nfreeman

Interesting. I certainly wouldn’t be surprised. Like the Byram-Mitts trade, any real trade this summer will be informative as to KA’s pro talent evaluation abilities. So far I think the jury is still out.

I too was generally unimpressed with KO, although he was far from their biggest problem. He is 100% right in saying that he could tell in October and November there were major issues. They were freaking terrible in those 2 months.

You’re completely justified in doubting last year’s group. But next year’s group now includes a HOF coach. Lindy is going to be a huge improvement over DG.

I kinda think they are going to bring in a couple of real vet forwards with the goal that they will flex between the 2nd and 3rd lines. We shouldn't kid ourselves though -- no one good enough to fill that role well will come here on a 1- or 2-year deal. It's going to be at least 3 years, and the AAV will seem too high given the player's production. That's how it goes when NHL Siberia is shopping in the UFA market. I'm not expecting a good vet defenseman -- I think they are going to go with the guys they have, although a trade of Joki or Muel wouldn't shock me.

No sir. They are about to reward your patience.

This is low-key an interesting question about the roster next year IMHO. JJP, Quinn and Tuch are locks for 3 of the top 4 winger spots. Who will be the 4th? Skinner? Benson? Greenway? A FA or trade FNG? A hastily promoted rookie? A deservedly promoted rookie?

Good to see ya sir!

FFS. The Leafs aren't trading Mathews under any circumstances.

Yes -- I would just add that most of them are pretty up-and-down. There is certainly the possibility that they give him a 3- or 4-year deal, he stinks right away and we are screwed. But I agree that the most likely outcome is that he is decent-to-good and, with Levi, gives the Sabres a solid goalie tandem for the duration of his contract.

I'd much prefer a 3-year deal, but if this is what's needed to get it done, I think they have to do it.

Abso-freakin-lutely.

OK -- please take the political talk to the politics club.

I just saw a similar article about the major benefits of taking the stairs instead of the elevator/escalator -- even a few flights of stairs per day makes a huge difference. We'll all need to live long lives to have enough time for this GD team of ours to turn it around.

I really want an agent of destruction like Carrier -- preferably 2 of them -- to be brought in for the 4th line this summer. For years the Sabres' 4th line has been a series of low-impact JAGs and not-good-enough demoted scorers. I want a 4th line that will knock some heads, change the tempo of a game and get the crowd going.

Well, to be fair, the Bills were already flawed at the WR position before letting their top 2 guys go this offseason, and they have an elite QB in his prime, and this draft was allegedly rich in WRs -- so it's not irrational to have wanted them to stock up at the position.

If Toronto feels desperate enough, there will be plenty of bidders offering much better packages than Skinner and his albatross contract, and most-to-all of those will be much more attractive destinations than the Sabres are from Marner's perspective. Don't kid yourself.

The guy you're thinking of is Javon Solomon. I think Sal Capaccio and a couple of others have compared him with Jerry Hughes, who was a great pass rusher for quite a few seasons for the Bills.

Certainly no one here would say no, but I think there is zero possibility that Toronto says yes. Also, IMHO it's the kind of offer no NHL GM would make as it would make him sound silly.

Take it easy. There is no reason to scorn those who disagree with you. It's far from risible IMHO to believe -- as every single NHL GM does -- that each potential trade asset has a price, and that it's bad business to pay far in excess of that price. Indeed, but NHL guys don't willingly leave Southern California for WNY. This. We're not talking about Brady Tkachuk here, for whom I (and I think most here) would pay a heavy price. We're talking about a good NHL winger who isn't a difference-maker, who would probably play on the Sabres' 2nd line and who has 4 goals (and 10 assists) in 37 career playoff games. One can reasonably believe that the Sabres should be open to trading their prospects for good NHL players while also believing that not every good NHL player is worth any price someone can propose.

You are in for a lot of fun. Enjoy.

FWIW, I think Quinn will be a real star if he can stay healthy. I agree that he doesn't play with much of an edge but I don't think he'll get intimidated by edgy guys either. In any case if -- and it's looking like a major if -- he can stay healthy I think he'll end up being one of the best players from that 2020 draft class.

I would be shocked if either Lindy or KA is fired during the season. If they are not better next season then I can see KA being canned but Lindy being retained.

I think they traded Mitts because they decided -- correctly, IMHO -- that he isn't worth what it would've cost to keep him. That is not the same as being too much of a cheapskate to pay the market rate for a good player. I agree that their best hope on Skinner is for Lindy to get more out of him. A buyout next summer is also possible and IMHO much more likely than a buyout this summer or a trade at the deadline.

Congrats @inkman! That is great news. Here's some free Sabrespace advice: cut down on the cannabis -- maybe weekends only? There are lots of studies now linking heavy use to depression, heart issues, etc. In any case you're going to crush it.