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.
- kingcong39

Maybe thats how you retire him to Arizona. There's also the matter of his 15-team no trade.

Like I said, there's a lot that could happen between now and then. Salary cap, team performance, expansion draft, Okposo has to make it through the season first and foremost.

But this is the path to keeping Hall and Reinhart imo

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.
- kingcong39

I think he made them better, yes.

And all I'm trying to say is, it is possible Eakin's defensive metrics improve under Ralph.

No, you follow the Hossa, Horton, Savard model...
- Gr8daygo

I don't even think there's a model you can follow anymore, with a flat cap. Just like everything else now, the cost to get rid of him is going to be much higher.

But to proportionalize it, you probably do have to follow the bum contract model.

I don't even think there's a model you can follow anymore, with a flat cap. Just like everything else now, the cost to get rid of him is going to be much higher.

But to proportionalize it, you probably do have to follow the bum contract model.
- TheSabresTaco

He's not saying get rid of him by paying, he's saying have them retire due to some ailment brought on by excessive hockey playing. Savard (conky) Horton (Back/conky) Hossa (jock itch).. Okposo can be the next in line for this

Eichel
Sam
Olofsson
Skinner
Okposo
Thompson
Mitts

Dahlin
Joker
Miller

Ullmark

There's your protection list for next OS. If Hall is extended before the exp draft, swap out one of the bottom 2. FYI you must protect Skinner and Okposo.

EDIT: Okposo is not required to protect.

I think he made them better, yes.

And all I'm trying to say is, it is possible Eakin's defensive metrics improve under Ralph.
- TheSabresTaco

I expect them to simply by virtue of the low risk playing style Ralph employs.

Now, should he change his style of play to more uptempo and higher risk, all bets are off.

He's not saying get rid of him by paying, he's saying have them retire due to some ailment brought on by excessive hockey playing. Savard (conky) Horton (Back/conky) Hossa (jock itch).. Okposo can be the next in line for this
- SDSabre

So we're banking on him not only getting another concussion, but absolutely retiring after the fact.

Eichel
Sam
Olofsson
Skinner
Okposo
Thompson
Mitts

Dahlin
Joker
Miller

Ullmark

There's your protection list for next OS. If Hall is extended before the exp draft, swap out one of the bottom 2. FYI you must protect Skinner and Okposo.
- TheSabresTaco

Unless they waive their clauses, right?

That's a sorry looking group of protected forwards unless Tage and Casey make massive improvements this year.

The 3rd defenseman to protect is why I would push hard at finding one via free agency or more so a trade.

So we're banking on him not only getting another concussion, but absolutely retiring after the fact.
- TheSabresTaco

They are banking on a Pronger or Hossa discussion taking place.

Eichel
Sam
Olofsson
Skinner
Okposo
Thompson
Mitts

Dahlin
Joker
Miller

Ullmark

There's your protection list for next OS. If Hall is extended before the exp draft, swap out one of the bottom 2. FYI you must protect Skinner and Okposo.
- TheSabresTaco

Not if it's the same as last time. M-NTCs were not mandatory to protect. We just chose to protect him

Unless they waive their clauses, right?

That's a sorry looking group of protected forwards unless Tage and Casey make massive improvements this year.

The 3rd defenseman to protect is why I would push hard at finding one via free agency or more so a trade.
- kingcong39

https://www.nhl.com/devil...ion-draft-101/c-289908006


"There are some exceptions here. For instance, a player with a no-movement clause in his contract must be included on a team's protected list unless he waives it. Players with no-trade clauses only do not qualify as no-movement clauses and must be protected or otherwise will be available to be selected."

He does not have to be protected if the rules are the same as Vegas.

Skinner does

Not if it's the same as last time. M-NTCs were not mandatory to protect. We just chose to protect him
- jcragcrumple

You're correct. We'd have to pay them to take him. And we've all seen the results of when you pay an expansion team to take your crap.

Unless they waive their clauses, right?

That's a sorry looking group of protected forwards unless Tage and Casey make massive improvements this year.

The 3rd defenseman to protect is why I would push hard at finding one via free agency or more so a trade.
- kingcong39

Has a lot to do with all the contracts coming off next year, and Cozens being exempt.

Maybe thats how you retire him to Arizona. There's also the matter of his 15-team no trade.

Like I said, there's a lot that could happen between now and then. Salary cap, team performance, expansion draft, Okposo has to make it through the season first and foremost.

But this is the path to keeping Hall and Reinhart imo
- jcragcrumple

I think people need to start considering that Reinhart might not want to be here long term.

You're correct. We'd have to pay them to take him. And we've all seen the results of when you pay an expansion team to take your crap.
- TheSabresTaco

Yeah the lesson from the last expansion is (imo) just let them pick. You can really twist yourself into knots and make bad decisions otherwise. But since we don't have to protect Okposo, we can protect someone else (probably (frank)ing gus)

This seems like a larger than normal number of free agents remaining after a few days free agency.

https://twitter.com/CF_De.../1316008230129004546?s=19

https://twitter.com/CF_De.../1316008914928852993?s=19

This seems like a larger than normal number of free agents remaining after a few days free agency.

https://twitter.com/CF_De.../1316008230129004546?s=19

https://twitter.com/CF_De.../1316008914928852993?s=19
- kingcong39

seems like we could pick up some decent players on cheaper 1 or 2 year contracts

From Mike Harrington:

"As expected, (Krueger's) power has grown exponentially with the firing of Jason Botterill and assistant GMs Randy Sexton and Steve Greeley.

"Kevyn Adams' style is very inclusive and he's an excellent listener and also a strong leader when it comes to his processes to make decisions," Krueger said in comments that sure seem to say he prefers the current work environment. "I came here to be a part of a team of people. Just like with my coaching staff when I speak, I'm speaking for the room and not just for myself.

"Kevyn carries that same philosophy for the management team and we are all connected and integrated. The Pegulas have been actively involved in all the discussions we've had strategically over the last month. It's been a very healthy environment now. Everything is on the table."


Did Ralph lead a coup d'etat that unseated Botterill?

You're correct. We'd have to pay them to take him. And we've all seen the results of when you pay an expansion team to take your crap.
- TheSabresTaco

There was just severe ineptitude though. KO would need a heavy sweetner for sure, but the Knights got Marchessault and Smith for the right to protect Mark "Piss Boy" Pysyk (and I'm not kidding), Columbus gave a first and second FOR them to select Will Karlsson (to be fair to Columbus, Karlsson hadn't broken out yet). Other then that, it really wasn't a ton going to the Knights. They just happen to really bone Fla for two first liners, and struck gold with Karlsson.

Other low key adds: Haula & Tuch from Minny so they could protect 4 D along with seven forwards (basically the don't take Dumba card) MAF with a 2nd, and Theodore from Ana.

So we're banking on him not only getting another concussion, but absolutely retiring after the fact.
- TheSabresTaco

I am not in the fandom of wanting a player to get hurt to retire.


I will say though, last year when he did get his concussion. I feel like he barely got hit.

Yeah the lesson from the last expansion is (imo) just let them pick. You can really twist yourself into knots and make bad decisions otherwise. But since we don't have to protect Okposo, we can protect someone else (probably (frank)ing gus)
- jcragcrumple

Idk about that. Really only 2 teams got taken to the woodshed. I would still trade a 6th and Carrier to protect Ullmark, wouldn't you? Fla was dumb in that they didn't see Marchessault as a good player when everyone else did. He'd already had had a 30 goal season for them.

I am not in the fandom of wanting a player to get hurt to retire.


I will say though, last year when he did get his concussion. I feel like he barely got hit.
- Sabretooth9

me too.. which is why i thought he would have retired after that.. i hate to seem him become a potato or die at a young age because he would hang them up..

Hall loves Dahlin...thinks he’s a stud he mentioned him yesterday and on the Instigators just now he mentioned him again

Eichel
Sam
Olofsson
Skinner
Okposo
Thompson
Mitts

Dahlin
Joker
Miller

Ullmark

There's your protection list for next OS. If Hall is extended before the exp draft, swap out one of the bottom 2. FYI you must protect Skinner and Okposo.

EDIT: Okposo is not required to protect.
- TheSabresTaco

i am of the feeling that hall signed for 1 year because he thought he had a better shot at a payday next offseason... but do you think kevyn had the expansion draft in mind when he did the one year deal?

Hall loves Dahlin...thinks he’s a stud he mentioned him yesterday and on the Instigators just now he mentioned him again
- Stripes77

Hall did say yesterday you needed to look under the smoke or the hood to see the pieces the sabres have LOL