Scottysabres

I think it's still early enough in the off season to anticipate some bodies going out to be sure. I don't know about the cap worries yet as we are unsure of what exactly is going out and what exactly is coming in, at least, from my vantage point of the situation. But yea, I completely concur, we haven't even seen the real fire works this off season yet from the Sabres, in my opinion. It is more than obvious we have to many bodies, some have to go.

Second Liner Members 504 2,549 posts Report post Posted Monday at 05:46 PM I get a gut feeling Marcus Johansson will be a Sabres in the next couple days.

Second Liner Members 504 2,549 posts Report post Posted Monday at 05:46 PM I get a gut feeling Marcus Johansson will be a Sabres in the next couple days.

Not all the moves are done to be sure. So it's a bit premature to start penciling in who's going to seat where, no?

Wonder if the Sabres are done for the day, or if this signing was related to further moves incoming.

There has to be more moves coming. With these young guys pushing the roster, the over abundance of NHL caliber D and the players that need to gone from the roster (Sobotka comes to mind), it looks like Botterill has his hands on the off season chess game of a lifetime.

So, are we looking at Mittelstadts LW'er on the 3rd line then?

I don't know if it's the best they could do, but Johansson has primarily played center, no?

There we go. 2c in the bag.

So, in essence league wide is awaiting the outcome of the "offer sheet wars" (I don't think it's trademarked ? ) before serious movement on many fronts? Would this be in the ballpark? If so, I wonder how long this could drag on for before teams start making decisions based on the calender.

Wgr discussing Ehlers for Risto 1 for 1 swap. Yes please!

I am so hoping it's 12 AAV or higher. I would like Dubas walking around like he was just alley dragged by a herd of Clydesdale.

Have a safe 4th all. I'd like to see everyone posting with all fingers tomorrow ?

I would take Bennett in a New York minute. They'd be looking for picks or prospects I assume.

Well, I can't see them taking salary back if they are looking to clear salary. So I'd surmise a prospect (Like Nylander perhaps) who is cost controlled and under their control for a bit and some draft pick capital and maybe Johnson could be had I would imagine. Admittedly, I did not see Johnson play center, only wing for the minimal games I've seen of Tampa over these past 5 years, probably 3 dozen or so games in all, so it's not like I have any room to speak. But if he does play center I would be interested in just this type of player, decent contract, comes out of it as the "aging downturn" time frame really rears it's ugly head for so many players and he looks to be a contributor on the offensive side. Not sure of his defensive center abilities, so I'm going to leave it to all of you to educate me a bit on Johnson's pros and cons, since, once again, I'm hardly really familiar with him.

I think this is correct. I think he moves Risto to help address line 2, be it a center or winger, and in turn, addresses the LHD situation to help partner up Montour, Miller, Bogo? maybe even Dahlin. I just can't see him happy with Scandella's play at all, and to be honest, the McCabe injury didn't exactly exude confidence, at least to me. But, maybe it's just a single replacement like a Gardiner to move one of them in a larger deal. Hard to say really, impossible more like it. I see things shaking following the 4th, who knows, maybe on the 4th...……………..

Humor me for a moment. Botterill speaks of roster surgery already having added Montour at the deadline. We now see Miller brought in (both RHD's, we all know this). Now, bare with me, but, what if Botterill sees the defense as the primary issue "along with" the void on the 2nd line? Rumors abound about Buffalo as a team interested in Gardiner, an LHD, and given our LHD situation, with Pilut injured early in to the season, we have Scandella, McCabe (who's very loosely rumored available) and Hunwick with Hickey in depth. I cannot believe for the life of me Botterill was satisfied with either side, Right or Left. He began addressing the right side, and, subsequent to his words of "roster surgery", I firmly believe the Gardiner rumors are true and he is looking to address the left side. Therefore, I am in a firm belief that Botterill has trades in the works for existing defensemen, both RHD and LHD, and pending a signing like Gardiner, is looking to address those positions while in conversations with a forward or 2 in FA. I believe we will see a trade or 2 in the next 4 days off of defense with defense coming in. Just my hunch is all.

Maybe Botterill rebuilding the entire D in 1 off season is a good thing? Not sure. Gardiner is a left shot, does he play the right side? I'm not sure what position he played on D.

All your D belong to us, come make a deal? Is this the strategy?

Brian Boyle? Thoughts?

Does anyone think the reason Buffalo hasn't offer sheeted a guy like Point is because they don't have Reinhart or Dahlin locked up long term?

Hmmmm, don't see the signing listed. Was there a mistake?

Well, we know something has to give with Buffalo's D, carrying 11 NHL caliber d men, even if roughly half are 5 to 7 pair position, isn't going to stand. Miller and Montour just brought in, don't see them moving. Bogo and Pilut on surgical recovery, don't see them moving. Looks like Risto, McCabe, Scandella and Hunwick to work with as trade material. We'll see what Botterill does, but Ehlers.........we can dream here in Sabres land, at least, for a little while in the summer.

I have thought about what Chacka's looking at with his team. You just have to figure he's just watched his defense evaporate in 3 months. I mean, Myers gone, Trouba gone, that right side has collapsed. He has to do something, and looking at contracts and ages of guys like Wheels, Buf and Little I would surmise he would pull the trigger knowing the window is now for the current construct of the forward ranks.

I think Nylander for cost control, yea. Protected 2020? Sure, I'd do that deal. I'd want something else in return for that though, a future 3rd let's say. But ya, I'd pay that for 6 years of Ehlers at 6 mil. Well worth to in my opinion.