https://bostonhockeynow.c...astrnak-kadri-nhl-rumors/

Yeah you only do it if you believe the Couturier comps that are floating out there. I'm not sold on Cozens to the level that some are, I'm just saying the Sabres need to get ahead of the pay days at some point.

The team is fond of the bridge deals that usually end up in paying full market value on the next deal, or they sell players before they get too expensive. They're not good at identifying long-term value contracts
- Hank Balling

Because we had very few guys worthy of long term contracts.

Guys we gave long term deals to, Okposo, Molson, Skinner, Oreilly, Eichel to an extent did not perform up to their contracts

Because we had very few guys worthy of long term contracts.

Guys we gave long term deals to, Okposo, Molson, Skinner, Oreilly, Eichel to an extent did not perform up to their contracts
- Fattony1187

They may have been able to cheaply buy some of Reinhart's UFA years if they hadn't bridged him twice. Same with Ullmark

They may have been able to cheaply buy some of Reinhart's UFA years if they hadn't bridged him twice. Same with Ullmark
- Hank Balling

That would have been getting ahead of the game, it's something Adams hasn't proven he can do yet with contracts.

Does Jake virtanen get a NHL contract ?

They may have been able to cheaply buy some of Reinhart's UFA years if they hadn't bridged him twice. Same with Ullmark
- Hank Balling

We don't know what the Dahlin discussions were, but I have a feeling they wanted to max out his potential years here. I'd much rather allow him to walk when he's 32 instead of 29. Plus, his value is less when he's 32 instead of 29.

Let's also keep in mind that we as fans underestimated what Tage was capable of and Kevyn still gave him a ridiculous 3 year term, even with low money. No one in this universe was shaking their fists about not giving him an 8 year deal in October 2020. They identified his potential and I hope the same applies to CM.

When it comes to Sam and Ullmark, two very different scenarios.. I don't particularly blame him for either, but one has to wonder what Sam's mindset was in October 2020. Was he willing to sign long term or did he want to see how the year went? Jack already wanted a trade at that point and Sam may have had similar wary feelings about this franchise.

Does Jake virtanen get a NHL contract ?
- Anderdog

I mean he kinda sucks so..... why

I mean he kinda sucks so..... why
- TheSabresTaco

Because alot of sucky players get contracts all the time

That would have been getting ahead of the game, it's something Adams hasn't proven he can do yet with contracts.
- Buff36

disagree as stated above.

His next test is with Tage. I don't really see the 'one hit wonder' with Tage but his S% was still 15%. It's not absurd but it's still pretty high. You take that down to 10-11 and you may still have a 30 goal scorer. If the Sabres aren't offering an exuberant amount, it's not in Tage's interest to sign an extension prior to the end of the season. Show it again, see if you can be better. He's already a 6M player, maybe he can show he's an 8.

I believe he has one more RFA year before UFA. We know he WTBH™ so I don't suspect it will be hard to get him to a 6-8 year deal after next season ends.

Because alot of sucky players get contracts all the time
- Anderdog

low scoring, bad defensive wingers are the bottom of the food chain

Another thing with Tage is that he wasn't exactly lucky either.

His EVO GAR and xGAR were almost identical, being at 14 and 14.5 respectfully. Which essentially says he earned exactly what he did.

Overall, all situations, he earned more than he actually produced. So, perhaps he was indeed a bit unlucky.

disagree as stated above.

His next test is with Tage. I don't really see the 'one hit wonder' with Tage but his S% was still 15%. It's not absurd but it's still pretty high. You take that down to 10-11 and you may still have a 30 goal scorer. If the Sabres aren't offering an exuberant amount, it's not in Tage's interest to sign an extension prior to the end of the season. Show it again, see if you can be better. He's already a 6M player, maybe he can show he's an 8.

I believe he has one more RFA year before UFA. We know he WTBH™ so I don't suspect it will be hard to get him to a 6-8 year deal after next season ends.
- TheSabresTaco

He didn't get ahead with Rhino or Ullmark, and Tage is the next one, if he got a decent contract done this year with Tage would be getting ahead. Getting into Rhino territory if you don't IMO

I know it won't happen

but I think asplund-cozens-donskoi would have made a hell of a true third line

He didn't get ahead with Rhino or Ullmark, and Tage is the next one, if he got a decent contract done this year with Tage would be getting ahead. Getting into Rhino territory if you don't IMO
- Buff36

they aren't bridging Tage, He probably doesn't want to sign till this year is over. Its a slight gamble but if he doesn't get injured he should at least put up the same numbers. He probably feels he can up those numbers even more is my guess.

No way KA didn't have an offer on the table for him.

He didn't get ahead with Rhino or Ullmark, and Tage is the next one, if he got a decent contract done this year with Tage would be getting ahead. Getting into Rhino territory if you don't IMO
- Buff36

There's way more factors than the following process:

1. GM wants to sign player to x
2. Player signs for x

Too many variables to say so and so (frank)ed up. No one knows what either side is thinking. We don't know how Reinhart felt. If anything, based on Reinhart's own words, it mostly sounds like Botterill's (frank)up in not giving him a long term deal prior to his two year bridge.

I'm not exonerating Kevo, but it's fair to question both Kevo's one year deal and Reinhart's desire to be here during that negotiation.

Ullmark is vastly different. I don't think Ullmark did much to warrant a long term extension and the org also wanted to sign him to a pretty reasonable deal and Ullmark wanted the extra term. He's a mid grade goalie and to be totally fair, Comrie may be a whole lot better.

Would Ullmark have been better last year? Yes, with little doubt. Guy gets injured a lot too. Considering we were entering last year as probably the second worst franchise in the league, there wasn't much motivation to be a highly sought after goalie to sign with the Sabres.

I know it won't happen

but I think asplund-cozens-donskoi would have made a hell of a true third line
- homiedclown

donskoi was pretty crappy last season. But I suspect that line would give other teams a lot of headaches. I'd be comfortable putting those three against top 6 lines.

they aren't bridging Tage, He probably doesn't want to sign till this year is over. Its a slight gamble but if he doesn't get injured he should at least put up the same numbers. He probably feels he can up those numbers even more is my guess.

No way KA didn't have an offer on the table for him.
- DirtyDan

donskoi was pretty crappy last season. But I suspect that line would give other teams a lot of headaches. I'd be comfortable putting those three against top 6 lines.
- TheSabresTaco

yeah that team was poorly constructed with their expansion draft

they aren't bridging Tage, He probably doesn't want to sign till this year is over. Its a slight gamble but if he doesn't get injured he should at least put up the same numbers. He probably feels he can up those numbers even more is my guess.

No way KA didn't have an offer on the table for him.
- DirtyDan

Can't say that until he proves he won't, hasn't done that yet.

Can't say that until he proves he won't, hasn't done that yet.
- Buff36

His longest contract is 3 years to date.

I know there is a shift of young/middle age (18-25) players are wanting shorter term deals now, but the max term he has signed a player for speaks for itself.

Remains to be seen if that is a good design or not, and what his long term contracts will look like.

The Rangers completed their last main bit of business, re-signing Kaapo Kakko to a two year deal with a $2.1 mil AAV

https://www.hockeybuzz.co...o-year-contract/89/118289

The Rangers completed their last main bit of business, re-signing Kaapo Kakko to a two year deal with a $2.1 mil AAV

https://www.hockeybuzz.co...o-year-contract/89/118289
- homiedclown

I bet that is the last contract that he signs with the Rags

We don't know what the Dahlin discussions were, but I have a feeling they wanted to max out his potential years here. I'd much rather allow him to walk when he's 32 instead of 29. Plus, his value is less when he's 32 instead of 29.

Let's also keep in mind that we as fans underestimated what Tage was capable of and Kevyn still gave him a ridiculous 3 year term, even with low money. No one in this universe was shaking their fists about not giving him an 8 year deal in October 2020. They identified his potential and I hope the same applies to CM.

When it comes to Sam and Ullmark, two very different scenarios.. I don't particularly blame him for either, but one has to wonder what Sam's mindset was in October 2020. Was he willing to sign long term or did he want to see how the year went? Jack already wanted a trade at that point and Sam may have had similar wary feelings about this franchise.
- TheSabresTaco

It's not just a KA thing - Botterill opted for a bridge with Reinhart as well.

My point is the Sabres really never have value contracts for guys who aren't in their RFA years. I can't think of the last good value contract they had - even going back 10-15+ years I don't know

It's not just a KA thing - Botterill opted for a bridge with Reinhart as well.

My point is the Sabres really never have value contracts for guys who aren't in their RFA years. I can't think of the last good value contract they had - even going back 10-15+ years I don't know
- Hank Balling

tage

ufa... yeah i don't know. been a while.

they aren't bridging Tage, He probably doesn't want to sign till this year is over. Its a slight gamble but if he doesn't get injured he should at least put up the same numbers. He probably feels he can up those numbers even more is my guess.

No way KA didn't have an offer on the table for him.
- DirtyDan

They can't bridge Tage again because they are out of years to do it: they bridged him as far as they could. His next deal will make him a UFA.