Off season game plan thread

[JATMtheJATM]

So the game plan is pretty simple from my end.

Get the defense in a much better place. Free agents are out there that could turn the team around. And get bogosian skating the puck. Bylsma has him trying long outlet passes. That's not his game.

Ennis can go. Bogo can go. Girgs can go. Moulson bounced back but he still sucks.

Better scoring wingers. Bottom six must be turned over. I also fell girgs is being misused badly. Get Bailey and Baptiste up. Give carrier a look.

Id keep gionta, larry for the bottom six. Foligno too, but he may never have higher trade value, so if he was moved in a bigger deal, I wouldn't be sad.

UFA I would look at.

Oshie
Shattenkirk
Alzner
Boyle
Hanzel
Gagner

What about you?

[coastal]

I'm making the assumption that Okposo is done. Something doesn't feel right about this whole situation.

Fire Bylsma
Hire David Quinn
Hire Gionta as an Assistant Coach
Ennis drafted in expansion draft
Free Agent - Brian Boyle, C
Free Agent - Brendan Smith, D
Sign Eichel to an extension
Name Eichel captain
Initiate Kane extension talks (Jack's LW from day 1)
Trade McCabe and our 2nd overall for Alexander Killorn (cap space and defensive help for TB)
Trade Samson Reinhart for Jake Muzzin.
Cut Gorges (eat 1 year cap hit)
Buyout Bogo
Have Nylander, Nelson, Bailey, Baptiste and Guhle training together all summer.

Kane - Eichel - Nylander
Killorn - ROR - Baptiste
Foligno - Boyle - Rodrigues
Carrier - Larsson - Bailey
Girgensons Moulson

Muzzin - Risto
Smith - Antipin
Guhle - Nelson
Fedun

Lehner
Ulmark

Flame on!

[JATMtheJATM]

I'm making the assumption that Okposo is done. Something doesn't feel right about this whole situation.

Fire Bylsma
Hire David Quinn
Hire Gionta as an Assistant Coach
Ennis drafted in expansion draft
Free Agent - Brian Boyle, C
Free Agent - Brendan Smith, D
Sign Eichel to an extension
Name Eichel captain
Initiate Kane extension talks (Jack's LW from day 1)
Trade McCabe and our 2nd overall for Alexander Killorn (cap space and defensive help for TB)
Trade Samson Reinhart for Jake Muzzin.
Cut Gorges (eat 1 year cap hit)
Buyout Bogo
Have Nylander, Nelson, Bailey, Baptiste and Guhle training together all summer.

Kane - Eichel - Nylander
Killorn - ROR - Baptiste
Foligno - Boyle - Rodrigues
Carrier - Larsson - Bailey
Girgensons Moulson

Muzzin - Risto
Smith - Antipin
Guhle - Nelson
Fedun

Lehner
Ulmark

Flame on!

I forgot about Antipin.

Still no to Nylander just for the simple reason buffalo has a history of rushing youngsters.

And plz no Brendan Smith. Guys favorite desert is turnovers and it shows in his game

[coastal]

I forgot about Antipin.

Still no to Nylander just for the simple reason buffalo has a history of rushing youngsters.

And plz no Brendan Smith. Guys favorite desert is turnovers and it shows in his game
Seems to be balling well for the Rags

[swiper]

Fire Bylsma
Hire David Quinn
Hire Gionta as an Assistant Coach
Ennis drafted in expansion draft
Free Agent - Brian Boyle, C
Free Agent - Brendan Smith, D
Sign Eichel to an extension
Name Eichel captain
Initiate Kane extension talks (Jack's LW from day 1)
Trade McCabe and our 2nd overall for Alexander Killorn (cap space and defensive help for TB)
Trade Samson Reinhart for Jake Muzzin.
Cut Gorges (eat 1 year cap hit)
Buyout Bogo
Have Nylander, Nelson, Bailey, Baptiste and Guhle training together all summer.

Kane - Eichel - Nylander
Killorn - ROR - Baptiste
Foligno - Boyle - Rodrigues
Carrier - Larsson - Bailey
Girgensons Moulson

Muzzin - Risto
Smith - Antipin
Guhle - Nelson
Fedun

Lehner

You want to keep Girgensons and Moulson, but trade Reinhart & McCabe?

[Skooby]

1-100) Fire all current management and related associates.

[JATMtheJATM]

Seems to be balling well for the Rags

Ive watched the guy since his AHL days. Overall track record is something different. The guy was groomed to be a top pairing defenseman.

[coastal]

Ive watched the guy since his AHL days. Overall track record is something different. The guy was groomed to be a top pairing defenseman.
And the reality is he's a top 4.

[JATMtheJATM]

And the reality is he's a top 4.

Bottom pairing. If he was too four, Detroit would have gotten more for him. He simply isn't that good

[coastal]

Rags have him playing on top pairing.

[OpIv37]

What's the deal on Oshie? I saw a mock expansion draft that had Vegas taking him, but I thought they could only take players with 2 or more years left on their contract.

[JATMtheJATM]

Rags have him playing on top pairing.

He might pair well with someone. But him alone? He's bottom pairing guy if he's not playing with someone who can elevate his play

[Historian]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C920BdaVYAYx7Dz.jpg:large

[coastal]

Quinn time

[Skooby]

1-100) Fire all current management and related associates.
Bingo on I-33.

[JATMtheJATM]

Elliot Friedman believes antipin will honor the agreement and join the sabres. He also said kovalchuk might come back to the NHL for next season.... So..... Jack's right winger?

[JATMtheJATM]

Elliot Friedman believes antipin will honor the agreement and join the sabres. He also said kovalchuk might come back to the NHL for next season.... So..... Jack's right winger?

[Skooby]

Elliot Friedman believes antipin will honor the agreement and join the sabres. He also said kovalchuk might come back to the NHL for next season.... So..... Jack's right winger?
Several hour stutter ?

[coastal]

He might pair well with someone. But him alone? He's bottom pairing guy if he's not playing with someone who can elevate his play
4th overall in +/- in playoffs.

[OpIv37]

I like the idea of Gionta as a coach but ROR needs to be captain over Eichel.

[JATMtheJATM]

4th overall in +/- in playoffs.

That's great but it doesn't negate years of mediocre play

[JATMtheJATM]

Antipin terminated his KHL contract today

[swiper]

On the Buffalo Sabres …


John Vogl of the Buffalo News: Vegas GM George McPhee that trades could start coming early this week. They’ll be talking with teams going over their options, including Sabres GM Jason Botterill.

“We’ve had one conversation so far that went really well,” McPhee said. “I imagine things will pick up next week. He’s certainly had a lot going on as well.”

The Sabres unprotected list may include Linus Ullmark, Matt Moulson, Tyler Ennis and Zemgus Girgensons.

The Sabres would have to offer up a draft pick to get the Golden Knights to select Matt Moulson and his $5 million per year salary.

Link (http://mynhltraderumors.com/nhl-rumors-boston-bruins-matt-beleskey-buffalo-sabres-golden-knights/2017/06/05/)

[JATMtheJATM]

Link (http://mynhltraderumors.com/nhl-rumors-boston-bruins-matt-beleskey-buffalo-sabres-golden-knights/2017/06/05/)

Yeah, I'd keep ullmark if I can. He's gonna be pretty good.

[The Jokeman]

I like the idea of Gionta as a coach but ROR needs to be captain over Eichel.

Agreed on both fronts. Now the question is who is our HC? Tochett seems to be the link to Botterill but I know Housley has been rumored to be the favorite. In terms of other moves, I keep Kane and Lehner and hopefully sign a top 6ish forward and find a top 4/5 Dmen in UFA. To me the question is do you dangle our two 2nd Rounders and a guy like Bailey to Las Vegas to stay away from Ullmark and instead take Ennis or Zemgus? I would but would McPhee.

[coastal]

To me the contract the Sabres have to get out from under for the long term health of the team is Bogosian's. My gut says Moulson is one who ends up getting moved.

[swiper]

To me the contract the Sabres have to get out from under for the long term health of the team is Bogosian's. My gut says Moulson is one who ends up getting moved.

I think that's the way a lot of people feel.

[DetDannyWilliams]

Vegas General Manager George McPhee has the hockey world knocking on his door regarding the upcoming expansion draft. The goal in Buffalo is to have McPhee take one of the Sabres’ bloated contracts. Matt Moulson is one of the candidates.
The winger will turn 34 next season and has two years left on a deal that pays $5 million per year. Although he ranked seventh on the Sabres with 14 goals, he was relegated to fourth-line duty. Regardless of the coach, Moulson seems like a power-play specialist and little more in Buffalo, which wants to build its offense around speed.

In Vegas, however, Moulson could return to scoring-line status. The guidelines for the expansion draft will deliver third-line forwards, second-pair defensemen and backup goaltenders to the Golden Knights. McPhee’s preference is to pick young players who can grow into key roles, but he’ll need veterans to mentor those prospects.
“We want to have a really competitive team, and we want veteran players who compete and provide some leadership,” McPhee said in HarborCenter during the NHL Scouting Combine. “We’ve planned as much as a club can plan for this. We know the players really well.”
He knows Moulson better than most.

McPhee is godfather to Moulson’s wife, Alicia. While playing for the Rangers, McPhee was teammates and friends with Alicia’s father, Mike Backman. When the Moulsons had a son in 2013, they named him George, reportedly in part because of the family’s admiration for McPhee.
If McPhee is looking for a veteran, he knows what he’d get in Moulson. He’s usually one of the last players off the ice at practice. The three-time 30-goal scorer has a chip on his shoulder and wants to prove he can still contribute. He’s a family man who can provide maturity when the glittering lights of Las Vegas tempt young players.
Since Vegas is required to spend at least 60 percent of the salary cap on players selected in the expansion draft, McPhee will need a few big contracts. Moulson would provide that.
The rub is Moulson loves Buffalo. The family has settled nicely in the suburbs. No player has praised owners Terry and Kim Pegula more. When the Sabres first acquired Moulson in October 2013, George Moulson was a newborn and couldn’t travel. Kim Pegula reached out to Alicia and helped with the transition as her husband left for Buffalo. It was something the Moulsons have long appreciated.
So here’s the hypothetical: If Moulson tells McPhee he and the family would rather stay in Buffalo, would the GM grant the wish? McPhee likely wouldn’t want to disappoint family. On the other hand, maybe Moulson would relish the chance to rejuvenate his career with someone he admires.

http://buffalonews.com/2017/06/09/inside-sabres-doubling-expansion-draft-ideas/

[coastal]

Here's what I've gathered as what Bots sees as our offseason priorities:

#1 Get Risto some relief
#2 Come to a decision regarding EK9

I've seen a rumor of Vancouver being willing to move Tanev for a young center. Here's my proposal to Nucks...

Nucks - Reinhart, EK9, 2017 8th overall pick
Sabres - Tanev, Olli Juolevi, 5th overall pick, Bogosian

Here's why I think this works...

- Tanev and Reinhart is a relatively straight swap. Vancouver may need to add a little here.
- the Drouin trade set the market for a scoring winger for a defensive prospect + a draft pick add. EK9 for their best defensive prospect with the swap of pics.
- Bogosian included helps to balance the Reinhart/Tanev part of this deal and gives the Nucks a body on the back end. This part may be a pipe dream, but it takes care of what I see to be priority #3 for Sabres... dumping Bogo's contract.