Broken Ankles

Two reasons why 2019/2020 make more sense. First is actual cash payout. Unlike the Sabres where Uncle Terry shells out all the cash up front, other teams back load their contracts. Bogo stands to make $6M next year. the 2/3's rule saves Pegula $2M. If he is injured again this year (and I'm banking on a healthy semi-successful season), and you have development from others that make him expendable, why not? Second is the cap relief realized in 2019. Four Million dollars in immediate cap savings that can be used for a FA or higher salaried D-man via trade to replace his second pairing. The downside is only a $2M hit in 2020. This is insignificant when you look at the UFA's coming off the books that year. Sheary, Hunwick, Scandella, Sobotka and Wilson for approx. $14M. https://www.capfriendly.com/buyout-calculator/zach-bogosian/2019-06-15

****News Flash**** The Sabres are not a good team. Nor will they be very good next year either. Probably a bottom 10 team. My commentary on Bogo is like many, disappointed at the multiple injuries and lack of play for Buffalo since his arrival. But I agree with "11", he is adequate for the second pair on the right. Let's look at the Vegas Golden Knights. They had Deryk Englelland on their second line right side. One might even say they are a "good" team. Bogo when healthy is better in skating, foot speed and equal in strength. Its amazing how a pairing with young and superior player like Shea Theodore can mask his weakness. To a lesser extent, Brayden McNabb (whom we all know was given away by Tiny Tim along with 2 second's for Hudson Failure Fasching), also plays this role on the first pairing with a young and fast skater Nate Schmidt. So is it implausible to think that if paired with Rasmus, Bogo could not excel? And if he is injured again, or does not, then he will be a perfect candidate for a buyout NEXT YEAR (not this). Where the length of the buyout does not impact us when we are a playoff ready team.

Incorrect. Boeser was born Feb 1997. He was 20.62 when the season started in October last year (2017). Casey was born in November 1998. He will be 19.8 years old in October 2018. Difference of 3/4 of year. He had two full years of college, not one and Casey will put up 55 pts. + in 2019-2020. And as far as Boeser having upside on Eichel you might not have too many on this board (or anywhere) agree with you on that one.

Quite the contrary. He is 33 and face of the franchise. Have you been to Vegas during the season? The city loves him. His jersey was #4 in sales for 2017/18. The organization recognized about $25-30M in incremental revenue based on 11 Playoff home games that was 100% unplanned. As far as on the ice, during the playoffs he had the best save percentage and second to only Holtby in GAA. Maybe his decline is sharp, but worth risk to lock him in until retirement.

Agree. Sam gets an A unless his RFA does not go well and he signs a two year bridge. Then maybe KO or Bogo.

This team is on a timetable of Rasmus, not Jack. I would think that after 3 years, Rasmus will surpass the play of Drew Doughty circa 2012 on the Kings ascent. Kopitar was I believe three year older than Drew, as Jack is to Rasmus. I don’t think the Kings worried about Kopitar not being on an entry level deal. He was 25 and 27 during their cup runs and dominated in scoring, as will Jack. The next two years are going to be Tampa vs Toronto whether we like it or not. By 2020 all the bad contracts save KO and Berglund are off the books. The Kings also had some 30+ guys contribute (Stoll and Williams). So all is not lost. It’s possible that two of our three first round picks next year will be contributing in the 2021 playoffs.....on entry level deals. The question is other than the two Rasmus’, who else is playing D on that 2021 team. Guehle and some of the Rochester Americans from 2018?

I like most of what Jeremy says, however this idea is shite. The Sabres are not trading for a soon to be UFA to serve as mentor. The inherent value of a UFA is a cap friendly value and a win now mentality you need for a playoff run. There is a reason why no bottom 5 team ever signs these players (until Murray did with ROR). It makes no sense to waste assets for player only to overpay in the future if you are willing to resign them. The O’Reilly signing clearly made us a better team as evidenced in that seasons record, but it was not going to elevate us to a playoff position. In hindsight had the Sabres waited one year, controlled those assets they moved, realized a higher draft selection than 8, then overpaid after he became a UFA they might have secured a winger like Laine or Tkachuk instead of Nylander whom you are recommending we give away with a first or a second. But Murray did make this horrible trade and JBotts will not. He will accept the results from this season and it may result in a top 5 pick. And the draft capital will be used as intended, not to accelerate the rebuild with pending UFA’s. Its clear that some of are still in the denial phase of this loss. Acceptance is step 5 and can take an eternity for some. Remember, those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Let’s choose to remember Tim’s mistakes and move towards depression then acceptance.