And where in God's Green Earth did this Donskoi guy come from? He looks very good from the small sample size I've seen...very very good. If SJ found another Pavelski level player in the 75th round again I am going to lose it.

Tampa can offer less because they can give an extra year and no state tax.
- sbroads24

Good point.

Nobody will offer a max salary to any player in the NHL ever until they change what it means. 20% of the salary cap is the max salary. This year max salary was $14.3 million. I think even $12 million would be an overpayment. For my Leafs I'd be willing to go $10mil for sure(but I don't believe the Leafs are in serious Stamkos contention anyways).


http://www.puckreport.com...maximum-wage-by-year.html
- Allan Bester

Fine, then 12. Point being, will they offer him an exorbitant amount of money under Lou? He's not the guy who, in the past, has thrown caution to the wind as far as the cap is concerned. He's a smart guy and if he thinks that money could be better spent elsewhere he might not do it. But that's still to be seen.

Good point.
- Deuce81

But being paid American dollars and spending it in a Canadian city where the American dollar is high is also nice.

I've been absent (minded) all weekend... What did I miss?

I've been absent (minded) all weekend... What did I miss?
- jochfr

Jack is now injury prone

I've been absent (minded) all weekend... What did I miss?
- jochfr

The tank is back on.
The tank is really really strong with Edmonton
Stamkos may or may not sign with Buffalo
Fasching may or may not be signed soon
Cerrano still wants to sacrifice a live chicken to ward off evil spirits from his bat

The tank is back on.
The tank is really really strong with Edmonton
Stamkos may or may not sign with Buffalo
Fasching may or may not be signed soon
Cerrano still wants to sacrifice a live chicken to ward off evil spirits from his bat
- sskkoo1

You forgot Garth changed his blog title 7 times

Just a thought...

The tank is back on.
The tank is really really strong with Edmonton
Stamkos may or may not sign with Buffalo
Fasching may or may not be signed soon
Cerrano still wants to sacrifice a live chicken to ward off evil spirits from his bat
- sskkoo1

Any updates on this? Last I saw Baker thought he would have signed either yesterday r this morning.

Any updates on this? Last I saw Baker thought he would have signed either yesterday r this morning.
- Zschalberg

Not that I've heard, but I'm not sure if anybody really knows how his contract would shake out. That may be the reason why he hasn't been signed yet.

You forgot Garth changed his blog title 7 times
- SABRES 89

And still nobody is foolish enough to read anything written by Garth.

Not that I've heard, but I'm not sure if anybody really knows how his contract would shake out. That may be the reason why he hasn't been signed yet.
- sskkoo1

I will say, I'm hesitant to burn a year of his ELC. I'd almost rather give him an ATO and let him play in Rochester instead of signing him and letting him play in Buffalo.

Finally got through (37 minutes), they couldn't find my account. Then the lady was pissy when I told her the exact same account number had worked in every other call I made. Then she found it when it finally sunk in that "D as in David" does not mean the second letter of the alphabet. I had only said "D as in David" three time at that point.

At least I can get to work, now.
- Der Kaiser

Kaiser for future reference, a complaint to BBB on the dealer and Finance company will do the trick within 24 hours. I worked at a dealer for 3 years, its so competitive in this area(especially with 2 of the top 3 chevy dealers in the country being here) that they will resolve it, pay off whatever and do pretty much anything you ask to resolve the complaint on the BBB.

And still nobody is foolish enough to read anything written by Garth.
- Allan Bester

He wouldn't be so bad if he would just do two things:
1. Be more realistic on our guys value
2. Proofread his work

Any updates on this? Last I saw Baker thought he would have signed either yesterday r this morning.
- Zschalberg

Gonna be a tryout contract from what Murray said so they don't burn a year.

I will say, I'm hesitant to burn a year of his ELC. I'd almost rather give him an ATO and let him play in Rochester instead of signing him and letting him play in Buffalo.
- Zschalberg

With Rochester in the playoff hunt, I'd rather seem him there too.

Gonna be a tryout contract from what Murray said so they don't burn a year.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Then it looks like I'll be taking a trip to Rochester soon.

AS much as I would love Stamkos next to Eichel....I don't know how that will shake out. Even with the cap going up slightly. I honestly think we will see 3 or 4 teams throw similar numbers out, around the 10-11 mil for max year mark and it will come down to where he feels most comfortable playing if not staying in Tampa.

If I'm GMTM I'm not even thinking about offering a contract to Stamkos until we see where we draft. If we are in the Top 5 I don't think we will, but later than that...its a possibility. Hell even if we pick top 5 and get Chykrun we still may see a contract offfer to Stamkos. I just don't see the worth in making that move if we draft a guy like Matthews, Puljurarvi, Laine, or Tkachuk who all of which will be first line wingers either year one or shortly down the line. At that point I'd rather get 2 solid D men for the price of one Stamkos.

AS much as I would love Stamkos next to Eichel....I don't know how that will shake out. Even with the cap going up slightly. I honestly think we will see 3 or 4 teams throw similar numbers out, around the 10-11 mil for max year mark and it will come down to where he feels most comfortable playing if not staying in Tampa.

If I'm GMTM I'm not even thinking about offering a contract to Stamkos until we see where we draft. If we are in the Top 5 I don't think we will, but later than that...its a possibility. Hell even if we pick top 5 and get Chykrun we still may see a contract offfer to Stamkos. I just don't see the worth in making that move if we draft a guy like Matthews, Puljurarvi, Laine, or Tkachuk who all of which will be first line wingers either year one or shortly down the line. At that point I'd rather get 2 solid D men for the price of one Stamkos.
- AuthorityHero

I think cap is going to stay the same. I don't think the NHLPA is going to exercise their clause this year. Too much risk with the escrow account and CAD value.

AS much as I would love Stamkos next to Eichel....I don't know how that will shake out. Even with the cap going up slightly. I honestly think we will see 3 or 4 teams throw similar numbers out, around the 10-11 mil for max year mark and it will come down to where he feels most comfortable playing if not staying in Tampa.

If I'm GMTM I'm not even thinking about offering a contract to Stamkos until we see where we draft. If we are in the Top 5 I don't think we will, but later than that...its a possibility. Hell even if we pick top 5 and get Chykrun we still may see a contract offfer to Stamkos. I just don't see the worth in making that move if we draft a guy like Matthews, Puljurarvi, Laine, or Tkachuk who all of which will be first line wingers either year one or shortly down the line. At that point I'd rather get 2 solid D men for the price of one Stamkos.
- AuthorityHero

There are only 3 or 4 teams that can afford that contract due to the current cap situation.

Also free agency isn't until after the draft. Trades will happen at the draft so the Sabres could have added a top 2 D or a top 6 forward plus...

The Sabres will be in on Stamkos unless they bring a very large contract to Buffalo at the draft.

With Rochester in the playoff hunt, I'd rather seem him there too.
- sskkoo1

Looks like it's going to be tough for them to get in. They're going to need to catch Utica who is up 7 points on them with Rochester having 2 games in hand. Or, they're going to need to finish with more points than both Portland and Charlotte who both have 71 to Rochester's 65. Getting a guy like Fashing would help with their chase.

Playoff qualifications for the AHL:

The top four teams in each of the AHL’s four divisions as ranked by points percentage (points earned divided by points available) will qualify for the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs, with one possibility for a “crossover” in each conference: if the fifth-place team in the Atlantic or Central Division finishes with a better points percentage than the fourth-place team in the North or Pacific Division, it would compete in the other division’s bracket (see diagram at right).

Correction, they wouldn't need to be higher than Charlotte. Only Portland who has 71 points with the same number of games played to Rochester's 65.

There are only 3 or 4 teams that can afford that contract due to the current cap situation.

Also free agency isn't until after the draft. Trades will happen at the draft so the Sabres could have added a top 2 D or a top 6 forward plus...

The Sabres will be in on Stamkos unless they bring a very large contract to Buffalo at the draft.
- Stripes77

Bottom line:

If the Sabres can sign Stamkos (Meaning he's willing to play here), you sign Steven Stamkos!

I will say, I'm hesitant to burn a year of his ELC. I'd almost rather give him an ATO and let him play in Rochester instead of signing him and letting him play in Buffalo.
- Zschalberg

I agree with you there, from what I heard though is that him signing and coming out of college early may be dependent on him getting some NHL time. With only a handful of games left, we could see him play a couple and go finish with the Amerks, or God willing if the Amerks make the playoffs...finish the season with Buffalo and go down for the playoffs.

AS much as I would love Stamkos next to Eichel....I don't know how that will shake out. Even with the cap going up slightly. I honestly think we will see 3 or 4 teams throw similar numbers out, around the 10-11 mil for max year mark and it will come down to where he feels most comfortable playing if not staying in Tampa.

If I'm GMTM I'm not even thinking about offering a contract to Stamkos until we see where we draft. If we are in the Top 5 I don't think we will, but later than that...its a possibility. Hell even if we pick top 5 and get Chykrun we still may see a contract offfer to Stamkos. I just don't see the worth in making that move if we draft a guy like Matthews, Puljurarvi, Laine, or Tkachuk who all of which will be first line wingers either year one or shortly down the line. At that point I'd rather get 2 solid D men for the price of one Stamkos.
- AuthorityHero

Disagree. Best part of getting Stamkos would be the fact that those kids don't need to come in and play top lines right away. Gives them time to potentially develop in minors/Europe or play 2nd-3rd line where they have lesser competition and can adjust to the NHL game. If he's out there you go for it. I want a 2D as well, but you go for Stamkos.