Mikael Granlund from the Preds (formerly of the Wild). One year remaining on his contract, several seasons around the 60 points plateau recently. He struggled in a lower line role with Nashville after the trade. Trade them Sobotka and maybe a pick (if necessary). They would save $2mil in cap space or lower cost to buy out Sobotka. They have Duchene, Johansen and Turris down the middle already. Should be a no brainer for both teams.
- djc1877

I mentioned him yesterday.

That’s kind of why I have such issues.

The Sabres have sucked so bad, players are avoiding this team Like the plague.

Botts said they were aggressive, but those players chose teams other than Buffalo.

I fear this team is going to be stuck in a rut for a bit until some of the young players progress, which could be 2-3 years.
- ImThatGuy

Free Agents Usually Choose Good Teams Over Bad Ones. Details at 11.

Devil's Advocate, if being aggressive and failing meant not signing players more than they were worth then I am okay with it.
- thatsapickle

That was included in his presser. He said he got close with a few guys, but it didn't make sense and "wasn't a fit" because he wasn't interested in ruining the cap structure. So be it.

I assume Botterill planted this seed to every team years ago because of how much he hates CHL players.

It is finally coming to fruition, his plan to kill the CHL. It’s pure genius.
- ImThatGuy

Putz Savant GMJB

I wish we just do an offersheet to money Mitch or point but botts cares too much about reputation then winning

I take offense to that. Not millennial, just gerbe math.
- Mentalorgasm5

Future HHOF all time leader in goals and all around non-CHL-ness, Cole Caufield?

I wish we just do an offersheet to money Mitch or point but botts cares too much about reputation then winning
- gerbe75pts

What number would Toronto not match?

What number would Toronto not match?
- TheSabresTaco

11m -12 m

11m -12 m
- gerbe75pts

They would probably match that. It's the term that's the issue with him right now, not the dollar amount.

It probably would take 13-14 million.

They would probably match that. It's the term that's the issue with him right now, not the dollar amount.

It probably would take 13-14 million.
- buffalofan19

Don’t they only have 6m left and they have to sign Kerfoot who will likely get 4m or 5

That was included in his presser. He said he got close with a few guys, but it didn't make sense and "wasn't a fit" because he wasn't interested in ruining the cap structure. So be it.
- TheSabresTaco

He also said that he didn't want to go that many years with some players, which is fine, and understandable. So I think some of them would have come here if he offered the years.

But if he's not going to offer competitive contracts to FAs, then he needs to supplement the team via trade.

Which is what we're all waiting for, and Jimmy Vesey doesn't count. I'm super surprised that people are good with this overly patient approach. Or maybe people are just ambivalent now. We should have done more to this point in the off-season.

The problem is that he has an excuse for every non-move

No one wanted pick 31

He didn't want to give up too many years to FAs

He has a lot of excuses for why the team looks like it does

Really hope Johansson or Ferland sign with Buffalo. They could really fill a whole in the top 6. I'm sure Botts has something up his sleeve though.
- doppelthat

I really hope that we don’t overpay for tier3 talent

Better off saving that Cap Space to put towards legit difference makers-
either through trade, or free agency next year when we will have TONS of Cap Room AND
plenty of teams will be struggling to get under

Imagine if there is a lockout & the Cap goes down
We will be in an amazing position

If the roster stays as is,
then it means we get to see what we have in the kids

Ppl may be upset
But there wasn’t a realistic way to turn this team into Cup Contenders this offseason

11m -12 m
- gerbe75pts

You must be joking. Let's pretend you said 14M

That puts us about 1.3M over the cap. We still have to sign Erod (2.5) and the other lockports. And Jake McCabe. And Linus Ullmark

And then, let's say, we're able to trade a couple bums for bad picks.

Ok, gives us maybe 1M in space.

Now we go into next year, needing to sign Reinhart and Mittelstadt. And a bunch of bottom 9 forwards. And several dmen. And the year after, Dahlin needs 8-9M.

And on top of that, we don't get to draft any of your precious CHL talent in the top rounds because, not only did we not make the playoffs, Toronto has our lottery pick for at the very least next year, and the next three years after that.

Are you willing to be top heavy, unable to sign your good talent and lose your 4 first rounders without guaranteeing making the playoffs and wildly overpay a (frank)ing winger by 5M?

Think about this poop. Just, think. Think about anything. Think about how poop works. Because the people that just say well (frank) it, blast team x with an offer sheet for their top players, it's either

a. not realistic
b. will ruin your cap
c. team will match

They would probably match that. It's the term that's the issue with him right now, not the dollar amount.

It probably would take 13-14 million.
- buffalofan19

11.05 and they can’t match. They don’t have the cap space.
Granted you could go 10% over.
But ceici is getting 4.5 and kerfoot is getting 4.5.

They would have to clear out 10 mil in cap space.

Edit - not just for Buffalo but for any team.

I would give money Mitch 13m getting a young Patrick Kane at 22 is a no brainer

Don’t they only have 6m left and they have to sign Kerfoot who will likely get 4m or 5
- gerbe75pts

You can go 10% over the cap in the offseason.

Don’t they only have 6m left and they have to sign Kerfoot who will likely get 4m or 5
- gerbe75pts

You sign your best players and figure the rest out later.

I would give money Mitch 13m getting a young Patrick Kane at 22 is a no brainer
- gerbe75pts

Asset management, you are badly at it.

I would give money Mitch 13m getting a young Patrick Kane at 22 is a no brainer
- gerbe75pts

I need a nap. I had 3 coffees today and I need a nap. So thank you.

People worry Way too much about the money in the future good teams find ways to Address that when needed

He also said that he didn't want to go that many years with some players, which is fine, and understandable. So I think some of them would have come here if he offered the years.

But if he's not going to offer competitive contracts to FAs, then he needs to supplement the team via trade.

Which is what we're all waiting for, and Jimmy Vesey doesn't count. I'm super surprised that people are good with this overly patient approach. Or maybe people are just ambivalent now. We should have done more to this point in the off-season.

The problem is that he has an excuse for every non-move

No one wanted pick 31

He didn't want to give up too many years to FAs

He has a lot of excuses for why the team looks like it does
- jcragcrumple

What moves would’ve made us Cup Contenders???

When Sam needs a new contract just trade him for high draft picks then I will take money Mitch over Sam any day

What moves would’ve made us Cup Contenders???
- jdfitz77

How about we get to .500 first

Which as it stands this roster is virtually the same as the one that did not make it there.

11.05 and they can’t match. They don’t have the cap space.
Granted you could go 10% over.
But ceici is getting 4.5 and kerfoot is getting 4.5.

They would have to clear out 10 mil in cap space.

Edit - not just for Buffalo but for any team.
- ImThatGuy

That extra 10% gives them another 8M. They can match any offer. I don't remember what the cap for salaries is, something like 15-20% of your cap. But whatever that is, is less than 20M. Which I'm sure GM Cole Caufield would sign in an instant, then complain about not having any picks and still having a poopty team.

When Sam needs a new contract just trade him for high draft picks then I will take money Mitch over Sam any day
- gerbe75pts

Man this is so easy, why are you not an NHL GM?