Who are your targets for 2C and 2RW? What type of players are you looking at there?
- IonSabres

There's a chance the 2020-2021 season is interrupted or cancelled as well.

Probably help young teams like the Sabres .
Cozens might be a legitimate 2c when they play hockey again.

Bonino seems like a fit to me. Solid 3c , maybe a poor man's 2c

I feel like I’m very impartial with my takes on this website. I am mostly on an island and have differing view points from the majority on many issues (Jeff Skinner contract, Tage Thompson as viable top 9 option).

I leave emotion out of it and look at the team as a whole and I don’t expect many people to see things as I do but I’m always thinking outside the box and trying to be ahead of the curve.

I’m right on a lot of things, but I’m also wrong as well. I don’t remember many people agreeing with me to bottom out for Cozens last year as the tank commander (Homie was one of the few) but now people can’t wait to slot him in the top 6.

I also ignored the signs from Mittelstadt’s draft year and draft +1 year production in college and used sample size bias from international tournaments and drank the koolaid that he’d be an impact contributor right away and I was so dead wrong.

The truth is, this team defended very well this year and Hutton and Jonas Johansen costed us easily 8 points in the standings this year from terrible goaltending play.

A 2nd line center would have been able to up the production of Jeff Skinner and would have given us a secondary scoring line.

There is a huge difference between playoff contender and cup contender. With those two moves we would have most definitely have been in the consideration as a playoff team and I think we would have made it.
- Pegullaville

I will agree that goaltending at times was subpar and was a factor for the 8 points. I could also argue that the lack of secondary scoring cost the team at least 8 or more points. The point is though, every team in the league had subpar performances from players that cost them points but it’s a team game and trying to pinpoint blame is just ones opinion. I’m sure in every game the post opinions vary on who caused the win or loss.
I’d say the root of the problem will lie with the core. It’s time the GM decides who makes that up and build around that or tear it down. It’s time for the GM to say Skinner, Sam, and Ullmark are either part of the future or move on. I wouldn’t be changing fringe parts until the core is solid and steady. Who makes up the core of this team isn’t readily defined other than Captain Jack.

Am still interested in Henrique. If his contract was a bit shorter, it would be a no- brainer for me
- Michael Pachla

This is a good post.

Solid 2c

Anaheim would probably want picks and/or young prospects.

Does Casey, borgen and lottery protected 2021 1st rounder get it done?

This is a good post.

Solid 2c

Anaheim would probably want picks and/or young prospects.

Does Casey, borgen and lottery protected 2021 1st rounder get it done?
- Boss34

That trade would be horrible

This is a good post.

Solid 2c

Anaheim would probably want picks and/or young prospects.

Does Casey, borgen and lottery protected 2021 1st rounder get it done?
- Boss34

henrique is a 40 point player

casey will probably be a 40 point player on a cheaper contract with upside vs henrique being on the back 9 of his career

no chance I make that trade

That trade would be horrible
- Fattony1187

beyond horrible

henrique will be another okposo contract in 2 years

I don't think the players would go along with any such plan that would isolate them from their families for such an extended time during this outbreak. I'm afraid this NHL season is toast. At this point it seems we'll be lucky if next season can start on time in October. MLB will be lucky if they get even half a season in, and hopefully the NFL season isn't delayed.
- Ratsreign

My guess is the nfl plays games in a neutral site, such as vegas . Maybe they test players, coaches. Medical personal and refs ect. Before, during and after the games?

Granted testing becomes easier and actually available

NFL has such a high tv audience.

Otherwise I'm thinking this season isnt happening unfortunately

Reinhart and Risto. Sign me up.
- Fattony1187

Wonder if gradeau would be available? Maybe for sam and risto?

Sabres need to make a splash trade.

Wonder if gradeau would be available? Maybe for sam and risto?

Sabres need to make a splash trade.
- Boss34

Problem is he be leaving in 2 years" johnny hockey" that's a huge risk imo

henrique is a 40 point player

casey will probably be a 40 point player on a cheaper contract with upside vs henrique being on the back 9 of his career

no chance I make that trade
- homiedclown

He was on pace for 30 goals and 50 points on a not so good Anaheim team.

Also their leading point getter.

I dislike the contract length but like the player.

henrique is a 40 point player

casey will probably be a 40 point player on a cheaper contract with upside vs henrique being on the back 9 of his career

no chance I make that trade
- homiedclown

50 point player a few times
30 goal scorer.
26 goals thru 71 games this season.
Under contract for years

Solid 2c

Casey is barely a 40 point player in the ahl
Borgen is expendable - 0 nhl experience
Next years pick should be hopefully middle 10

He was on pace for 30 goals and 50 points on a not so good Anaheim team.

Also their leading point getter.

I dislike the contract length but like the player.
- dadeadhead

So you're saying it's not " beyond horrible"

You know, acquiring the 2c we badly needed since ror left?

Acquiring another teams leading scorer , for prospects.....

Problem is he be leaving in 2 years" johnny hockey" that's a huge risk imo
- gerbe75pts

Risto would be up in 2 years as well.

Sam is probably going to be overpaid.

Could we extend a player with 2 years left.
Kinda a sign and trade?

He was on pace for 30 goals and 50 points on a not so good Anaheim team.

Also their leading point getter.

I dislike the contract length but like the player.
- dadeadhead

Not for that haul. And contract length is a real thing

So you're saying it's not " beyond horrible"

You know, acquiring the 2c we badly needed since ror left?

Acquiring another teams leading scorer , for prospects.....
- Boss34

Just wish the deal was 2 yrs shorter

Not for that haul
- Fattony1187

Lord no that’s a sh!tty trade.

The dominant mindset I have seen on here is that the team needs just a few tweaks, albeit at key positions...Keep the LOG Line, resign Vesey, keep Johansson, insert Mitts and give Tage another shot, etc.

I'm of a different opinion, as save for Jack, the team plays a boring-ass style of play that just doesn't excite me, slow and methodical, and mentally weak to boot.

I'd rather the new GM goes in a much different direction based on speed, puck position with a bit of truculence thrown in, but emphasis on maintaining puck possession that is productive. Defense should be balanced with a swift puck-mover and a more defensively aware partner.
- IonSabres

I think the Sabres are playing the right way, but lack a couple high end offensive pieces.

The Bruins, Blues, and Stars (who would have beaten the blues last year if not for poopty luck in missing a wide open net) all play a strong defensive team game and all had very successful seasons last year and this year.

Teams like the Leafs and Panthers score at will yet both seemed like they were handing each other a playoff spot on a silver platter.

Washington with Trotz played the right way and won a cup, they were suffocating defensively.

Contrary to popular belief, Pittsburgh under Mike Sullivan have been one of the best teams at defending high danger chances and are actually a very strong defensive team. They just happen to have Crosby and Malkin who are able to flip the game in one shift. That’s why guys like Matt Murray and now Tristan Jarry have been able to step in and put up strong numbers.

Botts was responsible of the hiring of Sullivan and moulding that AHL system to produce players like Simon, Ashton-Reese, Blueger, Gunetzel that are all strong 200 foot players. Every player has a role and they do it well.

The Sabres play the right way, we just need goaltending that aren’t saving 20 goals less than expected and Botts needs to give Kreuger another offensive weapon or two to score a few more goals.

Just wish the deal was 2 yrs shorter
- dadeadhead

4 years at 5.85 million for a 2C. With 30 goal season a 600 + nhl games. Veteran.

Cap goes up every year.
Nice thing is henrique is locked in, and the Sabres would have some certainty at 2c. Plenty of uncertainty with the ufas and Fraser this off season.

Dude let his team in scoring.

Much rather pay him 6.85 than sam 7.5 or whatever others think to play rw with eichel.

Not for that haul. And contract length is a real thing
- Fattony1187

Mitts is trending towards nylander territory
Borgen is a prospect , like justin bailey and baptiste.
1st round pick mid tier- traded every deadline for a ufa

Hope you are safe.

Risto would be up in 2 years as well.

Sam is probably going to be overpaid.

Could we extend a player with 2 years left.
Kinda a sign and trade?
- Boss34

He wants to go to the flyers if he didn't have his mind up i would love him

Who are your targets for 2C and 2RW? What type of players are you looking at there?
- IonSabres

If we are able to compliance buyout Okposo,
then we could take a shot at Hoffman or Dadonov as UFAs
With Florida supposedly having some salary restrictions, one or both should be available
And both are proven high 20s goal scorers

2C is a little trickier
A guy like Cirelli or Monahan would be great,
but IF (big “if” imo) a guy like that is available
it likely costs this year’s 1st
And i don’t wanna move that

Bonino is my ideal 3C that can play 2C for a year to ease Cozens in
Him at 4mil is a MUCH BETTER idea than his overpaid & overrated teammate Ryan Johansen for example (he’s frankly a buyout candidate)
Bonino is one of the better (middle6) 2way centers
Scores almost all his points 5v5, i think he had 1 pp assist
And does it against mostly top6 opponents &
63.3% Def zone starts this past season
All that & he had 1 less point than Johansen

If we can’t get a Hoffman/Dadonov type through UFA or trade, then a UFA like Bonino’s teammate
Craig Smith is an interesting target to me
He’s actually Bonino’s linemate
and like him, he’s a good 2way 20goal guy
Even if we get (example) Hoffman,
I’d be all for trading MoJo & signing Smith

Ideally, they’d move down to the 3rd line
Kahun-Bonino-C.Smith
would be a fantastic 3rd line imo (if Bonino is re-signed, or if Cozens is just killing it & moves up)
And by the end of the year, our 2nd line could be
Olofsson-Cozens-Hoffman

That would give us 2 good offensive lines
A good 2way line
And a good defensive line
That’s the ideal way to build a forward lineup imo

And we’d still have Mitts coming, who still has a high upside if he puts in the work
And our top5-ish pick this year as well

Guys like Asplund & especially Tage, I’d be more than happy to include in a package for a guy like Brodin to help on the left side of our defense
Include Montour, McCabe, Samuelsson, Pilut, etc
Would Montour, Tage, 2nd get it done?
Take out Montour & add McCabe + Samuelsson?
Idk... really tough to say

With the Cap likely not going up this year,
the off-season could end up being interesting for a bunch of teams

50 point player a few times
30 goal scorer.
26 goals thru 71 games this season.
Under contract for years

Solid 2c

Casey is barely a 40 point player in the ahl
Borgen is expendable - 0 nhl experience
Next years pick should be hopefully middle 10
- Boss34

almost 6 mil per year until he is 34


easy pass


if ducks buy him out, I have no problem giving him a 2 year deal at 6 per, not 4 year

So you're saying it's not " beyond horrible"

You know, acquiring the 2c we badly needed since ror left?

Acquiring another teams leading scorer , for prospects.....
- Boss34

paying the ducks way more for henrique then we got for ror is not good for this franchise

He wants to go to the flyers if he didn't have his mind up i would love him
- gerbe75pts

Does he have a trade clause?

I would think Johnny's value goes down the closer to his expiring contract? Similar to risto.

Dude let his team in scoring.

Much rather pay him 6.85 than sam 7.5 or whatever others think to play rw with eichel.
- Boss34

having 43 points for the ducks, and leading then in scoring is a good thing

but a player 6 years younger and outproducing him is a bad thing for this team


got it