I think they'll take into account what the core has to say. If they get a high pick at the draft, sign skinner, possibly add another key player, pressures on teh phil. He'll be working with a three month window.
I think they'll take into account what the core has to say. If they get a high pick at the draft, sign skinner, possibly add another key player, pressures on teh phil. He'll be working with a small window.
The players had no input, he made the recommendation this morning to the Pegulas and they accepted. I think this is something he wanted to take care of before beginning his work with Canada.
That's what you get from Botterill. At least he is open about saying he isn't going to address some things (with the public) at this time. The Pegulas have a lot of experience hiring HC's. (No, that is NOT a compliment.) We'll just have to see how the hiring plays out. There are no HC superstars out there to distract & excite us (FL announced JQ's hiring as I wrote this). If they get it right - like they did with the last Bills hire - then it'll work out. Naturally, there's a concern that a young roster will be perpetually spun around on the coaching turntable. I think in balance the Canadian gig is a positive. It'll get Botts talking and interacting with more people than usual. Who knows what future star coach might be waiting to be recognized as ready? I'm happy that the STL pick is top-20 since there's a drop off in the draft at that point. (Plus, ANA cannot switch the SJ pick for the higher one as they could have if it was in the 20's.)
Housley did his best, every coach ends up getting fired eventually anyway, maybe he'll get another shot. Why does Ed Kilgore always get to ask the first question? He's the media icon in Buffalo.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe passed up his scheduled arbitration hearing by agreeing to sign a two-year contract worth $5.7 million. The deal was reached Saturday, a day before the player’s hearing. McCabe was a restricted free agent and both sides were seeking a one-year contract in arbitration. The 25-year-old McCabe has four full seasons of NHL experience since being selected by Buffalo in the second round of the 2012 draft. He had four goals and 14 points in 59 games, and ranked fifth among Sabres defensemen in averaging just less than 19 minutes of play last season. Overall, he has 14 goals and 61 points in 274 career games. The signing adds to Buffalo’s salary-cap crunch with McCabe’s contract pushing the team to within about $300,000 of the NHL’s $81.5 million payroll limit for next season. That means the Sabres will be over the cap once goalie Linus Ullmark‘s contract is determined following his arbitration hearing held Friday. Teams have until a few days before the season opens in early October to comply with the league’s salary rules.
Jake McCabe is a steady, if unspectacular stay-at-home style blueliner that rarely gets noticed, but is needed for success. (That's to say, reliable and not expensive to fill out the bottom of the D corp.) This salary and term ratchets up McCabe's potential trade value. Meanwhile, the Sabres now appear to be in a cap bind with ~$500k below the limit with Linus Ullmark's arb. decision soon more than eating that up. I am not real concerned about the cap for this year since there a bunch of options to get compliant. A bunch of ways! As for next year, there is a TON of money coming of the books - over $15MM on D alone. The Sabres do not have a serious cap problem. What they do have is a situation where they have too many NHL caliber defenders, and not enough competent forwards. Jason Botterill has to work hard and smartly to address this imbalance. After Rasmus Ristolainen, I believe McCabe became a viable trade asset. He won't bring a top six F on his own. But he could be a very attractive part of a package for offense.
I think trading Ristolainen will be a mistake. Still a kid in terms of a Dman, doesn’t get hurt, consistently puts up 40+ points and is often asked to do way too much. With Dahlin there I think we’ll see Risto improve even more. Lennie seems to believe it’s already a sure thing he’s out but I’m not sure why. $5.4 per isn’t bad for a reliable top 4.
Trade Ristoleinen? Keep Risto? The questions won't go away, and are probably going to be more persistent after a recent interview Risto had with Finnish media. It is suggested* that he implied* that he has asked for a trade. (* WTFDIK? But, I know he's circumspect - that he's careful with his words. If not asking outright for a trade, I believe he's definitely told Buffalo that he would not mind a trade. That, to the Pegulas, is tantamount to asking to be traded; they operate on the premise that "if he does not want to be here, then we don't want him here either".) Three important RHD have been added to the org. since February. There obviously is no longer a situation where any one of the D (not named Dahlin) is untouchable. I'll lead with Risto's cons: He is deplored by the analytics' crowd. His Corsi no. rank near the bottom of the NHL. His +/-, I think, is ranked worst (or close to it) in the NHL. Buffalo unwisely depended on him way too much, and gave him huge TOI numbers. Huge. This over dependence was a reflection of how bad they were on D. But, in the end, it prevented him from properly developing his game. This is especially apparent while he's in the D zone. The facts; make what you will of these: He was the 8th overall pick in the 2013 draft. He has about 370 GP, and has been an NHL regular since he was 19. Risto is now 25 years old. The pro Risto points: He's a very good skater with a strong offensive awareness. (He scored the golden goal to end his WJC Tournament for Finland). He's big. He is one of the strongest players in the NHL. That is a particularly valuable trait in the postseason. (IMO, if TB had succeeded in trading for him at the deadline - as VERY widely discussed - I think there's a very good chance that his physicality would have helped the Bolts win the first round. After that ... who knows?) He has three years remaining with an AAV of $5.4MM left on his contract. That term & cap is very appealing to many teams. Also: it is reported that 11 teams went hard for Shatts. Not all 10 "losers" will be interested in Risto. But many will - and some will be much more interested in a 25 y.o Risto vs. an apparently declining player. GM Botterill will have plenty of options if, in fact, Buffalo decides** to trade him. Fortunately several potential suitors are in the WC since the Sabres do not want to see their old friend more than two times/year. If the word gets out that "Buffalo must trade this guy", then they lose leverage. But ** a trade request is not a requirement to trade. Risto has no leverage other than his good will. He's too proud - and too smart - to sabotage the Sabres if he's in Buffalo to start the season. I think the Sabres are more likely than not to trade Ristolainen within six months. I think they'll hold out for an acceptable return. I expect he'll net a top six winger, or at least a young 3C with a real chance at developing into a top six F. Oh. I don't want the Sabres to trade Ristolainen. I have a #55 Sabres sweater and a #5 Suomi sweater.
Good defenseman are a hot commodity and Risto knows it. This is dangerous in some minds, if and especially if the player isn't quite happy where he's at or if he sees dollar signs on the horizon. Maybe he just baited the NHL community to see if offers come in... if so, it may even back-fire as Buffalo, in my opinion, is a good fit for him or anyone right now, because their future looks quite bright to me. I hope if he lands up staying put, he's smart and decent enough to still 'go to work' for the Sabres… if he's not, he could be a cancer and would need to get a gig elsewhere which im sure would be accommodated for him. Im not a fan of players hinting or flat out asking to be traded... it just doesn't bode well for anyone involved (unless your talented enough to write your own checks wherever you wish material).
Yes, Will. You're right. But let me ask this: After six full seasons without even a sniff of the playoffs, can anyone blame Risto for being more than fed up? BTW, GM Botterill is still absolutely excoriated by some (many) Sabres fans for losing the ROR trade. (But, it may work out if Tage Thompson develops into the physically imposing F his height suggests he might. Ryan Johnson (#31, 2019) just played well in Plymouth, and Colin Miller cost the future 2nd that came in the trade.) R. Johnson, C. Miller, & T. Thompson. St. Louis most definitely won the trade ... if "win" is measured in one year. We'll see who wins the trade after ten years' reflection.
Meant to add: It is my opinion that a year ago ROR asked to be traded. He almost certainly signaled to the team that he was not opposed to being moved. The Sabres made a point of trading him hours before owing him a $2MM roster bonus. The Sabres may be an example for how to do things wrong. But the Pegulas cannot be accused of being penurious. They wanted him gone ... and soon.
I love the Sabres 50th Anniversary commemorative sweaters that will be worn 13 times in 2019-20. https://www.nhl.com/news/buffalo-sabres-commemorate-50th-season-in-nhl-gold-jersey/c-308547514 I have to get one of these! I am disappointed that the games in Nov. vs. the Bolts in Sweden will not be one of the games when these are worn, but I'll be impressing the Swedes. Also, I'm bummed that the Vancouver game will not feature this sweater. My biggest decision is should I go for #26, or should it be #11? Hmmm, decisions.
