Should have moved gus ,Larry for picks

Let's not use that word.

I am wary.
- TheSabresTaco

Fair enough
My point was...
you were ok with the 10-13 forwards then?
(LOG + Lazar)

Should have moved gus ,Larry for picks
- gerbe75pts

Nope
Not unless they were worth at least 2nds
Which was unlikely

We're talking about two guys, but that's besides the point.
Just curious though, which of the two highly coveted trade deadline guys Trocheck or Pageau (who are older than Girgs and Larry) should we expect to start their decline sooner. The one having a career year in a contract year or the one who's underperformed for two years in a row?
- adambuffalo

Style of play, age, physicality and agility really come into play here.

JPG is in the midst of a career year with an out of control shooting percentage. Trocheck is physical, down year, has a few big injuries to his name. Both about the same age.

I'd say short term, JPG regresses and Trocheck bounces back. Long term, I think Trocheck declines quicker.

Nope
Not unless they were worth at least 2nds
Which was unlikely
- jdfitz77

Considering Kovalchuk with retained salary only netted a 3rd. I’d have to guess the offers weren’t anything more than 5/6 rounders, maybe a 4th with salary retained.

Not going to tell you what to care about, but what this roster looks like 2-3 years out is very significant to me.
- Lunaion

I agree with that
I don’t agree that u should expect decline from
28 & 29 year olds

Fair enough
My point was...
you were ok with the 10-13 forwards then?
(LOG + Lazar)
- jdfitz77

I'm fine with it for at least another year. There's no reason not to be. If you want to cut out Girgensons and use Lazar there, whatever. Or someone new. Whatever. Cutting Larsson, though, doesn't seem like a smart decision, based on his salary and on-ice value.

I'd trade Okposo if someone took 50% and then look to sign a short term, 2M guy. Hardly think it's a reality, but I'd try. The player, not the salary, is very useful. I'm not begging to trade him, but 6M is 6M, and a guy with his value should be paid 40% as much.

All in all, for at least a year, I'm fine with the 4 of them. They're not high on the list of problems.

Was obviously including Okposo in that.

I'm not sure what to make of Trocheck. Guy still bouncing back from serious injuries, or guy who will never get back to that form. Probably somewhere in between. I don't watch him enough to have much an opinion.
- Lunaion

So you’re open to Trocheck being good again in the coming years at the same age u see decline in Girgs & Larsson...
I don’t get that
Why one & not the other?

I agree with that
I don’t agree that u should expect decline from
28 & 29 year olds
- jdfitz77

Yet you want them on short term deals because you are thinking about that.

I'm fine with it for at least another year. There's no reason not to be. If you want to cut out Girgensons and use Lazar there, whatever. Or someone new. Whatever. Cutting Larsson, though, doesn't seem like a smart decision, based on his salary and on-ice value.

I'd trade Okposo if someone took 50% and then look to sign a short term, 2M guy. Hardly think it's a reality, but I'd try.

All in all, for at least a year, I'm fine with the 4 of them. They're not high on the list of problems.
- TheSabresTaco

I think everyone is fine with moving Okposo bc of the Cap hit
Just doesn’t seem like a reality any time soon

Considering Kovalchuk with retained salary only netted a 3rd. I’d have to guess the offers weren’t anything more than 5/6 rounders, maybe a 4th with salary retained.
- ImThatGuy

It was claimed that other teams were offering more (a 2nd?) for his services. Was a favor to Kovy to send him to wash.

So you’re open to Trocheck being good again in the coming years at the same age u see decline in Girgs & Larsson...
I don’t get that
Why one & not the other?
- jdfitz77

Re-read it then, I guess. Made it pretty clear.

Should have moved gus ,Larry for picks
- gerbe75pts

To damage Rochester's playoff run for the sake of a pair of 4th round picks. Whoopdie (frank)ing doo. Especially if the team wants Larsson next year.

Nope
Not unless they were worth at least 2nds
Which was unlikely
- jdfitz77

They aren't going to sign here so you basically just lost them for nothing

Yet you want them on short term deals because you are thinking about that.
- Lunaion

Ideally, I’d do 2 year deals
But thinking guys MIGHT decline when they’re still in there 20s is not gonna stop me from making it a 3year deal if that’s what it takes to keep the best 4th line in hockey together

If they were getting up in the 32ish range,
that’s when I’d be getting nervous

Let’s just take the worst case scenario,
and in that 3rd year Larsson & Girgs both suck horribly at around $2ish apiece
You play the top9 more & limit their minutes
Or bury them, and bring up some kids

I just don’t see it as a big risk like you do

They aren't going to sign here so you basically just lost them for nothing
- gerbe75pts

How do u know that?

4 in the top 3, 5 in the top 4 according to Capfriendly.
- adambuffalo

Depends on how many games Vatanen plays I guess, yeah.

Ideally, I’d do 2 year deals
But thinking guys MIGHT decline when they’re still in there 20s is not gonna stop me from making it a 3year deal if that’s what it takes to keep the best 4th line in hockey together

If they were getting up in the 32ish range,
that’s when I’d be getting nervous

Let’s just take the worst case scenario,
and in that 3rd year Larsson & Girgs both suck horribly at around $2ish apiece
You play the top9 more & limit their minutes
Or bury them, and bring up some kids

I just don’t see it as a big risk like you do
- jdfitz77

They are not just 4th liners, they kill penalties. 2 year deals are fine and make them very easy to move in a trade. The deals have to be at 2 or under.
Will Carrier signed a 4 year deal at age 25.
One a side note, Okposo or Skinner can be moved to Seattle when the time comes.

To damage Rochester's playoff run for the sake of a pair of 4th round picks. Whoopdie (frank)ing doo. Especially if the team wants Larsson next year.
- TheSabresTaco

You know what players are picked in the 4th round ?
Pageau,Nyquist,Gaudreau,Arvidsson,
Athanasiou,Slavin and many more

Yes or no the Sabres have Better chance Percentages at the NHL in the later rounds

Ideally, I’d do 2 year deals
But thinking guys MIGHT decline when they’re still in there 20s is not gonna stop me from making it a 3year deal if that’s what it takes to keep the best 4th line in hockey together

If they were getting up in the 32ish range,
that’s when I’d be getting nervous

Let’s just take the worst case scenario,
and in that 3rd year Larsson & Girgs both suck horribly at around $2ish apiece
You play the top9 more & limit their minutes
Or bury them, and bring up some kids

I just don’t see it as a big risk like you do
- jdfitz77

Yet at 4yr 2.5per, you'd have an issue. Hope you see just how narrow your window is here, before you agree with everything I've said.

Like I said originally, assuming team friendly deals here is a cop out.

How do u know that?
- jdfitz77

Larry has been asking for a trade every year when hes unhappy and gus was trying to sign over seas

I don't see them signing here and I don't blame them

You know what players are picked in the 4th round ?
Pageau,Nyquist,Gaudreau,Arvidsson,
Athanasiou,Slavin and many more

Yes or no the Sabres have Better chance Percentages at the NHL in the later rounds
- gerbe75pts

Go find me an important Sabre (skater) picked after round 2.

Victor Olofsson and.........


and....


um....

and....

Yet at 4yr 2.5per, you'd have an issue. Hope you see just how narrow your window is here, before you agree with everything I've said.

Like I said originally, assuming team friendly deals here is a cop out.
- Lunaion

It’s not any more of a cop out than assuming $3mil per (like you’ve said) and that they’d decline while still in their 20s

And u give that 3rd year to keep the salary a little lower hopefully

No one is saying to sign these guys to a 4 year deal at $3mil apiece
Obviously there’s gotta be a walk away point

So the Colorado game was great. Sam isn't doing it for me at all. Buffalo cannot give him more than 5-6 max per year. I don't see him making any impact other than playing with Jack. If he was on the second line, I see the second-line woes continuing forever. Especially if he gets 7.5. Skinner rode Jack to the bank last year.

What is the vote on trading him to Ottawa for their second-first round pick and their last 2nd round pick. Ottawa gets an immediate player and we get potentially top 6 pick. I just don't see Sam as a top 4 core player that will lead them to the Cup. He is good, but he seems like a role player which can be swapped. Victor is so much more noticeable than Sam.

Larry has been asking for a trade every year when hes unhappy and gus was trying to sign over seas

I don't see them signing here and I don't blame them
- gerbe75pts

U have links to show they were requested trades this season?
I haven’t heard about that
Reportedly, the players LOVE playing for Ralph
And they’re having their best seasons yet
And we are getting better
Those are reasons to stick around

Not saying they can’t go elsewhere
But it’s FAR from a forgone conclusion