Sabres VERY unlikely to be willing to sign a guy Hellebuyck’s age, to a 6 year extension
Us trading for him at this point seems unlikely

Like the team, Boston prob declines.

Ya, probably. Stranger things have happened! It could end poorly or... They could win the cup because they have one of the best goaltenders of his generation to go along with that sexy D-corps!

Even if we did trade for Hellebuyck,
you’re expectations of what we’d give up are quite unrealistic imo

If a Swayman deal would happen, it would be a straight swap with Scheifele with cash making it neutral or a bit of a positive for Boston.

Scheifele seems like a good bet to get to free agency.

Apparently Schmaltz isn't really a center and the Jets kicked tires on him but don't like his contract structure so they decided against acquiring him.

That Barron contract is rough.

Even if these trades happened that just doesn't look like the defense of a cup winner.

Ya, I tried to channel my inner Chevy with the Barron deal. Used the Appleton contract as a precedent.
I had made a deal for Pesce but the odds of him signing here after are pretty slim as well. I do think he wou dbe the perfect partner for JoMo!
Defense is tough, I think they need some internal growth here but so thin on right side.

Hmm, maybe. From my point of view, Swayman still relatively unproven, to suggest he would fetch a 40 goal, point a game center straight up is absurd. He looks like a good bet but what does he look like behind a team that's not stacked like Boston was last season? There are limited options for Centers out there and if Scheifele is moved at the deadline the price goes up.

Perhaps, Krebs and Rosen might be a bit much. Would a Krebs and a first plus a B prospect like Rousek be more palatable? Don't underestimate Chevy!
Why wouldn't the Sabres trade for Hellebuyck?

I just took a look at his deal! You are correct, Next 3 years he is owed $7.5, $7.45 and $8.5 in real cash! I suspect Arizona would like to get rid of that!

1- it’s the “Krebs” part that’s too much, not the Rosen part
Krebs was a “must have” piece in the Eichel trade, so it would be very surprising to see us give him up

2- as for why we wouldn’t trade for Hellebuyck…
Bc he’ll likely want a 7 year extension, and at his age i think the Sabres would not wanna do that at all. I don’t think they’d be able to come to an agreement with him


Personally, I’d love Hellebuyck if he’d sign a 3year extension
And i think the Sabres would too
But i just don’t think it’s realistic

Just curious, who are the current rumoured interested teams for #55 and #37?

Appleton got a two year bridge deal for $900K coming off his ELC, don't see what Barron has done to get anything more then that, hopefully they don't overpay him, as of now he's a dime a dozen replacement level 4th line winger.

Yeah Pesce won't sign so it's not worth it to acquire him, Idk how they can improve this defense but it needs some work if they truly want to contend but thats easier said then done, just don't think we have a top pair that measures up and even the 2nd and 3rd pairs are nothing to write home about.

That Salomonsson kid coming out of nowhere and turning into a stud dman might be their only hope... lol

Ya, Krebs is a ball player for sure!
Return aside, Hellebuyck on a 6 yr deal even (I don’t see anyone other than Win give him more than 6) would give the Sabres a nice window with Power on an ELC and some studs coming up. Would be a heckuva mentor for Levis. Kind of a Pekka Rinne / Jusse Soros tandem. Sabres should take a home run swing. Krebs is good but he’s just a middle six player at best. Vezina calibre goalies who are one of the best of their generation are not as common.

Yes. Krebs is “just” a middle6 player
But he’s still a guy i see us VERY unlikely to move

As far as Hellebuyck goes….
Personally i like him- he’s great!
But he’s also getting old & (supposedly) wants a huge extension, which i don’t blame him for at all
I just don’t think the Sabres will be willing to give it to him
It really wouldn’t make a lot of sense for us
Bc as good as we are becoming, we are still a few years away from being “Cup contenders”
And by then, Hellebuyck could be starting to decline

Every time a team signs a goalie in his 30s to a big long extension, they end up regretting it- and usually, it’s fairly early on in the extension that they end up regretting it

I don’t think the Sabres will do it
And i really don’t think they should either

Scheifele is one of the worst defensive centers in the league, is older, and a pending unrestricted free agent. I am not giving up a 24 year old with a 91% projected WAR for a player that fits that description. I personally don’t trade Swayman and just look to sign a center next year.

I dunno man, 42 goals point per game consistently, drives play, elite skill, 6’3 205. He’s in great shape, durable, Lots of hockey left. With the right coach and team. He’s been real good in playoffs when he’s played. He’s been a lot better defensively before the last 2 years or so, and can again.

I look at JFresh’s defensive stats and they say he’s worse than Bertuzzi from what I recall. I like him. I just don’t believe he signs a long term contract in Winnipeg and we have the cap position to get him for free next year.

Centers will want to come to Boston if next year is Bergeron’s last. Granted I acknowledge that FA often means overpaying cap wise.

That said, Swayman, IMO has the potential to be a premium goaltender and Winnipeg knows the value of that.

For sure, he has been somewhat of a liability defensively these past couple of years. He is in a contract year so should give it everything he's got! No guarantee he or any other 1C comes to Boston as there will be plenty other suitors and the Bruins are notoriously stingy. See PLD to LA and not Montreal for the "we'll just sign him as a UFA"
Swayman looks like a good bet for sure. You have to give up something to get something. I believe the package i presented is reasonable and helps both teams.

I have no qualms with giving to get, but if I’m giving up Swayman … it’s not for a 31 year old center who doesn’t play defense and is a FA next year. I’d argue that Boston is appealing as any option for a free agent center.

If Ullmark were willing to waive his no movement clause to Winnipeg, the deal makes more sense if the salaries are the same in year 1, but I don’t see that happening

I believe the package you presented was not even close.