Taro T

You sure? Not positive that ANY of us are winning with that result.

Which is why I was saying he's not a UFA for 2 more seasons; but IF the CBA has that change, well ... (And personally agree, that that is the sort of change that SHOULD be considered a big deal if it actually was/is made.)

Have not seen that ANYWHERE. Not doubting you, but do you have a link? They ARE shortening maximum contracts from 7/8year to 6/7 year. But haven't seen any reports of the age/service level to reach FA getting reduced.

Yes. But the big guys they've brought in (at least Kesselring) are supposed to be "fast and skilled for a big guy" and Timmons is more skilled than Clifton. They aren't going for JUST size in theory but are trying to find that sweet spot of all 3 (even though unless you're getting an Eichel, and those are hard to get, it's really hard to get true size, speed, and skill).

Can't find a summary of the changes to the CBA that mentions length of service - neither it staying the same nor getting shortened a year. They're reducing the maximum length of contracts by 1 year, but no data regarding when players become eligible for FA.

Provided the new CBA doesn't reduce the age/experience level to earn UFA status, correct.

Does the new CBA lower the age/experience for UFA status? If it does, then yes, Byram will be eligible to be a UFA next year. But if it doesn't, he has 2 years to wait to be a UFA.

Tops Moe-ray-all converting a 4 to a 2. Wonder who'll be the GM to convert a 6 to a 2 courtesy of the good ol' blue and gold.

True. And if he hasn't been heard in the 1st 4 or so years; why would we expect Adams to listen to him now? That 2016 draft totally hosed us. Pegula was smarter than Murray about Chychrun and Forton was smarter than Murray about McAvoy. Not sure either has been right about any players since, but that ONE TIME ...

Yeah, they aren't getting away from speed and skill; but they are moving towards the Murray model - size with speed and skill. The team is becoming heavy but still see it not playing that hard game that LA was doing when Murray decided to emulate it nor that FLA is playing that KA seems to be now trying to emulate.

Personally like Östlund (not as much as Helenius, but like him), but if a team is looking for an F prospect either he or Wahlberg is the guy I'd expect the Sabres to be willing to reluctantly part with that would actually be asked for by another team. Want the Sabres to treat Helenius like the Blues treated Thomas. You aren't offering us a good enough player for us to let you pry him from our clutches. (Now if you'd offer us X instead, for that exact same package but with Helenius included instead of other prospect THEN we might be able to find a deal; but X better be who's coming back to us.) Can't see anybody targeting Rosen. And he could surprise and become a legit middle 6er. But based when he's done so far, don't see anybody clamboring for him.

Well, they already were bad. Now they're also got the big covered. Big bad Bruins. it's on brand.

Quote: we have a lot of things to work on at the Sabres - a “critical broadcast” is not one of them. Can take that as "we're ok with the broadcast being critical; it tends to be when appropriate and we're fine with that" OR "we don't need to work to make the broadcast critical; we need to work to make it non-critical - and we will put in the necessary work."

Great thing about that tweet is it could be read either way - that they do care about the broadcast being too critical or they don't really care about it at all.

Following Beane's example of bringing in guys that are going to be your key backups to just have on year to year deals, so that if you want to keep them you can work a new deal next year and if not they count towards the comp pick calculations. What's that? The NHL doesn't have comp picks*? 🤔 D'oh!!!!!!!!!!! * Except for the very rare 1st round draft pick that refuses to sign an ELC.

Needs an extra day or 2 to decide if the extra money is worth swaping blue, white, and red for blue and gold.

Per puckpedia, it's a 2 way deal this year and 1 way the next 2.

Was looking at it from his perspective. Only reason to take this deal is if it is a 1-way deal. Which also gives the Sabres some protection should he be the 9th in the future. Not many teams are going to make a waiver claim on a guy that's barely going to be on their big club if they'd have to pay him an NHL salary to be in the AHL when he inevitably ends up the odd man out there too. (Because, lets face it, if a guy is the 9 in Buffalo (even after the season is rolling and guys are out injured) he isn't making many (any?) NHL defenses better except when they're injury racked.) And not saying he WON'T make the Sabres; actually as they now sit he has a very good chance of at least being the 7/8. Just saying that IF he doesn't make the SABRES, there isn't going to be a long list of GMs licking their chops looking to snag him.

Addition by subtraction. Had to look at the title of the thread twice to make sure it wasn't the Sabres sending Chicago the 6th rounder. He should've been a very good addition and he was absolutely horrible.

But might he be willing to waive the NTC now that the 'Nucks have their current goalie locked up LT and their "goalie of the future" breathing down his neck? Swap out UPL and whatever else it takes and take the small W.

Figure it has to be a 1 way deal. He could've just signed the QO and had a bigger salary in the NHL (should he make the squad). Great deal from the Sabres perspective. He'll still be an RFA when this deal ends too.

You watch a lot of 'Nucks games. Is Lankinen worth trading for? Or at least trying to trade for? Would he be an upgrade over Lyon?

Can't have that. Pointing out they're getting outshot is too critical. Wonder if they'll still be willing to put the score up on the screen. Can't be too negative, ya know.

And THIS is one of the things that's maddening about being a Sabres fan. They NEVER alter their plans on the fly. Going back to Regier at least. Hey we brought in Zubrus to help with the playoff run and then cut loose as we'll have Drury and possibly Briere in the fall and we don't need him as a 3C. Oh, Drury and Briere BOTH left so we have NO experienced true veteran centers on the roster. OK, well no point in making an offer to Zubrus. Hey, Bernard-Docker was just a cheap throw-in but he plays REALLY well with Power. That's niiiicccce. Doesn't change our minds about whether to keep him or not, but it's nice.

And apparently he took the lesson from that and from beating the Sabres in '06 that having a good goalie doesn't guarantee you anything if you suffer serious injuries to your top players. So, don't bother getting a top goalie. 😞