbandit1

none, just some 20-30mph wind gusts and some moderate rain.

Question: Game 7 stanley cup finals . Sabres have the lead by 1. Final minute of the game. What Sabres D men you put out there ?
- cabin

ROR and Kane. Seriously. Risto can't be trusted not to get torched. Maybe he's fixed that, but as bad as he was at it last year I doubt it's all the way fixed.

Ennis-Eichel-Reinhart up front. Maybe Okposo instead of Ennis. Eichel isn't great defensively, but he can chase guys down, and he won't be asked to be the backstop anyway.

Too much thought?

none, just some 20-30mph wind gusts and some moderate rain.
- doppelthat

That's good.

Latta on waivers by the Kings, I thought he was a decent player.

Nice to see some of the prospects playing well. Connor Hurley put up 5 points in 2 games for ND as Petersen won both matches as well. I thought this might be a break out year for Hurley. He played ok last year but he really does have a lot of skill and it is starting to show in his Junior year at Notre Dame. Each year of his collegiate career he has been on the ice, for the most part, against the other teams top line and has played well defensively finishing with positive +/- ratings each year. Now it looks like the offense is starting to come around for him. I'm thinking he could be a quality 3rd line center in the NHL if he continues to progress. He definitely has the size at 6'2'' 185lbs.

Also, Cliff Pu also put up 5 points for London in the last 2 games. That's some hot Pu!
- doppelthat

Wow, seems like they've had him forever, and he's just a Junior?