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Rust's salary is ~$5.12MM. The Sabres have $5.19MM in cap space with a full roster. Presuming no rostered players go back to the 'Burgh and there's no retention, the Sabres would have only ~$900k in space after adding Rust (presuming a guy on a 2 way deal would be the eventual casualty of Rust getting added to the roster). Personally, am OK with the Sabres running that tight to the cap (heck, wanted them to do that the past few years) but doubt Adams will be comfortable operating in that space. As soon as you have 2 guys out on IR you start to have to make use of BF-LTIR to fit everyone onto the roster. So, expect the Sabres would say no.

If the Pens say no to any retention on the cap hit, you would then say no to the deal? For the sake of argument, if Rust was a factor in a playoff run and possible qualification, the revenue return would more than compensate for not getting a Pitt’s retention. Ultimately, a nickel and dime approach to business will end up losing dollars.

IF the Sabres were to cut a deal with the Pens, would expect they'd retain ~$1MM of the cap hit. Trading Rust would cement that the Pens are in rebuild mode. And they've got ~$13MM in cap space with a full roster currently. When Malkin's deal goes away next year, they'll never even notice that $1MM they'd be retaining.

If Pitts wanted to move on from him and his contract, then the compensation for him should be reasonable. A 5 mil per for the next three years for a second line forward is not outlandish, especially when the cap is going up. However, if you are a penny pinching and not serious franchise, then he is a player you would not be interested in.

HAPPY 100th Birthday Marv Levy!!

Rust is under contract with a 5mil cap hit for the next 3 seasons.

Both your views make sense. I lean towards Rust because it sure would be advantageous to have another veteran presence in the room when facing a tough spell. Last year, when we were subjected to the losing streak, the team couldn't handle the adversity and lost its confidence. The team never recovered from that season sabotaging spell. It just seems to me that if the GM could add another second line forward to the mix, (whoever it might be) it will provide a lot of line flexibility.

Thinking there might be some big trades still to come. I doubt they involve Sabres even if we have assets to trade with. Seems like the McTavish situation with Ducks, and the fact a lot of teams with cap space and assets to trade with need a top6 upgrade on C, has the trade market on hold.

Biggest problem I have with their plan and the pace they operate on is that they forever get caught in a cycle of people wanting out as they reach their limit with the most recent plateau. I firmly believe Dahlin is at his breaking point and if this season goes badly (which it most likely will with what they did and didn't do) he's the next one who will want out. and so it will repeat yet again.

Just felt another earthquake. Magnitude 3 a couple of towns over (10 miles away). Not a fan. https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/?currentFeatureId=us6000qxsb&extent=39.69662,-75.81116&extent=41.50446,-72.93823

Is Ratzlaff ahead of him? He’s a year younger.

Why?

I’ve said this for a long time that the owner is the primary source of the degrading of this franchise. The organization is structured the way he wants it to be structured and he has also made the major staffing hires. In addition, he has established the financial parameters/restrictions that the staff has to work within. As you point out, even after making debilitating blunders during his ownership tenure he has had more than enough time and opportunities to get this lost franchise back on track. He’s a stubborn rich fellow who doesn’t have the self-awareness to know what he doesn’t know. I haven’t been an advocate of making blockbuster deals that strip away a lot of our young talent this offseason. However, a little more activity by our GM this would have been beneficial. The lack of urgency is troubling. When you are in a race and are ambling along while your competitors are running hard, you will continue to be a back of the pack competitor.

Levi and Ratzlaff in Rochester. Where does Leinonen fit in?

D actually playing D instead of just trying to drive offense. What a concept.

Well ya, Adams moment to begin changing the franchise was when he started and he tore it down by trading the big 3 away. Problem is he started a rebuild basically following the same methods and plans. Why? Well, because I think Pegula is our actual GM and KA just does the grunt work, but in terms of all the big hockey decisions and the direction, that's all Terry. and Terry can't admit his ideas are just plain wrong.

And to think… Levi thought he was ‘worthy’ of Bryson money!😉

Trumps timing on this is horrible, he should have fired her in January.

The league is getting smaller and teams with the bigger defense were 5-7 in the first two rounds of the playoffs. I don’t post other peoples work but I can point you in the right direction if you’d like to read for yourself.

You mean other than the 6 D 6'0 or taller all weighing 195 to 220 lbs with two of the top 3 6'4 or taller? (and the entire top 4 6'1 or taller and all 200 to 220 lbs. All of these D registered 82 or more hits with Kulikov at 114 and Mikkola at 137. They also all block shots.

How he treated and disparaged the owner’s daughter was a factor in the owner souring on the GM. But if my memory is correct the GM’s combative relationship with the owner’s long time financial advisor for his businesses was a major factor for his departure. And as you seem to indicate there were multiple reasons for the GM to leave.

Polian’s biggest issue was a disregard for Wilson’s daughter who was a scout at the time. John Butler took over after Polian and spent like a drunken sailor so I don’t think Littman was as big an issue at that time. Knox left over finances, I don’t believe that was an issue with Polian but I wasn’t that dialed in during those years.

I just don't think that KA has the ability to be bold enough and strategic enough to make the necessary moves to change the dynamic in this fluttering franchise. The irony is that the GM (maybe forced to) brought on Jarmo as a senior advisor who is better suited to make the necessary changes.

Looks like taxpayers will pay $1.1 billion for the Commanders' new stadium.

Polian clashed with Littman, Wilson's finance overseer for the Bills and his Detroit businesses. Polian got tired of Littman and his interference in how he wanted to run the football operation. It got ugly. There are conflicting stories regarding whether Polian quit or was forced out by Wilson because how he combatively dealt with Littman. The main issue which caused the conflict between these two related to player contracts. I'm not contradicting your point about the cap manipulation but noting that after the SB run the business side of the operation started to clap down on salaries. Also, Littman had a longer trusted relationship with the owner than the volatile Polian did.