Bandits not 30 yet I don’t think.

Leave him out of it.
- Der Kaiser

I am, still this side of 40 though.

Mitts and Cozens could also fill top 6 wing positions or be the 3C for less than $9M a year.
- Pegullaville

Yeah man. Definitely.

Mittelstadt and Skinner are totally interchangeable when I watch Sabres games

Kadri is still under contract.
- Wetbandit1

Oh, and he's 2 years older.

Bandits not 30 yet I don’t think.

Leave him out of it.
- Der Kaiser

Ryan O’Reilly, Ryan Johansen, Nazem Kadri, Max Domi, Mika Zibanijad were all moved in the last 5 seasons and I’m sure I’m leaving some out.

Did the Stars anticipate Seguin becoming available ?

At his current role Skinner provides what maybe 4-6 points in the standings ?

It’s not like Jack isn’t producing, what’s the difference in team performance if we swap Olofsosn and Skinner ?

The chips will fall where they may regardless and that’s up to total team performance.

There was no guarantee during the offseason when the Skinner contract was due, that Olofosson would pot 15 G's, so going on about the marginal cost now as if that was a certainty has the benefit now of 20/20 vision.
He freaking is overpaid by about $1m.
Move on.
- IonSabres

Galaxy brain here called that this past offseason.

Kadri is still under contract.
- Wetbandit1

Yet his jersey has an avalanche on it now instead of a leaf, nowhere in that post did I say it had to be a free agent.

Oh, and he's 2 years older.
- Wetbandit1

Yea and his contract doesn’t run for the next 8 seasons either. A lot can change in a few years. Player performance can fall of a cliff pretty quickly. Or in the case of some, injuries can ruin a player too.

Yeah man. Definitely.

Mittelstadt and Skinner are totally interchangeable when I watch Sabres games
- sbroads24

Vesey has 5 points in his last 5 games.

Skinner has 2 goals in his last 8 games and is a -5.

Burakovaky, Donskoi, Dzingel, Haula, Connolly, coild also give us that production on lines 2/3.

This team goes as Jack goes, until we find a half decent goalie and a 2C.

Bandits not 30 yet I don’t think.

Leave him out of it.
- Der Kaiser

Everyone who isnt 19 or 20 is a boomer to people who are 19 or 20.

Yet his jersey has an avalanche on it now instead of a leaf, nowhere in that post did I say it had to be a free agent.
- Pegullaville

Are we trading a good defenseman and a good young player for a guy who's going to need a nice, big, shiny, new contract in 2 years? You still have to sign them once you have them, Botts gave up a pittance for Skinner. So you'd rather give up good, and good, young talent to get a guy you're going to have to pay in two years over giving up next to nothing to have to pay him now? What (frank)ing planet are you living on?

Living in the future with hindsight is great, all the 'ifs' in the world so that everything fits nicely together!

Pro tip: it won’t be mittlestadt. He sucks.
- Da_Cashman

Meh... still tbd

Jeff Skinner is a long term Sabre and I couldn’t be happier
- sbroads24

This will not age well

I think you’re contradicting yourself here
If you’re looking long term, and not at the next 50 games, then we do not need a 2C
We’ve got Mitts & Cozens
One of them will surely fill that role for us
- jdfitz77

Sure hope so, cause Mitts hasn't proven anything yet, and doesn't seem close

He has scored 30+ 3 times without a 10 million dollar center. Is on pace to have 30 this season without him.

We get it, you don’t like him. That doesn’t make all these false statements correct though.
- sbroads24

I don't get the hate towards Pegs wanting more out of are 9mill dollar player. We all should want that from him for that money. And getting tired of people saying he's not playing with this center or that center, he still gets his chances with whoever he is playing with.

Sure hope so, cause Mitts hasn't proven anything yet, and doesn't seem close
- Buff36

He is struggling for sure. Sabres certainly haven't optimized his development course.
I want to believe he will be good, that his development will just take longer than we hoped for.
But I'm beginning to seriously question how good he can be and at this point 2C looks to be too far away for him unless he turns the corner sooner than later. Maybe, hopefully the light bulb goes on this season.

If I'm Botts, I certainly don't hang up the phone if a GM starts talking about including him in a deal. I'd evaluate it for sure.

He is struggling for sure. Sabres certainly haven't optimized his development course.
I want to believe he will be good, that his development will just take longer than we hoped for.
But I'm beginning to seriously question how good he can be and at this point 2C looks to be too far away for him unless he turns the corner sooner than later. Maybe, hopefully the light bulb goes on this season.

If I'm Botts, I certainly don't hang up the phone if a GM starts talking about including him in a deal. I'd evaluate it for sure.
- IonSabres

I hope he turns the corner to, but you are right if Botts has that chance you would hope he would think about it

I don't get the hate towards Pegs wanting more out of are 9mill dollar player. We all should want that from him for that money. And getting tired of people saying he's not playing with this center or that center, he still gets his chances with whoever he is playing with.
- Buff36

I listen, and he has a point with the aging of that contract.
His criticism of the player seems a bit harsh overall, expecting more than the player can give.
I believe he is overpaid by about $1m. Just because a player is paid $9m, it does not mean his production goes up automatically commensurate with his contract. Jeff Skinner is a 30-40 Goal scorer with 55 -65 pts. That is the reality.

His main point is Botts should not have agreed to that contract and found someone else to fill that role for less. Sounds good on a post, and does not give any consideration to the environment at that time. You will remember the Sabres were a complete poop show, and absolutely starved for scoring. What impact would have been realized if Botts did not re-sign him? Does the risk of telling the whole NHL that the Sabres do not value productive free agents further erode their ability to attract them in the future. Does Jack, or Sam, or other players look at management differently and request a trade? Do the fans revolt? Is that risk worth $1m?

He is going through a rough patch right now no doubt. Has he had chances over the last 8 games, yes. Does everybody want him on track for 40 instead of 30, absolutely. Would he be better served playing on a capable 2nd line rather than 3rd and 4th line players? I think it is safe to assume the answer is yes there, and probably better chances.

I hope he turns the corner to, but you are right if Botts has that chance you would hope he would think about it
- Buff36

Moving Mitts to the wing has helped.

He may have to follow the path of Reinhart and be more wing focused.

As a follow up to the follow up. 4 weeks ago the Bills were 6-2 and nobody was taking them seriously. Fast forward to now and not only have they firmly established themselves as a playoff lock in all likelihood, they have been flexed to Sunday night football in Week 15.

I just got home from the Raptors game with the lady to see the Pats down 11 in the 3rd quarter and Brady with a 30.4 QBR and throwing up all over himself.

Now, not only are the Bills not playing for their season, they have a legitimate shot at the AFC East title due to getting hot at the right time and playing good football when it counts, from November on wards
- Pegullaville

You can keep saying this, but again, it's meaningless.

It doesn't matter when the Bills get their 10 wins. If the Bills dont go 6-2 through October, they're not going to be 9-3 "when it counts."

Good thing the Broncos are getting hot now when it counts. Playoffs here they come! Oh wait, they lost too many games "when it didn't count"

I hope he turns the corner to, but you are right if Botts has that chance you would hope he would think about it
- Buff36

Interesting article by Corey Pronman of The Athletic this morning...he was reviewing Prospect Ratings he was wrong on, listing Mittlestat and Borgstrom from Florida together

"Mittelstadt has been a mediocre player through 110 NHL games...skating I graded as above-average as prospects, but in hindsight that was the one area I was really off on, as their skating and pace has not been all that impressive at the pro level...I still think both will be good long-term NHLers, they are both way too skilled to not become that, but projections on both need to be more reserved than I once was for reasons that you could argue were foreseeable."

It is early yet, but I think 3C or 2/3LW is where he ends up...could be and do hope I am wrong.

You can keep saying this, but again, it's meaningless.

It doesn't matter when the Bills get their 10 wins. If the Bills dont go 6-2 through October, they're not going to be 9-3 "when it counts."

Good thing the Broncos are getting hot now when it counts. Playoffs here they come! Oh wait, they lost too many games "when it didn't count"
- jcragcrumple

I read that series of posts last night with raised eyebrows myself.
A win in Week 1 counts the exact same as a win in Week 16.
You need 10 of them, in most years, to qualify for the Playoffs, get them when you can.

Now I will say that as far as Power Rankings go, winning later in the season for playoff bound teams TEND to carry more weight for a higher ranking. Going into the playoffs say 4-1 rather than say 2-3, or 1-4 will be viewed favorably by prognosticators... but the 10-6 record is what counts for playoffs.

You can keep saying this, but again, it's meaningless.

It doesn't matter when the Bills get their 10 wins. If the Bills dont go 6-2 through October, they're not going to be 9-3 "when it counts."

Good thing the Broncos are getting hot now when it counts. Playoffs here they come! Oh wait, they lost too many games "when it didn't count"
- jcragcrumple

Yes and Josh McDaniels is the OC in New England right now because as a head coach he started out 6-0 and fell flat on his face and finished 8-8.

I don’t think Frank Reich (Colts) is having a very pleasant morning, however Mike Vrabel (Titans) is.

Both teams had completely different out looks a few weeks ago.

Once again conveniently leaving out the hockey reference I guess because it doesn’t fit your narrative.

Blues were last place in the NHL, Sabres were first in mid December. How did that work out ?

I read that series of posts last night with raised eyebrows myself.
A win in Week 1 counts the exact same as a win in Week 16.
You need 10 of them, in most years, to qualify for the Playoffs, get them when you can.

Now I will say that as far as Power Rankings go, winning later in the season for playoff bound teams TEND to carry more weight for a higher ranking. Going into the playoffs say 4-1 rather than say 2-3, or 1-4 will be viewed favorably by prognosticators... but the 10-6 record is what counts for playoffs.
- IonSabres

I think how the NCAA handles wins has impacted the views of the NFL.

The NFL doesn't care about style points, or strength of victory because there are 32 teams instead of 100+.

I read that series of posts last night with raised eyebrows myself.
A win in Week 1 counts the exact same as a win in Week 16.
You need 10 of them, in most years, to qualify for the Playoffs, get them when you can.

Now I will say that as far as Power Rankings go, winning later in the season for playoff bound teams TEND to carry more weight for a higher ranking. Going into the playoffs say 4-1 rather than say 2-3, or 1-4 will be viewed favorably by prognosticators... but the 10-6 record is what counts for playoffs.
- IonSabres

The Browns went 3-1 in November when it counts, but I can't find them in the playoff picture. I must be reading it wrong

The Browns went 3-1 in November when it counts, but I can't find them in the playoff picture. I must be reading it wrong
- jcragcrumple

I didn’t know their season was over.