DeMelo isnt signing that lmao!

Sabres need to add. Difference between Strome & Pilut is not a 2nd vs a 3rd, especially when Buffalo needs it to make the offersheet happen. 2020 CAR 3rd would do it

Still no interest from NJ on that deal.

Let’s see, Buffalo is not trading Risto just for draft picks. If they acquire Cirelli there is no need to trade for Strome. You’re overpaying for Tuch as most seem to agree that Montour for him straight up is fair. They certainly do not need to hand over Thompson in addition. Why on earth give up Mittelstadt To a division rival just so they take half of Okposo’s salary off our hands? The reality is he may not even play again, and if he does he’s one concussion away from LTIR for the remainder of the deal.

Lets see. Risto is used to get Cirelli. Risto and 2021 1st for Cirelli. If we want 3 lines that score, Strome helps that. Im overpaying for Tuch? Says who? The fans on Capfriendly, great source. And it will cost a lot to get rid of 6 million for 3 more years. Ottawa is one of the few teams that make trades for lower cash value than cap hit. The reality is, he is playing again. That is a fact, and thus reality. Last year everyone was putting him on LTIR in the offseason, then as a buyout that the NHL was going to give because of Covid. How has that worked out? Absolutely dumb to think Okposo is one concussion since people have been saying that 2 concussions ago.

Team is a playoff team. But keep wanting to hold onto assets.

Ek tell you that?

You are correct this is a good team, solid all four lines and solid defense.
My one and half cents worth of comments.
Hutton had a bad stretch (the coaching staff had to know that) IMO he will be better than Johansson. But this is your team.
Tampa would not take Ristolainen for Cirelli as the Bolts would not have the cap space, an offer sheet is probably the correct value.
IMO, Ristolainen will get more than that in return.
You are also correct that it may cost more than that to get rid of Okposo. It cost the Leafs a first to move Marleau and he only had one year remaining on his contract.
The Ranger may very well make that trade exactly as written.

IMO Tuch or Montour is about correct, but it really does not impact your team to trade away Thompson. I just have a high opinion of his future.
He was dominant in the playoffs last year, prospect challenge and AHL this year.
While Tuch has looked really good in this years round robin games, he did not do very well in the regular season.
Thompson may very well produce as much as Tuck and we get to keep Montour who had the best +/- among all Sabre skaters.

While I may disagree with your moves, the results are very good, Excellent work.

Ryan Strome will be the #1 buyer’s remorse trade this offseason. He’s a 30 pt guy unless he’s playing with elite talent. You don’t give that guy a near $5 million deal. The Sabres don’t need to unload Okposo as badly as other teams need to move money. There aren’t enough buyers to sell low on him without overpaying grossly to move him.

I also do not know how much research you have done on concussions, but they don’t get better they get worse. It becomes easier to get one the more you have, and recovering takes more time. I don’t blame him for not wanting to walk away from $18 million, but I do legitimately worry about his health and his future if he does choose to continue to play. The reality is he is not effective if he cannot go into the corners and play a physical game. Both as a fan and a person I would rather he have a healthy and happy life post hockey than having to deal with the potential cognitive issues from repeated head injuries.