Hoss

He’s a free agent Botterill publicly indicated they had no interest in retaining. That’s so because he sucks.

Today is Vladimir Sobotka’s birthday. Everyone has to be nice and like the trade now.

The thing about all of Cartier, Baptiste, Bailey, Fasching and so many other prospects the Sabres have had recently is that they’re all noted to be solid at a lot of stuff but not great at anything. Thompson is noted to have a wicked shot. If you’re at least great at something and competent elsewhere you often have a much better shot (no pun intended) at sticking in the league. Olofsson is another in this category. Ales Kotalik thrived with his shot.

How does this trade put them “back to where they were before the tank” in regards to Girgensons and Larsson, both of whom likely don’t have a place in the lineup right now?

He had me up until his parents named him Tage.

My hope is that the next step for Buffalo is to use McCabe (or maybe, but not ideally. Scandella) and one of these firsts to land another winger. Just throwing out names off the top of my head: Tanner Pearson/Tyler Toffoli, Jacob Silfverberg, Nino Niederreiter, Boone Jenner, Jeff Skinner (with an extension)... etc, etc. Not saying all of any of those guys require a first but a package of McCabe and a first has to appeal somewhere. Pearson is a favorite target of mine because he’s been in the rumor mill and will now be pushed even further down the LA lineup with Kovalchuk added. Toffoli was mentioned as a possible target at one point, as well.

Botterill once again mentioned Reinhart’s ability to play center tonight. I think they’ll give him another run there.

Sheary - Eichel - Okposo Berglund - Reinhart - Baptiste Rodrigues - Mittelstadt - Thompson Wilson - Sobotka - Pominville Something like that as it stands. I put Reinhart at C because Botterill suggested it when talking about their options at Center during development camp.

Indeed. I’m torn because I’m not a believer in Tage Thompson, but the overall value of what they got is certainly significant.

He does not pay the bonus.

I guess Callaway wasn’t jerking us off

Holy he was right

Yes, yes he is. Just a little while long and this place my blow.

I’ve never seen this guy report anything. Just seems like a random blogger. And on Bellows: has to be wishful thinking.

I agree completely.

I don't think that's what's going on. I think it's just a negotiating tactic. It makes sense.

Larry Brooks‏ @NYP_Brooksie 7m7 minutes ago More Islanders in on O'Reilly trade talks with Buffalo, we are told. Center is owed $7.5M bonus by midnight. Return package obviously would change from today to tomorrow.

I'm not buying it BUT having Tyler Bozak penciled in as your number two center isn't ideal. I'd expect they hope Thomas to get a good role quickly, though.

Where is this coming from? Their GM today flat out said they were out because of the price and the signing of Bozak.

I don't think he's done enough to this point, we'll see if he's got more to offer. The only actual things you can credit him with doing for the Sabres immediately this offseason: 1. Conor Sheary trade. Really like it even if there's some risk that he's JAG. 2. Signed Carter Hutton. 3. Re-signed Scott Wilson. That's it. He drafted Mittelstadt last offseason and he was already a shoe-in for the roster coming into the offseason. Dahlin was luck of the draw. The rest are almost assuredly AHL players to start. I don't feel confident there's a meaningful improvement right now. It's the same exact roster they ended the season plus Sheary, Hutton and Dahlin. Dahlin was the biggest and only real needle mover there, but he came via luck.

Still remaining from TSN's Top 75 Free Agent's List 4. LW James Neal (30 years old) 8. D Calvin De Haan (27) 13. LW Patrick Maroon (30) 17. D Brooks Orpik (37) 18. LW Anthony Duclair (22) 27. C/LW Valtteri Filppula (34) 28. D Dan Hamhuis (35) 29. G Robin Lehner (26) 35. C Mark Letestu (33) 36. LW Scott Hartnell (36) 37. LW Nail Yakupov (24) 38. C Brian Gibbons (30) 40. D Toby Enstrom (33) There's more after that but not worth listing.

He corrected it: Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger 13s Correction, $2.75 x 3 for Nash.

A popular name off the board Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger 13s Riley Nash to Columbus. 3 years, $2.4 mil per.

He said they're still working but don't have anything coming up soon. My guess is he's waiting out some other names in free agency to see if they're still available when the money stops flowing. He also specifically said the team does plan on making more changes via trade and/or free agency at some point. So he's not done. You'd hope.

JBots confirmed they are still having talks with other teams and that his bonus has not been paid yet (doesn't have to be until midnight).