If Botterill can significantly upgrade our defense by trading Kane, i say trade Kane. However, if he can't and he's only worth a second round draft pick as Dreger suggests, then I say keep Kane and make a run for the playoffs. If the Sabres are out of it by the TDL, then trade Kane at that time for the second round pick.

If Botterill knows that Kane won't sign an extension no matter what, it puts him in a pickle. Trading a guy who won't resign and who has a history of locker room/off-ice antics lowers his value significantly.

My bet is that he is traded for more than what Dreger is suggesting by July 10.
- SabreWest

antipin and guhle is already a big upgrade over kulikov and franson IMO

Its been pretty much exactly a decade since we were last good.
- Sabre_Tooth

2 for the bills

He should be moved either over the summer or at the deadline for a young Dman prospect.. Think similar trade that vancouver made with burrows and hansen.

Then sign a UFA on the cheap who has potential. He cant be lost for nothing.

antipin and guhle is already a big upgrade over kulikov and franson IMO
- homiedclown

Get Chris Lee (Antipins old partner, 36 years old) too and maybe one more top 4 D and we are in the playoffs next year for sure.

antipin and guhle is already a big upgrade over kulikov and franson IMO
- homiedclown

i am not going to get too excited about antipin just yet..

a. he hasn't signed (although that doesn't seem to be a problem)
b. he is a tiny little man. This matters more on defense. i just don't see him as much more than a 3rd pair guy with PP potential. still better than franson though

Get Chris Lee (Antipins old partner, 36 years old) too and maybe one more top 4 D and we are in the playoffs next year for sure.
- Lilroot9

If the chris lee dude is available i think you gotta talk to him. one or two years

What would it take to pry OEL out of Zona ? Kane, Nylander and the 8th pick ?

I say this:

Kane
2nd Rounder (Minnesota)
Bogo
Ennis

For
D man
Forcing them to take Moulson in Expansion draft
- Lilroot9

Dumping Bogo, Ennis and Moulson all in one trade? I think we should throw in a 4th rounder just in case.

Get Chris Lee (Antipins old partner, 36 years old) too and maybe one more top 4 D and we are in the playoffs next year for sure.
- Lilroot9

Basically an AHL player that excelled in the KHL.... Do we really think his game will translate now?
IDK. Maybe.

What would it take to pry OEL out of Zona ? Kane, Nylander and the 8th pick ?
- Pegullaville

Reinhart, Kane and 8th overall probably

I simply believe his production is too great to ignore, and he is not an easy to replace player on the ice. We're not hearing that he's a problem in the locker room, so I don't have any problems with keeping him around the kids.

I like the idea of 3-4 years more of him, with some kind of behavior clause in the contract. Give him money and if he behaves he can continue to keep it. If something goes wrong the organization has an out.

I simply believe his production is too great to ignore, and he is not an easy to replace player on the ice. We're not hearing that he's a problem in the locker room, so I don't have any problems with keeping him around the kids.

I like the idea of 3-4 years more of him, with some kind of behavior clause in the contract. Give him money and if he behaves he can continue to keep it. If something goes wrong the organization has an out.
- OnPoint

Not sure if that is permitted by the CBA

Dumping Bogo, Ennis and Moulson all in one trade? I think we should throw in a 4th rounder just in case.
- CaptainRivet

Vegas is going to have a BAD roster. Ennis and Bogo are not that bad (their contracts should be less though), and Moulson is bad. We are throwing in Kane, younger more talented player and a 2nd round pick from Vegas to trade or use.

As bad as it looks, it is not that bad. I think we would have to include another pick, depending on who the defender coming back is.

Basically an AHL player that excelled in the KHL.... Do we really think his game will translate now?
IDK. Maybe.
- jochfr

Playing with Antipin, 60 games, 65 points. I believe his contact is still entry level, so cap should be low hit, worth the risk for 1-2 years. Also saying we will pair him with Antipin to keep them comfortable with each other and just have to adapt to the NHL size rink and game could actually help both.

I think if Lee in 82 games got you 35-40 points we would all jump all over the place.

Not sure if that is permitted by the CBA
- Stripes77

Didn't the Kings get to drop Mike Richards contract due to that player being an bumhole (or something illegal)?


Edit: They are still on the hook for around 1.3 million a year for awhile I see.

Reinhart, Kane and 8th overall probably
- Stripes77

I agree cost is a lot. No go for me.

Reinhart, Kane and 8th overall probably
- Stripes77

OEL-Risto
McCabe-Antipin
Guhle-Bogosian
Gorges, Falk (extras)

That's playoffs right there IMO

Vegas is going to have a BAD roster. Ennis and Bogo are not that bad (their contracts should be less though), and Moulson is bad. We are throwing in Kane, younger more talented player and a 2nd round pick from Vegas to trade or use.

As bad as it looks, it is not that bad. I think we would have to include another pick, depending on who the defender coming back is.
- Lilroot9

I don't think Vegas's roster will be as bad as you think.

Their blueline should be better than the Sabres blue line.

Goaltending wont be an issue.

They will have a pretty solid bottom 6 and a pretty decent second line.

Their issue will be top line offensive talent.

Here is where they start making deals with teams to select a certain player from a team and trade them for high picks (for example take a player from the Ducks and trade them to Buffalo for 8th overall)

OEL-Risto
McCabe-Antipin
Guhle-Bogosian
Gorges, Falk (extras)

That's playoffs right there IMO
- Pegullaville

But what do your forwards look like?

OEL-Risto
McCabe-Antipin
Guhle-Bogosian
Gorges, Falk (extras)

That's playoffs right there IMO
- Pegullaville

Is it?

We just lost 2 top 6 forwards in that deal

OEL-Risto
McCabe-Antipin
Guhle-Bogosian
Gorges, Falk (extras)

That's playoffs right there IMO
- Pegullaville

Not with removing Reinhart and Kane IMO

That leaves some major holes up front that the likes of Bailey, Baptiste, Nylander and Fasching aren't ready to fill.

I feel like there's an obsession with getting a top pairing d-man

A.) Nobody is trading one

B.) One guy wont solve the issue. We need to upgrade the D as a whole


Risto is the guy right now. Need to upgrade his supporting cast. That will solve a lot more issue in my opinion

EXGMTM joining Fletcher in Minny

I feel like there's an obsession with getting a top pairing d-man

A.) Nobody is trading one

B.) One guy wont solve the issue. We need to upgrade the D as a whole


Risto is the guy right now. Need to upgrade his supporting cast. That will solve a lot more issue in my opinion
- MCGUIZZY

I agree with this. See Penguins D this year. Are they still in the playoffs with Crosby being pretty quiet this round? It is possible.

I agree with this. See Penguins D this year. Are they still in the playoffs with Crosby being pretty quiet this round? It is possible.
- Lilroot9

But then there's Ottawa and Nashville

Ottawa has Karlsson

Nashville has 3 guys who are number 1's really

Point being there is no right way to skin a cat...

But Buffalo desperately needs to improve their blue line.