So then do you not agree that this is the most likely move Botterill will make to address the 2nd and 3rd lines?
- jcragcrumple

No, I don’t, because this is the first offseason he has actual capital to move, and he knows he can’t just throw Mitts and Cozens out there again.

Again, he’s already made every type of trade there is. I don’t think he’s going to bandaid the 2C spot again. I think he’s learned it’s possible Mitts is just a bust

Trades are easiest when you're trading bottom half players with small contracts. Here's a pick or 2, gimme the player.

When you're dealing in the upper echelon, you're dealing with

A: big contracts
B: extremely valuable ELC players
C: extremely valuable young players
D: rentals

The GM needs to not only convince the other GM that the compensation is worth the player, but then they need to fit their short and long term contract into the books.
99.9% of the time, the GM with the desirable asset tells the GM offering his early 1st to go (frank) himself.

Well i can list a bunch of Prospects that have worked out too

And Coyle is another overpaid 3C that isn’t the answer at 2C
Maybe Mitts isn’t either?
But at least he has a higher ceiling and has a shot at being the answer
- jdfitz77

I'm not trying to sound like a jerk here, but when do you think he will have the ability to prove it?

Is it next year?
Two years?

Waiting is the hardest part. We have been out of the playoff picture for nearly 10 years. Would it be better to admit that Casey is likely better suited as an NHL winger?

Trades are easiest when you're trading bottom half players with small contracts. Here's a pick or 2, gimme the player.

When you're dealing in the upper echelon, you're dealing with

A: big contracts
B: extremely valuable ELC players
C: extremely valuable young players
D: rentals

The GM needs to not only convince the other GM that the compensation is worth the player, but then they need to fit their short and long term contract into the books.
99.9% of the time, the GM with the desirable asset tells the GM offering his early 1st to go (frank) himself.
- TheSabresTaco

So you're saying Botts should be able to trade Bogo, ERod, and a few mid-range picks for anything?

We really need to be more patient with Mitts. Kid's still young. Trade him for a sure fire upper half guy. Otherwise, just let him go and see where he takes his game.

So you're saying Botts should be able to trade Bogo, ERod, and a few mid-range picks for anything?
- thatsapickle

In the summer? Yeah.

yes I'm aware their contracts expire.

Who the (frank) wants to add a useless turd in Bogo?

If Botterill can get a long term player by the TDL, you share 50% of Bogo's salary and trade Erod for nothing to get that player here.

Couple of guys top trade candidates lists (from Spector's page) :

TSN: Chris Kreider, Alec Martinez, and Ilya Kovalchuk are the top-three players atop Frank Seravalli’s latest NHL trade-bait list. Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Alexandar Georgiev round out the top five. Tyler Toffoli, Shayne Gostisbehere, Sami Vatanen, Andreas Athanasiou, and the Carolina's 1st rnd pick in the 2020 NHL Draft fill slots 6 to 10. Brenden Dillon, Alex Galchenyuk, Ron Hainsey, Ryan Donato, and Robin Lehner fill slots 11 to 15.

Sportsnet: Rory Boylen last week also published a list of 20 trade candidates we could hear about before the deadline. It included Jason Zucker, Mikael Granlund, Nick Bonino, Zach Bogosian, Evan Rodrigues, Craig Anderson, Corey Crawford, Casey DeSmith, Brandon Saad, Mark Jankowski, Jesse Puljujarvi.

The Sporting News: Matt Larkin’s list includes Kyle Palmieri, P.K. Subban, Wayne Simmonds, Tomas Tatar, Erik Gustafsson, Ondrej Kase, Marcus Johansson and Michael Frolik, Jake Gardiner, Sam Bennett, Leafs AHL winger Jeremy Bracco, and Avs prospect d-man Conor Timmons.

Condensed to shorten the post. Full article here https://www.spectorshocke...mor-mill-january-22-2020/

My list of guys to go after in no particular order would be:
Brendan Dillon (bigger and tougher than McCabe, can use McCabe in separate deal)
Galchenyuk
Donato (oft injured though)
Granlund (played C before traded to Nash)
Bonino
Puljujarvi
Athanasiou
Kase (also oft injured)
Bracco is intriguing, but haven't seen him a lot

Mostly cost effective guys that shouldn't cost too much to acquire.
- adambuffalo

Granlund has been playing mostly wing for a while now, even with Minny
AA is a winger too

No, I don’t, because this is the first offseason he has actual capital to move, and he knows he can’t just throw Mitts and Cozens out there again.

Again, he’s already made every type of trade there is. I don’t think he’s going to bandaid the 2C spot again. I think he’s learned it’s possible Mitts is just a bust
- sbroads24

He's going to trade a 2nd, 5th and a prospect for a 40-45 point center.

Search your feelings. You know it to be true.

He's going to trade a 2nd, 5th and a prospect for a 40-45 center.

Search your feelings. You know it to be true.
- jcragcrumple

So we get another year of your incessant complaining about the gm, then? 😉

In the summer? Yeah.

yes I'm aware their contracts expire.

Who the (frank) wants to add a useless turd in Bogo?

If Botterill can get a long term player by the TDL, you share 50% of Bogo's salary and trade Erod for nothing to get that player here.
- TheSabresTaco

I would sooner trade Bogo for a jofa helmet, than watch him play for the Sabres.

I don't think there is another player that doesn't have any shots for when they are on the ice. McCabe was doing his best to match it, but Bogo is the champ.

So we get another year of your incessant complaining about the gm, then? 😉
- Powerslave

That's a big if, because the GM may not be back.

I would say he's safe, but stranger things have happened.

So we get another year of your incessant complaining about the gm, then? 😉
- Powerslave

It's a scenario where it's pretty likely. Unless his employment runs into a situation in April

Another thing too consider in trades is the fact that there is an expansion draft next season. If you can get a 2C, or someone who can reasonably hold that spot, with a year left on his deal that would be ideal. Overpay for RNH, Krejci, Getzlaf maybe Stastny or make a fair deal for Stepan, Bonino, Bozak or Lowry.
All have one year left. Some rumored to be available recently and some rumored last summer. I don't expect the first route of overpaying, but more likely the second tier.

It's a scenario where it's pretty likely. Unless his employment runs into a situation in April
- jcragcrumple

He'll be back.

I'm not trying to sound like a jerk here, but when do you think he will have the ability to prove it?

Is it next year?
Two years?

Waiting is the hardest part. We have been out of the playoff picture for nearly 10 years. Would it be better to admit that Casey is likely better suited as an NHL winger?
- thatsapickle

this is were ive been .... why does he get a free pass for 2 more years

Yeah, the thinking for me is go after a stud pass rusher and then let Murphy or Lawson go
- jdfitz77

Yeah I would like to see Judon, but he's gonna a big contract. Of course there's Ngakoue, but he would be a real surprise. Then Dupree or Fowler but doubt they get to FA

this is were ive been .... why does he get a free pass for 2 more years
- hubie

I get admitting that the development process wasn't ideal, but maybe he just isn't cut out to be a center in the NHL.

The same went for Sam. He's done well on the wing, and maybe it's better for casey to play on the wing in the NHL whenever he gets brought back up.

Well i can list a bunch of Prospects that have worked out too

And Coyle is another overpaid 3C that isn’t the answer at 2C
Maybe Mitts isn’t either?
But at least he has a higher ceiling and has a shot at being the answer
- jdfitz77

you are literally all over the map

He'll be back.
- Powerslave

This is fun

I get admitting that the development process wasn't ideal, but maybe he just isn't cut out to be a center in the NHL.

The same went for Sam. He's done well on the wing, and maybe it's better for casey to play on the wing in the NHL whenever he gets brought back up.
- thatsapickle

I agree with this.

this is were ive been .... why does he get a free pass for 2 more years
- hubie

I really don't think he will get 2 more years if things don't change. This is a big 7 months for Botts.

This is fun
- gerbe75pts

I am happy to be here.

this is were ive been .... why does he get a free pass for 2 more years
- hubie

He should be fired if they don’t make the playoffs next year. There is no excuses left for him this offseason.

I am happy to be here.
- Pegullaville

that's a good team over there.