Bonino seems like a logical choice
Would keep Sam on the wing though

Idk who else I'd like to see here

No interest in Versteeg
I'm still hoping Vegas is gonna trade Neal to us

I'd be ok if we signed Yakupov for 1 year
Only if we play him in the top6 though
He's proven he can't play in a bottom6 role
- jdfitz77

i wonder if they take a shot on Yak.. he can be had for cheap and we have the chance and opening to give him a top 6 shot.. if he fails just send him to rochester and say oh well

i wonder if they take a shot on Yak.. he can be had for cheap and we have the chance and opening to give him a top 6 shot.. if he fails just send him to rochester and say oh well
- IndianaSabresFan

It would seem to me that if we can get him on a "last ditch" $1.5m 1 year deal (w team renewal option) he is exactly the kind a value signing Botts should be exploring right now.

Sounds like his scoring is unquestioned, and his character is no issue, he just never figured it out playing for a crappy Oiler team, until he played w McDavid, and then injuries separated them and they were never paired again.

I'd give it a run, we have almost $25mil in cap space - and I think LTIR for McCormick can make more room.

Can Vanek get 4 years on the open market? He's one of the top forwards, and def the top LW

I'd go after Marleau on a 2yr 9-10MM deal.

It would seem to me that if we can get him on a "last ditch" $1.5m 1 year deal (w team renewal option) he is exactly the kind a value signing Botts should be exploring right now.

Sounds like his scoring is unquestioned, and his character is no issue, he just never figured it out playing for a crappy Oiler team, until he played w McDavid, and then injuries separated them and they were never paired again.

I'd give it a run, we have almost $25mil in cap space - and I think LTIR for McCormick can make more room.
- Der Kaiser

2YR 2MM

If he doesn't prove it we send him to the minors and it only costs 100K on the cap.

Hard to say, Botterill may fly under the radar, he may sit and wait to see what comes along for Saturday. Gotta look at Shattenkirk if he's still there.
- SABRES 89

That's the kind of plan that get's you in trouble. Job wise.

He better have a plan going into free agency. Have his lists, with his t's crossed and i's dotted. If his plan is patience, so be it, but he better not just wake up and see what happens.

That's the kind of plan that get's you in trouble. Job wise.

He better have a plan going into free agency. Have his lists, with his t's crossed and i's dotted. If his plan is patience, so be it, but he better not just wake up and see what happens.
- mattsox

He seems like a guy who has plan A, B C, D E, and F. Then contingency plans after that.

He has to see how everything shakes out before he can make a move.

I don't want him to overspend for UFAs.

There's a few Moulson's lurking in FA. Let's hope Bots is clever enough to stay away

It would seem to me that if we can get him on a "last ditch" $1.5m 1 year deal (w team renewal option) he is exactly the kind a value signing Botts should be exploring right now.

Sounds like his scoring is unquestioned, and his character is no issue, he just never figured it out playing for a crappy Oiler team, until he played w McDavid, and then injuries separated them and they were never paired again.

I'd give it a run, we have almost $25mil in cap space - and I think LTIR for McCormick can make more room.
- Der Kaiser

This past year was the last year of his deal. He signed the same year as Gio

The Sabres officially have the most cap space in the league. Because they didn't sign any of their own (frank)ing players.

The Sabres officially have the most cap space in the league. Because they didn't sign any of their own (frank)ing players.
- TheSabresTaco

Good, now trade Girgs and sign Vanek and Daley.

Fun fact: Vanek has made $70mil in his career. That's crazy

It would seem to me that if we can get him on a "last ditch" $1.5m 1 year deal (w team renewal option) he is exactly the kind a value signing Botts should be exploring right now.

Sounds like his scoring is unquestioned, and his character is no issue, he just never figured it out playing for a crappy Oiler team, until he played w McDavid, and then injuries separated them and they were never paired again.

I'd give it a run, we have almost $25mil in cap space - and I think LTIR for McCormick can make more room.
- Der Kaiser

What? You're recollection of Yaks career with Edmonton looks like fan fiction to me. That's not what happened at all. Yak has the physical tools, the talent and the heart but no brain for NHL hockey.
He couldn't figure hire it out in St.Louis, with great coaching, and a veteran line up...but yeah, he'll realize he s potential with a World class organization like the Sabres.

I'd go after Marleau on a 2yr 9-10MM deal.
- ImThatGuy

Why would Marleau?

Why would Marleau?
- Larsson_fan

I see Oilers fans are feeling pretty smug today

What? You're recollection of Yaks career with Edmonton looks like fan fiction to me. That's not what happened at all. Yak has the physical tools, the talent and the heart but no brain for NHL hockey.
He couldn't figure hire it out in St.Louis, with great coaching, and a veteran line up...but yeah, he'll realize he s potential with a World class organization like the Sabres.
- Larsson_fan

I think it's definitely possible that being in Edmonton messed him up so bad that he needed a few years to recover.

I see Oilers fans are feeling pretty smug today
- jcragcrumple

Not really. We're on the verge of cap Hell.
But it was a legit question. I know why the Sabres would want him, but why would Marleau want to spend his last Productive NHL years in Buffalo?
Sexy Location? Championship opportunities? So-so money?
Talented free agents would be looking at Buffalo because they are taking a long view (3-5 years down the road), they will contend, but not for a few more years.

I think it's definitely possible that being in Edmonton messed him up so bad that he needed a few years to recover.
- sbroads24

Dallas Eakins didn't do him any favours...but I watched that idiot play for 4 years. He's stupid. I mean a really dumb hockey player, with a horrible shot. Hall, Eberle, And Nuge all from tired it out, this kid was incapable.

Not really. We're on the verge of cap Hell.
But it was a legit question. I know why the Sabres would want him, but why would Marleau want to spend his last Productive NHL years in Buffalo?
Sexy Location? Championship opportunities? So-so money?
Talented free agents would be looking at Buffalo because they are taking a long view (3-5 years down the road), they will contend, but not for a few more years.
- Larsson_fan

Most draftees are excited to come here to live by the ocean

Most draftees are excited to come here to live by the ocean
- jcragcrumple

Most draftees are happy to come to Edmonton to live in the middle of nowhere too.

There's a few Moulson's lurking in FA. Let's hope Bots is clever enough to stay away
- TheSabresTaco

Speaking of moulson, has there been any definitive explanation of why he is underachieving (so badly)?

Out if shape, old, away from JT? You would think that he wanted to be here and would. Work hard to be a real NHL player out of pride...

I mean with Connolly, there were concussions and party boy life style. Roy wanted to be a playa with a fishbowl, but until he blew out his quad, he kept it up and was effective.

WHat do you all think is Matty MO's problem?

Speaking of moulson, has there been any definitive explanation of why he is underachieving (so badly)?

Out if shape, old, away from JT? You would think that he wanted to be here and would. Work hard to be a real NHL player out of pride...

I mean with Connolly, there were concussions and party boy life style. Roy wanted to be a playa with a fishbowl, but until he blew out his quad, he kept it up and was effective.

WHat do you all think is Matty MO's problem?
- Da_Cashman

He's always been slow, but now he's 30+ and beer league slow. His hands around the net are still excellent, but he can only get around the net during the powerplay, hence his 12 ppg. Five on five, he's a boat anchor. There is no helping him

Speaking of moulson, has there been any definitive explanation of why he is underachieving (so badly)?

Out if shape, old, away from JT? You would think that he wanted to be here and would. Work hard to be a real NHL player out of pride...

I mean with Connolly, there were concussions and party boy life style. Roy wanted to be a playa with a fishbowl, but until he blew out his quad, he kept it up and was effective.

WHat do you all think is Matty MO's problem?
- Da_Cashman

He was never really that good to begin with?

Most draftees are happy to come to Edmonton to live in the middle of nowhere too.
- Larsson_fan

My favorite is Bill Clement in NHL '16 saying: "it's good to be back for a game in Northern New York." So apparently Buffalo is in the Adirondacks or somewhere near Vermont. Either that, or maybe we're near Poughkeepsie, about a half an hour away from NYC. If someone finds out where we are, let me know

Speaking of moulson, has there been any definitive explanation of why he is underachieving (so badly)?

Out if shape, old, away from JT? You would think that he wanted to be here and would. Work hard to be a real NHL player out of pride...

I mean with Connolly, there were concussions and party boy life style. Roy wanted to be a playa with a fishbowl, but until he blew out his quad, he kept it up and was effective.

WHat do you all think is Matty MO's problem?
- Da_Cashman

That

He's always been slow, but now he's 30+ and beer league slow. His hands around the net are still excellent, but he can only get around the net during the powerplay, hence his 12 ppg. Five on five, he's a boat anchor. There is no helping him
- jcragcrumple

I was going to add that if he is in the top 15 in the league on PPG again this year I would not be terribly upset with him. If we can fin a nice 12-15 min per game for him on the 3rd or 4th line and mainly use him on the PP then he is not a complete waste but he must remain productive on PP