Don't shoot the messenger I took my son to see the new Minion movie and my phone went off with the text that they want to offer him more money. IMO Oduya is a product of how good the Hawks are
- SABRES 89

Oduya isn't about points he's about preventing goals. He has outstanding possession #s, would instantly be the best defensemen in his zone that the Sabres have (and it wouldn't be even close) and has an excellent first pass. He would help tutor the young guys and his contract would be up when the young guys need re-upping. Does he benefit from Chicago's system? Absolutely. Is he a big part of Chicago's success? Yes. With all due respect, people have every right to their opinions, but I don't understand how anyone wouldn't be thrilled with getting him. Yes, he's 33 but he is a workout freak, and with an unproven goalie, would be a huge addition. I don't think we're currently a playoff team but he might make us one.

I agree. I wanted him at the start of free agency but was reminded of his days before joining the hawks, he was a giveaway machine.

He's not the guy you want if you're trying to make a run for 8th.
- Sabresfan-365

Question is can he be top 4 in 2 years.

Players like him can play at a high level until they are 36-37 like Timonen

We won't be giving up assets, and he could be on our 2nd pair with Bogosian

Risto/Blank
Oduya/Bogosian
Pysyk/McCabe

In 2 years if they can land Yandle or someone else for the top pair that would be a good blue line

As much as I like Deslauriers, he and Foligno are not the same player.

Foligno is better.

There are distorted perceptions of Foligno because people expect him to be a top 6 player (not sure when that was ever going to be the case in his career unless the kool aid was consumed the first bunch of games he played) and the same holds true for Deslauriers because he plays well for a 4th line player which is all people expect of him.

Deslauriers is a 4th line player. Foligno is a 3rd/4th line player.

If both are on your 4th line, to me it means you have a very strong top 9 and you are rolling 4 lines consistently and likely winning a lot of games.
- kingcong39

Foligno has the talent to score 15-20 goals. He was on pace to score about 12 on a really bad team last year.

His biggest issue is never having a defined role and sticking to it. Half the time he tries to dangle when he should be dumping and chasing

Some of his goals show that he has a nice set of hands

I don't agree with this if Murray does this, he's not going to get us 12-15 goals
- SABRES 89

I'd rather have oduya then give up someone like Bailey or Baptiste in a trade for some other veteran D (like Jay Bo). The benefit of an Oduya is he only costs cap space, which we can afford the next 3 years.

Oduya isn't about points he's about preventing goals. He has outstanding possession #s, would instantly be the best defensemen in his zone that the Sabres have (and it wouldn't be even close) and has an excellent first pass. He would help tutor the young guys and his contract would be up when the young guys need re-upping. Does he benefit from Chicago's system? Absolutely. Is he a big part of Chicago's success? Yes. With all due respect, people have every right to their opinions, but I don't understand how anyone wouldn't be thrilled with getting him. Yes, he's 33 but he is a workout freak, and with an unproven goalie, would be a huge addition. I don't think we're currently a playoff team but he might make us one.
- turbo044

I was sold at the thought of adding a 3-4 cup winning defensemen to the roster without coughing up any more of our prospects.

I'd rather have oduya then give up someone like Bailey or Baptiste in a trade for some other veteran D (like Jay Bo). The benefit of an Oduya is he only costs cap space, which we can afford the next 3 years.
- Khymlev13

This

Question is can he be top 4 in 2 years.

Players like him can play at a high level until they are 36-37 like Timonen

We won't be giving up assets, and he could be on our 2nd pair with Bogosian

Risto/Blank
Oduya/Bogosian
Pysyk/McCabe

In 2 years if they can land Yandle or someone else for the top pair that would be a good blue line
- sbroads24

They already made a significant offer, now they plan on offering even more? being on a good team may keep his career going but the cap hit could be a problem. 36 year old oduya may still be a top 4 guy, but would you want that much of your cap dedicated to player so easily replaceable on the open market?

Oduya isn't about points he's about preventing goals. He has outstanding possession #s, would instantly be the best defensemen in his zone that the Sabres have (and it wouldn't be even close) and has an excellent first pass. He would help tutor the young guys and his contract would be up when the young guys need re-upping. Does he benefit from Chicago's system? Absolutely. Is he a big part of Chicago's success? Yes. With all due respect, people have every right to their opinions, but I don't understand how anyone wouldn't be thrilled with getting him. Yes, he's 33 but he is a workout freak, and with an unproven goalie, would be a huge addition. I don't think we're currently a playoff team but he might make us one.
- turbo044

This would be where the "he's a product of a stacked team" argument would kick in. Read somewhere Ristolainen had the worst 5 on 5 possession numbers amongst d-men who played over 1000 min.

It all comes down to the cap hit and length. I'm not expecting to be a playoff team this year and there will be another round of free agency next year, so I don't think we need to try and fill every spot on the roster this year. If it works out great, but we need to be thinking about a 3 years process during this Post-rebuilding era

I'd rather have oduya then give up someone like Bailey or Baptiste in a trade for some other veteran D (like Jay Bo). The benefit of an Oduya is he only costs cap space, which we can afford the next 3 years.
- Khymlev13

Amen, we have a winner!!!

They already made a significant offer, now they plan on offering even more? being on a good team may keep his career going but the cap hit could be a problem. 36 year old oduya may still be a top 4 guy, but would you want that much of your cap dedicated to player so easily replaceable on the open market?
- Sabresfan-365

We have so many key guys locked up for 3+ years. It makes it easier to overpay oduya on a 3 year deal. 4 years is where it could get dicey. I don't foresee us being in a bad cap spot for about 4-5 years. Then we may have to move out pieces so that we can sign our core players long term.

I was sold at the thought of adding a 3-4 cup winning defensemen to the roster without coughing up any more of our prospects.
- sskkoo1

Amen, we have another winner!!

They already made a significant offer, now they plan on offering even more? being on a good team may keep his career going but the cap hit could be a problem. 36 year old oduya may still be a top 4 guy, but would you want that much of your cap dedicated to player so easily replaceable on the open market?
- Sabresfan-365

Would you pay him what Paul Martin got? He got 4 years at $4.85M per. I tend to think Oduya wants 5 years and at least 5 per. I don't think it's good cap management paying him north of that for 5.

edit- Orpik got 5 years at $5.5M a year ago.

We have so many key guys locked up for 3+ years. It makes it easier to overpay oduya on a 3 year deal. 4 years is where it could get dicey. I don't foresee us being in a bad cap spot for about 4-5 years. Then we may have to move out pieces so that we can sign our core players long term.
- Khymlev13

Exactly right and if managed correctly, might not have an issue in 4 or 5 years either, depending on where the cap goes and whom we sign and n future years.

Would you pay him what Paul Martin got? He got 4 years at $4.85M per. I tend to think Oduya wants 5 years and at least 5 per. I don't think it's good cap management paying him north of that for 5.

edit- Orpik got 5 years at $5.5M a year ago.
- mhp

Hmmm.. I do trust that gmtm knows more than us (God we hope he does) but 5 years for Oduya would be lengthy. 3 or 4 years seems reasonable, but, he does stay in great shape so who knows??

Would you pay him what Paul Martin got? He got 4 years at $4.85M per. I tend to think Oduya wants 5 years and at least 5 per. I don't think it's good cap management paying him north of that for 5.

edit- Orpik got 5 years at $5.5M a year ago.
- mhp

He's without a doubt looking for Orpik money, or will take less to stay in CHI IMO.

Hmmm.. I do trust that gmtm knows more than us (God we hope he does) but 5 years for Oduya would be lengthy. 3 or 4 years seems reasonable, but, he does stay in great shape so who knows??
- turbo044

In my view if he turned us down already, chances are pretty slim he'd do an about face. He'll probably take a deal with a better team. I'd be good on a 3 year deal but not more.

Would you pay him what Paul Martin got? He got 4 years at $4.85M per. I tend to think Oduya wants 5 years and at least 5 per. I don't think it's good cap management paying him north of that for 5.

edit- Orpik got 5 years at $5.5M a year ago.
- mhp

No and thus I agree with your 2nd point.

He's without a doubt looking for Orpik money, or will take less to stay in CHI IMO.
- sbroads24

I don't know if I'd do that.

Exactly right and if managed correctly, might not have an issue in 4 or 5 years either, depending on where the cap goes and whom we sign and n future years.
- turbo044

Exactly. Even assuming the cap stays the same for 5 years I think it can be managed. Moulson and Gionta will be off the books to make room for the inevitable raises.

After watching Bailey and Baptiste this weekend I'd be against most deals to move them. I'd only feel it's worth it if a top pairing dmen under 30 was coming back.

They already made a significant offer, now they plan on offering even more? being on a good team may keep his career going but the cap hit could be a problem. 36 year old oduya may still be a top 4 guy, but would you want that much of your cap dedicated to player so easily replaceable on the open market?
- Sabresfan-365

The reason why Oduya is so attractive is that 1) he doesn't cost any prospects and 2) We have oodles of cap space over the next 3 years. I am fine with overpaying him during that term. If we get him we are a playoff team next year and an elite team the year after that.

The reason why Oduya is so attractive is that 1) he doesn't cost any prospects and 2) We have oodles of cap space over the next 3 years. I am fine with overpaying him during that term. If we get him we are a playoff team next year and an elite team the year after that.
- Slump Buster

Cap space is an asset and it stopped being oodles when we gave O'Reilly 7.5 mil. Girgensons and Ristolainen due up as well and still other areas that need to be addressed like top pairing D and perhaps another top 6 forward.

Elite teams can get away with having make shift #4 d-men because the core is so strong. If we plan on being elite, why bother paying oduya when on an elite team anyone will do.

On a 2 year deal? Sign me up but the guy could want Orpik type contract. Which is just....lol.

Cap space is an asset and it stopped being oodles when we gave O'Reilly 7.5 mil. Girgensons and Ristolainen due up as well and still other areas that need to be addressed like top pairing D and perhaps another top 6 forward.

Elite teams can get away with having make shift #4 d-men because the core is so strong. If we plan on being elite, why bother paying oduya when on an elite team anyone will do.

On a 2 year deal? Sign me up but the guy could want Orpik type contract. Which is just....lol.
- Sabresfan-365

I agree. Sounds crazy, but if he wanted to come here for 1 year, 10 million I'd be fine with it. But I would never sign him for anything over 3 unless it was for 2.5 or less (which obviously will never happen).

Cap space is an asset and it stopped being oodles when we gave O'Reilly 7.5 mil. Girgensons and Ristolainen due up as well and still other areas that need to be addressed like top pairing D and perhaps another top 6 forward.

Elite teams can get away with having make shift #4 d-men because the core is so strong. If we plan on being elite, why bother paying oduya when on an elite team anyone will do.

On a 2 year deal? Sign me up but the guy could want Orpik type contract. Which is just....lol.
- Sabresfan-365

Most here would be against a 5 year deal. 3 is fine. Girgs and risto will not have huge cap hits in 3 years

In my view if he turned us down already, chances are pretty slim he'd do an about face. He'll probably take a deal with a better team. I'd be good on a 3 year deal but not more.
- mhp

Probably right but him turning us down too was from one twitter report so who knows the validity?? Just as likely Oduya told gmtm be appreciates the offer but really wants to stay in Chi (who can blame him). If chi offer is gone maybe we're back in the game