Doohickie

In the other thread I answered that I hoped not, but if Stillman and Bryson were otherwise equal but Bryson is better plugged into the other players on the roster then... maybe? And maybe that's not a bad thing? To me that kind of sounds like you have to lay off one person and you two candidates equal ability and you start looking at things like which one takes more sick days.

The thing is: I think Mitts is a guy that would give a hometown discount to stay here. I think he's finally settling into a niche and right now and while he won't make the coin Cozens and Tage do, neither will be expected to hold up a top 6 line (except as an injury replacement) so it's kind of a "cushy job" as center spots go in the NHL. In Buffalo he'll be slotted possibly a bit below his ceiling ability but also won't have the stress of having to be "the guy" which I think in his case makes it easier for him to actually be the guy... but only on the 3rd line. And having a top-six C injury replacement already on the roster is a big benefit for the Sabres in terms of depth.

I certainly hope not. If you can get him for 8 years at a low enough cap hit, you sign him now. It's a gamble just like it was with Cozens, Tage and Muel.

fify 😉

Sorry, @Brawndo.... didn't see your thread when I created mine. I did look but I think it slipped down in the order overnight.

Yer gettin' old, dood.

I do. He had a pretty good two-way game going before he was injured. When he returned it took a long time to get his shot back, plus he wasn't playing the full 200 foot game anymore. If it was the lingering effects of the injury then possibly he'll look better this season with a fresh start. A fully healthy Mitts and a fully healthy VO might work, especially if VO actually backchecks a bit.

When Savoie is healthy I want to see him on the same line with Benson. They've been very in sync in the WHL. He will have to earn his ice time and position for sure.

I'm seeing Jack Eichel with a 200-foot game right out of the box.

Let's see how it plays out. I tend to agree with you, but I think it's a toss up whether Olofsson would work better with JJ/Cozens or Greenway/Mitts.

I think swapping out Olofsson and Benson will be the last bit of tinkering with the lines.

Samuelsson-Dahlin.... gettin' the band back together.

fify

I look at it this way: You're right about the team getting friendly deals going forward, but give Kevyn credit for signing three key pieces long term before the team turned the corner and those assets realized their potential. It was a bit of a gamble but so far it looks like it's working in the team's favor. To expect the team to be able to get team-friendly deals indefinitely was never realistic.

Minor. It's a different situation. I expect a bridge deal. Yeah, I'm sure GMKA would like that. If I'm Power's agent I'd be looking for a bridge to get the bigger payday down the road.

Thanks, Kevyn. This is just what I wanted for my birthday.

This contract is why Kevyn sought to bring in Tage and Cozens on value deals. This the rainy day those savings were for. 8 x 8

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too.

But it's not awful either. I think Dahlin's agent was savvy to wait until there was more clarity on where the cap was going. I'm sure Kevyn wanted a better deal but it is what it is. Now let's see if he can get Power locked up or if that will be a bridge deal.

A bit higher than we hoped but that's what dragging on through the summer got him methinks.

If there are significant injuries they will bring up Johnson. They want him playing, not riding the pine.

I am on twitter mostly to follow Buffalo sports writers/bloggers. But when the Bills lose I absolutely cannot go to twitter for a few days... it's unreadable.

That's not my point. The point is, no other team is going to stick him on an NHL roster now because he might be a serviceable goalie in the future.