2019-20 Roster Speculation Part 16: Not much left to speculate about

[is the answer jesus]

He isn’t that good at defense. No one is going to hand over a 2C for him.

Agreed. I said it earlier in the year the only way you get a 2C out of Ristolainen is trading him for picks/prospects that you then flip for that 2C, and chances are you'll be adding additional valuable assets on top of that package. That type of deal could be swung by a competent GM and therein lies the problem.

 

[joshjull]

He isn’t that good at defense. No one is going to hand over a 2C for him.

Not sure what we'd even get for him if the cap upper limit takes a big hit with the economics of NA in turmoil right now.

Risto's 5.4mil per was already on the high side for what he brings with the pre pandemic projected upper limit of 84-88mil. I'd be surprised if there were many teams interested if the upper limit drops a decent amount.

 

[OkimLom]

He isn’t that good at defense. No one is going to hand over a 2C for him.

only way Risto is trades for a 2C is if he’s traded for a guy on a team buried due to depth and is on the cusp of breaking out if given more minutes.

Unfortunately I don’t see this organization capable of that yet. I’m sure that was/is the plan with Kuhn. Kuhn has shown he can play wing but remains to be seen if he can be a center.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I'm looking for a comparable for Ristolainen. He's big and physical, and a power play specialist. But he sucks at defense and transitioning out of his zone.

He's not going to get the Sabres a 2C at this point. That ship sailed after last season's poor performance.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Bored, some trade thoughts.

Two places that I think work for a Ristolainen trade are Colorado and Anaheim. Anaheim is the one I'd consider most likely, simply because Bob Murray is an old school GM who typically goes for eye test over analytics.

Anaheim has virtually nothing in the defense pipeline. They also are short RHD and need a PP type. With Lindholm and Manson eating up the tough minutes, a Fowler-Ristolainen duo could do well in an easy minutes role.

Anaheim has a lot of young forward depth: Comtois, Lundestrom, Tracey, and maybe even Terry. I could see a deal where Ristolainen goes for 1-2 of them with some picks.

Colorado is another interesting spot. If a compliance buyout is granted, they're almost assuredly using it on Erik Johnson. They'll have Makar on the right side, but only Connor Timmins behind him. They've got Jost and maybe Shane Bowers to use as trade bait.

I'd be interested in those types of moves for Ristolainen.

 

[lauraP]

Bored, some trade thoughts.

Two places that I think work for a Ristolainen trade are Colorado and Anaheim. Anaheim is the one I'd consider most likely, simply because Bob Murray is an old school GM who typically goes for eye test over analytics.

Anaheim has virtually nothing in the defense pipeline. They also are short RHD and need a PP type. With Lindholm and Manson eating up the tough minutes, a Fowler-Ristolainen duo could do well in an easy minutes role.

Anaheim has a lot of young forward depth: Comtois, Lundestrom, Tracey, and maybe even Terry. I could see a deal where Ristolainen goes for 1-2 of them with some picks.

Colorado is another interesting spot. If a compliance buyout is granted, they're almost assuredly using it on Erik Johnson. They'll have Makar on the right side, but only Connor Timmins behind him. They've got Jost and maybe Shane Bowers to use as trade bait.

I'd be interested in those types of moves for Ristolainen.

they ain't buying out Johnson

 

[Der Jaeger]

they ain't buying out Johnson

If they get a CBO, why wouldn’t they?

 

[lauraP]

If they get a CBO, why wouldn’t they?

Why would they ? so they can throw makar 1d with little support. doesn't seem like a smart move.

 

[is the answer jesus]

Bored, some trade thoughts.

Two places that I think work for a Ristolainen trade are Colorado and Anaheim. Anaheim is the one I'd consider most likely, simply because Bob Murray is an old school GM who typically goes for eye test over analytics.

Anaheim has virtually nothing in the defense pipeline. They also are short RHD and need a PP type. With Lindholm and Manson eating up the tough minutes, a Fowler-Ristolainen duo could do well in an easy minutes role.

Anaheim has a lot of young forward depth: Comtois, Lundestrom, Tracey, and maybe even Terry. I could see a deal where Ristolainen goes for 1-2 of them with some picks.

Colorado is another interesting spot. If a compliance buyout is granted, they're almost assuredly using it on Erik Johnson. They'll have Makar on the right side, but only Connor Timmins behind him. They've got Jost and maybe Shane Bowers to use as trade bait.

I'd be interested in those types of moves for Ristolainen.

I'd want Compher back if I'm moving Risto to Colorado, my interest in Bowers is very lukewarm, Jost would be okay as an add-on. As you outlined Anaheim has a plethora of young forwards that could come back in a Risto trade. Comtois is probably the most appealing of the bunch. I'd also add Steel as a potential target if Anaheim feels Zegras will be ready sooner rather than later.

 

[joshjull]

I was hoping to see more of Olofsson away from Jack in the last 15+ games. In the first two away from Jack he had 2pts. Sample size is WAY too small to make any assumptions. But I had hoped pulling him away from Jack would help him be more effect 5v5.

Hopefully he stays away from Jack whenever they start playing again. I think we could leverage more offense from him 5v5, particularly if he develops some chemistry with Kahun.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Why would they ? so they can throw makar 1d with little support. doesn't seem like a smart move.

Zadorov and Girard on the left side with Bowen probably making the jump next season. Cole can be the 3rd LD if he can't. Makar on the right side, plus adding Ristolainen, since that was the premise of my original post. Add in Timmins on the right side as well, since he's ready for the jump.

I'd want Compher back if I'm moving Risto to Colorado, my interest in Bowers is very lukewarm, Jost would be okay as an add-on. As you outlined Anaheim has a plethora of young forwards that could come back in a Risto trade. Comtois is probably the most appealing of the bunch. I'd also add Steel as a potential target if Anaheim feels Zegras will be ready sooner rather than later.

I think Colorado would be more willing to move Jost plus Bowers than anything with Compher. He's been their top 9 utility player.

 

[Djp]

they ain't buying out Johnson

They need to do something with him given he has a nmc which takes a spot in the ED.

 

[is the answer jesus]

I think Colorado would be more willing to move Jost plus Bowers than anything with Compher. He's been their top 9 utility player.

Oh I'm sure Colorado is more willing to move those pieces as Jost has stagnated a bit and Bowers is a pretty middling prospect. I really have no insight into how they value Compher. My thinking is that with MacKinnon, Kadri, Newhook down the middle long-term they are looking pretty well set. So Compher could maybe be available for the right return. I certainly don't think it's an outlandish ask as Compher is a good 3rd liner that can move up in a pinch.

 

[lauraP]

Zadorov and Girard on the left side with Bowen probably making the jump next season. Cole can be the 3rd LD if he can't. Makar on the right side, plus adding Ristolainen, since that was the premise of my original post. Add in Timmins on the right side as well, since he's ready for the jump.



I think Colorado would be more willing to move Jost plus Bowers than anything with Compher. He's been their top 9 utility player.

Bowen ain't making it next year

 

[Der Jaeger]

Bowen ain't making it next year

Zadorov - Makar
Girard - Timmins
Cole - xxx

Doesn’t matter

 

[lauraP]

Zadorov - Makar
Girard - Timmins
Cole - xxx

Doesn’t matter

they ain't buying him out

 

[Der Jaeger]

they ain't buying him out

He's their Okposo. 3 x $6m for a 3rd pairing d on most teams.

 

[Jim Bob]

Top 10 Ingredients of Championship Teams - The Hockey Think Tank

I'm afraid to think of how many boxes the Sabres can tick right now...

 

[Jim Bob]

NHL's Top 16 RFAs of 2020: Latest rumours, reports - Sportsnet.ca

6. Matt Murray G Pittsburgh

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Because Jarry’s extension should come easier (he doesn’t have arbitration rights) and because cap-strapped Pittsburgh also has an NHL-calibre goalie under contract, AHLer Casey DeSmith, there has been speculation Murray could be the odd man out.
----------------------------
15. Tristan Jarry G Pittsburgh

----------------------

The latest: Jarry outperformed fellow RFA Murray this season in a 1A/1B rotation and has made a compelling case that he should be the Penguins’ undisputed starter in 2020-21.

Jim Rutherford, as always, will be up against the cap as he tries to keep the Crosby-Malkin championship window open for as long as possible. The GM had been blessed with one of the cheapest goalie tandems in 2019-20 (Murray and Jarry combined for a $4.425 million cap hit), but both are due significant raises. Meanwhile, AHLer Casey DeSmith is ready and eager for another NHL look, and he’s getting $1.25 million per season through 2020-21 regardless of where he plays.

Serious trade potential in Pittsburgh this off-season.

I wonder if Botts goes after one of the Pens goalies this off season...

 

[TehDoak]

NHL's Top 16 RFAs of 2020: Latest rumours, reports - Sportsnet.ca



I wonder if Botts goes after one of the Pens goalies this off season...

Sadly I think Botts thinks the goalie situation is "just fine"

 

[Jim Bob]

Sadly I think Botts thinks the goalie situation is "just fine"

 

[Jim Bob]

'Who stays vs. who goes': Evaluating the Sabres' free agent...

Keeping: Larsson, Vesey
Losing: Girgensons, Frolik, Simmonds, Wilson, Sobotka
Go after: Smith, Maroon, Toffoli

That was a fun read.

 

[Fezzy126]

Regarding the top 20 scorers available in FA:

A few interesting candidates pop up on this list. We know Hall is going to cash in with someone and the same is likely for Hoffman, as both will get long-term deals. Since we’re not trying to break the bank wide open, we’ll look a little lower. This is where Craig Smith is interesting. He’s good for about 20 goals per season and when he’s on the ice his team gets a lot of shots off (career 53.6 even strength Corsi).

Yes, Craig Smith please (again, probably not gonna happen, he seems happy in Nashville and has a great role there).

Who Stays, Who Goes

Would you run me out of town for arguing to keep Larsson and Vesey? Don’t pack my bags yet, but finding players of equal or better value than them will be difficult. Larsson ranks out as one of the better players in the potential UFA forward group and Vesey is right there with him. Smith, Spezza, and Toffoli are all about on par with Vesey and you could argue you’d get more offense from Smith and Toffoli than Vesey.

You're casually lumping in Smith and Toffoli with Spezza and Vesey? Ugh... Now I'm watching the analytics community perform mental gymnastics while asking themselves "was Vesey actually good?"

No guys, he wasn't, he was playing very limited minutes in a sheltered role. He's got a positive on ice goal different because Dahlin also got to play in a sheltered role, and a bunch of their on ice minutes overlapped, and Dahlin is awesome. Someone should look at Vesey's analytics when he's not being carried by Dahlin in a sheltered role (hint - they're not good).

He's got a decently active stick and decent IQ (he's very good at anticipating passing lanes). He's not a dynamic skater, he's not physical at all, and he's actually only noticeable 1 out of every 5 games.

Do people just forget what they've watched for 6 months when they open up the spreadsheet?

 

[Fezzy126]

'Who stays vs. who goes': Evaluating the Sabres' free agent...



That was a fun read.

Doh! beat me to it...

For the record I think they keep Simmonds, I'm up in the air on what they do with Vesey.

 

[Jim Bob]

Doh! beat me to it...

For the record I think they keep Simmonds, I'm up in the air on what they do with Vesey.

The billion dollar question is what do players want with regard to re-signing here and what kind of contract they want.

Larsson is the only guy where I feel like the Sabres NEED to re-sign them.

And Simmonds is a guy that I don't want anything to do with unless he's on a dirt cheap one year deal.