After reading back the last bit here are a couple thoughts.

The 1st round picks:
Blues will most likely be next year, they are playing horrible and have too much ground to make up IMO and they just put 3 starters on injury reserve. Thus I would keep this pick until we know it is not a lottery pick next year (if that is into April 2020, so be it). By lottery pick I mean, we know its not top 3 before deciding, if top 3, keep it for sure.

SJS will be this year, even though they don't look as good as they should be, they will make the playoffs. I would consider trading this pick, but I want to keep at least one this year.

Sabres I would consider trading our pick this year, but only for a sub 25 year old player that has term left or is an RFA.

The idea behind keeping all the 1st round picks is to be able to get roster players in a few years that have low cap hits but higher potential impact, thus offsetting Dahlin, Mittlestadt and maybe Reinharts contracts.

Almost 100% sure they would match it, but keeping all the first round picks might be important when we try and offersheet Matthews at $15+m per year. I then trade away Reinhart and any other dead weight needed to get this done. That would be (4) 1st round picks, that have to be the Sabres picks, so keeping the other 1st rounders is important to help fill out the roster.

- jcragcrumple

Looking to next year, there is no doubt the roster will look different and I expect both Olofsson and Pilut to be regulars.

One of the reasons they picked up Elie on waivers was so guys like Olofsson and CJ stay down there, imo.

After reading back the last bit here are a couple thoughts.

The 1st round picks:
Blues will most likely be next year, they are playing horrible and have too much ground to make up IMO and they just put 3 starters on injury reserve. Thus I would keep this pick until we know it is not a lottery pick next year (if that is into April 2020, so be it). By lottery pick I mean, we know its not top 3 before deciding, if top 3, keep it for sure.

SJS will be this year, even though they don't look as good as they should be, they will make the playoffs. I would consider trading this pick, but I want to keep at least one this year.

Sabres I would consider trading our pick this year, but only for a sub 25 year old player that has term left or is an RFA.

The idea behind keeping all the 1st round picks is to be able to get roster players in a few years that have low cap hits but higher potential impact, thus offsetting Dahlin, Mittlestadt and maybe Reinharts contracts.

Almost 100% sure they would match it, but keeping all the first round picks might be important when we try and offersheet Matthews at $15+m per year. I then trade away Reinhart and any other dead weight needed to get this done. That would be (4) 1st round picks, that have to be the Sabres picks, so keeping the other 1st rounders is important to help fill out the roster.
- Lilroot9

You really buried the lede, there

After reading back the last bit here are a couple thoughts.

The 1st round picks:
Blues will most likely be next year, they are playing horrible and have too much ground to make up IMO and they just put 3 starters on injury reserve. Thus I would keep this pick until we know it is not a lottery pick next year (if that is into April 2020, so be it). By lottery pick I mean, we know its not top 3 before deciding, if top 3, keep it for sure.

SJS will be this year, even though they don't look as good as they should be, they will make the playoffs. I would consider trading this pick, but I want to keep at least one this year.

Sabres I would consider trading our pick this year, but only for a sub 25 year old player that has term left or is an RFA.

The idea behind keeping all the 1st round picks is to be able to get roster players in a few years that have low cap hits but higher potential impact, thus offsetting Dahlin, Mittlestadt and maybe Reinharts contracts.

Almost 100% sure they would match it, but keeping all the first round picks might be important when we try and offersheet Matthews at $15+m per year. I then trade away Reinhart and any other dead weight needed to get this done. That would be (4) 1st round picks, that have to be the Sabres picks, so keeping the other 1st rounders is important to help fill out the roster.
- Lilroot9

Good post. They certainly have options, both at the trade deadline and the draft. Botts has put this team in a good position.

Looking to next year, there is no doubt the roster will look different and I expect both Olofsson and Pilut to be regulars.

One of the reasons they picked up Elie on waivers was so guys like Olofsson and CJ stay down there, imo.
- mhp

You think Asplund makes it next year?

You really buried the lede, there
- jcragcrumple

We don't have to offersheet him, I just want us to. I do think Toronto matches any offer, so maybe you say $16m per just to stick them.

You think Asplund makes it next year?
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

If we didn't have Bergy and Slobotka, he would have a good opportunity. But I think he stays in Rochester next year. He will get his hot in 2020-21 when Slobotka comes off the books. Frankly, I think CJ Smith is ahead of Asplund on the depth chart right now.

Asplund hasn't put up the points much this year before last night but he has been rock solid defensively.

If we didn't have Bergy and Slobotka, he would have a good opportunity. But I think he stays in Rochester next year. He will get his hot in 2020-21 when Slobotka comes off the books. Frankly, I think CJ Smith is ahead of Asplund on the depth chart right now.

Asplund hasn't put up the points much this year before last night but he has been rock solid defensively.
- mhp

I haven't watched much obviously, but last night he looked like the 2-way center of the future for the big club.

Good post. They certainly have options, both at the trade deadline and the draft. Botts has put this team in a good position.
- mhp

Totally agree. I just dont think trading away our first rounders is the way to go. A while ago, I look at (of course after the fact) at who we could have taken instead of the Kane, ROR, Lehner trade and they all out produced Kane, ROR and Lehner as rookies. And you would have had them for many more years. So trading away the picks is not really the answer, IMO.

Lehner trade - Pick 21, Boeser was pick 23
Kane trade - Pick 25, Sebastian Aho pick 35
ROR trade - Pick 31, Sebastian Aho pick 35 or Brandon Carlo pick 37

not to mention in the ROR and Kane trade we traded a bunch of pieces that we still could have traded, but ended up with solid players. The point here is trading the pick is not always the best thing to do.

I haven't watched much obviously, but last night he looked like the 2-way center of the future for the big club.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

That is exactly what he will be. In an ideal world, he could be the 3C for this team in the future. Marcus Davidsson (2017 2nd rd pick) who plays in the SHL plays a similar style of game.

We don't have to offersheet him, I just want us to. I do think Toronto matches any offer, so maybe you say $16m per just to stick them.
- Lilroot9

To your previous point about the firsts:

Something that's been bouncing around in my head, and it's a reason, i think, to use one of those firsts: If Eichel gets hurt for 10-15 games, we are so (frank)ed. I don't think there's a team in the league that would be more (frank)ed if they lost their 1C

I would like to think they'd give his minutes to Mittelstadt, but i almost think that Sobotka becomes the 1C.

15 games, and the season is cooked imo

Not sure how this is going to turn out, looking up details now, but trading a 1st round pick at the deadline, want to see if the cup winners ever did that in the same year...

Here are the winners and biggest trade at deadline

2018 Capitals - trade during year: (players they got)
Adam Chapie
Joe Whitney
Michal Kempny
Jakub Jerabek


2017 Penguins - trades during the year: (players they got)
Ron Hainsey
Frank Corrado
Mike Condon

2016 Penguins - trades during the year: (players they got)
Matthias Plachta
James Melindy
Dan O`Donoghue
Dustin Jeffrey
Justin Schultz (for a 3rd round pick)
Carl Hagelin (traded two roster players)

2015 Blackhawks - trades during the year: (players they got)
Antoine Vermette (for 1st rounder)
Kimmo Timonen (for 2nd round pick)
T.J. Brennan
Adam Clendening

2014 LA Kings - trades during the year: (players they got)
2nd round pick
2nd round pick
Brayden McNabb
Jonathan Parker
(above from Sabres)
Marian Gaborik (second rounder)
Steve Quailer
Andrew Crescenzi



So I guess my point is, to win the cup, those teams build through draft and dont trade 1st rounders at deadline of cup winning season. (am I reaching on this point?)

To your previous point about the firsts:

Something that's been bouncing around in my head, and it's a reason, i think, to use one of those firsts: If Eichel gets hurt for 10-15 games, we are so (frank)ed. I don't think there's a team in the league that would be more (frank)ed if they lost their 1C

I would like to think they'd give his minutes to Mittelstadt, but i almost think that Sobotka becomes the 1C.

15 games, and the season is cooked imo
- jcragcrumple

I agree, but that is not a reason to trade a 1st rounder for a veteran player with either a high cap hit, ending contract or too many years left on deal.

I want to make the playoffs, but the goal is to win the cup one year, not just make the playoffs. Don't trade those assets to just make the playoffs.

Totally agree. I just dont think trading away our first rounders is the way to go. A while ago, I look at (of course after the fact) at who we could have taken instead of the Kane, ROR, Lehner trade and they all out produced Kane, ROR and Lehner as rookies. And you would have had them for many more years. So trading away the picks is not really the answer, IMO.

Lehner trade - Pick 21, Boeser was pick 23
Kane trade - Pick 25, Sebastian Aho pick 35
ROR trade - Pick 31, Sebastian Aho pick 35 or Brandon Carlo pick 37

not to mention in the ROR and Kane trade we traded a bunch of pieces that we still could have traded, but ended up with solid players. The point here is trading the pick is not always the best thing to do.
- Lilroot9

I'm not a guy that likes to look at what happened in the past, I would rather look forward to the future because that's what management does all of the time.But in this context, I think you make valid points here. This upcoming draft is grading out very good, lots of good players in it and let's hang onto to the picks.

Here's my thought on trading any of the 1st the next two years. We could trade any of the four 1st rounders we have in the next two years, however, in doing so you are trading away a potential future NHLer and adding another player that likely will have to be protected in the expansion draft. I understand that people want to improve the team now, but I feel that in the long run we would be better off keeping those picks and moving other pieces that may not be part of the future (Guhle, Nylander, any older player.)

Curious to see what the goalie situation will be when it comes to the expansion draft as well. We have two Swedish and a Finn goalie all 6'4" ages 25, 23, and 19. One could potentially be used as a trade candidate, or do you keep all 3 so if one is selected by Seattle you still have the other two? Maybe trade one to Seattle so they don't pick someone you can't protect? Very different situation for Buffalo compared to the Vegas draft.

Here's my thought on trading any of the 1st the next two years. We could trade any of the four 1st rounders we have in the next two years, however, in doing so you are trading away a potential future NHLer and adding another player that likely will have to be protected in the expansion draft. I understand that people want to improve the team now, but I feel that in the long run we would be better off keeping those picks and moving other pieces that may not be part of the future (Guhle, Nylander, any older player.)

Curious to see what the goalie situation will be when it comes to the expansion draft as well. We have two Swedish and a Finn goalie all 6'4" ages 25, 23, and 19. One could potentially be used as a trade candidate, or do you keep all 3 so if one is selected by Seattle you still have the other two? Maybe trade one to Seattle so they don't pick someone you can't protect? Very different situation for Buffalo compared to the Vegas draft.
- adambuffalo

I agree that keeping the picks is the best decision, I don't think doing it for the expansion draft is the right move. We want to win, you do whatever you have to do to get there. If when the expansion draft comes up, we have to trade a pick to keep them from picking someone we want, then so be it.

I agree, but that is not a reason to trade a 1st rounder for a veteran player with either a high cap hit, ending contract or too many years left on deal.

I want to make the playoffs, but the goal is to win the cup one year, not just make the playoffs. Don't trade those assets to just make the playoffs.
- Lilroot9

I mentioned this to Homie last week, but for a money in, money out deal, i would do Anisimov for Berglund, Elie, Sabres 2020 2nd, and this year's 3rd (if Pitt gets the 3rd, then CHI gets the 4th and and a pick next year or something). Or instead of the 3rd, throw in a prospect

This year and 2 more at $4.5 for Anisimov. It would give us good short-term coverage at 2C and the price point is fine for a 3C when Mittelstadt is ready. We get the bonus of moving on from Berglund, who frankly hasn't worked at all.

Our 1sts are being WAY OVERRATED imo
Ppl are acting like they’re sure things
I won’t even throw out the names of the guys we’ve picked in last 1st rounds
But Botts record (as asstGM) in the 1st isn’t all that great either

Outside the top5-10, it’s still a pretty big crapshoot as to whether the guy will become a “core” player, or just a nice depth guy
- jdfitz77

Ever since the Ivan Hlinka tournament in the summer scouts and GM’s were saying that his draft is looking really good and that 1st rounders were going to be nearly impossible to acquire in the rental or any trade market whatsoever. We have 3 of them. I believe St.Louis can make a run at the 11-15 range where we get their pick. Even if they don’t maybe they give us this years pick anyways and avoid being in the same situation that ottawa is in this year.

Good post. They certainly have options, both at the trade deadline and the draft. Botts has put this team in a good position.
- mhp

If this team makes the playoffs with that much draft capital Botts might be GM of the decade.

This year and 2 more at $4.5 for Anisimov. It would give us good short-term coverage at 2C and the price point is fine for a 3C when Mittelstadt is ready. We get the bonus of moving on from Berglund, who frankly hasn't worked at all.
- jcragcrumple

Have not heard Anisimov in the rumor mill too much, but someone I have heard about is Kevin Hayes. He is likely not returning to NYR next season and his name has been mentioned by a few people as someone who could be moved by the deadline. I would like him as a 2C and he's someone that could possibly be resigned.

I agree that keeping the picks is the best decision, I don't think doing it for the expansion draft is the right move. We want to win, you do whatever you have to do to get there. If when the expansion draft comes up, we have to trade a pick to keep them from picking someone we want, then so be it.
- Lilroot9

We are going to add 4 solid players in the next two years. I believe in this scouting department. Mittelstadt has started slow but has given me no reason to believe that he won’t be the 3rd best player out of that draft behind Pettersson and Heiskanen

I haven't watched much obviously, but last night he looked like the 2-way center of the future for the big club.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

This.

He will be the new Larsson.

Have not heard Anisimov in the rumor mill too much, but someone I have heard about is Kevin Hayes. He is likely not returning to NYR next season and his name has been mentioned by a few people as someone who could be moved by the deadline. I would like him as a 2C and he's someone that could possibly be resigned.
- adambuffalo

I'm good with that. Homie mentioned Namestnikov, too

I am of the opinion that something needs to be done. One cheap shot on Eichel and we are pretty damn screwed.

You think Asplund makes it next year?
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Asplund will probably need another year unless he has an offensive explosion. The two way game is there though. But the offence is not. Let him gain the confidence on the farm or else he’ll become a slightly better Larsson.

That is exactly what he will be. In an ideal world, he could be the 3C for this team in the future. Marcus Davidsson (2017 2nd rd pick) who plays in the SHL plays a similar style of game.
- mhp

Davidsson has more offensive upside then Asplund. I see both players as staples in our bottom 6 though when it’s all said and done.