Scottysabres

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.

Winnipeg's defense is highly suspect after the purge. I mean, if they plan on going in to the season with that Right Side (hint hint) they are in trouble.

That's a bad deal for Colorado. Kerfoot is a good player.

I get a gut feeling Marcus Johansson will be a Sabres in the next couple days.

I'm right there with ya on Winnipeg. At least we won't be Okposo'd this day? One can only hope......40 minutes and counting.

Kind of happy Botterill isn't in the fray today.

No, it wasn't. It was situationally based. We needed a high end center, we paid to keep him for the full 8.

For 10 to 12 million a season after an ELC, I'll be looking for a "Game Driver". Not just a D man that puts up points, but one that actually drives possession of the puck, both while his team has it, and taking it away. Nothing against you, or True, or anyone personally, but a 10 to 12 million a season D man 2 years from now, at 21 years old, better be a complete 200' d man and control the play the moment the puck is even heading for his own end, not just at the blue line, but in the neutral zone. Putting up points doesn't win you games, we've seen this with D men before, Risto comes to mind. Dahlin is not a complete D man, to dispute that statement is to not live in reality. 10 to 12 million? No thank you, just my preference.

That's a bold statement. Given both Crosby and McDavid were IMPACT players in their rookie seasons far beyond what Dahlin has shown. I truly hope your correct. Really I do. But once again, history shows otherwise.

I'm not going to go over the semantics of the projection based scenario, the truth is, we don't know what Dahlin is going to cost, but 10 to 12 mil is definitely on the extreme high end given what true impact forwards are getting today, and we are only 2 seasons away from the next contract. I'm going to go out on a limb here, and, based on historical D man signings, not very far, if it all on that limb, and say 10 to 12 million is NOT going to happen, not even close. But, I humbly digress, I hope to be proven wrong, hell, I pray so. But history is on my side.

And some projection gives you Okposo contracts. Projection plays a roll, but In the end, the MacKinnon's are more era expectation based as opposed to a trade, which is chemistry based.

I still firmly believe the trade that makes the most sense for Buffalo is a 1 for 1 trade, Ristolainen for Ehlers. Concvince me I'm wrong...……………...