Friedman: Nikita Nesterov and Mikhail Grigorenko comtemplating NHL returns
- gerbe75pts

I'd take Grigo back

*hides*

I'd take Grigo back

*hides*
- RhinoFan

You better hide

Samson is gone. It's sad, but true.
- RhinoFan

I was thinking the same thing. If he's talking 7-8 mil, then that might be the time to get a 1st and prospect and walk away. Before i get eaten alive by the horde, I am not a Sam hater.

I was thinking the same thing. If he's talking 7-8 mil, then that might be the time to get a 1st and prospect and walk away. Before i get eaten alive by the horde, I am not a Sam hater.
- jcragcrumple

He's going to get a huge bump in salary

Depends on how his agent play it

If they can get him signed around $6.5 I would keep him

I was thinking the same thing. If he's talking 7-8 mil, then that might be the time to get a 1st and prospect and walk away. Before i get eaten alive by the horde, I am not a Sam hater.
- jcragcrumple

I think we keep Sam if we get him at 6 long term. Otherwise we have to trade right? I am also a fan of Sam. Just being realistic.

You better hide
- Stripes77

Who is better, Sobotka/Larsson or Grigo?

It won't happen either way, but not sure he's a downgrade over our bottom6 centers at the moment.

WHO?????
- gordong

That guy the buffalo News Reporter thought was the next Mario Lemieux

I was thinking the same thing. If he's talking 7-8 mil, then that might be the time to get a 1st and prospect and walk away. Before i get eaten alive by the horde, I am not a Sam hater.
- jcragcrumple

LOL no hate perceived, you may pass.

Yeah, I think Sams chance for sticking with the team was taking a long term $5M deal this last season.

Now he'll be used as a trade chip. It's okay, if Jack can keep him at 70pts, the return will be quality.

36 games into his career, kinda WAY too early to say that.
- gordong

I mean present day Casey against NHL competition. Casey when playing against guys his own age looked like Patty Kane.

I think we keep Sam if we get him at 6 long term. Otherwise we have to trade right? I am also a fan of Sam. Just being realistic.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

It's a very tough case. He makes the best better, but he disappears with average players. Before committing, i would want to see him on a 55-60 point pace on a line without Eichel.

He's going to get a huge bump in salary

Depends on how his agent play it

If they can get him signed around $6.5 I would keep him
- Stripes77

Being that he is such good friends with Eichel, he's the one player I'd expect to take a discount if he wanted to stay. Whether or not he does is a different question entirely, but his hold out would point to a No.

THAT right there is gonna be the kicker. Sam only signed a 2 year deal.

so in 2019/2020:

Reinhart: RFA
Casey: RFA
Sheary: UFA
Pilut: RFA
Dahlin: 1 year from being RFA.

That could be BAD news.
- JVince11

That’s easy, Sheary is a goner and Reinhart gets the W.Nylander treatment. If he signs for a good cap hit then he can buy a couple more years here. If he wants the big pay day then don’t let the door hit you on the way out. I’m sure we’d get a nice return back for him as well. Probably the top 4 RHD we’re gonna need.

I'd take Grigo back

*hides*
- RhinoFan

*puts a hockey stick through the handles of the cabinet you're hiding in*

I was thinking the same thing. If he's talking 7-8 mil, then that might be the time to get a 1st and prospect and walk away. Before i get eaten alive by the horde, I am not a Sam hater.
- jcragcrumple

Wait.... why????

He is producing at a near PPG pace right now on that line? Why not pay him like one? I think he's on pace for like 80 pts this year. Why would you get rid of that and it's chemistry with J squared.

Sabres twitter account just put out some pictures of practice, makes me miss playing competitively.

They are so happy, having so much fun. It's obvious. Love it.

*puts a hockey stick through the handles of the cabinet you're hiding in*
- JVince11

RUN!

That’s easy, Sheary is a goner and Reinhart gets the W.Nylander treatment. If he signs for a good cap hit then he can buy a couple more years here. If he wants the big pay day then don’t let the door hit you on the way out. I’m sure we’d get a nice return back for him as well. Probably the top 4 RHD we’re gonna need.
- Pegullaville

The ONLY way I see that as a real possibility is if Casey is playing up to 2C levels of 65 pts+ a year AND one of Olofsson/Nylander are playing top 6 minutes at that time.

If you don't have the scoring behind that top line... I'm not breaking it up for 1.5M AAV when the cap will go up another 8M by that time if not more.

Wait.... why????

He is producing at a near PPG pace right now on that line? Why not pay him like one? I think he's on pace for like 80 pts this year. Why would you get rid of that and it's chemistry with J squared.
- JVince11

He's an 80 point player with Jack

Is he a 50 point player without him?

Wait.... why????

He is producing at a near PPG pace right now on that line? Why not pay him like one? I think he's on pace for like 80 pts this year. Why would you get rid of that and it's chemistry with J squared.
- JVince11

Because J squared is a big reason for that production. It's the same reason I wouldn't pay Skinner 9M if he dug his heels in.

Skinner is a 7.5-8m player
Samson is probably 5.5-6.5

They would get a mil or two from Jack, we can't pay that, better to recycle.

It's a very tough case. He makes the best better, but he disappears with average players. Before committing, i would want to see him on a 55-60 point pace on a line without Eichel.
- jcragcrumple

Enjoy your samcakes

The ONLY way I see that as a real possibility is if Casey is playing up to 2C levels of 65 pts+ a year AND one of Olofsson/Nylander are playing top 6 minutes at that time.

If you don't have the scoring behind that top line... I'm not breaking it up for 1.5M AAV when the cap will go up another 8M by that time if not more.
- JVince11

Inflation in the cap and inflation in player contracts go hand in hand. Rhino could sign for $8M in two years when today he'd probably get $7M.

He's an 80 point player with Jack

Is he a 50 point player without him?
- jcragcrumple

I can see that perspective.... he's been juggled quite a bit on lines since he got to Buffalo playing next to Jack and ROR.

The one thing that I really do like about Sam thou... he has gotten better every year. Not just points but his overall play. His passing is an easy one to see this season. He is also extremely durable only missing 6 games in his entire 3+ seasons.

I can see him as a James Neal or Patrik Hornqvist type... where you know what you are getting when next to a 1C but isn't that level player without it.

He's an 80 point player with Jack

Is he a 50 point player without him?
- jcragcrumple

If Skinner is still in Carolina right now he has 10 goals instead of 25. Probably 22 points instead of PPG here. Both Sheary and Pominville both produced with Eichel and they might not ever score again without him.

I can see that perspective.... he's been juggled quite a bit on lines since he got to Buffalo playing next to Jack and ROR.

The one thing that I really do like about Sam thou... he has gotten better every year. Not just points but his overall play. His passing is an easy one to see this season. He is also extremely durable only missing 6 games in his entire 3+ seasons.

I can see him as a James Neal or Patrik Hornqvist type... where you know what you are getting when next to a 1C but isn't that level player without it.
- JVince11

Didn't you just prove my point ? I think Dallas, Nashville, and Pittsburgh agree with me.

I can see that perspective.... he's been juggled quite a bit on lines since he got to Buffalo playing next to Jack and ROR.

The one thing that I really do like about Sam thou... he has gotten better every year. Not just points but his overall play. His passing is an easy one to see this season. He is also extremely durable only missing 6 games in his entire 3+ seasons.

I can see him as a James Neal or Patrik Hornqvist type... where you know what you are getting when next to a 1C but isn't that level player without it.
- JVince11

Eichel isn't on a 100-point pace without Reinhart though. Probably 10 points fewer. It's tough. Reinhart elevates Eichel. I just want to see if Reinhart can elevate non-elite players too