Several ways to improve a team - my perspective on how to do it properly.
▪ In-season Trades
• Before the TDL - not many made ofvthis variety
• TDL timeframe - seem to be on the decline, and trending to less impactful players...more of a tweak
▪Offseason Trades - tend to be when larger deal with more impactful players are moved
▪Free Agency - trending to less inventory of FA's as teams are tending to lock-up their own with more frequency. Teams tend to overpay, and disappointment usually follows.
• Offer Sheets as a form of FA for RFA's - gentlemen's agreement seem to be in- place, frowning on F-ing with another GMs contracts / players
▪Draft & Develop - lowest cost alternative, however usually longest process.

I believe most successful franchises:
- Retain a majority of Draft Picks to build through the draft, enabling them to create a pipeline of cost-controlled replacement players as Vets age and tend to become too expensive to retain.
- Make Offseason, Hockey trades to "shape" the roster overall. Sell from positions of strength to fortify areas of need.
- Use FA's selectively to fill a one or two roster gaps, generally when they are ready "to go for it"
- Leverage TDL Trades to tweak the roster, usually for depth/insurance players

He actually doesn't make my list of suspects. He's not shy about going 47,375 rounds on his main account.

Im thinking more the old school guys who are half in with their mains and then occasionally switch to one of these accounts when the frustration has peaked.
- Sabresfan-365

FIFY

Several ways to improve a team - my perspective on how to do it properly.
▪ In-season Trades
• Before the TDL - not many made ofvthis variety
• TDL timeframe - seem to be on the decline, and trending to less impactful players...more of a tweak
▪Offseason Trades - tend to be when larger deal with more impactful players are moved
▪Free Agency - trending to less inventory of FA's as teams are tending to lock-up their own with more frequency. Teams tend to overpay, and disappointment usually follows.
• Offer Sheets as a form of FA for RFA's - gentlemen's agreement seem to be in- place, frowning on F-ing with another GMs contracts / players
▪Draft & Develop - lowest cost alternative, however usually longest process.

I believe most successful franchises:
- Retain a majority of Draft Picks to build through the draft, enabling them to create a pipeline of cost-controlled replacement players as Vets age and tend to become too expensive to retain.
- Make Offseason, Hockey trades to "shape" the roster overall. Sell from positions of strength to fortify areas of need.
- Use FA's selectively to fill a one or two roster gaps, generally when they are ready "to go for it"
- Leverage TDL Trades to tweak the roster, usually for depth/insurance players
- IonSabres

Ya, I quoted myself, so sue me.

In this Year of Transition, it is quite apparent the roster is NOT READY for prime time.
The core is getting there, but there is way too much dead weight.

I think JBotts
- uses the TDL to try to unload a couple of contracts on players who would be considered as depth players on contenders ... Scandella, Sheary, Beaulieu, Nelson Pommer etc. ... probably for Draft Picks
- uses the TDL to make a Hockey Trade to fill an area of need, maybe with a non-playoff / bubble team ... can they get a 2 or 3 LW or 2RW
- Goes full tilt in Offseason to make a significant trade to balance the roster...something like McCabe, Nylander, 1st...for 2C, RhD for 1st pairing
- signs 1 major FA, a couple of depth pick-ups
- Prays hard that a Rochester prospect is ready to step up bigtime...Guhle, Olofson, Asplund, etc

4-3 Sabres


Risto and Mittelstadt collect goals and possibly multiple points. People use the one game sample to remind us that advanced stats are for weenies and that these two are untouchable assets moving forward.
- Sabresfan-365

One of these is not like the other

One of these is not like the other
- sbroads24

It's been a while since you and I disagreed to this extent, semi refreshing

It's been a while since you and I disagreed to this extent, semi refreshing
- Sabresfan-365

My point is one is a rookie.

We know what Risto is

My point is one is a rookie.

We know what Risto is
- sbroads24

a rookie whose value was grossly inflated because of gif worthy highlights

I get that they're at different intervals in there career, my point is generally they are both overvalued by the fans. I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger on a deal involving either of them.

Thought in Mittelstadt's case, it'd probably have to be someone coming with an overpayment. Im at the point where I'd actively shop Ristolainen.

so you want to trade who for Kadri? So you rob Peter to play Paul... I assume your trading a defenseman for Kadri so now we have a hole on the defense... We cant keep making these move where we trade someone away and then trade for someone to replace him, it's getting us nowhere.

we had two NHL players on this roster that used to play here how much better would the team look with them on the 2nd line????

I get why they were traded but we got picks back, not 2nd line NHL players.... Blame management on that!
- gordong

This sounds familiar...

My point is one is a rookie.

We know what Risto is
- sbroads24

1- A good player
2- Our best RH defenseman
3- apparently back on your “hate list” 😁

c-

ageism bores me (directed at kingcong39 as well)
- Sabresfan-365

Ageism bores me, too.

How do you feel about doucheism?

1- A good player
2- Our best RH defenseman
3- apparently back on your “hate list” 😁
- jdfitz77

1- average player by literally every metric
2- not saying much
3- Whatever

1- average player by literally every metric
2- not saying much
3- Whatever
- sbroads24

Keep drinking that haterade

It’s just funny that u focus on good players like Risto & Sam,
while u seemingly give a pass to quite a few players who are actually bad/underperforming

Stupid comedies I watch a little bit of every time they're on :

1 Step Brothers
2 Hot Rod
3 Dumb and Dumber
4 Grandma's Boy
5 Idiocracy
6 Zoolander
7 Super Troopers
- kritter65

Stupid comedies I watch a little bit of every time they're on :

1 Step Brothers
2 Hot Rod
3 Dumb and Dumber
4 Grandma's Boy
5 Idiocracy
6 Zoolander
7 Super Troopers
- kritter65
- Wetbandit1

...Where's Joe Dirt?

...Where's Joe Dirt?
- seedy

Used as a shim for my book case.......

Keep drinking that haterade

It’s just funny that u focus on good players like Risto & Sam,
while u seemingly give a pass to quite a few players who are actually bad/underperforming
- jdfitz77

Who am I giving a pass to?

Used as a shim for my book case.......
- dadeadhead

Keep drinking that haterade

It’s just funny that u focus on good players like Risto & Sam,
while u seemingly give a pass to quite a few players who are actually bad/underperforming
- jdfitz77[/quote

Ristolainen is not that good. Yes he is the best RH dman we have. That’s not saying a lot.

Who am I giving a pass to?
- sbroads24

Puff, puff, pass, in a clockwise rotation.

I'd pay 8.75M

What's your top $, assuming max length of the term?
- Angler

$8.25/8 years is max I’d do for Skinner. He had 49 points last year. He’s 5 points off that pace and might get it by the All-Star game. If Eichel can turn a 50 point guy into a into a 70+ point guy then I don’t feel the need to pay a winger too much money.

[quote=jdfitz77]Keep drinking that haterade

It’s just funny that u focus on good players like Risto & Sam,
while u seemingly give a pass to quite a few players who are actually bad/underperforming
- hehateme[/quote

Ristolainen is not that good. Yes he is the best RH dman we have. That’s not saying a lot.

Ristolainen just isn’t good, period.

Not an expert, just smarter than most
- RippedFuel

Nope that’s me. But since I won’t be here as much anymore you can be the blog filler with illogical hockey takes.

Ristolainen just isn’t good, period.
- sbroads24

Beady was right when he said Risto was Dion 2.0. Alike Dion, Risto should not be in a top pairing role. However, if he is on the 2nd pair and isn’t playing as many heavy d-zone minutes, then he can be effective. Risto’s advanced statistics says he’s a bad player, but I don’t know many d-men that are in the top 20 in scoring and lead the league in hits. Pilut is good in possession exits, first passes, and possession entries and can help mitigate Risto’s mistakes. At a $5.4M salary, and the fact he’s a RHD (tough to find) he’s a great fit with the core. Sure can we get a great forward for him ? Probably. If we trade Risto we spend the next 5 years looking for a RHD to fill that spot.

...Where's Joe Dirt?
- seedy

No Beerfest, Super Trooper's , or Kingpin

Beady was right when he said Risto was Dion 2.0. Alike Dion, Risto should not be in a top pairing role. However, if he is on the 2nd pair and isn’t playing as many heavy d-zone minutes, then he can be effective. Risto’s advanced statistics says he’s a bad player, but I don’t know many d-men that are in the top 20 in scoring and lead the league in hits. Pilut is good in possession exits, first passes, and possession entries and can help mitigate Risto’s mistakes. At a $5.4M salary, and the fact he’s a RHD (tough to find) he’s a great fit with the core. Sure can we get a great forward for him ? Probably. If we trade Risto we spend the next 5 years looking for a RHD to fill that spot.
- Pegullaville

5 years? We could just sign any average RD and be fine.

He sucks at defense. That’s not hard to replace.

On offense Dahlin will take his PP1 time, and Pilut will be on the second unit.

Risto is legit good in one single area, when the puck is already in the offensive zone.

He’s terrible in his end and below average in transition.

His physicality is nice and fun to watch. I can live without it