Should Buffalo pursue any RFA's

[PerreaultForever]

Johanson has had some health issues in the past, but he looks pretty good right now in the playoffs. I could see him playing with Eichel (for the right price).

[Brawndo]

15 hours ago, E4 ... Ke2 said:

I could trade a 2nd or two to get that 3rd back if it allowed me to hit Point and similar players.

The danger associated with this scenario is what happens if a the team matches the offer sheet? Then the Sabres will be out one or two additional assets and will have at least downgraded a 2nd to a third with nothing to show for it. 

Edited May 28, 2019 by Brawndo

[TrueBlueGED]

10 hours ago, nfreeman said:

I’ll believe it when I see it.  

Even if I see it, I still might not believe it. 

[Thorny]

On 5/27/2019 at 10:02 AM, dudacek said:

Lot of talk about offer sheets for Marner and Point.

How about an offer sheet to Matt Tkachuk? Calgary is not in a great spot cap wise, plus they may have internal cap concerns with the bargain deals for Gaudreau, Monahan and Giordano.

$9.1 million might be tough for them to match. Costs us 2 firsts, a 2nd and a third. Solidifies the top six for a decade, adds ingredients this team really needs. I’d give up that for him.

Same, and it's funny looking back that so many were against drafting Tkachuk if he was available, because he had "too many" secondary assists in junior. 

[TrueBlueGED]

On 5/27/2019 at 11:02 AM, dudacek said:

Lot of talk about offer sheets for Marner and Point.

How about an offer sheet to Matt Tkachuk? Calgary is not in a great spot cap wise, plus they may have internal cap concerns with the bargain deals for Gaudreau, Monahan and Giordano.

$9.1 million might be tough for them to match. Costs us 2 firsts, a 2nd and a third. Solidifies the top six for a decade, adds ingredients this team really needs. I’d give up that for him.

Because I'm bored at work, I'll pretend we can get our pick back for an offer sheet and that Botterill would do it. Would you rather throw this offer at Tkachuk or William Karlsson?

[sweetlou]

29 minutes ago, TrueBlueGED said:

Because I'm bored at work, I'll pretend we can get our pick back for an offer sheet and that Botterill would do it. Would you rather throw this offer at Tkachuk or William Karlsson?

Karlsson probably around the $6.5 million range.  I would take Karlsson over JT Miller but cost about a million more in AAV.  

So Sabre guru's, would you rather have Karlsson or JT Miller for the next 5 years?

[dudacek]

42 minutes ago, TrueBlueGED said:

Because I'm bored at work, I'll pretend we can get our pick back for an offer sheet and that Botterill would do it. Would you rather throw this offer at Tkachuk or William Karlsson?

I like Karlsson and how he fills a need, but definitely Tkachuk.

Fits our Dahlin/Eichel window better. Five years younger and has virtually the same career point totals.

We’d be getting him for his entire prime, the contract would run out at 29, not 34.

Never mind my view that Tkachuk is a better player, with a more rare skill package.

You?

[North Buffalo]

https://twitter.com/account4hockey/status/1133411091432857601?s=21

Interesting thread on twitter, Marner according to Dreger asking 10.5 for 5 years.  Discussion on twitter states that if Leafs dont ante up Marner will hold out till after July first and demand a shorter term... screws Leafs trade options according to some.  TO fans going nuts.

Edited May 28, 2019 by North Buffalo

[Thorny]

Dubas totally botched the Marner situation, should definitely have found a way to get Marner done before Matthews. 

[dudacek]

44 minutes ago, North Buffalo said:

https://twitter.com/account4hockey/status/1133411091432857601?s=21

Interesting thread on twitter, Marner according to Dreger asking 10.5 for 5 years.  Discussion on twitter states that if Leafs dont ante up Marner will hold out till after July first and demand a shorter term... screws Leafs trade options according to some.  TO fans going nuts.

I’d sign Marner for $10.5, but not for just five years. He will be hard-pressed to find a team that will AND give up four 1st rounders.

Dubas and his Auston Matthews deal ***** a lot of GMs. The top young players are going to line up to hit two home runs in their careers, instead of just one. 

Botterill’s Eichel deal is looking a lot better to me right now than it did a year ago.

Edited May 28, 2019 by dudacek

[TrueBlueGED]

3 hours ago, dudacek said:

I like Karlsson and how he fills a need, but definitely Tkachuk.

Fits our Dahlin/Eichel window better. Five years younger and has virtually the same career point totals.

We’d be getting him for his entire prime, the contract would run out at 29, not 34.

Never mind my view that Tkachuk is a better player, with a more rare skill package.

You?

You make a strong argument for Tkachuk. I'm not as convinced as you are he's simply the better player. It's possible, but I don't think it's obvious. Karlsson also plays the more valuable position. It's not an easy answer, but I think I'd offer Karlsson. Vegas is in considerably worse cap position than Calgary. I'm sure Calgary doesn't want to pay Tkachuk $9M, but they can. Vegas can't match a similar offer for Karlsson without a lot of work. In other words, I think offer sheeting Karlsson is much more likely to work. 

[#freejame]

4 hours ago, TrueBlueGED said:

Because I'm bored at work, I'll pretend we can get our pick back for an offer sheet and that Botterill would do it. Would you rather throw this offer at Tkachuk or William Karlsson?

Tkachuk everyday of the week. He’s more skilled and he is the type of player this team sorely needs. He’s well worth the extra money/picks.

1 minute ago, TrueBlueGED said:

You make a strong argument for Tkachuk. I'm not as convinced as you are he's simply the better player. It's possible, but I don't think it's obvious. Karlsson also plays the more valuable position. It's not an easy answer, but I think I'd offer Karlsson. Vegas is in considerably worse cap position than Calgary. I'm sure Calgary doesn't want to pay Tkachuk $9M, but they can. Vegas can't match a similar offer for Karlsson without a lot of work. In other words, I think offer sheeting Karlsson is much more likely to work. 

Do you think Tkachuk isn’t worth $9m?

[TrueBlueGED]

1 minute ago, #freejame said:

Tkachuk everyday of the week. He’s more skilled and he is the type of player this team sorely needs. He’s well worth the extra money/picks.

Do you think Tkachuk isn’t worth $9m?

Oh, I think he is. Which is part of why I think offer sheeting him is a waste of time. Calgary matches. 

[dudacek]

26 minutes ago, TrueBlueGED said:

I think offer sheeting Karlsson is much more likely to work. 

 

22 minutes ago, TrueBlueGED said:

Oh, I think he is. Which is part of why I think offer sheeting him is a waste of time. Calgary matches. 

True on both counts.

Thing is Karlsson isnt worth that  contract, or the four firsts.

 

Now Karlsson at a lesser price? That’s tempting. Wonder where the break point is?

Edited May 29, 2019 by dudacek

[dudacek]

Top guys: Marner, Point, Meier, Connor, Laine, Werenski, Aho, Boeser McAvoy, Provorov, Rantanen, 

Lower tier: Ryan Murray, Sam Bennett, Zadorov, Andrew Copp, Burakovsky, Scott Laughton, Colin White, Iafallo, Kerfoot, Butcher, Konecny, Zacha, Beauvillier, Heinen, Kapanen, Fiala, Vrana, Carlo.

These are the guys Botterill should be romancing in the dating period before free agency. Probe for players sure to be undervalued by their team’s salary structure, then leverage that weakness through the threat of offer sheets into signings or trades.

Boston is going to want to sign Danton Heinen to a two-year $4 million deal. Offer him $12 for four and watch Sweeney choke on his tie. Dangle Eichel money in front of Aho and let the agent force a trade.

That is what a “cap guru” should be doing. That is how you weaponize cap space.

[OhMyDahlin]

On 5/27/2019 at 11:02 AM, dudacek said:

Lot of talk about offer sheets for Marner and Point.

How about an offer sheet to Matt Tkachuk? Calgary is not in a great spot cap wise, plus they may have internal cap concerns with the bargain deals for Gaudreau, Monahan and Giordano.

$9.1 million might be tough for them to match. Costs us 2 firsts, a 2nd and a third. Solidifies the top six for a decade, adds ingredients this team really needs. I’d give up that for him.

We cannot afford to give all that draft capital up right now...if we were one player away from being good, maybe, but we're not.

We need to keep building this team the right way, through the draft and smart moves.

Good teams don't build competitive contenders by trading all of their draft picks for one player, and giving out a bunch of high-priced contracts.

[sweetlou]

Agree that Buffalo should probably not go after any top end guy that will cost them 4 first round picks. I am looking more at an offer sheet to Kapanen or Johnsson with Toronto. 

The only other RFA I really like at the potential cap hit is Karlsson at center which would cost about 6.5-7 million AAV.  Sabres do not have 2020 2nd rd pick so they would have to trade with Vegas and not sure they are willing to give him up.