Rather keep Bones if that's the return. 16 goals last year and expert penalty killer, more valuable than a 4th

NSH has no need for zemgus
Bonino is a pretty good player still. can't imagine they settle for anything less than a third
Subban certainly is not a 7M defenseman at this point or even close to it

Well thankfully, none of these moves are likely to happen
So maybe we’ll be a fringe playoff team (if we can get a decent goalie)

If this is what buffalo did in the off-season I would become a leafs fan. I would never be allowed to step foot in my house again and it would still be worth it to not see this monstrosity

Kind of agree, this aspiration to hit the cap floor, but really no further, is kind of a slap in the face to those who want to see and root for a quality product.

Theres a way to play and develop the youth, and sign (even inflated prices) quality UFAs who will bridge the gap from the rookies to when they're more developed and can carry the load. Theres not enough coaches, ice time, development time to have 8-10 youngsters in the lineup at once. (the lineup above has 10 very young guys, and some of them wont get the time they need to develop).

Ultimately, no one expects small market BUF to compete at the top of the cap, but as Billy Beane said of the Oakland As: "what are we doing here, if we're not at least trying to win a championship?"

Philly declines