thewookie1

You must not actually be a Sabres fan

In that case I'd demand compensation and an explanation. That would absolute BS, Montreal has 3 points more than us and had played 2 more games. Had the season been stopped 1 game later and we won we'd of been 1 point back with 2 games in hand. So screw the Rangers. I'm sick and tired of the Sabres franchise being shafted by the NHL. Hell, the Rangers can't even play any home games because I doubt MSG will be open and they are by-law required to play at MSG for home games. (Remember the Winter Classic)

In my opinion Cirelli has a high floor at very least. If he can be a quicker ROR- lite than anything beyond that is gravy. At minimum he gives us a legitimate 2C the next couple years and an elite 3C for the rest. I like him for three reasons, he’s fast, defensively minded, and has a mean streak. He’s not a power forward but isn’t scared to get in people’s faces. The guy fought Orpik as a rookie or 2nd year player; so he is no wilting flower as they say. Strome may have higher PPG but he doesn’t bring anything new to the table. He’s a lesser Sam Reinhart that plays center. He’s not particularly fast or strong, not a defensive train wreck but not a PK lynchpin. He’s at best an above average player if but with perfect linemates. Truly his only NHL success has been with Debrincat and/or Kane. One was his juniors teammate and the other is a future HOFer. Kane could make me, who can’t skate, a point producer.

As Curt said Monahan is no where near a defensive stalwart. I'm always in favor of different styles of Center leading the way and Monahan won't be winning any Selke's anytime soon. In addition, to be honest, based on his goals I'd even say he's more of a secondary player/triggerman than a puck driver. He may just be deferring to Gaudreau but if not that would be a tad concerning seeing as almost every goal he scored in 18-19 was either set up for a one timer or a rebound. At most 1 or 2 out of 34 were him doing something 1v1 or the like. 7th for Cirelli looks boring thus I like to add in spices lol

Supposedly according to some people on the HFBoards there was an interesting proposal that received positive reactions from both sides. Monahan for Mitts, Montour, and 7th Overall I'd be torn as Monahan isn't a defensively gifted player thus meaning it shoves more D roles onto either Eichel or another line but it would more than likely fix our detriment in goal scoring.

I'm kinda at a loss of what to do. I started with our "7th Overall" for Cirelli and Tampa's 4th and 6th rounders from other teams. (DET and OTT respectively) Then I signed him at 6.5mil for 7 years. Overpaying now for more years with the hope he can become the faster skating ROR we desire. From there I'm now down to $27,983,333 in cap space with only 4 forwards, 5 dmen, and a goalie under contract. Reinhart I'm giving 5 or 6 years at 7 mil. Thanks to the Skinner contract we are rather handcuffed. Now we sit with 20.983 mil cap space Cozens will be our 2nd or 3rd line winger with a presence of mind to keep him protected and letting him grow. Olofsson I'm giving 4/5 years at 4.5 mil per, if I can get it lower that would be great. Now we are at 15.558 mil cap space. Kahun at 2/3 years for 2.25 mil per Thompson and Mitts get 925k contracts at whatever the typical year number is. Ullmark receives 3 years at 2.9mil We are now at 9.483 mil with 10 F, 5 D, and 2 G Pilut gets 1 or 2 years at about 1 mil per Here's where the primary issue arises, what are we doing about Brandon Montour, I like him but not at 5+ mil per and thanks to Botterill's screw ups we'll be getting approximately a 1.25mil penalty. With Montour at 5mil for 4 years and that cap penalty we end up with a whopping 2.233 mil to fill in 3C/2RW depending on where you put MOJO along with 4LW and 4C. I do have Thompson on the bench presently but I'm honestly unsure what to do with him. Thus I call up Asplund and Ruotsalainen Here's where I am at.... Skinner - Eichel - Reinhart Olofsson - Cirelli - Johansson Kahun - Cozens - Thompson Ruotsalainen - Asplund - Okposo Dahlin - Miller Pilut - Ristolainen Montour - Jokiharju McCabe Ullmark Hutton 1.25mil Cap penalty 463k Cap Space Remaining I'm at a loss of what else we could fiddle with, the cap not going up with the penalty hurts us rather badly. But more so the cap being unlikely to rise next year means Dahlin and Jokiharju will have only about 10 mil in cap space to eat as RFAs next year. McCabe, Johansson, and Hutton come off the books at year's end. Along with hopefully no additional penalties. These 4 things will give us 11.350 mil and technically Dahlin and Jokiharju bring about 1.85 mil from their contracts giving us a whopping 13.2 mil to sign Dahlin long term, Jokiharju probably mid-term and either fill in 1 F , 1 D, and 1 G with whatever remains. We will also lose one player from the expansion draft; I'd guess Kahun/Thompson or perhaps Risto/Montour barring the giving up of assets. Another problem is Mitts will need to be protected. Ok, long post done lol

I’d want contract assurances before I’d deal the 7th pick.

To put it simple if they went 24 teams in the playoffs and this lottery we would literally be the only team screwed royally as we’d be unable to get Pick 1 or a playoff spot. Nothing new there

To be honest, I'd be happy just to win the Cup even regardless of the circumstances. You can put a million asterisks for all I care but I just want to see Sabres players lifting the Cup! ****************************

It would be a bloodbath in a best of 3 between Buffalo and Toronto

Yup I’d guess for most it will be a roll into next season with perhaps a bonus. (For instance you are owed $750 so they give you $1000 toward next year) Otherwise Id guess they’ll give you the $750 minus $100 (in process fees) straight up.

Botts, honestly the only thing I still held onto about you was this and you’ve even totally screwed this up. I still don’t understand why we would take a cap penalty for overages. I can pretty easily shift stuff around on CapFriendly and get us under the cap without any LTIR.

Hmm, Linus Ullmark perhaps #35

Kaleta was #36 and it could of been an alumni puck. Other number choices would be 30 and 38 but it doesn't look like Miller

HFBoards hates Risto and isn't fond of Mitts. (Granted they are rarely fond of any Sabres players. Montour was a favorite target of the multiplicity of Leafs fans but once he went to Buffalo he was suddenly worthless) I honestly wouldn't want Strome; he has never proven to be any good without Debrincat as his winger. Outside Buffalo, Chicago is likely my most watched team and while impressive last year; he's looked slower and mediocre at best this year. He's a lesser Sam Reinhart at center; they both have many of the same problems in skating speed and a penchant to vanish for stretches. He hasn't played a ton with Debrincat this year as well which has certainly been a net negative for both players.

I mentioned the Blackhawks crew lol

The SF Giants announcers are really good, especially when its Kuip and Kruk. Regardless of the situation, they bring some humor and fun to the game, while also being very knowledgeable about the game. The Giants sucked the last couple years so they've at times had the camera man scan the crowd and they'll just talk about them lol. The Chicago Blackhawks announcers are rather good as well; knowledgeable and make nice quips. Plus, "happy humans" is one of my favorite lines I've ever heard. Every teams' announcers tend to have some homerism which is a given and needed; its when you can be a homer yet still respectful and knowledgeable about the opponents that makes a tolerable broadcast. Jack Edwards I just can't listen to, yet he's no where near as bad against the Sabres nowadays due to Eichel. Otherwise its just Boston everything for 2.5 hours. Toronto is unbearable and informative simultaneously; they know stuff but talk up the Leafs to a point of madness that would likely drive me away even if they weren't our rival. Most groups are tolerable for non-Sabres games; although that may just be due to my love of watching hockey as a whole.

Why wouldn't you watch; I can't imagine it is good for anyone psychologically to continuously watch the news and see everything burning constantly. I wouldn't want fans in the stands but if they can play games I'd be all for it. The longer we hide in our homes the worse economically and mentally scarred society will become.

Id disagree with the no untouchable statement as regardless of our results; you will not bring success by continuously cycling players through your franchise. Eichel and Dahlin would be my untouchables with our 1st being all but untouchable. The caveat being if we were offered McDavid for Eichel levels of ridiculous it would break said category.

That being said I doubt any offer out there would be worth trading Dahlin for. Rarely do trades like that work out like the Lindros one did. So no, I wouldn’t trade him short of that Colorado offer.

To be honest our depth scoring always seems to have a similar story with 2 of the 3 lines being streaky at best and 1 typically being colder than ice. This year our 2nd line was arguably our 4th line as Girgs actually potted a few this year and may have tied his career high in goals without the season stoppage. Larsson and Okposo also played very well. Okposo, when he came back from his injury truly played like I'd been hoping he'd be able to as he got older; gritty, usually smart, hard to knock off the puck, and having that veteran savvy (His goal against Toronto especially) The Sheary, ERod, insert many names here showed up in a handful of games; were ok in about 20 and either bad or actively hurting the team in the rest. Rarely did they all click in the same game thus you ended up with many games where you'd see one of them seemingly skating circles around the opponent yet having little success Frolik, I love ya man for your help with the Cup in Chicago, but you may just want to retire. You are the definition of a shell of your former self. Simmonds looked ok I guess, not worth a big contract by any means but most certainly worth a low draft pick and maybe a 1 year contract to play either 3rd/4th line minutes and be a good influence. This being said we saw like 5 games with him in our jersey and he could potentially go the way of Brian Leetch with the Leafs.

I hate the stupid CDC for these Doomsday predictions. Why not say 4 weeks? If its not better by week 3 then go back over the timeline. By making it 8 weeks you are only going to create further panics to purchase goods.

I'd guess until a player gets it they will play without crowds. At the end of the year they may delay everything a week or so in order to give more time so they can get the fans back safely.

Burn that post

If it’s Pick 10 or lower, I’d target with it but above that it would be come more difficult to part with the pick.