I think if they want to keep 8, they need to build a package around 55, Mitts or Samuelsson and maybe a 2nd rounder to get a top 6 forward for right now.

I think it’s pretty clear Risto isn’t bringing back much on his own. I hope I’m wrong but it was another awful season defensively (please for the love of god don’t tell me his +/-) and another year he didn’t do a ton 5 on 5 offensively.

He and Montour have the value of middle of the road 2nd pairing D men.

Package one with Mitts or Samuelsson and hopefully get a player back who can help now
- sbroads24

I think you exaggerate how “awful” Risto is
Sounds like Kruger wants to keep him anyways

Montour seems like the guy who could get moved,
especially if he’s asking for 5mil on a long term deal
Tough to guess what his trade value would be
I suppose i could see a good team give up what they think would be a late1st for him

I’m totally cool with using Samuelsson as a trade chip
He’s gotta get a lot better with his skating if he’s gonna be a top4 NHL defenseman

Idk that I’d trade Mitts now,
bc I’m guessing we’d be “selling low” on him
And i still think he’s got top6 potential

Tage & Asplund are very tradable pieces imo
Idk that they have tons of value either?
But if there’s a team out there that does like either, I’d put them in a package in a heartbeat

The players voted by team on whether to participate or not. Plans limiting their lottery opportunity if "upset" in the play-in round probably wouldn't have flown with several teams.

They should've just freakin waited until this surrogate season finale was completed before having the lottery. Then each losing team would've had the normal miniscule individual chance of winning based on points % or however, instead of seemingly combining eight teams chances into one for the drawing last night. Resulting in them each now having a 12.5% chance of winning. That, to me, is the effed up part of it all.
- Ratsreign

I highly doubt that
Maybe the GMs of those teams had it in mind,
but guys like Sid & Malkin are thinking about winning the Cup- not lets make sure we have a chance to pick in the top3 if MTL upsets us

In the future,
I’d love to see the 24 team playoffs stick
Still do 3 lotto drawings
But only among the 8 teams who miss the playoffs
And limit how much u can move up to 3 spots
So u can’t pick 1st unless u finish in the the bottom4
If the 8th team were to win a lotto spot,
they’d move up 3 places to 5th
If 5th place wins it, they’d move up to pick 2
Etc, etc, etc

I understand the NHL doesn’t want teams outright tanking
So keeping some sort of lotto is reasonable
But the top picks should be going to the worst teams

I think you exaggerate how “awful” Risto is
Sounds like Kruger wants to keep him anyways

Montour seems like the guy who could get moved,
especially if he’s asking for 5mil on a long term deal
Tough to guess what his trade value would be
I suppose i could see a good team give up what they think would be a late1st for him

I’m totally cool with using Samuelsson as a trade chip
He’s gotta get a lot better with his skating if he’s gonna be a top4 NHL defenseman

Idk that I’d trade Mitts now,
bc I’m guessing we’d be “selling low” on him
And i still think he’s got top6 potential

Tage & Asplund are very tradable pieces imo
Idk that they have tons of value either?
But if there’s a team out there that does like either, I’d put them in a package in a heartbeat
- jdfitz77

Even if true, the dumbest thing possible is to keep him around and let him walk as a UFA.

Dude isn’t staying here past his contract. Montour you have control over. I’d give it a 10% chance 55 is here next year. Even he said himself that when the Sabres make changes he thinks he’s the first one gone

There are also eight teams playing that will move on whether they win or lose their first series. So, not really exactly the playoffs. It's the best way to give teams that were still alive for playoff berths a chance to make it. Evening up the numbers to make the tournament work lets a couple of teams that probably shouldn't be playing into the mix. It's an unprecedented situation and their plan isn't perfect, but it is what is. Hopefully all the higher seeds advance (except for one, that is), and all this worry becomes irrelevant.
The higher seeded team you probably should be doing the advance freak about is the Leafs. Columbus could take them out, at least it seems much more likely than the Pens losing to the Habs. Or imagine if CHI takes out the Oilers?
- Ratsreign

People are also forgetting you just can't go from first to overdrive. These guys haven't played since mid-March and going right into the playoffs would be insane. That's a big reason for the play-in

This doesn't really make the Sabres better does it?
- Michael Ghofrani

Thinking bigger picture than just one move.
I think it starts to position the club nicely for 2 years down the road, but certainly other moves need to happen; two of which we have heard the Sabres were/are exploring in Alex Tuch and Josh Anderson.

C = Eichel, Turcotte, Cozens, Larsson/Lazar ... fast, creative, dominant ... can Mitts challenge
RW = Tuch, Brown, Anderson, Okposo (until bought out) ... big, can skate, physicality upgrades
LW = Skinner, Olofsson, Kahun, Mojo/Asplund ... guys can skate and score, good mix
LhD = Dahlin, open, McCabe ... can they attract a FA like C Miller
RhD = open, Joker/Montour/Miller, Borgen/Miller ... could they attract a FA like DeMelo
G = Ullmark, Peterson..young, solid, competition for #1, trade bait when/if 6K challenges

So does Turcotte and Cal Peterson by themselves improve the team? Not immediately...but boy I'd love to see those two youngins with Cozens and say Perfetti, Holtz, Rosi
That most definitively makes the team much better, faster, and more fun to watch.

Is Sam really a true first line forward? Come playoff time? I’m not sure.
- TheHank

No, no he is not IMO.

Each year watching the physicality of the playoffs tells me this team, of fragile mentality, is also relatively weak in the physical department. He's competitive, no doubt, but he'll get thrown off his game in a physical game. Of course, IMO.

After Eichel voiced his displeasure yet again, the AVS called regarding if Eichel was available. Just found out, no names were mentioned or if Botterill responded.


IMO it's suicide if you move Eichel.

No, no he is not IMO.

Each year watching the physicality of the playoffs tells me this team, of fragile mentality, is also relatively weak in the physical department. He's competitive, no doubt, but he'll get thrown off his game in a physical game. Of course, IMO.
- IonSabres

How many other players may fit that mold... tage... mitts... pilut (wait he doesn’t count)...,

After Eichel voiced his displeasure yet again, the AVS called regarding if Eichel was available. Just found out, no names were mentioned or if Botterill responded.


IMO it's suicide if you move Eichel.
- SABRES 89

Interesting, not the only one. You can't move him, atleast not yet.

After Eichel voiced his displeasure yet again, the AVS called regarding if Eichel was available. Just found out, no names were mentioned or if Botterill responded.


IMO it's suicide if you move Eichel.
- SABRES 89

I agree there. The package would have to be insane. And not worth a team doing.

The question is will Kim return the call and does it help them get “leaner”. 🙄

After Eichel voiced his displeasure yet again, the AVS called regarding if Eichel was available. Just found out, no names were mentioned or if Botterill responded.


IMO it's suicide if you move Eichel.
- SABRES 89

Meh
I gotta believe 15 teams will call about his availability.
Why wouldn't a GM at least call, as well as maybe throw out a bull poop offer.

Thinking bigger picture than just one move.
I think it starts to position the club nicely for 2 years down the road, but certainly other moves need to happen; two of which we have heard the Sabres were/are exploring in Alex Tuch and Josh Anderson.

C = Eichel, Turcotte, Cozens, Larsson/Lazar ... fast, creative, dominant ... can Mitts challenge
RW = Tuch, Brown, Anderson, Okposo (until bought out) ... big, can skate, physicality upgrades
LW = Skinner, Olofsson, Kahun, Mojo/Asplund ... guys can skate and score, good mix
LhD = Dahlin, open, McCabe ... can they attract a FA like C Miller
RhD = open, Joker/Montour/Miller, Borgen/Miller ... could they attract a FA like DeMelo
G = Ullmark, Peterson..young, solid, competition for #1, trade bait when/if 6K challenges

So does Turcotte and Cal Peterson by themselves improve the team? Not immediately...but boy I'd love to see those two youngins with Cozens and say Perfetti, Holtz, Rosi
That most definitively makes the team much better, faster, and more fun to watch.
- IonSabres

How much has changed in direction with Botts gone, do things get revisited know, gonna be a interesting next 6 months I hope.

Meh
I gotta believe 15 teams will call about his availability.
Why wouldn't a GM at least call, as well as maybe throw out a bull poop offer.
- IonSabres

15 teams can't afford him.

Here’s my argument for trade 8 or trade up.
1.We won’t get Rossi or Perfetti at 8
2. Holtz not ready for 3 years
3. IF, and I mean IF Perfetti drops to 8 it’s for the primary reason he is too small
4. We need a this year solution and we don’t have much that gets us that

Even if true, the dumbest thing possible is to keep him around and let him walk as a UFA.

Dude isn’t staying here past his contract. Montour you have control over. I’d give it a 10% chance 55 is here next year. Even he said himself that when the Sabres make changes he thinks he’s the first one gone
- sbroads24

Conjecture imo
In one season he went from asking for a trade,
to liking playing for Ralph
He’s just frustrated with losing

Winning cures A LOT
We’ll have to see if Adams can make the key additions we need
Replacing ROR has been an utter disaster
And we need better goaltending

After Eichel voiced his displeasure yet again, the AVS called regarding if Eichel was available. Just found out, no names were mentioned or if Botterill responded.


IMO it's suicide if you move Eichel.
- SABRES 89

One would assume they’d call Adams now then
It would have to be one heck of a package
Can’t imagine the AVs would move MacKinnon
So i think it would be tough for them to come up with something that would work

Here’s my argument for trade 8 or trade up.
1.We won’t get Rossi or Perfetti at 8
2. Holtz not ready for 3 years
3. IF, and I mean IF Perfetti drops to 8 it’s for the primary reason he is too small
4. We need a this year solution and we don’t have much that gets us that
- lulags

1- We won't know that until we see how the picks fall.
2- We won't know that until we see him up and personal
3- That's not true, depends on what teams in front of us need or prioritize.
4- We have a few pieces to use plus next years 1st.

15 teams can't afford him.
- SABRES 89

Every team in the league would find a way to make room for a player like Eichel

It would be shocking if we traded him though
Gotta imagine season ticket renewal would drop to a single digit percentile

One would assume they’d call Adams now then
It would have to be one heck of a package
Can’t imagine the AVs would move MacKinnon
So i think it would be tough for them to come up with something that would work
- jdfitz77

Don't take this wrong, because I am not saying move him, but the Ducks might be able to put a decent package together.

The players voted by team on whether to participate or not. Plans limiting their lottery opportunity if "upset" in the play-in round probably wouldn't have flown with several teams.

They should've just freakin waited until this surrogate season finale was completed before having the lottery. Then each losing team would've had the normal miniscule individual chance of winning based on points % or however, instead of seemingly combining eight teams chances into one for the drawing last night. Resulting in them each now having a 12.5% chance of winning. That, to me, is the effed up part of it all.
- Ratsreign

NAILED IT~!

Here’s my argument for trade 8 or trade up.
1.We won’t get Rossi or Perfetti at 8
2. Holtz not ready for 3 years
3. IF, and I mean IF Perfetti drops to 8 it’s for the primary reason he is too small
4. We need a this year solution and we don’t have much that gets us that
- lulags

What are u trading pick8 for though?
The problem with that is a guy like Strome isn’t worth that
And the quality of Center who would be is most likely not available

Don't take this wrong, because I am not saying move him, but the Ducks might be able to put a decent package together.
- Buff36

Would have to start with Zegras & pick 6
And then some

What would u want from the Ducks?


If i was gonna trade Jack,
I’d need something like BOTH of Ottawa’s top5 picks, AND Brady Tkachuk

That’s probably too much for Ottawa to do though

One would assume they’d call Adams now then
It would have to be one heck of a package
Can’t imagine the AVs would move MacKinnon
So i think it would be tough for them to come up with something that would work
- jdfitz77

Krueger would never let it happen.

Krueger would never let it happen.
- SABRES 89

Good seeing you 89~! And keeping the kindergartners in line as well

Conjecture imo
In one season he went from asking for a trade,
to liking playing for Ralph
He’s just frustrated with losing

Winning cures A LOT
We’ll have to see if Adams can make the key additions we need
Replacing ROR has been an utter disaster
And we need better goaltending
- jdfitz77

What are you willing to extend Ristolainen for? $42M over 6 years ($7M per), when he would have a LOT of miles (minutes) on him? Would that deal even be enough to get him signed?

There are warning signals all over with Ristolainen, including his looming next deal, the massive amount of minutes he has played, and how much longer his body can hold up (that's been amazing so far).