For the Sabres' sake, I'm glad this happened now, and as early as possible. That way, they don't have to sit around and hope things break down between Kane and the Blackhawks.
- buffalofan19

Watch for the Ryan talk to start mid way through next season.

Both making 10.5 holy (frank)
- GERBE!!!75PTS

That's crazy money they will have to have AHL players for life ..

did they forget there is a cap
- gerbe75pts

Too many Gizmos, I can only handle one.

Short term though, the cap hits basically mean that any improvements to the team are going to have to come from within. As stashu just posted, they've got close to 66 mil committed to 15 players for 15-16.

I suspect that for the next few years (i mean once their extensions kick in) they could wind up looking like the Hawks from a few years back, the version that had the one and done's in the playoffs.
- Sabresfan-365

Chicago is going to be bad in a few years.

They will be a revolving door of good players leaving annually

Wtf is Stamkos going to get now ..

Too many Gizmos, I can only handle one.
- Tsyolin

Wtf is Stamkos going to get now ..
- gerbe75pts

Probably the same amount, possibly $11 million. And he's worth it. The big difference is: there's only one of him to sign.

I don't think Chicago is in as much trouble as people think. There's going to be some growing pains, but replacing good players is much, much easier than replacing great ones.

Yes. They probably will. The age of the dynasty is gone. The fact is they already have gone through this song and dance once before, and ended up with another cup out of it. The key is to identify as early as possible who you are most likely going to retain, and who you are most likely going to lose as a casualty. That would mean probably looking to trade (though for a hefty price) the likes of a Brandon Saad sooner rather than later.
- buffalofan19

Not really.... Kane and Toews were locked up at 6.3 mil. Not 20+ for the both


They will have less depth than they did when they won their 2nd cupo

Not really.... Kane and Toews were locked up at 6.3 mil. Not 20+ for the both


They will have less depth than they did when they won their 2nd cupo
- sbroads24

In an era where the cap was considerably less.

I dunno how I'd feel about Murry ever giving this sort of money to our future stars (assuming we get any). This sort of money just seems like too much no matter what way you look at it. I'm certain you could have gotten them to resign for 2 mil cheaper.

According to capgeek for the 2015-16 season Chicago has 8 players that are either rfa's or ufa's and just over 3 million in capspace. Now the cap is going to go up, but not that much. They are going to have to get really creative with their roster to go from 15 players to a full roster.

According to capgeek for the 2015-16 season Chicago has 8 players that are either rfa's or ufa's and just over 3 million in capspace. Now the cap is going to go up, but not that much. They are going to have to get really creative with their roster to go from 15 players to a full roster.
- Themomentgood

I just have a hard time believing that a franchise like Chicago hasn't considered that already, and hasn't formulated some sort of plan already either.

I dunno how I'd feel about Murry ever giving this sort of money to our future stars (assuming we get any). This sort of money just seems like too much no matter what way you look at it. I'm certain you could have gotten them to resign for 2 mil cheaper.
- Tsyolin

If you get even just one cup, it's worth it.

Also, these guys probably would have got even more (albeit separately) on the open market. There was no way they'd sign for any cheaper.

When the Sabres are good in a few years I could see them attempting to trade for Kane as that final piece. He will have considerable term left on his deal and if the Hawks are having trouble fielding a competitive squad because they are paying two players all that scratch the Sabres may not give up as much as we might imagine.

I just have a hard time believing that a franchise like Chicago hasn't considered that already, and hasn't formulated some sort of plan already either.
- buffalofan19

Of course they have. Its going to be interesting to see what they do.

Chicago is going to be bad in a few years.

They will be a revolving door of good players leaving annually
- sbroads24

They've been that way since their first cup. Good teams can keep a handful of starts and try to be destination for others on short contracts. Same with Pittsburgh. It will hurt in the short term but they will be fine in the long term.

They've been that way since their first cup. Good teams can keep a handful of starts and try to be destination for others on short contracts. Same with Pittsburgh. It will hurt in the short term but they will be fine in the long term.
- Slump Buster

Exactly. They just locked up two first ballot hall of famers in their mid twenties. It's a lot easier to build around that then a bunch of simply good players.

Good I didn't want Kane in Buffalo, 10.5 mill is a joke.

Good I didn't want Kane in Buffalo, 10.5 mill is a joke.
- SABRES 89

For a first ballot hall of famer at the age of 26?

Exactly. They just locked up two first ballot hall of famers in their mid twenties. It's a lot easier to build around that then a bunch of simply good players.
- buffalofan19

Not to mention they have Saad, Teravainen, Shaw, etc. that are going to be just fine for them going forward

Not to mention they have Saad, Teravainen, Shaw, etc. that are going to be just fine for them going forward
- grand-magus

Saad and Shaw will need paydays much sooner than that Finnish-dude-I-won't-attempt-to-spell.

They've been that way since their first cup. Good teams can keep a handful of starts and try to be destination for others on short contracts. Same with Pittsburgh. It will hurt in the short term but they will be fine in the long term.
- Slump Buster

I actually think it's the opposite.

They have benefitted from good draft picks from when they were still drafting high

The lower you draft the less talent you get, also when you are a contender you tend to trade picks/prospects at the deadline.

Not to mention they have Saad, Teravainen, Shaw, etc. that are going to be just fine for them going forward
- grand-magus

I have a feeling at least one of those guys are going to be traded sooner rather than later, in order to get max value and not have to worry about losing leverage in contract negotiations.

I actually think it's the opposite.

They have benefitted from good draft picks from when they were still drafting high

The lower you draft the less talent you get, also when you are a contender you tend to trade picks/prospects at the deadline.
- sbroads24

Yep, I'm with you on this. Look at Pittsburgh.

No one's gonna say they suck, cuz obviously they don't, but they feel the crunch as well and haven't been able to achieve the ultimate success again despite having 2 of the best players in the league plus a solid goalie as their stars.

It'll be interesting to see LA in a couple years

I actually think it's the opposite.

They have benefitted from good draft picks from when they were still drafting high

The lower you draft the less talent you get, also when you are a contender you tend to trade picks/prospects at the deadline.
- sbroads24

They'll be good in 2015, need some retooling in 2016 and probably 2017, and they'll be back in contention in 2018.

Exactly. They just locked up two first ballot hall of famers in their mid twenties. It's a lot easier to build around that then a bunch of simply good players.
- buffalofan19

Again, it becomes a math equation, and so far the 2 superstar teams have yet to figure it out. Pittsburgh and Anaheim for example have had trouble building depth and have actually moved key pieces (Staal, B. Ryan) in order to obtain it.