rktkt66

rktkt66
Member Since
Jun 11, 2018
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Buffalo Sabres
2nd Favourite Team
Edmonton Oilers
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Phoenix, AZ
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62
Forum: Armchair-GMSep 7, 2019 at 8:41
Thread: Move Risto
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>littlejerryseinfeld</b></div><div>I feel like I did lower my expectations by trading him for a soon to be 29 year old with 5 years left on his deal who has never scored 25 goals or 50 points.</div></div>

I'd worry that Botterill would settle for Henrique (same age and remaining term as Silfverberg) instead to bolster the center corps - even if he thinks Mittelstadt can handle 2C duties, he'd probably want a veteran center as insurance behind Mittelstadt (similar to his apparent willingness to taking Berglund on last summer) who could play some PP, win draws and fill in as 2C when/if Mittelstadt struggles.

However, I'm still holding out hope that sanity will prevail and one of your's and my summer proposals (Risto for Toffoli with picks) happens. It had a lot of logic IMO in how weak Kings defense is behind Doughty and how good a 2-way winger Toffoli is to play either 1RW or 2RW. Everyone keeps pegging Johansson as a winger because of his BOS/NJ stints there but he played center for the first 6 seasons of his career in Washington and seems a much safer, smarter solution for Sabres to fill the 2C position this year; if Mittelstadt takes control and proves worthy of that spot, fine, Johansson can shift to wing - but I'd rather see the Sabres first put Mittelstadt in 3C spot and let him earn the promotion. If he can't, Johansson can fill it this year.
Forum: Armchair-GMAug 9, 2019 at 7:53
Thread: Final surgical moves
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Skyraider112</b></div><div>Of course his ppg is higher, he is a forward. His +/- is only high because he was playing on Cup winning teams as you said while Risto was stuck playing top minutes on the worst team in the league. If you swapped their scenarios, their +/- would also swap. Sending Risto to Tampa would mean he would be +30 on the season. +/- is just a stat that reflects the team's goal differential, not necessarily the player's defensive/offensive play.</div></div>

The Corsi numbers are just as tilted in Toffoli's favor - and he was on only 1 Cup team. Obviously, comparing stats between a forward and a defenseman is pointless - I only referenced their career production because your first comment was about Ristolainen having more offensive impact last season.

<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Skyraider112</b></div><div>All your other points make sense. Personally wouldn't trade Risto for a sketch top 6 winger who could just walk, leaving us with no tangible return</div></div>

You mean like Skinner this summer or Vesey next summer? I did include the conditional 2nd in 2021 becoming a 1st round pick if Toffoli somehow didn't pan out - which is more or less the return the Sabres got for Kane. Botterill definitely acknowledged in his WGR interview this week that the plan of having 10 expiring contracts next year works in the team's favor because of the obvious motivation those players have to produce in their final year. Toffoli fits right into that model - and I would bet he follows Skinner's example in thriving with Eichel in 1st line role on young and upcoming team (which LA is not) near his hometown.
Forum: Armchair-GMAug 9, 2019 at 5:01
Thread: Final surgical moves
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Skyraider112</b></div><div>Toffs isnt the kind of player we would look for.</div></div>

100% disagree and here's why:

1. Like Skinner last year and Vesey this year, he comes on an affordable, expiring contract - meaning, if things don't work out for him and/or the team, the Sabres aren't handcuffed cap-wise beyond this season. Their cap space for 2020-21 isn't impacted.

2. Like Skinner did last summer before becoming a Sabre, Toffoli comes off a down-year in LA and in need of a change of scenery - meaning, his market value is probably lower than what it will be when he likely rebounds this season with another 20+ goal season (which he's done in 3 of his 6 NHL seasons so far).

3. Like was the case with Skinner, Toffoli is from the Toronto area so the chance to play home games in front of friends and family will not only lead to a motivated but happy player.

4. Despite his off-year in production last season, Toffoli was 1 of only 13 players in the entire league whose possession stats for generating offensive chances and for preventing scoring chances against when he was on the ice were both on the positive side of metrics. He's been over a 50% Corsi player for his entire career. He would be the defensively-responsible member to cover for Eichel and Skinner when they lapse on their coverages. Although he can play on either specialty team, the majority of his production is at 5-on-5......again, a dire need for Buffalo's roster.

5. Although he only had 13 goals last year, Toffoli took over 200 shots for the 4th time in past 5 years and drove play from the wing......which is what the Sabres would want for anyone replacing Reinhart on Eichel's line if the 1st line is to remain as potent as it was last year. How many players do the Sabres have that can come close to generating 226 shots on net (not counting those that don't get registered)?

6. Toffoli is a Cup winner with playoff experience - which we hear Botterill as recently as this week say over and over again how valuable that is for him to add in the Sabres' locker room.

7. Toffoli is durable, playing a full season 3 of the last 4 seasons.

8. You noted Ristolainen's offensive stats but the reality is that Toffoli's 251 point in 437 GP I still better than Ristolainen's 194 points in 424 GP....and it's hard to overlook the disparity of Toffoli's +80 over 6 seasons to Ristolainen's -143 over the same time span.

Finally, of all the possible scenarios for teams needing defensive help and having offensive assets to help Buffalo's needs, a trade with LA seems the most realistic. The Sabres won't find a center for the 2nd line that is available and an upgrade over Johansson, Mittelstadt or Rodrigues. Targeting young wingers like Ehlers or Rakell also seems unrealistic without an overpayment. Given that the GM of the Kings was an offensive-minded defenseman with a mean streak and physical edge during his playing days, I suspect that Ristolainen may have a rosier impression in Blake's eyes than perhaps some other GMs.

In my opinion, the case for chasing Toffoli as a trade target is a no-brainer.
Forum: Armchair-GMAug 9, 2019 at 1:20
Thread: After hearing Botterill today
A few reminders relative to Botterill's latest interview:

1. At the draft last year, when asked about O'Reilly, he said that Ryan was a part of their team and denied rumors about a trade. Two weeks later, O'Reilly was dealt to St. Louis
2. He staunchly defended Housley to the media just before the trade deadline this year....several weeks later, he fired Housley.
3. He recently told the media how they liked the versatility of Sheary, Vesey and Nylander to play either wing.......a week after his interview with the Buffalo media, Nylander was traded for Jokiharju.

Moral to the story is that just like Regier did and 99% of the GMS not named Murray or Rutherford, Botterill is never going to reveal a pending move out of fear that he loses some bargaining leverage in discussions with other teams. I listened to the WGR interview from Tuesday and it was the usual "we're fine...we're happy with things....we want to get better when there's an opportunity to do so....yada, yada"

I'm not expecting a buyout or a bunch of cap dump-type deals but I am expecting that, before opening night, a RHD will be traded and another offensive-minded forward to bolster the top 9 will be acquired. The Sabres had one of the worst offenses last year and Botterill isn't foolish enough to think that adding Vesey and Johansson and promoting Olofsson is going to solve that big of a problem. My gut feeling is that it will be a RW for Eichel's line as opposed to a 2C that are few and far between in terms of realistic targets and improvements over Mittelstadt, Johansson or Rodrigues.
Forum: Armchair-GMAug 6, 2019 at 10:20
Thread: van nyr and min trades
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>jonnymc26</b></div><div>you may not know this but when Eichel was first drafted and played first year in the NHL he lived with Moulson and his family who had all those things said about him you just said about okposo. .</div></div>

Fully aware of the Moulson situation during Eichel's rookie year but it's different: whereas Moulson and his wife took Eichel, as a kid and 1st time NHLer, under their wing to show him the ropes of NHL life and make the adjustment easier on an 18-year old, the stories about Okposo are more on point in that Eichel, as the newly-anointed captain, was seeking him out for advice and "leaning" on him per Yerdon for advice on how to lead his teammates. In short, Moulson was an emotional support but Okposo apparently was a more visible anchor for Eichel.

All of which may mean nothing or may mean a lot......from what Botterill has said in the past, I'd tend to think he'll be very cautious with how he deals with Okposo being on the roster.
Forum: Armchair-GMAug 3, 2019 at 7:13
Thread: van nyr and min trades
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>jonnymc26</b></div><div>i can agree with most of what you are saying, but i oko does get sent to minors it sends same message it did with molson. you have to work to improve your game to stay on the team. Kruger said there is not a single player who cant improve there game on this roster. also if he gets sent down it saves team 1.25m$ if they replace him with a rookie thats still a savings and hopefully an upgrade to bottom 6..</div></div>

As Joe Yerdon noted in a recent interview, Okposo is "beloved" in the locker room - and is someone that Eichel has leaned on heavily for guidance on becoming a leader. It's likely that Okposo will still wear an "A" this season so I don't buy the theory that Botterill would waive him to send him to Rochester. Now, if somehow the Sabres can find a trade scenario that they approach him on (he does have a M-NTC) to give him a chance to win, it'd be seen by others more as a business decision that respected Okposo's career and veteran status. Dumping him unceremoniously, even if it's sold as what's best for the team, could lead to some player unrest.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul 28, 2019 at 11:19
Thread: Sabres
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>rktkt66</b></div><div>Well done on all 3 trades, two of which sync with players I've been lobbying proposals on!

Only criticism I'd make is on the actual lineups.

1st line and 3rd line are logical and good fits.

On the 2nd, I have concerns. For the same reasons that everyone points to Johansson not being a good center fit ("he's played LW for most of past 3 seasons"), it applies to Reinhart and why not to move him to center. Of the two, Johansson is a better skater and defensive player so I'd rather see him be the center on that line and keep Reinhart on RW where he's flourished.

1st defense pairing makes sense to me but I don't see Krueger/Botterill putting two RHD on the 2nd pairing and then two LHD on the 3rd pairing. Whether they put Pilut-Montour / McCabe-Miller (as Yerdon's article proposed) or McCabe-Montour / Pilut-Miller (which I'd prefer, mainly to put a defensive presence in McCabe with a weaker defensive player like Montour who needs the freedom to roam), it's solvable.</div></div>

Been thinking about the proposal - still like a lot of what you're recommending. I just wonder if the Jets' swap would be possible when their holes on defense have been widely documented as lacking experience behind Bfyuglien and Morrissey. Whereas the rumored interest in Ristolainen make sense from that perspective, would they really trade their 2LW for a prospect defenseman yet to play in the NHL? The 1st rounder certainly would be a major sweetener but it's hard to find many reports that the Jets are unhappy with Ehlers......it sounds like they may almost be willing to consider dealing Laine if they can't agree on a contract.

With Scandella, I know the Coyotes have cap issues at the moment but my gut tells me that Housley's role there with the defense corps could lead to AZ asking about Scandella. It was no secret how much Housley defended and relied on Scandella last year....and there's been reports for the past year that AZ would love to get out from under Goligoski's contract as his play has plummeted for the past 2 seasons.

With Toffoli, if he were to be acquired (and I hope Botterill has him on his shopping list, given how we know Botterill places an emphasis on Cup-winners when he can add them), my guess is that he'd come in the same way as Skinner did: get used to the team and see if it's a good fit before Botterill decides if he wants to re-sign him. If Toffoli produces like Skinner did, I would think Botterill learned his lesson and would push hard to extend him sooner than the end of the season. But the aspect of Toffoli playing with Eichel as a good 2-way RW who can cover defensively and also convert on chances seems logical as does the likelihood of Toffoli rebounding in a contract year where he's playing close to home.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul 28, 2019 at 11:06
Thread: van nyr and min trades
I know anything's possible when it comes to Benning's decisions but the Canucks have already committed to Myers and Edler as their top pairing and are going to be hard-pressed to squeeze in Boeser's new contract (probably in the $6.5M-7M range) so Ristolainen, from depth and cap situation, doesn't seem plausible. And, even if it were to happen as proposed, would Botterill really target Virtanen as a RW (which the Sabres need) only to see him on the 4th line. He'd seem as good a candidate for the top 9 as Vesey, Sheary or Olofsson.

I know fans want to see the dead wood players jettisoned but I can't believe Botterill - or even Fenton - would agree to a draft pick for Wilson AND Scandella. Maybe Scandella gets dumped somewhere for a low draft pick but at Wilson's salary and the limited depth at Rochester, I suspect the Sabres will keep Wilson and take their chances he clears waivers to start with the Amerks.

As to lineup, there is no way that Botterill would bury Okposo in the AHL - for starters, the cap savings of doing so is minimal and secondly, I think the message it would send to both the player and his teammates is one that neither Krueger or Botterill would want to mess with.

The defense corps, with additions of Staal and Juolevi don't make sense - Pilut and Bogosian are both reported, for now, to probably only miss the first 2-3 weeks of the season. Maybe Bogosian becomes the 7th D but there's no way Pilut doesn't get a top 6 spot......which then creates a numbers game when you have 7 D without either player from IR.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul 27, 2019 at 10:11
Thread: Sabres
Well done on all 3 trades, two of which sync with players I've been lobbying proposals on!

Only criticism I'd make is on the actual lineups.

1st line and 3rd line are logical and good fits.

On the 2nd, I have concerns. For the same reasons that everyone points to Johansson not being a good center fit ("he's played LW for most of past 3 seasons"), it applies to Reinhart and why not to move him to center. Of the two, Johansson is a better skater and defensive player so I'd rather see him be the center on that line and keep Reinhart on RW where he's flourished.

1st defense pairing makes sense to me but I don't see Krueger/Botterill putting two RHD on the 2nd pairing and then two LHD on the 3rd pairing. Whether they put Pilut-Montour / McCabe-Miller (as Yerdon's article proposed) or McCabe-Montour / Pilut-Miller (which I'd prefer, mainly to put a defensive presence in McCabe with a weaker defensive player like Montour who needs the freedom to roam), it's solvable.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul 22, 2019 at 6:25
Thread: Stuff
1. Namestnikov is not 1st line material nor would the Rangers, who are already trying to shed salary after signing Trouba, take on a discounted Scandella.
2. McCabe will not re-sign for only $400K more - nor would an arbitrator go that low. If the Sabres were able to lock him up at that, why would they then trade him? He'd be more likely to be traded if the arbitration awards him a higher deal the Sabres don't want to live with. Also, Hoffman was an option when the Panthers were chasing Panarin - having missed out on him, I can't see the Panthers moving him until the trade deadline and certainly not for less scoring in Sheary.
3. Pairing 2 RHDs in Montour and Miller makes no sense; we also know that Botterill prefers the traditional LHD-RHD tandems. Despite what many said last year about Dahlin being able to move to RHD, he clearly was much better and more comfortable at LD.
4. Ristolainen will not be on the opening night roster.
5. Why is Smith in Buffalo if you intend to make him a healthy scratch? His contract clearly fits with AHL ranges - if he isn't getting ice time in Buffalo, Botterill would rather keep him in Rochester.
6. What's the basis of Bogosian being on LTIR? All we've heard is that he might miss the first few weeks of the season....
Forum: Armchair-GMJul 22, 2019 at 6:15
Thread: Playoff team w 2 more additions amp the subtractions
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>littlejerryseinfeld</b></div><div>1.) Toffoli is much better than sheary</div></div>
Yes, but Kings need to add speed - and Sheary scored more goals last season than Toffoli. It sounds like Blake wants to mix things up and won't be able to dump Carter or Kovalchuk; they also have little in way of defensive prospects which they'd be adding as well.

<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>littlejerryseinfeld</b></div><div>2.) Arizona has ekman Larsson, goligoski and chychrun at LHD and are almost the cap</div></div>
Goligoski has been an anchor they've been trying to unload for a while - and Tocchet clearly trusts Housley's input with the hire to run the defense. We know how Housley used Scandella last year....

<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>littlejerryseinfeld</b></div><div>3.) Adding echl players to ristolainen isnt getting ehlers</div></div>
Stevens was in Rochester (AHL) last year....I could see Sabres retaining some of Ristolainen's salary to help Jets situation but they can't take on Perreault's contract.

<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>littlejerryseinfeld</b></div><div>4.) Ottawa is at the floor and isnt trading assets for depth players</div></div>
When they barely have an NHL roster as it is, they can't put jerseys on draft picks of the future. Wilson is the kind of veteran bottom 6 player that a young rebuilding team like Ottawa could be willing to take, especially if it's only for a 1 year commitment at barely over $1M. A 4th rounder isn't a high quality asset either.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul 10, 2019 at 1:00
Thread: Zucker amp RNH
Believe me, I'd love it if your proposed trades would come true as adding RNH and Zucker - two guys I really like - would dramatically help in areas the Sabres need it in. However, everything I've read out of Edmonton since Holland took over is that the Oilers are fully building around RNH, McDavid and Draisaitl as their core forwards - plus, there's enough accounts from media covering the team that the Oilers may actually deal from their surplus of defenseman to add a scoring winger. So I don't see a fit anymore in them trading RNH or wanting Ristolainen.

Same story with Zucker - unfortunately. The rumors of that botched deal with Penguins and Fenton's seemingly-desperation to deal Zucker for anything, along with LeBrun's report that the Sabres were interested in him, made it seem like a plausible scenario. Unfortunately, with the free agent signings the Wild made, there are a lot of reports that Fenton has changed his mind on trading Zucker; there's also the hitch that Zucker's 10-team NTC went into effect July 1st, and we can probably assume a team like Buffalo may be on the list.

I hate to rain on the ideas because I'd love them to happen - I just think neither is realistic anymore to hope for. Still, as to the lineup, I think your projections make sense.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul 4, 2019 at 9:56
Thread: Brassard
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>DahlinOlofsson67</b></div><div>just a few things 1) I think Brassard should be number 2 center 2) Victor Olofsson should be on the team and not Tage Thompson. other than that i think the team is good</div></div>

While Brassard costs nothing in assets, he is 32 this season and will probably be looking for $3.5M minimum coming off his $5M prior contract. I floated the idea of the Sabres bringing in Sam Gagner as the 2C for the following reasons:
1. Oilers have cap issues and by a lot of reports from Edmonton, would happily dump Gagner and his $3.1M contract. He's presently slotted as their 3rd line winger.
2. However, Gagner turns 30 this fall and is in final year of his contract - so there's no long-term commitment to worry about if the Sabres envision Mittelstadt needing only 1 more year in a less-pressured 3rd line role until he assumes the 2C position.
3. Gagner is still an offensively-creative player who is effective on power plays and has some decent speed.
4. Gagner played under Krueger for 2 seasons and had some good seasons in the process - so there's a good chance reuniting coach and player might squeeze some decent production out of Gagner in a 2C role with increased ice time........plus we know that Reinhart will be more of the offensive catalyst on the line so that could boost Gagner's contributions.
5. Related to # 1, Sabres could probably send Oilers a draft pick or the RFA rights to Girgensons to get Gagner.

Again, just as with Brassard, the M.O. is for a 1-year stop gap. All of the legitimate 2Cs under more term aren't on the market or affordable with what assets Sabres have to offer to get them IMO.
Forum: Armchair-GMJun 26, 2019 at 8:02
Thread: 2019-20 Sabres Rebuilt
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>OrganizedConfusion55</b></div><div>I'm not moving risto for a rental</div></div>

Toffoli is the same age as Skinner, is also from the Toronto area and one of 13 players in the league to be as good in generating scoring chances for as he is in preventing scoring chances against. He'll help the 5x5 play, give Eichel a RW similar to Reinhart to boost the 1st line while Reinhart anchors the 2nd line and he adds much-needed leadership and experience from a championship-winner. I'd rate the odds high that he could have a bounce-back season and thrive with Eichel, Krueger and a team close to home in better market than southern California.....and that he'd want to re-sign. I don't think he'll explode offensively like Skinner did but if he contributes 25+ goals, 65-70+ points, that would be a boost and maybe lead to a new contract in the $6-7M range.

Ristolainen has proven what he is......he's not on a rollercoaster where he may magically improve next season into what everyone hoped he'd be. The longer the Sabres hold onto him, the lower his market value becomes as he gets older and his term shrinks. You may think Toffoli is a rental with an expiring contract but that also works in any team's favor if they go for him in that they would be buying low after an off-year. Ristolainen is a diminishing asset they need to cut bait on....and teams seem to be hesitating now on taking him on because they see him as what he is. My hope is that some GM like Benning, Waddell, Fletcher or Blake (remember, he chose Kovalchuk as his first UFA last year) are gullible enough to take Risto.