What makes you think the two are mutually exclusive? They have to get the 2C first before addressing other needs? I have a feeling the 2C is going to be a temporary guy.
- Slump Buster

They have 13M in cap space now after dealing PK which was done in order to make room for Josi who will have a 10+M AAV.

They do have 21 skaters signed with Grimaldi and Sissons as the only RFAs. They have about 18M coming off the books next year.

So could they do Josi at call it 11M, Duchene at 10.5M, and then someone like Lee at 7.5M... absolutely... but that 29M would make them have less than 7M for any other moves they want to do in the next 2 years. If they can move Turris 6M then it'd be gravy for them.

Granted Lee is exceptionally better than either Moulson or Okposo were coming here.
Okposo was just coming off of his best year with a 22 goal 64 point output.
Moulson had had 37 and 31 goal season but it was 5+ years before he came to Buffalo.

Lee had 74 goals in the 2 years prior to this past seasons lowly 28 goals and 51 pt season.

However, Lee's 28 goals would have tied Eichel for 2nd on our team and 4th overall in pts behind our 1st line.

I'm a little worried that Lee's previous statline is very similar to what we just gave Skinner 9M for. I'm sure another team would be willing to offer Lee more than 7-7.5M like would be my ceiling for him.
- JVince11

Okposo had 184 points in the 3 seasons before UFA. Lee had 165. Lee outscored him, but in terms of quality, they are very similar. Lee is also a year older, relative to hitting UFA. Red flags all over him on a 7 year deal.

Lee and Dzingel are getting 7mm each base on projections.
- ImThatGuy

Lee is projected at 6.6x7 (yikes) and Zing is 4.3x4. Justin Williams is 5.9x3, which is definitely steep.

Of course it’s not optional.

4 players are going to be making 60-65% of your cap.

You have 30mil to pay the remaining 17 players.

It doesn’t work.
- ImThatGuy

But it has to work. There's no fundamental problem here. Everyone has to manage their cap. It's a good thing for the league that it's getting harder.

Okposo had 184 points in the 3 seasons before UFA. Lee had 165. Lee outscored him, but in terms of quality, they are very similar. Lee is also a year older, relative to hitting UFA. Red flags all over him on a 7 year deal.
- Lunaion

Hmm... didn't realize that.

I was viewing Lee as a Skinner like move.. where you know the total points is only going to be in the 55-65 range but his goal output was in the 32-40 range hopefully. I guess KO was more of a complete player with assists.

I don't know a ton about Lee... doesn't he have any defensive side to him or is he purely offense like Skinner gets cut at for being?

I’m on the fence for either white or mustache privilege
- washedup20

valid point

Lee is projected at 6.6x7 (yikes) and Zing is 4.3x4. Justin Williams is 5.9x3, which is definitely steep.
- TheSabresTaco

Really? I'd be all over that deal

Really? I'd be all over that deal
- jcragcrumple

Lee is projected at 6.6x7 (yikes) and Zing is 4.3x4. Justin Williams is 5.9x3, which is definitely steep.
- TheSabresTaco

i'd take zing at that price...gonna be higher, though

Lee is projected at 6.6x7 (yikes) and Zing is 4.3x4. Justin Williams is 5.9x3, which is definitely steep.
- TheSabresTaco

Where'd you get that from?

I imagine where Myers was projected was well below what was reported this morning that he is seeking a 7x8M deal.

I bet Lee gets 7.5M AAv, Dzingel gets 6.4M (JVR got 7M last year), & Williams will go back to Carolina for whatever they actually give him. I can't see him leaving there.

i'd take zing at that price...gonna be higher, though
- Michael Pachla

Yeah that seems low considering the market is

*Checks paper*

Complete insanity

- SABRES 89

Are they looking at Dzingle?

Easy, Malkin.

Duchene will have a brand new 8 year deal that’ll be worth around $10 mill Malkin has 3 years remaining and he’s making $9.5 mill and is all around more productive.[url]

i'd take zing at that price...gonna be higher, though
- Michael Pachla

I like Dzingel but he was just average his whole career until this year.... Not to mention he was useless for Columbus in their 2 playoff series w/ 1 point.

The best thing I like about him is 2 straight 20 goal years and that he can play LW/C/RW.

I really wouldn't go above 4.5 for him on a 3 year deal.

Hmm... didn't realize that.

I was viewing Lee as a Skinner like move.. where you know the total points is only going to be in the 55-65 range but his goal output was in the 32-40 range hopefully. I guess KO was more of a complete player with assists.

I don't know a ton about Lee... doesn't he have any defensive side to him or is he purely offense like Skinner gets cut at for being?
- JVince11

He's the complete opposite type of player to Skinner. Big guy, strong on the puck and in front of net, very average skater, decent defensively.

When you're talking a big, long term deal for a 29 year old who doesn't skate particularly well, I'm worried.

I like Dzingel but he was just average his whole career until this year.... Not to mention he was useless for Columbus in their 2 playoff series w/ 1 point.

The best thing I like about him is 2 straight 20 goal years and that he can play LW/C/RW.

I really wouldn't go above 4.5 for him on a 3 year deal.
- JVince11

we need more middle roster players and he fits that bill

But it has to work. There's no fundamental problem here. Everyone has to manage their cap. It's a good thing for the league that it's getting harder.
- Lunaion

It’s awful for the league. Teams cannot he kept together.

Hey we are going to punish teams that draft and develop well.

It’s only good for teams like the Sabres currently because they get to redo the rewards of other teams successes


Wait until Buffalo gets hit with this. Nobody will like it.

Yeah that seems low considering the market is

*Checks paper*

Complete insanity
- jcragcrumple

not sure how high i'd go for a 27yr. old top-nine, 20-goal scorer with deficiencies on defense but $5m might be on the low side

Are they looking at Dzingle?
- Powerslave

I didn't hear him

I like Dzingel but he was just average his whole career until this year.... Not to mention he was useless for Columbus in their 2 playoff series w/ 1 point.

The best thing I like about him is 2 straight 20 goal years and that he can play LW/C/RW.

I really wouldn't go above 4.5 for him on a 3 year deal.
- JVince11

It’s awful for the league. Teams cannot he kept together.

Hey we are going to punish teams that draft and develop well.

It’s only good for teams like the Sabres currently because they get to redo the rewards of other teams successes


Wait until Buffalo gets hit with this. Nobody will like it.
- ImThatGuy

That's the point of the cap

It's supposed to make it so any team can win the Cup

The last thing the NHL needs is a super team like Golden State to happen

I remember being SOOO F'N pissed that the Sabres passed on drafting Valeri Nichuskin. I remember it was Gerbe that turned me onto wanting him on this team so hard.

Then we took Risto 2 picks before him.


And now I see Stars fans are trading him for a 7th rounder on CapFriendly. It warms the heart. It truly does.

He's the complete opposite type of player to Skinner. Big guy, strong on the puck and in front of net, very average skater, decent defensively.

When you're talking a big, long term deal for a 29 year old who doesn't skate particularly well, I'm worried.
- Lunaion

Thanks for the info. I didn't really know a ton about him. That really sounds like the wrong wrong guy to sign long term. Those bodies don't hold up in their early mid 30s.

That's the point of the cap

It's supposed to make it so any team can win the Cup

The last thing the NHL needs is a super team like Golden State to happen
- Stripes77

Exactly. The salaries of star players and RFA's was too low for too long. There should be pressure on teams to keep things together. Better players should hit UFA and RFA's should be able to leverage offer sheets. It's great that some of these things are starting to fix themselves.

Does Phaneuf have anything left in the tank at 34? Even as a stay at home 2nd pairing type guy or is he just another dead weight Bogo type guy?