Team: 2022-23 Buffalo Sabres

Initial Creation Date: May 23, 2022

Published: May 23, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Trade explanations:
- San Jose: I think Mittelstadt is the odd-man-out down the middle. Couture can play wing or center, has tons of playoff experience, is a veteran leader, and is still good. Taking on Vlasic is a lot of money, but I think they can handle it because a lot of their players may still be on bridge deals when his contract expires. Veteran defenseman to play third pair and taking his salary on lowers what we need to give up. When you need more money down the line, you can buy out Vlasic if need be, but with so many young players, his deal should be up by the time you need the money.
- Arizona: Olofsson is good and a better 5v5 player than given credit, but Quinn is essentially a more complete version of him and they need room for Peterka and Quinn. Plus he is 26. Crouse is a big, physical winger that the team lacks outside of Tuch, has 20-goal potential, is younger, and probably cheaper than Olofsson.
- Chicago: has to hit the reset button and while Murphy is under contract and good, they can get a two good prospects, a pick, and shed salary. Murphy would be a very good partner for Power IMO. Connolly's deal expires after the season and would be a good depth piece. Johnson and Portillo have more direct playing time in Chicago and could sign there and play immediately.
- Pittsburgh: Buffalo team doesn't have room for Bjork while the Penguins need to get rid of Zucker's contract. Pittsburgh is good at taking guys like Bjork and making them impact players, while Buffalo can take on Zucker and eat his deal for a year or move him at the deadline while adding a pick.

Total money coming off the books for 23-24: $17.2m
- This is plenty to give out bridge deals/sign (Cozens, Samuelsson, Asplund) and give extensions out (Thompson, Okposo)

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