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

I think Simmonds is a good fit.

Hard worker
Tough
Probably not top tier pay
Consistent goal scorer

Buying out Sobotka is the easiest move of the offseason.
- Lunaion

Ya...I would love to see him gone for sure.
Just hate the idea of pushing any cap into 20-21...even if it is what...about $1m+/-

They may need to use that space on Okposo's buyout.

Ya...I would love to see him gone for sure.
Just hate the idea of pushing any cap into 20-21...even if it is what...about $1m+/-

They may need to use that space on Okposo's buyout.
- IonSabres

Maybe there's another option, but I don't see him in Buffalo next season.

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
- Boss34

Hopefully we find out.
The more I watch him lately, the more I see his bonehead plays, inability to pass, inability to play basic D.
I do hope GM's see him as a 2/3 ... I see him as a 4/5 lately. Too expensive for that.

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
- Boss34

Hits and blocked shots can be had very cheaply. “Hard to play against” is debatable. For a guy who enjoys this label, he sure gets scored on a lot. And if his minutes are causing goals to be scored against, that’s not ideal.

Risto’s points and age he does have going for him. Hopefully a team finds that the positives outweigh the negatives against his term and cost. I’m just not overly optimistic JB a pry away a top goal scoring winger coming back.

What you guys think of Dan Dunleavy doing play by play. Heard him yesterday and he wasn't bad. Rob Ray is awful though.
- Matthews_Auston

I hate him, he tries way too hard, doesn't have a good feel for the play, his excitement comes after something happened, not like RJ who builds to it when he sees something developing.

Lehner pulled.

Islanders coming back down to earth lately

I hate him, he tries way too hard, doesn't have a good feel for the play, his excitement comes after something happened, not like RJ who builds to it when he sees something developing.
- Wetbandit1

It's tough comparing someone to RJ. Not fair, really.

Dunleavy's nicknames are cringe worthy, however, and I agree that he tries way too hard, but I wonder if some of that stems from having to potentially fill some of the biggest shoes in NHL broadcasting.

In any other market, Dunleavy's pretty good, imo. We've been spoiled. Ted Darling (for those of you old enough to remember) and RJ rival any who have worked a broadcasting both.

Hits and blocked shots can be had very cheaply. “Hard to play against” is debatable. For a guy who enjoys this label, he sure gets scored on a lot. And if his minutes are causing goals to be scored against, that’s not ideal.

Risto’s points and age he does have going for him. Hopefully a team finds that the positives outweigh the negatives against his term and cost. I’m just not overly optimistic JB a pry away a top goal scoring winger coming back.
- PrinceChill

Trade him to the Oil for RNH.
Oilers continue to look for RhD.
RNH fulfills 2C role
Close enough in Cap hits
Switch Dahlin to right
Source a #2 LhD, stay at home, defensive type who clears the crease...easier to find than a #2RhD
Sign Dzingle, flexibity as C
Send Tage down, don't expect a callup until rage is fully integrated jnto him game

Lehner pulled.

Islanders coming back down to earth lately
- sbroads24

They throttled the Leafs on Thursday.

Trade him to the Oil for RNH.
Oilers continue to look for RhD.
RNH fulfills 2C role
Close enough in Cap hits
Switch Dahlin to right
Source a #2 LhD, stay at home, defensive type who clears the crease...easier to find than a #2RhD
Sign Dzingle, flexibity as C
Send Tage down, don't expect a callup until rage is fully integrated jnto him game
- IonSabres

Why do we want to switch Dahlin to R?

Guy has the potential to become a top 5 D in this league. Leave him be.

It's tough comparing someone to RJ. Not fair, really.

Dunleavy's nicknames are cringe worthy, however, and I agree that he tries way too hard, but I wonder if some of that stems from having to potentially fill some of the biggest shoes in NHL broadcasting.

In any other market, Dunleavy's pretty good, imo. We've been spoiled. Ted Darling (for those of you old enough to remember) and RJ rival any who have worked a broadcasting both.
- Powerslave

RJ in his early years was very good. Darling, on the other hand, was too much of a homer. As I had stated before Bill Hewitt and Danny Gallivan were really good. You can hear Hewitt doing the play by play on the Sabres-Soviets game in 1976. It's on youtube.

Hits and blocked shots can be had very cheaply. “Hard to play against” is debatable. For a guy who enjoys this label, he sure gets scored on a lot. And if his minutes are causing goals to be scored against, that’s not ideal.

Risto’s points and age he does have going for him. Hopefully a team finds that the positives outweigh the negatives against his term and cost. I’m just not overly optimistic JB a pry away a top goal scoring winger coming back.
- PrinceChill

Hard to play against is debatable for sure.
If you like to score goals on turn overs, he's a blast to play against.

"Not fun" to play against physically maybe is a better term.

He is terrible on defense at times.
Too bad- I like his game. Fun to watch

I think Simmonds is a good fit.

Hard worker
Tough
Probably not top tier pay
Consistent goal scorer
- Boss34

Good player but going to hit the wall soon

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

Torts has said Columbus is his last stop. But so did Hitch in Dallas, so who knows?

Good player but going to hit the wall soon
- gerbe75pts

Buyer beware.

UFAs should be treated w caution. Hopefully we've learned our lesson.

A guy like Hayes, a perennial 45 pt guy, is going to want $6 million, per. Yikes.

Simmonds plays to win, but like you alluded to, players like him won't last past the first few years of his deal.

Botts has to be smart. They don't call it "silly season" for nothing.

Buyer beware.

UFAs should be treated w caution. Hopefully we've learned our lesson.

A guy like Hayes, a perennial 45 pt guy, is going to want $6 million, per. Yikes.

Simmonds plays to win, but like you alluded to, players like him won't last past the first few years of his deal.

Botts has to be smart. They don't call it "silly season" for nothing.
- Powerslave

Right, if you want a UFA, you have to accept that:

there's a good chance they'll sign before 7/1
we might not make their short list
if we do, they get too much $ and term

Buyer beware.

UFAs should be treated w caution. Hopefully we've learned our lesson.

A guy like Hayes, a perennial 45 pt guy, is going to want $6 million, per. Yikes.

Simmonds plays to win, but like you alluded to, players like him won't last past the first few years of his deal.

Botts has to be smart. They don't call it "silly season" for nothing.
- Powerslave

I'd rather make a trade, unless we're bringing in EK65.

I'd rather make a trade, unless we're bringing in EK65.
- mattmoulson

I think that fits jbotts personally.

The montour trade is a prime example.

Young
Cost controlled
Nhl vet
Playoff experience
Rfa

Signing guys in there 30's is playing with fire

I think that fits jbotts personally.

The montour trade is a prime example.

Young
Cost controlled
Nhl vet
Playoff experience
Rfa

Signing guys in there 30's is playing with fire
- Boss34

Agreed. Then you end up where we are currently, with numerous regrettable contracts.

Nylander with a goal today but Amerks lose 4-1 to the Crunch. He has 3 points in last 2 games. Maybe he'll get a call up before the season ends.

Syracuse player Conacher gave Wedgewood an extra stick tap to the pads and Borgen took exception and beat the crap out of him. Love that kid.

Agreed. Then you end up where we are currently, with numerous regrettable contracts.
- Powerslave

Botts doesn’t have to go spend crazily. However making a few smart signings wouldn’t hurt. Pacioretty, JVR, E.Kane, Tavares have worked out for their respective teams. Why not bring a guy in like Marcus Johansson or Gustav Nyquist if the term and money work for us ? Even Duchene is young enough and plays 2C and has a long track record of production and has many years ahead of him. It all depends on term and price. Should we let Skinner walk ? Depends on price and term imo.

Lehner pulled.

Islanders coming back down to earth lately
- sbroads24

They’re prime to take a step back next season
Could be the next AVs, Jersey, etc

Trotz is a freaking wizard though

Why do we want to switch Dahlin to R?

Guy has the potential to become a top 5 D in this league. Leave him be.
- Powerslave

Agreed
I know he can play both
But it seems like they’re keeping him on the left side for a reason

Kid has been everything i thought he’d be

Trade him to the Oil for RNH.
Oilers continue to look for RhD.
RNH fulfills 2C role
Close enough in Cap hits
Switch Dahlin to right
Source a #2 LhD, stay at home, defensive type who clears the crease...easier to find than a #2RhD
Sign Dzingle, flexibity as C
Send Tage down, don't expect a callup until rage is fully integrated jnto him game
- IonSabres

Risto for RNH. Does the Oil do that trade?