To what end? Is bringing him in really going to help either the Sabres or Cozens much if at all?

What happens if he plays well enough to stay, but the team keeps losing, so you end up burning a year of his ELC on a lost season?

Just let him be and continue to grow in the WHL for another year. make him force his way on the roster.
- BINGO!

I used to care about the bolded, but after seeing teams being able to escape what look like sure cap issues over and over and over again, I no longer care about that.

If he plays well enough to earn a stay, then he should stay.

I think you are starting to get that Sabres fans in general are mad. I love hockey and used to watch other nhl games, amerks. College hockey and junior hockey

The Sabres sucking has drained my love for the sport. It almost hurts to watch the Sabres game because it’s so frustrating to watch

I’m close to a breaking point. It’s mentally draining and I am just a fan of the Sabres and love hockey

I just want good hockey to be played or something more exciting.

Right now, I’m not getting it
- Sabretooth9

I'm 48 yrs old and been dealing with this and the Bills for what feels like for ever and i'm just as pissed of as most but, it's a cap era now and like it or not, this is what we have.

It is what it is, Reinhart and Dahlin decisions come first, he's going to do this his way regardless what anyone thinks. People want a big time player or players well, they cost money now a days, 9-10 mill or more a year. How many of those players can you pay and still stay competitive year after year without losing good players in between. There is no way you can, not in this NHL.
- SABRES 89

So many teams figure what I'll call creative ways out of cap issues that I don't care anymore about that concern. Yes, part of the not caring is how much losing the team has done for so long, but that said, go get Alex Pietrangelo as a UFA.

Dahlin - Pietrangelo
Montour - Jokiharju
Pilut - Miller
McCabe

So many teams figure what I'll call creative ways out of cap issues that I don't care anymore about that concern. Yes, part of the not caring is how much losing the team has done for so long, but that said, go get Alex Pietrangelo as a UFA.

Dahlin - Pietrangelo
Montour - Jokiharju
Pilut - Miller
McCabe
- kingcong39

We don't need him, we need a 2nd line Center another RW. Say what you want but you can't pay everyone, you just can't. I don't like this year after year bulls$$t of losing either but what can you do.

We don't need him, we need a 2nd line Center another RW. Say what you want but you can't pay everyone, you just can't. I don't like this year after year bulls$$t of losing either but what can you do.
- SABRES 89

I get what you are saying, believe me I do, but good teams figure it out.

Notice I didn't have Ristolainen in that group? That's $5M out the door, for a return that would help. Get rid of McCabe as well. That's another $2M+ out the door.

Keep purging from there. Just do what needs to be done. I'm done with excuses, as I know you and most others are as well.

Only the people that wanted Botterill fired and said he was useless think he's slow. They wanted a trade they got 2 and still complain.
- SABRES 89

I have been as critical of Botts as anyone and I will give credit to him for trying to do something.

I don’t hate the move. We needed to move out D and we got a player who can help us at forward.

What I’ve read is that Frolly was a good PK player on the 4th best PK team in the league.

So Botts addressed our PK woes turning a D man for a forward.

I am not happy about helping Montreal, a division rival, but I am sure that wasn’t lost on Botts. He obviously had limited options and did what he could.

IMO it raises Botts grade slightly. I wish he could have made the move a month or two ago, but I don’t know what’s actually available to him so I’ll shut my mouth for once and simply congratulate Botts for a good job yesterday.

I get what you are saying, believe me I do, but good teams figure it out.

Notice I didn't have Ristolainen in that group? That's $5M out the door, for a return that would help. Get rid of McCabe as well. That's another $2M+ out the door.

Keep purging from there. Just do what needs to be done. I'm done with excuses, as I know you and most others are as well.
- kingcong39

He doesn't want to trade Risto, he's turned down offers but i get it, out with the old and in with the new.

If contracts were 7-8 mill a year instead of 9-10, this would be easier.

He doesn't want to trade Risto, he's turned down offers but i get it, out with the old and in with the new.
- SABRES 89

I believe this will be his undoing. Im fairly certain they could have gotten something of use for Risto 6 weeks ago and flipped that for a forward.

Way back when they weren't some 5 or 6 points behind and like 8 teams to chase. (also be fore they lost all those games to division rivals)

If contracts were 7-8 mill a year instead of 9-10, this would be easier.
- SABRES 89

I feel like we should be giving Seattle a first rounder and holding 25% of Okposo’s cap hit per year to get him out of here come expansion draft.

I hate to be that guy, but I really hope we fall so far out of the playoff race while Skinner and Olofsson are out that there is no choice but to sell off all assets not returning next year at the trade deadline and tank for the best draft pick possible.

Embrace the tank yo!

We will need another stud if we ever plan to contend.

I feel like we should be giving Seattle a first rounder and holding 25% of Okposo’s cap hit per year to get him out of here come expansion draft.
- Pegullaville

That he won't do, he wants no dead money.

I believe this will be his undoing. Im fairly certain they could have gotten something of use for Risto 6 weeks ago and flipped that for a forward.

Way back when they weren't some 5 or 6 points behind and like 8 teams to chase. (also be fore they lost all those games to division rivals)
- Sabresfan-365

Speaking of, is it true the Sabres only have 1 win against tampa/bos/toronto?

Yikes

I believe this will be his undoing. Im fairly certain they could have gotten something of use for Risto 6 weeks ago and flipped that for a forward.

Way back when they weren't some 5 or 6 points behind and like 8 teams to chase. (also be fore they lost all those games to division rivals)
- Sabresfan-365

Curious why the bolded matters now to any teams that are interested in Ristolainen? Unless you believe he's going to get fired for the team being bad again.

The point of trading Ristolainen is about now and the future, right?

I hate to be that guy, but I really hope we fall so far out of the playoff race while Skinner and Olofsson are out that there is no choice but to sell off all assets not returning next year at the trade deadline and tank for the best draft pick possible.

Embrace the tank yo!

We will need another stud if we ever plan to contend.
- Beethoven

We just have to wait, yet again. Year after year of waiting it's driving me F ING CRAZY

If contracts were 7-8 mill a year instead of 9-10, this would be easier.
- SABRES 89

I agree with your earlier point. I am just saying fans are at a breaking point.

I get it’s the cap era and stuff like that. But mentally the fan base is breaking.

Going to a Sabres game is a god awful experience and boring. The food sucks and the beet is way way too expensive.

Add that on top of team performance

Curious why the bolded matters now to any teams that are interested in Ristolainen? Unless you believe he's going to get fired for the team being bad again.

The point of trading Ristolainen is about now and the future, right?
- kingcong39

Sorry I meant his unwillingness to deal risto in general

Islanders lost a D man today for the season, Adam Pelech.

I agree with your earlier point. I am just saying fans are at a breaking point.

I get it’s the cap era and stuff like that. But mentally the fan base is breaking.

Going to a Sabres game is a god awful experience and boring. The food sucks and the beet is way way too expensive.

Add that on top of team performance
- Sabretooth9

I agree with you my friend, my uncle's friend with the Sabres had a 1 on 1 talk with Eichel a couple days ago about a lot of that. Eichel know's, you see how bad his hands were shaking after we lost to Tampa.

Sorry I meant his unwillingness to deal risto in general
- Sabresfan-365

I believe what 89 says, but I don't think he's unwilling to trade Ristolainen. I think he's overly patient and gun shy from the O'reilly deal.

That is what I believe will ultimately be his undoing, if he is fired.

Sorry I meant his unwillingness to deal risto in general
- Sabresfan-365

I love Risto. I want to keep him, sign him when his contract expires, and give him an A when McCabe is traded.

He’s my second favorite Sabre.

I agree with your earlier point. I am just saying fans are at a breaking point.

I get it’s the cap era and stuff like that. But mentally the fan base is breaking.

Going to a Sabres game is a god awful experience and boring. The food sucks and the beet is way way too expensive.

Add that on top of team performance
- Sabretooth9

Wouldn't it be great if the Sabres could figure out the cap and make it work with several quality players like plenty of other teams do?

I love Risto. I want to keep him, sign him when his contract expires, and give him an A when McCabe is traded.

He’s my second favorite Sabre.
- Beethoven

Are you willing to pay him north of $7M per? I am in no way doing that.

I agree with you my friend, my uncle's friend with the Sabres had a 1 on 1 talk with Eichel a couple days ago about a lot of that. Eichel know's, you see how bad his hands were shaking after we lost to Tampa.
- SABRES 89

Is that your source? Your uncle has a friend working in Sabres organization?

Are you willing to pay him north of $7M per? I am in no way doing that.
- kingcong39

6M I keep him. If he wants more I would trade him at the deadline before he becomes a UFA.

I think 6M is reasonable