I never thought he be available and I got yelled at last night
- gerbe75pts

Is he “available” though?

I haven’t been paying attention to anything the last couple days
Been in Atlantic City for Warped Tour

It would be pure speculation on my part.

Hope you're right about the 90 points. Looks pretty lofty at the moment

Jersey got better, Florida got better, rangers got better, flyers got better

CBJ got worse

Lot of teams getting better in the east. As is, this roster is near the bottom of the east
- jcragcrumple

This is THE issue in my mind.
Jason, TO DATE has largely set on his ass while more teams have figured out how to move challenging contracts, acquire talent and add to their roster. More teams have run by the Sabres.
90 poi ts? Good friggin luck!
Yes, it is only July 2nd, however in the rear view mirror I now see the 3 prime events that teams have used to reshape the future of their roster:
-TDL
-Draft
-FA opening day

Trades will be made between now and October, sure. But the volume and quality of assets moved are overwhelmingly done over those 3 events above.
For this upcoming season, one of the few ways to impact the roster significantly is by trading Risto...however, the more time that passes, fewer teams will have need to do so by having found other options...Tampa, Vancouver, Winnipeg as examples who have already moved on.

Next we will hear that it was a tough market to move a friggin young, cost-controlled RhD with term left, who has solid offensive production, with a reputation for toughness, and is entering his prime years.

That roster was well on its way to last place regardless of who was behind the bench. I don't buy it.

They hired an under-qualified folk hero to try to get back in good graces with the blue-collar fanbase. And the blue-collar fanbase ate it up...for a few months.
- buffalofan19

So it was a good hire? I'm not following the circling?

Nolan did sell tickets and begrudgingly got us eichel

We didn’t get better?

We added at the very least an incredibly good middle-bottom pairing D man who potentially be Dahlin’s partner

And a 15-20 goal 3rd line winger, which isn’t the 3rd and 4th line something you incessantly complained about for the last 3 years?

I’m not sure what you people want. He’s resigned Skinner, which was huge. Added depth pieces.

Major FA signings are 80-90% of the time a terrible idea
- sbroads24

Agreed with all of the above. I am in the camp that Botts is being methodical (nod to you Pach) in his approach. I am glad he didn't sign any of those clowns in Free Agency. All we have to do is look at Cap Friendly and look under the names Leino, Moulson, Okposo, Ehrhoff to see how it turns out for us when we over-pay for past performance on aged players.

I have faith that Botts will pull the trigger on a big Risto deal that will either deliver us a Top 6 RW or 2nd Centre. However, if the trade isn't there, he won't make it this summer which is OK too. He has time. 2019/2020 was never our year to "go for it". Based on all the crap coming off the books after this year and the good young talent coming through the system, next year is when he will push his chips into the middle of the table.

Benn would’ve been ok, if he’d sign here & if we didn’t have a ton of defensemen
Are u really upset about a 3rd pair defenseman though???

Would Nyquist have signed with us?
And at that price?
I believe our experts said we were talking to him
So maybe we tried & he just didn’t wanna come here
Are his 20ish goals a difference maker though?
He’s a pretty decent player, but Detroit was more than happy to let him go and they’re in a similar position as us trying to build their team up
I don’t think missing on him is a great loss

But fine, let’s just play it out
Let’s just say we did add Nyquist & Benn
What’s your prediction for this year?
1st round exit to TB or BOS at best, right?

And then we’ve got at least 7.5mil more,
(but probably more like 10mil with Buffatax),
that prevents us from trying to get Point, Marner, or whatever top end talent might be available
- jdfitz77

The Sabres have 6 players and a goalie signed as it stands after this upcoming season.

Agreed with all of the above. I am in the camp that Botts is being methodical (nod to you Pach) in his approach. I am glad he didn't sign any of those clowns in Free Agency. All we have to do is look at Cap Friendly and look under the names Leino, Moulson, Okposo, Ehrhoff to see how it turns out for us when we over-pay for past performance on aged players.

I have faith that Botts will pull the trigger on a big Risto deal that will either deliver us a Top 6 RW or 2nd Centre. However, if the trade isn't there, he won't make it this summer which is OK too. He has time. 2019/2020 was never our year to "go for it". Based on all the crap coming off the books after this year and the good young talent coming through the system, next year is when he will push his chips into the middle of the table.
- SabreWest

Fun fact he tried to. He said he was very aggressive, no one bit.

Players still see this team as a place to avoid.

How does signing a Jordie Benn (2mil)
Or a Gustav Nyquist(5.5) prevent this team from getting better?

NyQuist could ride 2nd line and be the veteran presence we need.

Benn at 2mil is the perfect 3rd pair d-man.
- ImThatGuy

And why does Nyquist want to come here? Unless you're overpaying someone again.

So another 2-3 years then?
- ImThatGuy

To compete for an actual cup? Yeah. You think Gustav Nyquist was taking us there this year?

This is THE issue in my mind.
Jason, TO DATE has largely set on his ass.
Yes, it is only July 2nd, however in the rear view mirror I now see the 3 prime events that teams have used to reshape the future of their roster:
-TDL
-Draft
-FA opening day

Trades will be made between now and October, sure. But the vo,ume and quality of assets moved are overwhelmingly done over those 3 events above. For the upcoming season, one of the few ways to impact the roster significantly is by trading Risto...however, the more time that passes, fewer teams will have need to do so by having found other options...Tampa, Vancouver, Winnipeg as examples who have already moved on.

Next we will hear that it was a tough market to move a friggin young, cost-controlled RhD with term left, who has solid offensive production, with a reputation for toughness, and is entering his prime years.
- IonSabres

Or... they really do like Risto & think he could be a part of helping us get where we wanna go

Sometimes the best moves are the ones u don’t make
Ex: O’Reilly
He got talked about as being underwhelming,
and look what he went & did
Meanwhile, we still suck and are looking for a replacement for him

Could very well be the same thing with Risto

This is THE issue in my mind.
Jason, TO DATE has largely set on his ass.
Yes, it is only July 2nd, however in the rear view mirror I now see the 3 prime events that teams have used to reshape the future of their roster:
-TDL
-Draft
-FA opening day

Trades will be made between now and October, sure. But the vo,ume and quality of assets moved are overwhelmingly done over those 3 events above. For the upcoming season, one of the few ways to impact the roster significantly is by trading Risto...however, the more time that passes, fewer teams will have need to do so by having found other options...Tampa, Vancouver, Winnipeg as examples who have already moved on.

Next we will hear that it was a tough market to move a friggin young, cost-controlled RhD with term left, who has solid offensive production, with a reputation for toughness, and is entering his prime years.
- IonSabres

I mean, the opposite can also be true, and this may be the gamble he's taking. All the other players are gone, and 2/3 teams are left with only Risto as a RD top 4 quality left. He makes out better then all the others traded because he has a monopoly on the market at that time. See how easy that is to spin a narrative in whichever way you want it to. Best course of action, don't guess what another person will/won't do. Because you really don't know. Half the board was screaming why we didn't take advantage of Vegas for Erik (frank)ing Haula. Only to take the better asset from them a couple of days later.

It would be pure speculation on my part.

Hope you're right about the 90 points. Looks pretty lofty at the moment

Jersey got better, Florida got better, rangers got better, flyers got better

CBJ got worse

Lot of teams getting better in the east. As is, this roster is near the bottom of the east
- jcragcrumple

Good post. On paper , we have some top end young talent. Hopefully krueger gets the most out of them

The Sabres have 6 players and a goalie signed as it stands after this upcoming season.
- ImThatGuy

And there’s no need to waste $$$ on mid tier guys that will become more “Okposo contracts”
Pass on that

Do u guys really wanna go all GMTM again?

Skinner is a bad contract, discuss.
- ImThatGuy

His 40 goals say otherwise.

Discuss.

To compete for an actual cup? Yeah. You think Gustav Nyquist was taking us there this year?
- sbroads24

Can we get to .500 first?

That would be a start.

Fun fact he tried to. He said he was very aggressive, no one bit.

Players still see this team as a place to avoid.
- ImThatGuy

Very aggressive can mean a multiple of things. Had a bunch of contracts on the table, talked with many teams about trades, talked with a bunch of FA but never went beyond that, had one or two large contracts. You don't know it what sense he meant, and most likely never will. Not a shot at you, but context matters.

To compete for an actual cup? Yeah. You think Gustav Nyquist was taking us there this year?
- sbroads24

Exactly

Detroit is in the same position as we are,
and they felt they should move on from Nyquist & look for better
But he’s a guy we will regret not signing?
He’s pretty decent
But not a game changer

Toronto has made moves and has maybe gotten worse

Ceci is terrible
Barrie has been at replacement level for 2 years

People talking about Murray are correct. You want moves just to make moves

This team will compete by building through the draft, and actually drafting well
- sbroads24

Why do this nonsense when we can (frank) up our cap and just sign money Mitch to a 14M contract? Who CARES about cap implications and money and such!

His 40 goals say otherwise.

Discuss.
- Powerslave

“We don’t want another Okposo contract look at what GMTM did, you don’t overpay wingers that much”

“Skinner signs for 9, bravo Jason what a great contract.”

“We don’t want another Okposo contract look at what GMTM did, you don’t overpay wingers that much”

“Skinner signs for 9, bravo Jason what a great contract.”
- ImThatGuy

Again, his 40 goals and almost 30 per year average say otherwise.

“We don’t want another Okposo contract look at what GMTM did, you don’t overpay wingers that much”

“Skinner signs for 9, bravo Jason what a great contract.”
- ImThatGuy

Big difference between overpaying for a 20goal winger VS overpaying for a 40goal winger

But maybe math isn’t your strong suit

I think it needs to be said continuously, that if Skinner can perform like a 7-8M player through the majority or all of his contract, that paying an extra 1M is so much less significant than sitting here with nothing but Vesey, Sheary and Olofsson.

There are still PLENTY of options, opportunities out there. My only concern is dumping the terrible Okposo contract and Scandella. The rest will go away next year or can be easy buy-out options

CJ Smith signed to a 2 year $700k AAV per the Sabres app.

Big difference between overpaying for a 20goal winger VS overpaying for a 40goal winger

But maybe math isn’t your strong suit
- jdfitz77

Skinner has only scored 40 once and in a contract year.

He is generally a 30 goal guy. And since y’all are stuck on NyQuist thing.

NyQuist - .61 ppg over his career. 50 points per 82

Skinner - .66 ppg over his career. 54 points per 82

NyQuist is signed for less term and 3.5 less per year than skinner.

Anders (frank)ing Lee is looking at 7+ (up to 9). Panarin got 11.6. You going to tell me Skinner's not getting at least 9 on the market? yeah, (frank) you.

You find an elite player that wants to play for you, you lock him the (frank) up for a slight overpayment. It's not even a question.