My bet would be there will be some people being moved out in some trades.
- gordong

I'm sure there will be some trades, but Rochester needs to shrink to allow upcoming talent. And, player out usually means player in. Makes it a wash at the NHL level. Bowl and or Bogo are spare parts now. They can be sent off without a player in return. So can some of the nobody prospects.

Would you take Sidney Crosby on this team? just curious.
- ImThatGuy

For ROR... yes.. for Skinner... no

I'm sure there will be some trades, but Rochester needs to shrink to allow upcoming talent. And, player out usually means player in. Makes it a wash at the NHL level. Bowl and or Bogo are spare parts now. They can be sent off without a player in return. So can some of the nobody prospects.
- TheSabresTaco

Agreed, trade them for future picks

Sabres have 13/23 roster spots filled (signed through next season)

Sabres have 33/50 contracts. You can assume about 8/10 of those will be new contracts for the NHL team (Ullmark, Nelson the other 2). The other two may be current AHL guys. So that's 41 or 42 contracts. Sabres need to sign the following:

Smith, C.J., RFA
O'Regan, Danny, RFA
Malone, Sean, RFA
Griffith, Seth, UFA
Wilcox, Adam, UFA
Kasdorf, Jason, RFA
Fasching, Hudson, RFA
Baptiste, Nicholas, RFA
Bailey, Justin, RFA
Redmond, Zach, UFA

Sabres also need to sign Dahlin. So let's say 43 contracts are already locked up. Sabres right now also have 51/90 reserve contracts. This includes all unsigned prospects that have never signed an ELC. Does not include AHL contracts.

Which means there are around 7 more NHL contracts the team can sign, with 10 guys that need re-signing. So, what happens?

CJ Smith - yes
Danny O'Regan - yes
Sean Malone - yes
Seth Griffith - maybe
Adam Wilcox (or similar) - yes
Jason Kasdorf - no (AHL or release)
Hudson Fasching - maybe
Nick Baptiste - yes
Justin Bailey - yes
Zach Redmond - yes

Redmond was a great piece for Rochester last year, I hope they re-up him. Griffith and Fasching might be the odd men out here. Even releasing those two, you're right on the edge of the contract limit. So, to the three prospects we own looking for a contract.. it appears it's either an AHL deal or back to the draft.

Of course, if you can rid yourself of Karabacek, Beaulieu and Martin, that gives you some flexibility.
- TheSabresTaco

You need to add Reinhart and Wilson as they are not counted in your numbers.

We already have 6 new (one of them being Pu) ELC contracts all destined for Rochester. Potentially our 2nd rounder I mean 2nd 1st rounder may also go to Rochester or even Buffalo! Chances low obviously.

For ROR... yes.. for Skinner... no
- gordong

But Crosby has more concussions and health concerns than Skinner does. Seems risky.

You need to add Reinhart and Wilson as they are not counted in your numbers.
- adambuffalo

Yes they are. They're in that "8/10" thing.

Redmond was a great piece for Rochester last year, I hope they re-up him. Griffith and Fasching might be the odd men out here. Even releasing those two, you're right on the edge of the contract limit. So, to the three prospects we own looking for a contract.. it appears it's either an AHL deal or back to the draft.

Of course, if you can rid yourself of Karabacek, Beaulieu and Martin, that gives you some flexibility.
- TheSabresTaco

Does it work that way though? If the Sabres don't sign them, and they sign AHL deals, then no NHL team owns their rights. Aren't they just back in the draft?

Does it work that way though? If the Sabres don't sign them, and they sign AHL deals, then no NHL team owns their rights. Aren't they just back in the draft?
- Lunaion

No. They can choose to sign AHL deals if they're old enough, I think. If not, they have to go back to the draft. This is definitely how it works with college guys. You may be correct about CHL guys.

You're all wrong.

Dobber
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@DobberHockey
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Just trying to quickly pro-rate the John Tavares contract using Evander Kane as a comparable.

Let's see...
*punches in numbers, adjusts variables*

Got it. So 7 years at $416 million per year.

Doesn't go over the total cap. What are you waiting for, Jason.

But Crosby has more concussions and health concerns than Skinner does. Seems risky.
- ImThatGuy

Yeah but the upside is MUCH higher.

Sabres have 13/23 roster spots filled (signed through next season)

Sabres have 33/50 contracts. You can assume about 8/10 of those will be new contracts for the NHL team (Ullmark, Nelson the other 2). The other two may be current AHL guys. So that's 41 or 42 contracts. Sabres need to sign the following:

Smith, C.J., RFA
O'Regan, Danny, RFA
Malone, Sean, RFA
Griffith, Seth, UFA
Wilcox, Adam, UFA
Kasdorf, Jason, RFA
Fasching, Hudson, RFA
Baptiste, Nicholas, RFA
Bailey, Justin, RFA
Redmond, Zach, UFA

Sabres also need to sign Dahlin. So let's say 43 contracts are already locked up. Sabres right now also have 51/90 reserve contracts. This includes all unsigned prospects that have never signed an ELC. Does not include AHL contracts.

Which means there are around 7 more NHL contracts the team can sign, with 10 guys that need re-signing. So, what happens?

CJ Smith - yes
Danny O'Regan - yes
Sean Malone - yes
Seth Griffith - maybe
Adam Wilcox (or similar) - yes
Jason Kasdorf - no (AHL or release)
Hudson Fasching - maybe
Nick Baptiste - yes
Justin Bailey - yes
Zach Redmond - yes

Redmond was a great piece for Rochester last year, I hope they re-up him. Griffith and Fasching might be the odd men out here. Even releasing those two, you're right on the edge of the contract limit. So, to the three prospects we own looking for a contract.. it appears it's either an AHL deal or back to the draft.

Of course, if you can rid yourself of Karabacek, Beaulieu and Martin, that gives you some flexibility.
- TheSabresTaco

Redmond, Fasching, Griffith and Kasdorf are expendable imo.

Redmond, Fasching, Griffith and Kasdorf are expendable imo.
- jcragcrumple

agreed.

No. They can choose to sign AHL deals if they're old enough, I think. If not, they have to go back to the draft. This is definitely how it works with college guys. You may be correct about CHL guys.
- TheSabresTaco

Interesting, I wouldn't think they could if they don't become UDFA.

Redmond, Fasching, Griffith and Kasdorf are expendable imo.
- jcragcrumple

Also we need to keep in mind is that almost all of those guys are waiver eligible. So they'll mostly all have to be sent down after camp. Excludes Smith, O'Regan and Malone.

I hate the idea of giving up on Fasching, considering we traded an NHL defenseman for him. The picks look like nobodies. But still. F

Maybe Fasching works on his foot speed this offseason. Or maybe not.

Yeah but the upside is MUCH higher.
- gordong

Seems silly to use one injury history against someone but not use a more extensive injury history against someone else. Just me though.


My thought process is

use ROR + Prospect + another piece to get
Skinner and Faulk.

Highly unlikely but I would try to make the pitch to Carolina. Make the move after July 1, Carolina only owes 1MM to ROR rest of the year.

Seems silly to use one injury history against someone but not use a more extensive injury history against someone else. Just me though.


My thought process is

use ROR + Prospect + another piece to get
Skinner and Faulk.

Highly unlikely but I would try to make the pitch to Carolina. Make the move after July 1, Carolina only owes 1MM to ROR rest of the year.
- ImThatGuy

I don't like Faulk. He's been on decline for years. And he's lazy. Apparently.

Wouldn't mind Athanasiou from the Wings, be a good add with Eichel or ROR.

Also we need to keep in mind is that almost all of those guys are waiver eligible. So they'll mostly all have to be sent down after camp. Excludes Smith, O'Regan and Malone.

I hate the idea of giving up on Fasching, considering we traded an NHL defenseman for him. The picks look like nobodies. But still. F

Maybe Fasching works on his foot speed this offseason. Or maybe not.
- TheSabresTaco

Sucks, but it's over and done with. Maybe someone takes a flyer on him for a late-round pick. Ive seen a fair bit of him playing, and I don't see him being anything great.

I put these prospects in two tiers: older and newer

Fasching, Baptiste, Bailey, Nylander

Asplund, Pu, Olofsson, Pilut, Borgen

The players from the first group should be explored in a package for an impact LW imo. I like 3/4 of them to varying degrees, but we have a new wave coming behind them, and a need for a LW this year

Seems silly to use one injury history against someone but not use a more extensive injury history against someone else. Just me though.


My thought process is

use ROR + Prospect + another piece to get
Skinner and Faulk.

Highly unlikely but I would try to make the pitch to Carolina. Make the move after July 1, Carolina only owes 1MM to ROR rest of the year.
- ImThatGuy

Bottom line, I’d rather get someone without health issues for ROR... I don’t think we should be that desperate with our 2c.

I thought it'd be a 5x7M. Then again, I didn't dig my heels into some dumb argument about it. I just had no idea someone would sign a player like that for 7 years.
- TheSabresTaco

I'm pretty sure that's why kane signed the deal without testing free agency.

May have surprised him, the longevity

Beane totally avoided any questions regarding him after the draft. Seemed to be a sensitive situation at the time, even. Typically, just releasing an asset is something even a remotely intelligent office shouldn't do. They didn't do it with Bolden. So if you think about it, on top of the crazy poop he said, and they outright released him off the retirement list, the Bills clearly wanted to sever all ties. This latest incident shows precisely why he was released.
- TheSabresTaco

No reservations here, I was wrong. Initially I thought that he was being released to pursue another contract. Bolden never played for us like Richie did, so the potential for a gentleman's agreement with the Bills, I thought, was a possibility. You're 100% right and they made the right decision.

Sucks, but it's over and done with. Maybe someone takes a flyer on him for a late-round pick. Ive seen a fair bit of him playing, and I don't see him being anything great.

I put these prospects in two tiers: older and newer

Fasching, Baptiste, Bailey, Nylander

Asplund, Pu, Olofsson, Pilut, Borgen

The players from the first group should be explored in a package for an impact LW imo. I like 3/4 of them to varying degrees, but we have a new wave coming behind them, and a need for a LW this year
- jcragcrumple

I like to consider them by age as well:

24- O'Regan
23- Oglevie, Malone, Smith
22 (not waiver exempt)- Fasching, Baptiste, Bailey
22 (wavier exempt)- Pilut, Olofsson
21- Borgen
20- Asplund, Nylander, Guhle
19- Pu

Some of these guys are already old enough that the prospect label no longer applies, and you're hoping for late bloomers or just depth guys.

Few thoughts:

I think Skinner would waive his NMC to get out of Carolina for any team besides maybe Florida Arizona and Ottawa

He would get to play with an elite center here

I would not move ROR for him though. Makes no sense to trade a guy the same age who is going to get close to the same contract ROR has

I’m not worried about his concussions. He’s been healthy 3 years in a row. Plus they have this thing called LTIR now.

Skinner on Eichel’s wing is 35 goals a season from him easily

I really don’t know why they aren’t trying Casey at wing unless the long term plan is to roll 3 lines or to move on from ROR

Skinner would be the first line LWer. They still need a 2nd line LWer with speed

I would sign Vanek to be the third line LWer and to park in front on the PP

Skinner Eichel Reinhart
Casey ROR Okposo
Vanek ERod Pomminville
Bailey Girgensons Baptiste
Wilson

The defense is still tricky. Yes it gets better with Dahlin but there’s still holes

Dahlin Scandella
Guhle Risto
Nelson McCabe
Bogo

I would send 32 and Nylander for Skinner but not much more. His 1 year left scares me. I’m not sure Carolina says yes to that though.

Goalies

Grubauer
Ullmark

How to get Grubauer is tough though.

Goalies

Grubauer
Ullmark

How to get Grubauer is tough though.
- Stripes77

I think Grubauer takes #32 +. Feels like he's in very high demand.