Scottysabres

I was just going over all that draft pick and prospect capital Ink. My Lord what a waste. Yes, I know, hind sight is 20/20, but eegads that was a ton of capital he spent on players, that for the most part, failed.

Looking back on the moves Tim Murray made, the piss poor drafting in some cases, and the unabated disaster of spending draft picks and prospects capital on failed chemistry players in a rush to complete a rebuild that should have been given time to work itself out, I believe it's fairly safe to say that former GM Tim Murray was not only a complete disaster for the Buffalo Sabres, but he is the leading candidate for worse Sabres GM of all time.

McCabe can play a very physical game. And in the past 2 seasons that has cost him some injury time. Not making it to 60 games in each of the past 2 seasons has cost him some. But there is game in this kid. His physical play Is one aspect, but he needs to use it more in the defensive zone, not so much in the corners, but in front of our own net and in the face off dots. It's nice to stop a rush dead in it's tracks in the neutral zone, a la the Laine hit, but clearing that net and getting body to body in those board to dot area's is really critical. I see him as a physical hybrid 3/4 d man. If he can learn, as I said, to stick the body and move quickly to recover around our net, he's a keeper, other wise, there are options out there available. Just my take is all.

If I'm not mistaken, you can exceed the cap by 10% in the off season as long as you fall into compliance by the official start date of the season, which is normally in the first week or 2 of October. That being the case, the cap currently sits at $81,500,000 and the Sabres, as of today, currently sit at $76,384,524. Adding the 10% off season escalator puts the off season cap at $89,650,000. When deducting where the Sabres currently are the off season cap space before the season start sits at $13,265,476. If my math is correct, and I'm no expert but looks accurate, we have plenty of room to bring in pieces and sign McCabe and Ullmark. I don't think the cap space is such a big issue for off season moves so far. I think it has much more to do with Botterill working a monster deal along with a minor one, shipping out some players and returning a couple all while also pursuing Gardiner, if rumors are to be believed. Once again, if the math is off, I'm not seeing it.

Mitts isn't ready for 2C duty, that's already been proven. I actually question why he's not in Rochester developing, to be honest.

Been really quiet league wide for the most part. There are teams with cap situations, teams who would like to move some contracts, teams who would like to collect some draft picks. I really do wonder what is bottle-necking the league wide action.

Nothing in the rumor mill today? ?

I have a feeling Ristolainen is going to move in a larger package deal in the next 2 weeks for a 2C. And I think the deal will be larger than just Risto and a pick/prospect. I don't know, but with McCabe and Ullmark primarily out there to be signed yet, I just see a larger deal taking shape before their arbitration days. Just a gut hunch.

This kid has a legit shot at a roster spot? Man, that is nice.

Off to Luke Bryan tonight. One of the wife's favorite. Canandaigua. Got a cabin for 5he weekend.

I happen to agree with this given the amount of contracts on D and forward we should be looking to move.

Winger isn't our highest priority need though. 2C is. Failure to address that and the wingers look well below mere average imo. I'd say thanks but no thanks.

The price should be high.

True, he took D zone starts, and he did PK, but that Tampa team had so many of those teams worn down by the 2nd and in to the 3rd periods so many games, that in my view, those stats truly aren't stand alone to his ability. You simply have to take the games over all flow in to consideration, or, at least I would hope you'd concede that yes, the pace of the game combined with the overwhelming O zone play, which far outweighed the D zone play of Tampa Bay game by game, was a very cushy shelter for the kid.

I see no debate here. The kid has played 1 full season in a very sheltered role behind 2 lines that were dynamite on arguably one of the greatest regular season teams in the history of the NHL. What the Tampa Bay Lightning did this past season was incredible, and, I watched a ton of it. Cirelli was not an overwhelming or even pivotal factor in it. He had very sheltered center duty on a 3rd line with fresh legs in every game I watched that had lines 1 and 2 double shifting in at least half the game in most cases. Whether or not it's recognized, that makes a huge difference.

Grigorenko. The others are still in the NHL, but Grigorenko's departure from the NHL while the others continue to carve out a path is so very telling. Of course, this can change as Nylander's career moves forward. I'll reserve that right to change my answer for now ?

As long as it doesn't benefit Toronto ?

While I concur you did not, nor did I, but to be honest, it's the primary trade chip that is going to be used imo.

I watched plenty of Tampa hockey this year RF, I cannot subscribe to your thoughts on Cirelli. He was sheltered, and quite a bit, on arguably one of the best regular season teams the league has ever seen in it's history. His play didn't stand out nearly enough, in the many games I watched, that warrant a targeting of him by the Sabres utilizing their prime trade chip. Just my 2 cents based on what I witnessed this season is all. To much of a pedestal for this kid as of yet I think given that team make up.

Cirelli is an unproven commodity. You don't move your prime trade chip (Risto) in a deal that is high risk, at least, not in Botterills case. I wonder if many fans realize just how de-stabilizing the losing has been to the organization. When the owner comes out, after a disastrous first 8 years and says it's time to start winning, high risk moves like taking on an unproven asset at the 2c position by using your prime trade chip doesn't seem to fit the bill for success, wouldn't you agree? Because I know this much, given the moves Botterill is making this off season, shrewdly propping up the RHD position in anticipation of that Risto for 2c move, I have a very high degree of confidence that Cirelli isn't even an after thought as a 2c to Botterill, let alone in the conversation. It won't happen, based purely on common sense, and that is the correct assessment from Botterill, in my humble opinion.

I have heavy suspicions Edmonton and Buffalo are going to strike a deal involving multiple players, both defense and forwards. I believe if a deal can be struck Nolan Vesey will be coming over to the Amerks in the deal.

Friends with Luuksenan? and UPK, Finnish RHD, 20 yrs old, showed sound D play with some offensive pitch in, PMD...…………... i'd say we are keeping this guy, to see what he develops in to in any event. 2, maybe 3 years? I know what your saying though, Our current RHD as far as I can tell: Ristolainen 24 yrs old Bogosian 28 yrs old Montour 25 yrs old Miller 26 yrs old Nelson 26 yrs old Borgen 22 yrs old Fitzgerald 22 yrs old Jokiaharju 20 yrs old That looks to me like 4 immediate NHL ready RHD's in Risto, Bogo, Monty and Miller. 2 immediate depth players with NHL games in Nelson and Joker with 2 developing D pushing hard to turn the corner either this coming season or definitely next given their age, Borgen and Fitzgerald. It just makes so much sense with Bogo currently nursing an injury until in to October by reports combined with his 1 yr left that Risto is the key trade piece that could bring in a worthy 2c. But, who would the trade partner be and what does that 2c look like? Just my view of the RHD situation. And given the reports that Buffalo spoke to Gardiner's agent around July 1st?, that tells me the left side is being looked at as well.

I believe Boeser and Horvat are players you build around, I don't believe Vancouver is going to move them.

She was on the 15th floor after the surgery. Then transferred to the 9th after they discovered that little bit of fluid. They released her I think it was the 24th.

Yea but, we tie Lucic up to the French Connection Statue outside of Key Bank Center each home game day, say, around 7am'ish, and let fans dress in goalie gear, stick and all and take running shots on him all day until, a couple hours after the game ends, only one head shot an hour though...……...Come on, we'll cut him loose to eat lunch, were not barbarians here now...…………. That's got to be worth 6 mil a season for the next 4 years.