Quoting: Arh613
Where are you getting the internal cap number from just curious?
Maybe unsustainable and I agree that not everybody will have career years again this season, but is it not reasonable to expect at the very least a more consistent presence an output from nearly every player: Cozens, Quinn, Peterka, Mitts, Krebs, Dahlin, Power, Sammy + including Levi in the goaltending conversation already improves the roster. Building through the draft means that you need to let players develop and play. No reason to try to open a window for 4~5 years right at this second when you could have a ~10 year window starting after next year based on the pipeline + assets on hand
I could say "you ask around, you hear things" but thats not a good answer since you dont know me cant take my word for it so Ill put it this way. If you closely follow the spending habits over the last few years, you can see a major shift in how the team operates.
it's not just the lack of activity in the trade market or FA, i mean as pointed out, FA is a cesspool anyways. They are nickel and diming players at the lowest level. Dustin Tokarski left because the pegula's didnt want to give him a 1 way deal, which is typical for goalies in the AHL. The structure of contracts for fringe forwards? also includes a massive drop in minor league salary. Its a difference of like 200k, which they never used to care about, now its the biggest deal in the world.
But maybe the biggest give away is that if you look at these extensions, save for the first year of the deal, none of it is structured with bonuses. Almost all high end players get them throughout their deals, but the Sabres absolutely refuse to give them. Ever wonder why the worlds worst penalty kill never gets upgraded? That would require paying assistant coaches who know what they are doing more money than the goofballs who are currently here. The scouting department is still bare bones. Kevin Devine and Jerry Forton still have jobs here!! Part of it is the hit they took from the pandemic, sure, but really theyre just far more committed to the NFL side of thing because frankly, its better for them.
About the compete window, I have a genuine question. What team has ever had a 10 year window? not a window as in like playoff team, 10 years of genuine stanley cup competitive rosters? Most of the best usually get a 4-5 year target zone because they double down to improve their chances of winning. ITs the natural trade off. Your window gets "shorter" but your odds at winning in theory get better