I'm getting the sense that the wave of good players taking one year deals to wait on the cap to go up is going to be way down this summer. Maybe I'm reading it wrong.
- Lunaion

Yeah, wish I knew. I'd hope there would be guys who would entertain the idea at least. We certainly are going to have some space this year and quite a few teams, particularly the contenders, are tight.

Then again there's scuttlebutt that Vegas is pursuing Marner hard, so who knows...up is down.

Or go get players who arent tweener's/over the hill.

Lets aim higher pppl
- DirtyDan

Good point.
But, and it is a BIG BUt, The Don't Want To Sign Here ... It is what a trade for a guy with no protection makes sense.

That's a very modest increase. He makes 3.85 currently... I don't see where people are getting 7-8 million from. Maybe if he goes off this year.
- DirtyDan

Well if he has a good year and plays better than the 8.3mill Power on the Top pairing, what do you think he asks for ?

Good point.
But, and it is a BIG BUt, The Don't Want To Sign Here ... It is what a trade for a guy with no protection makes sense.
- IonSabres

I like big buts

Trades wise though. He built a good team. But like you said. Lacked depth. Which is sad when you have Eichel and oreilly at 1C and 2C and have Reinhart.

Roch was empty because he traded them all away for Kane orielly and Lehner.
- Sabretooth9

and his drafting aside from eichel and reinhart was beyond bad

I understand 2014 was a weak draft after the top few picks but he whiffed big time with 5 picks in the 2nd and 3rd round

2015, guhle and borgen did nothing for the team

2016 was pathetic aside from hagel who the next guy refused to sign

if he just took one of those d men instead of stinklander we would probably not be in this mess

Hiring Lindy I think may bring a little more credibility to us. I think our biggest pull though is that he's a Sudbury boy and we're closer to home.
- QuinnFan

it was the easy move

my guess is if ruff was not available we would be talking about Seth Appert as our current sabres coach and nothing anyone says will change my mind on that topic

Why is Byram considered to be getting a major pay raise.. hes proven nothing. Hes got the talent. Stop paying guys off of potential though. Pay them when they fvkcin produce. See Peterka.
- DirtyDan

Just doesn't work that way anymore. He'll be coming off his bridge. Want to mess around and give him another bridge, and you're in Montour/Reinhart/Ullmark territory. Unhappy player, close to UFA.

He's a #4. Talent is obvious. Sabres paid a big price for him and you'd have to think plan on a longer term extension. I put it in the 7m ballpark.

Hiring Lindy I think may bring a little more credibility to us. I think our biggest pull though is that he's a Sudbury boy and we're closer to home.
- QuinnFan

I wonder if Patrick Kane is a fan of Lindy. We know that Adams tried for more money and term and Kane said no thanks

Yeah, wish I knew. I'd hope there would be guys who would entertain the idea at least. We certainly are going to have some space this year and quite a few teams, particularly the contenders, are tight.

Then again there's scuttlebutt that Vegas is pursuing Marner hard, so who knows...up is down.
- QuinnFan

good teams always find a way to get good players and compete when they are against the cap

we overpay for turdburgers

Good point.
But, and it is a BIG BUt, The Don't Want To Sign Here ... It is what a trade for a guy with no protection makes sense.
- IonSabres

It does in a lot of ways. I wonder if we make Ehlers 10 man list or Butchy's 12 team. You'd assume so, but ya never know. I hope KA is hard at work on that right now. I'm not sold on Buchnevich, but if you can acquire him cheaper than 11OA++, you can always sell him at the TDL if we miss or can't work the extension out.

I wonder if Patrick Kane is a fan of Lindy. We know that Adams tried for more money and term and Kane said no thanks
- Sabretooth9

our contract should have been for double what the wings offered him as we had the cap space

it wasn't and I am not sure we offered more years or more cake

good teams always find a way to get good players and compete when they are against the cap

we overpay for turdburgers
- homiedclown

I hear ya, I just don't see how Vegas is going to take on that contract numbers wise and Toronto can't retain a nickel. They'd have to do some selling.

Well if he has a good year and plays better than the 8.3mill Power on the Top pairing, what do you think he asks for ?
- Buff36

Could expect a bigger jump. But its yet to be seen.

I don't think hes played better than Power at any point while both have been in the NHL. Power gets some unwarranted negativity IMO.

I expect both to make a jump this year though. I hope Byram shows out. I love his game, love some of the grittiness he showed this past year.

our contract should have been for double what the wings offered him as we had the cap space

it wasn't and I am not sure we offered more years or more cake
- homiedclown

Only 1 year I'd heard, but more moolah than Detroit had. He was interested over the summer but didn't want to go to a non playoff team. He figured Detroit had the better shot.

Just doesn't work that way anymore. He'll be coming off his bridge. Want to mess around and give him another bridge, and you're in Montour/Reinhart/Ullmark territory. Unhappy player, close to UFA.

He's a #4. Talent is obvious. Sabres paid a big price for him and you'd have to think plan on a longer term extension. I put it in the 7m ballpark.
- Lunaion

good post

people will say that's too much money, like they are cutting the check

you build your d around 3 guys picked in the top 4, 1 first overall, your going to open up the wallet

Just doesn't work that way anymore. He'll be coming off his bridge. Want to mess around and give him another bridge, and you're in Montour/Reinhart/Ullmark territory. Unhappy player, close to UFA.

He's a #4. Talent is obvious. Sabres paid a big price for him and you'd have to think plan on a longer term extension. I put it in the 7m ballpark.
- Lunaion

You're right it don't work that way anymore, but I wouldn't pay him until I see a step in the right direction. His 18 games here didnt show that. Whether that was coaching holding him back after the first 3-5 or what i do not know.

Just doesn't work that way anymore. He'll be coming off his bridge. Want to mess around and give him another bridge, and you're in Montour/Reinhart/Ullmark territory. Unhappy player, close to UFA.

He's a #4. Talent is obvious. Sabres paid a big price for him and you'd have to think plan on a longer term extension. I put it in the 7m ballpark.
- Lunaion

7 million feels steep, hope byram plays well enough to earn it

7 million feels steep
- Boss34

looking at 100 mil salary cap in 2 more years, so the contract is going to be 25 percent more than what people expect it to be

You're right it don't work that way anymore, but I wouldn't pay him until I see a step in the right direction. His 18 games here didnt show that. Whether that was coaching holding him back after the first 3-5 or what i do not know.
- DirtyDan

I'd wait until next year. See how things go. Just think the plan is a long'ish term deal at a pretty big number.

. His 18 games here didnt show that. Whether that was coaching holding him back after the first 3-5 or what i do not know.
- DirtyDan

you can say that for every sabre down the stretch this past year


aside from maybe 6k and peterka

looking at 100 mil salary cap in 2 more years, so the contract is going to be 25 percent more than what people expect it to be
- homiedclown

Good point

looking at 100 mil salary cap in 2 more years, so the contract is going to be 25 percent more than what people expect it to be
- homiedclown

They over exaggerate about the cap moving every year. Until I see it done

They over exaggerate about the cap moving every year. Until I see it done
- DirtyDan

They underestimated this year. Maybe it will only be 95m, it's still going to drive contracts up.

Terrible environment for this team.

They over exaggerate about the cap moving every year. Until I see it done
- DirtyDan

yeah

salary cap never goes up like they say it will

no teams make trades in the summer

it's only day 1 of free agency

players do not want to come here

refs screw us

bad puck luck

adams was not here for all 13 years

no other coach would come here

signing hall makes us cup contenders

this guy did not want be traded so we respected this

this guys does not want to play in a preseason game so we respect that

at the end of the day I am excited to talk and listen

They underestimated this year. Maybe it will only be 95m, it's still going to drive contracts up.

Terrible environment for this team.
- Lunaion

it will be fine for experienced gms in markets where teams win and players want to go there

it will be a hot mess for small market teams that players go to die