No but I’m sure we could of drafted high one more year and turned Roslovic, Armia, Myers, Compher, Zadorov, and a high 2nd rounder into more then what we got for them. Instead of A.Nylander we’d have one of Matthews/Laine/Dubois/Tkchuk.

Maybe we could of moved Myers/Risto for Hall if we had the RHD depth.
- Pegullaville

If you're saying these were bad trades, then isn't the answer to just make better trades? You don't need to tank to make better trades.

Looking at rosters and stats of other teams to see where we might pry a top 6 F from someone, and for the production, Kyle Turris' contract looks worse than Okposo's. Yikes.

Would anyone trade the 7th pick for Laine?
- SABRES 89

In a heartbeat

Would anyone trade the 7th pick for Laine?
- SABRES 89

Would take a lot more then just #7

And it took 13 years for Ovechkin to win.

Calgary, Winnipeg, and Toronto have done precisely d¡ck.

How's Drouin doing for the Lightning? Stamkos was drafted 11 years ago, Hedman 10. And they still have nothing to their name.

What about Boston? How many 1st or 2nd overall picks do they have? I seem to remember them trading 3 of them and still winning, somehow. Sure Seguin was on the team, but he barely contributed, 22 points in the regular season and 7 in the playoffs.
- Wetbandit1

Boston looks to be the exception. They used free agency and trades and found their elite talent in later rounds. Bruins were still built through the draft though. If we can find one of the best d-men of our generation in free agency (Chara) that also helps. Penguins and Blackhawks are responsible for 6 of the last 10 cups. Capitals were built through the draft (Ovi, Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Carlson, Holtby, Wilson, Vrana, Burakovsky, Orlov) all homegrown talent.

If you're saying these were bad trades, then isn't the answer to just make better trades? You don't need to tank to make better trades.
- Der Kaiser

I don’t think ROR and Kane were necessarily bad trades, just done one or two years too early. You need to have a foundation before you make the big trade. The Sharks traded for E.Kane but look at that roster he walked on to. Doug Armstrong signed Bozak, Maroon, Perron, and traded for ROR as the final piece in order to go for it. The Blues already had Tarasenko, Schenn, pietrangelo, J-Bo, Parayko, Schwartz.

We had nothing when we traded for ROR and Kane. We have the same problems we have now that we did when we had them on the roster. No depth, no goaltending, piss poor coaching.

I don’t think ROR and Kane were necessarily bad trades, just done one or two years too early. You need to have a foundation before you make the big trade. The Sharks traded for E.Kane but look at that roster he walked on to. Doug Armstrong signed Bozak, Maroon, Perron, and traded for ROR as the final piece in order to go for it. The Blues already had Tarasenko, Schenn, pietrangelo, J-Bo, Parayko, Schwartz.

We had nothing when we traded for ROR and Kane. We have the same problems we have now that we did when we had them on the roster. No depth, no goaltending, piss poor coaching.
- Pegullaville

Well, the Sabres don't have piss-poor coaching right now. So there's that.

Would anyone trade the 7th pick for Laine?
- SABRES 89

Would Winnipeg!

I wish they traded Scandella as soon as we won Dahlin in the lottery. Sobotka is our 4th line C next year me thinks. Qualify Girgensons and Larsson just so you can trade them for late round picks and get something for them.
- Pegullaville

The problem is that they both have the option to file for arbitration, and they'd likely do it. If you don't want them back, you just walk away.

The problem is that they both have the option to file for arbitration, and they'd likely do it. If you don't want them back, you just walk away.
- Lunaion

Totally forgot about arbitration. Bid farewell then and don’t let the door hit them on the arse on the way out. I don’t know what arbitration will really prove for them anyways with the stats they have put up.

Boston looks to be the exception. They used free agency and trades and found their elite talent in later rounds. Bruins were still built through the draft though. If we can find one of the best d-men of our generation in free agency (Chara) that also helps. Penguins and Blackhawks are responsible for 6 of the last 10 cups. Capitals were built through the draft (Ovi(1OA, 2004), Backstrom(4, 06), Kuznetsov(26, 10), Carlson(27, 08), Holtby(93, 08), Wilson(16, 12), Vrana(13, 14), Burakovsky(23, 13), Orlov(55, 09)) all homegrown talent.
- Pegullaville

They drafted well, not high.

Edit: Where're Florida and Edmonton with all these super high picks?

Totally forgot about arbitration. Bid farewell then and don’t let the door hit them on the arse on the way out. I don’t know what arbitration will really prove for them anyways with the stats they have put up.
- Pegullaville

I don't know, but if they paid me, I could make a case for 2m. I doubt the comparables would be too hard to find. Not a process JB would want to get locked into.

Flames in the old jerseys, nice.

They drafted well, not high.

Edit: Where're Florida and Edmonton with all these super high picks?
- Wetbandit1

Edmonton was one game away from the WCF in McDavids first full season. Same problem as Buffalo, no depth and no goaltending. Florida has great players but no goaltending. With Q there now I think they can be a team to be reckoned with. I think Edmonton and Florida are closer to a cup then some of the playoff teams this year. I think Buffalo is closer to a cup as well then some of the playoff teams this year.

Boston looks to be the exception. They used free agency and trades and found their elite talent in later rounds. Bruins were still built through the draft though. If we can find one of the best d-men of our generation in free agency (Chara) that also helps. Penguins and Blackhawks are responsible for 6 of the last 10 cups. Capitals were built through the draft (Ovi, Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Carlson, Holtby, Wilson, Vrana, Burakovsky, Orlov) all homegrown talent.
- Pegullaville

This isn’t directed at you, but this is literally an argument that’s been on constant repeat for 5 years on here.

It’s the same examples each way

Edmonton was one game away from the WCF in McDavids first full season. Same problem as Buffalo, no depth and no goaltending. Florida has great players but no goaltending. With Q there now I think they can be a team to be reckoned with. I think Edmonton and Florida are closer to a cup then some of the playoff teams this year. I think Buffalo is closer to a cup as well then some of the playoff teams this year.
- Pegullaville

Seriously, if people can’t see how both EDM and Buffalo have suffered from bad trades and bad drafting their isn’t much else to say.

Seriously, if people can’t see how both EDM and Buffalo have suffered from bad trades and bad drafting their isn’t much else to say.
- sbroads24

I expect Botts to be aggressive this summer.

I don't know if it will be any good, but they'll be active.

I expect Botts to be aggressive this summer.

I don't know if it will be any good, but they'll be active.
- Sabresfan-365

I do too, but I think he’s going to be using 55 as the trade chip and active in FA.

Would anyone trade the 7th pick for Laine?
- SABRES 89

Yes

I do too, but I think he’s going to be using 55 as the trade chip and active in FA.
- sbroads24

His non answer about the 2nd first to Friedmans question about moving the 1st rounders kinda tells me that the pick is a trade chip as well.

I'd guess Nylander will be dangled. I really want to see them shed a bad contract or two. Just to create some flexibility.

Yes
- BeadyEyedDouche

He's gotten worse each year since his rookie season. He's essentially become the forward version of ristolainen.

His non answer about the 2nd first to Friedmans question about moving the 1st rounders kinda tells me that the pick is a trade chip as well.

I'd guess Nylander will be dangled. I really want to see them shed a bad contract or two. Just to create some flexibility.
- Sabresfan-365

There's only 1 bad deal that extends beyond this year, and that's near-unmoveable.

What do we need the flexibility for this year? See them trading to bring on significant salary or spending big on UFA? Later just doesn't seem like a JB move, unless he's forced.

He's gotten worse each year since his rookie season. He's essentially become the forward version of ristolainen.
- Sabresfan-365

That's false.

36G - 2016/17
40G - 2017/18
30G - 2018/19

If you told me that my 7th overall pick was going to have a "bad year" scoring 30 goals I would do back flips.

Of course he'll need a contract, so there are cap hit concerns you wouldn't have with an ELC, but that feels like a small problem.

All of this is of course redicalous because the Jets won't let him go for a 7OA

There's only 1 bad deal that extends beyond this year, and that's near-unmoveable.

What do we need the flexibility for this year? See them trading to bring on significant salary or spending big on UFA? Later just doesn't seem like a JB move, unless he's forced.
- Lunaion

I was thinking mostly trade, either the summer or at the deadline. But more than anything else, those guys bring almost nothing to the team. Maybe shed is the wrong word, but if they can be flipped into players that bring even a little more to the table that could go a long way.

Mentioned it before but it's the summer that Botts got a lot of credit for in Pitt. Flipping dead weight for players who individually may not be much to look at, but add the moves up and it helps a lot.

That's false.

36G - 2016/17
40G - 2017/18
30G - 2018/19

If you told me that my 7th overall pick was going to have a "bad year" scoring 30 goals I would do back flips.

Of course he'll need a contract, so there are cap hit concerns you wouldn't have with an ELC, but that feels like a small problem.

All of this is of course redicalous because the Jets won't let him go for a 7OA
- Der Kaiser

This is dense as you and I both know I was referencing numbers beyond just goals at all game states, especially the powerplay, where I mentioned he has become somewhat of a specialist.