I think there are some good players to be had in FA this year that makes us a playoff team as early as next year while the picks develop. It’s all up to if they would want to come here and can Botts clear out Sobotka, Scandella, and Hunwick to make it happen. I’m ok with Sheary on the 3rd line for one more year until his contract expires then he can kick rocks too.
- Pegullaville

Pretty sure Sheary has played RW with the Pens in the past
Why hasn’t he gotten a shot with Jack again?
Looked good with him to start the season
I get wanting to keep Skinner at LW,
but why not at least try Sheary on the other wing?
Let’s get some use out of him

And if he reasonably works out (which I’d expect), then we can probably get something decent for him at the deadline next year

Kronwall/Bouwmeester/Edler could be a one to two year stop gap. Stralman for the right side. Karlsson dream is still alive until he signs on the dotted line. Could always look at Gardiner but he can’t play defense all too well. Would Myers come back ? Gunnarsson and McQuaid are good bargain bin options.
- Pegullaville

I like the idea of Stralman. He lugs 20 minutes a night for the Lightning.

I think there are some good players to be had in FA this year that makes us a playoff team as early as next year while the picks develop. It’s all up to if they would want to come here and can Botts clear out Sobotka, Scandella, and Hunwick to make it happen. I’m ok with Sheary on the 3rd line for one more year until his contract expires then he can kick rocks too.
- Pegullaville

I haven’t looked at UFA lists, but anyone of quality will want money and term, of which this team does not have a ton of at this point.

TB is so well positioned because they have so many guys on bargain contracts to go along with their highly (and some not-so-highly) paid stars. This team is miles away from that.

I like the idea of Stralman. He lugs 20 minutes a night for the Lightning.
- mhp

Forwards like Nyquist, Johansson, Zuccarello, Donskoi, Eberle, Brassard, Simmonds are available that can help if we can’t find any luck with Duchene/Hayes/Dzingel.

Kronwall/Bouwmeester/Edler could be a one to two year stop gap. Stralman for the right side. Karlsson dream is still alive until he signs on the dotted line. Could always look at Gardiner but he can’t play defense all too well. Would Myers come back ? Gunnarsson and McQuaid are good bargain bin options.
- Pegullaville

These guys are all still good enough that they’d probably be able to sign with a legit Cup contender in a depth role
And that probably where they belong now too
We’d end up playing them too much

The others u suggest... meh
Gardner is a decent defenseman
Gonna cost though
And we do need our defensemen to at least be decent in their own end
He & Montour playing big minutes for us might not be the best idea

Trading Risto now,
might just create a hole that we can’t really fill at the moment
If it’s a return that we can’t pass up,
then do it (of course)
But it can’t be for a return like we got with ROR or Kane

Forwards like Nyquist, Johansson, Zuccarello, Donskoi, Eberle, Brassard, Simmonds are available that can help if we can’t find any luck with Duchene/Hayes/Dzingel.
- Pegullaville

Some adds in the Hayes, Dzingel, Ferland, etc group could help the offense enough

That allows us to keep Risto & hopefully have a good Top4 for next year & beyond

We also don’t have to have the offense 100% “fixed” this offseason
It would be nice,
but Botts should be keeping the long term goals in mind when making any additions to the team

These guys are all still good enough that they’d probably be able to sign with a legit Cup contender in a depth role
And that probably where they belong now too
We’d end up playing them too much

The others u suggest... meh
Gardner is a decent defenseman
Gonna cost though
And we do need our defensemen to at least be decent in their own end
He & Montour playing big minutes for us might not be the best idea

Trading Risto now,
might just create a hole that we can’t really fill at the moment
If it’s a return that we can’t pass up,
then do it (of course)
But it can’t be for a return like we got with ROR or Kane
- jdfitz77

I think we ultimately keep Risto, unless like you said we can get a stud forward that is 25 years or younger with term and it makes too much sense to move him. Hall could be available again in the offseason He is 27 but I’ll make the exception for a former Hart winner.

Some adds in the Hayes, Dzingel, Ferland, etc group could help the offense enough

That allows us to keep Risto & hopefully have a good Top4 for next year & beyond

We also don’t have to have the offense 100% “fixed” this offseason
It would be nice,
but Botts should be keeping the long term goals in mind when making any additions to the team
- jdfitz77

I think Botts has done a good job with the long term view since he took the job. It’s a big offseason for him. I hope we move on from Housley but I see a scenario where he returns but Davis Payne and Hajt get the axe. I like what Steve Smith has done with the PK and I think he can be good for our d-men and PK moving forward.

For as god-awful as the Sabre defense is, there isn’t anyone coming off the books for next year, except for RFA McCabe. There’s a lot of money tied up there and very few players any other team would have a use for at the price they’re at.

At forward, Pommer and Skinner are UFAs, and Girgs, Larsson, and Rodrigues are RFAs. It seems like JB is working on Skinner but I have no idea what his plans are for the rest.

Forwards like Nyquist, Johansson, Zuccarello, Donskoi, Eberle, Brassard, Simmonds are available that can help if we can’t find any luck with Duchene/Hayes/Dzingel.
- Pegullaville

Agreed, There are a bunch of players that will go to FA and if there are spots open on our team, there will be interest.

Of the players you mentioned, I like Nyquist and Donskoi. Donskoi won't cost a lot. I hope we can make a play for Dzingel and Hayes.

I think Botts has done a good job with the long term view since he took the job. It’s a big offseason for him. I hope we move on from Housley but I see a scenario where he returns but Davis Payne and Hajt get the axe. I like what Steve Smith has done with the PK and I think he can be good for our d-men and PK moving forward.
- Pegullaville

I could see JB staying patient, keep Phil in place, waiting for contracts to expire, and focusing on 20-21. Next year might not be much different than this one. Maybe missing the playoffs by four points? That would technically be progress and an improvement.

Tage is 6 foot (frank)ing 5. He needs to learn how to use his size, and there is no better place to do that then a league like the AHL.

Why JB hasn't sent him down I will never understand.
- feetontheair22

That is a more concise way to say what I said several pages backs.
$5 in Bottscoins for you

I think we ultimately keep Risto, unless like you said we can get a stud forward that is 25 years or younger with term and it makes too much sense to move him. Hall could be available again in the offseason He is 27 but I’ll make the exception for a former Hart winner.
- Pegullaville

Idk that I’d trade Risto for him unless we know he will extend though

Pretty sure Sheary has played RW with the Pens in the past
Why hasn’t he gotten a shot with Jack again?
Looked good with him to start the season
I get wanting to keep Skinner at LW,
but why not at least try Sheary on the other wing?
Let’s get some use out of him

And if he reasonably works out (which I’d expect), then we can probably get something decent for him at the deadline next year
- jdfitz77

You're building a theory around Sheary being comfortable at RW, when all the evidence says he's not.

The “trade Risto idea” has its merits-
depending on the return

But we’ve gotta replace him in the Top4 if he’s moved
Even if Dahlin moves to the right...
who’s our 2 LH defensemen in the Top4?
Maybe Pilut? But his struggles showed he’s still got some growing to do before he’s a dependable Top4 guy
I like McCabe alright...
but pairing him with Dahlin 20+ min a night is probably too much of an ask

So yeah...
trading Risto could help get another forward
But it also weakens a defense that still needs work as it is
- jdfitz77

It does, however given the pipeline on D, I would thi k 2 capable Dmen will be ready by the end of the 2020-2021 season....so go sign 1 aged vet for 2 years to plug the hole temporarily.
It is a fallecy that EVERYONE needs to be 25 or less and have 2-3 years of cost control.
Go get Strahlman, Girardi...the likes if them.

You're building a theory around Sheary being comfortable at RW, when all the evidence says he's not.
- Lunaion

What evidence?
I haven’t noticed us playing him at RW at all
Are u talking about when he was in Pitt?

It does, however given the pipeline on D, I would thi k 2 capable Dmen will be ready by the end of the 2020-2021 season....so go sign 1 aged vet for 2 years to plug the hole temporarily.
It is a fallecy that EVERYONE needs to be 25 or less and have 2-3 years of cost control.
Go get Strahlman, Girardi...the likes if them.
- IonSabres

Those guys look good on Tampa,
bit they’d be overused & exposed here

For as god-awful as the Sabre defense is, there isn’t anyone coming off the books for next year, except for RFA McCabe. There’s a lot of money tied up there and very few players any other team would have a use for at the price they’re at.

At forward, Pommer and Skinner are UFAs, and Girgs, Larsson, and Rodrigues are RFAs. It seems like JB is working on Skinner but I have no idea what his plans are for the rest.
- PrinceChill

You don't?
Did you miss the Open Interview here that Pach ran with Botts at 2:45 on TDL day?
In that interview, he was very vocal and transparent...saying:
-the Taco Bar incident was in reaction to watching Risto's bone-headed plays night in and night out
-thinks Sheary could benefit from dual bkade skates with kick-stands
-does understand what the allure to Lockport is for Larry
-is afraid to cut ties with Girgs, fearing the Latvian Mofia
-he called Pommer a wussy for not waiving his NMC
-is holding firm on 4x$9 for Skins
-thinks ERod would be even faster if his lips didn't cause significant drag
-is working on a trade with WWE involving Raging Tage

Seriously
Pommer is done
Wants Skinner, but doesn't really want to go 7 or 8
Girgs is a gonner, simply need more ptoduction
Larry is useful, but may be a casualty since moving Slobotka will be nearly impossible

You don't?
Did you miss the Open Interview here that Pach ran with Botts at 2:45 on TDL day?
In that interview, he was very vocal and transparent...saying:
-the Taco Bar incident was in reaction to watching Risto's bone-headed plays night in and night out
-thinks Sheary could benefit from dual bkade skates with kick-stands
-does understand what the allure to Lockport is for Larry
-is afraid to cut ties with Girgs, fearing the Latvian Mofia
-he called Pommer a wussy for not waiving his NMC
-is holding firm on 4x$9 for Skins
-thinks ERod would be even faster if his lips didn't cause significant drag
-is working on a trade with WWE involving Raging Tage

Seriously
Pommer is done
Wants Skinner, but doesn't really want to go 7 or 8
Girgs is a gonner, simply need more ptoduction
Larry is useful, but may be a casualty since moving Slobotka will be nearly impossible
- IonSabres

Nice work! I stand corrected on each point.

I think we ultimately keep Risto, unless like you said we can get a stud forward that is 25 years or younger with term and it makes too much sense to move him. Hall could be available again in the offseason He is 27 but I’ll make the exception for a former Hart winner.
- Pegullaville

The way Botts sounded in his WGR interview Friday is the exact way Murray sounded before he traded Myers.

Risto is a goner this offseason

The way Botts sounded in his WGR interview Friday is the exact way Murray sounded before he traded Myers.

Risto is a goner this offseason
- sbroads24

What are we getting for an awful, overpaid, bottom pairing defenseman with years left on his inflated contract?

I would pass on Boucher though. He plays the 1-3-1 trap. Q would be an ideal choice. If Torts gets fired, I would love his fire behind the bench, and he can butt heads with Harrington. Priceless..
- mhp

Torts would be awesome, but this team would give him a heart attack. When Torts was with the Rags, they were featured on that show HBO would run leading up to the Winter Classic. Watching Tage Thompson last night, I couldn’t get the line out of my head when Torts yelled at Gaborik on the bench something like JFC are you ever going to stop on an effin puck? Thompson is that big and king of the fly by. Man he sucks.

Seriously
Pommer is done
Wants Skinner, but doesn't really want to go 7 or 8
Girgs is a gonner, simply need more ptoduction
Larry is useful, but may be a casualty since moving Slobotka will be nearly impossible
- IonSabres

Buying out Sobotka is the easiest move of the offseason.

What are we getting for an awful, overpaid, bottom pairing defenseman with years left on his inflated contract?
- PrinceChill

What if we traded a top 15-20 point producing nhl defenseman that:

Hits
Blocks shots
Eats minutes
Hard to play against
Prime of his career
Reasonable contract in term and length
2/3 defenseman

Probably get a lot more for that guy

Torts would be awesome, but this team would give him a heart attack. When Torts was with the Rags, they were featured on that show HBO would run leading up to the Winter Classic. Watching Tage Thompson last night, I couldn’t get the line out of my head when Torts yelled at Gaborik on the bench something like JFC are you ever going to stop on an effin puck? Thompson is that big and king of the fly by. Man he sucks.
- Hatboro_Swords

Well that may be, but I’ll bet TT is spectacular in practice. And his communication with Phil is top-notch. And these two things are most important to JB.