So, about that salary cap

[dudacek]

So the Sabres have now filled out their 23-man roster and are at $90.3M under the cap, leaving them with $5.1M in space.

They did not have to pay to trade Conor Clifton or not qualify Jacob Bernard-Docker to fit under the cap, which sits at $95.5M.

They rank dead centre of the league in terms of cap space remaining, at 16th.

It is possible that rank will change with further trades or signings around the league, but unlikely it will shift dramatically given the lack of available roster spots or expensive unsigned players.

They are scheduled to spend $89.2M in actual salaries and bonuses this year, slightly less than their actual cap hit.

Edited 3 hours ago by dudacek

[Archie Lee]

And, as was stated through the first half of the off-season, their cap situation was such that they couldn’t keep everyone and re-sign their RFA’s. Even with dumping Lafferty and Clifton, they didn’t have space to extend Peterka unless he was willing to take a bridge at a lower AAV.

It is some kind of work to be the youngest team in the league, finish 7th from the bottom with 79 points, AND be in cap trouble. 

[dudacek]

Last year's Sabres spent $79.6M, which was $8.4M under the cap of $88M.

They ranked 7th in unspent cap

[Taro T]

Just now, Archie Lee said:

And, as was stated through the first half of the off-season, their cap situation was such that they couldn’t keep everyone and re-sign their RFA’s. Even with dumping Lafferty and Clifton, they didn’t have space to extend Peterka unless he was willing to take a bridge at a lower AAV.

It is some kind of work to be the youngest team in the league, finish 7th from the bottom with 79 points, AND be in cap trouble. 

Yeah, we do seem to be in Act 3 of the 1 GM play, right down to stocking up on RHD.

Interesting that they didn't move Byram (am pleased with that, just didn't expect it) after Peterka asked out.  Wonder how much the calculus changed in what they felt they needed back in a Byram trade after JJ went bye-bye.  And wonder how the roster would've changed with him being the one going out the door instead of JJ.

Heading into the off-season, thought Adams had said he wanted to address a RHD for Power and another top 6 F (and thought the preference was for 1 that could also play C).  If that isn't just a case of misremembering, Adams only got 1/2 of the job done and on paper weakened the top 6 F.

Realize everybody expects they're done (and the majority here might very well be right about that), but there is still more work to do, and won't believe this is the final roster until we reach October if another move isn't made.

[dudacek]

In actual spending this year's Sabres are expected to pay out $108M in contracts, 21st among league teams.

Last year, they spent $99.6M, ranking 27th, a figure inflated by the Skinner buyout

https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/cash

[sabremike]

You are leaving out the massive dead cap space that's a consequence of the Skinner buyout (you know, the one done last year with the idea it gave us additional cap space for that season that Kevyn Smithers did ***** all with).

[kas23]

1 hour ago, sabremike said:

You are leaving out the massive dead cap space that's a consequence of the Skinner buyout (you know, the one done last year with the idea it gave us additional cap space for that season that Kevyn Smithers did ***** all with).

It’s large, but next year it will be massive:

 

25-26: $4.44M

26-27: $6.44M

then 3 more years at $2.44M

 

[Thorny]

Completely and utterly unacceptable 

[Pimlach]

3 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Completely and utterly unacceptable 

<sarcasm on>   What?  They are 16th of the league in cap remaining, that is a major step forward in their commitment.  <sarcasm off> 

They can make one more decent sized move if the opportunity arises.