Buffalo Sabres and NHL: 2019/20: Sabres season officially over. Draft lottery June 26th

[PromoTheRobot]

Preseason schedule is out: 

Sept. 16 Pittsburgh (at Penn State), 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 At Columbus, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21 vs. Toronto (KBC), 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 vs. Columbus (KBC), 7 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Pittsburgh, 3 p.m

 

So the Leafs game at KBC lines up with the Bengals/Bills opener. But I was planning on the Pats game instead, so I'm SOL.

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, Cripple Creek said:

?missing the point? I totally misread your post the first time through.  This time I'm blaming lack of coffee.

Don't feel bad because I very often miss points not only after drinking my morning coffee but after the caffeine has kicked in. From all the commentary I have heard about this draft we should come away at the seven spot with a good player. In addition, all the commentary about this second grouping is that the selected players will be at least two years away. That's okay by me. ?

 

 

[JohnC]

This is a 12 minute link from WGR. Dave Maloney talks about Vesey and comments on other players who might be good fits for the Sabres. 

 

https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/06-18-dave-maloney-msg-howard-and-jeremy

[BillsFan4]

https://theathletic.com/1034335/2019/06/18/lebrun-notebook-after-some-time-to-reflect-lightning-gm-julien-brisebois-sees-no-reason-to-alter-course/

 

Quote

And while BriseBois would never allow me to go down this road with him, it’s clear from talking to other people around the league that he’s trying to land a top-four, right-handed blueliner as colleague Joe Smith has mentioned repeatedly.

 

One player that I believe BriseBois has shown interest in not only before the February trade deadline but also again this offseason is Rasmus Ristolainen in Buffalo. With three more years on a deal that carries a $5.4-million cap hit, Ristolainen’s contract is more than reasonable for what he brings. And he just turned 24.

 

Which is also why the Sabres aren’t going to deal him unless the package is absolutely right.

 

Tampa is far from the only team that’s expressed interest. In fact, now that Jacob Trouba has been traded, I’m told interest has picked up again over the past 24 hours. Ristolainen is probably the top target now for teams eyeing to trade for a top-pairing D.

 

If I’m the Sabres, I don’t get into a serious discussion with Tampa unless Mikhail Sergachev is on the table.

 

 

It better be a hell of a package if we trade Ristolainen. Botterill has to know he can’t lose another trade like the ROR one. And with ROR there were extenuating circumstances (coming off s down season where his on ice effort was questionable, his year end comments, the huge $7.5M bonus due and the way his contract was structured, the team feeling they had to move ROR after his comments, etc).

 

None of that stuff applies to a Risto. So there’s no excuse for him to lose a Risto trade. 

 

Im trying to give Botterill the benefit of the doubt on that ROR trade, since IMO it was his only real bad trade. Loved the skinner deal, and liked the Scandella, Sheary and Beaulieu trades at the time. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least a little nervous about what the rerun might be... 

 

 

[Q-baby!]

My sources tell me the leafs are interested in risto and are willing to overpay. 

[K-9]

3 minutes ago, Q-baby! said:

My sources tell me the leafs are interested in risto and are willing to overpay. 

Alrighty then! We’ll take Marner!

[Q-baby!]

Just now, K-9 said:

Alrighty then! We’ll take Marner!

? Not sure they are willing to overpay that much! 

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, BillsFan4 said:

https://theathletic.com/1034335/2019/06/18/lebrun-notebook-after-some-time-to-reflect-lightning-gm-julien-brisebois-sees-no-reason-to-alter-course/

 

 

It better be a hell of a package if we trade Ristolainen. Botterill has to know he can’t lose another trade like the ROR one. And with ROR there were extenuating circumstances (coming off s down season where his on ice effort was questionable, his year end comments, the huge $7.5M bonus due and the way his contract was structured, the team feeling they had to move ROR after his comments, etc).

 

None of that stuff applies to a Risto. So there’s no excuse for him to lose a Risto trade. 

 

Im trying to give Botterill the benefit of the doubt on that ROR trade, since IMO it was his only real bad trade. Loved the skinner deal, and liked the Scandella, Sheary and Beaulieu trades at the time. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least a little nervous about what the rerun might be... 

 

 

How about throwing the dice and trading Risto for Taylor Hall? On the Risto issue I am torn. I just don't know. It was reported than all the coaching candidates were asked what would they do to get Risto back on track?

 

The below link is a WGR link. 

 

https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/news/skinner-trade-was-success-lets-do-it-again

[K-9]

1 hour ago, Q-baby! said:

? Not sure they are willing to overpay that much! 

C’mon. This is Risto we’re talking about!?

[BillsFan4]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

How about throwing the dice and trading Risto for Taylor Hall? On the Risto issue I am torn. I just don't know. It was reported than all the coaching candidates were asked what would they do to get Risto back on track?

 

The below link is a WGR link. 

 

https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/news/skinner-trade-was-success-lets-do-it-again

If Hall was willing to re-sign here? Absolutely. Otherwise no thanks. He’s UFA in a year. 

 

It would open up a big hole on the right side of the blue line. But Hall at his best is a league MVP who’s capable of putting a team on his back. He was the reason why New Jersey made the playoffs in 2017/18 (or at least the main reason). He won the Hart trophy (NHL’s most valuable player) that season. 

Id love to have him in Buffalo. He’s been one of my favorite players for years. I followed him in his draft year and have wanted him ever since. 

 

I read that the reason he doesn’t want to sign in New Jersey is that he wants to win and is unsure of their future. If that really is the case I don’t think buffalo would have a much better shot at signing him. 

 

If he agreed to an extension as part of the trade (or shortly after) then I’d be all over it. 

 

Seems like a dream though. 

[JohnC]

24 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

If Hall was willing to re-sign here? Absolutely. Otherwise no thanks. He’s UFA in a year. 

 

It would open up a big hole on the right side of the blue line. But Hall at his best is a league MVP who’s capable of putting a team on his back. He was the reason why New Jersey made the playoffs in 2017/18 (or at least the main reason). He won the Hart trophy (NHL’s most valuable player) that season. 

Id love to have him in Buffalo. He’s been one of my favorite players for years. I followed him in his draft year and have wanted him ever since. 

 

I read that the reason he doesn’t want to sign in New Jersey is that he wants to win and is unsure of their future. If that really is the case I don’t think buffalo would have a much better shot at signing him. 

 

If he agreed to an extension as part of the trade (or shortly after) then I’d be all over it. 

 

Seems like a dream though. 

If I recall correctly there were reports a few years back that Edmonton was willing to trade Hall to Buffalo for Risto. Supposedly, Murray declined that proposal.  Jersey ended up trading Hall to Jersey for D Larsson. I know that Edmonton was desperate for blue line help but that was a foolish deal for Edmonton. 

[Alaska Darin]

There's just no way to fit another big contract under the current cap with Dahlin looming in 2 years.  You're already paying Jack and Skinner $19m.  Dahlin will likely by in the $10m range of he develops as expected.  The current cap is $75M.

[JohnC]

34 minutes ago, Alaska Darin said:

There's just no way to fit another big contract under the current cap with Dahlin looming in 2 years.  You're already paying Jack and Skinner $19m.  Dahlin will likely by in the $10m range of he develops as expected.  The current cap is $75M.

I agree with you. I don't see any blockbuster deals materializing that will result in a near future max or close to a max contract. It also has to be noted that the organization signed a bridge deal with Reinhart where he was challenged to show what he is capable of. So far he has met the test and has put himself in a good position to get a rich contract. On the other hand I wouldn't be surprised if there were deals made that added a second line player and brought in players who could strengthen the third and fourth lines. 

 

 

[BillsFan4]

 

 

 

Wow! 

 

Makes me feel a bit bit better about the Skinner deal. At least he’s an elite goal scorer (especially at even strength, which is always held at a premium). 

 

Hayes has a career high of 25 goals and it’s not like he’s a big playmaker either. His career high point total is 55pts. 

 

Id take Skinner at $9M x 8 over Hayes at $7.14M x 7.

 

 

Matt Duchene must be salivating right about now! 

 

 

 

[Q-baby!]

1 hour ago, Alaska Darin said:

There's just no way to fit another big contract under the current cap with Dahlin looming in 2 years.  You're already paying Jack and Skinner $19m.  Dahlin will likely by in the $10m range of he develops as expected.  The current cap is $75M.

Need some young guys to step in (up) because they are cheap. Pretty much how it’s done! 

[BillsFan4]

NHL awards ceremony is tomorrow (Wednesday) at 8pm. 

 

I think Dahlin deserves to win the Calder, but it’ll probably be Pettersson. 

 

What Pettersson did was impressive, but it’s a LOT more common than what Dahlin did. I mean, Matt Barzal just put up a better rookie season last year (85pts vs 66pts for Pettersson). 

 

Pettersson’s rookie season ranks #100 on the all time (under 21) list.

 

https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/nhl/stats/all-time-season?position=f&age=u21

 

Dahlin’s season ranks #2 on the all time (under 19) list 

 

https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/nhl/stats/all-time-season?position=d&age=u19

 

Even if you bump the criteria to under 20 defenseman (which really isn’t fair since Dahlin was 18 all season and Pettersson was 20), he still ranks 11th (and about 40th on the under 21 list). 

 

What Dahlin did was way more historically significant than what Pettersson did. But I’ll bet any money Pettersson wins.

[BillsFan4]

https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/news/sabres-dahlin-enjoying-being-vegas-nhl-awards

 

interview with Dahlin from the NHL awards in Vegas. 

[JohnC]

The below link is an 11 minute segment with Nick Kypreos on WGR. He was talking about trades. The first part of the segment dealt with the Risto trade issue. I'm leaning toward keeping him. I would love to see how the new coach can have an influence on him upping his game.  

 

https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/06-19-sportsnets-nick-kypreos-howard-and-jeremy

[BillsFan4]

27 minutes ago, JohnC said:

The below link is an 11 minute segment with Nick Kypreos on WGR. He was talking about trades. The first part of the segment dealt with the Risto trade issue. I'm leaning toward keeping him. I would love to see how the new coach can have an influence on him upping his game.  

 

https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/06-19-sportsnets-nick-kypreos-howard-and-jeremy

I’m leaning toward keeping him too. 

 

But I do occasionally have the thought that this may be the ideal time to sell high. 

 

If Krueger can help fix his defensive game and slot him into a more proper role, Risto’s value could go up.

 

But Risto is said to be somewhat hard to coach, he doesn’t seem to have the highest hockey IQ and he’s entering year 7, so he may be what he is at this point. 

 

And now that we have Dahlin in year 2, and a full year of Montour, Ristolainen probably isn’t going to see nearly as much time on the power play as he used to. 

 

So my worry is that if his point totals fall sharply (from reduced PP time) and he doesn’t improve his defensive game to compensate, he could be worth a lot less if buffalo decides to move on from him next year or the year after. One of Risto’s big selling points is that he consistently puts up 40+ points every season. 

 

 

I go back and forth between the scenario above and one where he looks like a much more competent all around defenseman with better underlying stats and a drastically improved +/- from being slotted into a role that better suits him. 

 

 

Im glad I’m not the one who has to make these decision! lol

 

 

ultimately i think it will come down to what the offers are for Risto. If a bidding war breaks out and Botterill gets his socks knocked off, Risto should probably be traded. If not, hopefully Botts is smart enough to just keep him. 

 

 

[K-9]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

The below link is an 11 minute segment with Nick Kypreos on WGR. He was talking about trades. The first part of the segment dealt with the Risto trade issue. I'm leaning toward keeping him. I would love to see how the new coach can have an influence on him upping his game.  

 

https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/06-19-sportsnets-nick-kypreos-howard-and-jeremy

I agree about Risto. Unless it's an absolute haul in return, including a top 6 immediate contributor, I want to keep him. To borrow a Lindyism, Risto has jam in his game and I'm intrigued by what a new coach like Krueger might get out of him.