nfreeman

Well, you could come up with some kinda Corsi or Fenwick or other #fancystat benchmarks. Or you could leave it to the mods (who will probably find a material Bogo improvement).

I think dudacek's prediction of an under-the-radar acquisition who turn out to be legit top 4 material sounds pretty good (mostly because I think there will be bidding wars for whomever Anaheim decides to trade and any other well-known guys, and JBott will be too levelheaded to bid too much -- but I also think he'll recognize that they need another real defenseman). I've said this before, but he was the 2nd-most exciting Sabre I've ever seen. There haven't been many NHL defensemen who moonlighted as NHL centers.

Wowie Housley! I find it a bit interesting that TP went for the up-and-coming-assistant type for both GM slots and both coach slots this summer, after the two established-successful-albeit-with-questions coaches he hired both bombed. I will join the group predicting a Bogo renaissance. Go Sabres.

If Craig Button isn't a complete bozo, he's in the ballpark.

Taro -- if Vegas takes Moulson or Ennis in exchange for a #3 or better, I'm claiming victory in the disagreement. Obviously, if there is no sweetener, you win. I will also stipulate that you win if it's a #5 or #6. Who wins if it's a #4?

Well, I was joking about the women-only screenings (which did occur where I live, btw) -- certainly not as a "shot at women" or as a political comment.

I would trade Reino and #8 for Kane in a heartbeat. And I would add Evander if Chicago wanted to add Seabrook. (And that might be what gets it done for Chicago -- Seabrook is 32 and under contract for SEVEN more years at a $6.875MM cap hit per year.) Boom!

I think that Vegas will probably look to end up with an expensive #1 and a cheap #2. Out of the cheap #2 guys, as you point out, some will currently be on teams from which Vegas will prefer a different player -- reducing the # of alternatives to Linus. I also think the $750K isn't that big a deal in terms of locker room discord in the AHL. If he's in the AHL, Ullmark will probably be one of the best players on the team. Also, with the MODO seal of approval he's probably a pretty likable guy. I just don't see them taking on a lousy player on an albatross contract unless they are paid to do so -- so if their choices are Moulson or Ennis with no bribe, or Ullmark, who is young, credentialed, cheap and has upside -- I think they're taking Ullmark.

You're right. I guess I'm assuming that it's not a #1 or a #2, and I'm happy paying anything less than that.

My wife and I saw "Wonder Woman" over the weekend. (We found a screening that men were permitted to attend.) The last 20 min or so were pretty corny/formulaic, but overall it was pretty good.

I call BS.

That would be great and a very nice opening move by JBott.

I'd agree with this if the $$ were substantial, but it's $750K per season.

This is certainly reasonable and probably right. However, I don't think it supports Taro's point, which was that a 1-way deal would make it unlikely that Vegas would take him.

Why not? He can still be sent down -- Vegas would just need to pay him the $750K. That doesn't seem like a big deal. Vegas definitely takes him before they take one of the Sabres' bad contracts, IMHO.

And maybe Lehner is the price the Sabres pay to unload Moulson? That would create about $8MM-$9MM in cap space for next year (although they'd need to spend some on a goalie).

Interesting. Let's say Lehner's agent told JBott that Lehner wants $5MM x 5 years, and JBott thinks he can probably get a deal done for $4.5MM x 4 years, but not much less. Would JBott rather pay that price for Lehner, or expose him in the expansion draft?

I loved Lindy, but I'm calling NFW on him returning at this point (as a prediction, not a preference).

Very happy to see this, Swamp. And for the other similarly situated fathers: good man.

Great post Flagg. Thanks.

OK, so it's Monday night. What's the ETA for the announcement of a hiring? Friday?

Well, boys, you're not exactly overwhelming us with detailed arguments in support of your positions here.

Pinning this bad boy until we have a HC.

Here's a thread for non-Sabres expansion draft action. Fire at will.