probably, used sabres for contract leverage

stamkos probably wanted to check out other teams before he locked up his career in tampa

still you have to win a few of these sit downs, murray gets us falk, fedun and okposo for 1 year
- homiedclown

Yeah. I'd imagine Mike wanted to meet with some teams to also try and dispel the likely "tampering" that occurred.

No. you have to recognize that sometimes your organizations talent, depth, eichel, owner or whatever isnt going to be enough. That players make their decisions based on things outside of the arena. I doubt Gorton in ny is actually a great closer. He's not the one closing the deal. Hayes and the city of NY are.

This is why there was so much emphasis placed on building through the draft vs trying to rush it. Until you have the set up and core in place that make up a very good/great team the sabres and the city of buffalo are not going to close ahead of NYR, Tor etc. And reality is even then, might not be enough.
- Sabresfan-365

you have to close the deal

We're assuming Okposo is done now? Sources?
- jcragcrumple

I hear it's 50/50

Yeah. I'd imagine Mike wanted to meet with some teams to also try and dispel the likely "tampering" that occurred.
- walshyleafsfan

Tampering.....? Jesus....there is Zero evidence of this, you guys just sound butthurt.

From an outsider looking in its not hard to see why Babcock chose Toronto over Buffalo.
- BEtter management in place
-Better roster/prospect pool

If BAbcock gets the Sabres a cup, that would be great, but wouldnt do too much more for his legacy compared to if he did it in Toronto.
If he he wins a cup in Toronto, he would be immortalized, and set for life even after his coaching days are done.

convince an expansion team to take one of the worst value contracts in the league, add two good d-men(one of them being young) and add 3 top 6 forwards? Most gms cant accomplish this in their tenure with one team let alone an off season.
- Sabresfan-365

I think Vegas will take one of our high priced vets. There was an article in TBN a couple of sundays ago which talked about McPhee owing Murray a favor after Murray did the Caps a solid a couple of seasons ago.

Tampering.....? Jesus....there is Zero evidence of this, you guys just sound butthurt.

From an outsider looking in its not hard to see why Babcock chose Toronto over Buffalo.
- BEtter management in place
-Better roster/prospect pool

If BAbcock gets the Sabres a cup, that would be great, but wouldnt do too much more for his legacy compared to if he did it in Toronto.
If he he wins a cup in Toronto, he would be immortalized, and set for life even after his coaching days are done.
- Larsson_fan

pretty sure bowman is the only coach to win a cup with multiple teams in the last 60 years


can torts become the second this year?

I think Vegas will take one of our high priced vets. There was an article in TBN a couple of sundays ago which talked about McPhee owing Murray a favor after Murray did the Caps a solid a couple of seasons ago.
- The_Inkwell

I guess there is a small sliver of hope for you guys.

I think Vegas will take one of our high priced vets. There was an article in TBN a couple of sundays ago which talked about McPhee owing Murray a favor after Murray did the Caps a solid a couple of seasons ago.
- The_Inkwell

sabres took Rostislav Klesla as a throw in to give caps relief


caps did later give us a 3rd for mike weber, so it may be a wash

pretty sure bowman is the only coach to win a cup with multiple teams in the last 60 years


can torts become the second this year?
- homiedclown

I doubt it. Columbus has been on the verge of being really (frank)ing good for years now, but they are still missing whats they've always been missing. That individual ,game breaking talent.

I guess there is a small sliver of hope for you guys.
- Larsson_fan

it's so small rhode island could beat the crap out of it

I doubt it. Columbus has been on the verge of being really (frank)ing good for years now, but they are still missing whats they've always been missing. That individual ,game breaking talent.
- Larsson_fan

I need to figure out my 2 teams in the finals

and I don't want the caps, pens or hawks to be on my list

Soooo the leafs , Edmonton make the playoffs before us ...

Seems like Karma with us just trashing them every year

Hockey gods will make our lives miserable

Watch Edmonton versus the leafs for the cup

Hockey gods will make our lives miserable

Watch Edmonton versus the leafs for the cup
- GERBE!!!75PTS

That would be nuts though

you have to close the deal
- homiedclown

You can't close when u can't offer something better than the Competition. Murrays fault was trying to fast track unsuccessfully. They weren't in a position to close no matter who the gm was.

I need to figure out my 2 teams in the finals

and I don't want the caps, pens or hawks to be on my list
- homiedclown

Lol....well youre looking for minimum 2 major upsets and a wash/Pens series to happen in order for that to take place....

So is Ullmark starting?

Lol....well youre looking for minimum 2 major upsets and a wash/Pens series to happen in order for that to take place....
- Larsson_fan

ducks and habs/blue jackets

ducks and habs/blue jackets
- homiedclown

Possible but I just dont see anyone beating Chicago in the west. Theyre not even at their best ...its just the rest of the west are either inexperienced upstarts ( Oilers, Flames), stagnant ( NASh, Minni) or declining ( Sharks, DUcks, St.Louis)....I dont see anyone who os in their class.

I'm not speculating about Okposo's health, but what does it mean for an NHL team when a player goes down and won't be returning? We had it happen with McCormick and his contract stayed on the books, so did Pronger's, I believe. If Okposo doesn't come back, will his contract be voided? Will we get that cap space back and be able to go shopping for a new winger?

Possible but I just dont see anyone beating Chicago in the west. Theyre not even at their best ...its just the rest of the west are either inexperienced upstarts ( Oilers, Flames), stagnant ( NASh, Minni) or declining ( Sharks, DUcks, St.Louis)....I dont see anyone who os in their class.
- Larsson_fan

I want to see the Sharks win the cup

I'm not speculating about Okposo's health, but what does it mean for an NHL team when a player goes down and won't be returning? We had it happen with McCormick and his contract stayed on the books, so did Pronger's, I believe. If Okposo doesn't come back, will his contract be voided? Will we get that cap space back and be able to go shopping for a new winger?
- sskkoo1

I think they'd spend over the upper cap limit and then place okposo on LTIR to get the cap relief.

i.e if the cap is 75 mil and the sabres spend 77 (including okposo's salary) then you put okposo on LTIR and get 2 million in cap space. Hypothetically could exceed the upper limit by 6 mil.

I remember reading the timing in which you do it can change things though. Like if you chose to do it during pre season vs start of the season.

I think they'd spend over the upper cap limit and then place okposo on LTIR to get the cap relief.

i.e if the cap is 75 mil and the sabres spend 77 (including okposo's salary) then you put okposo on LTIR and get 2 million in cap space. Hypothetically could exceed the upper limit by 6 mil.

I remember reading the timing in which you do it can change things though. Like if you chose to do it during pre season vs start of the season.
- Sabresfan-365

Okay, I get what you're saying. I just don't see why the CBA wouldn't have a clause in it that says that if a player chooses to hang up his skates mid-contract, the remainder of the contract voids out.

Okay, I get what you're saying. I just don't see why the CBA wouldn't have a clause in it that says that if a player chooses to hang up his skates mid-contract, the remainder of the contract voids out.
- sskkoo1

ohh yea thats different. Im working under the assumption that he wouldnt want to retire i.e keep collecting money. Like Horton

ohh yea thats different. Im working under the assumption that he wouldnt want to retire i.e keep collecting money. Like Horton
- Sabresfan-365

I know it's best for the players, but this is kind of dirty. All it does is hurt the team. There should be a rule change where if a player isn't going to play again the cap hit goes away completely.