That's how they have been winning. I pointed this out a couple of months ago: throughout their three cup runs, there have only been 6 players that were on the team for all three of them. The rest they have rotated in and out. Now, granted, they have Panarin locked up long term, but Chicago has been one of the best teams at managing the cap over the past seven or eight years. I don't all of a sudden see them forgetting how it works.
- buffalofan19

Correct, but evetually all players want to get paid and that young cheap talent is not so cheap anymore. so they have to trade it away for picks and prospects and hope they can plug and play.

Eventually that well will dry up.

Another interesting situation playing out is with Buffalo goaltending prospect Cal Petersen. The 22-year-old completed his junior season at Notre Dame and announced earlier this week that he was turning pro.

The Sabres have 30 days to get Petersen signed before he becomes an unrestricted free agent that can be signed by another team on August 15, which is the same road that Jimmy Vesey went last season and Petersen and Colorado draft pick (and 2017 Hobey Baker winner) Will Butcher seem to be headed down.

Petersen and Butcher’s negotiating rights could be trade chips used by Buffalo and Colorado prior to the Expansion Draft with the Golden Knights or to get a draft pick at the NHL Draft in Chicago.

From Ek's "blog"
- jochfr

My guess here is Peterson says "I am going to be a UFA on July 1st, but I will keep Buffalo in the mix of teams" and it stops us from wanting to trade his rights (in hopes of keeping in his good graces). Also, similar with Vesey, who trades for rights when you know a player is going to be UFA?

Also, similar with Vesey, who trades for rights when you know a player is going to be UFA?
- Lilroot9

Problem is, even this year, with that core, they weren't a great team and not built for the playoffs.

They won a ton of 1 goal games, and a bunch in shootout/OT that do not exist in the postseason.

When they faced a team that was built for the playoffs, they were dominated
- sbroads24

That's absolutely correct, but to automatically dismiss the notion that they can't adjust, and move pieces in and out in order to be that type of team again, is pretty short-sighted. They still have a championship core worth building around.

That's how they have been winning. I pointed this out a couple of months ago: throughout their three cup runs, there have only been 6 players that were on the team for all three of them. The rest they have rotated in and out. Now, granted, they have Panarin locked up long term, but Chicago has been one of the best teams at managing the cap over the past seven or eight years. I don't all of a sudden see them forgetting how it works.
- buffalofan19

You should stop by the Hawks blog... you would get a completely different view of how they have managed the cap. I guess you can say they managed the cap well since they were winning, but there are so many overpayments and NMC/NTC's on our books that it really knocks the shine off the penny.

We really have about 2-3 years left with this group. Our (well mine at least) biggest concerns are Toews back, and whether Hossa will actually play out his contract. His cap hit is about $5M, but the actual salary is only $1M. If he retires, we get hammered with a cap penalty.

Regarding Petersen, Crawford has been out for long stretches the past few years (some self-inflicted, some not). I don't think it is a bad destination. We also have very little in Rockford as far as goalies.

Sorry for snooping on your blog and being long winded. It gets tiresome listening to guys beat the same dead horse over and over from our first round embarrassment. Cheers!

Kris Baker of sabresprospects.com/Sabres.com has been following the Petersen situation closely and has been telling us for months to look at the situation the 22 yr. old fifth-round pick has in front of him. This is the fourth June 1 that Petersen has had since being drafted in 2013 by the Buffalo Sabres and the Collective Bargaining Agreement allows him to forgo signing with the team that drafted him to become a free agent.

That is one bad CBA for the NHL teams. You spend all that time scouting and then drafting just let these guys go free.

It should have been setup up like the NFL. You play for the team that drafted you.

You should stop by the Hawks blog... you would get a completely different view of how they have managed the cap. I guess you can say they managed the cap well since they were winning, but there are so many overpayments and NMC/NTC's on our books that it really knocks the shine off the penny.

We really have about 2-3 years left with this group. Our (well mine at least) biggest concerns are Toews back, and whether Hossa will actually play out his contract. His cap hit is about $5M, but the actual salary is only $1M. If he retires, we get hammered with a cap penalty.

Regarding Petersen, Crawford has been out for long stretches the past few years (some self-inflicted, some not). I don't think it is a bad destination. We also have very little in Rockford as far as goalies.

Sorry for snooping on your blog and being long winded. It gets tiresome listening to guys beat the same dead horse over and over from our first round embarrassment. Cheers!
- Chunk

You want to talk about beating a dead horse? Hang out for a while. You'll never want to come back. Contrary to the advice Will Hunting's therapist gave him, It IS GMTM's fault.

This will have to wait until the next CBA I bet. Should be a slam dunk as current players and owners both don't want it

That is one bad CBA for the NHL teams. You spend all that time scouting and then drafting just let these guys go free.

It should have been setup up like the NFL. You play for the team that drafted you.
- mattsox

in the nfl, if you don't sign with your team you must wait a year and then can be re-drafted


that would solve a lot of these issues

once your done with school, if you don't want to sign with your team then you must sit out a year

That is one bad CBA for the NHL teams. You spend all that time scouting and then drafting just let these guys go free.

It should have been setup up like the NFL. You play for the team that drafted you.
- mattsox

That's MOSTLY accurate. In RARE circumstances some players have said, "Don't draft me or I'll re enter the draft the next year" as NFL teams only own the rights from one draft to the next.

Bo Jackson, John Elway, and Eli Manning come to mind.

What Buffalo's focus should be on is making Buffalo a destination that these types of players WANT to come to. Then despite the rules, they benefit.

If Cal doesn't want to be here, I don't want him here. Simple as that, guys who don't want to be here aren't good in the locker room and then use their salaries to fund their "art" hobby by drawing with Crayola crayons on sweat shirts.

- homiedclown

Well yea. I mean we all knew better than that, but hoped for the best.

That's MOSTLY accurate. In RARE circumstances some players have said, "Don't draft me or I'll re enter the draft the next year" as NFL teams only own the rights from one draft to the next.

Bo Jackson, John Elway, and Eli Manning come to mind.

What Buffalo's focus should be on is making Buffalo a destination that these types of players WANT to come to. Then despite the rules, they benefit.

If Cal doesn't want to be here, I don't want him here. Simple as that, guys who don't want to be here aren't good in the locker room and then use their salaries to fund their "art" hobby by drawing with Crayola crayons on sweat shirts.
- gcomella34

A good start would be to stop changing GM's and coaches every two years.

That's absolutely correct, but to automatically dismiss the notion that they can't adjust, and move pieces in and out in order to be that type of team again, is pretty short-sighted. They still have a championship core worth building around.
- buffalofan19

Maybe they can, it's definitely possible, but considering they are 4 mil above the cap now, and will be pushing out more NHL talent out the door, I don't see how they get much better as their core gets older.

They obviously have Kane, Toews, and Panarin with tread left on the tires.

But Hossa, Keith and Seabrook are all on a decline.

Another interesting situation playing out is with Buffalo goaltending prospect Cal Petersen. The 22-year-old completed his junior season at Notre Dame and announced earlier this week that he was turning pro.

The Sabres have 30 days to get Petersen signed before he becomes an unrestricted free agent that can be signed by another team on August 15, which is the same road that Jimmy Vesey went last season and Petersen and Colorado draft pick (and 2017 Hobey Baker winner) Will Butcher seem to be headed down.

Petersen and Butcher’s negotiating rights could be trade chips used by Buffalo and Colorado prior to the Expansion Draft with the Golden Knights or to get a draft pick at the NHL Draft in Chicago.

From Ek's "blog"
- jochfr

wouldn't mind will butcher in the fold...I think he'll be a good one

Maybe they can, it's definitely possible, but considering they are 4 mil above the cap now, and will be pushing out more NHL talent out the door, I don't see how they get much better as their core gets older.

They obviously have Kane, Toews, and Panarin with tread left on the tires.

But Hossa, Keith and Seabrook are all on a decline.
- sbroads24

If I were them, I'd try and move Seabrook. His contract is pretty huge and goes for 7 years. He's already 32. But good luck trying to get out from under that. They'd probably be able to move Hjalmarsson easier since he has a great cap hit, only has 2 years left and is younger. But if I were them, Hjalmarsson is the one I'd want to keep. I think he's better than Seabrook anyway.

A good start would be to stop changing GM's and coaches every two years.
- fastek

wouldn't mind will butcher in the fold...I think he'll be a good one
- Michael Pachla

Yes. A young, talented, cost controlled defenseman would be fantastic. Especially one the Sabres would not have to spend an asset to get.

Yep.......... it's still hot.

Yes. A young, talented, cost controlled defenseman would be fantastic. Especially one the Sabres would not have to spend an asset to get.
- PrinceChill

yup...need those

Yep.......... it's still hot.
- SABRES 89

dot dot dot

Yes. A young, talented, cost controlled defenseman would be fantastic. Especially one the Sabres would not have to spend an asset to get.
- PrinceChill

fedun is a pending ufa

sign him now so you can expose gorges and bogo to vegas

If I were them, I'd try and move Seabrook. His contract is pretty huge and goes for 7 years. He's already 32. But good luck trying to get out from under that. They'd probably be able to move Hjalmarsson easier since he has a great cap hit, only has 2 years left and is younger. But if I were them, Hjalmarsson is the one I'd want to keep. I think he's better than Seabrook anyway.
- HonkFortheGoose

That's their issue, their bad contracts are so bad that they end up having to move value players that don't make a ton.

I mean, they won their 3 cups, so anything that happens, can't really complain

That's their issue, their bad contracts are so bad that they end up having to move value players that don't make a ton.

I mean, they won their 3 cups, so anything that happens, can't really complain
- sbroads24

see the la kings

brown
gabby
wonky quick
richards


but they got their cups as well


never see the penguins with a bunch of bad contracts though

let's hope gmjb played a hand in that

So did we lose Estephan?