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The buyout went from 700k per season before this season to 1.4 if bought out next off-season. As usually, another great decision by GM Howdy Doody.

I think we're a better overall team now and you do too. I think we had them and weren't a playoff team. We used their talent, in part to aquire different talent, but I wouldn't want to go back to that time.

Just buy out Samuelsson. Time to move on.

My general point is that if the hockey operation was competently managed, they all would still be here. The hockey operation mishandled the Reinhart and Ullmark contract negotiations. They both would have stayed. (I believe that we both agree on that point.) However, both players ended up getting out after not getting the extension done when it could have been done. There’s no question that due to overall mismanagement we lost three good players when it could have been avoidable. That’s how I see this issue of losing players that we already had.

Yes, but your previous post implied that all three players thought the organization was a train wreck before they left and the fact is, only one ended up at that conclusion before he asked out. Sam and Linus apparently thought highly enough of the situation that they were really, really close to signing here before ultimately walking. Sam was actually even apologetic on his way out.

It’s not about one player and position. We had Eichel, Reinhart and Ullmark on the roster. Because of a lot of factors they all wanted out and got out. You don ‘t think our situation would be different if they stayed? The critical issue goes beyond particular players as it does to the overall hockey operation.

There’s a couple players that took team friendly deals. If there’s one person that should take a team friendly deal it’s Tuch. And if he won’t then let him go. Make it clear to the fan base that he was asking for too much and for too long. He won’t get the type of contract he’s seeking from any other team in the league. This is the Skinner contract situation all over again. We’re going to overpay and for too long because the team feels like they can’t let him walk.

Muel is a waste. Just buy him out next year(should have done it this summer). The happiest person right now…Bryson.

There is another issue related to this discussion of playing in the prime performance years that you are not addressing. That is players such as Tage and Dahlin are in their prime years now. And their elevated performances are being wasted with too much focusing on the future rather than the present. And don’t kid yourself not thinking that players such as Tage and Dahlin are fed up watching the playoffs from their couches instead of being on the ice.

I agree. That's not what I responded to.

If they can pay a stiff like Muel, they can pay an actual needed talent in Tuch.

Your guess is not my guess. I don’t think it is unfair to believe that with this current roster along with Ullmark caliber roster the Sabres should be a playoff team this season.

Mrtka at this point seems more likely to go to the AHL. And yes, apparently he can go to AHL - I saw in another thread that the reasoning had to do with him being on loan from his Czech league to the WHL, rather than a typical North American player, not sure if that's actually what's happening, but several articles have been written about the likelihood of him going directly to the AHL. https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/mrtka-s-future-may-not-include-return-to-whl

My guess is, we'd be where we were when we had them.

I am not sure but I think it is 26/27 when that kicks in.

That is my issue. I don't know why, I don't have any statistical evidence directly related to HIM that points in that direction....its just that I feel you are going to see a slight drop off in his performance this year or next, and it will accelerate in years 2 and 3 and beyond of any extension.

Looks like the last two preseason games will be in ESPN+.

The Sabres have to take advantage of their games vs Florida in order to move up. Win more “4 point” games and gut out a few more loser points when they have their “B” game.

At this point, I don't even care that he's injured now that he's rightfully a 3rd pairing defenseman. Next man up!

Just waive him. He’s useless

Muel-PO: I must have taken a bad step. ... You go on, Master Tuch. I'm done for! Tuch: No, you're not... <R2-D2 whistles. Tuch Icewalker and Son of Ben pause in lifting Muel-PO off the sand> Son of Ben: There's an MRT-K Assassin droid available... For nine games? Tuch: Well... umm... Hey, we'll come back for you. We promise. <Tuch and Son of Ben set Muel-PO back down and hop onto the speeder with R2.>

Although your response is well reasoned I still to a great degree disagree with your general point. It should be noted that the return for him in a deal would be minimal due to his current contract status. And it should be noted that it's very probable that a Tuch departure would hurt the team. There is a context/history here that hangs over this middling franchise i.e. a generation of not qualifying for the playoffs when nearly half the teams in the league qualify for it. It's about the now and demonstrating a sense of urgency to a rapidly diminishing fanbase. I'm not overly concerned about the back end of Tuch's next contract. Tuch is in his prime now. If he can stay within that high performance level for the first half of his extended deal, I would call it a good deal for this forlorn franchise.

Yeah... they can make reasonable accomodations on a multi-year renovation. They don't exactly WANT to lose seats either.

How does that work in the playoffs though? Is it this year or next year when you're now required to be cap-compliant for any playoff games?

There was no question that both players were ready and willing to sign here. So, what then what happened? The organization hesitated giving them the type of contract extension they would have signed at the earlier time. The organization made a decision not to do so. So both players waited it out and then ended up in better places for themselves. As I stated in a prior post, if this organization would have been more competently run, Eichel, Reinhart and Ullmark would still be here.