If by chance we win a top 3 pick in the lottery, I wouldn't be against moving Sam + for Risto's partner. Eichel, Nico, Nylander, Kane, RoR, and Okposo (hopefully) is a find top 6 to me.
- sskkoo1

But Nico could go #1
So if we're picking 3rd, he won't help us next year...
and probably not even the year after

So our top6 could get scary quick
Okposo's health is uncertain
We might trade Kane, or he may do something dumb again
And it's putting a lot on Nylander right away
We're also gonna have to hope that we get a good amount of secondary scoring from guys like Bailey, Baptiste, Fasching(?), Carrier, Ennis(?), Rodrigues, etc

People talk about good cheap players, I would grab Del Zotto on the cheap.
- SABRES 89

we need a lot of good players on the cheap with these over paid bums on the roster

we need a lot of good players on the cheap with these over paid bums on the roster
- homiedclown

Idk where Del Zotto would fit though?
Let's assume we sign Antipin,
We'd have to somehow manage to get rid of Gorges & Bogosian...
and idk if that's possible

McCabe-Ristolainen
(Antipin)-(trade) *Murray better make at least 1
Guhle-(Del Zotto)
Faulk

That's about the only way I could see it play out that we sign DelZotto,
or anyone similar

Gorges can be bought out,
but I think we are stuck with Bogosian

A 3rd pair of Guhle-Bogosian could end up being pretty decent
Just need Bogo to stay healthy & get his confidence back
He can still be a competent defenseman imo

We have a lot of "IFs" when it comes to our defense improving next year

Idk where Del Zotto would fit though?
Let's assume we sign Antipin,
We'd have to somehow manage to get rid of Gorges & Bogosian...
and idk if that's possible

McCabe-Ristolainen
(Antipin)-(trade) *Murray better make at least 1
Guhle-(Del Zotto)
Faulk

That's about the only way I could see it play out that we sign DelZotto,
or anyone similar

Gorges can be bought out,
but I think we are stuck with Bogosian

A 3rd pair of Guhle-Bogosian could end up being pretty decent
Just need Bogo to stay healthy & get his confidence back
He can still be a competent defenseman imo

We have a lot of "IFs" when it comes to our defense improving next year
- jdfitz77

I wish we could get Justin Faulk from the Canes. But we're stuck with Justin Falk

But Nico could go #1
So if we're picking 3rd, he won't help us next year...
and probably not even the year after

So our top6 could get scary quick
Okposo's health is uncertain
We might trade Kane, or he may do something dumb again
And it's putting a lot on Nylander right away
We're also gonna have to hope that we get a good amount of secondary scoring from guys like Bailey, Baptiste, Fasching(?), Carrier, Ennis(?), Rodrigues, etc
- jdfitz77

If Nico goes first, Patrick and Valardi will still be top 6 players.
Okposo's health is a big ??? but if he does not return we'll have the 6 million to go shopping again.
I think if we trade Kane than we don't trade Reinhart, but one of them would be the key piece in us procuring a top Dman.
IMO Nylander does need another year in the AHL, maybe we can find someone for the top six willing to take a 1 year contract. Radulove comes to mind.
And, I agree, we finally needs to start having some prospects out of the first round hit.

Idk where Del Zotto would fit though?
Let's assume we sign Antipin,
We'd have to somehow manage to get rid of Gorges & Bogosian...
and idk if that's possible

McCabe-Ristolainen
(Antipin)-(trade) *Murray better make at least 1
Guhle-(Del Zotto)
Faulk

That's about the only way I could see it play out that we sign DelZotto,
or anyone similar

Gorges can be bought out,
but I think we are stuck with Bogosian

A 3rd pair of Guhle-Bogosian could end up being pretty decent
Just need Bogo to stay healthy & get his confidence back
He can still be a competent defenseman imo

We have a lot of "IFs" when it comes to our defense improving next year
- jdfitz77

if you sign del zotto for bottom pair (left shot), you could package mccabe for an upgrade or leave guhle in rochester next year


pretty sure we all agree del zotto is better than gorges

If Nico goes first, Patrick and Valardi will still be top 6 players.
Okposo's health is a big ??? but if he does not return we'll have the 6 million to go shopping again.
I think if we trade Kane than we don't trade Reinhart, but one of them would be the key piece in us procuring a top Dman.
IMO Nylander does need another year in the AHL, maybe we can find someone for the top six willing to take a 1 year contract. Radulove comes to mind.
And, I agree, we finally needs to start having some prospects out of the first round hit.
- sskkoo1

Idk if any of the top3 picks u mention make an impact this year?
I like Nico the best of the 3...
But even if we get him, he probably is in a situation like Reinhart & Nylander where he needs to add strength before he's NHL ready

I think our real problem is not how we're going to find better defensemen, but how we're going to get rid of Bogo and Gorges? Addition through subtraction.

if you sign del zotto for bottom pair (left shot), you could package mccabe for an upgrade or leave guhle in rochester next year


pretty sure we all agree del zotto is better than gorges
- homiedclown

So then,
Del Zotto-Bogosian
and Guhle in Rochester?

I'm in the minority thinking it's ok for Guhle to start in Rochester
It's easier to bring him up & expect good play,
than if we were depending on Austin, Fedun, Nelson, etc

From what Murray said the other day,
Sounds like Guhle would have to have a pretty bad camp to not make the Sabres

I think our real problem is not how we're going to find better defensemen, but how we're going to get rid of Bogo and Gorges? Addition through subtraction.
- sskkoo1

Gorges is a relatively cheap buyout, no biggie
But unless Vegas takes Bogo, I think we are stuck with him

And if Vegas does take him,
Then we are likely stuck with Moulson & Ennis

Of those 3, I'd prefer to get rid of Moulson if possible
Ennis & Bogosian can still be decent players who skate well when healthy
Moulson is basically a net front presence on PP
That can be valuable to someone, but we don't need him

So apparently through some second hand info, Gorges complains a ton about other players on this team, and isn't well liked by Eichel, Sam, Kane etc

Gorges is a relatively cheap buyout, no biggie
But unless Vegas takes Bogo, I think we are stuck with him

And if Vegas does take him,
Then we are likely stuck with Moulson & Ennis

Of those 3, I'd prefer to get rid of Moulson if possible
Ennis & Bogosian can still be decent players who skate well when healthy
Moulson is basically a net front presence on PP
That can be valuable to someone, but we don't need him
- jdfitz77

Agreed. I've had enough of Moulson, I really hope Vegas takes him as Murray's "favor."

I can deal with Ennis and Bogo, but at least, Gorges, than has to go as well. This defense needs an overhaul and bring in Antipin to replace Kulikov is not going to be enough.

So apparently through some second hand info, Gorges complains a ton about other players on this team, and isn't well liked by Eichel, Sam, Kane etc
- sbroads24

Great! Let's see if we can find him a change of scenery.

From what Murray said the other day,
Sounds like Guhle would have to have a pretty bad camp to not make the Sabres
- jdfitz77

LD's

russian
mccabe
gorges


if they sign the russian, it's guhle or gorges in presser


then again maybe vegas will take gorges

LD's

russian
mccabe
gorges


if they sign the russian, it's guhle or gorges in presser


then again maybe vegas will take gorges
- homiedclown

I can't imagine Guhle in the press box
Would just make more sense for him to play in Rochester

As for Gorges, I hope Vegas does NOT take him
I think his buyout would be something like 1.3mil for 2yrs
That's doable for us

Imo, we really need Vegas to take Moulson if possible

Agreed. I've had enough of Moulson, I really hope Vegas takes him as Murray's "favor."

I can deal with Ennis and Bogo, but at least, Gorges, than has to go as well. This defense needs an overhaul and bring in Antipin to replace Kulikov is not going to be enough.
- sskkoo1

Here's the thing with the defense...
We can count on Ristolainen, great
SO...
IF McCabe can get back on track to being a quality top4 guy
IF we sign Antipin & he's top4 quality
IF Murray can trade for at least 1 top4 defenseman
IF Bogosian can stay healthy & get his confidence back
IF Guhle is as good right away w/out too many growing pains
THEN...
we have ourselves a legit defense

But if any of that goes wrong...
we could easily struggle again

So it might be a good idea for Murray to get TWO top4 defensemen
Now that would start Guhle in the AHL most likely
But it's easier to bring him up,
Then it would be to acquire a good defenseman mid-season

I'm just thinking we should try to hedge our bets here
And having depth would be a good thing in case all those IFs don't work out for us the way we hope

As for Gorges, I hope Vegas does NOT take him
I think his buyout would be something like 1.3mil for 2yrs
That's doable for us

- jdfitz77

he only has 1 year left


no need to buy him out as of now

Agreed. I've had enough of Moulson, I really hope Vegas takes him as Murray's "favor."

.
- sskkoo1

https://www.sportingchart...-per-60-min-leaders/2016/

risto 19 even strength points this past season

franson 17 even strength points

Here's the thing with the defense...
We can count on Ristolainen, great
SO...
IF McCabe can get back on track to being a quality top4 guy
IF we sign Antipin & he's top4 quality
IF Murray can trade for at least 1 top4 defenseman
IF Bogosian can stay healthy & get his confidence back
IF Guhle is as good right away w/out too many growing pains
THEN...
we have ourselves a legit defense

But if any of that goes wrong...
we could easily struggle again

So it might be a good idea for Murray to get TWO top4 defensemen
Now that would start Guhle in the AHL most likely
But it's easier to bring him up,
Then it would be to acquire a good defenseman mid-season

I'm just thinking we should try to hedge our bets here
And having depth would be a good thing in case all those IFs don't work out for us the way we hope
- jdfitz77

I agree on finding two top 4 Dmen. Antipin could be one, and if we sign him, that's awesome because he would not have cost us anything other than the cap space.
But, if the second Dman is going to come via trade (I don't see anything in UFAs this year) then it's going to come at a price, most likely Reinhart or Kane, and if that's the case, I don't want a top 4 Dman in return, I want a legit #2 in return. If we have to add a bit to make that happen, fine, but I'm not trading Reinhart or Kane for Brodin or someone else of his caliber.

Stafford and Schaller (SH) with goals for Boston

Schaller and Staff infection with goals for Boston

Stafford and Schaller (SH) with goals for Boston
- chilliard77

I'm late

Boston is still really good

I'm late
- sbroads24

Beat at your own game