GASabresIUFAN

The PP could benefit from being less predictable. I can see Tage on the screen in front. Mitts and VO as the other forwards with Dahlin and Butcher on the blueline.

Sabres scored 138 goals last season. 66 came in the final 23 games following the end of the losing streak. That means they scored only 72 in the 33 games prior. They were shutout 7 times during those 33 games.

But does it equal or exceed Sam+70% Jack, Staal, Reider, Sheahan and Lazar. Since 3 of the 4 were negatives to the team, I'd say offensively there is a chance they'll be at least as effective. Outside of the offense, the lack of good in zone D and any semblance of goaltending, yes I agree the team is looking at a bottom or near bottom of the league finish. I wrote earlier that KA has set up DG to fail with his D group and goaltending.

I've only said this once, but did you read my post? "If Jack wants out bad enough" This is Jack's nuclear option. If he takes it, yes he'll likely lose all the guarantees and that is my point. However it gives him full control of the situation going forward. Right now he wants his cake and to eat it to. He wants him money, his surgery and a trade and so far he and his agent are doing everything to make it impossible to accomplish. They know the Sabres have an insurance policy on his contract. At this point it seems to me that Jack is trying to screw the team. Well F-him. Stay strong KA.

The cap issue is a significant one if Jack is traded. We are at around 63 million with the RFAs signed and JACK. Cap floor is 60 or so. Remove Jack before the season and you have an $8 mill gap to get just to the floor. That is a huge crater to fill with some contracts in trade. This fact is why I'm of the belief that the group we have listed isn't the final group. I'm praying he uses the cap space to get a goalie (Ben Bishop?) and a veteran center.

I agree which is why adding Butcher is perplexing other then we got him for nothing.

Yes and no. Hinostroza is the only new player but Girgensons was also gone last year. However, this is the group minus Reinhart (Jack was out injured) that played significantly better hockey for this team down the stretch. The roster turnover occurred last season when the kids went from Taxi Squad/limited roles/AHL to contributors once the toxic RK was sent packing. Gone from last year so far are Sam, Hall, Staal, Sheehan, Reider and Lazar. That’s 50% of the opening night roster and the only one we’ll miss is Reinhart.

I'm pretty sure who is making the team out of camp, but what the line combos are and who plays where is anyone's guess. I'm 100% sure the following will be in the lineup opening night (if healthy) - Skinner, KO, VO, Girgensons, Mitts, Cozens, Asplund, Thompson, Bjork and Hinostroza. That 10 jobs down. I also think R2 did enough last spring to secure his spot. He also is one our more current dynamic forwards. That leaves a bunch of guys fighting for 2 jobs. Eakin, Caggiula, Hayden and MacInnis. Eakins "big" contract and proven faceoff skills probably wins the 4th center job, but I can see both MacInnis and Hayden giving him a run for his money. I'm not a big Caggiula fan, but KA seems to be. He also probably makes the team. Other then Quinn, I don't see any other prospect who could push for a job in Buffalo this season. I can JJP, Murray, and Weissbach getting look see at some point this season. Murray maybe longer if we need more physical play. The last question is Jack. IMHO he starts the season on IR (unless traded earlier). A trade likely includes a contract or two back. It will be interesting to see how this swould effect this group. Based on who is here today I'd project a lineup like this Asplund Mitts Olofsson Skinner R2 Thompson Bjork Cozens Okposo Girgensons Eakin Hinostroza Caggiula Cozens is the 3C right now because of his inexperience and falloff late last year. However, I can see this line developing into our physical shutdown line that adds more and more O as the season progresses. I also don't think Cozen's offense is as developed as R2 and Mitts. I've "loaded up" the top 2 lines with the 6 biggest offensive threats our youth roster has. I trust Mitts and Asplund defensively which is why they are on my top line. Hopefully Thompson uses his size more this coming season giving the 2nd a more physical presence. Overall not a horrible group and if Mitts, Cozens, Thompson, Asplund and R2 can build on last last season, then we might have something at least on offense.

For multiple reasons. Customer relations, additional premiums, and also probably avoiding long-term litigation. For example. Let's say Jack uses the medical clause in the CBA and goes to arbitration. While the prevailing wisdom is that this surgery Jack wants is experimental, it's not like it's brand new. Johns Hopkins has a whole webpage devoted to the procedure. One of the first things you learn in law school is that going to court or arbitration is never a sure thing. If Jack wins in arbitration and the procedure fails ending Jack's career the insurance company is likely to get sued by the Sabres if they deny the claim since the Sabres had no right any longer to stop the procedure. Specialty insurance is a very specialized and competitive industry with a limited customer base. It's usually better to work with your customers then get sued by them.

Besides that Hasek fellow.

Truth

For what? There are no paid but unearned bonuses in his contract to be returned. The remaining 50 mill liability to the Sabres would be gone. The trade value for an injured player is zero as we are seeing. Jack in theory could also sue the Sabres for poor medical care. The team is terrible with Jack or without and therefore there is no lost revenue to the Sabres.

He is trying to force a trade.

No necessarily. Always easier to work things out then take the nuclear option. If he takes the option I describe the Sabres obviously don't have to void his contract, but the insurance policy they have on the contract likely gets voided meaning the Sabres would be on the hook for his contract if the surgery fails and Jack's career is over. This mess has so many issues and side issues, but I do believe that the scenario I laid out is Jack's nuclear option if he chooses to take it. As to medical arbitration, I think Jack loses because the surgery is deemed experimental. The best solution to this mess is for the Jack, the Sabres and the Sabres' insurance company to get together and work out a deal.

If Jack wants out bad enough he should just go and get the surgery. It would violate his contract but what is the worst the Sabres could do to him, void his contract? Ask for some bonus to be returned? From Jack’s point of view that would be a win. He becomes a FA, he gets the surgery he wants and the Sabres get nothing for him.

@SabresVet Look at the goalies in those games. Kind of scary that they are better then Ullmark’s replacements

I don't think it's kool-aid at all with the young forwards. If you looks at the numbers, Asplund, Mitts, Tage, R2 all played well and added solid offense under DG. Also Jokiharju and Dahlin also looked significantly better. There is reason for optimism. Sadly without proper support, none of it works. That kids can't play an upbeat offensive game is the D pairs are constantly hemmed in our zone and the goaltenders can't be relied on to make a big save.

Sadly, all the kids could thrive and they won't achieve that result with the goalies KA saddled the kids with. It's really a shame. We have the makings of an up and coming team, and the goalie failure literally pulled the rug out of from under the rebuild. No matter how well the kids do, the goalies will allow 4 goals a night. No team, no matter how talented, can overcome such poor goaltending and that is what KA has done. Right now this roster will be lucky to get to 20 wins next year. Right now the team will be hemmed in our zone when the Butcher and Miller pairs are on the ice. With Anderson as the primary goalie 3 years ago a young Ottawa team gave up 302 goals. His last 3 full seasons Anderson's save% is approx .9. Dell is worse. His save % over that last 3 season is about .89. These are bottom of the barrel goaltending in today's NHL and is no way to support a young team. Asking Tokarski (3.54 & .904) or UPL (3.88 & .906) to carry the team instead is just as foolish.

I disagree on Butcher’s speed. His skating was his hallmark in college. He is fast. His footwork on defense is a major issue and has been since he joined the NHL. This is from LWOS.

They have reached the cap floor once the RFAs are re-signed. They'll be at able 62 mill. Insurance is a fair word. Conceptually that's fine, except each of the new guys brings something specific to the lineup that KA wants. Butcher brings speed and offense, Pysyk a RHD and Hagg physical play. I can accept Hagg might be insurance for Samuelsson, but Butcher is simply a more experienced version of Bryson. To me it's clearly saying he thinks Bryson isn't ready.

Like I have to power to fire RK when he didn't. Like when he said he likes our goaltending situation last year and again this off-season.

They care if they want more then a bucket of pucks and a grilled cheese sandwich for him. Think about how badly we get taken on the ROR trade when Terry forced Jbot to trade him so we didn't have to pay the bonus. We are in a nearly identical situation. Top player on a long-term deal wants out. Team wants him gone so that they aren't responsible for something (surgery or bonus). The ROR deal proved that you can't get top $ in this situation. The only way to maximize the return is to work out the insurance issue, let him have the surgery he wants, get him healthy and back on the ice for the Sabres. The way you work out the insurance issue is get the contract insurance company to approve the "experimental" surgery. Hard obviously, but not impossible. It's not like the surgery is brand new. Likely take some additional premium which Jack or his agent should pay.

For all KA's talk about not blocking the kids it seems that he has actually done the opposite to a certain extent with the defense. We ended last year with a back end of Dahlin, Risto, Miller, Jokiharju, Samuelsson and Bryson. If I remember correctly, Samuelsson and Bryson both graded out analytically pretty well last season, but those 2 seem to be getting the short end of the stick based on KA's roster moves this off-season. Risto had been traded and replaced by Hagg. KA then signed Pysyk and traded for Butcher. Pysyk was signed to add depth on the right side. Butcher was signed to add offense. I'm assuming both are in the top 6 to open the season. If that happens either Bryson or Samuelsson are going back to the minors. I also think KA grabbed Hagg to add a more physical element to our team. Hagg had 100 hits in only 34 games last season. Also in our new economic model, KA isn't pay 1.7 to Hagg or 2.8 to Butcher to sit on the bench (at least initially). My guess is these moves may block both kids from playing in the NHL to start next season and I have to ask, given the team's mantra of youth and economy, why block two of our better young D.

He's not getting traded until he is healthy and playing. He knows this, the Sabres know this and so does every team in the NHL. The only question is how do we get him healthy and back on the ice. Jack says experimental procedure and the Sabres and their insurance policy say traditional fusion surgery.

Hard to mentor someone in Rochester if Anderson is playing in Buffalo. Does this imply that UPL will be in Buffalo come Fall?