StuckinFL

This. I think the plan was always to trade him at the deadline, but with how bad the team has been lately, I think they hold him to stop a revolt from occurring with season ticket holders and he ends up walking for nothing.

We don't deserve to even have a loser point in this game.

Did Dallas have a 5 on 5 power play? Because that's what that last shift looked like...

I'm excited for this game. Let's hope the boys bring it.

I definitely agree. But that fear is still very much there that it could bite us in the ***. Okposo's contract definitely makes me leary of throwing money to someone based on one years production. His other seasons were good, don't get me wrong, but not worth over 7x7. If someone offer sheets Dahlin for max contract after we sign Samson (or someone that replaces him) and a 2c, and we have to match it, that's it, we're done if Skinner isn't producing at an elite level. We need to shed that contract ASAP. I'm hoping Seattle can be bribed with picks to take him. I know it's a fools hope. Only other option is a compliance buyout at the next strike.

I personally wouldn't go above 8x8 for anything but Dahlin or an exceptional 2C, but I have a feeling that JBot is going to do 8.5x8 for Skinner. Where this scares me is if this is his career year and he only sniffs 30 goals the next 3 years and then plummets after that. Or worse, he turns into another Okposo next yeat and we're stuck and doomed with those contracts and can't field a competitive team because of 2 horrendous contracts. I'd be much more comfortable gaming on Skinner if Okposo wasn't such a waste of cap space.

I totally agree. But that's why I said we need an exceptional 2c. An average 2c wouldn't help us enough to carry that weight adequately. An exceptional one just might enough to carry us to the playoffs. And I'm not pinning my future on a hope that Casey is 100% going to become that guy. That's just poor planning for a GM at this point in Casey's development.

I'm not putting my eggs in that basket yet. I don't care what his age is, I wouldn't even consider him competent as a NHL center yet. He has no business being on the Sabres roster and should be developing in Rochester. We need a 2c that performs at that level consistently if this team is ever going to make the playoffs.

Oh I'm not advocating doing this. You had stated that it would be unrealistic. I was playing devil's advocate and stating that this is a scenario that is possible. I certainly would be irritated with it occurring as well. Should've worded it much better. I think the only reason he shouldn't be signed ASAP is if he's asking too much or is showing primadonna behavior behind the scenes. No telling how much the cap is gonna be raised after Seattle joins the party. I'm unsure about giving that 8th year without getting a discount though. Dahlin needs to get paid eventually as well as whomever we plug at 2c. Because this team is going nowhere without an exceptional 2c no matter how stacked the first line is.

Untrue, offer him to a team that's going on a cup run. Ask him where he'd wanna be traded to and agree to his UFA contract (spoken of course) before trading him. You're looking out for someone, giving them a huge opportunity to hoist Lord Stanley and get assets. You're not maximizing your return, but you are taking care of your player which is a sign that goes out the the rest of the players about what kind of organization this is to work for.

Problem being that Sam got HORRIBLY lost as a center last time we tried and his confidence plummeted and took half a season to get his groove back. Doesn't matter what he played prior, he can't translate his game to the center position at the NHL level. No amount of hopes and dreams can change that. Too tight of a game and too much responsibility. If he's not in your top 6 on wing, trade him for someone who fits your vision better.

Leave him exposed to Seattle and offer them a sweetener. New expansion teams need to build a pipeline from the ground up so hopefully we can offer picks for them to choose him.

I think it's a case of he doesn't wanna play right now, period. I can't imagine JBot saying no if he asked for a trade.

Close family member (wife, sibling, parent) struggling with drug addiction or cancer and wanting to be there for them worth more than money, contracting autoimmune disease like HIV that wouldn't effect your ability right away but also would make you weary of taking routine hits and injuries, drug use triggering the onset of schitzophrenia, talking to ROR too much and losing your love of the game, making a bad joke about Risto on the first day and having him stare you down silenty without breaking eye contact during every practice and locker room change since, after making said joke finding Risto in bed with your wife, Marty Biron having your address and constantly stopping by to chat and your kids start calling him dad, ect. If any of those are the case I could see walking away from the contract and not wanting the reason why to be public knowledge.

I personally think the article was too kind. He's not ready for the NHL.

I'd like to see Nylander up for a stretch. He looked great in the preseason and I think he might generate some life into the 2nd or 3rd line.

OFC. Good job refs.

I'm really beginning to love Bogo. Screw his injury history, sign him.

Anyone but Mopey McMopesalot...

We honestly don't deserve to win this game...

There needs to be sustained pressure. They'll crumble if we can get a sustained shift.

GET HUTTON OUT OF THERE!!!!

COME ON!!!!

Side note: how great is this team going to be in the next 2 years if JBot keeps this up? I wasn't even this excited when we landed Dahlin or Eichel as I am in this moment. This is what being a sports fan is all about. I love the team he's building.

Amen, I wanna see him as a Sabres for the rest of his career. But I don't think we need to overpay him to do it at the expense of our future. Totally agreed. That's why you don't need to overpay to entice him to stay. 9+, like I've read a few times in this thread, for max term is a gross overpayment.