You're pretty smart for a hippie.
- RhinoFan

Goal scorers get paid more

So I would be fine with $8 million

So basically the reason Vegas can win a cup and Buffalo can’t is the difference between Skinner and Stone?

That’s ridiculous dude
- OneKaneOneCup

Paying over 10 percent of your cap to a winger "can limit flexibility" to address all the other areas of need. That plus all the dead weight that is already here, makes it increasingly difficult.

Washington made it work because Ovechkin is...well ovechkin. You brought up the golden knights. They may be able to make it work too because Stone's impact at both ends of the ice makes him extremely valuable.

Can it be done with Skinner taking up that much? I don't know but so far only washington has made it work. It puts you in a tough spot, keeping in mind that they've already saddled themselves with Okposo's contract and Reinhart is due for a massive raise too.

So I suppose to answer your question, no Stone versus skinner is not the single reason that vegas can win a cup over buffalo. But, at that cap value, VGK will have an easier time making it work because Stone brings more to the table than Skinner does imo

So are 90% of all the other sports writers

That doesn't make him less wrong

Plus you and I know damn well he wouldn't get a job anywhere in today's society if he flat out said she shouldn't be a president of a professional sports team.

The PC crowd would eat him alive.

The fact is other than marrying a billionaire she is not qualified to be a president of anything except maybe the PTA.
- Stripes77

Bucky's issue was that he was continuously blasting them, so they blackballed him, which made him more insufferable and whiny.

The whole fascination with her as president is misguided and a waste of time. It was a waste of time when we talked about Russ Brandon and Ted Black, and it still is a waste of time.

I do not believe she forced JB to trade ROR - I don't even like typing that because merely arguing that point gives it undeserved credibility. Botterill wanted to make over the team, and he got a poopty return. That's it

Bucky's issue was that he was continuously blasting them, so they blackballed him, which made him more insufferable and whiny.

The whole fascination with her as president is misguided and a waste of time. It was a waste of time when we talked about Russ Brandon and Ted Black, and it still is a waste of time.

I do not believe she forced JB to trade ROR - I don't even like typing that because merely arguing that point gives it undeserved credibility. Botterill wanted to make over the team, and he got a poopty return. That's it
- jcragcrumple

I'm not saying they forced his hand to move him, I am saying they put pressure on him to move him before the bonus was due to him. Which in fact there are several reports that said just that.

A good owner especially one with deep pockets who will just drill another well should let him GM get the best deal he can, and most certainly he would have gotten a better deal had the Sabres paid the bonus.

I'm not saying they forced his hand to move him, I am saying they put pressure on him to move him before the bonus was due to him. Which in fact there are several reports that said just that.

A good owner especially one with deep pockets who will just drill another well should let him GM get the best deal he can, and most certainly he would have gotten a better deal had the Sabres paid the bonus.
- Stripes77

I am surprised that they did not do that. Raises some questions about how deep the pockets really are.

100%

For a 2nd round pick and a guy that got 13 total points between the AHL and ECHL this season he got a 40 goal scorer

There isn't a person alive who thinks this is a bad trade for the Sabres
- Stripes77

I get the argument that it would lessen the value considerably if Skinner walks, but yes, either way, you make that trade again this summer if you can.

Bucky's issue was that he was continuously blasting them, so they blackballed him, which made him more insufferable and whiny.

The whole fascination with her as president is misguided and a waste of time. It was a waste of time when we talked about Russ Brandon and Ted Black, and it still is a waste of time.

I do not believe she forced JB to trade ROR - I don't even like typing that because merely arguing that point gives it undeserved credibility. Botterill wanted to make over the team, and he got a poopty return. That's it
- jcragcrumple

The roster bonus issue is a real thing, though.

I can't necessarily blame Pegula for not wanting to pay O'Reilly's roster bonus, regardless of what he said about money and oil wells 8 years ago. However, the fact of the matter is, it was a decision that he, and he alone made, and the terrible return is the result.

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- Stripes77

Here's me trying to stay positive:

Great. Here comes Martin. 🤮

I am surprised that they did not do that. Raises some questions about how deep the pockets really are.
- Sabresfan-365

Or how committed they really are to building a winning roster for the Sabres

It seems like they care a lot more about the Bills now.

I'm not saying they forced his hand to move him, I am saying they put pressure on him to move him before the bonus was due to him. Which in fact there are several reports that said just that.

A good owner especially one with deep pockets who will just drill another well should let him GM get the best deal he can, and most certainly he would have gotten a better deal had the Sabres paid the bonus.
- Stripes77

The way I heard the report is that if the Sabres paid the bonus, the price to acquire ROR would go up.

The Sabres said, "ok, we'll pay, but if we do that, we get a better return."

The Blues said, "nah, we'll pay the bonus so we don't have to give you better assets." It was the Blues' choice

I am surprised that they did not do that. Raises some questions about how deep the pockets really are.
- Sabresfan-365

It could be a pride and/or principle thing, which lends credence to the "meddling" argument. However, paying a guy $7.5 million up front after he said "get me out of here" is going to be a hit to just about anybody's ego, regardless of how deep the pockets are.

Paying over 10 percent of your cap to a winger "can limit flexibility" to address all the other areas of need. That plus all the dead weight that is already here, makes it increasingly difficult.

Washington made it work because Ovechkin is...well ovechkin. You brought up the golden knights. They may be able to make it work too because Stone's impact at both ends of the ice makes him extremely valuable.

Can it be done with Skinner taking up that much? I don't know but so far only washington has made it work. It puts you in a tough spot, keeping in mind that they've already saddled themselves with Okposo's contract and Reinhart is due for a massive raise too.

So I suppose to answer your question, no Stone versus skinner is not the single reason that vegas can win a cup over buffalo. But, at that cap value, VGK will have an easier time making it work because Stone brings more to the table than Skinner does imo
- Sabresfan-365

I just don’t buy the “only this team, or no team has ever won a cup with X players” arguments.

No one won as an 8 seed until someone did.

It also doesn’t help that three teams have won 8 of the last what, 10 cups?

The way I heard the report is that if the Sabres paid the bonus, the price to acquire ROR would go up.

The Sabres said, "ok, we'll pay, but if we do that, we get a better return."

The Blues said, "nah, we'll pay the bonus so we don't have to give you better assets." It was the Blues' choice
- jcragcrumple

At the same time, though, more teams were interested in O'Reilly if Buffalo paid the roster bonus.

100%

For a 2nd round pick and a guy that got 13 total points between the AHL and ECHL this season he got a 40 goal scorer

There isn't a person alive who thinks this is a bad trade for the Sabres
- Stripes77

Again, the logic we used all the time was Kane and ROR played 0 meaningful games for the Sabres.

That same logic can be applied for Skinner.

But just because we like him and we think Botts is a swell guy we ignore it.

Assets are assets. Yet now we talk about 2nd rd picks being nothing with this too.

Talk about picking a lane and staying in it.

First we can’t trade any picks we need them all.

Now it’s only a 2nd and we got a guy that was good for one year, played zero meaningful games and left. Not a big deal

Goal scorers get paid more

So I would be fine with $8 million
- Stripes77

For a team that in recent history has handed out notoriously bad contracts, they can’t hand out another one.

Again, the logic we used all the time was Kane and ROR played 0 meaningful games for the Sabres.

That same logic can be applied for Skinner.

But just because we like him and we think Botts is a swell guy we ignore it.

Assets are assets. Yet now we talk about 2nd rd picks being nothing with this too.

Talk about picking a lane and staying in it.

First we can’t trade any picks we need them all.

Now it’s only a 2nd and we got a guy that was good for one year, played zero meaningful games and left. Not a big deal
- ImThatGuy

Jeff Skinner played more games in Buffalo where they were in the top 8 in the conference than ROR and Kane combined.

Sure it's about how you finish but if you want to stay in the lane that you're in the fact remains there isn't a GM in the league that wouldn't give up a 2nd round pick for a 40 goal scorer even if it is only for 1 season

The roster bonus issue is a real thing, though.

I can't necessarily blame Pegula for not wanting to pay O'Reilly's roster bonus, regardless of what he said about money and oil wells 8 years ago. However, the fact of the matter is, it was a decision that he, and he alone made, and the terrible return is the result.
- buffalofan19

What did he say about oil wells?

I just don’t buy the “only this team, or no team has ever won a cup with X players” arguments.

No one won as an 8 seed until someone did.

It also doesn’t help that three teams have won 8 of the last what, 10 cups?
- OneKaneOneCup

The sabres could still win with skinner making 9 mil. But it will be economically challenging.

Reinhart, Skinner, Okposo, Sheary. That's a projected 21+ mil even before Reinhart's extension. And only two of those guys are actually top 6 forwards. Not to mention the other areas that need work.

It could be a pride and/or principle thing, which lends credence to the "meddling" argument. However, paying a guy $7.5 million up front after he said "get me out of here" is going to be a hit to just about anybody's ego, regardless of how deep the pockets are.
- buffalofan19

I accept that, but watching Ryan Poehling score a hat trick in his debut or whatever they missed out on is probably more of a hit no?

The sabres could still win with skinner making 9 mil. But it will be economically challenging.

Reinhart, Skinner, Okposo, Sheary. That's a projected 21+ mil even before Reinhart's extension. And only two of those guys are actually top 6 forwards. Not to mention the other areas that need work.
- Sabresfan-365

The question that should be asked is whether or not we can build a contender with him at that price.

I think you absolutely can and that’s and based on goals WAR/GAR etc he’s the best winger we’ve had in 10 years

The question that should be asked is whether or not we can build a contender with him at that price.

I think you absolutely can and that’s and based on goals WAR/GAR etc he’s the best winger we’ve had in 10 years
- OneKaneOneCup

That's not saying all that much though is it?

Im more inclined to believe you can if they can get Okposo's deal off the books.

I am surprised that they did not do that. Raises some questions about how deep the pockets really are.
- Sabresfan-365

"Starting today money is no longer an excuse for the sabres"

"Starting today money is no longer an excuse for the sabres"
- homiedclown

yeah but he was crossing his fingers so doesn't count

That's not saying all that much though is it?

Im more inclined to believe you can if they can get Okposo's deal off the books.
- Sabresfan-365

Jason Pominville and Vanek were pretty good IMO

So if the player we draft at 29 becomes a perennial 30 goal player (or a Vezina winner, or a top 4 D) and Tage settles in as a decent 3rd line winger who gets 15/30 a year, can we say that we made out ok in the ROR trade?
We will not know for a couple years, so why are so many folks saying the trade is a disaster?

That was totally a rhetorical question by the way.