2C is such a tough argument.

-How long do you want a veteran signed for
-What's an acceptable contract?
-How long is this guy expected to play 2C?
-Are you ok with Cozens or Mittelstadt taking over, potentially, in a year or 2?
-Does the guy's long contract justify 3rd line minutes in the future?
-Is he worth the assets?
-Does his contract fit into the long term vision of the team?

Settling on a guy and being able to bring him in is (frank)ing impossible

2C is such a tough argument.

-How long do you want a veteran signed for
-What's an acceptable contract?
-How long is this guy expected to play 2C?
-Are you ok with Cozens or Mittelstadt taking over, potentially, in a year or 2?
-Does the guy's long contract justify 3rd line minutes in the future?
-Is he worth the assets?
-Does his contract fit into the long term vision of the team?

Settling on a guy and being able to bring him in is (frank)ing impossible
- TheSabresTaco

Impossible for this board. It's a wicker basket full of pissed off feral weasels

Then it becomes, yeah, a below average 2C is fine and all, and we still suck, and realize we need a lot more than a below average 2c

I wouldn't trade a single player on this team for Henrique.

Bonino and Zajac would be fine I guess. But god damn, the standards are low here. They're middle 6 Cs, but at least they're short term enough to be a stopgap. But they're generally 3Cs, and you all need to know it.

www.highpresshockey.wordpress.com


He offers up Adam Henrique, Travis Zajac and Nick Bonino. It's a thorough analysis
- mhp

Pretty good reed ! (Spelled incorrectly for the Idiot Jesus Freak)

Then it becomes, yeah, a below average 2C is fine and all, and we still suck, and realize we need a lot more than a below average 2c
- TheSabresTaco

It's about incremental improvement. I'll risk triggering Fitz again and say the team is so much better with someone like Soderberg at 2C. It really doesn't have to be a great player to make a big difference

Ugh Carcillo is going to be on WGR at 5


Frank that guy
- Stripes77

Anyone hear that interview? That was a good interview

Anyone hear that interview? That was a good interview
- jzabawa

I thought it was good. Pretty passionate guy. Anyone that hates on the guy for the time, effort and heart that he’s put into gaining knowledge and insight to basically fixing a big problem, has, well, a problem.

I thought it was good. Pretty passionate guy. Anyone that hates on the guy for the time, effort and heart that he’s put into gaining knowledge and insight to basically fixing a big problem, has, well, a problem.
- Pairo11

well put

It's about incremental improvement. I'll risk triggering Fitz again and say the team is so much better with someone like Soderberg at 2C. It really doesn't have to be a great player to make a big difference
- jcragcrumple

Just having a natural center at that position, getting johanson back to his natural position.. even if its not a bonafide 2C it still makes us better than having johanson there.

www.highpresshockey.wordpress.com


He offers up Adam Henrique, Travis Zajac and Nick Bonino. It's a thorough analysis
- mhp

Thanks for providing that MHP.

I think I'm going to really enjoy Michael's blogs

Just having a natural center at that position, getting johanson back to his natural position.. even if its not a bonafide 2C it still makes us better than having johanson there.
- SabresFaninIndiana

So if Hoffman is supposedly available from Florida would Troschek (a Center) be available ? That guy seems to kill us every time we play them..

So if Hoffman is supposedly available from Florida would Troschek (a Center) be available ? That guy seems to kill us every time we play them..
- Pairo11

Trocheck is my #1. No one I'd rather go after more than him. Age, ability, contract, tradability (injury history) and center depth the Panthers have all make him a worthy target. The guy's a 2C's 2C.

Goaltending is an issue but it’s more of a backup issue. If Hutton was capable of playing 2 out of 5 games, we wouldn’t be in this situation.
- dadeadhead

Seriously, what happened to him? I thought we added a really good goalie coach. And while not a starter, I thoughts hutts would be a hell of a lot better than he is. Now they are riding Ullmark so hard the kids gonna break mentally.

Trocheck is my #1. No one I'd rather go after more than him. Age, ability, contract, tradability (injury history) and center depth the Panthers have all make him a worthy target. The guy's a 2C's 2C.
- TheSabresTaco

I would imagine that he being in the division and fighting with Buffalo for a playoff spot would make him an offseason acquisition candidate at best, if he is one at all.

Spector's comments on Sabres trade rumors:

The Sabres have featured prominently for months in the rumor mill. However, they’ve yet to make the big move that brings them a much-need scorer.

The fact Botterill cannot find a suitable deal suggests rival clubs are attempting to exploit the Sabres’ desperate plight this season. It could also indicate there’s no interest in the players Botterill is shopping.

WGR: Botterill said he wants to make trades that will add to his roster. He denied that he’s waiting for the trade deadline to make moves. “We’re open to trying to find something that can certainly add to our group, but it hasn’t materialized. We’ll continue to look at it, and there’s no use to saying that we’re close on a trade or this and that. Until it actually happens and we announce something, it’s just talk.”

TBN: Lance Lysowski said the Sabres are stuck salary-cap wise for this season. However, they’ll have $33 million in projected salary-cap space next season and would be best served waiting until the summer to make significant trades. Lysowski also said Botterill currently refuses to trade defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Brandon Montour.

Seriously, what happened to him? I thought we added a really good goalie coach. And while not a starter, I thoughts hutts would be a hell of a lot better than he is. Now they are riding Ullmark so hard the kids gonna break mentally.
- Gr8daygo

Ullmark isn't that good.. if teams get him moving they will have a wide open net. its happens at least 2 times a game and i can't believe it hasn't burned us more than it has

Then it becomes, yeah, a below average 2C is fine and all, and we still suck, and realize we need a lot more than a below average 2c

I wouldn't trade a single player on this team for Henrique.

Bonino and Zajac would be fine I guess. But god damn, the standards are low here. They're middle 6 Cs, but at least they're short term enough to be a stopgap. But they're generally 3Cs, and you all need to know it.
- TheSabresTaco

Zajac could be declining but he only has one year left and could be a stop gap till Mitts is ready, if he ever will be. But he has a NTC.

Henrique's contract is worrisome and has a M-NTC and would probably not waive for Buffalo.

Bonino is an interesting option. His contract is reasonable and has only one year left. His analytics grade out very well but trading for him would be difficult.

A guy I would consider is Blake Coleman from NJ. He has one year left at $1.8 and has 18 goals this year and a +3 on a crappy Devils team.

Reinhart is going to cost as will Montour, don't expect much I was told.
- SABRES 89

Gally isn’t much....

Seriously, what happened to him? I thought we added a really good goalie coach. And while not a starter, I thoughts hutts would be a hell of a lot better than he is. Now they are riding Ullmark so hard the kids gonna break mentally.
- Gr8daygo

He played on teams that had Defenseman not named Bogosian, Scandella, McCabe, Ristolainen or Bieaulieu.

He played on teams that had Defenseman not named Bogosian, Scandella, McCabe, Ristolainen or Bieaulieu.
- Pairo11

he was on teams that played a solid team defense system that didn't allow high risk shots. when he became the starter the team even tightened it up more every time. he is what he is, a back up goalie

Zajac could be declining but he only has one year left and could be a stop gap till Mitts is ready, if he ever will be. But he has a NTC.

Henrique's contract is worrisome and has a M-NTC and would probably not waive for Buffalo.

Bonino is an interesting option. His contract is reasonable and has only one year left. His analytics grade out very well but trading for him would be difficult.

A guy I would consider is Blake Coleman from NJ. He has one year left at $1.8 and has 18 goals this year and a +3 on a crappy Devils team.
- mhp

I am a fan of Coleman's game big time. He hustles, has good hands, physical. But I question as to how much center he plays. He only averages about 3 face offs taken per game.

(if you're talking about adding a center)

Gally isn’t much....
- Gr8daygo

Isn't much help either.

2C is such a tough argument.

-How long do you want a veteran signed for
-What's an acceptable contract?
-How long is this guy expected to play 2C?
-Are you ok with Cozens or Mittelstadt taking over, potentially, in a year or 2?
-Does the guy's long contract justify 3rd line minutes in the future?
-Is he worth the assets?
-Does his contract fit into the long term vision of the team?

Settling on a guy and being able to bring him in is (frank)ing impossible
- TheSabresTaco

There are a couple ways to address this deficiency, and neither is wrong..just different tacticsconce the strategy is determined.
As I mentioned in a post yesterday, 2 of these options are
- short-term solution, as with Bonino for example. A solid placeholder is acquired for say 2 season until Cozens develops, or Casey for that matter. Said player then falls down thd roster, or the contract expires and is traded as a pending FA.
- longer-term, as with Henrique for example. That players fills the void for longer...unless Cozens (Casey), absolutely forced themselves into the 2C role. Said player (Henrique here) then is traded, likely during the offseason for a player or package to fill holes...as the contract is viewed as too expensive to have the player fall down the roster.

I would prefer the longer-term strategy myself.

As for contract value, I did a quick Armchair GM roster that included
-paying Sam $7.5M
-bridge deal for Dahlin at around $5.5m -6.0M for 3 years
-resigning Montour for $5.5m, Larsson for $1.9m, and Lazar for like $1.375m
-traded Risto (could be switched with Montour)

The results were the Sabres could afford a 2C at $7m-$8m.
So that would be my upper limit there.


-

he was on teams that played a solid team defense system that didn't allow high risk shots. when he became the starter the team even tightened it up more every time. he is what he is, a back up goalie
- SabresFaninIndiana

Exactly. He played teams capable of playing Defense.

He played on teams that had Defenseman not named Bogosian, Scandella, McCabe, Ristolainen or Bieaulieu.
- Pairo11

I mean yeah, but Hutton even looked a heck of a lot better last year... with Phil’s man on man d system.