Derrico

Ya we always hear about how the summer is the time to reshape the roster. Most deals go down the week leading up too and a few days after the draft. Something big could go down any second.

It wouldn’t be Buffalo unless we are trying to run a star out of town.....

I would love a second but it would probably be something like a B prospect or 3rd and 5th round pick or something. I wouldn't make that trade but if they really like Caufield or someone similar at 7 and reasonably confident in getting them at 10 then they sure might.

Not sure on that but I could see it being because Sabres thought Caufield would slide to 10 and they could still take him there *ducks*

That is an interesting proposal but yes I might make that trade.

Dude

Who they jumping us for?

I feel like we have an abundance of third line forwards....

Ya that’s a hard pass for patch for sure. I would rather a better option than stasney for that contract but he would come crazy cheap.

Slot him where he belongs and see what happens.

This too. Give me Dahlin, Risto, Montour and McCabe as my top 4 all playing somewhat equal minutes. We already have some decent depth/lesser assignments for scandella/bogo/Nelson/Pilut. D looks fine to me.

If anyone quotes that

Yes this. I kind of like (maybe don’t mind is a better word) the look of our D today. I know you have to give to upgrade the top 6 forwards but I feel like once Risto is gone we’re going to be deciding what we have to give up to replace him and replace him on a respectable contract as we’ll.

Good post, haven’t heard that segment yet. Thanks for the link.

All of this on a more than fair deal that has 3 more years left. It's shocking to me we all just seem ok that a trade will go down and we're moving on from him. This better not be the ROR return if he does get dealt.

Can we all just acknowledge Risto was the 26th highest scoring Dman in the league last year? On a terrible team that had trouble scoring. He is a defensive liability but he is a tough sob that I would love to see if we ever make the playoffs and he puts up points. Shelter his D responsibility and let's see what he looks like.

These are all fair points and again, if the deal brings significant return then sure. Otherwise, in an era were Karlsson is signing for $11.5 mil there is something to be said for paying Risto $5.4. Cap management is still very important and this is a very fair deal. Risto isn't the savior but if we're paying him and playing him further down the lineup I think about him much differently. Oh come on. I think we're going too far the other way on Risto now.....

Having said all that if a deal comes for a very good second line centre and there’s a clear plan in place to add another rhd then fine. But nobody should be surprised when he goes to Tampa, plays 19 min a night including power play time and absolutely thrives. Why can’t we do that here? The cost to acquire another second pairing rhd will not be cheap and I’m not ready for Nelson to get those minutes.

I Donna man. Obviously Pheneuf is shot now but I would say hes comparable to phenuf at 24. Imagine what he would have done if the leafs gave him any support. They used him like we use Risto. Then he gets traded to Ottawa and I thought he was a big part of that team that nearly went to the cup. He’s a similar guy in that he’s not a number one or probably two. Use him to his situational strengths as a second pairing? I bet he will thrive. Another nice bonus? We’re paying him exactly like a second pairing guy for three more years!

There are other small pieces but that is what botts big moves would boil down too. I think I prefer these three. But I also recognize I’m much higher on Montour than most. He is a solid 2 or really good 3 on a good team. We have Dahlin, we have Montour, we’re getting closer on D. Another topic but that’s why I’m not in a huge rush to trade Risto. I really feel Dahlin and Montour are ready for big minutes this year. Risto either slotting second pair or atleast playing similar minutes to Montour and I think we will see a better Risto. If they keep him and he has a better/break out season you can thank the Montour trade. Risto is still only 24. This is the first time we have had a legit top 4 rhd that I can think of. Kind of want to see how that plays out. Now there is an opportunity to play Risto situationally to his strengths instead of running him out there 28 min a night in all situations.

Player salaries getting out of control shortly before another contract? Can you say strike/ lockout??

Yep exactly. That’s on Murray and his scouting staff. We can’t have another nylander level prospect come from this pick.

Man it looks like there should be some nice potential available at 7. Just praying botts gets the right guy. You know atleast one of the 5 or 6 names we keep hearing will likely bust or severely underperform.

I am really rooting hard for this guy. Almost unanimous knee jerk reaction from Sabrespace when he was the pick. Shows that it's fun to run mock drafts etc. and want the Sabres to draft 'your guy' but professional scouts also have a clue at what's going on.

This is one of those years that there is almost no way I can love or hate the pick. There is no consensus at 7 and probably 6 or 7 viable names that could be taken there.