Michael Ghofrani: Sabres Trade Deadline Recap

Firstest

2nd so last

from other blog:

There will be 35M in space. They will spend it on players. Some will be ones that we already have, some will be from the outside. How is that not cap space?

Because we only have 4 forwards under contract. Obviously, we have to bring Olofsson and Reinhart back, and sign like 9 more guys. We have to pay bonuses from this year.

Just to field a team, most of that 35 million is gone.

EDIT: not to mention new long term deals for Dahlin and Joker.

from other blog:


Because we only have 4 forwards under contract. Obviously, we have to bring Olofsson and Reinhart back, and sign like 9 more guys. We have to pay bonuses from this year.

Just to field a team, most of that 35 million is gone.
- matty12345

Right, but that's that rub isn't it. The thought of cap flexibility is you get to somewhat choose or reshape a roster. You just aligned that they would just bring back everyone instead of retooling and redefining the roster. That's where the benefit of cap flexibility comes in. Teams up against it don't have that luxury. You literally spelled out the benefit but talk about it like it's a negative or wash at best.

Right, but that's that rub isn't it. The thought of cap flexibility is you get to somewhat choose or reshape a roster. You just aligned that they would just bring back everyone instead of retooling and redefining the roster. That's where the benefit of cap flexibility comes in. Teams up against it don't have that luxury. You literally spelled out the benefit but talk about it like it's a negative or wash at best.
- SDSabre

Minus the Skinner contract, I think Botts has done pretty good at getting decent cap hits for players in their given situations.

Hope he can continue this and make some strong contracts that won't kill us in a few years (like the Skinner one might sting a little bit).

Right, but that's that rub isn't it. The thought of cap flexibility is you get to somewhat choose or reshape a roster. You just aligned that they would just bring back everyone instead of retooling and redefining the roster. That's where the benefit of cap flexibility comes in. Teams up against it don't have that luxury. You literally spelled out the benefit but talk about it like it's a negative or wash at best.
- SDSabre

There is no pool of unlimited players to draw from though. You have to resign your own good players , every team does. Reinhart, Montour, and Olofsson all have to be resigned, and there goes half your space. The rest is just for bonuses, filling out a roster, etc.

I'm just being realistic. If you think the sabres are going to offer Hoffman 7.5 million dollars, you aren't going to be happy.

when was the last time we were only 6 points out of a playoff spot after the trade deadline?


team is better today then Monday morning

period

There is no pool of unlimited players to draw from though. You have to resign your own good players , every team does. Reinhart, Montour, and Olofsson all have to be resigned, and there goes half your space. The rest is just for bonuses, filling out a roster, etc.

I'm just being realistic. If you think the sabres are going to offer Hoffman 7.5 million dollars, you aren't going to be happy.
- matty12345

I don't have any players specifically in mind. But question, why couldn't they trade Montour for a 2nd line player and backfill LH with a cheaper Pilut? In your scenario, that adds roughly 3.5M back into the pool for 7M on a second line player (hopefully center). I never said unlimited pool of players, but you're the one limiting it to ONLY Sabres players. I get you resign the majority of your own, but we have the flexibility to maybe make a move. And that's what people refer to when they say we have flexibility. Not that we won't be back at or near the cap when they are done. See my point?

Love to know what the offer was for Trocheck.

Risto+?

Rumor was his offer was better than Carolina's

Yesterday was a good day and offseason will be better.

There's many teams in a lot worse cap situation than us. Some teams are better than us now, but some are worse (standings wise). Some teams are going to have a hard time making any improvements based on their cap situation and bad contracts or age of players (all the Cali teams and Chicago to name a few.) Teams like Tampa are going to be forced to trade good players, again, to resign others. Toronto isn't going to get any better if they can't improve their defense and could be forced to trade a good forward to address the issue.
Lots of moves could be made this summer and our situation with the cap an tradable assets could see bigger changes than just resigning our own guys.

It is both a benefit and a curse.

you outlined the benefits, flexibility to chase who you want to reshape the roster.

The Curse is that with few players under contract, they therefore have very few left to trade, thereby leaving them to either a) resign their own, b) sign FAs. FA's are more expensive and not really a GREAT option to rebuild an entire roster through.

Botts will need to resign the decent players he has ... Rhino, Montour, etc.

The Trade route is their best opportunity to obtain new players of critical need; such as 2C, 2RW, etc. Botts will need to be a magician and pull those out of his hat which has Risto, Miller and a few others in it. It isn't going to be easy.

He will likely need to resign a fair portion of the guys he has presently...Girgs, Larsson etc you know who they are... those guys are FA's now and could demand more than they were capable of as RFA's

The $35M will go quickly on the above.

Brandon Beane gives a terrific interview

Well worth a listen. 1 oclock hour of One Bills Live

I don't have any players specifically in mind. But question, why couldn't they trade Montour for a 2nd line player and backfill LH with a cheaper Pilut? In your scenario, that adds roughly 3.5M back into the pool for 7M on a second line player (hopefully center). I never said unlimited pool of players, but you're the one limiting it to ONLY Sabres players. I get you resign the majority of your own, but we have the flexibility to maybe make a move. And that's what people refer to when they say we have flexibility. Not that we won't be back at or near the cap when they are done. See my point?
- SDSabre

Maybe he can.
But it is more likely that he will need more than just Montour, especially for a 2C; their biggest need by far.
Additionally, the trade will be further complicated by the fact Montour is a RFA needing a pay raise...so the new team will need to work out a contract with him before they make the deal.

It is not impossible, but it is certainly is not all blue sky either..

when was the last time we were only 6 points out of a playoff spot after the trade deadline?


team is better today then Monday morning

period
- homiedclown

They were the same amount of points behind last year, with fewer teams to leapfrog

They were the same amount of points behind last year, with fewer teams to leapfrog
- Michael Ghofrani

dang I thought they were about 10 out

https://www.nhl.com/news/...rade-deadline/c-305243854


#rawdealphil

dang I thought they were about 10 out

https://www.nhl.com/news/...rade-deadline/c-305243854


#rawdealphil
- homiedclown

Free fall phil

They were the same amount of points behind last year, with fewer teams to leapfrog
- Michael Ghofrani

Can't lose 16 out of the last 20 games like last year.

Can't lose 16 out of the last 20 games like last year.
- adambuffalo

ek says we are losing 19 out of the last 20

Free fall phil
- jcragcrumple

when cozens scores his first nhl goal, the next day should be phil housley appreciation day

The Williams have met with teh following WR
Tee Higgins
Jsutin jefferson
Jalen Reagor
Henry Ruggs 3
Laviska Shenaul Jr who i really want

The Williams have met with teh following WR
Tee Higgins
Jsutin jefferson
Jalen Reagor
Henry Ruggs 3
Laviska Shenaul Jr who i really want
- hubie

JJ Jefferson please

JJ Jefferson please
- homiedclown

For me its more of how would each one be used

For me Shenault can make Mckenzie expendable and probably Duke as well

The Williams have met with teh following WR
Tee Higgins
Jsutin jefferson
Jalen Reagor
Henry Ruggs 3
Laviska Shenaul Jr who i really want
- hubie

Give her a look.

https://theathletic.com/1...it-josh-allens-skill-set/