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Forums :: Blog World :: Michael Ghofrani: A Familiar Reality: Sabres Will Be Sellers Again
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Michael Ghofrani
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 01.14.2020

Jan 25 @ 11:01 AM ET
Michael Ghofrani: A Familiar Reality: Sabres Will Be Sellers Again
jcragcrumple
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Reluctant bridge jumper; 6th round OHL draft pick, YT
Joined: 04.04.2016

Jan 25 @ 11:13 AM ET
Nice piece.

They gave up a first-round pick and young defenseman Brendan Guhle to acquire Brandon Montour (restricted free agent) and haven’t received the offense they were hoping for.


I know you sort of address it in the next paragraph about marginal utility, but with Montour playing RD, LD and sometimes even forward, they are never going to get what they need out of him. He needs to play RD full time. Whether that means that Botterill has to admit the Miller trade is a bust, or whether he needs to ship Risto out, he should do it. Bogo should never ever ever eat his minutes. Ever.

As for dealing Okposo, I am of course in favor of trading him if possible. But is anyone taking him for less than a 1st round pick? Kinda stuck there
The Don
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Glasgow, VA
Joined: 02.03.2007

Jan 25 @ 12:01 PM ET
So....we are not good yet?
dozerD10
Anaheim Ducks
Location: long beach, CA
Joined: 01.29.2014

Jan 25 @ 12:14 PM ET
Murray has indicated that Ducks are willing to take bad contracts for assets or picks ...

So let's make more deals...

gerbe75pts
Anaheim Ducks
Location: DRAFT COLE CAUFIELD AT 7!!!, CA
Joined: 09.03.2009

Jan 25 @ 12:26 PM ET
Murray has indicated that Ducks are willing to take bad contracts for assets or picks ...

So let's make more deals...


- dozerD10


How about no
homiedclown
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We want 1, FL
Joined: 02.24.2008

Jan 25 @ 12:31 PM ET
Michael Ghofrani: A Familiar Reality: Sabres Will Be Sellers Again
- Michael Ghofrani

nice read (reed/reid)
homiedclown
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We want 1, FL
Joined: 02.24.2008

Jan 25 @ 12:32 PM ET
So....we are not good yet?
- The Don

gerbe75pts
Anaheim Ducks
Location: DRAFT COLE CAUFIELD AT 7!!!, CA
Joined: 09.03.2009

Jan 25 @ 12:32 PM ET
We need all the picks possible do not trade them
homiedclown
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We want 1, FL
Joined: 02.24.2008

Jan 25 @ 12:33 PM ET
Murray has indicated that Ducks are willing to take bad contracts for assets or picks ...

So let's make more deals...


- dozerD10

homiedclown
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We want 1, FL
Joined: 02.24.2008

Jan 25 @ 12:35 PM ET
We need all the picks possible do not trade them
- gerbe75pts

borgen, okposo, sheary and a third for getzlaf


dozerD10
Anaheim Ducks
Location: long beach, CA
Joined: 01.29.2014

Jan 25 @ 12:41 PM ET
We need all the picks possible do not trade them
- gerbe75pts



No this is how it works...

Buffalo gives us Bad contracts and picks for us taking their problems .. Get it...
gerbe75pts
Anaheim Ducks
Location: DRAFT COLE CAUFIELD AT 7!!!, CA
Joined: 09.03.2009

Jan 25 @ 12:42 PM ET
No this is how it works...

Buffalo gives us Bad contracts and picks for us taking their problems .. Get it...

- dozerD10

I'm good
Michael Ghofrani
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 01.14.2020

Jan 25 @ 12:48 PM ET
Nice piece.



I know you sort of address it in the next paragraph about marginal utility, but with Montour playing RD, LD and sometimes even forward, they are never going to get what they need out of him. He needs to play RD full time. Whether that means that Botterill has to admit the Miller trade is a bust, or whether he needs to ship Risto out, he should do it. Bogo should never ever ever eat his minutes. Ever.

As for dealing Okposo, I am of course in favor of trading him if possible. But is anyone taking him for less than a 1st round pick? Kinda stuck there

- jcragcrumple



Thanks! And Im with you. one of them should be moved, even if its just for assets, you can use those to get forward help. Right now they're all kinda just stuck ther.

As for Okposo, maybe/maybe not. If you can find a different contract to swap with that maybe fits the team better thats one option. I could be talked into moving next years first (with conditions) tbh. I want them to take advantage of the majority of their core in their best years, that can't happen with his deal on the books.
Michael Ghofrani
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 01.14.2020

Jan 25 @ 12:49 PM ET
nice read (reed/reid)
- homiedclown



Thanks!
washedup20
Location: the little apple
Joined: 08.19.2014

Jan 25 @ 12:53 PM ET
borgen, okposo, sheary and a third for getzlaf



- homiedclown



Borgen is the next Shea Weber
washedup20
Location: the little apple
Joined: 08.19.2014

Jan 25 @ 12:55 PM ET
Dahlin has looked so much better since Mittlefat was sent down.
washedup20
Location: the little apple
Joined: 08.19.2014

Jan 25 @ 1:02 PM ET
I agree with new Mike, Botts should sell it all:

Vesey
Sheary
Miller
McCabe
Girgs
Erod
Okposo
Wilson

Put Hutton on LTIR

Removing this much bulk from this roster wouldn’t have a major effect on results.
Der Kaiser
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I Know Nothink ... NOTHINK!
Joined: 07.27.2007

Jan 25 @ 1:17 PM ET
My sources say they haven’t given up yet and want to see how the homestand will go before they cut one way or the other.
djc1877
Season Ticket Holder
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Melbourne, FL
Joined: 02.13.2010

Jan 25 @ 1:34 PM ET
I assume your source is Darren Dreger who said that on The Instigators yesterday? In such case, it's probably a good source. However, he also said they know they are out of it... just can't admit it to the players or the fans just yet. Sneaky, sneaky... Botts is fooling all of us! LOL!
jcragcrumple
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Reluctant bridge jumper; 6th round OHL draft pick, YT
Joined: 04.04.2016

Jan 25 @ 1:39 PM ET
Thanks! And Im with you. one of them should be moved, even if its just for assets, you can use those to get forward help. Right now they're all kinda just stuck ther.

As for Okposo, maybe/maybe not. If you can find a different contract to swap with that maybe fits the team better thats one option. I could be talked into moving next years first (with conditions) tbh. I want them to take advantage of the majority of their core in their best years, that can't happen with his deal on the books.

- Michael Ghofrani


He might be movable with half the salary retained plus a 2nd. I'd like to see some kind of move this summer.

Even with $3m dead on the books, they should be able to find a $3m player to score more than 12 points in 38 games
dozerD10
Anaheim Ducks
Location: long beach, CA
Joined: 01.29.2014

Jan 25 @ 1:45 PM ET
Dahlin has looked so much better since Mittlefat was sent down.
- washedup20



That's very funny..
adambuffalo
Buffalo Sabres
Location: United States, NY
Joined: 01.30.2007

Jan 25 @ 1:47 PM ET
They gave up a first-round pick and young defenseman Brendan Guhle to acquire Brandon Montour (restricted free agent) and haven’t received the offense they were hoping for.

I'm also quoting this part with a different response than JCrag. Yes, the offense may not be as much as many expected, however a few things to consider:
Last year between Anaheim and Buffalo he had 35 points and was a -35 playing 22:27 a night.
This year he is only at 12 points in 35 games (equates to 28 in 82), but is a +5 and playing less at 18:20 a night.
It's possible that as JCrag brought up having more consistency on the back end could increase the point total. Forwards that can capitalize on their chances would help as well.
Depending on his contract demands (which I see in the $5-6m range) I would consider which player between him and Risto gets the better return. I like both, but prefer Risto's physicality. If Montour can provide the same level of play playing LD, then I would prefer to keep both and trade both Miller and McCabe. Dahlin/ Joker and Montour/ Risto would be a solid top 4 going forward.
Der Kaiser
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I Know Nothink ... NOTHINK!
Joined: 07.27.2007

Jan 25 @ 2:10 PM ET
I'm also quoting this part with a different response than JCrag. Yes, the offense may not be as much as many expected, however a few things to consider:
Last year between Anaheim and Buffalo he had 35 points and was a -35 playing 22:27 a night.
This year he is only at 12 points in 35 games (equates to 28 in 82), but is a +5 and playing less at 18:20 a night.
It's possible that as JCrag brought up having more consistency on the back end could increase the point total. Forwards that can capitalize on their chances would help as well.
Depending on his contract demands (which I see in the $5-6m range) I would consider which player between him and Risto gets the better return. I like both, but prefer Risto's physicality. If Montour can provide the same level of play playing LD, then I would prefer to keep both and trade both Miller and McCabe. Dahlin/ Joker and Montour/ Risto would be a solid top 4 going forward.

- adambuffalo



Agree.
homiedclown
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We want 1, FL
Joined: 02.24.2008

Jan 25 @ 2:12 PM ET
I assume your source is Darren Dreger who said that on The Instigators yesterday? :
- djc1877

of all the things Dreger has said over the years, regarding the sabres on instigators


what has actually come true?



honestly I think Ek has a better record predicting the sabres the Dreger

at least Ek got Zubrus
Der Kaiser
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I Know Nothink ... NOTHINK!
Joined: 07.27.2007

Jan 25 @ 2:13 PM ET
I assume your source is Darren Dreger who said that on The Instigators yesterday? In such case, it's probably a good source. However, he also said they know they are out of it... just can't admit it to the players or the fans just yet. Sneaky, sneaky... Botts is fooling all of us! LOL!
- djc1877



Nope.

Lebrun, in The Athletic:


Even with winger Jeff Skinner expected back at some point soon after the break, my understanding is the Sabres continue to explore the market in search of forward help. I think they would basically move any defenceman not named Rasmus Dahlin or Henri Jokiharju to get it done in a hockey deal which means, yes, I think in the right trade for a forward the Sabres would listen on Rasmus Ristolainen. That could be the kind of trade that helps the team past this year. And of course, remember that Zach Bogosian asked for a trade earlier this season and he could also be on the move.

As for this season and what’s at stake over the next month, the Sabres come out of their break with 9 of 10 at home and that stretch will decide their fate as far as how GM Jason Botterill will operate the deadline. If they can close the gap in the race to four points or so, I think Botterill will keep his roster for the most part intact and give his team a chance for the rest of the season. But obviously, if they don’t gain any ground and it’s obvious after those 10 games or so that they’re out, well, they’ve got a few pending UFAs they can sell off and I think we’re talking the likes of forwards Connor Sheary, Zemgus Girgensons and Johan Larsson. But they’re not there yet, they want to see if their team can make hay out of the break first.


https://theathletic.com/1...efore-the-trade-deadline/
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