You have Frolik coming off the books, so did Ferraro even bother mentioning that? The flames owe the sabres one.
I still believe the Plan calls for UPL to be called up at some point during the ‘20-21 season. Only injury could accelerate that. Of course, Ullmark is injured and Buffalo called up Johansson who had just played in the AHL All-Star game. So, lest another injury, I think they’re sticking to the slow-grow. UPL should see camp time and could break through early with an outstanding preseason. But, again, I’m comfortable sticking to the timeframe: cup of coffee next season and NHL in ‘21-22. Don’t overlook the fact that both the Amerks and Cyclones are playoff bound in April.
Linus has a .916% and not signed after this year (26 yrs old). UPL is 20 with 4 unimpressive AHL games under his belt.
Yeah, UPL probably needs another year in the minors. The Sabres do not need to rush him since a Johanssen looks ready for NHL duty. Ullmark is signed until July 2021. Just like Carter Hutton.
So here we have expiring contracts UFAs, Frolik $4.3M Sheary $3M Vesey $2.275 Girgensons $1.6M Larsson $1.55M Wilson $1.050M Bogosian $5.142M $18.97M off the books RFAs Reinhart Rodrigues Lazar Montour Pilut Olofsson Ullmark Johansson (goalie) Expansion draft as well.
I think you must be right about Ullmark’s contract. I wish he were locked in for another year, and Hutton was a UFA. Still one more year for him. (Huts has been nothing short of fantastic in the locker room; on the ice ... well, less fantastic.) The expansion creates concern about D. The Sabres may have to expose one of Seattle’s best e-draft options since they’re so deep. Dahlin and Jokiharju will have to be protected, then there’s Risto and Montour. They could go 4-4 rather than 7-3, and it would not kill them to lose Miller. But 7-3 would risk Risto or Montour; and that suggests that one of them may be moved sooner. Since JB paid a 1st (and B. Guhle) to get Montour, Risto may be the default trade chip. Thankfully, if it comes to this, he has dramatically improved his trade value this season. By himself, Risto is not going to net a 2C, but he could feature in a package. If JB solves the 2C problem, the task of completing the restoration gets MUCH easier. Of course the team has to figure on resigning Montour under this scenario, but they’ve shown that they’re amply capable of retaining assets. Gus Girgensons and Johan Larsson have also greatly upgraded their trade value. It’d be sad to see them go since they’ve suffered for so long on this roster. Still, the team needs immediate cap relief*, and this duo is not critical for future success. One or both are likely to be moved by the deadline. * The Sabres are skating to close to the cap THIS season and have relied on LTIR to be compliant. However with about $3MM in bonus money likely going to Dahlin, they’ll be penalized for every dollar over the cap this year - charged against next year’s cap. While they have a lot of cap space in July, they cannot be profligate with $3MM. Expansion draft planning and salary cap maneuvering are extra elements for this year’s trade deadline.
Botterill has a really tough job from now until July, I would strongly object to him taking on a role for team Canada this spring. Who does he re-sign? How much will Reinhart want? They have 1 goalie signed for next season, so who do they choose between the other two Swedes? Honestly, and no disrespect to Skinner, but you could leave him unprotected and I doubt Seattle bites. There are rules regarding rookies or RFAs left unprotected in the expansion, but nothing to do with Dhalin. You have Mittelstadt and Cozens possibly emerging next season. Hard to trade for a player that has a NMC, it's a tough gig to make things happen. They could leave both RFA goalies unsigned and hope Seattle doesn't sign Ullmark, or you could sign him and leave Hutton unprotected. Now that Seth Jones is injured, the sabres are looking to deal one of their Ds for a forward, I noticed Josh Anderson was being mentioned.
Lotsa work to be done. LOTS. But, if he swings a deal for 2C* then everything else looks much easier. (* There is an outside chance that Mitts or Cozens could be ready for 2C as early as Oct., but that’s wildly optimistic.) We’d be so lucky if Seattle took Hutton. We’d also have to throw in something nice to induce them to select Okposo. Meanwhile, UPL is exempt from the expansion draft. You’re right about Skinner being too expensive for Seattle to take on, but that’s really an opportunity-cost matter. With better linemates, he be expected to help the Sabres become a legitimate playoff risk for any opponent. I would not want to risk losing him by leaving him exposed. Mitts will need to be protected, but Cozens is exempt. I think they’ll need to protect Goalofsson. Tage Thompson hasn’t shown enough to be selected. Obviously Eich is protected. So that adds up to Eichel, Olafsson, Reinhart, Skinner, and Reinhart if my thinking is right. I doubt they will go the 4F/4D route. Of course if they did expose Skinner then they could protect that extra d-man.
Marcus Johansson? On the D, if you take Bogosian out of the mix, I guess Risto, Dhalin and Montour would be off-limits.
Jokiharju will be a part of the Sabres when they get good. Bogosian will be remembered in Buffalo for the great relief he provided when he’s gone. Kind of like a huge fart that resolves indigestion. (And I like Bogo.) Dahlin, Joker, Risto, and Montour. Unless one is part of a trade, they need to find a way to protect all four.
If I’m not mistaken, if a player has two years of pro experience (NHL or AHL), he’s eligible for Seattle. But I’m going strictly on memory from the Vegas draft.
I assume the draft takes place before July. 1st, so at the time if they get picked up they aren't officially RFAs. Then on July.1st Seattle would assume their rights and have to go through the same process of signing them as any other team.
Let's keep in mind here that with cap relief you have to factor in raises for Reinhart, Olofsson and possibly Ullmark. Which UFAs do you re-sign? You're going to need players, if you let one go, you'll have to go out and find another player in a similar role.
IMO the real reason why the Tim Murray reign will be judged an abject failure is the draft record he handed over to Jason Botterill. Reinhart is probably alright (and NO ONE was asking for Draisatl in 2014). Eichel is in the Hart conversation. Olafsson is a seventh round smash hit. Otherwise, TM either traded away or wasted his draft picks. I do not think he really gave much thought to the Amerks. JB served as the GM of PIT’s WB-S AHL team. He also spoke openly about the need to rebuild the proud Amerks franchise. That building through the draft takes time; next year will be the first where we’ll be able to empirically assess JB’s draft prowess. But, the org. pipeline suggests that he’s done a good job. 2020 is not a spectacular draft class, but it is deep (except for D). Hopefully this will be the last year in a long time for the Sabres to be picking in the top 10 in each round. This puts a special emphasis on your point, the Sabres need to nail the ‘20 draft.
