I have this weird feeling like they beat Pittsburgh, but lose to one of Denver, New England or LA.
- buffalofan19

Could happen, this bye week came at a perfect time, weekend went decent, and we get a little healthy. Could get interesting the rest of the way.

i'm not sure "savior" is the right word for him...it's not like he's hasek on a team devoid of scoring...if anyone is the "savior" for the Sabres it's jack echl, and if anything he's fully invested himself in his alpha-male role...

as for the high draft picks and top prospects...you could be right but a.) rumor has it that they're looking to cut salary and they have two $4M+AAV goalies on the team b.) who's willing or can even take on a $4.5M goalie...

i'd hazard to guess that there are two extremes working here and that the answer lies somewhere along the middle ground, probably only leaning in one direction but giving that side "the win"
- Michael Pachla

Spot on.
Az is not in a position of power when they made it known they want to trim payroll significantly.

Spot on.
Az is not in a position of power when they made it known they want to trim payroll significantly.
- IonSabres

This is a list of teams who can fit Kuemper's $4.5m salary without exchanging salary in return (parentheticals are my interpretation of whether they would want him):

Rangers (no)
Blackhawks (yes)
Bruins (no due to the inability for them to move $7m of Rask and they like Halak)
Panthers (easy no)
Blue Jackets (no)
Red Wings (yes)
Senators (no)
Predators (not a fit due to Rinne's salary)
Kings (not a fit due to Quick)
Devils (yes, i guess)

So the teams we could expect to bid on him without salary returning are Blackhawks, Red Wings and Devils

Blackhawks arent trading futures. Red Wings have 3 second round picks in 2021, Devils have 1 and 2 thirds (one belonging to AZ)

So the strongest competitor as a see it would be Detroit offering 2 or possibly 3 seconds in exchange for Kuemper with no salary going the other way (if they are so inclined).

But really none of those teams makes a ton of sense with where they are in their development process. Is Detroit trading for a goalie with 2 years left? Idk, doesnt strike me as a fit

Prediction: Darcy Kuemper will still be an Arizona Coyote when the 2021 season starts.

Prediction: Darcy Kuemper will still be an Quebec Loup when the 2021 season starts.
- buffalofan19

This is a list of teams who can fit Kuemper's $4.5m salary without exchanging salary in return (parentheticals are my interpretation of whether they would want him):

Rangers (no)
Blackhawks (yes)
Bruins (no due to the inability for them to move $7m of Rask and they like Halak)
Panthers (easy no)
Blue Jackets (no)
Red Wings (yes)
Senators (no)
Predators (not a fit due to Rinne's salary)
Kings (not a fit due to Quick)
Devils (yes, i guess)

So the teams we could expect to bid on him without salary returning are Blackhawks, Red Wings and Devils

Blackhawks arent trading futures. Red Wings have 3 second round picks in 2021, Devils have 1 and 2 thirds (one belonging to AZ)

So the strongest competitor as a see it would be Detroit offering 2 or possibly 3 seconds in exchange for Kuemper with no salary going the other way (if they are so inclined).

But really none of those teams makes a ton of sense with where they are in their development process. Is Detroit trading for a goalie with 2 years left? Idk, doesnt strike me as a fit
- jcragcrumple

Well laid out McCrumple Von Scrooge

Well laid out McCrumple Von Scrooge
- Michael Pachla

Then keep him. There's always the possibility that his eye issue has totally healed. Maybe he can return to "decent" form. I'll take that.
- kritter65

that's what the 2021 sabres season money is on


he was playing like an all star his first few months here


then boom, something not so good

This is a list of teams who can fit Kuemper's $4.5m salary without exchanging salary in return (parentheticals are my interpretation of whether they would want him):

Rangers (no)
Blackhawks (yes)
Bruins (no due to the inability for them to move $7m of Rask and they like Halak)
Panthers (easy no)
Blue Jackets (no)
Red Wings (yes)
Senators (no)
Predators (not a fit due to Rinne's salary)
Kings (not a fit due to Quick)
Devils (yes, i guess)



So the teams we could expect to bid on him without salary returning are Blackhawks, Red Wings and Devils

Blackhawks arent trading futures. Red Wings have 3 second round picks in 2021, Devils have 1 and 2 thirds (one belonging to AZ)

So the strongest competitor as a see it would be Detroit offering 2 or possibly 3 seconds in exchange for Kuemper with no salary going the other way (if they are so inclined).

But really none of those teams makes a ton of sense with where they are in their development process. Is Detroit trading for a goalie with 2 years left? Idk, doesnt make a ton of sense to me
- jcragcrumple

Detroit does not want him.... NJ has a good tandem
Colorado cold still go for him though....that makes a lot of sense.
The Avs could use an upgrade in goal if they expect to be contenders.
The Avs give a 1st for Kuemper, trade Grubauer to Chicago or Buffalo for picks.

Detroit does not want him.... NJ has a good tandem
Colorado cold still go for him though....that makes a lot of sense.
The Avs could use an upgrade in goal if they expect to be contenders.
The Avs give a 1st for Kuemper, trade Grubauer to Chicago or Buffalo for picks.
- HenryHockey

Yeah, I figured that nailing down the teams with available space was the place to start. The rest of the scenarios involve high-variable moving salary and difficult to predict trades. Essentially based on the list i posted i think it more-or-less eliminated 90+ % of non-salary balancing trades.

From there, anything is possible

Habs calling Kotkaniemi back from Liiga, heard Leafs had done the same with one of their players. Everything seems very much up in the air as far as when (if?) season starts, but teams are proceeding as if season will start in early January. Hopefully it will. I’d really like to watch some hockey relatively soon.

You guys thinks Buffalo will call Ruotsalainen over? Is he on loan or does he have an out-clause to come over? I know little about him, but he’s been lighting the lamp this season.

Yeah, I figured that nailing down the teams with available space was the place to start. The rest of the scenarios involve high-variable moving salary and difficult to predict trades. Essentially based on the list i posted i think it more-or-less eliminated 90+ % of non-salary balancing trades.

From there, anything is possible
- jcragcrumple

flyers

elliot and picks/prospects


saves yotes about 3 mil

Habs calling Kotkaniemi back from Liiga, heard Leafs had done the same with one of their players. Everything seems very much up in the air as far as when (if?) season starts, but teams are proceeding as if season will start in early January. Hopefully it will. I’d really like to watch some hockey relatively soon.

You guys thinks Buffalo will call Ruotsalainen over? Is he on loan or does he have an out-clause to come over? I know little about him, but he’s been lighting the lamp this season.
- Ratsreign

Pretty sure he has an out. Looks like he'll be making a serious pitch for the team.

flyers

elliot and picks/prospects


saves yotes about 3 mil
- homiedclown

I dont see it. Carter Hart is the present and future. Elliott is a nice compliment to that. No need to upset the apple cart

I dont see it. Carter Hart is the present and future. Elliott is a nice compliment to that. No need to upset the apple cart
- jcragcrumple

Sabres have no goalie signed for next season. Kuemper has two years on his deal. The thought is UPL should be ready by then

I dont see it. Carter Hart is the present and future. Elliott is a nice compliment to that. No need to upset the apple cart
- jcragcrumple

I think elliot sucks

near 3.00 gaa both of last 2 years

provides a 1:2 punch in net and 2 options for playoffs, which is crucial if the starter gets hurt

I think elliot sucks

near 3.00 gaa both of last 2 years

provides a 1:2 punch in net and 2 options for playoffs, which is crucial if the starter gets hurt
- homiedclown

Hes definitely not good. I just think if a team is trading for Kuemper at $4.5, it's for him to be a starter. Not sure Philly is that team

Hes definitely not good. I just think if a team is trading for Kuemper at $4.5, it's for him to be a starter. Not sure Philly is that team
- jcragcrumple

I glanced at their roster, seems if any team with 5 mil in cap could make that move for an additional goalie, it was the flyers as everyone is locked up already

This is a list of teams who can fit Kuemper's $4.5m salary without exchanging salary in return (parentheticals are my interpretation of whether they would want him):

Rangers (no)
Blackhawks (yes)
Bruins (no due to the inability for them to move $7m of Rask and they like Halak)
Panthers (easy no)
Blue Jackets (no)
Red Wings (yes)
Senators (no)
Predators (not a fit due to Rinne's salary)
Kings (not a fit due to Quick)
Devils (yes, i guess)

So the teams we could expect to bid on him without salary returning are Blackhawks, Red Wings and Devils

Blackhawks arent trading futures. Red Wings have 3 second round picks in 2021, Devils have 1 and 2 thirds (one belonging to AZ)

So the strongest competitor as a see it would be Detroit offering 2 or possibly 3 seconds in exchange for Kuemper with no salary going the other way (if they are so inclined).

But really none of those teams makes a ton of sense with where they are in their development process. Is Detroit trading for a goalie with 2 years left? Idk, doesnt strike me as a fit
- jcragcrumple

Good, solid work here JGrag.

My gut told me, without doing the research that you have done above, that there maybe 1 or 2 others possibilities. I think the NJDevils with Blackwood and Crawford are all set.
Detroit needs another 2 years of high draft picks, they are probably fine for another year or two of being a bottom feeder.

Ok I’ll agree he’s top 10 and will want to be paid his worth. The Sabres wouldn’t be trading for him without the thought of resigning him to an extension and for lots. He’s not a stopgap goalie then for sure.
To trade multiple prospects or picks for him now is far to risky. I can’t imagine how far the organization would be set back if this didn’t work out. It’s not the time and Adams being a smart man will keep his goaltending tandem going into the year.
- Camel

Trying to win with this goaltending tandem has already proven to be a failure

If we miss the playoffs this year....
then Hall walks & Eichel demands a trade

It’s just crazy to risk that on Hutton’s play

Sabres 1st, Mitts + Okposo for Pitlick and Kuemper

Az isn't gonna do poop for the next 3 years anyway. Having Okposo doesn't matter to them
- jcragcrumple

Why are they gonna move Kuemper,
to get back a BIGGER SALARY in Okposo???

Isn’t the whole reason they’d even consider moving Kuemper for $$$ savings?

Everyone wants to trade a 1st plus for a goalie but when we did that for lehner we are still hearing how that was dumb
- Fattony1187

Lehner wasn’t a top5-ish goalie in the league
Huge difference

Why are they gonna move Kuemper,
to get back a BIGGER SALARY in Okposo???

Isn’t the whole reason they’d even consider moving Kuemper for $$$ savings?
- jdfitz77

I balanced the salary. See my above post on this page. The market for Kuemper among teams with enough cap space to absorb his contract without salary moving is very soft

I really can’t believe they would trade Kuemper for anything but a combo of very high draft picks and top prospects. They are the ones dealing from a position of power. If he is available some team will pay high. I personally don’t think he’s a sure thing with the added pressure of saviour on his mind.
- Camel

Did just fine with the pressure in ARZ knowing that if he gave up 2 goals they’d likely lose

This is a list of teams who can fit Kuemper's $4.5m salary without exchanging salary in return (parentheticals are my interpretation of whether they would want him):

Rangers (no)
Blackhawks (yes)
Bruins (no due to the inability for them to move $7m of Rask and they like Halak)
Panthers (easy no)
Blue Jackets (no)
Red Wings (yes)
Senators (no)
Predators (not a fit due to Rinne's salary)
Kings (not a fit due to Quick)
Devils (yes, i guess)

So the teams we could expect to bid on him without salary returning are Blackhawks, Red Wings and Devils

Blackhawks arent trading futures. Red Wings have 3 second round picks in 2021, Devils have 1 and 2 thirds (one belonging to AZ)

So the strongest competitor as a see it would be Detroit offering 2 or possibly 3 seconds in exchange for Kuemper with no salary going the other way (if they are so inclined).

But really none of those teams makes a ton of sense with where they are in their development process. Is Detroit trading for a goalie with 2 years left? Idk, doesnt strike me as a fit
- jcragcrumple

Good post 👏👏👏