Ok, and if RyJo falls off a cliff in 2 years and Dylan Cozens is a 21 YO 2C we could of had for the next 10 years then what ?
- Pegullaville

ANd what if Cozens does nothing?

If he was the missing piece to make us a Contender, then sure... go for it
But he’s not
The only way we can afford to fill all the holes we need is to let our youth grow into them

I want us to be in the playoffs now too
But not at the expense of Cozens,
who should be good here for a decade or so
Instead of 60-65pts from RyJo for a few more years
- jdfitz77

Fair. Could be worse, just saw us trade Risto for the real mother (frank)ing deal James (frank)ing Neal in armchair GM. I would throw up.

How come Toronto can have 3 guys over 10 mill and make it work but we have 1 guy and we cant keep players? Asking for a friend
- hubie

This is probably the worst take of the day. Yes, you can make it work, but there is a difference between making it work and having success.
They've made it out of the first round once in 14 years. They haven't won the Cup since '67 when there were 6 teams in the league.
They have $12m next year to sign at least 5 defenseman, 4 forwards and a backup goalie just to field a 23 man roster.
Is that what you want? To make it work? Sure they may make the playoffs, but will they have much success? Possibly, if they can score 6-8 goals a game, but doubtful.

What talent have we developed?
- hubie

Past results don’t predict future success or failure
Different management and different players

For example:
U can’t say bc Grigorenko didn’t work out,
neither will Cozens

Ask the Caps how they feel about the Forsberg for Erat trade & get back to me

Yeah, that’s more extreme
But the point is that Erat wasn’t the guy to get them over the top
And neither is RyJo for us

So giving up a stud prospect is a bad idea
- jdfitz77

When we make the playoffs every year we can be in the position to make a bad trade



Was this a photo shop and slept though the cup finals?

Fair. Could be worse, just saw us trade Risto for the real mother (frank)ing deal James (frank)ing Neal in armchair GM. I would throw up.
- SDSabre

If Neal was 25, sure
But not now. No way

It was included in my original post, and other Botts sac-lickers (I just love that phrase, gotta use it more often ), have consistently used the " but who has moved their 2C, or who is moving their 2c" .

Just posting facts, I probably get banned for it.
- IonSabres

ANd what if Cozens does nothing?
- hubie

Then we hover around 10th instead of 8th

8th isn’t the goal Hubie, IS IT???

assuming cozens plays well
also assumed casey would be good
assumed nylander would be good

when do you sit back and say hey we cant draft and develop
- hubie

I get what he's saying to an extent. I do think you need to build up the prospect pool at least a little bit more before you are making a trade like that. I look at it like college football. The Alabamas and Clemsons of the world don't consistently win because they always get the best five-star recruit (though sometime they do). They win because they get more five-star recruits than any other school. If one fails, there's someone else almost as talented, if not as talented, in line to step up. The Sabres aren't there yet. Right now, unfortunately, Cozens is plan A for the future. They don't have a Plan B.

This is probably the worst take of the day. Yes, you can make it work, but there is a difference between making it work and having success.
They've made it out of the first round once in 14 years. They haven't won the Cup since '67 when there were 6 teams in the league.
They have $12m next year to sign at least 5 defenseman, 4 forwards and a backup goalie just to field a 23 man roster.
Is that what you want? To make it work? Sure they may make the playoffs, but will they have much success? Possibly, if they can score 6-8 goals a game, but doubtful.
- adambuffalo

youre takign the leafs results
I am saying cap money wise they have multiple guys making more money.

Botts can fit Sam in with fill in the blank player

If Neal was 25, sure
But not now. No way
- jdfitz77

Not even then. That guy rode hanging on to Sid/Malkin/Kessel to a big pay day. He's been average to below everywhere else.

This is probably the worst take of the day. Yes, you can make it work, but there is a difference between making it work and having success.
They've made it out of the first round once in 14 years. They haven't won the Cup since '67 when there were 6 teams in the league.
They have $12m next year to sign at least 5 defenseman, 4 forwards and a backup goalie just to field a 23 man roster.
Is that what you want? To make it work? Sure they may make the playoffs, but will they have much success? Possibly, if they can score 6-8 goals a game, but doubtful.
- adambuffalo

Their window closes after this year

Ask the Caps how they feel about the Forsberg for Erat trade & get back to me

Yeah, that’s more extreme
But the point is that Erat wasn’t the guy to get them over the top
And neither is RyJo for us

So giving up a stud prospect is a bad idea
- jdfitz77

I was thinking more along the lines of giving up on Zibanijad for Brassard but that works too

Then we hover around 10th instead of 8th

8th isn’t the goal Hubie, IS IT???
- jdfitz77

SO you dont want to watch Buffalo in the playoffs got it you made your point clear. Lower seeds never have won a cup right?

If he was the missing piece to make us a Contender, then sure... go for it
But he’s not
The only way we can afford to fill all the holes we need is to let our youth grow into them

I want us to be in the playoffs now too
But not at the expense of Cozens,
who should be good here for a decade or so
Instead of 60-65pts from RyJo for a few more years
- jdfitz77

You're never going to be a contender if you dont make moves to get closer

assuming cozens plays well
also assumed casey would be good
assumed nylander would be good

when do you sit back and say hey we cant draft and develop
- hubie

Let’s just say that’s true
There’s a Cap
We simply can’t trade all our youth that may or may not work out for established products
Bc they come with 8mil price tags

Let’s just say that’s true
There’s a Cap
We simply can’t trade all our youth that may or may not work out for established products
Bc they come with 8mil price tags
- jdfitz77

1 player in a position that is glaringly needed, its not like its a slight upgrade a real 2c in there is worlds better than the current situation

Let’s just say that’s true
There’s a Cap
We simply can’t trade all our youth that may or may not work out for established products
Bc they come with 8mil price tags
- jdfitz77

cap wise I do trust Botts going forward making it work

When we make the playoffs every year we can be in the position to make a bad trade



Was this a photo shop and slept though the cup finals?
- hubie

You’re right there
When we are in the playoffs every year is exactly when we should make a trade like you’re describing... maybe
Caps didn’t win with Erat
Where’s your pic of him with the Cup?

Got a pic of RyJo holding up the Cup?
Not asking for a friend, just for me

When we make the playoffs every year we can be in the position to make a bad trade



Was this a photo shop and slept though the cup finals?
- hubie

Caps drafted Kuznetsov, Wilson, Vrana, Carlson in the mid to late first round and developed them.

Imagine if they traded those picks to “win now” ?

You’re right there
When we are in the playoffs every year is exactly when we should make a trade like you’re describing... maybe
Caps didn’t win with Erat
Where’s your pic of him with the Cup?

Got a pic of RyJo holding up the Cup?
Not asking for a friend, just for me
- jdfitz77

Lets get on the same page here
To win thestanley cup you have to make the stanley cup you have ot make the playoffs? RIght, cant win the cup as the 12 seed right?

So making a trade to make the playoffs allows you a shot at winning the cup right?

Caps drafted Kuznetsov, Wilson, Vrana, Carlson in the mid to late first round and developed them.

Imagine if they traded those picks to “win now” ?
- Pegullaville

Carlson and Kuznetsov were essentially good enough to play in the NHL right away.

Neither spent a full season in the minors.

You're never going to be a contender if you dont make moves to get closer
- jcragcrumple

Agreed
We aren’t gonna be a Contender trading for RyJo either

Just like PK Subban would’ve been a bad idea

Here’s a hot take for ya...
Bonino at 4.1m >>> RyJo at 8mil
*in the roles they play

It’s not just about bringing in talent
See: RyJo & Duchene
It’s about bringing in the RIGHT ones

We are now hanging team failure on 1 guy now?

If 1 player can't impact a team, why are trades made?
- IonSabres

Our team success is based on 1 guy.

youre takign the leafs results
I am saying cap money wise they have multiple guys making more money.

Botts can fit Sam in with fill in the blank player
- hubie

So does Chicago. How have they've done since paying big money to their stars?
Just because you can have multiple guys making big money doesn't mean it is the right way to build a successful team.
No team has won the Cup with someone making over $10m let alone two or three guys.