2yrs. followed by an 8-year deal has him in buffalo for 10 years instead of 5 or 6
- Michael Pachla

This would be perfect, but dahlin seems like the type of guy a rare rfa contract gets tossed his way.

If he shows to be the "best defenseman prospect since 1970" . It's a real nice age to rfa the guy....

I'd personally do 8 years now - 50 million.
Of course ,based on the Sabres view of his leadership. Off ice issues and commitment to the game...

Donnie should have a big say in dahlins next contract, he's the development / amateur guy.... usa hockey

Blah, blah blah. It was political and you know it. Must have touched a nerve of truth with the way you got all defensive here
- Michael Pachla

Lol, Defensive?
Who on earth would deny it was political. I certainly did not, nor did I say someone else's post triggered me. I'm owning it.
My comment is it is a bet based on possible future outcomes compared to historical facts.

I can't control your emotional response to it and playing a victim from 13 years ago, lol.

won't he be a ufa after 5 or 6 years?
- Michael Pachla

Yes, but it doesn't mean they need to wait until the 5 or 6 year deal expires to extend him further.

Are you going with the thought that he just won't want to remain in Buffalo?

So did I prove that over the last 45 minutes we could actually talk hockey and not politics or vaccines or whatever else?
- mhp

Blasphemy

Lol, Defensive?
Who on earth would deny it was political. I certainly did not, nor did I say someone else's post triggered me. I'm owning it.
My comment is it is a bet based on possible future outcomes compared to historical facts.

I can't control your emotional response to it and playing a victim from 13 years ago, lol.
- IonSabres

what was your motive for knowingly bringing politics into play?

I agree, I liked that they added him and he's tough playing with a broken rip is very painful.
- Buff36

Looking down the road it could be a good competition in goal between 6K, Portillo and Levi.

Good points.

I'd love to see Dahlin and Power together in a few years but for now, I'm ok with Dahlin/Joker.

Mitts took his off ice workouts seriously and he now looks every bit of the player we were hoping for.

I would have signed Dubnyk for 2 years and let 6K marinate in Rochester. But we got Anderson and Dell, my god.
- mhp

Good post.

The goaltending situation is directly related to finishing top 5. (Tank4)

If eichel does show up for camp, I'd expect a goalie upgrade as well. Probably shove dell to Rochester

Fair points, I didn't know that. Do 2 years and then sign him to a long term deal?
- mhp

I think you do 2 years at 4M or 6 years at 6M. I'd rather do the 6. He's not really a question mark, his offense is elite. His defense will only improve. You know he's staying for a long time. The 6M will turn into value in the final 3 years, no doubt about it.

Looking down the road it could be a good competition in goal between 6K, Portillo and Levi.
- mhp

Our resident goaltending expert poster believes Levi has significant work to do towards becoming an NHL goaltender.

Yes, but it doesn't mean they need to wait until the 5 or 6 year deal expires to extend him further.

Are you going with the thought that he just won't want to remain in Buffalo?
- kingcong39

i believe they'll need to wait at least four or five years before they can negotiate an extension...

and yes, if the last 10 years of extreme dysfunction is any indicator, he gone

So did I prove that over the last 45 minutes we could actually talk hockey and not politics or vaccines or whatever else?
- mhp

wait for it

I think you do 2 years at 4M or 6 years at 6M. I'd rather do the 6. He's not really a question mark, his offense is elite. His defense will only improve. You know he's staying for a long time. The 6M will turn into value in the final 3 years, no doubt about it.
- TheSabresTaco

What would Dahlin think of the Sabres if they offered him a deal with less term than Jokiharju and Mittelstadt, a player that Dahlin routinely poked fun at for Casey's lack of commitment to conditioning?

when players are this young, their deals are based purely on development and potential, regardless of what that potential is. On ice, off ice, how they blend the two to create the player they should become. Using a 20 game sample size is probably more of a red flag for a guy in his prime rather than a guy in his early 20s. Casey showed what he's capable of, and is still undeveloped. I like both contracts, as long as Donnie or similar is employed here. You get a guy who can bring the best out of his development players, it's great for what we have here.
- TheSabresTaco

Which contract do you like better though 🌮?

i believe they'll need to wait at least four or five years before they can negotiate an extension...

and yes, if the last 10 years of extreme dysfunction is any indicator, he gone
- Michael Pachla

If you believe that, then why would Dahlin sign an 8 year extension after a 2 year deal? Why wouldn't he just go to ARB 2 years in a row and then be a UFA?

Which contract do you like better though 🌮?
- Boss34

I stated 6x6, above.

Sorry, excluding Dahlin.. I think they're both equally useful players, I like them both equally. I know it sounds like a cop out, but I think maybe by year 3 you get more value out of Mitts. So, let's say Mitts.

Our resident goaltending expert poster believes Levi has significant work to do towards becoming an NHL goaltender.
- kingcong39

how many starting goalies on the 31 other real nhl teams are 6 foot, and how many are at least 6 foot 3 in?

He has really good edge work, pushes of good and has a pretty good glove hand, very athletic to. To me he's 2 or 3 inches taller and people would think a lot different of him on this board.
- Buff36

2 or 3 inches taller and he would have been picked way before round 7.

it's skill level and projection with johnson and samuelsson with the former having a higher degree of skill and a higher projection
- Michael Pachla

Good points.

My uncle ion talked up Johnson's game. I really like his skating, effortless stride for the USA team.

So basically Samuelson is just ahead "temporarily ".....

He looked the part of a nhl defenseman, especially covering for the bottom pairing , worst defenseman in the league as his partner....

If you believe that, then why would Dahlin sign an 8 year extension after a 2 year deal? Why wouldn't he just go to ARB 2 years in a row and then be a UFA?
- kingcong39

that's a good point...but there's also a good chance that dahlin furthers his development which would lead to a huge payday on a long, lucrative deal that only buffalo would be able to offer

what was your motive for knowingly bringing politics into play?
- Michael Pachla

Oh christ. What's your motive for continuing the narrative?

Good points.

My uncle ion talked up Johnson's game. I really like his skating, effortless stride for the USA team.

So basically Samuelson is just ahead "temporarily ".....

He looked the part of a nhl defenseman, especially covering for the bottom pairing , worst defenseman in the league as his partner....
- Boss34

i look at samuelsson as a valuable stay at home, third-pairing guy who could develop into a solid penalty killer

Oh christ. What's your motive for continuing the narrative?
- TheHank

this doesn't concern you

What would Dahlin think of the Sabres if they offered him a deal with less term than Jokiharju and Mittelstadt, a player that Dahlin routinely poked fun at for Casey's lack of commitment to conditioning?
- kingcong39

Takes 2 to tango. You don't know what reasoning Dahlin would have for signing on the dotted line. Perhaps he believes he can heavily outplay 6M by year 6 and would rather not wait for that payday. I see your angle, which could also be an occurrence. But he could also say, by year 3, those guys are getting 2.5 and I'm getting 7+.

2 or 3 inches taller and he would have been picked way before round 7.
- Ratsreign

Agree Rat!! I like him coming over in the deal.

Looking down the road it could be a good competition in goal between 6K, Portillo and Levi.
- mhp

Absolutely, for a Sabres team without "a plan"

Kinds seams like a plan.

-Give me a % on eichel starting for the Sabres in October
-% of playing this season in the blue and gold
-% of ever playing again for the Sabres