GASabresIUFAN

I was about to ask if you can even get surgery in Canada?

Just think of all the points he’ll get when he pays for it with his Amex Platinum card.

Has DG worked Asplund at center ?

I disagree. He and his agents were trying to force the Sabres to allow him to get the surgery and bare all the financial responsibility if it didn’t work. That strategy failed and he replaced his agents. His new agents are shopping his medicals to help get a trade done asap so that the new team will allow him to get the surgery he wants and the new team will bare all the financial responsibility if it fails. On Monday that strategy will also fail. Then what?

Why? He can afford it and if he's right and it gets him back on the ice quicker and healthier then the suspension will be lifted and he'll get traded. The Sabres aren't voiding the contract no matter what Jack does. I actually think putting him IR is holding him hostage. Financially it works for everyone, but Jack's health and career remain in limbo.

TBN has an article today on the roster and they seem to think that the D is pretty settled with Dahlin/Joki, Hagg/Miller and some combo of Bryson, Pysyk and Butcher.

I'd argue that suspending him would allow him to go and get the ADR. What more can they do to him other then void his contract which they won't do I they void the contract Jack would be a FA and the team would get nothing for him.

Caggiula is making this team (sorry to say). KA and DG liked his effort last year and that's why they re-signed him. He is ahead of Hayden, AFJ and Eakin on the depth chart.

Depends on who they are working a deal with.

I'd argue a 2nd, a 3rd and 2 4ths. I think R2 is more skilled then half the 3rd line centers in the NHL and paired with VO we'd have a solid 3rd scoring line. As a spare part that they may eventually work into the lineup as he gets up to speed on DG's system and his teammates.

Interesting that people are projection AJF into the lineup, despite his never playing in the NHL and having yet to appear in a preseason game. that's 15 forwards. Someone has to go.

You expect Adams to make good decisions. Wow interesting. Like Dell? 🤪

If the last 3 slots go to AJF, Caggiula and Hayden, then Eakin is getting waived. I'm ok with that, but my guess is that Eakin stays over Hayden.

I don't know. Maybe the trades of every marketable high $ player in the off-season, spending only to the cap floor, not spending any money to replace Ullmark, spending only 750K on each FA. Also no one is giving us a 2nd rd pick to take a $3 mill cap hit. We got a 5th for Butcher and he's costing us 2.8.

I hope your right Taro, but there is a significant event coming. What do the Sabres do with Jack on Monday? IR or suspension. If suspended for off-ice issues, like a failed drug test or in this case not following the prescribed medical treatment, Jack loses his $ and the Sabres lose the cap hit. Suspending him would put the Sabres $7 mill under the cap floor. Jack also wants to get paid while this is resolved. There is now incentive on both sides to get this resolved by Monday. I think this is impetus for the recent rumors. Of course the Sabres could just place him on IR and wait it out. That's what I would do. That's what you would do, but do you trust KA and the Pegulas to be rational and make good decisions. I don't.

Sure 18 mill right now. However taking on bad contracts or injured players to acquire more draft picks or prospects means spending actual $ that TP/KP aren't willing to spend. Taro and I already discussed salary retention.

This will be the 4th season since we traded ROR. The magic beans from the trade Thomspon and Johnson have yet to bare any fruit. Johnson isn't even a pro hockey player yet. Thompson has yet to establish himself as a full time NHL player. Getting more beans for Jack really won't help for 3-4 years.

see above.

Again, this is an argument I've made before, however the sands seems to be shifting against patience and more toward a near term resolution. My point is that if this gets resolved sooner then later resign yourself to the bag of magic beans return.

I thought that might be the case. That further complicates a trade for Jack. Assuming we therefore can't (or won't) retain any of Jack's deal, we'll likely have to take back $7 mill in salary to get a deal done now. So many moving parts.

18 forwards left in camp and almost nothing decided except the 1st line of Skinner Mitts Hinostroza That leaves 10-11 slots up for grabs. DG said Girgensons in his No 2 center right now and that Cozens could see time back at wing with Thompson seeing time at center. Not sure that that works but Ok. Routsalainen seems locked in a the No 3 center. Not sure how anyone else gets allocated. Skinner Mitts Hinostroza ?????? Girgensons ?????? ?????? Routsalainen ?????? ????? ??????? ??????? Obviously Asplund, KO, VO, Cozens, Thompson and unfortunately Bjork are making this team. That's 11 for 13/14 slots, but no idea how DG plans to allocate them. That leaves 1 starting job and potentially 3 roster spots for Caggiula, AJF, Hayden, Eakin, plus prospects Murray, JJP and Quinn. If I were in charge I'd go with the kids. Murray and JJP make this team sending Bjork and likely Caggiula to the bench. However I'm not in charge. That likely means all the kids get sent down and Caggiula and Eakin make the team. If they are worried they'll lose Hayden or AJF if waived, I can see a 14th forward being kept. I hope Murray has done enough to make this team. He is the one guy in camp who has truly earned the opportunity. JJP's skill is undeniably but his back checking needs work likely meaning time in Rochester.

I think that is the plan. I agree that he is better then most of the guys in Buffalo and still should start in Rochester. I suspect he won't be in Rochester long. Honestly Quinn is better then most of the guys in Buffalo also, but it isn't as clear cut.

I've said from the beginning the Sabres shouldn't entertain a trade until they prove he is healthy to max value. However it's becoming clear that that train has likely left the station if the trade rumors floating around the last few days are true. If they are, then resign yourself to the bag of magic beans. One thing that may have changed KA's calculus is the Rags offered Georgiev as part of the deal. Given our goaltending situation that would be a huge incentive to get a deal done now. This is speculation (wishful thinking) on my part, but this is where the Rags can trade from strength and might move the needle enough to get KA to deal. Another thing that could have changed the calculus and a more likely thing is TP/KP told KJA to get him out of here at any price.

COR released. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Boston waiver Steven Fogarty. Niagara Falls native Adam Clendening was waived. He is still only 28. I wouldn't mind signing him for D leadership in Rochester with a chance for an NHL callup.

One significant note on any deal involving Jack; the Sabres currently sit a cap for 63.322 with Jack's salary. Any deal involving Jack must return or keep approx 6.9 mill in cap. For example the Sabres might take back a $2 mill player and retain 50% of Jack's salary for this season. The Rags actually have approx 9.7 in cap space.