I still can't believe Botterill didn't have to include one of the first round picks to get Skinner.

Amazing.

Canes were in a tough spot with a full NMC though. If they didn't pull the trigger, Skinner would have just walked for nothing after next season.

Excited to see how Skinner looks on Eichel's wing.
- 100goalseason

I see a 34G 30A with 250plus shot season coming up. That’s a great year.

Dahlin playing 12 games (which he will) makes it 48. Reinhart signing makes it 49. Doesn’t leave much flexibility. However that doesn’t mean we have to do anything about it right away.
- Pegullaville

Why doesn't Dahlin's contract count now? We have a lot of players who haven't played 12 nhl games, but their contracts count.

why is nelson a UFA!!!

Dahlin playing 12 games (which he will) makes it 48. Reinhart signing makes it 49. Doesn’t leave much flexibility. However that doesn’t mean we have to do anything about it right away.
- Pegullaville

Move/waive Larsson and Beaulieau and we could be at 47 to start the year. That's a workable number imo.

Move/waive Larsson and Beaulieau and we could be at 47 to start the year. That's a workable number imo.
- mhp

There is no room for them now anyway. I really want to get Skinner signed LT quickly. He is a great addition. Finally, someone who can score when Eichel feathers a perfect pass

Looks like Stone signed a 1 year in Ottawa for 7.25m

Looks like Stone signed a 1 year in Ottawa for 7.25m
- lulags

Hopefully he has a very successful year and we target him in free agency


He’s one of the best two-way players in the league imo

Looks like Stone signed a 1 year in Ottawa for 7.25m
- lulags

Boy he really wants out of there... now he gets his wish probably at the trade deadline. So Ottawa at least gets something before he walk in f/a for nothing.

Hopefully he has a very successful year and we target him in free agency


He’s one of the best two-way players in the league imo
- gerbe75pts

He wanted 9mil per year. We won't be able to afford him next year after we sign Skinner o a LTD

Hopefully he has a very successful year and we target him in free agency


He’s one of the best two-way players in the league imo
- gerbe75pts

No way Ottawa lets him walk in fa.... he will be moved by the trade deadline.

He wanted 9mil per year. We won't be able to afford him next year after we sign Skinner o a LTD
- lulags

Skinner for stone...

Hopefully he has a very successful year and we target him in free agency


He’s one of the best two-way players in the league imo
- gerbe75pts

The Sabres won't be able to afford a massive $7 million plus contract if they re-sign Skinner, at least not for a few years anyway.

I really don't know what Ottawa is doing here.

They're going to be bad, very very bad especially when they move Karlsson

For those that haven't seen this, bout a month old. Skip to the Skinner part.

https://www.thebuffalosta...t-ii-scoring-left-winger/

I haven't been this excited about an upcoming season since I banged Gerbe's mom.

Skinner/Eichel/Rhino
Sheary/Mitts/Okposo


More optimistic then the last few years.

I’ll wait for it to come to fruition.
Play it out with Berglund and Sobotka, they have a valid 4 lines on paper.
- dadeadhead

That's a good point. This should help incrementally as well.

According to cap-friendly, we're at 47 contracts with Reinhart to sign. So what's the issue with why we need to shed contracts? I have no issues with shipping Larsson and Bowel-U out for anything, but it's not an issue of having too many contracts.
- sskkoo1

Capfriendly erroneously skips over Moulson's contract. There's 48 excluding Reinhart. Do we need to move any contracts? No, but it's nice to have a little wiggle room. Trading one of Johan Girgensons or Bowl would put us at 48, which would allow for a multi player trade any time throughout the year. Everyone likes a little cushion.

Capfriendly erroneously skips over Moulson's contract. There's 48 excluding Reinhart. Do we need to move any contracts? No, but it's nice to have a little wiggle room. Trading one of Johan Girgensons or Bowl would put us at 48, which would allow for a multi player trade any time throughout the year. Everyone likes a little cushion.
- TheSabresTaco

Don't you f'n dare trade Girgensons....

That's a good point. This should help incrementally as well.
- RhinoFan

I miss slotting CJ Smith and Erod into the top 2 lines.

We are certainly much closer. Still some work to do, but JBotts has done a very, very good job so far IMO. He has done much of the heavy lifting already and has another month to finish the offseason.

Left to do -
1) Consolidate the contracts down to say 45 -46 or so by trading low-end players for future picks. Get rid of
-Larsson
-Girgensons
-Scandella/McCabe - not necessarily low end, need to get rid of one LhD on the bloated left side
-Blow-you/Hunwick - neither is really necessary anymore.
2) acquire a RhD without givingb up the farm

Can he somehow combine 1 and 2?
- IonSabres

That will probably be a tall order. Shipping out a few contracts is feasible, but not sure there's a lot of top4 defenders on the market atm. Every time I hear, "he's not done yet" though, I'm excited.

Scandella not McCabe cause he blew up Laine. That's my only quip.

So now that the Sabres have addressed their need for speed and LWers with Sheary and now Skinner, and they have added good NHL depth with Berglund, Sobotka, and Thompson (that might be a 3rd line right there, all for ROR), and they upgraded their goaltender position.

The biggest need in my eyes is to add another top 4 RHD.

Dahlin Risto
Scandella ??
Nelson Bogo
McCabe
Pilut
Hunwick


Who can they get to play with Dahlin to move Risto with Scandella? Or do they move Scandella and hope a healthy McCabe makes the difference?

Then there is Guhle as well.

I found it interesting that in his conference call with the media yesterday Botterill mentioned having a healthy McCabe AND Bogo multiple times.

I think Bogo in a bottom pairing role might work for him under Housley's system IF he can stay healthy. I don't expect him to be a 2nd pairing guy.

Also, this team is going to be fun to watch, and dare I say, I think they will be good, like playoff good if Hutton plays like he did last season.

Don't you f'n dare trade Girgensons....
- JVince11

I'm going to trade him twice, he's out valued by several prospects as it is.

Moulson and Pommer off the books for good after this year

I miss slotting CJ Smith and Erod into the top 2 lines.
- TheSabresTaco

What was worse, slotting them into future top6 roles, or watching Girgensons attempt it? Choose wisely. [/img]

Yeah that team doesn’t fit under the cap.
- Stripes77

Yeah, it does
All we’d have to do is trade ONE of:
Girgs, Larsson, or Beaulieu
No biggie

https://www.capfriendly.c...m/armchair-gm/team/824253

I miss slotting CJ Smith and Erod into the top 2 lines.
- TheSabresTaco

Scott Wilson at 1LW next to Eichel.

#GloryDays