Speculation: What is Buffalo's end game with Taylor Hall?

[Kegs]

Can they even afford Hall? The rest of that roster is going to be extremely thin if you have 30m tied to 3 forwards. You'd have 1 good line and a bunch of holes down the lineup, that Skinner contract has an NMC as well, it's going to be crippling.

That’s the maple leafs way

 

[AvatarAang]

Buffalo made this signing to prove to the hockey world that they are finally serious about winning the draft lottery

 

[Hitemwith4]

If buffalo is long shot to make playoffs by trade deadline then trade him for picks and prospects. If buffalo is in a playoff or in a close battle for a playoffs spot get him resigned somehow

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

He's essentially a full year rental at no asset cost. I don't believe the goal is to flip him, unless he is not willing to sign AND they are out of the playoffs by the deadline. If they do decide to trade him, however, they may be able to add a decent player or two, as inquiring teams look to offset Hall's salary while also clearing salary for the upcoming season.

All in all, I hope he works out and forms a solid duo with Eichel. Always cool to see a franchise player stick with an organization and lead them to better days.

If they trade him or let him walk, it's likely the end of the Eichel era. Unless they can bring in another elite winger, which I doubt. Give him the good ol' 8x9 next summer and call it a day.

That's Jeff Skinner money. You really think Hall is worth it?

 

[belair]

Yes, but he’d waive it under the right circumstances.

The NMC is there to protect Hall against the Sabres trading him to another wheel-spinning franchise simply because they offered the best package.

It actually puts Hall in the driver's seat. He can choose where he wants to go.

 

[Hasekperreault23]

They gave up nothing for him. The goal is to win.

Trading him at deadline is only an option if they don't see him as a fit and they can't make playoffs. If they're in playoffs, regardless if he's not in their long term plans, he's staying. Losing him for nothing isn't a big deal when you gave up nothing for him. If they like him and Hall enjoys the year, the goal would be to sign him.

Perfectly stated

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

They gave up nothing for him. The goal is to win.

Trading him at deadline is only an option if they don't see him as a fit and they can't make playoffs. If they're in playoffs, regardless if he's not in their long term plans, he's staying. Losing him for nothing isn't a big deal when you gave up nothing for him. If they like him and Hall enjoys the year, the goal would be to sign him.

He has a NMC

 

[Khelandros]

they can. If they give Dahlin a low bridge they could sign Hall and Reinhart to 7 each.

Hall(7) Eichel (10) Quinn(1)
Skinner (9)-Cozens (1) Thompson (1.4)
Olofsson(3) Mittlestadt (1.5) Reinhart (7)
Girgensons (2.2) Eakin (2.25)-xxx (1)
Okposo (6)
F= 18+11.4+11.5+ 11.45= 29.4+22.95=52.35

Dahlin (5.5) Joki (4)
xxx (1). Risto (5.4)
Miller (3.9) Borgen (1)
Vet (1)

Ullmark (4)
UPL (1)
9.5+6.4+5.9+5=15.9+10.9=27.8

27.8+ 52.35= 80.15

buffalo has 0.8 in buyout dead space

looking ahead summers when contracts end

in 22 Olofsson bridge ends
23 Mittlestadt bridge end, Cozens ELC ends.
24 Quinn ELC ends
25 ELC on Peterka end , Eichel is due to end
26 Skinner contract ends

with Quinn or peterka they could give them low bridges until Skinners contract is scheduled to end

they could get Seattle to take Okposo or Miller

they could trade Reinhart for a LD who is younger who makes around 4-5M

Hall took a "pay cut" to sign with Buffalo at $8MM, and you think he is going to take another pay cut to $7MM to stay in Buffalo?

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

To help Hall get a bigger contract with term and also help Eichel's sanity level this year.

If they can sign him for six years at $8 to $9M, they will. I think they have to move Reinhart to make it happen and I'm good with that. Not sure Eichel will be but that's life. Skinner is not going anywhere, it's reality.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Hall took a "pay cut" to sign with Buffalo at $8MM, and you think he is going to take another pay cut to $7MM to stay in Buffalo?

There is little evidence to suggest anyone would offer him more on a one-year deal. They were longer terms for sure but on a one-year deal, show me one story that suggests he was offered more elsewhere.

 

[Habs Halifax]

If they can sign him for six years at $8 to $9M, they will. I think they have to move Reinhart to make it happen and I'm good with that. Not sure Eichel will be but that's life. Skinner is not going anywhere, it's reality.

Did Skinner ever capitalize at the right moment eh? Disgusting how he held the Sabres hostage... Sign me to what I want or I go to UFA. $9M for 8 years vs $7M for 8 years. $72M vs $56M. Leave some for other players eh... I hate greedy players cause at the end of day, it's a 50/50 split and I think this sends the wrong message to your teammates. Especially for a top 6F that is not star level.

 

[Djp]

Hall took a "pay cut" to sign with Buffalo at $8MM, and you think he is going to take another pay cut to $7MM to stay in Buffalo?

if he wants to stay he would have to. Buffalo doesn’t have long term cap space as of now.

over the next coup,e years teams won’t have the money nor pay him what he thinks he’s worth. $7Zm is the cap hit. It coukd be front loaded where his actual salary is higher.

 

[MisterT]

They will do everything in their power to convince Skinner to be open to the expansion draft and hope to hell he becomes a feared Octopi.

Those cap savings would be more than enough to sign Hall long-term and add during a prolonged flat cap period.

 

[Khelandros]

There is little evidence to suggest anyone would offer him more on a one-year deal. They were longer terms for sure but on a one-year deal, show me one story that suggests he was offered more elsewhere.

I'm not saying teams offered more, just that with Covid and the stagnant cap, he took the $8MM from Buffalo because they had the cap space to offer it. Next season when teams have more cap space, and if he keeps putting up the numbers he is, teams will be lining up to sign him, and not at $7MM a season.

 

[Yatzhee]

They gave up nothing for him. The goal is to win.

Trading him at deadline is only an option if they don't see him as a fit and they can't make playoffs. If they're in playoffs, regardless if he's not in their long term plans, he's staying. Losing him for nothing isn't a big deal when you gave up nothing for him. If they like him and Hall enjoys the year, the goal would be to sign him.

This

 

[Advanced stats]

Buffalo's gonna give it all they have to sign him, but I doubt he signs. He just seems like a nomad wanderer

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

He was signed to appease Eichel short term and if they’re smart they’ll flip him at the deadline

Uh no.It actually isn't. If they are smart they re-sign him, which is what both sides want.

Hall is the one that said he was open to more then 1 year during the negotiations and it was the Sabres who wanted the 1 year term. Because of the expansion draft and also to give them a full season to figure out how to fit in Hall and a new contract for Dahlin. One way or the other Adams will make it happen. And Tampa has shown that it is better to be top heavy then not. You can always plug and play your bottom 6 forwards and bottom pair D. You cannot plug and play the top 6. Hall wants to play for Krueger and he is loving having Eichel as his center. The Sabres got a superstar forward for FREE. They will keep him.

And I would say the Hall-Eichel duo is doing exactly how many of us predicted, leading the league in scoring. 2 of the 5 players with 6 points are Sabres, but Marner and Tavares played 4 games, not 3. So in actuality as of today 2 of the top 3 scoring leaders are Eichel and Hall. And Eichel hasn't even played to his full potential, he has actually been average the first 3 games. It is going to be real scary once Eichel is playing at his top form.

Buffalo's gonna give it all they have to sign him, but I doubt he signs. He just seems like a nomad wanderer

Actually if people listened and connected the dots during last season they would have had Buffalo as a top destination due to Krueger and Eichel. Its ok though, fans were mad at Hall for signing here in the first place and they can be mad again when they see the thread for his extension after the expansion draft.

And Like I already said, if you actually watched the behind the scenes on the Hall signing, Hall and his agent were the one's who wanted to sign for more then 1 year. Buffalo opted for 1 so they can move some contracts around and sign him for a long term deal after this season instead of a 2 or 3 year deal before this current season. The Sabres want Hall here for 6-7 years, not 2 or 3.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Did Skinner ever capitalize at the right moment eh? Disgusting how he held the Sabres hostage... Sign me to what I want or I go to UFA. $9M for 8 years vs $7M for 8 years. $72M vs $56M. Leave some for other players eh... I hate greedy players cause at the end of day, it's a 50/50 split and I think this sends the wrong message to your teammates. Especially for a top 6F that is not star level.

They got him for next to nothing, if they let him walk they're out a 2nd round pick for a full season rental that put up decent numbers. Buffalo is the only party to blame for agreeing to that abortion of a contract.

 

[The Sweetness]

Did Skinner ever capitalize at the right moment eh? Disgusting how he held the Sabres hostage... Sign me to what I want or I go to UFA. $9M for 8 years vs $7M for 8 years. $72M vs $56M. Leave some for other players eh... I hate greedy players cause at the end of day, it's a 50/50 split and I think this sends the wrong message to your teammates. Especially for a top 6F that is not star level.

You are mad at Skinner for....considering to exercise his right to become a UFA?

Be mad at Buffalo for offering the contract.

 

[Habs Halifax]

They got him for next to nothing, if they let him walk they're out a 2nd round pick for a full season rental that put up decent numbers. Buffalo is the only party to blame for agreeing to that abortion of a contract.

Nah... I don't see it that way. Skinner took advantage cause he knew they could not afford to let him walk. Going after $9M AAV is disgusting and greedy. It's selfish for a top 6F who is not a star. Sabres fell into that trap yes but it's not one area of blame only

You won't move me off the greedy narrative on how some players/agents go after max deals at the cost of team competitiveness in a salary cap. Anything after $10M is gravy for your family. $72M vs $56M does not put the player at risk but it does put the teams cap at risk. Selfish cause he is not a star!

 

[Habs Halifax]

You are mad at Skinner for....considering to exercise his right to become a UFA?

Be mad at Buffalo for offering the contract.

Not mad, disappointed in him. He could have easily got a $56M contract instead of $72M and his team would be more competitive in the salary cap. At the end of the day, 50% of revenue goes to the players.

 

[The Sweetness]

Not mad, disappointed in him. He could have easily got a $56M contract instead of $72M and his team would be more competitive in the salary cap. At the end of the day, 50% of revenue goes to the players.

Lol, of course Skinner could have signed for $56M. Buffalo should have showed more restraint on that deal. It was terrible when it was signed.

Most players get one chance for a massive contract and it’s incredibly naive to suggest they are under some obligation to sign a team friendly deal.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Lol, of course Skinner could have signed for $56M. Buffalo should have showed more restraint on that deal. It was terrible when it was signed.

Most players get one chance for a massive contract and it’s incredibly naive to suggest they are under some obligation to sign a team friendly deal.

Nope. It was clear... Skinner gave the Sabres a take it or leave it contract he would sign. If not, he goes to UFA. Sabres panicked cause they felt they needed to keep offensive talent. Skinner got the absolute max deal he could get.

Not mad, disappointed in Skinner. He's not the only one

 

[Sky04]

Uh no.It actually isn't. If they are smart they re-sign him, which is what both sides want.

Hall is the one that said he was open to more then 1 year during the negotiations and it was the Sabres who wanted the 1 year term. Because of the expansion draft and also to give them a full season to figure out how to fit in Hall and a new contract for Dahlin. One way or the other Adams will make it happen. And Tampa has shown that it is better to be top heavy then not. You can always plug and play your bottom 6 forwards and bottom pair D. You cannot plug and play the top 6. Hall wants to play for Krueger and he is loving having Eichel as his center. The Sabres got a superstar forward for FREE. They will keep him.

And I would say the Hall-Eichel duo is doing exactly how many of us predicted, leading the league in scoring. 2 of the 5 players with 6 points are Sabres, but Marner and Tavares played 4 games, not 3. So in actuality as of today 2 of the top 3 scoring leaders are Eichel and Hall. And Eichel hasn't even played to his full potential, he has actually been average the first 3 games. It is going to be real scary once Eichel is playing at his top form.





Actually if people listened and connected the dots during last season they would have had Buffalo as a top destination due to Krueger and Eichel. Its ok though, fans were mad at Hall for signing here in the first place and they can be mad again when they see the thread for his extension after the expansion draft.

And Like I already said, if you actually watched the behind the scenes on the Hall signing, Hall and his agent were the one's who wanted to sign for more then 1 year. Buffalo opted for 1 so they can move some contracts around and sign him for a long term deal after this season instead of a 2 or 3 year deal before this current season. The Sabres want Hall here for 6-7 years, not 2 or 3.

Uh we're top heavy cap but those contracts are on great value, don't mistake those 2 things as to why you should be blowing your cap out. Bottom 6's can make or break a team, treating them as plug and play is why most teams struggle, almost every team has good scorers, most teams lack depth.

No offense but Buffalo is doing exactly how everyone thought, you don't exactly have a winning record right now. Buffalo is pretty much a worse version of Edmonton, I'm not sure why anyone would be scarred when you see the McDavid Draisaitl combo losing games regularly and they're much better than Hall and Eichel.

Buffalo definitely wants Hall but depending on how the season goes, Halls priorities might shift to winning if he ends up on another lottery team.

 

[CupsOverCash]

I think the goal is to get the team to win consistently for a change. They need to win to make Eichel happy and if they win then Hall will likely also be happy and that gives them a better chance at re signing him after the season.