Lindholm and Risto would be to Buffalo what Seabrook and Keith are to Chicago.

The big difference however is neither of Risto or Lindholm would be Norris candidates but their importance would be just as big.

That would be your top pairing for the next 6-8 years.

Nylander is talented but he has ways to go obviously before he is riding on the wing with Eichel and Reinhart (or O'Reilly and Okposo).

If the Sabres were healthy and I thought this year or next year they could be competing for the cup I would do Nylander for Lindholm all day. At the point they are now, I would still probably do it but it would create issues in the cap down the road.
- Stripes77

Ageed if you can get lindholm Nylander ++is well worth it! As a leaf fan ,again that would suck, but with the cap you guys would have next year. ...could be dare I say.....contending?

Chad Johnson getting the start against his former team...

Sorry, I don't buy that. We have needed a top pairing guy for 2 years

Anton Stralman was signed two years ago to a 4 mil per year deal and would undoubtedly be the #1 D man on this team.

Seth Jones
Shea Weber
PK Subban
Adam Larsson
Keith Yandle
Alex Goligoski

All traded or signed as UFA's, who'd all be #2's on this current team

Nikita Zaitsev who's looked dynamite for the Leafs, and was great in the world cup was a UFA out of Russia.

There have been and will be multiple opportunities to get D men for this team, that are better than what we have

Edit - did not see your comment about needing a #2
- sbroads24

ok, in a no salary cap league, sure, some of those are possible. We have around 1.5 mil in space and none of those guys cost that price tag. Weber and PK were traded for one another, so let's exclude that one right off the bat. Seth Jones was traded for Columbus' #1 center. You trading Ryan or Jack for Jones? Didn't think so. Adam Larsson. For Taylor Hall. Sorry, I'm not trading Sam Reinhart for Adam (frank)ing Larsson.

Let's start the discussion with Keith Yandle and Alex Goligoski.

First, they both need to WANT to sign here. Then, there's the salary cap. Yandle signed for over 6 million. That means we need to shift out some highly paid players that aren't worth the price. AND be concerned about the long term cap when signing Reichel.

Same goes with Goligoski, who's rights were traded prior to FA.

I have liked McCabes game...could he develop into a #2?
- Stripes77

I think he could play in the #2 spot but that doesn't make him a #2 guy. He's a #2 with a solid partner next to him if he keeps developing.

Ageed if you can get lindholm Nylander ++is well worth it! As a leaf fan ,again that would suck, but with the cap you guys would have next year. ...could be dare I say.....contending?
- MR.Hunter

If they could move Franson or Ennis I would make that trade right now

Tell me how Murray could have gotten any of these guys without trading Reinhart?
- Stripes77

The obvious answer here is the one nobody likes to hear. The most likely way this team adds a top pairing guy without landing a top 3 pick is by moving 23. A) the top 6 can take the hit and b) its easier replacing a RW then it is a D.

Disclaimer: I am in no way saying they need to trade reinhart. Just that its the only way they're going to land someone of equal caliber on D.

I don't know I'm just not impressed with the defense I thought he could've done something more I just think that's going to lead to a lot of troubles in the year
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Unfortunately there is only one Chiarelli in the league and he doesn't have any #1 (or #2's for that matter) to trade with. You make it sound like Murray hasn't been working the phones trying to improve the D. I think he did a great job flipping Pysyk for Kuli and signing Risto to a very reasonable deal. Can he do more? Absolutely. But I'll bet every poster on this site thinks their GM sucks and should be trading bottrom six players and 3 rounders for Drew Doughty, OEL or Erik Karlsson.

Here's a question for you - would you trade Eichel for one of the above 3? That's probably what it would take.

Ageed if you can get lindholm Nylander ++is well worth it! As a leaf fan ,again that would suck, but with the cap you guys would have next year. ...could be dare I say.....contending?
- MR.Hunter

How much is that ++? Because it's fine when you look with just those names but when the ++ comes that can mean anything. Personally I trade Nylander for Lindholm any day of the week. If it's Nylander and a 1st I still likely do it although I'd like to keep the 1st as much as possible (the 1st would be used to restock the defensive cupboards).

If they could move Franson or Ennis I would make that trade right now
- Stripes77

Agreed. But you would need to move them separately since Anaheim's big thing is cap.

How much is that ++? Because it's fine when you look with just those names but when the ++ comes that can mean anything. Personally I trade Nylander for Lindholm any day of the week. If it's Nylander and a 1st I still likely do it although I'd like to keep the 1st as much as possible (the 1st would be used to restock the defensive cupboards).
- Zschalberg

Ya definitely a 1st and a prospect or two,but you have a core built for a championship imho

We can't really say that right now because he still unproven
- GERBE!!!75PTS

*** Reads three pages of glowing predictions for Oilers, then this ***

** Exhales slowly **

(Blinks twice).

***** Walks into woods. *****

Agreed. But you would need to move them separately since Anaheim's big thing is cap.
- Zschalberg

For a trade with Anaheim, there would have to be some moving pieces and I think a left winger, ennis?is what they want

Traded and not for peanuts...so your point while its valid is still doing more harm than good to the ultimate building of the team.

Nylander for Lindholm is the only thing I think they could possibly do and at this point it would be Nylander plus...
- Stripes77

At this point sure. But that's on Murray that we don't have the currency for a glaring need. I think that's Gerbe's point.

Murray has done an excellent job on the top 6, and kind of a poor job on the defense.

Saying "What could he have done?" is a huge cop out.

*** Reads three pages of glowing predictions for Oilers, then this ***

** Exhales slowly **

(Blinks twice).

***** Walks into woods. *****
- SomeoneGerman

lol too funny! 😂

At this point sure. But that's on Murray that we don't have the currency for a glaring need. I think that's Gerbe's point.

Murray has done an excellent job on the top 6, and kind of a poor job on the defense.

Saying "What could he have done?" is a huge cop out.
- sbroads24

But we're all asking ourselves whether we would trade 23 for a #1D. That tells us WE DO IN FACT HAVE THE CURRENCY. We just aren't sure we want to pay the price.

At this point sure. But that's on Murray that we don't have the currency for a glaring need. I think that's Gerbe's point.

Murray has done an excellent job on the top 6, and kind of a poor job on the defense.

Saying "What could he have done?" is a huge cop out.
- sbroads24

Like listing stud D that have been traded for other stud players?

Murray is building a team still, this isn't the finished product and a year and a half was destructing a team to finish last...give it time

But we're all asking ourselves whether we would trade 23 for a #1D. That tells us WE DO IN FACT HAVE THE CURRENCY. We just aren't sure we want to pay the price.
- SomeoneGerman

I would trade Reinhart for OEL right now but that's probably the only defensemen I would do it for.

Probably Ekblad too but his head injuries are scaring me

But we're all asking ourselves whether we would trade 23 for a #1D. That tells us WE DO IN FACT HAVE THE CURRENCY. We just aren't sure we want to pay the price.
- SomeoneGerman

Sure, we could also trade Eichel for one. But then you are creating other holes.

Who am I?



I'll take Taylor Hall and hope everything else figures itself out

I'll take RNH and hope everything else figures itself out

I'll take Nail Yakupov and hope everything else figures itself out
- TheSabresTaco

hopeful bob?

Like listing stud D that have been traded for other stud players?

Murray is building a team still, this isn't the finished product and a year and a half was destructing a team to finish last...give it time
- Stripes77

We are. I am. I don't expect a cup this year.

We have some nice pieces, we also have some dead weight that was acquired by this GM

He has work to do. He's also been here for 3 years already.

hopeful bob?
- MR.Hunter

Come on down!

We are. I am. I don't expect a cup this year.

We have some nice pieces, we also have some dead weight that was acquired by this GM

He has work to do. He's also been here for 3 years already.
- sbroads24

I am not counting a year and a half of the time he has been here. He had to destroy the team and be bad enough to finish last and hit the cap floor

Sure, we could also trade Eichel for one. But then you are creating other holes.
- sbroads24

So you're telling me building a Stanley Cup Champion is a hard thing??

We are. I am. I don't expect a cup this year.

We have some nice pieces, we also have some dead weight that was acquired by this GM

He has work to do. He's also been here for 3 years already.
- sbroads24

There's no albatross on this team. He brought in 3 guys at the beginning of the build. Two actually had the balls to sign and know in their hearts "we are going to (frank)ing suck". Those guys have a role on this team, be it checking line forwards or mid to bottom pair D. Franson is the only bad call I'd say Murray has made where his performance on ice is almost worthless. Kane's a risk, yeah, but his book is not written yet. Moulson, if he can get back to 40 points, sure he's not 5 million dollar Moulson but at least he's not a poop stain either.

I'm not afraid to say I'm a Murray supporter, but I'm not afraid to critique him either. Franson was bad, but it was a safe gamble. Expiring contract this year. Gionta expiring this year, Gorges next year I think. Moulson 1 year left when the money is due, you can do anything with a one year contract.

So you're telling me building a Stanley Cup Champion is a hard thing??
- SomeoneGerman

Lets be good first, then be great