Taro T

Ab-so-frig-gin-lute-ly. COULD either or both be good enough to be a SOLID backup. Yes. Is there any reason to state definitively either or both WILL be a solid enough backup to pick up the slack when the rookie needs to have somebody picking up slack? No. Which is why it is imperitive for Adams to still be on the prowl for a goalie for whom the answer to that last question is YES.

The statements are spin. They're technically true, but they provide a perception that isn't accurately reflecting the degree to which they are true. He might still have a career in politics if this hockey thing doesn't pan out.

There are things that he does that are very reminiscent of when Skinner started here (not that he's great in his own end, he isn't, but he isn't a tire fire anymore) that should be easily correctable IF he is willing to concentrate on them (because they won't be anywhere close to a habit until later in this season if even then). One of them being, if you charge the point man, don't then turn away from him giving a clear lane past him. Ideally, he'd actually engage him, but even if he doesn't if he turns towards the point man's skating lane (typically towards the boards but not always) he's at least taking space away if not time as well and he isn't letting the point man easily create an odd man situation. He also can, when a linemate or the Sabres D-man creates the turnover or picks up a loose puck, also move to a place where that teammate that has the puck can get it to him. Part of Mittelstadt's problem early this season is when he got control of the puck he looked to move it out of danger but there was no pass open to him so he'd skate the puck to the boards where the forecheckers would double team him resulting in either an easily recovered dump out or a turnover. Neither Olofsson nor the other winger dujour were on the same page with him. These are 2 little things that would make him look MUCH better in his own end and would help to keep his line from getting hemmed in. Don't really want to make this a bashing Olofsson post, so won't mention any other things he should be able to easily do. And he was doing some of them when he was dealing with the hand/wrist injury.

With the Sabres cap space, absolutely expect the Sabres to retain salary when he gets traded. And have said this before, coming this close to being traded but getting a reprieve MIGHT end up being his come to Jesus moment. He can play reasonably well defensively if he really concentrates on it. Now maybe he'll actually concentrate on it. Wouldn't have money on it, but it is POSSIBLE.

Well, if the GM doesn't make any counters, pretty sure we understand why Hannifan is still a Flame.

So, what was Calgary's counter?

Technically true but doesn't seem to be the way it works in actual practice.

He became a UFA as soon as he cleared waivers. Most all the other guys available in the FA frenzy didn't become UFAs /RFAs until noon July 1.

Del Amitri is absolutely excellent. Would love to see them live. Have seen BNL at least 6 times but wouldn't go to see them if Steven isn't there. Just too much of their catalog needs his voice.

True. But that strictly affects Pegula's wallet and not the Sabres cap space. As far as the cap is concerned, only the top 23 players + guys on IR (and potentially part of the salary of a guy or 2 in the AHL depending upon who goes to Ra-cha-cha) count against the cap. It's a very good situation to be in.

The same answers as in the other thread. Yes, yes, and would look at a 1st & either a 2nd or a prospect or an Olofsson to get one.

Winnipeg experimented with that after trading for Housley. The experiment was not long lived.

Very much this. Really disappointing that Varlamov stayed on the Island. (Yes, we all knew he wanted to be there, but still was really hoping Adam's would show interest & convince him he could live on Grand Island. It would be ALMOST identical but with less traffic and fewer malls.) Personally believe one of UPL or Comrie MAY be good enough, but it is by no means a given and somebody like Varlamov would be nearly ideal as a 1B that could be a 1 in a pinch. Adams has had a decent off-season so far. Still hoping he can make it a great off-season. But not fully hopeful.

True. But that doesn't change the fact he was the Sabres 2nd best C his last season in Buffalo. Success in large part comes down to preparation to be ready for when you luck into an opportunity.

Realize that you know this, am merely adding it for people reading it that aren't up on the details of the CBA. Quinn is NOT getting put on the BF-LTIR list. He's just going to be on regular old fashioned IR. BF-LTIR ONLY comes into play if the team will need to exceed the salary cap to ice a replacement for a player (or players) on IR. With the Sabres still being over $5MM under the cap, they won't need to use LTIR to replace him on the 23 man lineup. Now, should they trade for Bobrovsky, then all bets would be off. But just don't see Florida nor Buffalo being willing to make a deal on a $10MM goalie.

Personally think that signing Tokarski indicates they will only have 2 goalies on the big team. Whether that is through running Levi & one of the other 2 already there with them trying to sneak the other into Ra-cha-cha, or making a trade for a vet and moving one or both of the other 2 isn't clear yet. But Tokarski IMHO is the insurance policy that they have a guy they trust could play a game or 2 in a pinch should the guy that ends up 3 when the dust has settled gets claimed when put on waivers. He has played adequately in small samples for Buffalo. They've seen him 1st hand in Buffalo. Subban too. And IMHO they don't trust Subban as much to be the emergency guy. (As evidenced by signing Tokarski and not Subban.)

They need to be willing to risk sending Comrie to the Amerks after they get a better 2/ 1A/B guy. (UPL too if necessary.)

Why drop to fewer than 8 legit NHLers? Run 13-8-2. If Graves or another better D shows up, then punt one. Or if a goalie trade partner wants a D in the package then punt one. Otherwise, don't see a reason to get rid of 1 just to get rid of him. Leave Bryson & Johnson in the AHL to be depth should they see a run on D injuries like they had in last year's western road trip. Wonder who signs Clague? Only way he's back now is if nobody else gives him a reasonable shot to make the parent club and Buffalo gives him the same (or better) pay to play in the A. He'd be 10 or 11 on the depth chart at this moment. (Absolute best case for him would be he's the 9 here.)

When's the last time 2 guys with walkers got into a good all out slugfest? Might get to see that one pretty soon.

Treliving seems to love to bring in over the hill goons (Lucic, Reaves) doesn't he? Hopefully that multi-year deal has MANY years on it. Would love to see him huffing around the rink in his 40's in blue and white.

Anton Wahlberg the #1 hockey name? Sounds more like a singer in a boy band.

Clague will likely end up somewhere for the league minimum again. Sabres (presuming they want him back) probably figure they don't need to give him the 10% bump to get him back. Doubt anybody else would give him that premium. They gave him $300k for his AHL salary. Doubt anybody else would top that. Could see them telling him they'd give him the same deal and he's going to look and see if he can find a team that will give him a better chance at staying in the NHL. And if the Sabres just bring in 1 new D-man, Clague probably figures he'll spend a lot of the year in Buffalo; if they bring in 2 guys, Clague probably figures between being behind Stillman and knowing they'd like to get a look at Johnson at some point that he'd have a better shot of getting back to the NHL in-season by signing with somebody that'll only give him $150k to be on their AHL affiliate. Pekar will never see a Sabres uniform. Wouldn't be surprised to see him go back over the pond. Would be mildly surprised if he doesn't end up back in Buffalo. Just he wasn't going to get a salary bump to sit in the press box.

Absolutely. But, believe there's a small set of teams that he even makes sense as being the 13. Unless you're looking for speed in your bottom 6, you're not looking to add him. He is not going to bring the heavy game that a lot of 4th lines are expected to bring. And because theres a limited set of suitors for Jost, Adams has a good chance of being right on his valuation of Jost.

Would be cool if the guy the Sabres wanted to trade up for 2 straight years ended up falling into their lap where they were. But it could be like the story about when Murray wanted to offer all 3 2nd round picks in '14 for Tuch. Well, yeah, but that was after he'd tried to trade up to grab Dylan Larkin. Don't know if Kulich and Wahlberg were both THE targets last year and this (expect it was the case last year, don't really care if it was this year) but nothing wrong with letting the player think he was THE guy even if he wasn't. He's the guy now.

Thought the Sabres were the only team to put in a claim on him last year when he was on waivers. There isn't going to be a whole lot of space between what the Sabres offer him and what somebody else might offer. Until he signs with somebody else will expect him to be a Sabre in '23-'24.