Excellent write-up Pach. I can feel your positive vibes about the Sabres all the way out here in B.C.

As you point out, there are a lot of positives to build off of. Lehner looking rock solid is the best thing coming out of the pre-season. If he plays 60 games, we're in the playoffs. Grant's play has come out of nowhere. In 40 NHL games, he hasn't scored a goal. Hopefully he is the true definition of "late bloomer". Nelson has looked good and Ennis appears to have left his concussions behind him. Even Marcus Foligno had a nice one last night.

On the injury front, i am most concerned about Bogo and ROR. Pulled groins and back spasms are the types of nagging injuries that stay with a player all year. Kuli and Okposo will be in pain when they get back in but those types of injuries shouldn't be with them for long.

Overall, a positive close-out to the pre-season and a positive article on the team. Let's start the season!
- SabreWest

yup, am pretty stoked for the upcoming season, westie...McCabe has been better than I thought and if there's a hole on the right side of the defense, I don't think Bylsma will be afraid to use him there

Was this your first?
- stashu

Yeah it was. Luckily it shifted east, the last projection I saw before I went to bed on Thursday night was the eye was going to hit directly over Orlando, but my wife woke me up and said it was shifting east so we wouldn't get it as bad.

That sounds to me like a bigger gap than a few days is going to solve. You think it's going to go a ways into the season to sort out?
- RhinoFan

Eh one gives up term one gives up salary.

I bet we see a 5 year $5.75 million deal done soon

That sounds to me like a bigger gap than a few days is going to solve. You think it's going to go a ways into the season to sort out?
- RhinoFan

Hard to say but IMO you don't pay Risto 6 + a year. It's a big gap that is for sure but dialog between the two parties isn't bad.

Eh one gives up term one gives up salary.

I bet we see a 5 year $5.75 million deal done soon
- Stripes77

That would get it done from what I heard but his agent will push, that's his job.

Yeah it was. Luckily it shifted east, the last projection I saw before I went to bed on Thursday night was the eye was going to hit directly over Orlando, but my wife woke me up and said it was shifting east so we wouldn't get it as bad.
- Stripes77

You must have been looking at one odd projection, I don't ever remember them saying it would make landfall in Florida at all, let alone that far inland.

That would get it done from what I heard but his agent will push, that's his job.
- SABRES 89

Exactly but at the end of the day the agent knows two things don't happen if they don't back down a bit:

1.) His player won't get paid
2.) He doesn't get paid if his player doesn't get paid

If we get to Wednesday at 5pm without a deal then I will start worrying a bit.

You must have been looking at one odd projection, I don't ever remember them saying it would make landfall in Florida at all, let alone that far inland.
- stashu

The one at 5pm on Thursday that's all the news here was saying, ever single station was saying it was going to make landfall.

That's what freaked my wife out, which is why after finishing my prep I took 2 Benadryl and passed out...

As for Yak.... I guess it really doesn't bother me much, TM obviously feels he wasn't worth it, could be he doesn't like the player or maybe he feels giving time to some of his younger guys is more valuable. I'm sure there was a discussion about Yak but they just must have felt it wasn't worth it.
I'm really liking the makeup of this team, and honestly if we are bringing someone in I would want one more strong dman. if the goaltending holds up (I'm hopeful it will) I think we are a playoff team this year, as long as Kyle is not another Molson (yeah I know).

Hard to say but IMO you don't pay Risto 6 + a year. It's a big gap that is for sure but dialog between the two parties isn't bad.
- SABRES 89

Glad it isn't hostile. I think I was starting to wonder if talks had soured somehow and a Trouba situation was brewing. I find this to be good news despite the large gap.

But don't you want him to restock the prospect pool that you feel he has decimated?

28 other GM's didn't pull the trigger. The Blues are hoping he is going to mesh with Hitchcock? That's funny...
- Stripes77

The Blues were literally the last place I thought he would go.

Sabres are at 5 or so, Risto's camp is at close to 6.5. Huge gap.
- SABRES 89

As they should be. Anything higher than 5 mil especially long term would be nuts at this point. Having said that risto pretty much holds all the cards here. Id be suprised and even a little impressed if Murray doesn't cave soon.

Eh one gives up term one gives up salary.

I bet we see a 5 year $5.75 million deal done soon
- Stripes77

This is a tough one because it only buys you one year of UFA status from him while still paying more than you'd like to. I think they should just do a year deal and revisit the issue next summer if/when his numbers get better.

This is a tough one because it only buys you one year of UFA status from him while still paying more than you'd like to. I think they should just do a year deal and revisit the issue next summer if/when his numbers get better.
- Sabresfan-365

How does Risto hold all the cards?

And why would his side do a one year deal in case his numbers don't get better? That is why he is going for the pay now, imo, and why he does not have the leverage.

Risto's camp wants pay for potential while the Sabres want to pay for production.

I would have made that deal for Yakupov, a 3rd and a prospect isn't bad. I know we have traded away some prospects but I would ave tried to grab him.

How does Risto hold all the cards?

And why would his side do a one year deal in case his numbers don't get better? That is why he is going for the pay now, imo, and why he does not have the leverage.
- rmiethaner

Murray has 1 year left on his deal and the sabres for the first time in years have expectations beyond "as long as we don't lose to the leafs". More importantly, this isn't a great d-core (yea i said it) and without risto it just borders on laughable. You drop points early in the season to opponents you should be beating because risto's not there it will likely be the difference between a shot at the playoffs and which fringe 2nd liner should we take at 10th overall.

His side obviously wouldn't want a 1 year deal but they'd want a low paying long term deal even less. I assume Risto thinks hes good and the team is better now so he may very well choose the lesser of two evils.

Murray has 1 year left on his deal and the sabres for the first time in years have expectations beyond "as long as we don't lose to the leafs". More importantly, this isn't a great d-core (yea i said it) and without risto it just borders on laughable. You drop points early in the season to opponents you should be beating because risto's not there it will likely be the difference between a shot at the playoffs and which fringe 2nd liner should we take at 10th overall.

His side obviously wouldn't want a 1 year deal but they'd want a low paying long term deal even less. I assume Risto thinks hes good and the team is better now so he may very well choose the lesser of two evils.
- Sabresfan-365

OK, makes sense.

As they should be. Anything higher than 5 mil especially long term would be nuts at this point. Having said that risto pretty much holds all the cards here. Id be suprised and even a little impressed if Murray doesn't cave soon.
- Sabresfan-365

They will do a long term deal to give Risto the stability he wants, at a moderate number to give Murray the cap flex he wants. It won't be cheap because Risto does hold cards, but it won't be blockbuster because Risto hasnt shown it as far as clear #1D yet.

The good news is he is so young, and appears to be very durable. If they give him a very fair long term contract now, he can still negotiate a "last contract" while he's less than 30, and use that contract for the HUGE payday.

Give him 8 @ $5.75M

They will do a long term deal to give Risto the stability he wants, at a moderate number to give Murray the cap flex he wants. It won't be cheap because Risto does hold cards, but it won't be blockbuster because Risto hasnt shown it as far as clear #1D yet.

The good news is he is so young, and appears to be very durable. If they give him a very fair long term contract now, he can still negotiate a "last contract" while he's less than 30, and use that contract for the HUGE payday.

Give him 8 @ $5.75M
- Der Kaiser

I suspects thats how it will end up as well, I wonder if it will go 8 years though. I think they may settle on a contract similar to Hamiltons which was 6 years i think. Buys 2 ufa years and sets up risto for a nice pay day 27/8

What I don't understand about Murray is he can pay Moulson 5, Gionta and Gorges 4 and not pay Risto.
- mhp

Check your inbox. Sent you a love letter

I suspects thats how it will end up as well, I wonder if it will go 8 years though. I think they may settle on a contract similar to Hamiltons which was 6 years i think. Buys 2 ufa years and sets up risto for a nice pay day 27/8
- Sabresfan-365

I'm hoping for a GMTM win, even if some people will discredit it as not involving an "acquisition".

Check your inbox. Sent you a love letter
- cabin

I replied bud, thanks for the invite, will let you know.

I'm hoping for a GMTM win, even if some people will discredit it as not involving an "acquisition".
- Der Kaiser

As am I, would give us some valuable cap space.

Sabres are at 5 or so, Risto's camp is at close to 6.5. Huge gap.
- SABRES 89

So they don't want to pay him anymore than what they gave Moulson.

So they don't want to pay him anymore than what they gave Moulson.
- mhp

Better way of looking at it is they don't want to pay him more than dekeyser or Rielly