Not sure how many boxes adding Erik Johnson checked when it was strongly evident that he was done as a player.

Many found that move mystifying, especially when you add in what they paid him.

He played in 50 Sabres games.

He didn't find the press box often until he allegedly quit on the team after the first game he was benched for.

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/erik-johnson
- kingcong39

Looking back, was Johnson-Clifton meant to be the 3rd pair? Or was this just Donnie instantly reverting back to what he's comfortable with?

Think this might be both a terrible job by the GM and the GM + Coach being on different pages.

Overpaying a player on a 1 year deal is far from a terrible gming

You could pay Okposo 10 mill for 1 year and it’s not a big deal
- Sabretooth9

If you overpay different players from year to year and they stink, how is that different then overpaying the same players that stink for multiple years?

It's the same end result: Bad players that are overpaid and do not help the team improve.

If you overpay different players from year to year and they stink, how is that different then overpaying the same players that stink for multiple years?

It's the same end result: Bad players that are overpaid and do not help the team improve.
- kingcong39

- washedup20

See with Johnson and Okposo gone the Sauna business has taken a hit.

See with Johnson and Okposo gone the Sauna business has taken a hit.
- Buff36

Sabres have a better roster then Tampa?

Really? Why?

Tampa has a PPG Norris trophy contending defensemen, a forward who is close to leading the league in points, and three other forwards who are at or close to a PPG in Point, Hagel and Stamkos.

They also have a number of quality veterans at forward and defense.
- kingcong39

I think the context was lost a bit. The original point was that *before the season*, I was not impressed with the rosters of Detroit and Ottawa.

That said, on paper, I'd still take our roster. Our D is definitely better - Hedman isn't the Hedman of 3 years ago and Sergachev is done for the year. Their stars are playing like stars and ours aren't always doing that. Its certainly close and probably not worth arguing over. Tampa may in fact be a little better now, but they are certainly trending down.

Looking back, was Johnson-Clifton meant to be the 3rd pair? Or was this just Donnie instantly reverting back to what he's comfortable with?

Think this might be both a terrible job by the GM and the GM + Coach being on different pages.
- Lunaion

Absolutely not.

When Clifton was signed this place immediately put him in the top 4.

Absolutely not.

When Clifton was signed this place immediately put him in the top 4.
- ImThatGuy

Well some did

Well some did
- Buff36

Who is defending the GM?

For the record, he was upset about losing Okposo as a human being. There is nothing wrong with that.
He couldn't give away VO for free - is that his fault? I am sure the owner wasn't going to retain celery for a 4th rounder, and in that particular example, I don't blame them.

But yeah, we all agree more moves need to be made. I think he acknowledged that they are finally coming this summer. We'll know more about him then. Mistakes were certainly made this year.
- Slump Buster

Every other team retains salary, even as a broker, often for worse then 4th round picks.

They're lottery tickets, and with their scouting staffs acumen, the more lottery tickets, the better, no?

We know they have an internal budget that is significantly below the cap limit.

- TheSabresTaco

2 more years of that swing

Absolutely not.

When Clifton was signed this place immediately put him in the top 4.
- ImThatGuy

I don't think that is true. Some people debated that he could not play 2nd line minutes, which others (like me) thought was ridiculous. For some reason there was an obsession over finding someone to play with Power.

Every other team retains salary, even as a broker, often for worse then 4th round picks.

They're lottery tickets, and with their scouting staffs acumen, the more lottery tickets, the better, no?

We know they have an internal budget that is significantly below the cap limit.
- kingcong39

You're absolutely right about the broker example. But as much as I want to kill Pegula for so many things, I can't say that I would blame him for not spending something like a million dollars in retained celery in order to get a 4th for VO. And all of that is purely speculative - we don't know that anyone else would even offer that.

I still don't see how people can judge them without seeing them here. They all seem to have a lot of good qualities and are trending upwards. High ceilings.

I think the Byram trade gave me a little more hope for Adams in that - at worst - he traded for something that we didn't have in our system using current assets. It was a smart move.
- Slump Buster

Kulich - One goal in his last 18 or so games
Rosen - What is he at the NHL level? Bottom 6 fuller
Savoie - Despite his prodigious production this season in Juniors, his overall game may not be progressing, and what he's doing in Junior would not necessarily translate to the NHL, per our Junior's watcher Quinnfan

Kulich - One goal in his last 18 or so games
Rosen - What is he at the NHL level? Bottom 6 fuller
Savoie - Despite his prodigious production this season in Juniors, his overall game may not be progressing, and what he's doing in Junior would not necessarily translate to the NHL, per our Junior's watcher Quinnfan
- kingcong39

Weren't you just complimenting their scouting staff?

I'll continue saying they are getting credit for having a lot picks, not necessarily hitting on anything yet. If they don't contribute next year, KA might be out of a job.

Kulich - One goal in his last 18 or so games
Rosen - What is he at the NHL level? Bottom 6 fuller
Savoie - Despite his prodigious production this season in Juniors, his overall game may not be progressing, and what he's doing in Junior would not necessarily translate to the NHL, per our Junior's watcher Quinnfan
- kingcong39

- Kulich: so he looked like an elite prospect for the last 2 years, but now we're down on him after (checks notes) 18 games? He hasn't been right since he came back from juniors. Might be hurt? No reason to be down on him.
- Rosen: He has all of the tools but not ideal size. Should be a middle 6 player? He looked fabulous in the prospects games. Silky smooth. But yeah, that's whey the play the games. He is still trending up.
- Savoie: such a weird trajectory. He looks like a world beater again after the trade. I don't think any outcome would surprise me with him. I suspect that he might be the biggest piece in a potential trade.

I don't see a reason to be down on any of these guys.

I get why some don't like it, but I love the idea of a one game play-in as a non-top 3 seed in either division, or even a 2 game series, where the higher seed would only need to win one game, while the lower seed would need to win both to advance.

It would add more importance to not being a wild card team, as you could get bounced out before the playoff best of 7 fully began.
- kingcong39

So, the recommendation is to play games 83, 84 & 85 because... Games 1 - 82 weren't good enough to eliminate 4 teams from Playoff Qualification.
Seems completely superfluous to me.

Mike Garafolo
@MikeGarafolo
·
16m
The #Bills have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with LB Nicholas Morrow, source says. Morrow had 12 starts for the #Eagles last year, wearing the green dot as the defensive signal caller along the way.

Mike Garafolo
@MikeGarafolo
·
16m
The #Bills have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with LB Nicholas Morrow, source says. Morrow had 12 starts for the #Eagles last year, wearing the green dot as the defensive signal caller along the way.
- jochfr

It is funny to read the comments from fans that have watched him play in the past. They aren't unlike the comments left in Flyers area after we traded EJ and Risto to them. I get that he is a backup, but.... yikes.

Alexander Nilsson
@aalexnil
Anton Wahlberg will join the Amerks after tonights game with Malmö. #Amerks #LetsGoBuffalo

I guess Wahlberg is finishing the season in Rochester so that's near

Alexander Nilsson
@aalexnil
Anton Wahlberg will join the Amerks after tonights game with Malmö. #Amerks #LetsGoBuffalo
- jochfr

Poser

I guess Wahlberg is finishing the season in Rochester so that's near
- TheSabresTaco

Any word on his plans for next year?

Alexander Nilsson
@aalexnil
Anton Wahlberg will join the Amerks after tonights game with Malmö. #Amerks #LetsGoBuffalo
- jochfr

That's pretty cool.

Any word on his plans for next year?
- Lunaion

Him and Ostlund come over and mother (frank)ing dominate.