Hoss

Pittsburgh did not give Justin Schultz a qualifying offer, making him a UFA

A quick Twitter search shows this originated with Eklund. You should probably disown your brother. Nashville is the team I said from the beginning is the best fit if all things were equal but I don't think they can make it work financially.

I just re-watched the opening sequence again. What a great job. The score was fantastic this episode, from beginning to end.

Mike Russo, as reliable a local hockey reporter as you'll see, said GMTM had talks with Minnesota about Brodin and/or Scandella but Chuck Fletcher asked for Samson and Murray said no. If the asks of Larkin for Shattenkirk, Samson for Scandella/Brodin and a 1st and top prospect for Fowler all stand then there's simply no way these defenders get moved. I understand you ask high then negotiate a lower deal but these aren't even in the same stratosphere of what it should take.

Filip Forsberg signs a 6-year deal in Nashville for $6 million per season.

I don't think the talent matters. It's an awkward situation all around when you're constantly in trade talks and your team approaches you about waiving it. It'd be my guess that teams are the ones that leak info on asking players to waive their NMCs because it puts more pressure on them to waive it. He has two cups now but also likely realizes he's a backup full time now. Plenty of talented teams have seen players dealt who had NMCs or NTCs. It also appears he only has a modified NTC.

No-movement clauses are a total sham. The only thing it actually does is allow the player to refuse to go to hellish situations around the league but there are enough decent situations with interest in almost any player with a NMC. It seems extremely rare to hear a player refused to waive their NMC.

I just realized we lost Pisser on the day we acquired Pu. It is pretty impossible to do both at the same time. Smart move, Tim.

As it probably should be anyways. Teams are allowed to pull the "it's a business" card and so should players. Stamkos is talented enough to make any roster better so he will contribute to winning and Tampa isn't even approaching the price he'll achieve on the market.

Vancouver's a bad comparable because their original mistake was choosing Luongo over Schneider. Murray is no Schneider, but he's better than Fleury at this moment and probably will be in the coming years. You have to get assets out of Fleury. Goalie trades at the deadline are so hard to pull off.

The only players I would think to move Borgen above are Pu, Ullmark and Nelson. There's probably a decent argument to do so but I'll keep him as is right now.

Two narratives I generally disagree with: if he cared about winning he'd go back to Tampa and Detroit doesn't make sense due to lack of talent. On Tampa: he can leave and still view winning as his number one priority. They're going to have to start moving some money out, ESPECIALLY if Stamkos re-signs. It's hard to tell what they'd look like in the aftermath. And they also appear to be unwilling to go 7-8 years for more than $8.5M per reports. That's a HUGE gap compared to what he'll get elsewhere. On Detroit: I do agree the team isn't the most talented option, but they've still got a good young stable of players. Dylan Larkin looks like a star and perfect number two center behind Stammer. Then they've got a group of guys who are young and have scored 20 with an apparent ability to score more if they're getting heavy minutes with Larkin/Stamkos (Nyqvist, Tatar, Sheehan, Pulkkanen). I admit their roster was even worse than I thought when I started this post. He'd be counting on a lot of mid-level talent to become top-tier wingers, but I'm sure there's a sense of "Because Detroit" there, too, where everything will work out eventually. With Stamkos on the books they'd have to get really creative to add wingers for him and solidify the defense. My feeling right now is: 35% Detroit, 30% Buffalo, 30% Toronto, 4% Tampa, 1% other

The report about Radulov signing back in the KHL has been pretty strongly denied but Friedman is convinced it is true. He's a reliable reporter.

I am in pretty much whatever the date. Can work around it at work. Friday would be the worst option, though. I have actually never been to a Leafs game.

On the rights I wasn't 100% sure. I had Olofsson down as one more year last year but haven't heard anything about urgency to sign him or what the case may be. Also did indeed forget Nelson. This is what I get for just pasting last year and doing it off memory. Thank god I remember Alex Guptill, though, right!?

It was Pysyk and the Sabres first third. GMTM said he pushed for the swap of seconds and later third to close the deal. This does sound like it was the Panthers trying to land Pysyk. I've wondered this myself. He wore 29 in juniors (McCabe) and 43 his rookie season (yuck). He wore 3 during WJC for Russia. I like 17 and 77.

His bikini top might be hiding the tattoos.

Shouldn't this be considered tampering by Don Sweeney? http://www.csnne.com/boston-bruins/sweeney-bruins-hoping-they-get-crack-vesey

To be honest, I forgot about Vesey when making the list. It's weird to view him as just a prospect with all the hype and time separated from his draft season. Martin is certainly too high, I think I just got too lazy to move him. I disagree that's he definitely going to be ELC and done but I also know I've liked him more than most for a while. Will drop him. Edit: Dropped him six spots. I feel comfortable with him there, but I can see why others might have him lower. Vesey added at number two. The list feels good now with Cliff Pu rounding out the top ten. All players in the top ten are players I'm confident have NHL futures. There are some at the very end of the list that I just didn't care to put much thought into (specifically 37-42) because I don't think any of them have even a slight NHL chance. Willing to move some around with input. I suspect we'll be subtracting from this list soon when some RFAs are not qualified and when some others are possibly involved in trades. I don't think there will be many added to the list. I don't see this list getting much smaller in the next year beyond that, though, as Vesey is the only one I'm fully confident will graduate (if signed). Bailey, Fasching and Guhle COULD but I still see their odds as more likely to see AHL/CHL time.

Carrier still has two years on his ELC because his first year in the AHL didn't count and he could slide the contract back one year (players under 20 can slide their contract back if they play in the AHL and don't surpass nine NHL games). This is a pretty rare scenario as most players don't get to the AHL until they're 20, but Carrier had four seasons in the Q so he could come for his age 19 season. That's why the league can't simply say players on their entry-level contracts are exempt. (Made an edit because his first AHL year wasn't Rochester and the wording was weird)

A lot of the Nylander discussion took place in the draft thread, I believe

Here is this year's list. As always, I'm open to discussion and moving on some guys. Last year's list was 35 players deep but this one comes in at 41. All sizes have been updated either as whatever the Sabres list them as or, if they aren't on the Sabres site yet, whatever EliteProspects.com has them listed as. Added notes to some and previous ranking to all. I hope to update this more often if there is interest. Kris Baker, the go-to on Sabres prospects, may be releasing his new depth chart tonight which I will take into account. Ages listed are the age they will be come mid-October (NHL season start). Graduated: Jack Eichel, Samson Reinhart, Schaller (25), Jack Nevins (let go), Colin Jacobs (let go), Alex Guptill (let go), Nathan Lieuwen (let go/25) The list features seven Swedes, 14 Americans, 16 Canadians, two Czechs, one Russian ten left wingers, seven centers, seven right wingers, 12 defenseman, four goalies (counted Nylander as RW due to handedness and Asplund as center) Prospect Information Updated 7/17/2016 Prospect - A player under 25 who has not yet acquired a permanent spot at the NHL level and who's expected ceiling is at the NHL level. Once a player has played a full season at the NHL level, and is not expected to have to earn a spot in the following year, then they are no longer a prospect. (1) Alex Nylander RW/LW, 18, 6-0 184, Swedish Player Type: Skilled play-making forward (RH) Current League: SHL (AHL Eligible = 2016 - 2017 season) Contract: Unsigned Acquired: Drafted 2016 Rd.1 (Pick 8) Previous rank: N/A Notes: Son of Michael and brother of William; was on loan to CHL so can play in AHL immediately. (2) Jimmy Vesey Left Wing, 23, 6-2 201, American Player Type: Scoring forward (LH) Current League: NHL/AHL Contract: Unsigned (UFA August 15, 2016) Acquired: Trade from Nashville 2016 Previous rank: N/A Notes: Last year's Hobey Baker (NCAA MVP) winner and the runner-up the year before when Eichel won it (3) Brendan Guhle Defenseman, 18, 6-2 188, Canadian Player Type: Physical Two-Way Defenseman (LH) Current League: WHL - Prince Albert Raiders (AHL Eligible = 2017 - 2018 season) Contract: Entry Level = 3 years left, then RFA 2019 Acquired: Drafted 2015 Rd. 2 (Pick 51) Previous rank: 7 Notes: A surprise invite to Canada's WJC camp kicked off a big step forward for Guhle (4) Justin Bailey Right Wing, 21, 6-3 210, American Player Type: Speedy Power-Forward (RH) Current League: AHL Contract: Entry Level = 2 Years Left, then RFA 2018 Acquired: Drafted 2013 Rd.2 (Pick 52) Previous rank: 6 Notes: Local kid's name is also a cheat code in Metroid game that reveals Samus' bikini outfit (5) Hudson Fasching Right Wing, 19, 6-2 216, American Player Type: Power Forward (RH) Current League: AHL/NHL Contract: Entry Level = 2 Years Left, then RFA 2018 Acquired: Trade with Kings (Drafted 2013 - Rd.4) Previous rank: 3 Notes: Thomas Vanek compared Fasching to himself as a net-front presence (6) Cal Petersen Goalie, 21, 6-2 182, American Current League: NCAA - Univ. of Notre Dame (Junior) Contract: Unsigned = Rights owned 1 more year while in NCAA ​Acquired: Draft 2013 Rd.5 (Pick 129) Previous rank: 9 Notes: Set NCAA record with 87 saves in a five-OT game (7) Rasmus Asplund Center/Left Wing, 18, 5-11 180, Swedish Player Type: Two-way Skill Forward (LH) Current League: SHL (AHL Eligible 2016-2017 season) Contract: Unsigned (2 Years on SHL deal) Acquired: Drafted 2016 Rd.2 (Pick 33) Previous rank: N/A Notes: GMTM specifically traded up in the second to land Asplund who he had rated as a five prospect (8) Nicholas Baptiste Right Wing, 20, 6-1 203, Canadian Player Type: Scorer/Physical Two-Way Forward (RH) Current League: AHL Contract: Entry Level = 2 Years Left, then RFA 2018 Previous rank: 5 Acquired: Drafted 2013 Rd.3 (Pick 69) (9) Linus Ullmark Goalie, 23, 6-4 212, Swedish Current League: AHL Contract: Entry Level = 1 Year Left, then RFA 2017 ​Acquired: Draft 2012 Rd.6 (Pick 163) Previous rank: 8 (10) Casey Nelson Defenseman, 24, 6-2 183, American Player Type: Offensive defenseman (RH) Current League: AHL/NHL Contract: RFA 2016 Acquired: College free agent (2016) Previous rank: N/A (11) Cliff Pu Right Wing, 18, 6-1 185, Canadian Player Type: Scoring Forward Current League: OHL - London Knights (AHL Eligible = 2018 - 2019) Contract: Unsigned Acquired: Drafted 2016 Rd.3 (Pick 69) Previous rank: N/A Notes: Raved about on draft night with expected expanded role in London; name pronounced "Poo" (12) Will Borgen Defenseman, 19, 6-2 188, American Player Type: Puck-moving defenseman (RH) Current League: NCAA - St. Cloud State (Sophomore) Contract: Unsigned = Rights owned 2 more years while in NCAA Previous rank: 16 Acquired: Draft 2015 Rd.4 (Pick 92) (13) Eric Cornel Center, 20, 6-2 191, Canadian Player Type: Two-Way Forward (RH) Current League: AHL Contract: Entry Level = 3 Years Left, then RFA 2019 Acquired: Draft 2014 Rd.2 (Pick 44) Previous rank: 14 Notes: Increased production by 12-16-28 if GP equal (2-19-21 over 2013) (14) William Carrier Left Wing, 21, 6-1 204, Canadian Player Type: Two-Way Forward (LH) Current League: AHL Contract: Entry Level = 2 Years Left, then RFA 2018 Acquired: Trade with Blues (Drafted 2013 - Rd.2) Previous rank: 15 Notes: Only top-20 player on this list eligible for expansion draft (15) Giorgio Estephan Center, 19, 6-0 196, Canadian Player Type: Playmaking center (RH) Current League: WHL - Lethbridge Hurricanes (AHL Eligible 2017 - 2018 season) Contract: Unsigned Acquired: Draft 2015 Rd. 6 (Pick 152) Previous rank: 25 Notes: Increased production by 10-20-30 if GP is equal (16) Brycen Martin Defenseman, 20, 6-2 199, Canadian Player Type: Offensive Defensemen (LH) Current League: AHL Contract: Entry Level = 3 Years Left, then RFA 2019 Previous rank: 10 Acquired: Drafted 2014 Rd.3 (Pick 74) (17) Casey Fitzgerald Defenseman, 19, 5-11 180, American Player Type: Physical Defensemen (LH) Current League: NCAA - Boston College (Sophomore) Contract: Unsigned = Rights owned 3 more years while in NCAA ​Acquired: Draft 2016 Rd.3 (Pick 86) Previous rank: N/A Notes: Son of NHLer Tom Fitzgerald, cousin of Kevin/Jimmy Hayes and Keith Tkachuk. (18) Evan Rodrigues Right Wing, 23, 5-11 174, Canadian Player Type: Skill Forward (LH) Current League: AHL Contract: 1 Year Left, then RFA 2017 Acquired: Free Agent (2015) Previous rank: N/A Notes: Only prospects besides Eichel to make debut as Sabres prospect last year and play in NHL (19) Connor Hurley Center, 21, 6-2 178, American Player Type: Playmaker (LH) Current League: NCAA – University of Notre Dame (Junior) Contract: Unsigned = Rights owned 2 more years while in NCAA Acquired: Drafted 2013 Rd.2 (Pick 38) Previous rank: 11 (20) Victor Olofsson Right Wing, 21, 5-11 173, Swedish Player Type: Scorer (LH) Current League: SHL - Frolunda Contract: Unsigned = Rights owned 1 more year Acquired: Draft 2014 Rd.7 (Pick 181) Previous rank: 21 Notes: Will be playing with Frolunda after spending his entire career in MODO system. (21) Anthony Florentino Defenseman, 21, 6-1 207, American Player Type: Physical Two-Way Defensemen (RH) Current League: NCAA - Providence College (Senior) Contract: Unsigned = Rights owned 1 more year while in NCAA ​Acquired: Draft 2013 Rd.5 (Pick 143) Previous rank: 12 (22) Jean Dupuy Left Wing, 22, 6-3 205, Canadian Player Type: Grinder (LH) Current League: AHL Contract: 1 Year Left, then RFA 2017 Acquired: Free Agent (2014) Previous rank: 13 (23) Brett Murray Left Wing, 18, 6-5 195, Canadian Player Type: Power Forward (LH) Current League: NCAA - Penn State Contract: Unsigned = Rights owned 4 more years while in NCAA Acquired: Draft 2016 Rd.4 (Pick 99) Previous rank: N/A Notes: First Penn State player drafted in Pegula era, tallest skater on list. (24) Jonas Johansson Goalie, 21, 6-4 206, Swedish Current League: SHL - Brynas Contract: Unsigned = Rights owned for one more year ​Acquired: Draft 2014 Rd.3 (Pick 61) Previous rank: 26 (25) Jason Kasdorf Goalie, 24, 6-4 201, Canadian Current League: AHL Contract: RFA 2016 Acquired: Trade with Jets (Drafted 2011 - Rd.6) Previous rank: 29 Notes: Likely AHL backup this year (26) Devante Stephens Defenseman, 19, 6-2 172, Canadian Player Type: Two-Way Defenseman (LH) Current League: WHL - Kelowna Rockets (AHL Eligible = 2017 - 2018 season) Contract: Unsigned Acquired: Drafted 2015 Rd.5 (Pick 122) Previous rank: 24 (27) Vaclav Karabacek Left Wing, 20, 6-0 199, Czech Player Type: Scorer (LH) Current League: AHL Contract: Entry Level = 3 Years Left, then RFA 2019 Acquired: Draft 2014 Rd.2 (Pick 49) Previous rank: 17 (28) Vojtech Budik Defenseman, 18, 6-1 185, Czech Player Type: Two-Way Defenseman (LH) Current League: WHL - Prince Albert Raiders Contract: Unsigned Acquired: Drafted 2016 Rd.5 (Pick 130) Previous rank: N/A (29) Gustav Possler Left Wing, 21, 6-0 183, Swedish Player Type: Scorer (LH) Current League: SHL - MODO Contract: Unsigned = Rights owned for 1 more year Acquired: Draft 2013 Rd.5 (Pick 130) Previous rank: 18 Notes: Will join Djurgardens after being in the MODO system. (30) Sean Malone Center, 21, 6-0 190, American Player Type: Two-Way Forward (LH) Current League: NCAA – Harvard (Junior) Contract: Unsigned = Rights owned 1 more year while in NCAA Acquired: Drafted 2013 Rd.6 (Pick 159) Previous rank: 20 Notes: Disappointed this year at Harvard after stepping up in 2014-15, expanded role expected (31) Philip Nyberg Defenseman, 19, 6-3 192, Swedish Player Type: Smooth-skating Defenseman (RH) Current League: NCAA - Wisconsin Badgers Contract: Unsigned = Rights owned 4 more years while in NCAA Acquired: Draft 2016 Rd.5 (Pick 129) Previous rank: N/A (32) Dan Catenacci Left Wing, 23, 5-9 191, Canadian Player Type: Scorer (LH) Current League: AHL Contract: RFA 2016 Acquired: Draft 2011 Rd.3 (Pick 77) Previous rank: 23 Notes: Made NHL debut this year with 11 games played (33) Max Willman Left Wing, 20, 6-0 183, American Player Type: Two-Way Forward (LH) Current League: NCAA – Brown Univ (Sophomore) Contract: Unsigned = Rights owned while in NCAA Acquired: Drafted 2014 Rd.5 (Pick 121) Previous rank: 31 (34) Brandon Hagel Left Wing, 18, 6-0 183, Canadian Player Type: Energy/play-making forward (LH) Current League: WHL - Red Deer Rebels Contract: Unsigned Acquired: Drafted 2016 Rd.6 (Pick 159) Previous rank: N/A Notes: Third-highest scoring forward for Rebels in rookie season (35) Ivan Chukarov Defenseman, 21, 6-2 203, American Player Type: Offensive defenseman (LH) Current League: NCAA – UMass (Freshman) Contract: Unsigned = Rights owned 3 more years while in NCAA Acquired: Drafted 2015 Rd.7 (Pick 182) Previous rank: 32 (36) Austin Osmanski Defenseman, 18, 6-4 193, American Player Type: Shut-down (LH) Current League: OHL - Mississauga Steelheads Contract: Unsigned Acquired: Drafted 2016 Rd.7 (Pick 189) Previous rank: N/A Notes: East Aurora native was tabbed early as a high-potential player but didn't impress before draft (37) Vasily Glotov Left Wing, 19, 5-11 180, Russian Player Type: Scoring Forward (LH) Current League: MHL - Serebryanye Contract: Unsigned Acquired: Drafted 2016 Rd.7 (Pick 190) Previous rank: N/A (38) Christopher Brown Center, 20, 6-0 179, American Player Type: Scorer/Playmaker (RH) Current League: NCAA - Boston College Contract: Unsigned = Rights owned 2 more years while in NCAA Acquired: Drafted 2014 Rd.6 (Pick 151) Previous rank: 27 Notes: Considered an offensive player, Brown only notched 11 points in 41 games at BC (39) Brady Austin Defenseman, 23, 6-3 227, Canadian Player Type: Defensive Defensemen (LH) Current League: AHL Contract: Entry Level = 1 Year Left, then RFA 2017 Acquired: Drafted 2012 Rd.7 (Pick 193) Previous rank: 30 Notes: 2015-16 was his first year since 2011-12 with one team all season. (40) Justin Kea Center, 22, 6-4 223, Canadian Player Type: Grinder/Two Way Forward (LH) Current League: AHL/ECHL Contract: Entry Level = 1 Year Left, then RFA 2017 Acquired: Drafted 2012 Rd.3 (Pick 73) Previous rank: 28

It's going to be very interested to see how his development goes in London this year. Christian Dvorak, JJ Piccinch and Aaron Berisha (all players who got more ice time and scored more than Cliff) are guaranteed to leave the team. Then there's the possibility that Tkachuk and Marner both leave (I would imagine Marner at least gets a tryout in Toronto). So Pu will be expected to step into a leading role for the team. He seems to have the skills to have a huge jump in production next year. I could see him having the Fasching-like jump in value and Baptiste-like jump in production this season.

I don't think McCabe came out of nowhere, though. He was a second-round pick and, I think, was pretty much a lock to get a roster spot out of camp.

Kris Baker thinks Bailey and Fasching could battle it out for a spot on the roster in camp with Bailey being the more likely candidate. He also said there's basically no chance Rodrigues makes the cut. Thinks Guhle has a legitimate shot to make it out of camp.