So it's that time of year aga--no, not the draft lottery. So it's that time of ye--no, not wondering who the coach will be, we just did that. So it's that ti... *sigh* no, there is no news on Ristolainen or Skinner! Shheeeeessh...
Okay, so it's that time of year again: RFA qualifying season! *crickets* Ahem... The Sabres have five roster players, all arbitration eligible, to qualify:
Johan Larsson: 26, 1-year QO would be $1.55 million, he'd be eligible to be UFA at the end of it if signed (27 years old)
Zemgus Girgensons: 25, QO would be $1.6 million and if signed would leave him UFA next summer (7 seasons)
Evan Rodrigues: 25, QO would be $715,000 and he'd still be RFA at the end of it if signed
Jake McCabe: 25, QO would be $1.775 million and if signed would leave him UFA next summer like Gus (7 seasons)
Linus Ullmark: 25, QO would be $840K and he'd still be RFA at the end of it if signed.
So they don't have anyone due an outsized payday like Lehner who they didn't qualify for good reason. None of these guys should be overpaid at their QO, and some should be extended on value deals. There is no reason not to QO any of them. It would be stupid if they don't.
Moving down to players who ended the season in the minors, RFA:
Eric Cornel: 23, Finished his ELC, played in all the Amerks games up to the playoffs, but what's the upside? Do they think there is a depth piece there or do they move on or do they give him one more year?
Jack Dougherty: 23, RHD always seem like a find, probably gets a QO
Remi Elie: 24, tweener waiver-bait the last few years... he'd be one I would be on the fence about but again, lack of signed depth is a concern that might tip it for extending.
Sean Malone: 24, Had another injury-plagued year, kind of on the fence about giving him a deal, but a lack of signed center depth might be the push in his favor
Brycen Martin: Never played a game in their development system last year, seems like an easy no for a QO
CJ Smith: 24, Easy yes.
So I have them not extending QO's to only one player. None of the guys on the team are in the position Lehner was, where the QO was a risk to retain a player not worth the contract. There is NO REASON TO NOT EXTEND A QO TO EVERY SINGLE NHL RFA. I will type that again, in case someone can't see it... but there is NO REASON TO NOT EXTEND A QO TO EVERY SINGLE NHL RFA.
At the moment, they have 30 contracts, including Pekar's that can slide when they send him back to the OHL. If they QO everyone but Martin, that puts them at 41. Signing Skinner and replacing/signing Pominville puts them at 43. They need to sign a #3 veteran tweener goalie so that's 44.
Of the Group VI guys (O'Regan, Leier, Wilcox, and Wedgewood), one goalie obviously will be in the fold, possibly two (45 contracts). O'Regan has had little opportunity and the rumors about the DEL, he might not want to be back without an NHL deal. Leier too they like but again, is that enough for the NHL level deal? Signing/replacing both puts them at 47. The UFA's in the minors are Moulson (see ya!), Tennyson (see ya?), and Porter (AHL deal?) who I could see one deal being needed (Tennyson's "vet" replacement as the 8/9). That would put them at 48 with a slide option....
The easier way to have contract flexibility would be to let one or two of the AHL-level guys go and possibly ride out having a bunch of inexperienced defense recall options. That allows a little future flexibility if they want to sign UDFA or make a move at the NHL-level.
Okay, so it's that time of year again: RFA qualifying season! *crickets* Ahem... The Sabres have five roster players, all arbitration eligible, to qualify:
Johan Larsson: 26, 1-year QO would be $1.55 million, he'd be eligible to be UFA at the end of it if signed (27 years old)
Zemgus Girgensons: 25, QO would be $1.6 million and if signed would leave him UFA next summer (7 seasons)
Evan Rodrigues: 25, QO would be $715,000 and he'd still be RFA at the end of it if signed
Jake McCabe: 25, QO would be $1.775 million and if signed would leave him UFA next summer like Gus (7 seasons)
Linus Ullmark: 25, QO would be $840K and he'd still be RFA at the end of it if signed.
So they don't have anyone due an outsized payday like Lehner who they didn't qualify for good reason. None of these guys should be overpaid at their QO, and some should be extended on value deals. There is no reason not to QO any of them. It would be stupid if they don't.
Moving down to players who ended the season in the minors, RFA:
Eric Cornel: 23, Finished his ELC, played in all the Amerks games up to the playoffs, but what's the upside? Do they think there is a depth piece there or do they move on or do they give him one more year?
Jack Dougherty: 23, RHD always seem like a find, probably gets a QO
Remi Elie: 24, tweener waiver-bait the last few years... he'd be one I would be on the fence about but again, lack of signed depth is a concern that might tip it for extending.
Sean Malone: 24, Had another injury-plagued year, kind of on the fence about giving him a deal, but a lack of signed center depth might be the push in his favor
Brycen Martin: Never played a game in their development system last year, seems like an easy no for a QO
CJ Smith: 24, Easy yes.
So I have them not extending QO's to only one player. None of the guys on the team are in the position Lehner was, where the QO was a risk to retain a player not worth the contract. There is NO REASON TO NOT EXTEND A QO TO EVERY SINGLE NHL RFA. I will type that again, in case someone can't see it... but there is NO REASON TO NOT EXTEND A QO TO EVERY SINGLE NHL RFA.
At the moment, they have 30 contracts, including Pekar's that can slide when they send him back to the OHL. If they QO everyone but Martin, that puts them at 41. Signing Skinner and replacing/signing Pominville puts them at 43. They need to sign a #3 veteran tweener goalie so that's 44.
Of the Group VI guys (O'Regan, Leier, Wilcox, and Wedgewood), one goalie obviously will be in the fold, possibly two (45 contracts). O'Regan has had little opportunity and the rumors about the DEL, he might not want to be back without an NHL deal. Leier too they like but again, is that enough for the NHL level deal? Signing/replacing both puts them at 47. The UFA's in the minors are Moulson (see ya!), Tennyson (see ya?), and Porter (AHL deal?) who I could see one deal being needed (Tennyson's "vet" replacement as the 8/9). That would put them at 48 with a slide option....
The easier way to have contract flexibility would be to let one or two of the AHL-level guys go and possibly ride out having a bunch of inexperienced defense recall options. That allows a little future flexibility if they want to sign UDFA or make a move at the NHL-level.
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