Trust me, that roster is far from my complete idea
- jcragcrumple

Agreed, but you paid $10M in goaltenders and you were still able to sign Reinhart to $7.5M while maintaining nearly $2M in cap room, plus you haven't traded anyone or accounted for the expansion draft.

To me, it's a myth they need to lose Okposo or Skinner to sign Reinhart.

Good teams to consider...each for different purposes.
Kong looked at it quickly yesterday and found 12 teams who could/should protect him...now, do they also want him, have assets we like that they would trade, and also have the Cap Space?

Fun stuff here to consider and debate....hmmm if only we knew a blogger who could start the convoy with a well thought out blog
- IonSabres

am thinking risto/kuemper as a base for ari

to the kings for a second and a third

don't think ottawa would be in on that but wouldn't mind connor brown and a second or third rounder coming back

I do tend to look at the players side. Most of the time, the suggestions here are very team friendly and I like to consider the other side of it. I think the last time we debated was Ullmark asking for an average starter deal. That one aged well for a bit, then he got hurt again.

I think Mitts is in a slightly better negotiating position than Tage. He's a C and is finishing the season strong in the NHL. Tage didn't have much going in his favor. I'd say 2 years at a little over 2m. Possibly still a flat cap 1 year at less. 3rd year would cost more.
- Lunaion

A bit as in 2 weeks? 🤔😉😂😅

The flat cap is rumored to be around for multiple more years. It's why I believe a 3 year deal makes sense and at a reasonable rate, say $2M or a bit under.

Yes to the 3rd year costing more, which means his actual pay is highest in year 3 compared to years 1 and 2.

am thinking risto/kuemper as a base for ari

to the kings for a second and a third

don't think ottawa would be in on that but wouldn't mind connor brown and a second or third rounder coming back
- Michael Pachla

People aren't going to agree but Ristolainen has more value around the league then people think

This likely depends on the playoff success they have, but it's why I suggested a Reilly Smith from Vegas for Ristolainen deal.

Vegas is exempt from the expansion draft, their cap hits are almost identical, and you take a one year crack at a veteran like Smith to see if you can get his mojo back and have a big season to help propel the team to the playoffs.

If the team is bad again, offload him at the trade deadline.
- kingcong39

I like the thought that went into this.
My only thought is why they would want Risto?
Pietra and Theodore at 1st and 2nd pairings is strong...Risto isn't unseating either IMO and $5.2m for 3rd pairing?
Maybe as a placeholder to get through the Expansion Draft then they move him?
I just don't see a fit there.

This is hypothetical. Jack isn't happy by the trade deadline next year, Columbus hasn't been able to get far in contract talks with Seth Jones and decides to give Buffalo a call and offers Jones, a 1st rnd pick in 2022 and say Domi or prospect. Of course Jones would have to agree to a extension with Buffalo. Would that be enough, especially if we get Guenther in this draft.

It's nice to think about an 8 year deal for Dahlin, but with how the stars are structuring their deals now, I believe the only way he's open to that is if the AAV is a gross overpay.

Think $10M per.
- kingcong39

eeek!...that's a lot for him right now...the super-high ceiling is still there but his growing pains have been mostly ugly the past two years...in this environment with a flat cap, 8yr./$6-7M might very well get it done (i'm hoping for 6)

People aren't going to agree but Ristolainen has more value around the league then people think
- gerbe75pts

Good, go get it then

People aren't going to agree but Ristolainen has more value around the league then people think
- gerbe75pts

good...i hope you're right...however, if he's moved prior to expansion draft, like we've been discussing, what are the teams that have the cap-space and protection space to trade for him?

eeek!...that's a lot for him right now...the super-high ceiling is still there but his growing pains have been mostly ugly the past two years...in this environment with a flat cap, 8yr./$6-7M might very well get it done (i'm hoping for 6)
- Michael Pachla

I was told not to do drugs after I said that.

I was told not to do drugs after I said that.
- Buff36

saturday mornings are perfect days for that...right?

eeek!...that's a lot for him right now...the super-high ceiling is still there but his growing pains have been mostly ugly the past two years...in this environment with a flat cap, 8yr./$6-7M might very well get it done (i'm hoping for 6)
- Michael Pachla

Sabres have an excellent opportunity to get long term value deals on Jokiharju and Mittelstadt.

Bridge Dahlin, he’s not agreeing to a long term deal right now anyways. Makes 0 sense for him to

saturday mornings are perfect days for that...right?
- Michael Pachla

It doesn't even need to be Saturday, pretty much up for any day.

there's a lot of salary cap flexibility if ka/jk can a.) get vegas to take miller and b.) convince okposo to go on ltir...the two kid lines are not going to account for much even after re-signing phatty and asplund...here's a lineup with some re-signs and fa's to use as a base

skinner (9) - Jack (10) - skunk (7)
rutso (925k) - cozens (895k) - bjorkie (1.6)
asplund (1.1) - mitts (2) - his tallness (1.4)
olofsson (3) - sheahan (800k) - reider (8.5)

caligula (800k) - gus (2.2)

dahlin (6) - d. savard (4.5)
m. reilly (3.5) - joker (2.5)
bryson (900k) - risto (5.2)

borgen (950k)

ullmark (4.5)
drieger (2.5)

waive eakin (1.125)

total according to capfriendly: $74.275m
- Michael Pachla

Wow, you REALLY love Reider! 😉😂😅

Why bring back Sheahan to have Girgensons at $2.2M ride the bench?

I like the thought that went into this.
My only thought is why they would want Risto?
Pietra and Theodore at 1st and 2nd pairings is strong...Risto isn't unseating either IMO and $5.2m for 3rd pairing?
Maybe as a placeholder to get through the Expansion Draft then they move him?
I just don't see a fit there.
- IonSabres

That's why I began the idea with it likely depends on their playoff success, meaning if they don't get to the cup finals and they get worn down again, they're more likely to take a one year crack at Mr. Toughness Ristolainen, especially with Smith having a down year.

Calgary has been trying to get sam for a while
- gerbe75pts

We were told that Sam for Tk was laughable.

What do you think a reasonable trade would be for him?

eeek!...that's a lot for him right now...the super-high ceiling is still there but his growing pains have been mostly ugly the past two years...in this environment with a flat cap, 8yr./$6-7M might very well get it done (i'm hoping for 6)
- Michael Pachla

Who was the coach during the 'mostly ugly' the past 2 years, and how did Dahlin look both before and after said coach?

eeek!...that's a lot for him right now...the super-high ceiling is still there but his growing pains have been mostly ugly the past two years...in this environment with a flat cap, 8yr./$6-7M might very well get it done (i'm hoping for 6)
- Michael Pachla

I don't think there's a prayer that Dahlin would sign an 8 year deal for even $7M per when more than half that deal will be in a post flat cap era.

If you're his agent, would you suggest Dahlin sign that deal? I sure wouldn't.

Sabres have an excellent opportunity to get long term value deals on Jokiharju and Mittelstadt.

Bridge Dahlin, he’s not agreeing to a long term deal right now anyways. Makes 0 sense for him to
- sbroads24

Totally agree.

Move out of the top pick in the draft plus add a good middle six forward for cheap, to just get rid of 6 mil in cap?

No way in hell
- sbroads24

To needle Crag a bit, his idea involves paying the tandem of Ullmark and Freddie Anderson a combined $10M for their cap hit.

Sabres have an excellent opportunity to get long term value deals on Jokiharju and Mittelstadt.

Bridge Dahlin, he’s not agreeing to a long term deal right now anyways. Makes 0 sense for him to
- sbroads24

maybe but dahlin would come out of an 8 yr. deal, riding the peak of his prime at 29 yrs. old...

am curious, what are you thinking in all three cases?

What an bumhole! 😂😅

Totally agree.
- kingcong39

Nothing makes sense right know

What an bumhole! 😂😅


- kingcong39

Yeah but did he autograph it

This is hypothetical. Jack isn't happy by the trade deadline next year, Columbus hasn't been able to get far in contract talks with Seth Jones and decides to give Buffalo a call and offers Jones, a 1st rnd pick in 2022 and say Domi or prospect. Of course Jones would have to agree to a extension with Buffalo. Would that be enough, especially if we get Guenther in this draft.
- Buff36

The problem with that is I do not think he will be a center he's a winger.

So we have a massive hole if we trade jack