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From all the trades. My guess is gmtm will try: (a) to trade a couple of them and the 2nd rd pick to move back in the first, or (b) to trade 3 of them to grab another 2nd rounder or © trade a couple of them to a cash strapped team for a veteran (Rick Nash for instance)

I wouldn't be too overly concerned with his 2nd half numbers - sometimes these kids don't react to being traded

It depends if any of those top 3 dmen are highly rated by gmtm too? They may be

Kane only played with eichel and reinhart when O'Reilly was hurt to create one #1 line

Nope, Kane plays on the O'Reilly line, other winger the, probably ennis The edm article is interesting. Talking about their abundance of LHD a d our RHD. They proposed #8 and Bogo for #4 and Griffin Reinhart. I think I'd have to do that

Clb desperately wants a center but after Matthews there's no one worth it to (magically) around the 8th pick. #8, girgs, Pysyk and 2 2016 3rd rounders for #3.

The eichel line could use some grit, like tkachuk, as neither him nor Reinhart are overly physical - so I see that match. Too bad Girgs couldnt fill that role but he regressed big time. The cost to move from #8 to #4 is the question?? If you're going to explore moving to #4, why not give CLB at #3 a call?

I'm not sure : tkackuk has to be size and genes but maybe not the intangibles of Keller. Keller has produced at every level every tournament. Tkackuk has played with elite linemates too.

We can go after Vesey on 8/15 when he becomes a FA. Stamkos will get more than $9 per for 7 years. If you want him (and he wants to play in Buffalo which is certainly less than a sure thing) you're talking 7 $77m. For $11m a year you could get Vesey, Yandle (or comparable) and Soupy

After doing A lot of reading and video work, Keller is my pick. I know he's mostly projected in the 10-12 range and isnt big but he has IT. Super smart like Reinhart and doesn't back down, as Nylander has been know to. He can play in college for two years, gain muscle weight and be ready when some of our current player's contracts expire. Here's what I'd also do this offseason: NOT go after Stamkos - go after Vesey instead. Vesey is more the style we are building and another elite center (Stamkos) would be a good problem to have, but still a problem. Trade for Nash - NYR need picks and cap relief, Eichel needs a natural scorer. His high contract is gone after two years Top two lines: take 6 of these 7: Eichel O'Reilly Reinhart Kane Ennis Vesey Nash - pretty solid top 2 Bottom 6 - Larsson, gionta, foligno, Moulsen, somebody from above who doesn't make the top 6 (let's say Ennis), Bailey, Faeshing, etc.. goalie - resign Johnson - 2 years, 4.5m Defense - sign Soupy, 2 years $9m, trade for shattenkirk - 2016 2nd round pick, 2017 1st rd pick (hopefully low??), Pysyk and Girgenson (if needed). I may be overpaying but shattenkirk is really good. D- risto, shattenkirk, soupy, Bogo, mccabe, Franson, Nelson, gorges That, my friends, is a team with depth and a playoff team.

Keller looks great but not sure if gmtm takes a small player? Guess it depends on his ratings if the dmen that will be available there. I'll tell you though, Keller looks better than Nylander and would look great on Eichel's wing along with reinhart. He has that BU connection with Jack too

I'm coming in from CT for the weekend with Friends. I will try to buy tickets 6/1. If that fails I'll look to the 2ndary market. I heard that there is an outdoor party Friday night too that may be better than being inside?? Saturday tickets will be easy to come by

He was asked if he had an interest in Boston, he didn't come out and offer that I do himself. He's from Boston, works out in Boston (with Jack) and currently is in Boston. Of course he's going to say he has an interest in playing there. Otherwise he would have been crucified in Boston. Doesn't say anything we don't already know. Who know, maybe he already has decided he wants Buffalo to plan on Eichel's line? Or maybe not?/this changes nothing really.

He lives in Boston and works out there with Eichel in the summer. Do you really think he'd say he wasn't interested in Boston at this point? The negativity would be bad.

After poile said he was Blindsided by the Vesey decision, Veseys agent said they made it clear to poile well before the trade deadline that he was going UFA.

What's there to be uncomfortable about what he did to NAS? He told them he wasn't signing with them well before the trading deadline. He played four years in college, giving him the rght to choose where he plays. Others have very recently done the same. If he chooses BUF due to his friendship with Captain Jack, I may be able to get over it.

Caggs to edm is no big loss. He's a decent prospect but not a great one. Vesey is the one I really want to be the third part of the eichel line, and I think we have a good chance. If we can't get stamkos, I really hope he stays in TB. I Think our odds aren't great, maybe 30% for Vesey, 20% for Stamkos but either one would be great. Don't think we'll get both, cuz if we signed Stamkos, I think Vesey would see a better opportunity to make the NHL elsewhere

Oilers are forward heavy, but they have failed because they didn't bring in veteran leaders to nurture the Young forwards. Sabres have that in Gionta, gorges, Mcginn (when he was here), even O'Reilly (I realize he's young but he plays/practices the right way. Saying we could turn into the Oilers if we sign Stamkos is possibly right - yeah the Oilers of the 80s. Comparing the Oilers of now to the Sabres is funny.

How do we not need another Stamkos, and, do we have one now? Not Eichel......yet. I know he'll cost $10m per but this type of opportunity virtually never comes around. Not sure a top 10 LHD would be so easy with a top pick. ARI said they wouldn't trade OEL for it and do you want Subban at 9m per through a 2022. Call me crazy but I pay Stamkos the $ and keep the pick.

No way unless you can get a top 10 NHL dman who happens to shoot left and are convinced you're signing Stamkos and/or Vesey. Karma is we get the #1 or #2 pick but this is Buffalo, so I'm guessing it's #9. #8 or #9 still gets us a top LHD so .... I still rank Serg #3 of this group

As opposed to picking a player whom the scouts don't think can play in the NHL - lol!! In all seriousness, we have a lot of contracts and if we can package those 3s into a 2 it would make sense. If ANA loses tomorrow, we have another 3 btw. Ideal senario - win the lottery or win the 2nd pick (about a 12.3% chance) sign Vesey and trade for a top 2 dman from a cash strapped team. Also prob need a solid backup G but that should be easy

i was there, unbelievable show. Bruce payed from 8:10ish to midinght, straight through, no brreaks. I was exhausted at the end of it, don;t know how Bruce and the E Street band do it at age 67ish

I'll try - I lurk a lot but forget my password and am too lazy to reset it. My gut is that they are very interested in Stamkos but the fact he's a natural center isn't an ideal fit for a center rich team. I also think Stamkos would be interested in Buffalo given the fact he grew up 90 minutes away and wouldn't have the pressure of playing in a Canadian market. Two things would severely curtail their interest in Stamkos: 1. Being lottery lucky and winning one of the top 3 picks. Eichel's winger would be had here at a fraction of the price 2. Vesey's perceived interest in Buffalo. Again, a cheap alternative. 2 problems with Vesey; of course he's not as good as Stamkos nor will he ever be and he can't sign until Aug 15th where the sabres have to decide on Stamkos on July 1

The reason for most of O'Reilly's contract being constructed as bonus vs salary is the players escrow payment. Players pay a ton into an escrow account used for such things as paying players during a lockout and bumping up the salary cap. This 20% or so payment comes from salaries not bonuses (which are exempt). So, if you give Stamkos $10m a year, all salary he only sees $8m of that pre tax. If that $10m is structured $9m bonus, $1m salary he sees $9.8m pre-tax. Huge difference. Advantage Buffalo as not a lot of teams are willing to do that