GASabresIUFAN

But will KA do it? He has 8 D under contract or control and 2 goalies. If he makes changes to this group, it will signal a major change in his philosophy. I’m not sure he’s willing to go down that road.

The idea comes from the unreliable source, but what would you pay to add Tom Wilson to this team? Wilson is 28, has a M-NTC and has one year left at 5.167. He’d certainly change the complexion for the team.

The goal is to field a winning team. If the guy isn’t helping us move in that direction it’s time to move on from that player.

Your right. There was nothing they could do to stop this beatdown. There is no depth on defense and no good enough goaltending. Why is this? Easy KA hasn’t dedicated the necessary resources to fix these areas of the team where the pipeline hasn’t developed enough talent. It’s highly unlikely that any major enhancements are coming at the deadline. The questions now are whether or not there is enough here to even get to the playoffs and regardless of if they make the playoffs will KA be willing to make the necessary changes in those areas this off-season to field a truly competitive team next season. Please remember the we have 8 D under contract or control and 2 goalies under contract or control. If KA goes with the status quo team here is what we already look like for next season Skinner TnT Tuch Mitts Cozens Quinn JJP Krebs VO ???? Jost (rfa) ???? Dahlin Mule Power Jokiharju Stillman/Clague/Bryson Lyubushkin (Clague is an RFA) Comrie and UPL (RFA)

Yep

No

No question he didn't want to play second fiddle to Levi.

What if KA is really trying to tank the team to get one more good lottery pick for his rebuild? Here is the thought process. 1) He knows even with a healthy team, Bos or Carolina would dispatch the Sabres quickly in the 1st rd. 2) He also knows the extent of Tuch and Dahlin's injuries and if both are out for weeks to come, it would significantly diminish the likelihood of the Sabres even making the playoffs. 3) He also knows that any pickup at the deadline that would replace Tuch and Dahlin would possibly decimate his pipeline and possibly his cap structure. 4) He knows that the remaining schedule is a beast 5) Therefore better to tank the team, give the kids max PT, and get the best lottery pick possible to give us more assets in the summer to use to fix problems or more draft capital to fix our lack of D in the pipeline.

I was thinking 5-2 Bruins.

Which is the same thing he brought to Buffalo.

Good thing we didn't get Chychrun. G-d forbid we'd have the appropriate depth to whether such a loss.

I guess we can scratch Domi off the list of potential trade targets.

Nothing wrong with a good Nichols kid.

Recap: 3 moves so far Out: Bjork (AHL), Portillo, and Bloom (Prospects) In: Stillman (NHL), a 3rd rd pick in 2023, Center Carson Gicewicz, and a slot on our 50 contract limit Net cap cost so far 1.35 - .450 = 900k additional cap

Does anyone know if Vinnie is here on an emergency recall? If not, will he be claimed if we waive him again?

I don't know if a blockbuster is coming (or anything at all is coming), but the key to this trade is that the player coming back is on an AHL deal and doesn't count toward our 50 contract limit. It's a smart move. We get rid of a player we didn't want or need and replaced him with a slot to acquire someone we do want and need.

I agree, except you actually have in theory a longer runway with college players vs CHL players who need to be signed within 2 years of being drafted. College kids have up to 4 years generally speaking. Think Johnson for example when he signs. Portillo is really Petersen 2.0. He’s a good kid and I wish him well.

Last year over 50% of the trades came on Deadline day. This year, the trades before deadline day are at a higher rate, but I’m still expecting a flurry of trades tomorrow. Hopefully because of all the early activity prices fall and KA will be willing to add.

… and guess what. KA can go strict status quo again next season. Yeah! He has 8 D under contract or control. He has 2 goalies under contract or control. I can’t wait for the Stillman Bush pairing next year. Won’t that be fun. Feel better? On the bright side maybe he’ll sign a college UFA or two for Rochester and there should be two good D prospects when we draft in the middle of the first.

This problem on defense can no longer be solved with a strictly conservative approach. He has no pipeline to draw from to fix the problems and the cheap acquisitions (Clague, Lyubushkin and now Stillman) haven’t and won’t solve the problems. He is going to have to bring in better players and that will cost in both $ and assets. He is going to have to take a risk.

I feel I’ve said all I need to say about our lack of defense and goaltending. I do appreciate @LGR4GM for pointing out the same issues I’ve been posting about for months from KA’s failure to draft D causing the lack of a D pipeline, to the terrible play of our defense outside the top 3, to KA’s mind boggling refusal to actually fix the darn problems. Maybe he has a secret move up his sleeve over the next two days to prove us all wrong. However when it doesn’t materialize, maybe y’all will be as annoyed as I was at the stupid Stillman trade. If (when?) this team doesn’t make the playoffs there will be only one person to blame.

If he pounds Marchand (& Lucic) into little pieces of Canadian Bacon, I’ll take back every bad thing I’ve written about him.

Don’t be so sure.

On the bright side at least KA didn't give up a prospect and a 2nd to get him like Van did to pry him from Chicago on Oct 7th.