mjd1001

Not funny at all, a lot of us have thought about this very thing. Its not about what they have done up to this point, it is about what they are doing right now and going forward this year and beyond. Also, Sound defensive play and a physical game can make up for any extra offensive production. Doan scored 17 goals per 82 so far in his career, Peterka is at 23. Not to mention Peterka has played with higher quality linemates/offensive ability and with a lot more minutes on the PP. There is a case to be made that Doan will prevent MORE than 6 goals a year than JJP over the course of an 82 game season. I'm not saying Peterka is worse than Doan. JJP may very well be the better player. But in the very small sample size we have of Doan, it is worth the discussion (that is what message boards are for, right?)

-I could see Doan and Peterka getting close to the same productions numbers and Doan having a better all around/physical game making him the better/more impactful player. -I could also see Doan slowing his offensive pace and getting half the goals of Peterka, even with a better 2-way game his overall impact being less than Peterka. I could see it going either way. Its too early to tell.

Not keep: Quinn, Greenway, Bryson. I'd move them for very little return. Everyone else, it "depends" -UPL. I'm starting to lean toward getting rid of him. Need to see when he comes back is he closer to 2 years ago form, or last year's form. -Norris. When he comes back from this injury if I can get the majority of the rest of the year from him..Keep. If he has another moderate or worse injury, I'd like to wave a magic wand and get rid of him. -Samuelsson. Same as Norris above. -Tuch. Extend him medium term for $8 per year, love to have him. If its going to be 7-8 years at $10m or more...nope. -Bryam. I'd see what is out there for him. He's not hurting the team, but he's not worth what he's getting paid. I'd want to see what the return for him would be.

A lot of talk about Jack Quinn's game here, so I thought this was interesting... Since the start of Last season: Jack Quinn vs Ottawa: 5 games, 5 goals, 1 assist, +5 (82 game pace of 82 goals, 16 assists, +82) Quinn vs everyone else: 75 games, 12 goals, 24 assists, -24 (82 game pace, 13.5 goals, 27 assists, -27) Trade him to Ottawa and convince them its worth it so they don't have to face him anymore.

1. Not sure yet, could be ok 2. Good. 3. Not bad, leaning on the good side. 4. Not good. 5. Big (ish) names but not really helping/hurting either way. 6. Doesn't matter. 7. Not good. 8. Doesn't matter. 9. Not good. 10. Doesn't matter. 11. Not good. 12. Decent. Risto was hurting this team, needed to go. 13. Bad. 14. Doesn't matter. 15 Doesnt matter.

I don't think Quinn really has much value right now at all. He's not a good player.. you can make a case He's a bad player that most teams would be better with a veteran journeyman instead of him, plus it's an additional negative how much they signed him for. Maybe, maybe another team would give up not so much for him and take a flyer on him... If it didn't cost them much. But he's a reclamation project at this point, and probably I would assume other teams would rather do almost anything else with that amount of money that he has to get paid the next 2 years. If Buffalo doesn't want him, I think he falls into the category of. Why would anybody else.

I just don't see it with Byram. What I see in him is a player with above average to very good raw skill, but he only executes it to an average-to-slightly above average level. I equate him to the defense version of what Cozens is/was at forward. Lots of skill...looks good doing it...but the execution just isn't there. I just put Bryam a bit higher than Cozens because he doesn't kill you with as many boneheaded plays. But overall for me he's still in the "looks like a Ferrari, Drives like a Camry" category.

To me its probable that the new GM is Jarmo. The reason he is on the payroll now is so he can be closer to the team and is alread starting his roster evaluation.

What are the easy ways? As mentioned previously you also have 3 'bottom of the roster' guys who are up. Whether you resign them or replace them with bargain basement guys, you are still looking at $3-$5m for those guy sbefore you even get to Tuch, Benson, Doan, and Kesserling.

Everything I see shows Skinner's numbers accelerating next year to 6.44..for one year. I got my numbers from cap wages also.... I looked just that next year. That also doesn't include Tuchs current contract. Unless their data is incorrect... But I don't think it is because they've had those numbers out for quite some time now. I'll double check when I have a chance later... But my initial post about this a couple days ago was partially in response to another person who came up with the same numbers I did.

I still want to, and do have patience with Power. I just know that it seems like too many D-men in the league...you look up and say "yeah, that guy is pretty darn good" but it took to age 24 or 25 to get there. Quinn I was done with last year. He is showing nothing. Even if he put in 20-24 goals this year, its not good enough with his black hole of play in every other way. And my opinion on Tuch is the same as it has been for the last 2 months: short term extension I'm OK with. But something like $10million at 8 years...heck no. The team still needs the chance to add some talent, or if you get a young guy that is legit good, to lock THEM up. I don't want a guy starting his new contract in his early 30's to take so much money that it prevents either of those things.

Its hard to think of losing your top players like Tuch, maybe Thompson and Dahlin, and others, when the team comes off of a win or a streak of 3 wins in 5 games. "What would the team be like without THOSE guys". But then you have to remember, if they are your best players, you are are still losing, still not sniffing the playoffs, how much of a help really are they? And do you want to 'overplay' (or even pay them on the 'high' end of fair value) just to maintain the level you are at? I like Thompson, I really do, I think he can be/is one of the elite goal scorers in the game. Tuch (right now) can be on the be better 'all situation' wingers in the league. Dahling has the talent of a top 5 D-man in the leage and SOMETIMES plays like he should be in contention for the Norris. But the truth is, none of them do it enough or maybe they just aren't as good as I (we) think. I'd LOVE to have all of those guys, and other guys on this team be locked up long term IF the team is winning and a legit playoff team. But for me...it no longer makes sense to fret/worry/bother about their future here on a team that is what it currently is.

Thompson, I don't like he's not scoring but he is streaky. He ended up with 44 goals last year but had a 5 game goal-less streak 3 differen times through the season and at least 1 or 2 streaks where he didn't score for 4. Sure, Tage and Tuch eventually might get back to their 'regular' form, and start scoring goals that cause you to tie a game like last night and get a point, or maybe even win it and get 2. But....how far behind everyone else will you be by then? Its still early, but they are already likely a 4 game win streak away from 'getting to' that LAST playoff spot. Seriously, winning the next 3 games gets them to 10 points in 9 games played...which is a pace for 91 points for the year, that probably doesn't get you to the playoffs. If they win their next 4 in a row, they are at 12 points in 10 games...a 98 point pace that probably does. Its WAY too early to have to be thinking of 4 game win streaks just to get into 'probable' playoff position.

Season 1 to me was the best series of any kind I have seen in a long time. Season 2 was a bit different, but just as good. Season 3 to me was a slight step behind, but I still enjoyed it.

Great, now later this year or next year, find a guy who can fight just as well but is a bit better at the actual "hockey thing."

He's a different type player than Byram....but if Bryam's deal is 2 years...right about the time you would want Mrtka easing into the lineup if he keeps on getting better.

What happened to him, seriously? When he left Buffalo, he was the teams leading scorer. A double digit positive player. He was looking like he was 'breaking out' to be a very, very good #2 center, playing both sides of the ice, and on his way to a 60-65 point season. Then he goes to a better team, and since he left Buffalo on Colorado and Boston, he has been a healthy scratch in both locations, has 52 points in 105 games (less than a point every other game) and is a -32. Was there a pretty big injury that I missed? I don't get the sudden and drastic drop-off.

I'm not advocating for taking a bunch of penalties, but I don't think that's where Montreal excels. As a team, they are better in transition, not what is set offense like you have in the power play. And I think so far this year... And definitely last year, their power play ranks in the bottom half of the league if I'm not mistaken.

I don't think back loading helps you with the cap next year. I'm pretty sure in the NHL.. front loaded contracts, back loaded contracts.. doesn't matter. The cap hit is the same exactly every year from beginning to end. Take the total value, divide it by the years, and that's pretty much what the cap hit is.

Sabres/KBC on the list...starting at the 1 minute mark of the video.

I think they basically flushed money down the drain with the Greenway deal also. And its not just this year, its next year also. The only value I see him giving this team is if he goes in the lineup and Quinn comes out. But then we can talk about the $3.4m per year that Quinn is getting that is basically flushed down the drain for this year and next year. They aren't huge money, but I hated both of those deals when they were signed. Quinn and Greenway are closting just under $8m per year this year and next.

But the money has to come from somewhere in your allocation Lets just look at next year, the cap is projected to be about $104 million. -The Sabres have already signed a tad over $38m in forwards, $32m+ in defense, and $7m in goalies. That takes them just over $77m. So $26-$27m left. -Next year Skinner's cap hit is $6.44m. That leaves the team with a shade over $20m to spend. The lesser spots on the roster, Krebs, Malenstyn, and Bryson are all up. Whether you bring them back or not, you are paying them or their replacements. At current they total $3.7m. With the cap going up, its going to be hard to replace them cheaper than they are, so odds are it will be at least what you pay or slightly more. Lets say they get lucky and replace them dollar for dollar at $3.7m. That leaves you with about $16.5m. So, If you want to sign tuch for $11m per year? Lets say $10m per year. At $10m per year, that leaves you with $6.5 m left over. That $6.5m has to be used to sign Benson, Doan, and Kesserling. I don't think you are going to sign those guys long term, or even short term, and get them under $6.5 per year combined. Now I know you can try to trade Quinn, Greenway, maybe even UPL, but if the Sabres WANT to trade them becasue they don't think they are worth it, good luck finding another team that wants to take on those players at their salary. We aren't even considering haveing a little bit of cap money left over in case of injuries next year, or just to keep a bit in reserve to give you flexibility with a trade or free agent signing if someone becomes available that you want. If Tuch re-signs long term at $10m per year or more....it very well might be at the expense of NOT signing Benson, Doan, Kesserling, or more than 1 of them long term. Unless the front office pulls some magic out of a hat, as much as I don't want to see Tuch leave, I'd rather have him leave than sign him to a big deal where he is aging and starting to decline...rather than possibly locking up the younger guys that...so far...are you looking good. Maybe not rushing into a deal is a good thing, give some time to evaluate just how everyone fits in. Tuch currently is the best all-around, most versatile winger on this team. Right now. But his next contract isn't paying him for what he is right now at age 29. You are going to start to pay him at age 30, 31, 32, and likley 33, 34, 35 and beyond. He will NOT be the best all-around winger on this team through the majority of his next deal.

Good. Its not going to stop him at this point in his career, he keeps doing the stuff over and over, so at least its something. (although it should be a bit more)

With regard to the Penalty Kill: The penalty kill tends to look good when your goalie is making saves and not kicking out huge rebounds. -This year they are allowing 1.2 'scoring chances' per minute short handed. 0.52 'high danger' chances per minute. 1.17 shots per minute. -Last year they allowed 0.88 'scoring chances' per minute short handed. 0.36 'high danger' chances per minute. 0.86 shots per minute. In terms of shots allowed, official scoring chances allwed and high danger chances allowed, the PK is worse this year than it was last year. The difference is goaltending. Alex Lyon this year has stopped 48 of 49 shots shorthanded, a .980 save percentage. Last year, the goalies had a .830 save percentage SH. On 49 shots faced this year, if the Sabres goalies had the same .830 save percentage, they would have allowed 8 or more PP goals already this year, not one. So again, the stats show they are allowing MORE shots, MORE high danger shots, MORE scoring chances, better shots taken from better locations on the ice than last year. The ONLY thing better this year is goaltending. I think when you look at the Sabres PK overall, last year they weren't terrible. They did have some defensive breakdowns, but not a ton more than other teasm. They were average-to-above average positionally until there was a big rebound or until Dylan Cozens decided to go rogue and leave spots wide open. Just they had near historically bad goaltending on the PK...and that wasn't just they allowed super great chances...its just their goalies on a lot of shots you want saves..didn't give them to you.

That $20m though, you have to have Benson and Doan and Tuch and Kesserling. Bryson, Malenstyn and Krebs are also up...maybe you don't bring them back but if you don't, you still have to pay their replacements. I know Tuch is CURRENTLY the best all around forward on this team, he plays the most minutes and in every situation. But looking at that list above, He'd be my last choice to sign a 6-8 year extension. I never liked that Greenway deal. To me even when healthy, on some games he brings a bit to your team, but on others he is invisible. A guy who is always hurt, who half the games he does play is a non factor...I just always thought that money was allocated elsewhere better. And Quinn? His leash has got to be gettng really short. The last season-and-a-half I thought he was the only guy on this team that HURT the team more than Cozens. He has to start showing he isn't that player anymore. I don't see it yet.