Scottysabres

Plenty of off season to go yet and it appears UFA movement has stalled until these RFA scenarios play out. I am guessing that combined with the relatively low cap escalation has teams recalibrating before movement picks up again.

Good point. Yeesh I hope to god this isn't Botterill's plan...…...

I tend to agree with this. None of these guys is going to center successfully in my humbled opinion. There has to be other moves coming.

I would love Botterill to hook up with Anaheim again. They are going to be entering full rebuild mode here for the next couple of seasons. Rickard Rakell for 2c, That would be a deal I'd like to see.

judging by Pegula's statements, Botterill's statements, they are well aware the fan base isn't going to wait around any longer. I don't see Johansson at 2c given what we know.

Johansson doesn't primarily play center from what I understand, he plays primarily LW. To myself in any event, Marcus Johansson was brought in as a depth LW'er. Jbot isn't remotely done given the lack of cap space to get Ullmark, McCabe, Larsson and Erod signed. These guys aren't going to sign for 1.5 million each, and we only have roughly 6.5 million in cap space. Combine that information with the reports that Buffalo was talking to Gardiner's camp and it's easy to see one of the LD's is on the way out. Further combine that with Risto, Bogo, Montour and Miller on the RHD's, that's 4 NHL caliber players right there, Miller most certainly wasn't brought in to sit in the press box, neither was Montour. What? Are we going to sit 5.4 mil Risto or 5.25 mil Bogo in the press box? I don't think so, one of these guys is gone, and given Bogo's injury status, Risto is odd man out imo. As for the forward ranks, way to many bodies, with the youth pushing as well as the signings. Something is going to give. I see 5, potentially 6 players between defense and forwards on the move before all is said and done, because we don't have a 2c yet.

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?