Congrats to Komarov

It's all fun speculation by us, but none of it matters unless Pegula allows them to spend above and beyond the cap, and they're willing to move any player, no matter what, if it improves the team.

That includes not being married to any of Samuelsson, Cozens, Tage etc.
- kingcong39

Yeah, self imposed caps ruin it. We'll be a poverty franchise until we spend to the cap.

That being said, it would take one HELL of a deal to get me to sell low on Cozens/Tage after a down year. The number of players that I'd say would be improvements from Tage is low.

Makes sense. It's why I was thinking about those 2025-26 UFAs, if we can get in the playoffs and gain some credibility, we might be a destination. As it stands, we probably have no shot at these guys at all.
- QuinnFan

You buy some multi-year bottom 6 forwards in UFA this year and you shouldn't be worrying about much UFA work in 25-26. You're looking at a prospect in the org at this moment taking Greenway's spot, probably extending Alex Tuch, and another prospect here today filling in for any 1 year UFA we trade for or buy this season.

Are those all bridge numbers? Are you basing them on anything?

Haven't given them any thought yet. Just curious.
- Lunaion

Off the cuff numbers based on my own feelings. A lot can change in 12 months

>>> Free Agents
I finished filling out the roster signing two free agents.

***Tyler Toffoli – two years, $7 million AAV***

https://www.expectedbuffa...ck-offseason-1-0-win-now/




- kingcong39

It fits in 24. What happens when you need to extend Byram, Quinn, Peterka (Levi and Johnson) ?

You buy some multi-year bottom 6 forwards in UFA this year and you shouldn't be worrying about much UFA work in 25-26. You're looking at a prospect in the org at this moment taking Greenway's spot, probably extending Alex Tuch, and another prospect here today filling in for any 1 year UFA we trade for or buy this season.
- TheSabresTaco

Depends on 3 things IMO:

1) Skinner trade without too much retention
2) How much the cap goes up
3) Do we move out some expensive bottom pairing D-men in Clifton and Samuelsson

If we do 1 or 3 and the cap gets a decent bump, we could still shop a bit.

Is Toffoli really a $7M forward? Just asking generally, had some sticker shock at that.

Is Toffoli really a $7M forward? Just asking generally, had some sticker shock at that.
- QuinnFan

Cap is supposed to be going to $87.7M next season, and $92M for the 25-26 season.

Believe Toffoli is predicted to get $6M per on a 3 or 4 year deal.

Chad did $7M per for 2 seasons to up the AAV because Buffalo.

It fits in 24. What happens when you need to extend Byram, Quinn, Peterka (Levi and Johnson) ?
- TheSabresTaco

You broach the Skinner topic for real next offseason, among many options.

They can make it work for the 25-26 season until Toffoli's $7M cap hit goes expires.

why is everyone trying to get rid of a player who has done nothing but average 30 goals a year for us since he was acquired?

I get Skinner is a bit of a defensive liability but he is not that bad. Lindy had Max for years and skinner is way better then Max ever was.

He is still only 31 and if he plays with a capable center he is a lock for 25-30 goals, that not exactly easy to replace.

now with that said if you can trade him for a younger player that has the potential to replace his output fine with me. However we should not be eating celery, I would much rather include prospects that will never see the ice for us.

Cap is supposed to be going to $87.7M next season, and $92M for the 25-26 season.

Believe Toffoli is predicted to get $6M per on a 3 or 4 year deal.

Chad did $7M per for 2 seasons to up the AAV because Buffalo.
- kingcong39

Do you know if those numbers are set in stone? I thought it could be slightly above or below that. Either way, we should be happy with having that extra coin.

Makes sense. I never thought of him as that guy, but looking at the stats I'm probably undervaluing him.

why is everyone trying to get rid of a player who has done nothing but average 30 goals a year for us since he was acquired?

I get Skinner is a bit of a defensive liability but he is not that bad. Lindy had Max for years and skinner is way better then Max ever was.

He is still only 31 and if he plays with a capable center he is a lock for 25-30 goals, that not exactly easy to replace.

now with that said if you can trade him for a younger player that has the potential to replace his output fine with me. However we should not be eating celery, I would much rather include prospects that will never see the ice for us.
- hehateme

$9M contract vs what a $9M player is

He will probably be playing with our 3C moving forward, so he's likely a 15-20g guy tops. If he drops off, which could happen at any time, he's our new Okposo. It's too big of a big contract, that's the problem. At 5-6M he's worth keeping, but if you take a gander at the guys who are making his type of coin, he's not even in the same area code.

why is everyone trying to get rid of a player who has done nothing but average 30 goals a year for us since he was acquired?

I get Skinner is a bit of a defensive liability but he is not that bad. Lindy had Max for years and skinner is way better then Max ever was.

He is still only 31 and if he plays with a capable center he is a lock for 25-30 goals, that not exactly easy to replace.

now with that said if you can trade him for a younger player that has the potential to replace his output fine with me. However we should not be eating celery, I would much rather include prospects that will never see the ice for us.
- hehateme

Great, now we get a Full Beady, thanks

why is everyone trying to get rid of a player who has done nothing but average 30 goals a year for us since he was acquired?

I get Skinner is a bit of a defensive liability but he is not that bad. Lindy had Max for years and skinner is way better then Max ever was.

He is still only 31 and if he plays with a capable center he is a lock for 25-30 goals, that not exactly easy to replace.

now with that said if you can trade him for a younger player that has the potential to replace his output fine with me. However we should not be eating celery, I would much rather include prospects that will never see the ice for us.
- hehateme

Because he's getting old, had a minimal overall impact this year (probably should expect a modest bounce back) and costs 9M, which will soon become a real problem.

Great, now we get a Full Beady, thanks
- Wetbandit1

As an aside, should we be worried Lindy and Skinner won't mix?

As an aside, should we be worried Lindy and Skinner won't mix?
- QuinnFan

I think he's too good a coach for that

I think he's too good a coach for that
- Wetbandit1

Solid. It was one of my only fears with a Lindy hire.

why is everyone trying to get rid of a player who has done nothing but average 30 goals a year for us since he was acquired?

I get Skinner is a bit of a defensive liability but he is not that bad. Lindy had Max for years and skinner is way better then Max ever was.

He is still only 31 and if he plays with a capable center he is a lock for 25-30 goals, that not exactly easy to replace.

now with that said if you can trade him for a younger player that has the potential to replace his output fine with me. However we should not be eating celery, I would much rather include prospects that will never see the ice for us.
- hehateme

The team is filled with soft losers.

Skinner is the king of soft and losing.

The team as is, failed, every time.

He has no upside.

He costs too much.

This organization is pathetic….so he will be the next captain.

The team is filled with soft losers.

Skinner is the king of soft and losing.

The team as is, failed, every time.

He has no upside.

He costs too much.

This organization is pathetic….so he will be the next captain.
- washedup20

Don't you put that evil on us!

The team is filled with soft losers.

Skinner is the king of soft and losing.

The team as is, failed, every time.

He has no upside.

He costs too much.

This organization is pathetic….so he will be the next captain.
- washedup20

I get all of that, but this year I think he stays, it is easier to trade away that contract at the end of the upcoming year or next summer. If we can get another capable center in here Skinner will be fine...

why is everyone trying to get rid of a player who has done nothing but average 30 goals a year for us since he was acquired?

I get Skinner is a bit of a defensive liability but he is not that bad. Lindy had Max for years and skinner is way better then Max ever was.

He is still only 31 and if he plays with a capable center he is a lock for 25-30 goals, that not exactly easy to replace.

now with that said if you can trade him for a younger player that has the potential to replace his output fine with me. However we should not be eating celery, I would much rather include prospects that will never see the ice for us.
- hehateme

It is his Cap hit combined with his less than stellar Defensive awareness.
If he was Mark Stone light, the team could live with the Cap hit. If his Cap hit was $5m and popped 50, the team could work around his defensive deficiencies.
Additionally, he is 32 in a few days... The decline likely sets in, making his production lower and exasperating the Cap hit impact.

JJP likely replaced him easily as we saw a bit this year. I haven't seen him play well on L2 nor L3.

If they could find a willing buyer at a reasonable price, AND he waives. It would be good.

Summary, he likely is staying until a buyout before the '26-27 season.

Does he though?

Per Cap Friendly we have 23.2M to play with next season. If any of these are incorrectly priced, smack me, but doesn't leave a ton of meat on the bone:

UPL 5x5
Krebs 2x1.5
Joker 2x3
Replacing bottom 6 guys for Olo, Girgs, Jost, Robinson: 6m total on the low end
Need at least one D, I figure they resign Bryson 1x2m

That's 17.5M, leaving us with just under 6M to work with if my calculations are right. Have to keep in mind that after next season Quinn, Peterka, Byram and Greenway are up as well, with the first two looking at hefty raises.
- QuinnFan

UPL 1yr 3.25mill

I get all of that, but this year I think he stays, it is easier to trade away that contract at the end of the upcoming year or next summer. If we can get another capable center in here Skinner will be fine...
- hehateme

You taint wrong

why is everyone trying to get rid of a player who has done nothing but average 30 goals a year for us since he was acquired?

I get Skinner is a bit of a defensive liability but he is not that bad. Lindy had Max for years and skinner is way better then Max ever was.

He is still only 31 and if he plays with a capable center he is a lock for 25-30 goals, that not exactly easy to replace.

now with that said if you can trade him for a younger player that has the potential to replace his output fine with me. However we should not be eating celery, I would much rather include prospects that will never see the ice for us.
- hehateme

Aren't you describing Oloffsson? Half the cost; 20 - 25 goals; no defensive accountability.

Congrats to Komarov
- Powerslave

Good for him for sure. Him and Novikov will be welcome reinforcements one day...I hope.