Scottysabres

Really can't blame him, what's it been, 6 seasons now? He's rode out the worst Sabres squads I can remember with such a duration of time. Makes me wonder what guys like Reinhart and Eichel are thinking.

I'd like him to move on as well. Not that he was the core problem these past 3 seasons or so, but, in my opinion, he was a contributing factor. He made a great deal of terrible defensive zone mistakes. Lost possession of pucks, unwilling or unable to properly cover or clear the front of the net, bad breakout passes, a whole hell of a lot of poor offensive zone board play including but not limited to poorly timed pinches, inability to keep the puck in the zone, losing possession of the puck in battles at or near the O zone blueline and a few cases, just poor positioning where he get's caught behind the transition of play back up ice to the D zone. Just my take on it, but, yea, he needs to go. Botterill, make it so...……………………..please.

I laughed, then I cried...……... It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...…..ah hell, another 3/4 season of Sobotka at 2C, why the hell not...………. Someone...…...anyone...……….bring me Tequila, hold the beer chaser ?

Isn't Brodie an RHD under 30? Oh please don't tell me the market for RHD's is that bad.

So when do we think Botterill will make a move or 2?

Ran across it, called Hockey feed.

Ran across it on some sight called hockey feed, not sure how accurate.

Lance Lysowski, Buffalo News is hearing Risto, Scandella and Hunwick are on the block.

I can't see the Pegula's and Botterill passing another year of Jacks young years away. There has to be more coming.

I to, am shuddering...….. Please tell me you won your league...…..repeatedly...….. I need my Linus blanky if you didn't....:)

Love me some Domi. Unfortunately, I can't see Montreal doing this, since they love them some Domi as well I'd wager.

My big ? mark is who in the hell is playing on which wing this coming season. We have a ton of left handed shot wingers. And I mean a ton. Olofsson is almost sure to make the roster, is it going to be LW or RW? Is Johansson playing 2C, and if so, why the 4 NHL Caliber RHD's? Then there are the reports intermittent but continuous through the off season that Buffalo is still engaged with the Gardiner camp and may actually be the handshake deal team. How does that play out on the LHD front? All that near ready forward and D depth combined with all those UFA at end of season to be's, 6 forward and 4 D men by my capfriendly count. Not to mention Reinhart, Mittelstadt and Montour's pending RFA status for next off season. Then try and plot all of that with the incoming expansion draft...………………... Something's amiss here. There are just so many moving parts and possibilities, I literally cannot subscribe to the possibility that Pegula and Botterill are prepared to write off yet another season to wait for the young guns to finally be ready while at the same time finishing the D rebuild. Somethings got to give, no? It is with all this that I truly believe a couple of moves are coming, one major, most likely including Risto, but most likely a package deal. Just my hunch is all, but like I said, there is just way to many moving parts.

Lord have mercy, I hope he's not actually thinking Mitts will elevate to a 2C and that will put the team in to a playoff slot. Because if that's it, if that's the plan, fire Botterill immediately imo.

so what's the latest on Risto? Is Tampa out and we are now down to how many teams?

I'm still strong on hope Anaheim bites with a Rakell for Risto swap.

Who is this player again?

Multiple reports the Rangers have bought out Shattenkirk. That's another RHD on the market now. Anyone guess how this affects the market for Risto, if at all?

In all fairness, it just fits the narrative for moving Risto and the apparent defense rebuild Botterill has under taken. Could be another team though to, but given those persistent reports that Buffalo is in the thick of the Gardiner talks all through July, it just seems to fit. My fear isn't Gardiner off hand, he's a decent 3/4 puck moving LHD imo. My fear is what the return is for Risto. Man, I am really interested in whether it's a stand alone 1 for 1 type deal, a package of players scenario or a combo of players and picks. Also, the LW and LHD positions are heavy NHL caliber players, like more than we have slots for. Now the LW situation I could see slotting a player on the RW, but with 7 NHL caliber (and yes, I know, I know, that's loose with the term caliber ? ) something's gotta give there, no? And LHD, as well...….? Just all seems to fit is all. Then again, I could be looking at the girl in the cut off shorts walking by the CVS while across the street I completely missed the 4 babes in triangle bikini's walking by the water...………...so who knows. It's just a hunch ?

I'd surmise if they don't make the playoffs, he is gone. Hell, Murray got less time. Pegula's I am sure after 8 years are very short on patience just to make the playoffs. Just a suspicion.

If it is Gardiner to Buffalo I'd have to believe one of Scandella or Hunwick is gone. And given both the RHD and LHD depth signings, maybe both.

"Michael Russo said on the Russo-Souhan show that Jake Gardiner has a somewhat long term handshake deal in place with a team that has to move out a high priced defenseman to make his cap hit fit. And we know Buffalo's GM Jason Botterill has been in continuous talks with his agent." A strong suspicion Gardiners coming to Buffalo once Risto is moved.

I don't know honestly, but I watched quite a bit of Tampa this past season as I have eluded to in other posts. One of a very few teams I got to watch more than just the games with the Sabres. In any event, Point was just so versatile. I mean, the guy was bouncing between RW and C with no problem, he just looked so dam good. Of course, Cerilli wasn't playing with the talent Point was on those top lines, and that is a fair subject to key in on I would imagine. In the end, Cerilli looked decent as well, is on the last year of his ELC, and even if Point accepts a 2 yr bridge deal, it should be abundantly clear the Tampa defense definitely cost them a couple of those CBJ series games. It wasn't just the forwards, that defense caved, especially in the first and third games imo. With that being said, that RHD position is extremely weak for Tampa. They have Hedman and McDonough on the left locked up long term, they need at least 1 RHD minute eater that can rock the points while needing a bit of help in coverage, but is on a reasonable contract. Hence why I believe Risto and Tampa were meant for one another. But if I were Botterill, it's Point or nothing, from them. The reasoning is simplistic, their a division foe, already stacked offensively in the forward ranks, have the components on the left side of the D to drive game play and an addition like Risto would make an already formidable division/playoff run foe even more dangerous than they already are. My only concern on Point was his playoff performance, but, the entire Tampa forwards regiment didn't fair well in that series. With their defensive constantly getting bottled up and their forwards forced to the perimeter, I give CBJ a lot of credit, they smothered non puck possession D on Tampa like Bears on honey. Maybe Tampa views Risto as a part of the big body solution to that, who knows really, but, they definitely have interest, as well they should given that poor performance. If it's Tampa, it's Point or nothing from my vantage point in any event.

Tampa now at 75.9 mil, Point and Erne still to sign yet and their RHD situation is woefully lacking. Moving Cerilli while on his ELC due his first true contract next season doesn't help them at all. Combined with all those NTC's, somethings got to give in Tampa imo.

29 with 1 yr left, thank you. It's Sunday, I was to lazy to look it up :D.

This is a valid point. Scandella looked just horrible last season. But, he's only what, 30? Maybe some team needs some veteran LHD presence, not so much a reclamation project but a bounce back for a 1 or 2 yr contract? We can only hope...……….or, at least I do anyways.