It's August 21. Looking back on his summer, Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill has had himself a tremendous off season. In short order, Botterill and his AGM Steve Greeley have made their team leaner, faster, grittier and more offensive than it was on break up day in April.
Botterill demolished his 2017-18 roster and has rebuilt it on the fly.
Buffalo won the NHL Draft Lottery. All-World puck transporter Rasmus Dahlin was the grand prize for finishing dead last in the NHL standings last season.
He's traded for two expolsoive primary scoring wingers in Conor Sheary and Jeff Skinner.
Botterill traded super center Ryan O'Reilly to St. Louis in exchange for five premium assets in snioping forward Tage Thompson, a 2019 1st round draft choice, a 2021 second round craft choice, veteran forwards Vlad Sobotka and Patrik Berglund.
The Sabres won the Lawrence Pilut sweepstakes. The talented puck transporting defenseman signed with Buffalo after an impressive career in the Swedish Elite League.
Botterill and Phil Housley signed veteran assistant coach Steve Smith to run their rehabilitated defense corps.
Forward Scott Wilson, goalies Carter Hutton and Scott Wedgewood, and defenseman Brandon Hickey were signed as UFAs.
Botterill also signed RFA forwards C.J. Smith, Justin Bailey, Danny O'Regan, and Sean Malone.
Sabres fas aren't ready to give Botteril an A+ grade on his summer assignments just yet.
That will come when restricted free agent Samson Reinhart is signed to a long term contract extension.
While at the Rochester Amerks Alumni Golf Tournament on Tuesday, Botterill seemingly said:
"Have no fear. Reinhart will be here".
“It’s a situation where we having continuing ongoing conversations with him and his agent," Botterill said. "As we know, Sam is going to be a big part of our team moving forward here. It’s just a matter of us finding a contract that’s fair for both sides and things are positive from that standpoint. There is a dialogue that continues there."
Is Botterill holding out hope that Reinhart will accept a two to three year bridge contract ala Tomas Hertl’s $5.625M (x4) extension with the Sharks.
Is Reinhart, 22, looking to sell Botterill three of his unrestricted free agent years now by demanding an eight year contract extension at the $6.1 million annual average value that Detroit recently signed Dylan Larkin to? The Wings got Larking done for five years at $6.1M AAV.
Perhaps Reinhart is looking for a long term deal similar to Adam Henrique’s $5.85M (x 5) deal with the Ducks. Or, James Neal’s $5.75M (x 5) contract with the Flames.
Perhaps Reinhart wants $5.5M AAV for five seasons like Jason Zucker and J.T. Miller signed for earlier this summer.
Botterill sounded confident when asked about reaching a fair and equitable deal done with Reinhart.
“You always have to be optimistic and you always feel that something is going (finalize). There is plenty of time here before camp gets going so we’re very optimistic that we will get something done.…
(Quotes courtesy Matt Bove)
The second overall pick in 2014, Reinhart has scored 65 goals and added 75 assists for 140 points in 249 career games during his three-year tenure in Buffalo.
In 2017-18, Reinhart achieved career highs in goals scored (25) and points (50).
Reinhart has been a consistent scorer at even strength and on the power play.
Reinhart scored a career 12 power play goals last season and has 29 PPG in his career.
Reinhart has 48 PP points in his career.
Reinhart totaled 37 points (18G,19A) in his final 38 games of the 2017-18 season. Reinhart scored 20 goals in 43 games in calendar year 2018 tying him for 12th-most in the NHL from January 1 until the end of the regular season.