Bob McKenzie saying that the Sabres and Jeff Skinner are pretty close to a contract extension

probably like 8.5 mil a year long term
- jimbro83

I'm not sure what to make of this. Sabres clearly need him, but I wonder if it's a bad move for them. I'm sure it's part of the contract, but I'd hope Buffalo avoids a full NTC.

Bob McKenzie saying that the Sabres and Jeff Skinner are pretty close to a contract extension

probably like 8.5 mil a year long term
- jimbro83

That was probably the Isles best chance to land a scorer

I'm not sure what to make of this. Sabres clearly need him, but I wonder if it's a bad move for them. I'm sure it's part of the contract, but I'd hope Buffalo avoids a full NTC.
- 2sticks1puck

Why? He's a stud.

Here's the list of players who have scored more 5v5 goals than him since the start of the 2015-16 season:

- Alex Ovechkin
- Patrick Kane

...that's it.

He'll be worth every penny and if they get him for under $9M that's a good deal for the Sabres

Why? He's a stud.

Here's the list of players who have scored more 5v5 goals than him since the start of the 2015-16 season:

- Alex Ovechkin
- Patrick Kane

...that's it.

He'll be worth every penny and if they get him for under $9M that's a good deal for the Sabres
- eichiefs9

He's a stud right now. Signing him until he is age 35 could be troublesome. He's also really streaky. He has 4 seasons of 30+ goals, 4 seasons of under 25 goals (though 1 was the lockout season)

He's a stud right now. Signing him until he is age 35 could be troublesome. He's also really streaky. He has 4 seasons of 30+ goals, 4 seasons of under 25 goals (though 1 was the lockout season)
- 2sticks1puck

Sabres aren't exactly teeming with talent, you gotta lock up your stars when you can. He'll still be in his prime for most of his deal and the hope for the Sabres is that they can build a winner while he's still in those prime years. There's a zero percent chance they'd do better in terms of talent and price on the UFA market so, like the Isles locking up Brock Nelson for $6M, this was the best course of action for them.

edit: Personally, I think he's an idiot for not, at the very least, taking interviews during that period before July 1st. At the very least he could have probably milked some more cash out of the Sabres

I think he is very solid, however if I'm making that sort of investment in a player, I want more than just very solid, I want one of the upper echelon type players. I don't think Trouba falls into that category. I think if he came here, he'd be himself, but he would leave fans dissapointed because he wasn't a star, which isn't the type of player he is.
- 2sticks1puck

I’m looking at the off-season this way:

Fox was the big D addition. Now they’ll let these what seems like 50 or so prospects they have lol play out back there, and evaluate as it goes on. No Trouba, EK, Subban or anyone like that. They do have a lot of money tied up on D right now and I know it is pretty such is a dumpster fire, but they have so many kids to evaluate from. I’m even getting off EK for this reason haha

make a trade for a center. If you think about it, they really haven’t replaced Hayes yet and you just can’t count on Chytil, Lias or Howden being the number two just yet imo. Center is way more of a priority then D right now imo.

Then obviously sign Panarin

I just think the focus will, and should be, on the forwards, I see lots of turnover happening there

Sabres aren't exactly teeming with talent, you gotta lock up your stars when you can. He'll still be in his prime for most of his deal and the hope for the Sabres is that they can build a winner while he's still in those prime years. There's a zero percent chance they'd do better in terms of talent and price on the UFA market so, like the Isles locking up Brock Nelson for $6M, this was the best course of action for them.

edit: Personally, I think he's an idiot for not, at the very least, taking interviews during that period before July 1st. At the very least he could have probably milked some more cash out of the Sabres
- eichiefs9

I was shocked at this too. I thought he was unhappy with them.

I’m looking at the off-season this way:

Fox was the big D addition. Now they’ll let these what seems like 50 or so prospects they have lol play out back there, and evaluate as it goes on. No Trouba, EK, Subban or anyone like that. They do have a lot of money tied up on D right now and I know it is pretty such is a dumpster fire, but they have so many kids to evaluate from. I’m even getting off EK for this reason haha

make a trade for a center. If you think about it, they really haven’t replaced Hayes yet and you just can’t count on Chytil, Lias or Howden being the number two just yet imo. Center is way more of a priority then D right now imo.

Then obviously sign Panarin

I just think the focus will, and should be, on the forwards, I see lots of turnover happening there
- Slimtj100

He's a stud right now. Signing him until he is age 35 could be troublesome. He's also really streaky. He has 4 seasons of 30+ goals, 4 seasons of under 25 goals (though 1 was the lockout season)
- 2sticks1puck

I swear to god I hate this argument never sign guys then. That’s the only answer, and you’ll never win a damn thing🤷🏻‍♂️

- mdw7413

🙄

I was shocked at this too. I thought he was unhappy with them.
- 2sticks1puck

I mean even if he wasn't "unhappy" you have to think he and his agent know that the Sabres have kinda been a joke and maybe they should at least entertain other teams offers. Seems kinda shortsighted and stupid to sign a month before you could potentially make way more money than Buffalo offers

🙄
- Slimtj100

I swear to god I hate this argument never sign guys then. That’s the only answer, and you’ll never win a damn thing🤷🏻‍♂️
- Slimtj100

He's got a point, generally speaking, I just don't agree with it regarding Skinner. He's young enough that the bulk of an 8 year deal will retain him in his prime years. If he were like 29 years old, different story, but he turned 27 like two weeks ago. 8 year deal would put him at 35 when it expires and guys primes probably last until around 33, give or take a year.

- mdw7413

I still want him, but they really have so many kids to evaluate. It’s just gonna complicate things

I mean even if he wasn't "unhappy" you have to think he and his agent know that the Sabres have kinda been a joke and maybe they should at least entertain other teams offers. Seems kinda shortsighted and stupid to sign a month before you could potentially make way more money than Buffalo offers
- eichiefs9

Yeah, plus he's a guy who has pretty much been on bad teams his entire career. Like at some point, do you want to win? I had a laugh at this page today: https://mynhltraderumors....lack-of-depth/2019/05/30/

There is no way I would ever trade Ristolainen. I think Buffalo has always been solid offensively, but they just can't ever seem to stop anyone. Dahlin really should be the guy that they are building around. Guy is going to be a Norris finalist one day, give him some help back there.

He's got a point, generally speaking, I just don't agree with it regarding Skinner. He's young enough that the bulk of an 8 year deal will retain him in his prime years. If he were like 29 years old, different story, but he turned 27 like two weeks ago. 8 year deal would put him at 35 when it expires and guys primes probably last until around 33, give or take a year.
- eichiefs9

Yes I agree to a point also. It’s gotta be the right guy, ie Panarin. But you can’t be afraid to sign a player because he may or may not suck in 5 years. I fking hate it lol. Lucic was just dumb, but not every signing is going to be Lucic

I still want him, but they really have so many kids to evaluate. It’s just gonna complicate things
- Slimtj100

I think if they didn't get Fox it might have been more of a plan, but after Fox, I can't imagine they are looking for defense. I really think they are going all in for top 6 talent. Panarin

Yeah, plus he's a guy who has pretty much been on bad teams his entire career. Like at some point, do you want to win? I had a laugh at this page today: https://mynhltraderumors....lack-of-depth/2019/05/30/

There is no way I would ever trade Ristolainen. I think Buffalo has always been solid offensively, but they just can't ever seem to stop anyone. Dahlin really should be the guy that they are building around. Guy is going to be a Norris finalist one day, give him some help back there.
- 2sticks1puck

If I'm the Sabres, one of the only players I'd trade Risto for is Nugent-Hopkins. Having Eichel and RNH down the middle in your top six is pretty damn solid.

As far as Skinner, I guess everyone is motivated by different things. Maybe he only cares about money (but then the question still remains, why not take interviews and go to UFA in July) and/or he just likes being close to home living in Buffalo. I gotta think there's, at the very least, a handful of NHL'ers who care more about their paycheck than winning a Cup.

I think if they didn't get Fox it might have been more of a plan, but after Fox, I can't imagine they are looking for defense. I really think they are going all in for top 6 talent. Panarin
- mdw7413

Yea I agree.

-Panarin
-Trade up from pick 20
Or
-Trade for a center

Kind of like my final off season outlook haha

Yes I agree to a point also. It’s gotta be the right guy, ie Panarin. But you can’t be afraid to sign a player because he may or may not suck in 5 years. I fking hate it lol. Lucic was just dumb, but not every signing is going to be Lucic
- Slimtj100

No and doubly-so when you're a team that isn't going to attract big time UFA's. For all the idiocy I saw surrounding what the Islanders paid Nelson I noticed that, unsurprisingly, nobody seemed to have a better answer. Duchene ain't signing here and Kevin Hayes is only a marginally-better player and will probably get over $1M more than Nelson did. That's the entire list of centers better than Nelson that will be available.

He's got a point, generally speaking, I just don't agree with it regarding Skinner. He's young enough that the bulk of an 8 year deal will retain him in his prime years. If he were like 29 years old, different story, but he turned 27 like two weeks ago. 8 year deal would put him at 35 when it expires and guys primes probably last until around 33, give or take a year.
- eichiefs9

I will give you that the type of game Skinner plays will lend itself well to aging. The fact that he is only 27 now does tend to help to. I just don't like the no trade lists and such. That's what really has franked the Rangers.

No and doubly-so when you're a team that isn't going to attract big time UFA's. For all the idiocy I saw surrounding what the Islanders paid Nelson I noticed that, unsurprisingly, nobody seemed to have a better answer. Duchene ain't signing here and Kevin Hayes is only a marginally-better player and will probably get over $1M more than Nelson did. That's the entire list of centers better than Nelson that will be available.
- eichiefs9

I had no problems with the Brock signing, very solid player. I thought he was an excellent alternative to Hayes, basically the same guy but cheaper. Also don't think it's a bad idea to an extent to keep the band together for awhile. Isles had something going this year. Of course guys like Barzal and Lehner drive the train, but it just seems like your chemistry is through the roof. I'd make a couple smart tweaks, but I don't think I'd change much yet.

I will give you that the type of game Skinner plays will lend itself well to aging. The fact that he is only 27 now does tend to help to. I just don't like the no trade lists and such. That's what really has franked the Rangers.
- 2sticks1puck

Yeah, but I see Skinner as the type of player that you give one too if he asks for it. The key is not giving it to middling players that don't really deserve one.

That's one of my only big knocks on Tampa's front office. They gave out full NTC's to Alex Killorn and Ondrej Palat and modified NTC's to JT Miller and Ryan Callahan. That's pretty bad.

We have a guy here who is endlessly taking 15 minute poops. His monitors go off he takes so long. I now avoid our bathroom like the plague. I walk to the other end of the building sometimes.
- JRR1285

I always go down to the floor below us. Nothing there but a daycare (which has their own) and a dialysis unit (nobody coming out of there has solid dumps!).

Yeah, but I see Skinner as the type of player that you give one too if he asks for it. The key is not giving it to middling players that don't really deserve one.

That's one of my only big knocks on Tampa's front office. They gave out full NTC's to Alex Killorn and Ondrej Palat and modified NTC's to JT Miller and Ryan Callahan. That's pretty bad.
- eichiefs9

JT Miller's 8 team NTC clause starts July 1st, there isn't a player more guaranteed to be traded at the draft more than Miller