nfreeman

Wow. I looked for KHL salary data and couldn't find anything later than 2016 -- and there is Sobotka, sitting pretty at #4 in the entire league! https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/khl-contract-salaries-highest-paid-datsyuk-radulov-kovalchuk-kontinental-hockey-league/ Having said that, I've read several times more recently that the KHL is struggling financially and that lower-tier players don't make much $$. So while you were right about Sobotka getting paid in his prior stint there, I do think he'd be looking at much less than $3MM per year now (and probably less than $1MM per year).

That was maybe the best Stimson Sabres analytics article that I've seen. Thanks.

...werewolves of London!

My preference is that RK is given a chance to work his inspirational magic with Risto and succeeds in doing so. But I think it's more likely that Risto is traded this summer. Risto really sounded like he was planning on being elsewhere at locker clear-out day, and I felt like RK dodged it a little bit when he was on the Instigators the other day and Rivet pressed him for his thoughts on Risto.

There is NFW that Sobotka walks away from $3MM to go make $125K in the KHL.

The SJ offer wasn’t there for Kane at the time the Sabres could’ve signed him — so he would’ve been weighing a $49MM guarantee against zero for an entire year. We also don’t know whether the Pegulas gave any instruction on this. Either way, though, I think if the Sabres had offered him $49MM at their earliest opportunity, he would’ve taken it.

I think Kane would've signed here for the same contract he got from SJ.

My point was simply that I’m not sure the sabres will have enough cap space for their shopping list.

A top-6 winger and a #2 center will collectively be pricey.

Careful boys. In a couple of months he'll show up at 3:00 AM and start yelling at you for these.

I think Wilson and Smith are both more likely to make the NHL roster than Nylander is. I think/hope JB said this out of respect and not because it's a real possibility. Pommer is done like dinner.

This is quite reasonable, but I still think I'd rather have Toronto's situation with Marner -- a better player who is an RFA, not a UFA -- than Buffalo's situation with Skinner.

Well, there’s no way of knowing how it would’ve worked out if JB had simply decided not to trade ROR. I don’t think we can just assume that ROR would’ve delivered a strong season as a Sabre this year like he did for STL. ROR was one of the “leaders” on a team that finished DFL, and then it sure sounds like he asked for a trade and tried to force the GM’s hand. I think most GMs would’ve traded him in that situation.

I’m on board with Skinner’s contract, but Marner is better than Skinner I see your point, but kinda think this is artificial though. The deals were independent of each other. JB certainly did well in the Skinner deal, and he was in a difficult situation with ROR, but it’s hard to polish that hunk of poop.

I think he will, although no one should expect much in year 8, which is part of the price in these deals. It's a price I'm happy to pay. They've locked up an elite goalscorer for Eichel's wing -- and one who's already shown excellent chemistry with Eichel -- for the rest of Eichel's prime. The good hockey talk in your posts that followed these was much better than "look how dumb some people are." Skinner is better than Vanek. This wasn't about optics. Others have already debunked the cap concern. I'll take the over, sir, and I'll look forward to collecting at the 10th SabreSpace meetup. 3 in addition to the one he just delivered? Yeah baby! Yeah! Oooooooohhh. That stings.

There is no plausible scenario in which the Sabres are better off for the next few seasons -- i.e. at least Eichel's 5th, 6th and 7th seasons -- if they let Skinner go. It is MUCH more likely, if he leaves, that they remain a bottom-5 loser untouchable NHL franchise, with an increasingly quiet and checked-out fanbase. #thetankwasstupid

Sergachev.

Agree 100%. I had thought for some reason that his contract was up after this coming season. https://www.capfriendly.com/players/alexander-nylander Separately: if he sticks in the NHL and hits his bonuses, he makes $1.7MM. If he stays in the AHL, he makes $70K.

Since Brodie is 1 year away from UFA, and will turn 29 in June of 2020, Calgary isn't going to get that much for him unless an extension is part of the deal -- which is possible but not likely IMHO. So, what's 1 year of a good defenseman, plus (presumably) a decent shot at re-signing him, worth? This is fairly similar to the Skinner situation, in which the Sabres gave up Pu, a 2nd, a 3rd and a 6th. Skinner was younger and probably more valuable. Calgary will most likely be looking for prospects and/or picks, so there's no unloading Okposo or Sobotka here. Nylander and a 3rd that becomes a 2nd if the Sabres re-sign Brodie?

Well, in his D3 season, Kapanen had 43 pts in 43 games in the AHL. Nylander had 31 pts in 49 AHL games in his D3 season. In Briere's D2 season, he had 92 pts in 68 AHL games. Separately: here's a bit on Nylander from the Athletic, in an article re-doing the 2016 draft: ...so he's not giving up on Nylander yet either (although he's not super-optimistic).

TJ Brodie, anyone? From the Athletic -- an article about top 20 players likely to be traded -- https://theathletic.com/1011961/2019/06/05/nhl-trade-board-top-20-players-who-could-move-this-summer/ He shoots left, he's 6'2", 180 lbs and had 34 pts in 21.5 min per game last year for a division-winning Calgary team. He's from Chatham, Ontario -- closer to Detroit, but only about 3.5 hrs to Buffalo. His contract status is obviously a major issue.

First things first -- Nylander needs to make the freaking team. Based on performance to date, that's a 50/50 proposition at best. Having said that, if he makes the team, I don't he necessarily needs a top-6 spot (and certainly not right away) to prove himself. He needs to play his game, work his butt off, and the opportunities will come. It's not like there are a bunch of good wingers ahead of him.

I think it would be serious GM malpractice to assume that any of those 3 is ready for a top-6 NHL role this season. If the Sabres are lucky, they'll get one top-9 winger out of those 3 this season. Care to elaborate?

I think it's now-or-never for Nylander this year too.

I feel your pain on those quotes, my friend. Yes -- last year he was able to elevate the 2nd line from the RW spot, even without much talent with him on that line. I think scoring depth is a huge issue for this team and having Reino on the 2nd line is an important part of the cure. This is my concern too -- I don't think he can skate well enough to cover a center's defensive responsibilities. I'm with TB on this. Skinner, assuming he signs, should be permanently stapled to Eichel. But by all means, let's get some talent to play with Reino on the 2nd line.