Even with out the no move, it's probably going to take a haul to get him coming off a career year.

This team needs to look for guys who haven't quite peaked yet. around the 21-24 years old group.
- Sabresfan-365

Maybe but they also need impact players ready to push this team to the next level. We have quite a few young guys with potential that havent peaked yet. Thats part of the issue

Take your own advice

I think (because i believe a potential lockout will take a full year) that it may take 3/4 years.

He said next year, for me personally the earliest I could see it as of right now if a lot of things go right is 19-20 but I think it's highly doubtful, thus my 3-4 year timeline
- Sabresfan-365

Nothing personal, but if I thought the Sabres won't make the playoffs for 3-4 years, I couldn't be here talking hockey. I would have 0 interest

Nothing personal, but if I thought the Sabres won't make the playoffs for 3-4 years, I couldn't be here talking hockey. I would have 0 interest
- jcragcrumple

So if they don't make the playoffs next year and there's a year long lockout, you're out?


You do know there's a pretty good chance of both happening right?

Maybe but they also need impact players ready to push this team to the next level. We have quite a few young guys with potential that havent peaked yet. Thats part of the issue
- MCGUIZZY

Just because those guys haven't peaked doesn't mean they're not impact players though.

You bring them in and they make an impact now and get even better in a year or two

So if they don't make the playoffs next year and there's a year long lockout, you're out?


You do know there's a pretty good chance of both happening right?
- Sabresfan-365

No I'm not saying that. I just have a reset every year where I think they can be good, or at least surprising. I'm also not focused on the lockout yet (though I know history says we'll probably lose at least a half a season).

If, as of today, I thought there was no chance of playoffs in the next 48 months, I couldn't be here and think about any of it

Is he a no brainer impact forward? Yes

Is a late first round pick in 2019 worth moving for that? yes
- MCGUIZZY

That's an assumption on it being a late round first in 2019, and an assumption I'm not willing to make right now.

No I'm not saying that. I just have a reset every year where I think they can be good, or at least surprising. I'm also not focused on the lockout yet (though I know history says we'll probably lose at least a half a season).

If, as of today, I thought there was no chance of playoffs in the next 48 months, I couldn't be here and think about any of it
- jcragcrumple

Oh I don't think there's no chance Im just not prepared to say they're there with some sort of certainty.

So if they don't make the playoffs next year and there's a year long lockout, you're out?

You do know there's a pretty good chance of both happening right?
- Sabresfan-365

Again, where is the pretty good chance of an entire season long lockout happening coming from? There are that many huge issues? The last season long lockout was to enforce a hard cap.

if they wanted to move pommer, and retain half his salary they could


if we don't make bold moves for a playoff push, it's a waste of a roster space and holding a kid back


with casey and dahlin, we are much better but as the eye test proved last season

a few more moves need to be made to compete for a playoff spot


unless ullmark becomes hasek overnight
- homiedclown

I have the feeling Okposo will end up in Seattle...

That's an assumption on it being a late round first in 2019, and an assumption I'm not willing to make right now.
- kingcong39

I also think that it's important to keep the pipeline full to sustain winning and increase your margin of error.

If you're going to move it, you better be sure of what's coming back.

Again, where is the pretty good chance of an entire season long lockout happening coming from? There are that many huge issues? The last season long lockout was to enforce a hard cap.
- kingcong39

I think there are a lot of issues to hammer out and the players have a lot more leverage in this league than in the others. Even if we end up with a 48 game season, an injury or two or a slow start can derail a campaign.

Continued on NHL.com after this article to read the one on Kane's new contract. I went to the comments section and saw a comment that I just had to share and I think it is Bat-poop crazy. Here it is if you want a laugh:

Commenter 85b478e5ec5290eb39b04ca7a9583bf3 8 hours ago

If Buffalo hadn't traded Kane, he'd have signed for $5 million per season instead of $7 million. Just another bad move in a long line if bad moves by Buffalo over the last 5 years.
- Sabrehagan

That is pretty funny

I think there are a lot of issues to hammer out and the players have a lot more leverage in this league than in the others. Even if we end up with a 48 game season, an injury or two or a slow start can derail a campaign.
- Sabresfan-365

The biggest obstacles will not be the tangible issues at hand (unless the owners go after guaranteed contracts), the biggest issue will be the egos of Bettman and Fehr imo

I think there are a lot of issues to hammer out and the players have a lot more leverage in this league than in the others. Even if we end up with a 48 game season, an injury or two or a slow start can derail a campaign.
- Sabresfan-365

A 48 game season is something I can see, but it'd be very surprised if the entire season is gone.

The biggest obstacles will not be the tangible issues at hand (unless the owners go after guaranteed contracts), the biggest issue will be the egos of Bettman and Fehr imo
- jcragcrumple

you know they're going to go hard after bonus heavy contracts, no move clauses, guarantees, contract length etc.

I met a few of these guys. They're ugly. I fit right in. Fitz you actually poured me a few dranks
-TheSabresTaco

Lmk who u are next time
Shots are on me

A 48 game season is something I can see, but it'd be very surprised if the entire season is gone.
- kingcong39

One of the reasons I think it could be a full year lockout is because looking back on the last round of negotiations, nothing was really properly resolved.

you've still got average ass players getting 5-7 year deals, no trade clauses, bonus heavy contracts to avoid said lockout.

Things like LTIR got abused with minimal to no repercussions.

They went through all that and solved basically nothing.

Gee tanks for the memories Josefson.
Job well done. 2 goals 2 assists playing in 39 games.

Fitz - time to defend him. Tell us how: you do not like him BUT, he's really good. Other guys score 2 goals in the nhl?
- Boss34

Maybe 365 can come to your defense?
Once again with your obvious troll job from out of nowhere

You’re gonna lose the Vanek bet, sucker

I think there are a lot of issues to hammer out and the players have a lot more leverage in this league than in the others. Even if we end up with a 48 game season, an injury or two or a slow start can derail a campaign.
- Sabresfan-365

After reading this again, keep in mind that the MLB players have the largest, by far, amount of leverage compared to any other sport. NHL players are not first in that regard.

One of the reasons I think it could be a full year lockout is because looking back on the last round of negotiations, nothing was really properly resolved.

you've still got average ass players getting 5-7 year deals, no trade clauses, bonus heavy contracts to avoid said lockout.

Things like LTIR got abused with minimal to no repercussions.

They went through all that and solved basically nothing.
- Sabresfan-365

If the owners come for guaranteed contracts, then sayonara the season. Short of that, I can't see it happening. Funny that most of the things you listed are essentially owners and GM's more or less being asked to be saved from themselves.

After reading this again, keep in mind that the MLB players have the largest, by far, amount of leverage compared to any other sport. NHL players are not first in that regard.
- kingcong39

https://www.fangraphs.com...he-mlbpa-has-no-leverage/


MLBPA has lost a lot of ground over the last few years and manfred is prepared to go the distance

It's not that much of a stretch. It's highly unlikely they make a 35-40 point jump next year to become a playoff team

year after will probably be a lockout


year 3/4 is probably the target
- Sabresfan-365

Lockout would be in 20-21
Not 19-20

Lockout would be in 20-21
Not 19-20
- jdfitz77

The NHL can choose to opt out of the CBA on September 1, 2019 (expiring in 2020). The NHLPA can choose to opt out of the CBA on September 19, 2019

https://sports.yahoo.com/...l-cba-054912422--nhl.html

If the owners come for guaranteed contracts, then sayonara the season. Short of that, I can't see it happening. Funny that most of the things you listed are essentially owners and GM's more or less being asked to be saved from themselves.
- kingcong39

Spot on.
Owners and GMs screw themselves hard every year in FA.
They do have to have some clause that enables a modified walk away for contracts which exceed n years based on Age of player...the older you are, the lesser number of years a team has to commit hard to. I.e if your 27 then max number of committed years is 6, with a reduced buyout for years 7 and 8....if you are 32 then it should be 3 years hard, and declining bouyout in remaking years.

Something like that.

https://www.fangraphs.com...he-mlbpa-has-no-leverage/

MLBPA has lost a lot of ground over the last few years and manfred is prepared to go the distance
- Sabresfan-365

Unless I missed something, they almost never lose decisions on battles. Manfred better be prepared.