DarthEbriate

Not anymore. Now we've got to ink him in the 3.7 (Kubalik) to 4 range. Until the cap resets and goes up, we've got to get players to settle a smidgen lower. That's where the Girgs deal baffles me. It's not a significant overpay; it's not 3x3. But it's an overpay that equates to another ELC/tweener guy, or a sweetener to a scorer these next couple years.

Luke: How did we get past that tailgate? I thought we were drunk. Ben: The Concept Of the Table can have a strong influence over the weak-minded.

Colorado eventually wants our entire 2013 draft class?

This is why the Deal-That-Must-Not-Be-Named was so atrocious. It brought back Thompson with some straight line speed. And two players arguably slower than the player removed, and when factoring in hockey IQ, way slower. It was counter to the fast forechecking team JBot was also building. We're continuing to up the speed. We're going in. We're going in full throttle.

This "Concept Of"... is it possible to learn this power? Not from a Kassian. You must feel the Concept Of around you! Here, between you, me.... The 'Space, the ice. Everywhere. That's it. I think the Concept Of needs to be on the same level as the Ehrhoff/Moulson in that it will always be with us.

On the one hand, I guess we can finally dispel the rumors of Eelmeli Suomi of Ilves (Ruotsalainen's teammate) being signed this offseason. On the other hand, Execute Order 19!

It's feeling less like a JBot team tonight.

True. With this signing all cards are still on the table. It's finally one of those good-problem-to-have problems. The good news is that Kubalik was under 4. And Reinhart is probably in the 6-7 range with arbitration, so they're all still manageable unless the owners want an internal cap.

I do, too. But I've got him 13th based on what others bring to the table. He has to beat out Cozens. Cozens can't play in the AHL and Tage's salary and term might prevent him getting plucked off waivers if he needs more development.

While I'm surprised Hall chose here for his one year (say, 1x$6.5M at Colorado) instead of chasing a championship. That's not to say we can't win a championship, I just think there are better contenders out there next year... What doesn't surprise me is the shrewdness of a one-year deal this season from both sides. Hall can boost his numbers and decide if he wants to be in the Sabres' future. The one-year deal means he can walk, and also means the Sabres don't have to protect him and can instead protect a younger core player and let Seattle choose from bottom six players. Or give them a pick or two to take Okposo.

Yup. This answers the question of whether Sheevyn can replace Kahun with a better player instead. It makes letting him walk quite palatable.

It's not as much an anomaly as we'd expect. We've made some serious payouts in recent years. In 2016, Okposo was the top UFA after Stamkos stayed with the Lightning. And earlier, Moulson was one of the top wingers available. Skinner would've probably been the 2nd overall payout after Panarin last year.

Hall likes the puck. Skinner has already learned how to work with Eichel and Reino. I'd think this looks balanced: Skinner-Eichel-Reino / Hall-Staal-Olofsson / Cozens-Eakin-Okposo / Girgs-Lazar-Rieder

Now that's the cup of a carpenter. No, wait, let me explain! It's not my fault. I can imagine quite a bit.

^We made it 3 whole pages before mentioning this. This is good. If Olofsson doesn't flip sides, it actually could put him where I want him in a year or so, which is the 3rd line LW on a well-balanced and deep team. And also... Exciting is hardly the word I would choose.

Two years ago Eakin had a career year in points at age 27 with an unsustainable 18% shoot percentage (22-19-41). If he gets third line minutes with Girgs and Okposo he could once again get to 35-40 points (if Okposo stays healthy) in 15 minutes/game. He's got a better offensive upside than did Angry Larry, who never broke 20 points in a season (although the season he mangled his wrist Larry was on pace for 25 points or so). However, all the fancy stats show he's nowhere near as effective defensively, so the overall impact is likely a wash unless our 2nd line takes flight. Cozens had better learn center at the NHL level quickly (even starting on the wing) because Staal is a one-year rental in my estimation and we don't have any depth to handle any injuries to the center spine (currently at Eichel - Staal - Eakin - Lazar/Asplund).

I agree with this. But it isn't the Swiss National team taking on some juggernauts in 3-week stints. It's a slog of a season where the better teams rise to the top (look no further than our 2 recent hot starts followed by nothing). The GM puts a team on the ice that needs to last an entire season, and playoffs. The coach's wonders only count so much.

We keep historical records so that we might learn from our past lessons. That season was a hard lesson. The question is: have we (and by we, I mean our management) learned?

Nah. This isn't a tank team or tank offseason. This is a tank lineup: Moulson - Larsson - Ennis Foligno - Grigorenko - Gionta Deslauriers - Varone - Kaleta Hodgson - Ellis - Dalpe Bogosian - Strachan Ristolainen - Meszaros Ruhwedel - Zadorov Lindback, Hackett (Edit: That's 4/10/2015, the lineup used to clinch #1 or #2 overall in the McEichel sweepstakes)

We have to hope that we get a legit top-6 forward. The troubling thing is ---- hypothetically we can get Toffoli for our 2RW. At this rate, we're going to give him $7x6. But Toffoli isn't worth that. He's a solid second-line guy, not a top-line mainstay.

Yup, he's now a trade deadline rental unless we're raking it. And if we are, he's still on the move because we'll be paying Dahlin. This is your tryout for a payday, Mr. Montour. Make the most of it, for our sake!

Taste the rainbow, eh?

He's the GM and each one gets at least 2 seasons to remake the team in the image they want. So... we haven't really seen a Sheevyn team on the ice yet. But right now it feels a lot like a JBot team.

I'm looking at this, too. I think Asplund/Lazar gets the Girgs-Okposo line to start. I just wonder where this leaves a Ruotsalainen to start the season. Or if he's just traded outright in any package that might include a top-6 or a goalie.

Gotta hope in a few things: last year we got the wrong Flame PK'er and instead it was all Rieder who was the good killer; that Eakin is an upgrade on the PK from Angry Larry; and also that Eichel/Olofsson or Eichel/Skinner get a lot of final 30-second shifts to close out the PK and transition it into a quick retaliatory opportunity.