Well that's good, that's what he needs to do to take his game to the next level. Why is it we might block someone. Why can't it be we are adding a quality FA to help are team now and hopefully the future. And if that prospect is good enough you find a spot and your Team has gotten that much better.
- Buff36

Well then you're making a trade. Because right now you have 13 forwards once VO signs when you include JQ and JJP

Clearly you can bench or exorcise Bjork but there's no one else you'd sit. They probably need a 4C. So now you have 14 forwards. Which one of the 12 sits? None of them make any sense to bench.

I think the fact that they got him back up and running is amazing. The guy is a definite force in the offensive zone - his brain cramps on D are what keeps him from being worth his full salary. Still thrilled that he is scoring again.
- Slump Buster

Yeah him having a defensively responsible linemates brings out the best in him. I don't think he ever lost anything. Playing with Eakins and other garbage NHL players 11 minutes a night isn't how you use Skinner effectively.

Well then you're making a trade. Because right now you have 13 forwards once VO signs when you include JQ and JJP

Clearly you can bench or exorcise Bjork but there's no one else you'd sit. They probably need a 4C. So now you have 14 forwards. Which one of the 12 sits? None of them make any sense to bench.
- TheSabresTaco

Hypothetically, if they were able to sign Copp or Trochek, you just sit Girgensons for a few games if they make it through training camp 100% healthy (which almost never happens)

The Sabres should also keep in mind what happened in 2018 when Mittelstadt was thrown into the lineup because they had no backup plan. Sign a good forward and If JJ and Quinn look great in camp, then one of the Larrys sit out the first couple games until there's an injury.

If Quinn and JJ don't look ready in camp, then at least you're not sitting there going "what do we do now?"
- Hank Balling

You're not sitting Kyle. You're not sitting Zemgus. You know they're playing. Asplund made everyone he played with better. You're not sitting anyone on the top line, you're not sitting anyone drafted 2017 and beyond. Where's the answer?

I understand getting someone as insurance, but let's say you sign Marchment to a three year deal. All of these same forwards are here in 23 except Bjork. Now you have Savoie knocking. Seriously, where's the room in the top 6, or top 9?

Friedman says the Sabres have been linked to James van Riemsdyk. I wonder what they would need to offer us to take him for his final year.
- Slump Buster

Their first.... (Obvious pipedream) That team is a disaster. If I was them I would just suck it up with JVR one more year. Why sell now.

Hypothetically, if they were able to sign Copp or Trochek, you just sit Girgensons for a few games if they make it through training camp 100% healthy (which almost never happens)
- Hank Balling

I'd rather they sign Copp than any winger. Put him with Krebs and Quinn and rock the (frank) out.

Their first.... (Obvious pipedream) That team is a disaster. If I was them I would just suck it up with JVR one more year. Why sell now.
- SDSabre

Take their first, (frank) them.

Actually, go get Sanheim. Add him in, we'll give them their 2nd back and Laaksonen.

Friedman says the Sabres have been linked to James van Riemsdyk. I wonder what they would need to offer us to take him for his final year.
- Slump Buster

Without retention, a 3rd and 6th...maybe squeeze them for better if they will be going all in on JG

Their first.... (Obvious pipedream) That team is a disaster. If I was them I would just suck it up with JVR one more year. Why sell now.
- SDSabre

They don't want to rebuild so it wouldn't surprise me if it was to go shopping for more vets. Circle of life if you have bad management.

Without retention, a 3rd and 6th...maybe squeeze them for better if they will be going all in on JG
- Leninthebuff

This is so useless to me. The guy's a hard negative, make them actually pay.

how do people feel about preventing Peterka and/or Quinn from being a full time Sabre next year?
- TheSabresTaco

If we brought in someone we all agree is a top 6 forward, I'd tell them both to beat out Krebs or Cozens or Mitts. Competition isn't a bad thing. It's never been a bad thing.

Edit: if our plan is both Quinn and JJ are going to contend for the Calder, as so many of you seem sure is going to happen, i hate to tell ya youre going to be disappointed

This is so useless to me. The guy's a hard negative, make them actually pay.
- TheSabresTaco

Thing about him is he's not that bad. Pacing close to 25 goals for the last 4 years. Not great defensively and doesn't rack up assists, but is a scorer. If we can get something of value for him, he could be an asset half retained for the rest of the year to a contender.

Thing about him is he's not that bad. Pacing close to 25 goals for the last 4 years. Not great defensively and doesn't rack up assists, but is a scorer. If we can get something of value for him, he could be an asset half retained for the rest of the year to a contender.
- SDSabre

he's (frank)ing terrible. Go be a middle man and retain half his money for a 3rd.

If the Sabres have any interest in being better, JVR is the antithesis of that

he's (frank)ing terrible.
- TheSabresTaco

His contract is terrible. You don't think a contender would like him on the third line if he was at 3.5M?

He's ok. You don't accidentally score a pacing 25 4 years running being terrible.

he's (frank)ing terrible. Go be a middle man and retain half his money for a 3rd.

If the Sabres have any interest in being better, JVR is the antithesis of that
- TheSabresTaco

I'm not advocating taking him for nothing. Buf would need a heavy incentive to take him on. Just saying they could AND maybe flip him for assets at the TDL, half retained.

His contract is terrible. You don't think a contender would like him on the third line if he was at 3.5M?

He's ok. You don't accidentally score a pacing 25 4 years running being terrible.
- SDSabre

Ristolainen helped the Flyers more than JVR. Considering he added 24 goals, should that be a bit concerning?

I'm not advocating taking him for nothing. Buf would need a heavy incentive to take him on. Just saying they could AND maybe flip him for assets at the TDL, half retained.
- SDSabre

I would think that the compensation would need to be very significant as nobody else is taking on that contract. Hopefully they really need the space.

His contract is terrible. You don't think a contender would like him on the third line if he was at 3.5M?

He's ok. You don't accidentally score a pacing 25 4 years running being terrible.
- SDSabre

exactly..get what you can out of Philly and flip him at the TDL with 50% retention

I'm not advocating taking him for nothing. Buf would need a heavy incentive to take him on. Just saying they could AND maybe flip him for assets at the TDL, half retained.
- SDSabre

I won't be sold on him without a significant add. All of his scoring is heavily overcast by his atrocious defensive play. Considering he's 33 years old, that's likely to just get worse.

Well that's good, that's what he needs to do to take his game to the next level. Why is it we might block someone. Why can't it be we are adding a quality FA to help are team now and hopefully the future. And if that prospect is good enough you find a spot and your Team has gotten that much better.
- Buff36

You can, and most support that option of adding a few (my definition is 2-ish) players for now and in the future.
I would have liked to see them:
- trade for a quality G and "F" the mantra of blocking UPL or Levi & Portillo
- sign a FA RD with some grit and good Defensive abilities

I don't want them to go after a F as they have to many question Mark's now on positions where these guys are best suited for... they might find another 30 G guy that could have been traded out to make that move.

It is all a matter of degree of these moves are causing the debate.

exactly..get what you can out of Philly and flip him at the TDL with 50% retention
- Leninthebuff

What is an acceptable addition to JVR? At minimum?

The Sabres are still playing Christian Ehrhoff circa $750k a year, and were doing so the 3 years after they bought him out. I don't see much of a difference.
- buffalofan19

they bought out his contract though

we are paying bishops salary for 2022-23 and he is working, not for us, but for a different NHL team

You can, and most support that option of adding a few (my definition is 2-ish) players for now and in the future.
I would have liked to see them:
- trade for a quality G and "F" the mantra of blocking UPL or Levi & Portillo
- sign a FA RD with some grit and good Defensive abilities

I don't want them to go after a F as they have to many question Mark's now on positions where these guys are best suited for... they might find another 30 G guy that could have been traded out to make that move.

It is all a matter of degree of these moves are causing the debate.
- IonSabres

I could get on board with a one year sneaky signing, but if you take any time at all to forecast, it starts to become challenging to justify a multi year deal once you take the 'win now' emotion out of it.

Ristolainen helped the Flyers more than JVR. Considering he added 24 goals, should that be a bit concerning?
- TheSabresTaco

This is an opinion. I'm not falling for opinion arguments.

Last time. JVR isn't on a good contract. He's not a terrible NHL player. You just aren't when you are constantly scoring at that clip. He's not well rounded, he's not worth his contract. 3.5M sure. I think he'd have value to a contender at that hit.

BTW, actual cash. 4M on a 7M hit. Fits in nicely on the fourth line already.

This is an opinion. I'm not falling for opinion arguments.

Last time. JVR isn't on a good contract. He's not a terrible NHL player. You just aren't when you are constantly scoring at that clip. He's not well rounded, he's not worth his contract. 3.5M sure. I think he'd have value to a contender at that hit.

BTW, actual cash. 4M on a 7M hit. Fits in nicely on the fourth line already.
- SDSabre

This is an analytical analysis. So if that's an opinion, I guess you're right.

You are willing to put a defensive disaster on a shut down line?