I'm not 100% clear on Mitt's UFA status. There's a COVID year that is very muddy, but seems more likely than not to count. That puts him 1 year from UFA, and elimates the 2 year arb option. The team can not elect to eat a UFA year.

Arb would not be pretty. Put up 60 points at C and those 8.5m comps are a real problem.
- Lunaion

he has 5 accrued seasons, he is in his 6th season. He has one year of RFA remaining.

Edit.

He has 4 accrued seasons, he is now in his 5th. He has two years of RFA remaining. One of the years he was sent to Rochester before 40 games played.

I would need to double check injuries to make sure he wasn't here for 40 games during that demotion year

I also get a bit OCD when I'm all twacked out.
- JCSabs06

Couple xanax and im scrubbing the driveway with my toothbrush

I'll say it again but Casey's utility and skill combination puts him ahead of many more players than some may prefer.
- TheSabresTaco

No compare the utility of a high-quality, Top3/4 Rhd man versus that which they have now and the trend line over the past 3 years.

The ability to play a multitude of positions is great when the prospect pool is bare...however with the current pool about to be overflowing at each of the 3 F positions..that utility value is diminished.

Pair of 1st rounders in Rochester with 8 points in 5 games. At some point that warrants a look, doesn't it? They aren't looking like they need another full AHL season. How are they making room?

4 1st rounders deserving (or very close) and they could all be blocked out this season?
- Lunaion

What’s the word on the D prospects in roch. How have they looked?

I'll say it again but Casey's utility and skill combination puts him ahead of many more players than some may prefer.
- TheSabresTaco

Might be a hot take, but I'd bet they value him more than Tuch or even say Quinn

he has 5 accrued seasons, he is in his 6th season. He has one year of RFA remaining.

Edit.

He has 4 accrued seasons, he is now in his 5th. He has two years of RFA remaining. One of the years he was sent to Rochester before 40 games played.

I would need to double check injuries to make sure he wasn't here for 40 games during that demotion year
- TheSabresTaco

Is it accrued NHL season or professional seasons? I get confused with all these different eligibility rules

Doesn't matter when the plan is to hodl
- Theguywiththething

no room for big mur

No compare the utility of a high-quality, Top3/4 Rhd man versus that which they have now and the trend line over the past 3 years.

The ability to play a multitude of positions is great when the prospect pool is bare...however with the current pool about to be overflowing at each of the 3 F positions..that utility value is diminished.
- IonSabres

That's where talent projection and analysis makes their money. If you project one of those guys to outscore Casey but only play one position in the next say two years, you sell Casey. If not, you sell the player and keep Casey, despite the disparity in pay during that time frame.

Remember, their goal primary is winning, not developing.

no room for big mur
- homiedclown

BIGGGGGGGGGG MURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

he has 5 accrued seasons, he is in his 6th season. He has one year of RFA remaining.
- TheSabresTaco

It's been a topic here before, but that 31 game season is incredibly close and no one is really certain on what the exact COVID changes were.

Until someone official says it, I won't be 100%.

Might be a hot take, but I'd bet they value him more than Tuch or even say Quinn
- sbroads24

agreed

They hold on to every player, until they are forced into making a move.

Hell, look at how long it took them to waive Fitzgerald last season.

Your posts have the tone of thinking people still hate on Casey, and don't like him.
- kingcong39

Not to a tee but this is fair, as the people who wanted him gone last year are the same ones making these trade scenarios

no room for big mur
- homiedclown

Roles for a hockey team died in 1846.

Might be a hot take, but I'd bet they value him more than Tuch or even say Quinn
- sbroads24

Definitely see JJ and/or Quinn being moved to make space for the next wave.

sabres have a couple of blue chips on D with Komarov and Novikov

he has 5 accrued seasons, he is in his 6th season. He has one year of RFA remaining.

Edit.

He has 4 accrued seasons, he is now in his 5th. He has two years of RFA remaining. One of the years he was sent to Rochester before 40 games played.

I would need to double check injuries to make sure he wasn't here for 40 games during that demotion year
- TheSabresTaco

That's where it gets tricky. He was a scratch a few times, which count. It was also a COVID year, and the game threshold was lowered (never been able to find out exactly how, with team's playing a different number of games).

I lean towards it counting now, just not 100%.

BIGGGGGGGGGG MURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
- TheSabresTaco

What’s the word on the D prospects in roch. How have they looked?
- IndianaSabresFan

I don't watch them. Sounds like Johnson good, Novikov bad so far.

Not to a tee but this is fair, as the people who wanted him gone last year are the same ones making these trade scenarios
- sbroads24

Guess you would be talking about me. Mitts has turned his game up a notch that's for sure. And if he keeps growing I have no problem keeping him. It's all about value at this point, if you keep Mitts you are probably taking a spot away from a highly rated prospect. You have to make a decision on whether it's best to sit on him or move him in a package for something else. Sabres have to many coming for the spots available especially with with your whole top 6 locked up, you have to get value back for those good prospects to sustain even later down the road.

That's where it gets tricky. He was a scratch a few times, which count. It was also a COVID year, and the game threshold was lowered (never been able to find out exactly how, with team's playing a different number of games).

I lean towards it counting now, just not 100%.
- Lunaion

I seem to recall he was on the expanded List of players up for NHL duty but not on the game day rosters...if that was 9 games or more, it likely counts as an accrued year

I don't watch them. Sounds like Johnson good, Novikov bad so far.
- Lunaion

I thought I read that Novikov was playing relatively well...could be wrong.

Edit: 3 pts in 4 games, +1.
Not sure where to find Advanced Stats

I seem to recall he was on the expanded List of players up for NHL duty but not on the game day rosters...if that was 9 games or more, it likely counts as an accrued year
- IonSabres

There was no list that season. Had 31 NHL games, 36 AHL before the shutdown.

I don't watch them. Sounds like Johnson good, Novikov bad so far.
- Lunaion

Think it's more Novikov getting used to the smaller ice surface. Player's get on top of you quicker.

I thought I read that Novikov was playing relatively well...could be wrong.
- IonSabres

I don't really know, just read/heard Chad comment on him.

sabres have a couple of blue chips on D with Komarov and Novikov
- homiedclown

Heard Novi was struggling (First games in NA obviously different) how have you perceived him?