If they don't trade the bottom players because of the 2 wins they're fools
- gerbe75pts

For 5th and 6th rounds picks? Not many 6th rounders turn into oloffson

Adam Henrique might be a good add...botts owes this team a good move.
- Michael Pachla

He's already talked with the Ducks and Lightning regarding Henrique and Cirelli. I mentioned Henrique a few times now but I don't think he got real far with Tampa. They seem to find ways to keep everyone.

For 5th and 6th rounds picks? Not many 6th rounders turn into oloffson
- turbo044

He won't trade Vesey for a 5th round pick.

Look for botts to send Sheary to the islanders for a 4th round pick. The Islanders will then trade him for a 2nd.

I think you can get a multi year deal under 3 mil.
- Michael Ghofrani

If Girgensons and Larsson would both accept 3 year deals at $2.5M per each, would you do it?

That would make the LOG line an $11M one for the next 3 years.

I think you can get a multi year deal under 3 mil.
- Michael Ghofrani

Maybe, but if you want to keep him from hitting UFA, it will probably cost more than you'd like to spend.

They are boring as hell. But they aren't bad.

I would still sell though, too many teams in front of them to chase
- Michael Ghofrani

Fla 4 points ahead, same games played
Tor 6 points ahead, 1 game ahead, play in TB on Tuesday, hopefully they lose and we have 2 games in hand

2 teams within reach is not too many, especially when those two teams are on a downward spiral. I get the tough schedule ahead, etc and I certainly don’t trade my 1st rd pick, and I know if we squeak into the playoffs we face Boston, but ....

If Girgensons and Larsson would both accept 3 year deals at $2.5M per each, would you do it?

That would make the LOG line an $11M one for the next 3 years.
- kingcong39

Larsson yes, Girgensons no. Almost every line larsson has centred this year has seen positive results. Girgensons is on a nice run but the overall body of work suggests he gives up a little too much on the offensive side to be good defensively.

Near the top of my list
- Michael Ghofrani

👍

Btw. Very nice work with the blogs.

If Girgensons and Larsson would both accept 3 year deals at $2.5M per each, would you do it?

That would make the LOG line an $11M one for the next 3 years.
- kingcong39

That's where I was heading. That's a lot of money to lock up, from a place you're normally trying to save $.

That's where I was heading. That's a lot of money to lock up, from a place you're normally trying to save $.
- Lunaion

Yet another instance where the Okposo AAV hurts.

I'm with our blogger, that I would say yes to Larsson at that price but not Girgensons, as I would look to find an impact player on an ELC for the 3rd member of the LOG line.

Yet another instance where the Okposo AAV hurts.

I'm with our blogger, that I would say yes to Larsson at that price but not Girgensons, as I would look to find an impact player on an ELC for the 3rd member of the LOG line.
- kingcong39

or even just a replacement level player on an ELC

That's where I was heading. That's a lot of money to lock up, from a place you're normally trying to save $.
- Lunaion

One more thing to add: are they a legitimate 3rd line instead of an outstanding 4th line? If so, does that alter the ease with which the team can comfortably consume their collective cost?

Fla 4 points ahead, same games played
Tor 6 points ahead, 1 game ahead, play in TB on Tuesday, hopefully they lose and we have 2 games in hand

2 teams within reach is not too many, especially when those two teams are on a downward spiral. I get the tough schedule ahead, etc and I certainly don’t trade my 1st rd pick, and I know if we squeak into the playoffs we face Boston, but ....
- turbo044

If the leafs go 10-7-2 in their final 19 the Sabres would need 29 points in their final 20 games, or 28 and outpace the leafs by 4 ROW. Thats not even factoring in florida. They dont really control their own destiny here.

👍

Btw. Very nice work with the blogs.
- Michael Pachla

Thanks man really appreciate it!

For 5th and 6th rounds picks? Not many 6th rounders turn into oloffson
- turbo044

where the Sabres are at .... buying or selling. I honestly could care less about picks that high. They have little to no value at all.

or even just a replacement level player on an ELC
- robz228

Could Arttu Ruotsalainen be that player? He has a lot of skill and could compliment that line.

Maybe, but if you want to keep him from hitting UFA, it will probably cost more than you'd like to spend.
- Lunaion

There isn't typically a large demand for defensive forwards in FA, its one of the main inefficiencies good teams exploit.

Offset the cost by giving Girgensons's spot to Asplund.

Krueger and Skinner definitely don’t see eye to eye and so far the coach won’t back down. This guy is a good coach and will be a winner if not in Buffalo, somewhere else. He’s definitely not willing to be run over by his players. Keefe could learn from him.
- Camel

"Brind'Amour was clearly behind the trade of Skinner, saying in the wake of the deal that the speedy winger was not the kind of player the Hurricanes wanted. Whatever that means. When he arrived for training camp, Skinner took the high road about his time in Carolina although he admitted he really had no idea what that meant."

buffalonews.com/2018/12/15/buffalo-sabres-jeff-skinner-carolina-hurricanes/

Krueger is not the first coach who may have had issues with him.

One more thing to add: are they a legitimate 3rd line instead of an outstanding 4th line? If so, does that alter the ease with which the team can comfortably consume their collective cost?
- kingcong39

I think they are a legit third line right now, but this is their peak (as a line, obviously okposo's had better days). The bigger question is what you project them to be over the next few years. To that, I see them slipping back to no production, good defense again.

I think they are a legit third line right now, but this is their peak (as a line, obviously okposo's had better days). The bigger question is what you project them to be over the next few years. To that, I see them slipping back to no production, good defense again.
- Lunaion

That's why Asplund is an intriguing option. In his time up, he was one of the few bottom 6/9 forwards who was creating above league average offense in terms of XG/shot attempts despite being in a pretty defense heavy system.

I still haven't figured out why he was able to do that but seems ideal

That's why Asplund is an intriguing option. In his time up, he was one of the few bottom 6/9 forwards who was creating above league average offense in terms of XG/shot attempts despite being in a pretty defense heavy system.

I still haven't figured out why he was able to do that but seems ideal
- Michael Ghofrani

Is Ruotsalainen good enough defensively to enhance the offensive punch on that line?

Adam Henrique might be a good add...botts owes this team a good move.
- Michael Pachla

How about that kid in net today

He won't trade Vesey for a 5th round pick.
- SABRES 89

True probably hopes to recap the 3rd. I know his stats are blah but he had played really well most of the time

Botts could be a seller and buyer


Look for that top 6 with term and trade away a few UFAs