...

I also think it's completely fair to consider that Botterill might be leery to get rid of talent if there's data that suggests the "problem" lies elsewhere. I'm not arguing to keep Risto, but I am saying that I don't believe his case is cut and dry, although the non-weighted fancy stats support his departure. I find the whole scenario fascinating.

Mediocre = common, average. Okay, that's fine and I won't dispute that. He does have the gifts of having an iron body and can put up points. I think under crappy tutelage and clueless coaching/usage it can lead to a statement that he's still figuring out how to play. To me, that's perfectly reasonable for a guy who has been baptized by fire with constant confusion surrounding him. Each person is different in their circumstances and how they respond. Let's not ignore @Randall Flagg's data and conclusion a few posts back. I think it supports the idea that Risto, in particular, has suffered from being handled by the wrong people. It happens. ..and, frankly, shouldn't be a surprise given what we've had in the Sabres the past, what, 8 years?

My man, Montour did not learn D under Phil. Dahlin has natural talent well above and beyond Risto and I don't think it's a valid comparison. Pilut hasn't and isn't learning his D game under Phil. I think the coaches argument in this instance is far more compelling than it would be for a lot of other cases.

I would say Riso and his "situation" might even explain why Botterill decided to create a logjam at D. He has plenty of options in handling the situation. I should say "situation".

There are other D they could trade or demote.

My guess is this...THIS...is the reason he ain't gone yet. In a round about way. This is keeping his value to Botterill and the Sabres higher than what he might be getting in offers. Simple as that. RK, being a different animal than Phil and Disco Dan, may very well use the data supplied to him by the Sabres' analytics dept. and use Risto differently. I can see this playing out beyond opening night. Risto starts here. RK uses him more appropriately. RIsto's value over the season rises. Sabres are a bubble team come the trade deadline. Risto is then a piece in a "hockey trade" netting us a legit 2C. Sabres make playoffs. Jobs are saved.

I've upgraded about 10 computers of various vintage from Win 7 to 10 and then, of course, there has been at least one 10 overhaul upgrade. Not a problem with any of them. Several are used for media production, and in all instances the user experience has improved. An IT person dealing with legacy 32 bit software solutions, likely customized to some degree, yeah, you'll probably run into some issues but the upgrade process is likely not the issue so much as the nature of the legacy software and how it was installed in the first place.

That's pretty cool. He stopped using a pump completely years ago. That's the first article I read that mentioned that. Not that I've read a lot on Domi, but, you know.

I wonder how that insulin pump is protected during games? I mean, since Domi was brought up - always been curious about that.

Suit yourself, I guess. However, I'm not certain where you get the idea Win 10 wasn't designed to work on low-spec systems.

IDK what your problem is with Windows 10, but it is by far the best version of Windows there has been. With computer problems, it's usually PEBKAM, unless there's an obvious hardware failure. Even infections come from simply not respecting and rising to the awareness level of safe computing. It's like news reports where a truck hits a house. "The truck skipped over the curb and into the house." No, the driver allowed the truck to move over the curb and slam into the house. The truck, on its own, does nothing but sit there. Sorry, don't mean to lecture, just conversing. But as a representative of my attempt to just be at the next bar stool, here is a funny gif:

Bravo, @GASabresIUFAN! Great summary of where we are, and I don't necessarily disagree with your assessments. I do think @Thorny might be speaking truth on Marner, and I wonder if the rest of the league will eventually forego waiting on that to do anything. My guess is that several scenarios are likely: Botterill might have been talking to trade partners about some of these recent RFA signings, and now it's a matter of finalizing some pre-discussed deals. IOW, I'm suggesting that contracts for someone like an ERod or McCabe might have been okayed by potential trade partners. Plan A. Botterill is beholden to the Marner situation like everyone else. If that does go into the season, then it's actually Plan B time, which is, as others have said in other threads, that we waive some guys to get under the cap and roster limit. Either way, and I'm speculating, Botterill decided to gamble a little with loading the roster with assets to maximize trade possibilities, knowing that Plan B (above) was his fall-back if things didn't work smoothly.

I think a "Mid-summer status of the Sabres, JBot what are you gonna do" thread is almost needed. Include a current list of the roster, their contract status, cap hit, and positron each. Unless that already exists somewhere.

Really doesn't matter what I would do.

I don't disagree, however how he will manage the roster has been like a slow crescendo all summer long - the need to "do something" has definitely taken the forefront at this point.

Damn, what is he, 7ft?

Just because Risto gets $5.4M, doesn't mean he's worth $5.4M.

No more than $2.65M for me. He can swing from 5 to 4, so that adds a little value.

Maybe. I haven't kept track of the decisions throughout the league to see if they're reasonable or not on average. Regardless, that's a very high ask by McCabe even in lieu of arbitration. If he doesn't get near what he thinks he's worth, will that be yet another "locker room issue"? Ridiculous in one sense, yet raises red flags in some way. In THIS case, his value as a trade piece is far greater than his value on the D corps if he's going to be miserable and injured 25% of the time.

OMG, totally. That's a way high ask for Jake and I don't mind him on the team. So, that leaves us with Jake and Risto potentially on the trade market. I think a clever GM could turn just those two guys into a solid 2C.

Looks like a TIE Fighter to me.

I have to side with the Sabres on this one. Maybe $950k. He isn't worth more than a million.