Michael Pachla: Welcome to the Pressure Dome

They are who we thought they are...................

any chance we are showing okposo on the first line to try and get rid of him?

There is to much term on that contract that no team would want him...best chance of getting rid of him is when Seattle comes in the league

any chance we are showing okposo on the first line to try and get rid of him?
- Shadman306

top five goal scorers since jan 1:

skinner-5
reinhart-4
Rodrigues-4
Okposo-3
Thompson-3

just sayin

Great write up Michael:

Any of the "insiders" hear anything about-
Backlash from the players in regards to Berglund being waived.
I understand some of the "vets" weren't happy about berglund not being (suspended and helped) by the organization. Instead the Sabres jumped at the opportunity to cut him and his big $ contract

Whether a teammate "quits" or not, players put themselves in the other persons position. Some might not be happy to see a fellow teammate out millions of $.

I heard this a while back, now with the recent jbotts yelling at the entire team. Coaches may have felt the same way.

Since berglund left, I think were the worst team in the league.

Food for thought

Be careful!

Sabres are a very good but a very young team.

League gets much tougher after Christmas when veteran teams step up their game.

It would be a mistake to overreact to the downturn. It is just part of the growth experience. Sabres will be a much stronger team next year and, still, a very good and entertaining team this year.

They are who we thought they are...................
- SABRES 89

am interested in seeing who shows up the rest of this month...was surprised and not surprised pommer and Okposo hit the scoresheet vs. Chicago

Be careful!

Sabres are a very good but a very young team.

League gets much tougher after Christmas when veteran teams step up their game.

It would be a mistake to overreact to the downturn. It is just part of the growth experience. Sabres will be a much stronger team next year and, still, a very good and entertaining team this year.
- spatso

I get that...just calling it like I see it

Lipstick on a pig... every scout in the league knows what he is ...OkMoulso

Lipstick on a pig... every scout in the league knows what he is ...OkMoulso
- 22sabresQ

am interested to see who shows up post all-star break when it matters most

I blame all of this on the 10 game win streak. Curse you winning streak, curse you...

Bob McKenzie projecting Auston Matthews' extension for 5 years with an AAV of $11.5M

Bob McKenzie projecting Auston Matthews' extension for 5 years with an AAV of $11.5M
- BareMetal

that's about right, i'd say

Article in The Athletic predicted 5 or 6 at between $10-$12m.
I'm hoping it is closer to $12.5m and over 5 so the increase hits them faster.
Fvck the Laughs

Bob McKenzie projecting Auston Matthews' extension for 5 years with an AAV of $11.5M
- BareMetal

Wouldn't that make him a UFA in 5 years?

top five goal scorers since jan 1:

skinner-5
reinhart-4
Rodrigues-4
Okposo-3
Thompson-3

just sayin
- Michael Pachla

Hopefully some GM out there will see that and think he will help them. We would be in a much better place moving forward without that cap hit. He simply isn't worth his price.

Phil " " Housley

Wouldn't that make him a UFA in 5 years?
- RhinoFan

Sure would. 7 years of NHL experience puts him UFA

Wouldn't that make him a UFA in 5 years?
- RhinoFan

Yes. So not "buying" any UFA years lowers the cap hit / contract. Could be smart until he decides to move on in 5 years.

Sure would. 7 years of NHL experience puts him UFA
- Sabre_Tooth

Good news for us.

Yes. So not "buying" any UFA years lowers the cap hit / contract. Could be smart until he decides to move on in 5 years.
- Lilroot9

If you're paying double digit millions, how much are you really saving?

I'm against most long term contracts. The final years always seem to give horrible results for the investment.

AM is different. If they're saying no to an extra M or two, losing 2-3 years of control, that's a bad move. These are the types of decisions you get forced into when you're in cap hell. Love it.

I like the math Michael.
I had run the numbers during the Allstar break and came to the same conclusion that outside of the 10 game anomoly they are performing marginally better than last year.
While the projection with the 10 games says 90 points (92 back when I ran it) at season end...the other 41 games played projects them to somewhere around 85 pts .. that doesnt include going on a 6 or 7 game win streak that would be necessary to get into the low 90's.

Much of the fan base still thinks 90's are realistic.
I do not subscribe to this view and therefore hope JBotts continues to take the long view in considering moves between now and the trade deadline.

Eichel must feel like he's being punished. Phil sure looks like he's reached desperation mode.

If you're paying double digit millions, how much are you really saving?

I'm against most long term contracts. The final years always seem to give horrible results for the investment.

AM is different. If they're saying no to an extra M or two, losing 2-3 years of control, that's a bad move. These are the types of decisions you get forced into when you're in cap hell. Love it.
- RhinoFan

It is tough to really say if Eichel is better than Matthews or vice versa, but here are some things that stand out to me...

Eichel 0.9 pts/game
Matthews 0.98 pts/game

Eichel $10m per year for 8(!) years
Matthews $11.5 for 5 years

Matthews has had (by far) a better team around him each of his years, so the points difference is not as vast as it may seem on a team that is coached to be more offensive then the Sabres.

So I may want Eichel more than Matthews, mainly due to the cost difference and years of contract.