I'd be really surprised if it was another FA signing. The argument for playing hard ball with Skinner would extend to guys like Lee and Duchene as well. They would all share similar concerns to varying degrees.

If you're walking away from skinner cause you don't like the term involved, you're probably going the trade route to try and buy low again. This time for someone on a cost controlled deal.
- Sabresfan-365

Stop believing Skinner holds all the cards.

Is there another forward available that would want 7x8 and decide which is the better deal, we will have a forward for 2019/20 but if Skin walks its his decision.

Stop believing Skinner holds all the cards.

Is there another forward available that would want 7x8 and decide which is the better deal, we will have a forward for 2019/20 but if Skin walks its his decision.
- MEBSabresFAN

He 100% does. The optimal play for Botterill is to re sign skinner versus spending assets to replace him.

Skinner can go to FA, find the highest offer, and then ask the Sabres to match, and they probably would.

The combination of Callahan & Miller is $11M off their books.

Why would Buffalo give Tampa anything of significance if they're taking on both of those players to give Tampa tax relief, especially with Miller signed at $5.2M for another 4 years? I would give them a low pick and no prospect if I'm taking on that much cap for them.
- kingcong39

Because Miller on his own probably gets you a decent haul. 26, good at both ends of the ice and a more than reasonable cap hit.

Adding callahan lowers the price, but even still there should be a few offers for him

This team is one year removed from landing Rasmus Dahlin in a lottery and people are acting like we’re a cursed franchise

We had a bad coach and got awful goaltending last year.

This team is on the verge of contending, believe it or not
- OneKaneOneCup

Thank you for this honest breath of FRESH AIR!


It's good to be critical of moves and motives but eventually we all need to move on and focus on what we can do moving forward instead of looking backwards ....

The combination of Callahan & Miller is $11M off their books.

Why would Buffalo give Tampa anything of significance if they're taking on both of those players to give Tampa tax relief, especially with Miller signed at $5.2M for another 4 years? I would give them a low pick and no prospect if I'm taking on that much cap for them.
- kingcong39

They need to sign Point too
So yeah... they’d need to move off additional salary to sign EK65
*plus fill out their roster

As for the rest...
it reads like we disagree here, but we don’t
We should definitely be taking advantage of their desperation to make Cap room

Because Miller on his own probably gets you a decent haul. 26, good at both ends of the ice and a more than reasonable cap hit.

Adding callahan lowers the price, but even still there should be a few offers for him
- Sabresfan-365

I have no idea how good Miller is as his basic stats say he's a 51 point average annual player with a high of 58 points. His advanced stats must be very good.

What's a decent haul for at most a 2nd line center? A mid round pick and B prospect, especially with their cap situation?

Taking on $11M would be a huge favor for Tampa, adding on the thought that they're going after E. Karlsson in FA.

They need to sign Point too
So yeah... they’d need to move off additional salary to sign EK65
*plus fill out their roster

As for the rest...
it reads like we disagree here, but we don’t
We should definitely be taking advantage of their desperation to make Cap room
- jdfitz77

We agree, but I am giving little to nothing of substance to help a team shed $11M from their books, helping them sign Point long term, and helping them potentially sign E. Karlsson. They're a division rival.

We agree, but I am giving little to nothing of substance to help a team shed $11M from their books, helping them sign Point long term, and helping them potentially sign E. Karlsson. They're a division rival.
- kingcong39

(frank) them. Do us a favor to take celery. I'm thinking Foote...

I hope Krueger was able to keep his shot of Jack down

I see through your niceness to your dark side
- IonSabres

So I'm still on the list? Damn it

I have no idea how good Miller is as his basic stats say he's a 51 point average annual player with a high of 58 points. His advanced stats must be very good.

What's a decent haul for at most a 2nd line center? A mid round pick and B prospect, especially with their cap situation?

Taking on $11M would be a huge favor for Tampa, adding on the thought that they're going after E. Karlsson in FA.
- kingcong39

He's a 2C/W that's good in his own end with a solid cap number, that'll bring value back for tampa.

Tbh, I think they're more likely to try and move guys like Palat or Killorn before miller.

We agree, but I am giving little to nothing of substance to help a team shed $11M from their books, helping them sign Point long term, and helping them potentially sign E. Karlsson. They're a division rival.
- kingcong39

I don’t mind giving up something...
but I’m definitely treating however much Cap Space we clear from them as a HUGE asset they would need to compensate us for

I want better than Jt Miller
We NEED guys that SCORE GOALS
Especially if we lose Skinner

So I'm still on the list? Damn it
- jcragcrumple

Free Hot Dogs at Home Depot today, I had 2 and tip the guy 5 bucks.

He's a 2C/W that's good in his own end with a solid cap number, that'll bring value back for tampa.

Tbh, I think they're more likely to try and move guys like Palat or Killorn before miller.
- Sabresfan-365

I think Miller is more of a winger
Also... 13goals last year
More of a “pass first” guy it seems
We already have enough playmakers
Need some guys that can snipe

I think Miller is more of a winger
Also... 13goals last year
More of a “pass first” guy it seems
We already have enough playmakers
Need some guys that can snipe
- jdfitz77

Not that i disagree on miller, but only two forwards had 25 or more assists last year.

To say we have "enough" playmakers is a stretch

He's a 2C/W that's good in his own end with a solid cap number, that'll bring value back for tampa.

Tbh, I think they're more likely to try and move guys like Palat or Killorn before miller.
- Sabresfan-365

Well they have to shed more than just Miller/Callahan regardless.

Tyler Johnson probably too.

IMO they’re almost a lock for EK, so we might as well try and take advantage while we can.

IMO I think it’s a no-brainer that American boys Miller and Callahan are Sabres next year

Well they have to shed more than just Miller/Callahan regardless.

Tyler Johnson probably too.

IMO they’re almost a lock for EK, so we might as well try and take advantage while we can.

IMO I think it’s a no-brainer that American boys Miller and Callahan are Sabres next year
- OneKaneOneCup

callahan, palat and johnson would give them enough space i think. I don't think it's a lock unless Tampa doesn't get many offers for Miller for whatever reason.

He's a 2C/W that's good in his own end with a solid cap number, that'll bring value back for tampa.

Tbh, I think they're more likely to try and move guys like Palat or Killorn before miller.
- Sabresfan-365

Good luck to them in getting much for Palat or Killorn without having to add something to make it worthwhile.

I wonder what good value is for Miller on his own.

Good luck to them in getting much for Palat or Killorn without having to add something to make it worthwhile.

I wonder what good value is for Miller on his own.
- kingcong39

palat and killorn would be straight cap dumps, so they can add EK or someone else.

As for Miller, maybe a little more than what Hayes got at the deadline. depends what you put more value into, direct point contribution or the other underlying stats.

callahan, palat and johnson would give them enough space i think. I don't think it's a lock unless Tampa doesn't get many offers for Miller for whatever reason.
- Sabresfan-365

It’s not that they wouldn’t get offers, it’s that they need a team to take Callahan and Miller makes perfect sense as the guy to go with him to make that happen.

As we saw with the expansion draft teams seem to value getting out from bad contracts more than they value late first rounders

Free Hot Dogs at Home Depot today, I had 2 and tip the guy 5 bucks.
- SABRES 89

Was he a cook or chef?

It’s not that they wouldn’t get offers, it’s that they need a team to take Callahan and Miller makes perfect sense as the guy to go with him to make that happen.

As we saw with the expansion draft teams seem to value getting out from bad contracts more than they value late first rounders
- OneKaneOneCup

I don't disagree, but I think we'd get priced out of the market. Im fairly confident they'll get some good offers, and im sure they'd prefer to trade outside of the division. Miller is a legit top 6 forward, I don't know how much we can really give up with all the other poop that needs to be fixed.

Was he a cook or chef?
- dadeadhead

both, also a server.

Not that i disagree on miller, but only two forwards had 25 or more assists last year.

To say we have "enough" playmakers is a stretch
- Sabresfan-365

Well if we had more guys that could put the puck in the net, those assist numbers would go up

Jack is a shooter & a passer
But Mitts & Sam are more “pass first” type players
They need their “Skinner” as well
Maybe Olofsson can be a guy like that?
Nylander is more of a playmaker type to me

The rest of our forwards are kind of blah

I don't disagree, but I think we'd get priced out of the market. Miller is a legit top 6 forward, I don't know how much we can really give up with all the other poop that needs to be fixed.
- Sabresfan-365

See I don’t think we really give up anything.

I think Tampa is at a serious disadvantage here.

They legit can only take back picks. They can’t take on salary

So a win/win is trading out Miller and getting back a mid-level prospect/pick and also getting out from Callahan.

We’re one of 2-3 teams that Callahan makes sense for