Dan Wallace: Grading The Off-season Thus Far

The duo buyout was the right move but as of today the Wild are NOT a playoff team.

I like Goligoski but it was a huge overpay. They seemed to be so focused on signing the declining Nick Foligno for the nostalgia of uniting the brothers, that it looks like they got distracted and may have gotten a better defenseman than Kulikov.

I’m wondering if they are considering a trade for Fiala with his high salary demand.
Their catastrophic cap situation makes it clear to me that Greenway and Dumba will both be gone within the next 2 years.

If Fiala is not signed and goes to arbitration and gets $7+M for one year, he will likely be out the door next June. Sabres had a similar conundrum with Reinhart. He wanted $7-8 M on a long term deal and they did not believe he was worth it. Shipped off to the Panthers for a 1st and a prospect (Levi).

Sabres would have the cap space and a need for scoring. He could be the centerpiece to trade for Jack Eichel. I think now is the time to re-visit this idea. Throw in Rask for cap sake, Khovanev, Fillip Johansson and a 1st. Deal done without touching top prospects. Frees up space for Boldy to step in as well.

If Fiala thinks he's worth 8 million annually then he clearly has a drug addiction.

You forgot Boldy and Rossi and take out the goalie. Hard pass...obviously Adams is holding out for a haul.

Wild files for arbitration with Fiala.

If Fiala is not signed and goes to arbitration and gets $7+M for one year, he will likely be out the door next June. Sabres had a similar conundrum with Reinhart. He wanted $7-8 M on a long term deal and they did not believe he was worth it. Shipped off to the Panthers for a 1st and a prospect (Levi).

Sabres would have the cap space and a need for scoring. He could be the centerpiece to trade for Jack Eichel. I think now is the time to re-visit this idea. Throw in Rask for cap sake, Khovanev, Fillip Johansson and a 1st. Deal done without touching top prospects. Frees up space for Boldy to step in as well.
- G - Man

absolutely zero chance buffalo takes that deal

Personally I don’t believe anything positive can come from buying out Suter. The team is greatly weakened defensively especially with the additional loss of soucy Not to mention the dead cap space created for the next 3 years

A deal with out a top prospect for eichiel not happening!! Fiala boldy or the other top prospect and the goalie and folino may get it done.

A deal with out a top prospect for eichiel not happening!! Fiala boldy or the other top prospect and the goalie and folino may get it done.
- Rsh

Absolutely 0 chance Buffalo gets that. Both Buffalo and Eichel have made the entire situation toxic to any team....Buffalo wants too much for a player that has health issues and may not even be ready to play at the start of next season.

He is ready he is skating in Boston! Just fine

Plus you need a #1 center desperately and if he is skating that is a sign he is healthy!

He is ready he is skating in Boston! Just fine
- Rsh

Skating hardly means healthy and no, no he is not just fine according to his own agent a few days ago.

https://twitter.com/Buffa...21285217415880711/photo/1

The BS from his management team that was all trying to cover their ass because they’ve been caught in another bs his management team is pulling out! If they have a leg to stand on the file for arbitration with his health issues!!

The BS from his management team that was all trying to cover their ass because they’ve been caught in another bs his management team is pulling out! If they have a leg to stand on the file for arbitration with his health issues!!
- Rsh

Eichel is currently under a $10 mill/year contract through 2026 and cannot enter arbitration until that point, might want to learn a bit about that process there bud.

The BS from his management team that was all trying to cover their ass because they’ve been caught in another bs his management team is pulling out! If they have a leg to stand on the file for arbitration with his health issues!!
- Rsh

Also another reason the Sabres aren't necessarily going to get their asking price, they may not have to like it but that baggage comes with a price. Minnesota is currently dealing with some player baggage in the form of Kirill Kaprizov.

Plus you need a #1 center desperately and if he is skating that is a sign he is healthy!
- Rsh

Skating is one thing and playing is another. Jack won’t be playing for anyone for awhile until he’s had the disc replacement surgery he wants or the fusion surgery the team wants. Then there will be a recovery period.

The Sabres got an unimpressive return for a healthy very good player in Rinehart. Jack is significantly better than Rhino when healthy. But he’s not healthy and no one knows for sure if he will play again.

Eichel could come back but not be elite like before. It’s a risk vs reward situation. The ask from the Sabres is totally unrealistic and the team isn’t allowing potential trade partners access to medical records. This will drag on until someone bites or the Sabres discover reality. In the meantime, it’s good to dream.

To bmgarvent The arbitration I’m talking about as medical arbitration which is allowed to do it anytime! They have not filed because they don’t have a leg to stand on. If they did they would’ve already filed so there bud!! Maybe you should learn to know we’re talking about before you say something makes you look bad

To bmgarvent The arbitration I’m talking about as medical arbitration which is allowed to do it anytime! They have not filed because they don’t have a leg to stand on. If they did they would’ve already filed so there bud!! Maybe you should learn to know we’re talking about before you say something makes you look bad
- Rsh

People avoid or submit to arbitration for a multitude of reasons. Arbitrators have bias just like everyone else. Many times arbitrators come down right in the middle leaving both parties unhappy. Going to arbitration isn’t a simplistic solution like you seem to be suggesting.

To minnyhock personally I think I was putting up the injury To get out of Buffalo!! He is 24 years old in the captain you have a captain to teach him the right ways to be a captain. He and Kaprizov would be something to watch!! But to get him Rossi or Boldy failia kitovanev and Foligino to me that is a deal

That is what they are there for!

Cricket I was right

To bmgarvent The arbitration I’m talking about as medical arbitration which is allowed to do it anytime! They have not filed because they don’t have a leg to stand on. If they did they would’ve already filed so there bud!! Maybe you should learn to know we’re talking about before you say something makes you look bad
- Rsh

Interesting, that is news to me and I can't really find any medical arbitration examples. So why would a player file for medical arbitration? My guess in this situation is that Eichel could only enter arbitration to earn the right to have the disk surgery he wants, that the Sabres team doctors do not? The process would result in an outcome and that would be final, but that wouldn't mean Eichel is traded or anything like that, just his medical stalemate would be resolved. So while I was incorrect in the nuances of all arbitration, I fail to see how your point has any merit in actually resolving the issues between Buff and Eichel.