Question on that Jackets trade: why? What motivation do you imagine us having for making that move?
Advance warning: "getting something for Anderson" is not a valid motivation nor has it ever been one.

That Okposo contract is 3 years long. Unless he can be sent to Robidas Island he will likely require more than a future 1st in a weak draft to pass off on another team.

Gonna take this year's first and either Ryan Johnson or Matias Samuelson for us to take okposo contract

Sorry I made a mistake, the trade was supposed to be Eichel for Anderson

2021 first for OK posts contract is fair. Let's be honest Detroit will not be spending to the cap the next 3 years so this foes not hinder them in that regard. Honestly I think the Sabres are more likely to just ride out the contract rather than give up a significant asset to unload this player. He is still a good bottom 6 player that provides leadership and production. Obviously not 6 million worth but still is not a player that shouldn't be in a NHL lineup

agreed the trade is not a good fit for cbj as they don't NEED RHD, but the value is definitely fair

Right, but the sabres can't afford to ride him out, the cap is flat.
Detroit will comfortably be able to make the cap floor because teams will NEED to get rid of roster players on overinflated contracts, and will pay to do so. Not only will the actual salary cap be flat, but not every team will be spending to it, cap is a finite resource and as such has value. Okposo's contract is 3x longer than Marleau's. Marleau required a 1st. That is a rough precident, I'm not saying that a 3 year contract requires 3 1sts, but it certainly should require more than just 1, there should be other picks, prospects or actually valuable roster players.

I think it will take a lot more to get RNH. Probably 8 o/a in addition to Risto and Montour. That is if Edmonton will consider moving this player. That being said I would still make that deal. He is exactly the player the Sabres need

Sure the Sabres can ride him out. They will be among the teams not spending to the cap. Okposo only has 13 million remaining on his contract so that is 4.33 per year. He is worth 3 million per so only a slight overpay on the dollars being sent out. Not worth jeopardizing your future team and revenues for minimal savings now.

Additionally he is only to be paid 2.4 million by the Sabres this year so they at least keep him 1 more year and then if they decide to spend close to the cap next year they move him then and maybe retain some salary

This is a joke right? Nuge for Ristolainen... come on. Ristolainens value is so small compared to Nuge’s. Nuge is a good top 6 forward, and Ristolainen is a not so good defence man, that only knows how to play offence. That’s not even close to fair value. It would probably have to start with Olofsson.

Ok, so with the 34.5 million dollars of cap space the sabers have left they need to sign a minimum of: 1 top line forward, 2 second line forwards, 5 bottom 6 forwards 1 top 4 defenceman and a starting goalie.

Reinhart eats up 6-7 of that comfortably, and completes the top line. Olofsson should be between 4-5 more and an average 2C earns between 5 and 6 million.
Those three players already eat up just under half of your spare cap dollars. That leaves you roughly $17m to sign 5 of your bottom 6, a minimum of 1 D and a goalie. That is highly unlikely, and if you only take the affordable options, Buffalo will remain in or around the basement.

Just because the wings have the cap space doesn't mean they are gonna help out a division rival, it's this year's pick and one of the 2 prospects I named or you can keep his contract for 3 years

Ulmark is our starting goalie ranked around middle of the league last year and has improved every year so no need to add there. We already have 5 of our bottom 6 in Cozens, Kahun, Johansson, Lazar, Okposo. That only adds about 3.5 per for resigning Kahun and Lazar. We can spend 1- 2 on a good fourth line player for the 6th spot. We have 5 of our top 6 D on the books already and at least one maybe 2 top 6 d salary that will be moved out to make room for another player on the left side or if Bryson is ready then we put him in the bottom pair. Top 4 Jokiharju/Dahlin, McCabe/Risto or Montour.

we can keep it in is not that big of a deal. It make really no sense to move until after this year anyhow as he is only owed 3 million with 20% escrow that is only 2.4 dollars paid out and we will not be against the cap

It's about cap space not money owed

Sabres will be nowhere near the cap so it is not an issue. They will be operating on an internal cap based on dollars spent

Fair play to the Sabres if they can make that work. If I was management I would not be looking at that as a roster that can just continue on from last year and expect success. Sorry bud.

The Sabres will get better the same way other teams do. Drafting and developing and making good trades. Spending a bunch of UFA dollars is not going to improve this team. They are bringing the highest rated affiliated prospect in hockey into the lineup this year and their entire core is still young with varying room for growth. If they take a good step forward collectively in their development they will be good if not they won't. It is the same path forward the Wings have. If their young players do not make significant strides year over year in their development then they will remain where they are now also

We gotta add more to get RNH, if he signs a 7 year, 6-7 mil per contract I'd be willing to give Risto, 2021 1st (top 5 protected), and a prospect like TT

Just because anderson isn't worth eichel means he's worth Montour?

Only if you also take back a bunch of cap dumps we don't actually have and **** it can't keep a straight face.

I'm not claiming it's a ripoff; it's that we have zero need for defensemen, and yet the Andy bounceback gamble is valuable to us. It's a fair attempt but it makes zero sense whatsoever for the Jackets.