https://twitter.com/puck_.../1277083607882964993?s=19

Aaron Portzline, TheAthletic: “I’ve been told by people across the league to expect the Columbus Blue Jackets to shop Josh Anderson and a defender (David Savard?) this off-season. I suppose it’s not out of the question that Joonas Korpisalo is added to the mix.” #CBJ

https://twitter.com/puck_report2/status/1277083607882964993?s=19

Aaron Portzline, TheAthletic: “I’ve been told by people across the league to expect the Columbus Blue Jackets to shop Josh Anderson and a defender (David Savard?) this off-season. I suppose it’s not out of the question that Joonas Korpisalo is added to the mix.” #CBJ
- kingcong39

We could use......all 3 actually

We could use......all 3 actually
- sbroads24

My only question is on Savard and how much he'll want on his next contract as he'll be a UFA after next season, and he turns 30 this October.

My only question is on Savard and how much he'll want on his next contract as he'll be a UFA after next season, and he turns 30 this October.
- kingcong39

Do you see him fitting next to Dahlin, he's making 4.25m right know. I would think most players know with the flat cap that there probably aren't getting what they hope for. If the rumors are true with it staying flat for the next 2yrs.

Do you see him fitting next to Dahlin, he's making 4.25m right know. I would think most players know with the flat cap that there probably aren't getting what they hope for. If the rumors are true with it staying flat for the next 2yrs.
- Buff36

From the link I posted on the prior page:

"salary cap of $81.5 million for the next two seasons, and $82.5 million in 2022-23"

Depends how u wanna build your team

Obviously lines 1 & 2 would be our key scoring lines & get plenty of icetime

But you also need a line that handles tough defensive matchups & situations
I don’t think u want either of your scoring lines doing that

If Strome is the 3C, then it can’t be his line that does that
So it would have to be line4
That’s fine... except that’s going to mean line3 doesn’t play much 5v5
And how much is Strome’s contract gonna cost
Idk that we want him not playing all that much with the 5mil + contract he’ll have

This is where a 2way type guy like Henrique makes sense
Bc he can take on at least some of those defensive assignments, which means line3 can be more of a 2way line & still get decent icetime
And you’d just lessen line4’s icetime
- jdfitz77

Welp, I guess we don't need the LOG line then if you want go turn your 3rd line into a Defensive line.
I think you need to pick a lane.

3 scoring lines if you have the LOG lines, run them about the same amount of time at 5v5

From the link I posted on the prior page:

"salary cap of $81.5 million for the next two seasons, and $82.5 million in 2022-23"
- kingcong39

So do you see him fitting with Dahlin, is he a 1st pair RD, if not don't see him getting much more then he is making know, especially with the Cap.

Welp, I guess we don't need the LOG line then if you want go turn your 3rd line into a Defensive line.
I think you need to pick a lane.

3 scoring lines if you have the LOG lines, run them about the same amount of time at 5v5
- IonSabres

That's what I was thinking, and with the cap situation, some of these RFA's might not get what there expecting.

My thinking is you look to getting Strome and say Josh Anderson, rather have Tuch, but say Anderson. They form a 2nd line of Skinner-Strome-Anderson and they just click your 3rd line is Mojo-Cozens-Kahun, for this year. You draft Holtz at 8, so next year you keep your 2nd line together and let Cozens and Holtz grow together next year on the 3rd line.
This year
Olofsson-Eichel-Rhino if not traded
Skinner-Strome-Anderson
Mojo-Cozens-Kahun
GLO or Asplund or Lazar take a spot

Trade away players needed for players needed doesn’t make you stronger.

In this case the short term 10000000% outweighs the long term here.

Getting a player now gets this team in the right direction without removing any pieces from it.

If the draft is that strong teams will be bidding for that pick no?
- ImThatGuy

I'd ask you to consider the following:

-the '19-'20 Sabres finished 25th and were plummeting further down the standings. The year before the finished in roughly the same position. They were NOT a good team, meaning changing players should be paramount.

- if player for player trades don't improve teams, why is there a long, long history of hockey trades in the offseason. Are GM's just looking for something to do in June?

- the roster is very unbalanced, with an overload of 2RhD's in Joker, Miller, Montour, and Risto. Joker can play 3RhD for another season, but he will slide up, potentially as a 1RhD if his development curve continues to trend the way it has over the last two seasons. It is bad, very bad asset management to keep 3 2RhD's costing around $13m . Redundancy in a Cap Era is NOT your friend.

- Sam holds the highest trade value on the team outside of current untouchables Eichel and Dahlin. He is a good player. Desiring to capitalize on his trade value should not be confused with any idea that he is a slug. He does however play Wing, and this team needs a 2C in the worst way possible...for probably 2 more seasons IF we count on Cozens developing into that properly. 2C's are more valuable than a 1RW as they impact the game more profoundly...especially on this team with a Top 5 1C in Eichel who makes his teammates better. You want immediate improvement, you need a 2C.

- the 8th pick represents a valuable player in the not too distant future (2 years-sh) who will be on an ELC...that is gold to a team in a flat CAP period we are about to enter and many are now saying could last 3 years. Gold, can't trade that away.

What you do then, is trade away expensive players, or soon to be expensive players in the hope of upgrading the team at a position of need...the 2C. If one of the referenced 2RhD' (sans Joker) can be packaged for the 2C ... GREAT!, do it! I don't see those guys being the centerpiece in a package however...so do you then trade away additional pieces like the 8th and shortchange your pipeline of talented, young, cost effective assets?

The 8th being valuable and creating a bidding war should further underscore the value of keeping it...in a flat Cap situation.

I'd ask you to consider the following:

-the '19-'20 Sabres finished 25th and were plummeting further down the standings. The year before the finished in roughly the same position. They were NOT a good team, meaning changing players should be paramount.

- if player for player trades don't improve teams, why is there a long, long history of hockey trades in the offseason. Are GM's just looking for something to do in June?

- the roster is very unbalanced, with an overload of 2RhD's in Joker, Miller, Montour, and Risto. Joker can play 3RhD for another season, but he will slide up, potentially as a 1RhD if his development curve continues to trend the way it has over the last two seasons. It is bad, very bad asset management to keep 3 2RhD's costing around $13m . Redundancy in a Cap Era is NOT your friend.

- Sam holds the highest trade value on the team outside of current untouchables Eichel and Dahlin. He is a good player. Desiring to capitalize on his trade value should not be confused with any idea that he is a slug. He does however play Wing, and this team needs a 2C in the worst way possible...for probably 2 more seasons IF we count on Cozens developing into that properly. 2C's are more valuable than a 1RW as they impact the game more profoundly...especially on this team with a Top 5 1C in Eichel who makes his teammates better. You want immediate improvement, you need a 2C.

- the 8th pick represents a valuable player in the not too distant future (2 years-sh) who will be on an ELC...that is gold to a team in a flat CAP period we are about to enter and many are now saying could last 3 years. Gold, can't trade that away.

What you do then, is trade away expensive players, or soon to be expensive players in the hope of upgrading the team at a position of need...the 2C. If one of the referenced 2RhD' (sans Joker) can be packaged for the 2C ... GREAT!, do it! I don't see those guys being the centerpiece in a package however...so do you then trade away additional pieces like the 8th and shortchange your pipeline of talented, young, cost effective assets?

The 8th being valuable and creating a bidding war should further underscore the value of keeping it...in a flat Cap situation.
- IonSabres

Nice Post Ion!!!

TB is gonna be looking to shed salary...

Trade the 8th overall pick for Tyler Johnson and TBs 2nd Rd pick. Sabres get 29 yr old, 50pt, skilled centerman who can pair with Skinner.

Then send 2 second round picks to Pitt for Tristan Jerry. The Pens will only be able to protect one of their keepers in the Seattle expansion draft, they might as well get a return on one of them.

My thinking is you look to getting Strome and say Josh Anderson, rather have Tuch, but say Anderson. They form a 2nd line of Skinner-Strome-Anderson and they just click your 3rd line is Mojo-Cozens-Kahun, for this year. You draft Holtz at 8, so next year you keep your 2nd line together and let Cozens and Holtz grow together next year on the 3rd line.
This year
Olofsson-Eichel-Rhino if not traded
Skinner-Strome-Anderson
Mojo-Cozens-Kahun
GLO or Asplund or Lazar take a spot
- Buff36

I'm very hopeful that they can swing 3 deals
-Risto for Tuch
-Montour for Anderson
-Sam for a 2C
Those don't need to be 1:1, but are the centerpieces...add a bit if necessary.

Strome, IMO, should be the floor of what they are targeting. I'm fine with him, but if better pieces available, go for it.

I think Tuch on the 1st line with Jack and Skinner would be fantastic. Anderson on line 2 would be great as well.
Let Cozens start at 3RW, and slide into 3C toward the 2/3rds point of the season...like Chicago did with Kirby Dach. I then like your idea of Holtz taking over 3RW in his rookie year, while Kahun slides over to 3LW.

We are thinking the same pretty much.

TB is gonna be looking to shed salary...

Trade the 8th overall pick for Tyler Johnson and TBs 2nd Rd pick. Sabres get 29 yr old, 50pt, skilled centerman who can pair with Skinner.

Then send 2 second round picks to Pitt for Tristan Jerry. The Pens will only be able to protect one of their keepers in the Seattle expansion draft, they might as well get a return on one of them.
- SuperCat

you can get johnson for a lot less, if he waives


probably get him straight up for miller or tage and a 4th

you can get johnson for a lot less, if he waives


probably get him straight up for miller or tage and a 4th
- homiedclown

Then get him for less. There's ur #2 center right there. TB can't afford to pay all their centers. A consultant 50pt guy there plugs the hole. Hell, we all wanted Trochek, Trockeck is a 50pt guy.

you can get johnson for a lot less, if he waives


probably get him straight up for miller or tage and a 4th
- homiedclown

For sure.
Tampa will be begging to move that contract, probably could get Killorn too....not that we need another LW, but he had a great season.

you can get johnson for a lot less, if he waives


probably get him straight up for miller or tage and a 4th
- homiedclown

You do that deal all day long, if he waives, but he's no 2nd line player at this stage of his career.

Maybe on a bad team he might be (yes, I know, we are), and he would improve ours, but he will not fix this 2nd line.

They definitely need another piece on L2.

For sure.
Tampa will be begging to move that contract, probably could get Killorn too....not that we need another LW, but he had a great season.
- IonSabres

It will be interesting to see if and what they do, they have to make some changes, it isn't working with what they have that's for sure.

Then get him for less. There's ur #2 center right there. TB can't afford to pay all their centers. A consultant 50pt guy there plugs the hole. Hell, we all wanted Trochek, Trockeck is a 50pt guy.
- SuperCat

I'm not poo-pooing the idea, just bringing out some additional points to consider.
He did have 31 pts...on track for say ~37-40 over 82.
Not sure you can count on 50 consistently anymore...has lost games to injury over the past couple seasons.
It's not completely risk free with 4 more seasons at $5m.

I'm not poo-pooing the idea, just bringing out some additional points to consider.
He did have 31 pts...on track for say ~37-40 over 82.
Not sure you can count on 50 consistently anymore...has lost games to injury over the past couple seasons.
It's not completely risk free with 4 more seasons at $5m.
- IonSabres

Perhaps, but he's not even 30 years old yet. Give him 2nd line mins, a finisher like Skinner and some pp time and he should be ok.

This was def an odd year for everyone (needless to say) and Stamkos and Point healthy had him locked into the third line. Now if u want to upgrade at 2nd line rw too? Now ur talking. 4 years is actually a nice bridge for Middlestat.

Agreed it might not be perfect, but u gotta do something this off-season before Jack demands a trade.

From all I read, Holtz is almost nhl ready, certainly not 3 years removed
- turbo044

??? Based on what? Marginal success in SHL and WJU20? I get he was on a soft WJ team but 9 goals in 36 games in SHL constitutes NHL ready?

bolts have to sign

Mitchell Stephens, probably 1 mil
Anthony Cirelli, probably 5 mil
Carter Verhaeghe, probably 1.5 mil
Mikhail Sergachev, probably 5 mil
Erik Cernak, probably 3.5 mil

that's 16 mil


already at 76 mil for the cap


so they need to shed about 12 mil in salary, at replacing the guys with entry level contracts


NMC/NTC

stamkos, palat, gourde, johnson, kilron, hedman, mcdonagh, coburn


their problem is the only guys lacking clauses is kuch, point and vasilevskiy


those are the only other guys making any real money


Vasilevskiy and Johnson for Tage, Hutton/Ullmark and a 2nd?

TB is gonna be looking to shed salary...

Trade the 8th overall pick for Tyler Johnson and TBs 2nd Rd pick. Sabres get 29 yr old, 50pt, skilled centerman who can pair with Skinner.

Then send 2 second round picks to Pitt for Tristan Jerry. The Pens will only be able to protect one of their keepers in the Seattle expansion draft, they might as well get a return on one of them.
- SuperCat

Dumbest offer ever. The 8th pick is very valuable. In a flat cap with a team like TB up to the cap TJ is a negative asset on their team. It’s like some people disregard how important contracts are in a cap league 🙄

Dumbest offer ever. The 8th pick is very valuable. In a flat cap with a team like TB up to the cap TJ is a negative asset on their team. It’s like some people disregard how important contracts are in a cap league 🙄
- Fattony1187

he is a better asset to get IMO then henrique


6 months younger, almost a mil a year cheaper

almost identical stats the last 3 years

both contracts end at the same time

Dumbest offer ever. The 8th pick is very valuable. In a flat cap with a team like TB up to the cap TJ is a negative asset on their team. It’s like some people disregard how important contracts are in a cap league 🙄
- Fattony1187

We know, we know... Casey Middlestat valuable.

U do realise that three years from now when that very pick is trying to make the team, Eichel will very likely be demanding a trade if they still haven't made the playoffs?

And you're willing to take that risk?

The time for a "slow build" is over, this build has been too slow as is.