I can see Betterall taking on a bad contract, but $13,000,000 over a 4 year period will cost more than a 2nd 3 years into the future.

Give the 21st pick tonight and Buffalo probably accepts.

I literally would be fine with Pittsburgh trading their first tonight or their top prospect in order to make it happen....I don’t care.

Probably not.. Sabres need to stop taking bad dmen on bad contracts or any players on bad contracts.

All pens fans should think like that. Who cares about propects and picks unless they are gonna help next year.

IMO a fair trade could be PIT 21st tonight and Johnson for STL 2020 2nd. While 4 years of $13,000,000 is a lot it is not worth a first (even a later first) to take on the contract. I would not mind having 3 first round picks this year.
Who knows maybe Jack hurts his back in the preseason and has to go on LTIR!

They need to...he was a huge mistake and it can never happen again.

I pray they don't give up their first round pick to trade JJ.
Lets all be honest. GMJR is a nighmare in FA. He'll just turn around and blow that cap space on Matt Hunwick or some crap.
Let's just agree to keep the 1st.

I would say no that the Sabres can not afford to take on the bad contract of Johnson..... the term is what is bothersome for me. The fact is the Sabres will have quite a few contracts coming up in the next 4 years during this term of Johnson's contract (keep in mind that Okposo's albatross of 6 million will still be present that would make 10 million right off the cap). GMBots (assuming he still has the job) will have to sign Sam, Montour & Dahlin during this period and you could add Casey to the list.

I think the prudent strategy would be if you elect to take on a bad contract the max term has to be 2 years.

I agree that 2 years would be optimum. Let's look at the future, Unless Betterall signs a UFA, the team will have about $7,000,000 cap this year. Bogosian, Scandella, Sobotka, Sheary and Hunwick ($5,142,857 + $4,000,000 + $3,500,000 + $3,000,000 + $2,250,000 or $18,142,857) all come off the books next year. Presuming they will be replaced by players with ELC the Sabre's will have an additional $11,000,000, added to the $7,000,000 plus an additional $2,000,000 for the cap increase in 2020-21 they will have about $20,000,000 cap. You correct just enough to sign Dahlin, Reinhart and Mittelstadt the following year.
On the other hand, I have heard too many good things about this draft and getting the Penguins 21st OA would be great.
Three picks in the first round would start to pay dividends in about 3 years.
On a side note, I am really nervous about drafting Caufield. If he is drafted in the first round he would be the smallest player EVER taken in the first round. That is why Pittsburgh's first would be great. Use the 7th OA for a larger winger and the 21st on Caufield if he is still there.

I’m pretty sure Caufield won’t be there at 21 but the Sabres can still get a player that’s a contributor at 21. Been seeing lots of mocks with Bobby Brink or Jakob Pelletier at 21.

I do not disagree please do not forget about signing Montour...... the history of taking on bad contracts as well as developing drafted talent is not a very promising one as it pertains the the Blue & Gold.....

Since this is a question about what should GMBots look for if he was approached to take on Johnson's contract IMO it would take the #21 pick and a top prospect (Almeida, Hallander or Addison).

GMTD I actually think that the Caufield is just a smokescreen..... I think GMJB will go for Dach, Zegras, Cozens or Byram at #7...... GMJB will deal the #31 pick for a player or 2nd round action..... unless he is able to move up to take Spencer Knight (25-28 range)

Good call on Cozens.
I wonder what was the rumor with Arthur Kaliyev. I just read https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/flyers/2019-nhl-draft-profile-whats-read-arthur-kaliyev where the author thinks he should be taken 11th. I hope Johnson is as good as the reports I have read, Kaliyev is rated as the second best goal scorer of the draft just behind Caufield.
Well, I will be at the prospect 3 on 3 next week, and will get feel for the players we have drafted.