Ruotsalainen has signed overseas.

You had 3 teams out of the east with Presidents Trophy worthy point totals.

A 20 point gap between the final seeds and 9th/10th place.

An offseason that improved several non playoff teams out of the east.

And multiple birthdays pushing that changing of the guard window open while the likes of mainstay teams window uncontrollably closing.

What does this mean for the Sabres?

They better hope they take a step forward because the luxury of meaningless games tended by backup goalies was a luxury of 2021/22. The wildcard playoff seeds are gonna be an absolute dogfight this year.

Ruotsalainen has signed overseas.
- kingcong39

Would've been great for Rochester, but with an outside chance of making the Sabres, I don't blame him.

Ruotsalainen has signed overseas.
- kingcong39

Has that been confirmed? Pham said it's not the case.

It’s the point that some posters on here all off-season are melting down because we didn’t sell the farm for cat or sign overpriced 3rd liners like Copp. “You can’t win just drafting guys”, when over half our roster right now was acquired via trade or FA, contradicting their whole argument
- Fattony1187

I don't think one person said Ottawa sold the farm to get Debrincant.

Has that been confirmed? Pham said it's not the case.
- Hank Balling

WGR 550
@WGR550
Ruotsalainen is signing with a team in Switzerland:

WGR 550
@WGR550
Ruotsalainen is signing with a team in Switzerland:
- homiedclown

Guess he doesn't WTBH

Guess he doesn't WTBH
- Hank Balling

vinnie took the last spot

vinnie took the last spot
- homiedclown

I was hoping Ruotsalainen could be the extra forward instead of Bjork. Looks like 40+ games of him again

I was hoping Ruotsalainen could be the extra forward instead of Bjork. Looks like 40+ games of him again
- Hank Balling

he's no Bjugstad

"On road trips, Scotty Bowman would leave a stick with the hotel front desk at curfew time, asking the clerk to get players to sign it. It was his simple way of deciphering which players were coming in late.
If anybody asked me for an autograph late at night, I always signed 'Darren McCarty"

-Brendan Shanahan

🤣

"On road trips, Scotty Bowman would leave a stick with the hotel front desk at curfew time, asking the clerk to get players to sign it. It was his simple way of deciphering which players were coming in late.
If anybody asked me for an autograph late at night, I always signed 'Darren McCarty"

-Brendan Shanahan

🤣
- Powerslave

I was hoping Ruotsalainen could be the extra forward instead of Bjork. Looks like 40+ games of him again
- Hank Balling

Think we've all learned a valuable lesson. When you sign a Euro UFA, expect a tweener.

no

Ruotsalainen has signed overseas.
- kingcong39

Ahhh who cares. Rochester will miss him but the Sabres will not.

Ahhh who cares. Rochester will miss him but the Sabres will not.
- Sabretooth9

The Sabres might if they end up having to play Bjork instead of Ruotsalainen.

The Sabres might if they end up having to play Bjork instead of Ruotsalainen.
- kingcong39

He couldn't stick last year, that was his golden opportunity.

He couldn't stick last year, that was his golden opportunity.
- Lunaion

Some guys just aren't built for the NHL.

He couldn't stick last year, that was his golden opportunity.
- Lunaion

When they tried to play him at Center during camp and preseason games?

When they tried to play him at Center during camp and preseason games?
- kingcong39

IMO he had a decent 2 way game and could have been decent with asplund and cozens as a shut down third line with some pop

maybe Weissbach can fill that spot

When they tried to play him at Center during camp and preseason games?
- kingcong39

the 18 games that earned him a demotion

the 18 games that earned him a demotion
- Lunaion

pretty sure he led the team in plus minus when he got "demoted"

The Sabres might if they end up having to play Bjork instead of Ruotsalainen.
- kingcong39

Maybe.
How many lineups have you written down/thought of that included Bjork or Routs...not many even as the 13th F.

Some guys just aren't built for the NHL.
- Powerslave

Yeah, half our roster. Rutso was a gully gem. Our loss.

Maybe.
How many lineups have you written down/thought of that included Bjork or Routs...not many even as the 13th F.
- IonSabres

I think he was the 13th guy until they brought back vinnie