nfreeman

Do you not think there is a good likelihood that Vatanen would be more of a difference-maker for the Sabres over the next, say, 7 years than Reino?

Good call. I agree with much of this too, but it's still significant to Peterson if Ullmark is taken in the expansion draft.

Interesting. In what respect do you see it as a statement to Peterson?

I'm not sure who it was, but there was a guy from the Hockey News on WGR in the last day or 2 who essentially guaranteed that Anaheim trades Vatanen before the expansion draft. He said the price is going to be a bit depressed because he had a bit of a down year and got hurt at the end of the season (I think his shoulder) and is out until New Year's. Based on Phil's presser today -- Reino for Vatanen?

I think the likelihood is fairly high that Reino was discussed in the interview and they are both lukewarm on him and OK with trading him for a good defenseman if available. Maybe, but I also think it's possible that he knows he's going to have to live with MM and Ennis for the next couple of seasons and wants to buck up their confidence. As I mentioned above, it's at least 50/50 that the omission of Reino was intentional and due to Phil and JBott having the same lukewarm opinion of Reino. Good to see ya sir!

Welcome Horseheads!

Do Capuano and PH have history together?

Very nice. Me too.

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).