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Sabres Mailbag: Will Jason Botterill make a significant trade?
LL = Lance Lysowski. He's a Pittburgh import and Botterill backer.
Garry Marr: Is it likely this is a holding year for the Sabres, with no major moves coming?
LL: The Sabres are stuck. Botterill currently has no cap space and will have a difficult time trading Bogosian or Rodrigues. Memo to players: leaking to reporters that you requested a trade will only make it more difficult for your team to move you. The only realistic way to potentially add an impact forward this season is by trading Rasmus Ristolainen or Brandon Montour. Botterill is unlikely to part with either player, unless the return is massive.
Trading either defenseman before the deadline could be catastrophic to their blue line, and Botterill won't be in the market for a rental. He has said multiple times he prefers young players with years of control, much like the trade that landed Montour last February.
The trades for Vesey and Frolik contradict the years of control theory and added $6.6M to the cap
John: Do you think Rasmus Ristolainen will be traded before the deadline?
LL: No. Ristolainen is finally realizing his potential.
I agree.
Jim: Are there any goalies who could be brought in to replace Carter Hutton?
LL: Contenders aren't exactly champing at the bit to trade a good goaltender. The New York Rangers are reportedly shopping Alexandar Georgiev, but they're likely searching for a second- or third-round draft choice. Plus, the Sabres can't move Hutton's contract. They won't place him on waivers with the intent to send him to Rochester.
Why not? If you're serious about winning you would. Georgiev is making less than $800k. Maybe Botts shouldn't have been so eager to trade for Frolik.
John Hollingsworth: Why do the Sabres continue to scratch defenseman Colin Miller?
LL: When asked this question before the game Sunday in Detroit, Krueger told the media that Miller has struggled to adjust to the new system in Buffalo. The example Krueger used was that some defensemen are used to playing strictly man-to-man defense, while the Sabres have different assignments closer to the net. One week earlier, Miller described the situation differently to me.
Miller hasn't felt comfortable having to play with different defense partners. He hoped the Scandella trade would allow the Sabres to settle on one lineup, but that hasn't happened. Miller is a player who needs continuity, so this isn't a great situation for him. The Sabres will continue to rotate their eight healthy defensemen until Krueger finds the mix he thinks gives them the best chance to win.
The Sabres need to make it work with Miller. He's a talented defenseman under contract for two more seasons at an annual cap hit of $3.875 million. The Sabres gave up second- and fifth-round draft picks to acquire him from Vegas. That's a pretty significant price tag for a player having a difficult time carving out a role.
It's on Krueger and his assistant coach, Steve Smith, to get the most out of Miller. His physical tools are among the best on the roster.
Krueger and Smith did their job by rehabilitating Ristolainen. This is on Botterill for trading for 2 RHD in the offseason and not being able to make a deal to unload one.
LL = Lance Lysowski. He's a Pittburgh import and Botterill backer.
Garry Marr: Is it likely this is a holding year for the Sabres, with no major moves coming?
LL: The Sabres are stuck. Botterill currently has no cap space and will have a difficult time trading Bogosian or Rodrigues. Memo to players: leaking to reporters that you requested a trade will only make it more difficult for your team to move you. The only realistic way to potentially add an impact forward this season is by trading Rasmus Ristolainen or Brandon Montour. Botterill is unlikely to part with either player, unless the return is massive.
Trading either defenseman before the deadline could be catastrophic to their blue line, and Botterill won't be in the market for a rental. He has said multiple times he prefers young players with years of control, much like the trade that landed Montour last February.
The trades for Vesey and Frolik contradict the years of control theory and added $6.6M to the cap
John: Do you think Rasmus Ristolainen will be traded before the deadline?
LL: No. Ristolainen is finally realizing his potential.
I agree.
Jim: Are there any goalies who could be brought in to replace Carter Hutton?
LL: Contenders aren't exactly champing at the bit to trade a good goaltender. The New York Rangers are reportedly shopping Alexandar Georgiev, but they're likely searching for a second- or third-round draft choice. Plus, the Sabres can't move Hutton's contract. They won't place him on waivers with the intent to send him to Rochester.
Why not? If you're serious about winning you would. Georgiev is making less than $800k. Maybe Botts shouldn't have been so eager to trade for Frolik.
John Hollingsworth: Why do the Sabres continue to scratch defenseman Colin Miller?
LL: When asked this question before the game Sunday in Detroit, Krueger told the media that Miller has struggled to adjust to the new system in Buffalo. The example Krueger used was that some defensemen are used to playing strictly man-to-man defense, while the Sabres have different assignments closer to the net. One week earlier, Miller described the situation differently to me.
Miller hasn't felt comfortable having to play with different defense partners. He hoped the Scandella trade would allow the Sabres to settle on one lineup, but that hasn't happened. Miller is a player who needs continuity, so this isn't a great situation for him. The Sabres will continue to rotate their eight healthy defensemen until Krueger finds the mix he thinks gives them the best chance to win.
The Sabres need to make it work with Miller. He's a talented defenseman under contract for two more seasons at an annual cap hit of $3.875 million. The Sabres gave up second- and fifth-round draft picks to acquire him from Vegas. That's a pretty significant price tag for a player having a difficult time carving out a role.
It's on Krueger and his assistant coach, Steve Smith, to get the most out of Miller. His physical tools are among the best on the roster.
Krueger and Smith did their job by rehabilitating Ristolainen. This is on Botterill for trading for 2 RHD in the offseason and not being able to make a deal to unload one.
