nfreeman

I've been a McCabe fan for a while, was pretty confident that he'd bounce back from an injury-marred last season and am very happy that he's doing so. He's become a pretty important part of this team. He's not a star, but he's solid at both ends and is responding well to both Howie and to the opportunity to get top-pair minutes with Risto. As @dudacek notes, his long-term role is probably 2nd-pair. I think he can fill that role pretty capably for a long time. And defensemen like that don't grow on trees. I'd be happy with a 5-year extension. Not sure what the right average $$ per year is -- maybe $3MM - $3.5MM?

But a lousy team looking to sell off a good roster player probably wants picks and/or prospects, innit? And if the Sabres make that kind of trade -- like, say, a low #1 for Panarin or KO, Nylander, Guhle and a low #1 for Kane -- doesn't that make them a contender this season? I think you're right about this -- I would guess that he is a pretty good leader and is well-respected in the room. Maybe it's just me, but I haven't liked KO's game for the past few games. Nice assist to Casey last night though, to be sure.

Awesome.

I would trade KO in a heartbeat, and pay someone a lesser pick or prospect as a sweetener, if JBott could find someone to take KO's contract. Hoss can certainly speak for himself, but I think he meant that any trades he'd be interested would involve the Sabres parting with picks and/or prospects -- not roster players (or at least not roster players with big roles).

I’ll also add that IMHO the “getting dominated in the first half of the game” factor wasn’t as bad as in the prior few games, but it was still absolutely there, and without outstanding goaltending, the Sabres would’ve gotten smoked. But still: another awesome comeback win! I’d like to see them treat the home fans to a strong and exciting win tomorrow and start to rebuild a home ice advantage.

I don’t agree at all. I thought that line was quite effective last night and TT played well.

I seriously think that was the best game I can remember him playing. Solid as a rock -- and on a night when they were down to 5 D. Welcome!

@DarthEbriate -- I agree that TT's role hasn't solidified yet, but it's not like he's played that much either. I'd love to see him earn the role as "forechecker and sniper on 2ndary scoring line" -- which is what Howie is giving him a chance to do by putting him with Reino and Sobotka. Let's see how it goes.

FIFY.

Welcome!

I for one am looking forward to seeing TT-Sobotka-Reino get a full game together.

Pittsburgh's line combinations (turns out Chad Ruhwedel is on their 2nd D pairing!): LW C RW Forwards Tanner Pearson Rating: 72.2#79 LW Evgeni Malkin Rating: 83.8#7 C Phil Kessel Rating: 77.6#17 RW FL1 Rating Rating: 77.87#15 FL1 Jake Guentzel Rating: 78.1#18 LW Derick Brassard Rating: 73.0#80 C Patric Hornqvist Rating: 78.2#16 RW FL2 Rating Rating: 76.47#4 FL2 Dominik Simon Rating: 71.8#84 LW Derek Grant Rating: 68.7#180 C Daniel Sprong Rating: 74.8#32 RW FL3 Rating Rating: 71.77#21 FL3 Zach Aston-Reese Rating: 72.4#77 LW Matt Cullen Rating: 69.1#175 C Bryan Rust Rating: 73.4#54 RW FL4 Rating Rating: 71.64#5 FL4 Defensive Pairings Defense Jack Johnson Rating: 71.0#95 LD Kris Letang Rating: 81.3#4 RD DL1 Rating Rating: 76.15#10 DL1 Brian Dumoulin Rating: 75.2#24 LD Chad Ruhwedel Rating: 71.0#81 RD DL2 Rating Rating: 73.08#20 DL2 Olli Maatta Rating: 73.2#48 LD Jamie Oleksiak Rating: 71.7#81 RD DL3 Rating Rating: 72.43#5 DL3

I agree there is no way he re-signs with the Sabres. He is going to LA, NYC or Vegas. But still: there are a lot of potential playoff matchups that aren't impossible. And CBJ is one of them, as they will likely be pretty demoralized after they unload Panarin and Bobrovsky at the deadline. Imagine how freaking psyched you would be on the eve of the playoffs if they added Panarin and a solid defenseman, earned the #3 slot in their division and faced Toronto in the first round. Eichel vs Matthews for generational bragging rights, and now Eichel has on his side Skinner, Panarin, Dahlin and much better goaltending than the Leafs. Now imagine how psyched you would be on the eve of the 2nd round after we send those hosers packing. I don't think I would be able to sleep at night.

But Panarin?!?! Who has 15 pts in 17 career playoff games?!?! If the Sabres are solidly in the playoffs and probably not playing Tampa in the first round, and if they can get Panarin for a #1 not in the top 20? I want him. We have to live.

Good stuff GA.

I think you have to try to hit someone trying to stickhandle through the slot, and if a big hit is available, you have to take it.

I watched the replay and while I agree that Foligno was aiming for a big hit, I don't think it would've been, if it connected, a late hit or otherwise cheap shot.

I'm not sure whether you are questioning my proposal for being too cheap to get Kane, or questioning others' proposals for being too expensive. In any case, would you not pay a few assets like Nylander and a #1 (and maybe a #2 and Guhle) to upgrade from KO to Kane? How so? If he does something else? I don't think there is anything outstanding against him, innit?

Ooooooooooooohhhhh. I would too for Panarin in that scenario. To get to drive the Ferrari during the return to the playoffs? With Eichel, Dahlin and good goaltending? Yes indeed.

Pommer has had an extremely nice weekend with the goal in the SO to keep the Sabres alive and then the GWG last night. This is a good post and I largely agree, but I would like to know specifically whether you would give up a #1 for a pure short-term rental? I agree, but I think the parameters are a little looser -- I think JBott would give up a #1 for a good 26-year-old with 2 more years under contract. Same question though: would you give up a #1 for a pure short-term rental? You're kinda touchy lately. Everyone's just trying to enjoy some hockey talk here. I agree that he didn't do enough at the deadline -- esp. in 2006!!! -- but I think dudacek was referring to Darcy's abysmal hit rate with #1 picks and failure to develop lower-round picks.

But my point is that it's not the same # of goals! If player A is 35-55-90 and player B is 20-70-90, then A's team has almost certainly scored more goals when A is on the ice (A's 35 goals, plus 55/1.7) than B's team has scored when B is on the ice (B's 20 goals, plus 70/1.7).

I agree -- Nylander plus a #1 plus KO was my proposal. And you may be right that it might cost more than 1 of the first-rounders -- not sure I'd do it at that price.

I would trade KO, a #1 and Nylander for Kane in a heartbeat. But they have to take KO in the deal. Kane has 4 more years on his deal at $10.5MM per year; KO has 4 more at $6MM per year. Kane turns 30 tomorrow; KO turned 30 7 months ago.

I think to answer the question we need to know where the Sabres are in standings. If they are 5 points out of the 2nd WC spot, the analysis is different from the situation in which they are tied for that WC spot, which in turn is different from the situation in which they are solidly in the playoffs and tied for 2nd place in their division. Let's suppose they keep playing well, probably lose a few more games in which they are dominated for the 1st half of the game by a high-end opponent (unlike winning ALL of those games as they have been recently), but are still solidly in the playoffs as we approach the deadline. In that situation, any deadline additions would be made with an eye towards winning a round or 2. I don't think in that situation that JBott would trade a 1st-rounder for a pure rental (ie a guy only under contract for the rest of this season). I can see him doing so for the right guy with term remaining though, or trading a 2nd-rounder for a rental, or a 2nd-rounder that becomes a 1st if they re-sign him, or something like that.

Dude.