Well,
He was only 18
Then he was only 19
Then he was only 20
Now i
He is 20-3/4.

Puting up about 0.80 PPG down tnere playing mkstly a peri eter game.
Set-up guy, not a finisher.
Still developing...into what is debateable.
- IonSabres

As long as he's improving, I don't give a poop.

I’m not sure a guy like Duchene is what this team needs.

I’d rather get a JT Miller and then pull a trade for a guy like Tarasenko.

This Berglund situation turned out to be a huge blessing for the teams future cap space.
- Stripes77

Matt Duchene made Drake Batherson an NHL player.

It's what the Sabres need.

I also like JT Miller as a less costly option. Without looking at the numbers, I'm not sure if he's a real play driver. I am confident he would improve the middle 6.

21-22 cap

Jack-10
Dahlin-9
Jeff-8
Sam-6
Casey-6
Kyle-6
Risto-5.4
Tage-4
Pilut-4
Ullmark-4
Nylander-4
Guhle-3

Outside of trades (or BOs) those guys will likely all be here definitely or around the given cap range. Gives around 65M for 7F, 4D and 1G. Rest of the guys will be low cost, middle-bottom 6 forwards. Salary cap is volatile considering the end of the CBA agreement happens before this year starts, but based on growth could be about 90M. Could there be space for a talent like Duchene? Does it stunt a guy like CM for the years down the road? Do you move either guy to the wing?

I would say it's realistically possible to fit him in, now that Bergone has left us.
- TheSabresTaco

Our first rounders could make Guhle, Nylander expendable which frees up that money and I'm sure Botts' #1 goal apart from Skinner right now is getting out of Okposo's deal. Not to mention the cap could raise another $10M by 2021-2022 also.

Sobotka is better suited on the 4th

Skinner Eichel Reinhart
Tage Mitts Okposo
Sheary ERod Smith
Larsson Sobotka Girgensons

Tage played his best hockey on the left side.

That second line still needs work but this team just doesn’t have the depth yet.
- Stripes77

Yeah, they tried that 2nd line already
But maybe that 3rd line could generate something
Good speed at least

Matt Duchene made Drake Batherson an NHL player.

It's what the Sabres need.

I also like JT Miller as a less costly option. Without looking at the numbers, I'm not sure if he's a real play driver. I am confident he would improve the middle 6.
- TheSabresTaco

He’s going to be a $9-$10 million player if he goes to July 1st.

That’s what I mean by bringing in a guy like him.

He’s an excellent player. He’s a ppg player on a real bad team.

He’s going to get paid big time.

alright guys genuis GM plan here

trade for bad contracts and gain an asset with it, then bully the player until they mutually terminate their contract

free assets

Our first rounders could make Guhle, Nylander expendable which frees up that money and I'm sure Botts' #1 goal apart from Skinner right now is getting out of Okposo's deal. Not to mention the cap could raise another $10M by 2021-2022 also.
- Pegullaville

This doesn't make sense to me.

The org has spent years developing both of these promising players, and they're at ELC cost, and likely both will be for years. Having a bunch of 1sts doesn't make players in the middle of their development expendable. That first round pick can be Cam Barker or David Pastrnak.

As far as the freeing up money thing.. they cost zero dollars and zero cents on the cap.

Re-reading your statement, did you mean that the 1sts could eventually replace the above players? Like 3 years from now?

Yeah, they tried that 2nd line already
But maybe that 3rd line could generate something
Good speed at least
- jdfitz77

Okposo slows that line down a ton.

I would switch Smith and him but that’s a really young inexperienced line.

Skinners $5.75 and Berglunds $3.8 makes up more than enough to work out a deal.


Then throw in Moulson and Pommer there’s another $10 plus million.

I’m excited.

Just like that cap issues have gone way down.
- Stripes77

Lol, not directed at you personally, but I'm glad everyone is catching up to my post earlier this morning!
Sometimes being do far out in the lead is lonely, and makes one feel they are trailing behind.
Ok, maybe not me, but surely of others.

Lol, not directed at you personally, but I'm glad everyone is catching up to my post earlier this morning!
Sometimes being do far out in the lead is lonely, and makes one feel they are trailing behind.
Ok, maybe not me, but surely of others.
- IonSabres

I posted something similar earlier but remember a lot of people don’t back read

He’s going to be a $9-$10 million player if he goes to July 1st.

That’s what I mean by bringing in a guy like him.

He’s an excellent player. He’s a ppg player on a real bad team.

He’s going to get paid big time.
- Stripes77

Offer the kitchen sink to Oilers then for RNH. McCabe, Guhle, Nylander and a 2nd rounder could start the conversation. We have a lot more money then people realize. Sam could be our version of W.Nylander too and could possibly be the odd man out if we acquire a few studs or guys progress. The Cap will not prohibit us from doing anything. If Botts can keep the Penguins compliant he can figure this one out.

He’s going to be a $9-$10 million player if he goes to July 1st.

That’s what I mean by bringing in a guy like him.

He’s an excellent player. He’s a ppg player on a real bad team.

He’s going to get paid big time.
- Stripes77

I think you can get him for 9. Does getting Duchene for 9 proportionally equate to getting a JT Miller for 5? I would say you get more value from Duchene, and he plays the kind of game that will last a long time in the NHL. But he's also somewhat injury prone.

This doesn't make sense to me.

The org has spent years developing both of these promising players, and they're at ELC cost, and likely both will be for years. Having a bunch of 1sts doesn't make players in the middle of their development expendable. That first round pick can be Cam Barker or David Pastrnak.

As far as the freeing up money thing.. they cost zero dollars and zero cents on the cap.

Re-reading your statement, did you mean that the 1sts could eventually replace the above players? Like 3 years from now?
- TheSabresTaco

Yes sir. If we can't afford them then they are cost efficient replacements.

alright guys genuis GM plan here

trade for bad contracts and gain an asset with it, then bully the player until they mutually terminate their contract

free assets
- robz228

Botts is literally GM of the year.

Offer the kitchen sink to Oilers then for RNH. McCabe, Guhle, Nylander and a 2nd rounder could start the conversation. We have a lot more money then people realize. Sam could be our version of W.Nylander too and could possibly be the odd man out if we acquire a few studs or guys progress. The Cap will not prohibit us from doing anything. If Botts can keep the Penguins compliant he can figure this one out.
- Pegullaville

If they could get out of Okposo’s deal I would bring in Duchene.

I wonder if Ottawa knowing Duchene is gonna walk would take back a bad contract in Okposo and one of our 1st for an extended Duchene?

Lol, not directed at you personally, but I'm glad everyone is catching up to my post earlier this morning!
Sometimes being do far out in the lead is lonely, and makes one feel they are trailing behind.
Ok, maybe not me, but surely of others.
- IonSabres

Yes sir. If we can't afford them then they are cost efficient replacements.
- Pegullaville

Well sure, in one scenario. But that's the problem with having too many variables. It's only one option. One or both could be significantly more valuable than the 1st rounders this year. Or vice versa. Or a mix. Overall it's a moot argument today.

I think you can get him for 9. Does getting Duchene for 9 proportionally equate to getting a JT Miller for 5? I would say you get more value from Duchene, and he plays the kind of game that will last a long time in the NHL. But he's also somewhat injury prone.
- TheSabresTaco

I think getting Miller for $5 and having that extra $4-5 million might be more benifical to the team long term.

There *was* a really loud guy in Section 106 who kept yelling "HIT SOMEBODY!" ....
- Der Kaiser

105 106 area was where the jackass was …….iv been a season ticket holder for a long time and this was the worst thing ive seen from a person in all my time going...didn't even have the sense to just ask the people just went to security and said some terrible things thankfully the arena staff didn't really want to hear his bulls$#t

If they could get out of Okposo’s deal I would bring in Duchene.

I wonder if Ottawa knowing Duchene is gonna walk would take back a bad contract in Okposo and one of our 1st for an extended Duchene?
- Stripes77

Step 1: Hire Mike Richards to "take care of" Okposo
Step 2: Call the FBI
Step 3: Breach of contract
Step 4: Profit

I would have loved Bailey to be able to fill a top 6 role as he has good size and skates very well but his hands and Hockey IQ are nonexistent at the NHL level. I think he can fill a fourth line role for us but if his hands ever catch up to his feet he could become our Wayne Simmonds. Just don't see it happening.
- Pegullaville

That was the hope
He actually produced in limited time in the top6 with O’Reilly though
Then he had a bad game, and was bumped down to line4 & then back to Rochester
Always thought they should’ve given him another shot up there, but oh well
I really thought someone would claim him too
Whoops
Guess i was off about him

I think getting Miller for $5 and having that extra $4-5 million might be more benifical to the team long term.
- Stripes77

If the Sabres had both guys ready to trade for/sign, and doing their analytical breakdown and cost/benefit of each, I think they need to look at the pieces they have on the team, especially Casey. The biggest question they need to answer is, will Casey make players better around him. That's how you decide between the two.

I think getting Miller for $5 and having that extra $4-5 million might be more benifical to the team long term.
- Stripes77

growing on you, isn't it

I think you can get him for 9. Does getting Duchene for 9 proportionally equate to getting a JT Miller for 5? I would say you get more value from Duchene, and he plays the kind of game that will last a long time in the NHL. But he's also somewhat injury prone.
- TheSabresTaco

Do you want a guy like Duchene in this lockerroom. He will always be 2nd fiddle to Jack. Not sure I'd play that particular game of Russian roulette.

105 106 area was where the jackass was …….iv been a season ticket holder for a long time and this was the worst thing ive seen from a person in all my time going...didn't even have the sense to just ask the people just went to security and said some terrible things thankfully the arena staff didn't really want to hear his bulls$#t
- tyler46

Section 105 last night, smoking hot young-30 babe sitting in 4th row, all dressed up with this very stylish but totally out of place hat on; not watching the game at all but really doing everything she can to get as much attention as she could.

Five or six minutes into the game some other people showed up, waved at her, and she retreated from the 4th row to the 5th. 10 minutes into the game another group of people showed up and waved at her, and she hung her head altogether and walked back up the stairs and left.

It had a prospecting quality.