If they buy him out he is on their cap until the 2026-2027 season

If they bury him in the minors $5 million of his cap is on the books until the end of his contract

Basically they save $1 million of cap space a la the Matt Moulson treatment.

They are better off trying to trade him and retain half of his salary that burying him for the next 4 seasons. It at least frees up $3 million in cap space
- Stripes77

A permanent, all expenses paid trip to sunny southern California with full pay. Now that's failing upwards

You are misguided by focusing only on NHL experience for Ullmark.

16/17 Ullmark played 56 games (55 ahl, 1 nhl)
17/18 Ullmark played 49 games (44 ahl, 5 nhl)
18/19 Ullmark has played 18 games

conclusion re: Ullmark is that he has the physical durability to play 32 more games easily, if 50 games played was the goal per season for him

16/17 Hutton played 30 games (21 starts)
17/18 Hutton played 32 games (26 starts)
18/19 Hutton has played 31 games (30 starts)

conclusion re: Hutton is that he has already played as many games as he has ever played in a whole season. He is probably feeling that, especially given his age.

Overall conclusion: moving forward, Ullmark should be getting 2/3 of the starts and Hutton 1/3. Ullmark's history shows that it is more likely that he can physically handle it better than Hutton. Additionally, the team plays better in front of Ullmark, as evidenced by his win to loss ratio.


Edit: fixed a typo, 26 starts for Hutton in 17/18, not 16
- Angler

This is a good post.
Now stop basing things on facts.
This is HockeyBuzzed

If they buy him out he is on their cap until the 2026-2027 season

If they bury him in the minors $5 million of his cap is on the books until the end of his contract

Basically they save $1 million of cap space a la the Matt Moulson treatment.

They are better off trying to trade him and retain half of his salary that burying him for the next 4 seasons. It at least frees up $3 million in cap space.

The problem is he has a 15 team no trade list which will make it even more difficult.

Murray really screwed the pooch...(raw deal)
- Stripes77

I wonder if any team sees any value in Okposo @ $3 million per year, assuming the Sabres eat half his salary?

The Sabres only had 2 shots on goal in the 3rd period and 1 in OT??

All 3 went in!!!

That's just wow

I wonder if any team sees any value in Okposo @ $3 million per year, assuming the Sabres eat half his salary?
- SabreWest

I dont see why not. 3M is a LOT better than 6M when you are a contender looking for forward depth.

A permanent, all expenses paid trip to sunny southern California with full pay. Now that's failing upwards
- jcragcrumple

But it really hurts the cap

Moulson had 2 years left of a $5 million cap hit...

Really it was what half of last year and all of this season.

Okposo has 4 more years at $6 million

It makes more sense mathematically to eat half of his salary and trade him.

But it really hurts the cap

Moulson had 2 years left of a $5 million cap hit...

Really it was what half of last year and all of this season.

Okposo has 4 more years at $6 million

It makes more sense mathematically to eat half of his salary and trade him.
- Stripes77

I'm all for it. But a team can get a 4th liner for $1-2 mil on a 1-year deal, instead of being locked in for $3m per year for 4 years. Maybe there's a GM interested. I certainly hope so

Its acceptable when you are not in cap trouble. Giving up a 1st to get out of a contract that isn't handcuffing you is a dumb move.

As how bad he is going to be in two years, no one can predict. He could get a concussion tomorrow and the contract is off the books so why trade a 1st now for a problem two years from now?

Also the CBA has an opt out this year and perhaps there will be compliance buy-out. Smart GMs don't throw 1st round picks away.
- sabresfan69

Well, now that Beglund decided to quit, they have some cap space yes.
Before that, they were "up against it " with like $250k in space.
It is $6m that could be used on a player who actually contributes to you know, oh I don't know...
Hey, maybe like goal scoring.
Don't they keep score in the NHL to determine wins and losses?
Afren't the Sabres suffering from non existant secondary scoring?
Wasn't he brought in a couple if years ago to provide primary and even secondary scoring?
Would the Sabres score more and be higher than 19th place for GF if they could get 25 goals from a $6m player?
Weren't you jumping off a bridge in the past few days along with many others about the Sabres inability to win? Scoring more is a part of that right?

Jesus!

I think it’s simple. Bury him for 2 years, pay Seattle to take his cap hit for the remaining 2 years.

I think it’s simple. Bury him for 2 years, pay Seattle to take his cap hit for the remaining 2 years.
- sbroads24

I'd rather eat $3 million now and bank that Seattle card if there is a player under contract that you would want to move on from (that won't cost you as much as it would to have Seattle take Okposo)

Not to mention Okposo could veto being picked by Seattle

Daniel Carcillo is starting to annoy me on twitter.

I appreciate his stances and appreciate his redemption story but he is becoming like PETA. Either completely agree with me or you're wrong.

It is very annoying to me.

I'd rather eat $3 million now and bank that Seattle card if there is a player under contract that you would want to move on from (that won't cost you as much as it would to have Seattle take Okposo)

Not to mention Okposo could veto being picked by Seattle
- Stripes77

Weren't the rules for LV that any plaayer with a No Movement Clause had to be protected, whilest those with a NTC could be exposed with no strings such as requiring approval by the player?
I could be wrong, but I thought that was the dealio.

Weren't the rules for LV that any plaayer with a No Movement Clause had to be protected, whilest those with a NTC could be exposed with no strings such as requiring approval by the player?
I could be wrong, but I thought that was the dealio.
- IonSabres

NTC can be exposed but have to agree to the team

NTC can be exposed but have to agree to the team
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Correct

Fleury waived his NTC to go to Vegas when Pittsburgh asked him to.

Okposo could easily say no

Correct

Fleury waived his NTC to go to Vegas when Pittsburgh asked him to.

Okposo could easily say no
- Stripes77

He'd likely see it as an opportunity/possibility to play top 6 minutes and accept, me would think.

Perhaps unpopular given the struggles but i'd give E-Rod another shot on line 3 next year.

His D-zone usage has gone up dramatically since last year. He's basically being used like Larsson which is questionable since the guys mostly know for offensive play.

I think once the third line looks like an actual scoring line rather than some make shift Sami Pahlsson tribute line, he'll start to produce again.

Something like Smith-Mittelstadt-Erod could work, assuming they get someone to take over 2nd line duties.
- Sabresfan-365

The good part about Erod is that most of his primary assists go to players who don't typically score. I know he has 2 primaries for Sobotka, 2 for Pommer, at least 1 for angry larry. He gets the most out of players who are not offensive juggernauts. He has 15p in 41 games which does not suck, and I like his game with Pommer. If we could get Smith back,

Smith-Erod-Pommer
Girgs-Mitts-Thompson
Sheary-Larry-Okposo

Would be an interesting grouping. I'm good on seeing Sobotka for a while.

He'd likely see it as an opportunity/possibility to play top 6 minutes and accept, me would think.
- Powerslave

If he is buried in the minors like Broads suggested for 2 years there is no way he would be a top 6 player then

Flames broadcast version of the highlights (good job by their play by play guys ... from instantly knowing which Sabre has the puck, to the commentary, to the goal calls).

http://www.dtmts.com/?id=2018020723&vid=65000403

FYI, for those of you not familiar with it, DTMTS.com freakin' rules ("don't tell me the score"). It's JUST the highlights - no BS. They don't tell you the score in the beginning, they show just - the - goals (and sometimes a nice save, a post, a penalty) - no stupid background music or no "the Sabres really pulled off a nice win last night, let's see the highlights..." in the beginning. This really comes in handy for the late-night games, or especially the playoff games. I love to wake up in the morning after a bunch of playoff games the night before, go immediately to DTMTS.com, and start playing the highlights for each game. Of course, if we actually made the playoffs, I would watch our games live, even if they started at 10pm or something.

Enjoy !
- kritter65

They have that on the Sabres site too. Looks like this site just puts all the games in one place.

They have that on the Sabres site too. Looks like this site just puts all the games in one place.
- Frizzlefry

Yeah, dtmts has been around for a few years now. Started out great, then the NHL got their hands on it, yet somehow it's still great !

If he is buried in the minors like Broads suggested for 2 years there is no way he would be a top 6 player then
- Stripes77

They are not going to bury an alternate captain in the minors.

They are not going to bury an alternate captain in the minors.
- Powerslave

They put him on the 4th line already

If he keeps playing like he is the minors is the next step