shipachyov ? Never got a chance don’t even give me that bullpoop
- gerbe75pts

they didn't just sign him to release him. clearly he couldn't keep up.

I was banging this drum last week

where were you then?
- homiedclown

not saying i am for or against Gusev... but how many of these KHL players have actually worked out in the NHL? Radulov is the only one i can think of but he starting NHL then went back to KHL then came back i believe...

I hate vesey you could tell he was bullpooping through his press conference
I was wrong I thought him and jack are “best friends” apparently they’re just acquaintances his best friend is Kevin Hayes
- gerbe75pts

You're having a very tough past 10 days.
You say more poop that is just plain wrong, are 100% convinced you are right, then only to find out you were completely wrong later.
God lord, be a little introspective.

I would have given up what it took to move out Okposo, we are hand cuffed with that horrible contract.
- SABRES 89

Would you really though?
Cause obviously 31st didn't work, not even close.
There were some healthy cost to dump players with 1 year left, let alone 4 at $6m.

He ain't alone.
Sobotka
Scandella
Bogo
Hunwick
Sheary
Even Girgs and Larry

All relatively useless

You're having a very tough past 10 days.
You say more poop that is just plain wrong, are 100% convinced you are right, then only to find out you were completely wrong later.
God lord, be a little introspective.
- IonSabres

but he will never admit he was wrong.. the best you will get is a "i was just joking, lol"

Would you really though?
Cause obviously 31st didn't work, not even close.
There were some healthy cost to dump players with 1 year left, let alone 4 at $6m.

He ain't alone.
Sobotka
Scandella
Bogo
Hunwick
Sheary
Even Girgs and Larry

All relatively useless
- IonSabres

this team has way too much dead weight.

No titties

not saying i am for or against Gusev... but how many of these KHL players have actually worked out in the NHL? Radulov is the only one i can think of but he starting NHL then went back to KHL then came back i believe...
- SabresFaninIndiana

Panarin is another. There aren't a bunch, but for the right price, may be worth taking a flyer on

No titties
- Chris16

Panarin is another. There aren't a bunch, but for the right price, may be worth taking a flyer on
- SDSabre

ahh yes i forgot about him, and obviously he was a good one.

I don’t mind it.

He essentially replaces Pommer at a much lower cost.
- dadeadhead

LW vs RW, so not really

Panarin is another. There aren't a bunch, but for the right price, may be worth taking a flyer on
- SDSabre

It is easy to find the couple that actually paid off, but the rumor with Vegas is they are far off on contract.

So are you giving him 1 yr $~5m or 4 yr ~$4m+? If he wanted ~$2m I think the contract would be signed. So this might be more than a "flyer". A "flyer" is a undrafted player that can only sign for league minimum (for first contract). This is way different.

I am not 100% against it, but I think it would be best to let another team take this risk.I want solid NHL players, not a guy that I might have to buy out next year. (I guess you could say that about most UFA signings, the potential).

but he will never admit he was wrong.. the best you will get is a "i was just joking, lol"
- SabresFaninIndiana

You never know when his grandma will hop onto his account and post on his behalf.

Would you really though?
Cause obviously 31st didn't work, not even close.
There were some healthy cost to dump players with 1 year left, let alone 4 at $6m.

He ain't alone.
Sobotka
Scandella
Bogo
Hunwick
Sheary
Even Girgs and Larry

All relatively useless
- IonSabres

2020

It is easy to find the couple that actually paid off, but the rumor with Vegas is they are far off on contract.

So are you giving him 1 yr $~5m or 4 yr ~$4m+? If he wanted ~$2m I think the contract would be signed. So this might be more than a "flyer". A "flyer" is a undrafted player that can only sign for league minimum (for first contract). This is way different.

I am not 100% against it, but I think it would be best to let another team take this risk.I want solid NHL players, not a guy that I might have to buy out next year. (I guess you could say that about most UFA signings, the potential).
- Lilroot9

Another way to look at it, what if he becomes a junior panarin. And you paid a 2nd round pick for him. This is where you need to do your due diligence. You're not just going out on a whim, finding a potential gem like Antipin and the countless other Russians teams brought over for a year. If you're using an asset to pick up an unknown, you better be sure he can play. Depending on the asset obviously.

Another way to look at it, what if he becomes a junior panarin. And you paid a 2nd round pick for him. This is where you need to do your due diligence. You're not just going out on a whim, finding a potential gem like Antipin and the countless other Russians teams brought over for a year. If you're using an asset to pick up an unknown, you better be sure he can play. Depending on the asset obviously.
- TheSabresTaco

I am not as worried about the draft pick, more about the cap. But I understand that is an asset as well, that I don't want to waste either.

It is easy to find the couple that actually paid off, but the rumor with Vegas is they are far off on contract.

So are you giving him 1 yr $~5m or 4 yr ~$4m+? If he wanted ~$2m I think the contract would be signed. So this might be more than a "flyer". A "flyer" is a undrafted player that can only sign for league minimum (for first contract). This is way different.

I am not 100% against it, but I think it would be best to let another team take this risk.I want solid NHL players, not a guy that I might have to buy out next year. (I guess you could say that about most UFA signings, the potential).
- Lilroot9

I was more talking what it would take to acquire him. As far as his contract, 1 yr at 5M probably wouldn't hurt us this year. So I don't see it as that much of a big deal. But we'll see what other moves are in store.

So, as it stands today at 8:30am the Sabres are marginally better than last years roster by
-replacing Housley with Krueger
-adding Miller as 3rd pairing pushing Nelson down to 7th D
-adding Vesey as 3LW, replacing a whole lot of crap there

They may realize additional improvements through
- Olofsson as 2LW, pushing Sheary to 4th?

Given the above assumptions, could we peg a WAR-like guess of say +10 - 15pts / 5 - 7 Wins...and project 85sh points?

If so, not good enough...yet.
The Q as we all know is can Botts improve the roster more?
He simply hasn't addressed their primary needs so far.

I was more talking what it would take to acquire him. As far as his contract, 1 yr at 5M probably wouldn't hurt us this year. So I don't see it as that much of a big deal. But we'll see what other moves are in store.
- SDSabre

I agree, I would be Ok with that for this year, but is that what the player wants? I guess you don't know until you try, but with that, I would only offer a 4th (or later) round pick for his rights since you are not sure what the salary demands are.

Very succinct and totally accurate
- Der Kaiser

I understand that not bringing back Pominville is a way to create a roster spot for Olofsson or TT, but it's a pretty easy argument to say that we got worse on July 1 with the addition of Lazar and subtraction of Pominville

I'd say it's at least a little encouraging that even though we didn't dive into the free agency cesspool, Botts still speaks like he fully intends on utilizing the trade market, as he's been saying all spring and summer. He was smart enough to not sign anyone to exorbitant contracts. Only guy I'm disappointed we missed out on was Pavelski, knowing it was a remote chance he'd go to Buffalo. Zucc and Nyquist woulda been nice. Seems like Okposo mighta ruined that. Zucc's contract is rough. Nyquist's was pretty good.

Everyone else, whatever. Figure out a way to dump some poopties, recoup some picks back.

There's still some bargain FAs out there that could easily replace some of our bottom players. Brassard might be better in a top 6 role like he was in Ottawa. Once he was playing bottom 6 minutes he crashed. Johansson is fine, but we already have Sheary and Vesey. I suppose he has top 6 talent if he wasn't injured every (frank)ing day. Jake Gardiner could replace Scandella without question. Maybe since he wasn't a day 1 option, his price has come down. Brian Boyle could reasonably replace Girgensons and Sobotka combined. Ferland could be another top 6 option, a solid space creator that thrives with more talented linemates.

You're having a very tough past 10 days.
You say more poop that is just plain wrong, are 100% convinced you are right, then only to find out you were completely wrong later.
God lord, be a little introspective.
- IonSabres

He's delirious from his stinky foot fumes.

So, as it stands today at 8:30am the Sabres are marginally better than last years roster by
-replacing Housley with Krueger
-adding Miller as 3rd pairing pushing Nelson down to 7th D
-adding Vesey as 3LW, replacing a whole lot of crap there

They may realize additional improvements through
- Olofsson as 2LW, pushing Sheary to 4th?

Given the above assumptions, could we peg a WAR-like guess of say +10 - 15pts / 5 - 7 Wins...and project 85sh points?

If so, not good enough...yet.
The Q as we all know is can Botts improve the roster more?
He simply hasn't addressed their primary needs so far.
- IonSabres

Botts believes he and Nylander can both play RW.

Also:

“I know a lot of times there’s always a big push on July 1,” general manager Jason Botterill said Monday. “You get to the question of, ‘Oh, are they done?’ Well, we’re two hours into the start of free agency. There’s still good players available in free agency that we’ll continue to evaluate. And we’ll continue to have discussions with teams to see if there’s ways to improve our team.

“Because as much as there’s a big push for July 1, there’s still a long time until we play our first game to start the season.”

This quote tells me he's no where close to being done with the roster.

So, as it stands today at 8:30am the Sabres are marginally better than last years roster by
-replacing Housley with Krueger
-adding Miller as 3rd pairing pushing Nelson down to 7th D
-adding Vesey as 3LW, replacing a whole lot of crap there

They may realize additional improvements through
- Olofsson as 2LW, pushing Sheary to 4th?

Given the above assumptions, could we peg a WAR-like guess of say +10 - 15pts / 5 - 7 Wins...and project 85sh points?

If so, not good enough...yet.
The Q as we all know is can Botts improve the roster more?
He simply hasn't addressed their primary needs so far.
- IonSabres

I hope we are downplaying the krueger effect. He's polished alot of turds in his day and I think the bobs are hoping that he can get our turds to perform like they did during the winning streak. Not saying that i agree with that logic, but it seems like that's what has happened thus far this offseason.

I understand that not bringing back Pominville is a way to create a roster spot for Olofsson or TT, but it's a pretty easy argument to say that we got worse on July 1 with the addition of Lazar and subtraction of Pominville
- jcragcrumple

Don't assume Lazar is going to be a regular forward here.