With Lybushkin here for one more year I would actually try to extend joker if you can get him at a good number.
- Swedish_Jesus

Ugh, they need to run away from him asap. Last thing I want is an overpaid 3RD.

Ugh, they need to run away from him asap. Last thing I want is an overpaid 3RD.
- Lunaion

I actually think he played some really good hockey down the stretch.

I won’t be mad if he’s gone, but I think he probably has more value than we all assume

I actually think he played some really good hockey down the stretch.

I won’t be mad if he’s gone, but I think he probably has more value than we all assume
- sbroads24

His numbers for his final 15, 10 or 5 game sample were bad but he was also getting unfavourable usage.

His best results came from January to February, when he was getting more offensive zone usage than defensive. I think he's miscast. Give him normal usage and he's probably fine, but he's not nearly good enough defensively to justify using him the way they did down the stretch.

I actually think he played some really good hockey down the stretch.

I won’t be mad if he’s gone, but I think he probably has more value than we all assume
- sbroads24

I do think he has ok value. Just at a crossroads, final year of a bridge when he's been a top 4 for several years. If you aren't prepared to give him a significant raise and extend him, now is a good time to move on.

They've gotten killed waiting on these decisions lately. Want to see them kick that habit.

Joker doesn't have the game to match with Power, kinda need the same partner in my view. Someone who can cover for there D deficiencies right now.

Joker doesn't have the game to match with Power, kinda need the same partner in my view. Someone who can cover for there D deficiencies right now.
- Buff36

Nothing wrong with saying he doesn't fit their need long term and making a change.

Joker doesn't have the game to match with Power, kinda need the same partner in my view. Someone who can cover for there D deficiencies right now.
- Buff36

You’re not wrong, but you can do a lot worse than Joker on your third pair.

Johnson-Joker could be an interesting third pair

Nothing wrong with saying he doesn't fit their need long term and making a change.
- Lunaion

Exactly, what it cost to find out Nylander.

You’re not wrong, but you can do a lot worse than Joker on your third pair.

Johnson-Joker could be an interesting third pair
- Swedish_Jesus

I agree, that could turn into a decent pair, Johnson has a terrific transition game and first pass and Joker is good at carrying it thru the Neutral zone. But Johnson also makes Joker expendable because he can play both sides very well.

Nothing wrong with saying he doesn't fit their need long term and making a change.
- Lunaion

I agree to an extent about making a firm decision. And I’d probably lean towards moving on rather than him getting a significant raise (I don’t think he gets one)

But I also can’t have these spots on D be a constant revolving door either. They don’t have anything other than Johnson ready to potentially step in and he’s unknown.

They’d need to really make sure they get two solid RD over the course of a year.

I usually don’t care about lefty vs righty but having 5 LD wouldn’t be ideal

You’re not wrong, but you can do a lot worse than Joker on your third pair.

Johnson-Joker could be an interesting third pair
- Swedish_Jesus

But you can also argue Johnson-Lyubushkin is a better fit for what they need out of a 3rd pair.

But you can also argue Johnson-Lyubushkin is a better fit for what they need out of a 3rd pair.
- Lunaion

I mean it’s clear as a day we need a shutdown guy with Power.

With as many minutes as the top two pairings will get, having a Johnson-Joker pairing could be attractive.

Be something if these guys keep developing in a few years you could have!!
Samuelsson Dahlin
Power Johnson
Novikov Komarov

Damn Lane Hutson in the spin cycle

Damn Lane Hutson in the spin cycle

https://twitter.com/Brock...ifBg7xhiTOh-ot-OAJig&s=19

A little info
Bills have made a offer to Hopkins

I mean it’s clear as a day we need a shutdown guy with Power.

With as many minutes as the top two pairings will get, having a Johnson-Joker pairing could be attractive.
- Swedish_Jesus

I'd rather have a reasonably talented, difficult to play against ass kicker on the 3rd pair opposite Johnson.

Power needs someone that can keep up with him from a skating perspective, and cover for him when he roams. Dahlin needs the same.

Debatable if Samuelsson is that fit for either of them.

I'd rather have a reasonably talented, difficult to play against ass kicker on the 3rd pair opposite Johnson.

Power needs someone that can keep up with him from a skating perspective, and cover for him when he roams. Dahlin needs the same.

Debatable if Samuelsson is that fit for either of them.
- kingcong39

Especially with the injury concerns. IMO still need someone that fits at your 3D

I agree, that could turn into a decent pair, Johnson has a terrific transition game and first pass and Joker is good at carrying it thru the Neutral zone. But Johnson also makes Joker expendable because he can play both sides very well.
- Buff36

I'm not sure the Sabres move a veteran defenseman like joker. Log jam up front. Still important to have a bottom pair guy like joker , who could slide up the lineup.

Contracts up after the season, replace from within.

So far the only bad move is resigning Okposo.

Curious to learn why Johnson delayed signing until now.
- washedup20

Are you in the locker room to see what Okposo brings to the team? He won’t block a prospect as your top prospects aren’t playing 4th line minutes anyway. Maybe hurts the chances of a Jost resigning?? No cap issues at 2.5m and who says he has to play every game? Okposo resigning is a non- story.

A little info
Bills have made a offer to Hopkins
- Buff36

Nice!! He’d be a game changer imho. Can’t neutralize Diggs in big spots if DHOPnwas on the field too

I'm not sure the Sabres move a veteran defenseman like joker. Log jam up front. Still important to have a bottom pair guy like joker , who could slide up the lineup.

Contracts up after the season, replace from within.
- Boss34

Why not try to improve?

Why not try to improve?
- Lunaion

acquiring someone above him and pushing him down the lineup is improving, no?

Nice!! He’d be a game changer imho. Can’t neutralize Diggs in big spots if DHOPnwas on the field too
- turbo044

Definitely would, but he's gonna have to take a massive pay cut atleast this year if he wants to play here. Bills only have about 3 mill in Cap space

I'm not sure the Sabres move a veteran defenseman like joker. Log jam up front. Still important to have a bottom pair guy like joker , who could slide up the lineup.

Contracts up after the season, replace from within.
- Boss34

They might not, have no problem with Joker at 3rd pair with either Johnson or Lyubushkin. He's still young enough to improve. But have no problem moving him either if it helps make the Team better.