The main point of these moves are to help the secondary scoring, improve the goaltending, as well as stay strong for the future cap-wise (given that a Dahlin extension is on the horizon). It doesn't make any sense for the Sabres to spend all their cap space right now, but they can invest in a few players that improve their secondary scoring on decent contracts. I'm not overly knowledgeable on the Sabres, but looking at the data I have available to me, plus recent games I've seen.
At the draft, we'll say the Sabres land the 7th overall pick. At that spot, there could be a lot of options, given how interchangeable picks 3-10 seems to be. We'll be optimistic and say that Alexander Holtz is available at that spot, and I think he's the ideal fit for them.
It's time the Ristolainen saga ends and he gets moved in a one-for-one trade for Rakell. I think these two teams are the perfect trade partners given how badly Anaheim wants a RHD and the surplus in Buffalo. I'm sure the Ducks would rather move Kase than Rakell, but given all the young forwards they have coming up, moving Rakell is okay for them. I think the value is really close given that Risto has played pretty well all things considered, but I can see the argument for the value being one way or the other. However, a hockey trade like this is typically going to be one-for-one, so that's what I went with here.
Trading for a year of Raanta can be a huge benefit to them. The acquisition cost is low, given the limited upside of Pekar, and if he works well for them, he can be extended at a solid rate. The tandem of him and Ullmark should work fairly well for them and will be significantly better than Hutton.
The UFA signings of Craig Smith and Kyle Clifford are able to provide a two-way game and they can contribute some offense here and there. Both players can help kill penalties, which is really important for a young team like this.
The Sabres will be relying on a bounce back year from Skinner, as well as continued growth from their young defense. Dahlin needs to take the next step towards becoming an elite defenseman, and as long as guys like Pilut, Jokiharju and Montour take another step in their growth, this team can be a legitimate playoff team. Eichel is truly one of the elite players in the game, and if they can get better performances from their veterans along with moderate improvements from their youth, this is a team that has a serious playoff chance.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA You do realize that scoring is ANA's second biggest need right... Not to mention the fact that Raks is (somewhat overrated) miles better than Risto (I like that ARZ trade, I love Pekar)
I think you’re pretty on for not being a Sabres fan
Larsson & Girgensons have been good in a defensive role for us, so I’d expect them both back
Lazar has also played nicely, so bringing him back wouldn’t surprise me
Raanta is a decent idea to help the goaltending
And whether it’s Rakell, or a similar scoring forward,
that’s definitely a huge need for us
Addressing the 2C is an issue we absolutely must address this off-season
Those guys aren’t usually traded though
So maybe trying to trade for a guy like Bonino let’s Cozens ease into his eventual role at that spot
I think you’re pretty on for not being a Sabres fan
Larsson & Girgensons have been good in a defensive role for us, so I’d expect them both back
Lazar has also played nicely, so bringing him back wouldn’t surprise me
Raanta is a decent idea to help the goaltending
And whether it’s Rakell, or a similar scoring forward,
that’s definitely a huge need for us
Addressing the 2C is an issue we absolutely must address this off-season
Those guys aren’t usually traded though
So maybe trying to trade for a guy like Bonino let’s Cozens ease into his eventual role at that spot
Thanks, i try
Most posts i see from you are quite reasonable as well
It’s refreshing with all the nonsense on here...
Especially the trade Eichel posts (good grief)
You have put your finger on most of the important points for this team. Well done.
In my opinion, Anaheim doesn't trade Rakell for Ristolainen even up. Rakell is having a better year than Skinner and would be the third-best scorer on the Sabres, so I don't think Risto is an even match.
Arizona doesn't have a first-round pick this year due to the Hall speculation, so I suspect they would hold out for a 2020 second in any trade for Raanta.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA You do realize that scoring is ANA's second biggest need right... Not to mention the fact that Raks is (somewhat overrated) miles better than Risto (I like that ARZ trade, I love Pekar)
Anaheim has been trying to trade Kase for a RHD since the offseason, and that's widely known. They have a ton of young forwards that are on the rise (Zegras, Steel, Tracey, Jones, Lundestrom, etc.) and with guys like Henrique and Silfverberg playing very well, Rakell can be expendable to fill the need. And what measure do you use to say that Rakell, an underachieving forward, is "miles better" than Ristolainen, a minute munching defenseman that is producing at a decent clip and playing solid (albeit unspectacular) defense?
You have put your finger on most of the important points for this team. Well done.
In my opinion, Anaheim doesn't trade Rakell for Ristolainen even up. Rakell is having a better year than Skinner and would be the third-best scorer on the Sabres, so I don't think Risto is an even match.
Arizona doesn't have a first-round pick this year due to the Hall speculation, so I suspect they would hold out for a 2020 second in any trade for Raanta.
That was my initial thought process, but most of the teams who'd have interest in Raanta might want to try their luck on free agency for someone like Lehner or Holtby. I also think that the Coyotes would be fine accepting the 2021 2nd, given they also dealt that pick in the Hall trade (even though it's conditional).
I think you’re pretty on for not being a Sabres fan
Larsson & Girgensons have been good in a defensive role for us, so I’d expect them both back
Lazar has also played nicely, so bringing him back wouldn’t surprise me
Raanta is a decent idea to help the goaltending
And whether it’s Rakell, or a similar scoring forward,
that’s definitely a huge need for us
Addressing the 2C is an issue we absolutely must address this off-season
Those guys aren’t usually traded though
So maybe trying to trade for a guy like Bonino let’s Cozens ease into his eventual role at that spot
I was thinking about the 2C spot, and I just couldn't think of a way to get that player at a contract that they won't regret. Most of those players aren't available for trade, and there really isn't a good option in free agency. I personally can see them riding out next year with that center core, because who knows if Cozens comes in and takes that role sooner rather than later.
From what I've seen out of him, I've liked a lot of it. He's definitely not perfect, but I still feel like he's being asked to do too much and is stuck doing a lot on his own. If he's able to be paired with someone like Lindholm or Fowler in Anaheim, I think the results will be very nice.
From what I've seen out of him, I've liked a lot of it. He's definitely not perfect, but I still feel like he's being asked to do too much and is stuck doing a lot on his own. If he's able to be paired with someone like Lindholm or Fowler in Anaheim, I think the results will be very nice.
Anaheim has been trying to trade Kase for a RHD since the offseason, and that's widely known. They have a ton of young forwards that are on the rise (Zegras, Steel, Tracey, Jones, Lundestrom, etc.) and with guys like Henrique and Silfverberg playing very well, Rakell can be expendable to fill the need. And what measure do you use to say that Rakell, an underachieving forward, is "miles better" than Ristolainen, a minute munching defenseman that is producing at a decent clip and playing solid (albeit unspectacular) defense?
Uhh basically any stat, Raks is like average, Risto is bottom 3 or 4 on the sabres defense at best...
Uhh basically any stat, Raks is like average, Risto is bottom 3 or 4 on the sabres defense at best...
There's really no statistic made available to the public that can accurately compare a forward to a defenseman. There are those who'd develop gamescores, but those are very subjective and based mostly off of what they find to be most important.
There's really no statistic made available to the public that can accurately compare a forward to a defenseman. There are those who'd develop gamescores, but those are very subjective and based mostly off of what they find to be most important.
I mean you're not wrong, but even comparing them to others at the same position, based off RAPM (which takes into account QoT and QoC) Raks is about average in every stat (net above average) and Risto is below average in nearly every stat (as of December at least)
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