GASabresIUFAN

I feel better about the Bills cap situation after reading the Athletic’s article about how the Bills can get under the cap. The Bills are over next years cap by about $20 mill. Restructuring Allen’s salary to a prorated signing bonus alone gets the Bills under the cap. They can also save $10 mill cutting McKenzie, Hines and Settle. Diggs and Miller can also be restructured. Extending Morse, Hyde and Oliver can also yield cap savings. https://theathletic.com/4139776/2023/01/31/buffalo-bills-nfl-salary-cap/

If he is an available now, he’ll be available in the summer. From Van‘s standpoint, a summer deal is more likely as there will be more suitors with cap space to take on his $5 mil annual cap hit. I think t Meier situation is also more likely a summer deal for the same reason. Neither Van or SJ have to move these players. Meier is more urgent because of the size of his Q Offer as an RFA, but it’s still not a necessity. Both teams can afford to be patient to see if they get their price.

This sounds more like something for KA to look at in the off-season after Andy is gone and KA has had the remainder of the season to evaluate UPL. FYI:

Is Savoie being hampered somewhat by playing on a stacked team?

Haven’t we beaten this horse? Why would KA block UPL now that UPL is playing at an NHL level. A few months ago with Comrie hurt and UPL playing poorly in Rochester, the odds would have been much better. Now I’d say forget it. Meier is much more likely.

Hasek only played 9. Pommers played 10 but not consecutively. Hajt and Ray played in 14 straight. Ruff played 10. Is Z the longest tenured Sabres in the salary cap era? Granted we have sucked for much of that time, but still.

Interesting list of guys he mentioned. I do wonder of how many of those guys will be here in a few years. Sammy, Cozey, Tommer and Dahls are core players, but what about the rest? Also was this letter a subtle plea by Dahlin for management to make a move or two to help the team make the playoff?

One note on TNT. He was drafted as a center and played center at UConn if my memory serves. It's not like DG was the only coach who ever viewed Tage as a center.

Give him the C. Also the Sabres are 4-1 at home with a sold out arena.

Actually if I’m reading @Porous Five Hole post correctly it would take something like our 1st, Rosen and Bloom to get a deal done. I’d do that.

They could do it, but it would be tight. Mule, Skinner, Tuch, and TNT are under contract. JJP and Quinn would be on their final ELC season. Cost for these 6 is approx. 16.9 mill. VO is traded w Rosen in the Meier deal. Mitts is traded next season for D. Savoie and Kulich replace Mitts and VO in the lineup for 24-25. Meier takes 8.5 for 7 years. Cozens gets 8 for 8. Dahlin 10.5 for 8. Power bridged 6 for 4 years. Krebs, Jost, and Z get 2-3 years at 2.5. Joki extended 4 for 4. UPL extended 3 for 3. That would put us at about 75.2 for 12 forwards, 4D and 1G if my math is right. That leaves about 10 mill or more for 5-6 depth players.

While PA is being a smart ass with this thread, what are the odds that any current Sabres is still on the team in 10 years? Power or Dahlin? How many guys have actually played 10 or more straight seasons for the Sabres? Gilbert, C Ramsey, Mike Ramsay, Miller, Hasek?

Cozens was on NHL tonight and when asked what he does away from the rink he said he plays video games or goes cover to Mitts’ and Bryson’s house to hang out with the younger guys.

If SJ would take a good prospect, a 2nd and a 3rd, KA would have to listen. Our deal to acquire ROR in 2015 was ROR & McGinn for Zadorov (1st - 16th overall in 2013), Grigorenko (1st 12 overall in 2012), Compher (35th over in 2013) plus the 31st pick in 2015. ROR had one year left on his current deal at the time for $6 mill and McGinn also had a year left at 2.95. The Sabres extended ROR for 7 years at 7.5. Essentially 3 good to very good prospects and a 2nd for a roster player and a top 6 center. Meier for 3 pieces would be similar. In 3 seasons in Buffalo he had 60, 55, and 61 pts before being traded to Stl for Thompson, a 1st in 2019 (Johnson) and a 2nd in 2021 (49th -used to get Colin Miller) plus 2 cap dumps in Berglund and Sobotka.

Probably not, but he is certainly an upgrade over Bryson and Clague.

Does the Horvat deal set the price for Meier? Just as an aside, any move KA has to be viewed through the lense of who gets pushed out of the lineup. For example, if you acquire Meier, one of Mitts or Vo has to be moved in the same deal (or a separate deal) to open a roster spot. Same goes for a defenseman. If KA acquires a D for the top 6 like a McCabe, one of Bryson, Joki or Clague will have to go.

I’d bring back McCabe in a minute. Swap him in for Bryson, add more veteran experience and physical play.

First shoe to drop. We probably should have received more for Reinhart, but that’s another matter. I do find it interesting that the NYI could conceivably re-trade Horvat by the deadline. Still from the NYI point of view, they need centers, younger forwards and more scoring. Horvat checks those boxes. Horvat (27) and Barzal (25) are now their only decent forwards with talent under 30. If they don’t re-trade him to recover their assets, they better re-sign him or it’s a waste. Even with Horvat, I doubt they can catch Pitt, Wash, or Buffalo for a playoff spot. To many good teams in the metro for them to make any real strides in the standings.

https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/bobby-hull-hockey-hall-of-famer-and-blackhawks-legend-dies-at-84/ HOFer and father of Sabres nemesis Brett Hull has passed away.

That’s the $ million question. Who would part with a Samuelsson level D for Olofsson? That’s why Joki is in that role and will likely stay there for the foreseeable future, unless we can get a Nick Jensen or someone like him to sign with us this off-season.

Sad but true

Now that the team is firmly in playoff contention, I put up a poll to see where Sabrespace wants KA to upgrade the team at the deadline.

The thing about KO is how much for how long and whether he even wants to continue. Z is going to get re-signed unless he wants to walk. KA is fully aware this team needs more grit. My guess is that was a factor in signing Bush last off-season and why the Meier rumors started. That said, I think he can replace KO, with someone younger and probably cheaper with the same results.

Sean Malone. To date, I think Petersen is the only Sabres drafted prospect to walk ever who the Sabres offered a contract to. PS, anyone else happy for Hudson Fasching that he has made and stuck with the NYI. I always liked this kid and hoped he'd make the show. https://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2012-03/family-man-hudson-fasching#:~:text=Hudson was the first of,around-the-clock care.

Free is a relative term. The acquiring team would have had to pay him the balance of this contract and fit him under the cap. My guess is teams were interested, but wanted KA to retain a portion of his contract and KA said no. Depending on who is available there is still a chance Vinnie gets traded, but why move him at this point. I'd rather have him as an injury callup.