Is Krebs no longer on the 4th line in your projection? It seems like only 2 forward positions open on the bottom line; whereas, you're saying 3.
- lacaprup

Positions 11, 12 and 13. I wasn't clear.

Positions 11 and 12 maybe 4M, position 13 another 1.

Kulich a 2 and a 3 for Meier.

I’d do that.
- ImThatGuy

We are not a cup contender. You don't give that up for a guy that is a rental.

Positions 11, 12 and 13.
- TheSabresTaco

Ahh, lucky man #13. Reevo

I think last night may have been there best game of the year. Pure domination. I think they are finding the happy medium between playing free and easy on offense but being defensively responsible.

I also don't get the hate for Okposo and Girgensons. Sure, they aren't filling the net - most 4th lines don't. Every team needs a few good vets and they fit that bill. Should they be here beyond next year? No, of course not - we will have better options. But that line is playing really well right now.

We are not a cup contender. You don't give that up for a guy that is a rental.
- Slump Buster

He's not a rental

https://twitter.com/jfreshhockey/status/1618719886527832064?s=46&t=xUyJ0sfgmuLQumjtYPdtjw

Can anyone guess without looking who that Sabres player is hanging out by himself?
- ImThatGuy

"sorry, guys"


How is that not Ptage?

If that chart implies someone is a scoring outlier on their line it shouldn't be that hard.


Mitts has almost no goals and tons of assists.

Vic has almost no assists and tons of goals.
- lacaprup

It’s Vic.

I think last night may have been there best game of the year. Pure domination. I think they are finding the happy medium between playing free and easy on offense but being defensively responsible.

I also don't get the hate for Okposo and Girgensons. Sure, they aren't filling the net - most 4th lines don't. Every team needs a few good vets and they fit that bill. Should they be here beyond next year? No, of course not - we will have better options. But that line is playing really well right now.
- Slump Buster

They're generally doing their jobs even though the eye test, to me, has been a bit unfavorable lately. Kyle needs to take a 5, poor guy is exhausted.

It’s Vic.
- ImThatGuy

of course it is. not that it's bad, but the only thing he does is score.

Holy cats, VO has a higher xEVO/60 than Rage

I think last night may have been there best game of the year. Pure domination. I think they are finding the happy medium between playing free and easy on offense but being defensively responsible.

I also don't get the hate for Okposo and Girgensons. Sure, they aren't filling the net - most 4th lines don't. Every team needs a few good vets and they fit that bill. Should they be here beyond next year? No, of course not - we will have better options. But that line is playing really well right now.
- Slump Buster

Yes they are, but Okposo needs this break. And who new Krebs was the toughest guy on the Team!!

https://www.buffalobills.com/schedule/future-opponents

In case anyone was wondering who the Bills opponents were next season. At least the away games look easy.

I have us at 11 wins




Not
- Hatboro_Swords

We are not a cup contender. You don't give that up for a guy that is a rental.
- Slump Buster

If this team gets into the playoffs they can outscore anyone.

Add another 30+ goal guy who supplants Quinn on line 2 and watch out.

He's not a rental
- Buff36

Sorry, should have said RFA. He is going to command giant money to re-sign.

Yes they are, but Okposo needs this break. And who new Krebs was the toughest guy on the Team!!
- Buff36

The kid is an animal and someone unlocked his cage.

Sorry, should have said RFA. He is going to command giant money to re-sign.
- Slump Buster

Some of that 10M expectation can be mitigated with giant term.

8x7 years is my guess.

If this team gets into the playoffs they can outscore anyone.

Add another 30+ goal guy who supplants Quinn on line 2 and watch out.
- ImThatGuy

Sure, they can outscore anyone. The playoffs are about playing responsible D. We are making huge gains right now and I am all for making a hockey trade. His contract situation is a non-starter.

Some of that 10M expectation can be mitigated with giant term.

8x7 years is my guess.
- TheSabresTaco

I think it all goes back to what we talked about a lot last summer: some people think we should think about the cap 3 - 5 years from now, others do not. As it is now it is going to be really difficult to pay everyone in that time frame.

Trying to find a contract comp to Meier.

tkachuk and kucherov at 9.5 are significantly better players. Same with Kaprizov at 9. How about Kevin Fiala? That could be close. Winger, similar points/career/age, cap hit of ~7.9.

I think it all goes back to what we talked about a lot last summer: some people think we should think about the cap 3 - 5 years from now, others do not. As it is now it is going to be really difficult to pay everyone in that time frame.
- Slump Buster

Well that's how teams operate so, so should we. This team can afford Timo long term. the question becomes, is that the best way to spend 8M?

Sure, they can outscore anyone. The playoffs are about playing responsible D. We are making huge gains right now and I am all for making a hockey trade. His contract situation is a non-starter.
- Slump Buster

No it’s not.

Last year in round 1. 42 out of 51 (83%) of games had a team score 4 or more goals. A majority of those games had a team scoring 5,6,7 goals.

The game has changed.

If this team gets into the playoffs they can outscore anyone.

Add another 30+ goal guy who supplants Quinn on line 2 and watch out.
- ImThatGuy

Problem is we give up a ton of goals too. I would rather trade for a Solid D man and shore up my top 4. We are the highest scoring team in the NHL right now without adding anyone to the Offense.

Sorry, should have said RFA. He is going to command giant money to re-sign.
- Slump Buster

Yes he might. But Buffalo could Qualify him next year at that 10m and still be under the cap floor even with Tage and Samuelsson's new deals kicking in. You would definitely need to now his thoughts before making a deal. Yes he would make us better, he's Tuch but better. But Buffalo doesn't have to do it either, there forward pipeline is strong enough that they will make this team better over time. Timo would just move the timeline up a bit IMO.

Well that's how teams operate so, so should we. This team can afford Timo long term. the question becomes, is that the best way to spend 8M?
- TheSabresTaco

I am completely in the same boat. Sure, go out and get a guy that has salary for 2 years or so.

https://www.buffalobills.com/schedule/future-opponents

In case anyone was wondering who the Bills opponents were next season. At least the away games look easy.






Not
- Hatboro_Swords

If I had to guess, the Raiders game will be the London game. If not, I think it would be Tampa Bay. Denver and the Giants were over there this past year. I'm guessing Dallas at Bills will be nationally televised somewhere so they won't move that. Jacksonville already has their annual home game at Wembley, and they don't usually do division games over there. That leaves Las Vegas and Tampa Bay.

No it’s not.

Last year in round 1. 42 out of 51 (83%) of games had a team score 4 or more goals. A majority of those games had a team scoring 5,6,7 goals.

The game has changed.
- ImThatGuy

Of course it has. My point is that you aren't going to outscore good teams while playing mediocre defense. We are not a cup contender this year.