Can't one of them go this year? Please??
- The Don

NAY!

LOL 😅😅😂😂😂

This is where I was at for his intro presser. Doesn't wash away his lack of experience. But he's as transparent as he can be, he can relate to the fanbase and he has a purpose and big picture view of everything he does. I think he's gone beyond:

It's a situation where:
"Well let's see if Dylan Mittelstadt can anchor 2C"
"Simmonds is tough, bring him in"
"Frolik can maybe kill penalties, let's trade him for a useful defenseman"
"Let's build out our roster using mid round picks for below average players"

The guy was totally reactionary, and (frank)ing bad at it.
- TheSabresTaco

I was very much against Botts this past season.
I like what I gear from Adams, and see that he has gone after hard-working, great character guys...which is huge in my eyes. Staal and Hall are huge additions, their leadership will be invaluable to the young guys...two great moves.

Now, if he can rationalize the D away from 4 of 2nd & 3rd Pairing Tweeners on the right and get a 2nd Pair LhD and a Partner for Dahlin it would be fantastic.

I’m still not sure Okoposo makes it through this season.... just get his “retirement” office job at harbor center ready. He can have Ellis’s old job. Or Adams....

And agreed on Risto. It just doesn’t make sense financially to re-up him...
- Gr8daygo

i honestly was shocked he came back after his last concussion.. if he gets another one he better retire.

i honestly was shocked he came back after his last concussion.. if he gets another one he better retire.
- SabresFaninIndiana

I still think its possible to get out of the okposo contract. Look at what Vegas, hawks, leafs, penguins, and a few other teams have done the last few years.


You just need to pay up .....

And before you mention fleury not being dumped. Vegas dumped Stastny and nate Schimit to different teams.

If we got a 5th for 2nd okpooso Who would really care?

I still think its possible to get out of the okposo contract. Look at what Vegas, hawks, leafs, penguins, and a few other teams have done the last few years.


You just need to pay up .....

And before you mention fleury not being dumped. Vegas dumped Stastny and nate Schimit to different teams.

If we got a 5th for okpooso or a 7th. Who would really care?
- Sabretooth9

We wouldn't get a pick for Okposo, we'd have to send a pick with him. Even a ist + okposo might not get it done

i honestly was shocked he came back after his last concussion.. when he gets another one he better retire.
- SabresFaninIndiana

Sadly, fixed...

I still think its possible to get out of the okposo contract. Look at what Vegas, hawks, leafs, penguins, and a few other teams have done the last few years.

You just need to pay up .....

And before you mention fleury not being dumped. Vegas dumped Stastny and nate Schimit to different teams.

If we got a 5th for okpooso or a 7th. Who would really care?
- Sabretooth9

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/kyle-okposo

I truly believe if they could have even received future considerations for Okposo, he would have been traded already.

The problem is what would need to be added by the Sabres to entice another team to trade for Okposo, i.e. a 1st round pick or prospect, and even, it's likely only future considerations would be coming back the Sabres way.

Looking at Okposo's contract, the best chance to trade him is after his salary bonus of $2M is paid in 2021, as his salary for the 21-22 season would only be $2M, and his salary for the 22-23 season would only be $4M, compared to his cap hit of $6M.

We wouldn't get a pick for Okposo, we'd have to send a pick with him. Even a ist + okposo might not get it done
- turbo044

It would have been 8oa+ to dump okposo when you consider it took a 1st to dump Marleau with one year left (pre covid)

We wouldn't get a pick for Okposo, we'd have to send a pick with him. Even a ist + okposo might not get it done
- turbo044

yeah, we might need to add a 3rd round pick or something like that.


At the end of the day, its possible. Just need to pay up.

It would have been 8oa+ to dump okposo when you consider it took a 1st to dump Marleau with one year left (pre covid)
- jcragcrumple

Hypothetically speaking .... If taylor hall loved buffalo, loved eichel, loved everything, etc.


I think we would dump Okposo to free up money to keep hall here. Even if it was a 1st or 2nd round pick. Halls value surpasses anything we could draft. (pending a top 5 protected pick)

I was very much against Botts this past season.
I like what I gear from Adams, and see that he has gone after hard-working, great character guys...which is huge in my eyes. Staal and Hall are huge additions, their leadership will be invaluable to the young guys...two great moves.

Now, if he can rationalize the D away from 4 of 2nd & 3rd Pairing Tweeners on the right and get a 2nd Pair LhD and a Partner for Dahlin it would be fantastic.
- IonSabres

This is clearly a massive theme. Guys you know bust their ass every day: Eichel, Hall, Staal, Eakin, Reider, Girgensons, Okposo, Lazar, Dahlin, Risto, McCabe..

Sorry to trigger anyone that doesn't like the above guys. But they really are going for character. Just like Beane did. Beane had to bring in a few underwhelming, high character guys to start the right culture. And now, you've got a team that people WANT to go to, and they didn't even win a (frank)ing playoff game.

Say what you want about the talent level of the guys listed above, but character is clearly important, I you can bet your ass one of Eichel's complaints was not enough people gave a poop about winning. Do I wish Craig Smith was signed instead of Cody Eakin? Yeah, I do. Do I wonder why Jack Quinn was picked over Marco Rossi? Jury's out on that decision, but I know we got a guy who can score a (frank)ing goal and has very high character. But I'm moving forward, hoping Ralph can turn Eakin into a more responsible forward (he did with Vesey, Girgensons, Okposo) and watch this team finally. Finally. FINALLY. Work together to win.

Hypothetically speaking .... If taylor hall loved buffalo, loved eichel, loved everything, etc.


I think we would dump Okposo to free up money to keep hall here. Even if it was a 1st or 2nd round pick. Halls value surpasses anything we could draft. (pending a top 5 protected pick)
- Sabretooth9

I agree it's something they need to strongly consider next offseason.

There's a lot of questions between now and then:

Can Okposo avoid another potentially career ending concussion before then?

Are the Sabres good?

Does Hall want to come back?

If the answer to all 3 is yes, then you have to seriously think about trading premium murrancy to get rid of him

I still think its possible to get out of the okposo contract. Look at what Vegas, hawks, leafs, penguins, and a few other teams have done the last few years.


You just need to pay up .....

And before you mention fleury not being dumped. Vegas dumped Stastny and nate Schimit to different teams.

If we got a 5th for 2nd okpooso Who would really care?
- Sabretooth9

No, you follow the Hossa, Horton, Savard model...

Sadly, fixed...
- Gr8daygo

probably.. i know he really just wants to play but its getting dangerous

Hypothetically speaking .... If taylor hall loved buffalo, loved eichel, loved everything, etc.


I think we would dump Okposo to free up money to keep hall here. Even if it was a 1st or 2nd round pick. Halls value surpasses anything we could draft. (pending a top 5 protected pick)
- Sabretooth9

if we are picking top 5 i don't know what to say..

This is clearly a massive theme. Guys you know bust their ass every day: Eichel, Hall, Staal, Eakin, Reider, Girgensons, Okposo, Lazar, Dahlin, Risto, McCabe..

Sorry to trigger anyone that doesn't like the above guys. But they really are going for character. Just like Beane did. Beane had to bring in a few underwhelming, high character guys to start the right culture. And now, you've got a team that people WANT to go to, and they didn't even win a (frank)ing playoff game.

Say what you want about the talent level of the guys listed above, but character is clearly important, I you can bet your ass one of Eichel's complaints was not enough people gave a poop about winning. Do I wish Craig Smith was signed instead of Cody Eakin? Yeah, I do. Do I wonder why Jack Quinn was picked over Marco Rossi? Jury's out on that decision, but I know we got a guy who can score a (frank)ing goal and has very high character. But I'm moving forward, hoping Ralph can turn Eakin into a more responsible forward (he did with Vesey, Girgensons, Okposo) and watch this team finally. Finally. FINALLY. Work together to win.
- TheSabresTaco

Did he?

Okposo and Girgensons were good defensive forwards 2 years ago under Housley before Ralph came in.

I believe it was Ralph's system which heavily emphasized defense that improved Vesey's defensive metrics. It also helped that Vesey came from a team in the Rangers that employed a wild west style of team defense (think turnstile) and enhanced his bad defensive metrics.

yeah, we might need to add a 3rd round pick or something like that.


At the end of the day, its possible. Just need to pay up.
- Sabretooth9

You'd have to find a team willing to take on cap (there aren't many) and then have to give up a 1st to send him. Toronto had to give up a 1st to send a similar player away last year (can't remember his name) and it wasn't a pandemic and that player only had 1 year left on his contract, Okposo has 2. Okposo is virtually untradeable unless you're including a 1st a probably a very good prospect

I agree it's something they need to strongly consider next offseason.

There's a lot of questions between now and then:

Can Okposo avoid another potentially career ending concussion before then?

Are the Sabres good?

Does Hall want to come back?

If the answer to all 3 is yes, then you have to seriously think about trading premium murrancy to get rid of him
- jcragcrumple

Hell no, I would not do that.

I posted Okposo's contract earlier. If they wait until after his salary bonus is paid for the 21-22 season, he will only be owed $2M for the 21-22 season and $4M for the 22-23 season.

I believe that is the time that another team, who is looking to make the cap floor but would prefer to spend less, would trade for him. I doubt the Sabres would have to add much and the return would almost assuredly be future considerations.

You'd have to find a team willing to take on cap (there aren't many) and then have to give up a 1st to send him. Toronto had to give up a 1st to send a similar player away last year (can't remember his name) and it wasn't a pandemic and that player only had 1 year left on his contract, Okposo has 2. Okposo is virtually untradeable unless you're including a 1st a probably a very good prospect
- turbo044

Patrick Marleau

I still think its possible to get out of the okposo contract. Look at what Vegas, hawks, leafs, penguins, and a few other teams have done the last few years.


You just need to pay up .....

And before you mention fleury not being dumped. Vegas dumped Stastny and nate Schimit to different teams.

If we got a 5th for 2nd okpooso Who would really care?
- Sabretooth9

Well see, here's the thing. Stastny is useful with 1 year left. Nate Schmidt is actually a worthy salary. Okposo is an albatross. You need to treat him like Lucic, Neal and Backes. While the first two were simply swapped for one another, the third was traded, with a late 1st, for a useful middle 6 forward.

The saving grace here is that Okposo isn't as useless as Backes, but his salary is at least double what it should be. So I think your offer of a 5th for Okposo and a Sabres 2nd isn't too far off. I wouldn't expect a useful player to come back in return. But it's absolutely doable.

I think the Sabres are holding onto him until they absolutely need to trade him. I know they like him, and he's a good influence here.

Vegas couldn't shed MAF, and he's definitely more useful than Okposo, financials being proportionally equal. Apparently teams wanted a 1st and a 2nd to take him on. Also, Backes was traded right before covid destruction. So with a flat cap, it may be more like a Sabres 1st and Okposo for a middle 6 forward in the ilk of MoJo.

if we are picking top 5 i don't know what to say..
- SabresFaninIndiana

You can make an out clause, if the sabres pick in the top 5. Its protected for that year.

then the following year, that team gets your first round pick.


What team did that happen to? I THINK the sens or the sharks?

Well see, here's the thing. Stastny is useful with 1 year left. Nate Schmidt is actually a worthy salary. Okposo is an albatross. You need to treat him like Lucic, Neal and Backes. While the first two were simply swapped for one another, the third was traded, with a late 1st, for a useful middle 6 forward.

The saving grace here is that Okposo isn't as useless as Backes, but his salary is at least double what it should be. So I think your offer of a 5th for Okposo and a Sabres 2nd isn't too far off. I wouldn't expect a useful player to come back in return. But it's absolutely doable.
- TheSabresTaco

I wouldnt want anything back in return besides a conditional late round pick and open cap space. lol

I wouldnt want anything back in return besides a conditional late round pick and open cap space. lol
- Sabretooth9

I edited my post above. But that's the problem. No one wants to take 6M in a flat cap world. IE MAF

Well see, here's the thing. Stastny is useful with 1 year left. Nate Schmidt is actually a worthy salary. Okposo is an albatross. You need to treat him like Lucic, Neal and Backes. While the first two were simply swapped for one another, the third was traded, with a late 1st, for a useful middle 6 forward.

The saving grace here is that Okposo isn't as useless as Backes, but his salary is at least double what it should be. So I think your offer of a 5th for Okposo and a Sabres 2nd isn't too far off. I wouldn't expect a useful player to come back in return. But it's absolutely doable.
- TheSabresTaco

I don't think there is a team in the league right now who would offer that for Okposo.

It would be Okposo + 1st and maybe even a C prospect for a 6th or 7th round pick, if that.

Next offseason, after his bonus is paid, is a different story, especially if the Sabres retain some of his salary (50% retention would be $1M for 21-22 and $2M for 22-23, or a $3M cap hit each of those 2 seasons).