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?
- SabresFaninIndiana

Perhaps.. But with the possibility of no gate revenue for a full year, what's the likelihood he's gonna get a big payday? I'm guessing it's gonna take longer than a couple years to get back to any sort of normal growth here.

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.
- SDSabre

If you consider the list of names that Seattle would have to choose from, is there anyone on that list that would be worth swinging a side deal to protect?

Miller? Take him
Risto? Take him
Eakin? Take him
Gus? Take him

I feel like the Sabres are set up to lose only a marginal player who is probably making too much.

I think you're better off just letting them pick than trying to outsmart yourself and give up additional assets. I agree the Carrier/Ullmark deal worked out nicely

Perhaps.. But with the possibility of no gate revenue for a full year, what's the likelihood he's gonna get a big payday? I'm guessing it's gonna take longer than a couple years to get back to any sort of normal growth here.
- SDSabre

good point.

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).
- kingcong39

Cong is exactly right. You have to think of chemistry. He's very well respected in the locker room. The easy thing to do would have been to buy him out. They didn't so I don't think they trade him, either

If you consider the list of names that Seattle would have to choose from, is there anyone on that list that would be worth swinging a side deal to protect?

Miller? Take him
Risto? Take him
Eakin? Take him
Gus? Take him

I feel like the Sabres are set up to lose only a marginal player who is probably making too much.

I think you're better off just letting them pick than trying to outsmart yourself and give up additional assets. I agree the Carrier/Ullmark deal worked out nicely
- jcragcrumple

I was more talking about the league at whole vs the Sabres specifically. Making side deals with Vegas, I think most would make again, with the exception of Fla and CBJ. But yeah, if you are where we are, let them select one of those guys and be happy it's not anyone better.

I think people need to start considering that Reinhart might not want to be here long term.
- sbroads24

Why?

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

Good post

8OA and okposo to whomever had cap space.
Rossi and okposo for space.

We could have still taken luke jack QUINN hughes in the 4th round?

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?
- SabresFaninIndiana

IMO they’re going to see how the year goes. If everything clicks and they’re playoff bound, I’d imagine they explore a long term deal.

If you consider the list of names that Seattle would have to choose from, is there anyone on that list that would be worth swinging a side deal to protect?

Miller? Take him
Risto? Take him
Eakin? Take him
Gus? Take him

I feel like the Sabres are set up to lose only a marginal player who is probably making too much.

I think you're better off just letting them pick than trying to outsmart yourself and give up additional assets. I agree the Carrier/Ullmark deal worked out nicely
- jcragcrumple

If Thompson looks like a top 9 player tha's a very cheap, valuable asset they could pluck.

I think paying them a minor fee to take Eakin is best case.

People haven't brought up Ruostulainen, and he very well could make this team as a 4C or wing. He looks good

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

A+ taco

I agree, girgensons was a great signing.

Do you think secretly jack has an opinion on sam's "give a poop level"

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

Did you see the picture of Dahlin palying ping pong? Pictures can be deceiving but he sure looks jacked

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.
- SDSabre

I would consider the trade of Haula and Tuch as much more than a low key add. I would consider that as one of the bigger moves.

Did you see the picture of Dahlin palying ping pong? Pictures can be deceiving but he sure looks jacked
- turbo044

Well atleast Dahlin looks to have taken this off-season seriously, can't say the same for Bon bon boy

I would consider the trade of Haula and Tuch as much more than a low key add. I would consider that as one of the bigger moves.
- kingcong39

At the time, it really wasn't.. And Tuch is a middle sixer, as is Haula. Point being, Dumba is more valuable then either individually (at the time, more valuable then them collectively).

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.
- SDSabre

Reilly Smith has been the real gem of that deal, especially when you factor in playoff performance.

I would consider the trade of Haula and Tuch as much more than a low key add. I would consider that as one of the bigger moves.
- kingcong39

Let's not get too excited on Tuch being the player he was in the playoffs.. Could he be? Sure. During the regular season, he had 17 points, (8 goals), was minus 10, had an unrealy negative corsi share (-3, pretty brutal), and got 60*!*! percent Ozone starts.

As posters have said,

That's not great Bob.

At the time, it really wasn't.. And Tuch is a middle sixer, as is Haula. Point being, Dumba is more valuable then either individually (at the time, more valuable then them collectively).
- SDSabre

At the time, William Karlsson was nothing, but you included him in the large deal category, which is almost entirely based on his performance with Vegas.

Based on Haula's, and more so Tuch's performance with Vegas, it was a large deal.

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?
- jcragcrumple

Wonder if Ralph put it in the Pegula's ear to consider Kevyn for the job.

Reilly Smith has been the real gem of that deal, especially when you factor in playoff performance.
- kingcong39

I really just don't know what Fla was thinking.. There board was: Take one of Smith, Marchessault, or Pysyk, so they decided to give both Smith and Marchessault. It made no sense then, and makes less sense today.

Let's not get too excited on Tuch being the player he was in the playoffs.. Could he be? Sure. During the regular season, he had 17 points, (8 goals), was minus 10, had an unrealy negative corsi share (-3, pretty brutal), and got 60*!*! percent Ozone starts.

As posters have said,

That's not great Bob.
- SDSabre

He also only played 42 games due to injury this past season, and the season prior he had 20 goals and 32 assists.

He's a new age power forward.

I'd bank on him being the player he was this past playoffs and during the 2018-2019 season.

At the time, William Karlsson was nothing, but you included him in the large deal category, which is almost entirely based on his performance with Vegas.

Based on Haula's, and more so Tuch's performance with Vegas, it was a large deal.
- kingcong39

I also qualified Dumba as being protected vs who from CBJ? no real consequence, fine, but you want to throw them up there as well (Haula and Tuch) fine. I just never got the love for Haula on this board, and Tuch is still so much of a wild card on what he actually brings.

If Thompson looks like a top 9 player tha's a very cheap, valuable asset they could pluck.

I think paying them a minor fee to take Eakin is best case.

People haven't brought up Ruostulainen, and he very well could make this team as a 4C or wing. He looks good
- sbroads24

Taco had them protecting Thompson. See below.

Eichel
Sam
Olofsson
Skinner
Okposo
Thompson
Mitts

Dahlin
Joker
Miller

Ullmark

Wonder if Ralph put it in the Pegula's ear to consider Kevyn for the job.
- Powerslave

Ralph runs the show, and Adams was the cheapest option.

Botterill wasn't fired for performance, which is crazy in itself, but true.

He was fired because he wouldn't go along with firing half the staff and changing how they do scouting.

Krueger is the dude now. I expwect him team Pres within a few years

He also only played 42 games due to injury this past season, and the season prior he had 20 goals and 32 assists.

He's a new age power forward.

I'd bank on him being the player he was this past playoffs and during the 2018-2019 season.
- kingcong39

He's 25 and has exactly one good season.. But he'll surely replicate it for the majority of his career right?

I also qualified Dumba as being protected vs who from CBJ? no real consequence, fine, but you want to throw them up there as well (Haula and Tuch) fine. I just never got the love for Haula on this board, and Tuch is still so much of a wild card on what he actually brings.
- SDSabre

I don't consider Tuch a wild card at all.

He's 6'4, 220, skates very well, and has an excellent shot.

How many players like that are around the league?