A non-informative article if ever.....why did the Sabres lose those games? Who played poorly ? What mmoves did Kreuger make to adjust the D or lines ? Any fan can recount who scored......weak report from a respected blogger.
- Gfromarizona

It's a five game recap highlighting a few things about each game.

Sorry to disappoint.

What’s more likely to continue, him getting secondary assists at a rate he never has, or him continuing to score goals at a pretty average rate since literally a year ago
- sbroads24

His shooting percentage will rebound. He's not a 6% shooter. But his 18% season might be an outlier as well

His shooting percentage will rebound. He's not a 6% shooter. But his 18% season might be an outlier as well
- jcragcrumple

Yeah I don’t expect him to be a 18 goal guy.

But he’s definitely not looking like a generational scorer in year 4 either

Yeah I don’t expect him to be a 18 goal guy.

But he’s definitely not looking like a generational scorer in year 4 either
- sbroads24

He’s a solid 30 goals a year guy, not a 40 plus sniper. Hence the contract

He’s a solid 30 goals a year guy, not a 40 plus sniper. Hence the contract
- lulags

Which the entire discussion was based around.

Trading assets + paying him was and is a bad idea.

Yeah I don’t expect him to be a 18 goal guy.

But he’s definitely not looking like a generational scorer in year 4 either
- sbroads24

It's not surprising. Expecting someone to shoot at 17 or 18% is unrealistic. I was never enamored with the Laine idea unless we could get him for Risto and a conditional 1st if he hit 30

Well when Bogo does come back, I would put him with Dahlin, they actually played pretty decent together last year
- Buff36

No argument there. McCabe belongs in the press box, not Miller, as well.

No argument there. McCabe belongs in the press box, not Miller, as well.
- RhinoFan

When did be become so brutal? He must be happy that Bogo will be back soon because he Bogo is prone to lots of boneheaded plays as well.

What’s more likely to continue, him getting secondary assists at a rate he never has, or him continuing to score goals at a pretty average rate since literally a year ago
- sbroads24

Well, even Ovechkin had seasons where he didn't sniff 40g.

Laine doesn't play with a Backstrom and he has been in his coache's doghouse for a couple years now.

A lot of factors here but I'd still back the Brinks truck up for him.

Well when Bogo does come back, I would put him with Dahlin, they actually played pretty decent together last year
- Buff36

I mentioned this this summer

Dahlin plays his best with bogo.... why?

Bogo turned himself into a defensive defensemen and stayed back while Dahlin would free wheel around

Dahlin with montour. He is not even close to the same free wheeling player

Qualifying offers to RFAs making 1M or more need to be 100% of their previous contract salary. So if we give qualifying offers to Erod and Vesey they would have to be for 2M and 2.25M respectively.
The way around it is to not give them qualifying offers and therefore lose their rights as restricted. Then we could offer them contracts for less and they could test free agency to see if another team wants them. I don’t really care to keep either of them. If they don’t agree to contract for pay cuts I would cut ties with both in a heartbeat.

Mitts and OV salaries are estimates based off of current production. Olofsson is on pace for 28 28 56 which IMO would garner 4M. I do agree his production will drop off and he will sign cheaper. Mitts is on pace for 12 16 28 which are third line center numbers and I don’t think 2.25 is far off if he achieves that. Sobotka was signed for 3.5 with much less talent and potential and less production.

Performance bonuses do count toward the cap. However, there is a cushion of 7.5 percent of the upper cap limit reserved for performance bonuses which is included in that years cap figures. Only players 35+ or on ELCs can earn performance bonuses and from what I’ve read they affect the current years cap, not the upcoming, and there is a built in cushion for those.
- Beethoven

Vesey is UFA, not RFA. If you don't qualify ERod, I don't see him coming back. I just assume Vesey is gone.

You're a little off on bonuses. ELC's often contain bonuses, and top picks have a lot of them. Dahlin has the max 2.85m, and you have to think he'll earn a good chunk of them. The cushion allows you to carry the bonuses, it doesn't actually pay them. Take a look at this CapFriendly tweet. The Leafs got hit pretty hard a few years ago when Matthews earned his full bonus:

I don't like Bogo, but he brings a little toughness, and I really do think that helps the other players.

Vesey is UFA, not RFA. If you don't qualify ERod, I don't see him coming back. I just assume Vesey is gone.

You're a little off on bonuses. ELC's often contain bonuses, and top picks have a lot of them. Dahlin has the max 2.85m, and you have to think he'll earn a good chunk of them. The cushion allows you to carry the bonuses, it doesn't actually pay them. Take a look at this CapFriendly tweet. The Leafs got hit pretty hard a few years ago when Matthews earned his full bonus:


- Lunaion

I stand corrected on both fronts. I can’t believe I thought Vesey was an RFA all this time.

Make no moves and just resign RFAs
...
I have no idea why people are under the impression we have so much money to work with.
...

This is bare bones. Keeping no expiring UFAs and replacing Salaries falling off the books with entry level contracts to save as much as possible.

Does anyone see 34 million to spend?

The only way to make the changes needed for this team is thru trade. Use the value we have on defense to trade for legitimate top six players.
...
The only answer is to make trades.
- Beethoven

Simple, you are misunderstanding.
When the pending UFA contracts fall off the books, and the remaing roster will yield about $35m to fill 14 or 15 roster spots.

You went down a path assuming the $35m was after filling the majority of those 14/15 spots with the replacements signed or some of the UFA's re-signed.

You went through alot of math based off salary projections and arrived in roughly the same place...they won't have alot of $'s to spend on top-end UFA to upgrade the roster...it will be too expensive.

Hence why I asked the question of how to reconcile the Dreamers and the reality of the situation.

No, hopefully, Botts or the new GM can still identify and sign Bottom 6 UFA's whose play will represent upgrades to the roster...and maybe 1 Top 6

Hey boys. Game time!

It's a five game recap highlighting a few things about each game.

Sorry to disappoint.
- Michael Pachla

(frank) 'em. If they don't like it they can write their own blog.

Simple, you are misunderstanding.
When the pending UFA contracts fall off the books, and the remaing roster will yield about $35m to fill 14 or 15 roster spots.

You went down a path assuming the $35m was after filling the majority of those 14/15 spots with the replacements signed or some of the UFA's re-signed.

You went through alot of math based off salary projections and arrived in roughly the same place...they won't have alot of $'s to spend on top-end UFA to upgrade the roster...it will be too expensive.

Hence why I asked the question of how to reconcile the Dreamers and the reality of the situation.

No, hopefully, Botts or the new GM can still identify and sign Bottom 6 UFA's whose play will represent upgrades to the roster...and maybe 1 Top 6
- IonSabres

I like his way of looking at it. 35'ish million to fill 14 spots is fair too. Just saying 35m of space and then suggesting big signings is misleading. ERod is an interesting RFA to discuss, the rest are near locks to be qualified.

Nice hold McCabe.

He better be in the (frank)ing press box next game hes bad real (frank)ing bad mccabe

Like I said before, force feeding Oloffson on the PP isnt working.

Mitts

Mittelstadt honestly sucks

Good job mittleflop

Mittelstadt honestly sucks
- U Sir Name

Not a fan of “matador-style” defense?
¡Olé!

I'm so sick of these cutesy passes and refusal to shoot, this dump and chase crap that we've been doing for 25 years regardless of coach or personnel, no one wants to puck-handle or carry the puck.