Stamkos has been brought up quite a bit recently.

The predicted term on his next deal is 3 seasons.

It's been mentioned that buying out Jeff Skinner is the way to make room for a player like Stamkos.

Remember how much a Jeff Skinner buyout would cost against the cap.

It would effectively mean the Stamkos cap hit would be this for the following 3 seasons:

24/25 - Stamkos cap hit + $1.44M
25/26 - Stamkos cap hit + $4.44M
26/27 - Stamkos cap hit + $6.44M

Stamkos better bring an immense amount of (frank)ing leadership and high quality on ice play for that kind of impact on their cap.

https://www.capfriendly.c...t-calculator/jeff-skinner

I listened to all of the prime captain candidates this year and they all internalized and regurgitated the same excuses offered by coaching and management re: their performance was a byproduct of inexperience.

None of the players were accountable. I heard that excuse from Dahlin and Tuch. Cozens was the only one who vaguely called the team out and the GM slapped his PP for saying so.

The captain is not on this team.
- Hank Balling

Oh where oh where have I heard this exact line before?
Welcome to the club! 😁

Stamkos has been brought up quite a bit recently.

The predicted term on his next deal is 3 seasons.

It's been mentioned that buying out Jeff Skinner is the way to make room for a player like Stamkos.

Remember how much a Jeff Skinner buyout would cost against the cap.

It would effectively mean the Stamkos cap hit would be this for the following 3 seasons:

24/25 - Stamkos cap hit + $1.44M
25/26 - Stamkos cap hit + $4.44M
26/27 - Stamkos cap hit + $6.44M

Stamkos better bring an immense amount of (frank)ing leadership and high quality on ice play for that kind of impact on their cap.ttps://www.capfriendly.com/buyout-calculator/jeff-skinner
- kingcong39

A Buyout of Stamkos this offseason is a dumb move for the reasons you say. If Jeff stays (no trade) and he controls that let's be clear, then a buyout only makes sense for his last season...all this IMO of course.

Now that we have that cleaned up let's talk Stamkos. He IS exactly what this team requires. Leads by example, produces at a high level, is a gamer, speaks up as necessary to keep the ship steered forward, holds his teammates accountable... A couple of stories written years ago after CBJ PO loss, the next preseason that Stamkos stopped practices to call out players who continued to "cheat" the system. The result, team changed their play style and won 2 SC's. Sounds a lot like the best C this team has had in Drury. If he becomes available, Adams must move heaven and earth to acquire him in FA. I have already posted that I would trade a Prospect to Tampa for the rights to negotiate before he becomes a FA.

To fund his contract, presumptively in the.
$8m-$9m range, moving on from Skinner makes sense, but NOT on a Buyout, rather a trade if he'll have it. Trade would include some sort of retention to bring him down to market value, and a Pick/Prospect. I don't think that has to happen for the '24-'25 season.

What needs to happen to change the narrative that Buffalo is a bad place to play hockey?

Does anyone think hiring Ruff (in the fashion he was hired) honestly changes the mind of agents/players?

Seth is a shxtty coach. The Amerks do not have a chance.
- FireRuff

Did he coach Quinn and Peterka down there?

What identity does Rochester have this season down there?

A lot of 1st rounders on that roster, what is in the water in the Sabres organization that continues to produce underwhelming results?

How good of a coach does a team with that much "talent" need? (Same question applies to the NHL roster)

What needs to happen to change the narrative that Buffalo is a bad place to play hockey?

Does anyone think hiring Ruff (in the fashion he was hired) honestly changes the mind of agents/players?
- washedup20

I think the Ruff hire does change their minds, slightly but enough to consider. A player like Stamkos might have an ego willing to wear the ‘C’ on a 3-year deal and a team like Buffalo is loaded with talent and desperate for a leader.

What needs to happen to change the narrative that Buffalo is a bad place to play hockey?

Does anyone think hiring Ruff (in the fashion he was hired) honestly changes the mind of agents/players?
- washedup20

The only thing Buffalo has going for it is it’s close to Toronto.

Players may or need to recognize that the Leafs only have so much cap space and if they want to be close to family, Buffalo is where it’s at. I think Skinner partly chose to stay here because of that bc he has a large family of sisters and they are quite close.

I used to bag Boone’s mom’s groceries in Dorchester, so he COULD be one other.

There are also a few ex London Knights who could be considering it due to proximity. no tour was from 6 nations which isn’t too far either.

Defense
Joker is out
Cliffy or Samuelsson are out

Byram Dahlin
Power Dumba
Johnson Cliffy/Samuelsson
- IonSabres

No (frank)ing universe are you moving Samuelsson for Dumba.

You know what deal should be pursued? Try this (frank)er on for size.

Samuelsson for Weeger. That's it, that's the deal.

What needs to happen to change the narrative that Buffalo is a bad place to play hockey?

Does anyone think hiring Ruff (in the fashion he was hired) honestly changes the mind of agents/players?
- washedup20

I think Ruff does a lot because his teams win. He gets a lot out of his players and the league thinks highly of him.

He's reasonably well traveled so he knows a ton of players in the league.

This team also has a strong young core who heavily underperformed.

But it's also Buffalo, and like mentioned before, it's draw is that it's close to Toronto and a very strong hockey market, especially for its size.

Defense
Joker is out
Cliffy or Samuelsson are out

Byram Dahlin
Power Dumba
Johnson Cliffy/Samuelsson
- IonSabres

That's a decent looking top6 IMO. Dumba leaves some to be desired, but he certainly turned it around this year in the desert. Is Clifton the better one to move?

Stamkos has been brought up quite a bit recently.

The predicted term on his next deal is 3 seasons.

It's been mentioned that buying out Jeff Skinner is the way to make room for a player like Stamkos.

Remember how much a Jeff Skinner buyout would cost against the cap.

It would effectively mean the Stamkos cap hit would be this for the following 3 seasons:

24/25 - Stamkos cap hit + $1.44M
25/26 - Stamkos cap hit + $4.44M
26/27 - Stamkos cap hit + $6.44M

Stamkos better bring an immense amount of (frank)ing leadership and high quality on ice play for that kind of impact on their cap.

https://www.capfriendly.c...t-calculator/jeff-skinner
- kingcong39

Wish those cap hits for the buyout were reversed, I'd be a lot more excited for that if so.

What needs to happen to change the narrative that Buffalo is a bad place to play hockey?

Does anyone think hiring Ruff (in the fashion he was hired) honestly changes the mind of agents/players?
- washedup20

Some. There's a legitimacy at the coaching position that we didn't have under anyone since, maybe, Bylsma. At least he had a ring. Housley has respect as a player, not much as a coach IMO. So it helped, but isn't nearly enough to change the narrative, the way to do that is win a playoff series. That should lessen the stank anyways.

It seems as if the Sega GMs are on Board this morning.

Real question: What are the chances that Stamkos would actually consider the Sabres? It would appear that this team needs to get their collective sh!t together before anyone of substance would join it. If this is truly the case, the next Captain by definition has to be on this team.

The major FA signing for this team was Lindy. Perhaps something can happen in season but until success, this is the team.

I hope I am wrong.

My hope is that the Sabres do anything and everything in their power to rid the team of the Skinner curse. He is Oloffsson but with, at max, 10 more goals.

The only thing Buffalo has going for it is it’s close to Toronto.

Players may or need to recognize that the Leafs only have so much cap space and if they want to be close to family, Buffalo is where it’s at. I think Skinner partly chose to stay here because of that bc he has a large family of sisters and they are quite close.

I used to bag Boone’s mom’s groceries in Dorchester, so he COULD be one other.

There are also a few ex London Knights who could be considering it due to proximity. no tour was from 6 nations which isn’t too far either.
- Da_Cashman

Nice

It seems as if the Sega GMs are on Board this morning.

Real question: What are the chances that Stamkos would actually consider the Sabres? It would appear that this team needs to get their collective sh!t together before anyone of substance would join it. If this is truly the case, the next Captain by definition has to be on this team.

The major FA signing for this team was Lindy. Perhaps something can happen in season but until success, this is the team.

I hope I am wrong.

My hope is that the Sabres do anything and everything in their power to rid the team of the Skinner curse. He is Oloffsson but with, at max, 10 more goals.
- TC4145

Bro how old are you 60

Sega hasn’t made a console since before the twin towers fell in New York City

The only thing Buffalo has going for it is it’s close to Toronto.

Players may or need to recognize that the Leafs only have so much cap space and if they want to be close to family, Buffalo is where it’s at. I think Skinner partly chose to stay here because of that bc he has a large family of sisters and they are quite close.

I used to bag Boone’s mom’s groceries in Dorchester, so he COULD be one other.

There are also a few ex London Knights who could be considering it due to proximity. no tour was from 6 nations which isn’t too far either.
- Da_Cashman

Who is No Tour?

No (frank)ing universe are you moving Samuelsson for Dumba.

You know what deal should be pursued? Try this (frank)er on for size.

Samuelsson for Weeger. That's it, that's the deal.
- TheSabresTaco

Wish those cap hits for the buyout were reversed, I'd be a lot more excited for that if so.
- QuinnFan

Botterill really bent over and took it up the tailpipe on the structure of Skinner's deal.

The inversion of salary from start to finish is why his contract has been called buyout proof.

This is something UPL can’t do
- Sabretooth9

https://theahl.com/stats/game-center/1023379

You’re right, he gets the win.

It seems as if the Sega GMs are on Board this morning.

Real question: What are the chances that Stamkos would actually consider the Sabres? It would appear that this team needs to get their collective sh!t together before anyone of substance would join it. If this is truly the case, the next Captain by definition has to be on this team.

The major FA signing for this team was Lindy. Perhaps something can happen in season but until success, this is the team.

I hope I am wrong.

My hope is that the Sabres do anything and everything in their power to rid the team of the Skinner curse. He is Oloffsson but with, at max, 10 more goals.
- TC4145

Skinner had 17 more goals this season, and it was a down season for Skinner.

Not a remotely accurate comparison.

Who is No Tour?
- kingcong39

Sorry. Montour. He’s from 6 Nations/ Brantford which about 1 hr from Buffalo down the 403.

The other guy I hoped for in the past is the oilers d man with the booming shot. Really impressed me last year during playoffs. Evan. Bouchard. Probably no chance but he’s from oakville and that’s really close to Buffalo.

Just remembered that Logan Couture is also a possibility too but his contract is bad.

Sorry. Montour. He’s from 6 Nations/ Brantford which about 1 hr from Buffalo down the 403.

The other guy I hoped for in the past is the oilers d man with the booming shot. Really impressed me last year during playoffs. Evan. Bouchard. Probably no chance but he’s from oakville and that’s really close to Buffalo.

Just remembered that Logan Couture is also a possibility too but his contract is bad.
- Da_Cashman

They did everything they could to minimize Montour's impact when he was here.

Pathetic usage.

Kulich is worthless. That dog has no fight in him.

Stillman and Clague(both who are missing to injury) as decent #7 call ups if needed. The rest of the roster is a total throwaway(Sans Goalie). Their only hope is that 5 foot 9 Savioe is somehow much better than his size. But I doubt it.

Kulich is worthless. That dog has no fight in him.

Stillman and Clague(both who are missing to injury) as decent #7 call ups if needed. The rest of the roster is a total throwaway(Sans Goalie). Their only hope is that 5 foot 9 Savioe is somehow much better than his size. But I doubt it.
- Buffalo--Sabres

So all of Kulich, Rosen, Ostlund and Wahlberg are garbage?

So all of Kulich, Rosen, Ostlund and Wahlberg are garbage?
- kingcong39

Nope. Just average.