LabattBlue

Unless there is a compliance buyout on the near horizon, which they could then use on Skinner, no way do I want to sign Hall to a long term deal, no matter what kind of season he has in 2021. Without the buyout, that would be 18 mil in cap hit, on two wingers who are both rapidly approaching 30, both on long term deals. Thanks to Botts(and the Pegula's), the Skinner contract will be painful for many years to come.

Not that I want anyone gifted a spot in the lineup, but my biggest fear with Arttu Ruotsalainen is that if he doesn't make the team and is assigned to Rochester for seasoning, he goes running back to Finland. Hopefully he either blows them away with a great training camp, or the NHL teams are allowed to have an expanded roster due to Covid circumstances.

Tampa has a serious cap problem, and there are 7 teams with 8+ mil in cap space that have to be licking their chops knowing that Tampa has to do something big...unfortunately the Sabres are not one of those 7 teams. 😞 With Sergachev signed, they have 19 players under contract, already over the cap limit by ~2mil, and still have to sign Cirelli and Cernak...and even then, they only have 21 players accounted for.

Not to be a smartass, but at what age will he become a generational talent? Dahlin was projected to be the best defenseman coming out of the draft since Potvin....you don’t see that quote thrown around in recent months.

Unless the Sabres plan is to try and win every game 6-5, I don’t see how they make the playoffs. The goaltending and defense(as it stands today) is the same as last year, and those groups were average on their best nights last season. Also, call me skeptical, but I don’t think Hutton’s problems last year were his eyesight. I think they fell more in line with...he sucks if you need him for more than a few games.

Really good article...for those who have access! 👍

The NBA has released their schedule for 20-21. Not sure what the NHL is doing behind the scenes. https://sports.yahoo.com/report-tentative-nba-schedule-features-playin-tournament-no-all-star-game-164135512.html

The Sabres have only got one thing right in the last few revisions of the sweater...and that was getting rid of the stupid number on the front. Not that it matters to me, the Sabres won’t be seeing a penny from me for at least several years.

Even if Eichel led the Sabres to a Cup, he still wouldn't be my favorite Sabre of all-time. Gilbert would still be #1...but Eichel would become a very close 2nd if that happened. 🙂 Happy 70th...damn I feel old.

If there is an opening, I’d be willing to get back in.

Sorry to be so negative on decisions made currently. The Pegula era has been such a train wreck for such a long time, it is hard to find anything positive to say...especially when on paper the moves just reek of nepotism, and not thorough recruitments for experienced candidates. Maybe I just long for the 70’s era of Sabre’s hockey.

I would hardly call creating a new position(after the gutting of the off-ice hockey staff in early summer), and then hiring another person from the Academy of Hockey staff to fill said position, "thinking outside the box". That being said, there will never be any metrics made public that would indicate if this position if helpful to the organization, so I will let it go.

Looking forward for what exactly?

So who is left to run the Academy of Hockey? Is there anyone left to promote? 🤔 On a related note...you gut your hockey side of the business staff a few months back, but then create this useless position?

Nice deal. After two years, the Sabres should have a good feel, if he is nothing more than a PP specialist, or a guy who can improve his ES play.

I'll admit I don't see Cirelli much in the regular season, but whenever I watched TB in the playoffs(I didn't see all their games), he was very underwhelming in terms of his offensive game. I'm sure he has a very nice 200' game, but I'm glad the Sabres aren't in the market for him. Maybe it was just a bad playoff year for him?

I guess this would describe me? 😂

I would make #2....swap out a RHD for a LHD via trade(s). To me that would be much more important than adding another forward. Take away Bogo who never played anyways, and you basically have the same d corp as last year...which IMO was not a playoff caliber group.

I’m okay with the 1 year deal. Keep your options open.

My 2 cents...from what I saw of Laaksonen, Borgen and Bryson either at rookie camp, training camp or the rare Amerks game on TV here in WNY, in terms of potential to have an NHL future(even as a 5-6-7 guy), I’d go Borgen, Bryson and Laaksonen a distant 3rd. Every time I’ve seen Laaksonen, he doesn’t impress at all, and it doesn’t surprise me that he was a complete off the charts pick. He has improved, but it’s all relative. His 1st rookie camp he was by far the worst player on the ice. Last year was better, but nowhere near being the cream of the crop among his peers at rookie camp. This year? Who knows. Is he slated for the Amerks...if there is an AHL season?

I don’t think there is any way a New Years Day winter classic is being held this year with fans...and is it even worth holding if there are no fans?

I wonder if that would be enough to get Seattle to take Skinner? They are going to regret that contract a lot more than even Okposo's. In fact, even if Hall loves Buffalo and wants to stay beyond this season, I can't see how it happens as long as Skinner is a Sabre.

According to a very unreliable rumor site with the word "buzz" in it(from a couple days ago), one option the NHL is considering is that the minor league team will travel with the big club, and play a game against the AHL team of whomever the Sabres are playing that night. Hockey day/night doubleheaders, I guess you could call them. I'm sure this would be grouped with all regional opponents to reduce travel costs as much as possible. Interesting thought, not sure how seriously it is being considered.

I heard it through the grapevine that he is next.

Figures...more of the keep it in house, sign guys you know...good ole boys network. Excellent use of analytics!