tom webster

If you think he’s any good, which I don’t.

They are not giving up a two for Schenn.

They are not mutually exclusive. I want a d upgrade more as well but adding a forward like Lafferty won’t hurt.

I’m just talking fourth line, penalty killer. The only way they upgrade top 9 at this point is with a huge swing which I think we both see as unlikely at this point.

Sam Lafferty would be a decent depth player acquisition and Lance isn’t first to connect him to Buffalo. Great skater, decent size, penalty killer.

Because of the way O’Reilly’s contract was structured, it only cost Minnesota $75K in actual cash to retain 25% of his salary in order to acquire a 4th round pick.

The issue next year should be if Buffalo is best served by having the rookie get regular playing time. Depending on injuries and possible trades or other call ups, he might be the 13th or 14th forward. I think he might still be best served by sticking with the team but I doubt the team will burn a year of his contract unless he earns regular ice time.

It only cost Minnesota $75,000 in actual cash.

Colorado, the Cup champions, would be over $30M if Erik Johnson wasn’t on LTIR and like I said, several teams are spending over 30% of their cap on defense

There are several teams over $25M on an $81m cap. Do the math, $30M on a $90M works, especially when you have your two centers locked up for just over $14M and you’ll have a your number one goalie on an entry level deal for the first few years.

When the cap is $90-$100M?

Because they are older, further along in their development. Seattle drafted low ceiling guys in order to be competitive early on. The funny thing is most of their “splash” moves that you tout haven’t worked out very well. In addition, they have spent a fortune on goaltending and it may be worse then Buffalo’s.

They didn’t start off equal. The fact they(Seattle) started with a lineup full of middle six veterans allowed it to make sense to spend to add talent. In Buffalo’s case, it did not till now. They are not at the same point and I did understand your point, just don’t agree with your premise. The Sabres are at least a year behind, if not two and already nipping at their heels.

You keep repeating this narrative that Buffalo and Seattle are in the same place in their development and this is not true. Seattle has one of the older rosters in the league and is spending to the cap. They are at least two years ahead of the Sabres timeline and are fortunate to be playing out west.

Adam Fox did the same thing.

Everyone always forgets that they traded for Murray but he turned it down, they talked to John Gibson and maybe Jake Allen. It’s not like they didn’t try.

There really aren’t that many quality receivers available in free agency. I think they will draft a guy in first couple rounds but I see room for OBJ or even Landry for a year or two.

I was under the impression that Petersen was involved Arizona goalie going to LA. I don’t think the goalie swap is what’s holding this up.

Good. Glad you are guaranteeing playoffs next year. Still hoping for this year, but next year will do.

They don’t have to regress to have a worse season next year. Injuries, opponents figuring their own issues out.

My concern with sticking to the process is the seeming presumption that progressnus linear. There is no guarantee that next year will go as good as this year with regards to not only their own success but the struggles of some of those teams around it. This could be an opportunity lost. I get this argument, save for the attitude.

And just to be clear, I’m not suggesting there is any meddling going on but there are definitely people within the organization that realize they owe fans something and “wouldn’t be unhappy” throwing us a none. Adams, on the other hand, is all about the process.

If you are in the camp that wants KA having total control, nothing happening should make you happy.

He plays both sides and prefers right

The Skinner contract will not look bad as time goes by. Whats more, for the next three years, barring injuries, Buffalo will have its top 4 forwards locked up for a cap hit below $28M and for the next two years, forwards 5 and 6 are on entry level deals. Good times!