2018-19 Roster Speculation Pt. 3: Started from the bottom now we're here

[Fezzy126]

Let him take it from some other team then. He’s not worth more than 7.

By what logic?

 

[TehDoak]

He's worth considerably more than Evander got...which is 7.

Skinner is a better goal scorer than Kane....but Kane is a more complete player. Kane can play the PK, be out in the last minute up a goal, and will provide a physical presence. Skinner is a very one dimensional goal scorer. While he's very good at that, he doesn't generate much when he's not scoring. He reminds me of Miro Satan a bit.

I think they actually have pretty similar value. That being said....I was pretty dead set against giving him a long term (7+ year deal) given his age and past production going into the season. Seeing him work with Eichel and his effectiveness around the net, I'd be willing to give him a "buy-outable" 6-7 year deal. Basically, slightly backloaded deal with minimal signing bonuses on the back end.

 

[Jim Bob]

Skinner is a better goal scorer than Kane....but Kane is a more complete player. Kane can play the PK, be out in the last minute up a goal, and will provide a physical presence. Skinner is a very one dimensional goal scorer. While he's very good at that, he doesn't generate much when he's not scoring. He reminds me of Miro Satan a bit.

I think they actually have pretty similar value. That being said....I was pretty dead set against giving him a long term (7+ year deal) given his age and past production going into the season. Seeing him work with Eichel and his effectiveness around the net, I'd be willing to give him a "buy-outable" 6-7 year deal. Basically, slightly backloaded deal with minimal signing bonuses on the back end.

This is pretty similar to how my mindset about the Skinner contract situation has evolved for me from before the season until now.

I am still worried that this won't end well in that I think the two most likely outcomes are Skinner walking as a UFA and the Sabres getting nothing back outside of a great one year run or they sign him to a huge, long contract that is quite regrettable long before it expires.

My one hope is that all the reasons that Skinner waived to accept the trade here leads him to taking a long term deal in the $7M-ish range that might leave some UFA dollars on the table. But, it would give him stability in being as close to Toronto as he is likely to get and a good long term running mate and an upcoming team that he likes playing on.

For right now, I just want to not worry about that stuff and just revel in the fun of him scoring big goals for the Sabres.

 

[Aladyyn]

Skinner is a better goal scorer than Kane....but Kane is a more complete player. Kane can play the PK, be out in the last minute up a goal, and will provide a physical presence. Skinner is a very one dimensional goal scorer. While he's very good at that, he doesn't generate much when he's not scoring. He reminds me of Miro Satan a bit.

I think they actually have pretty similar value. That being said....I was pretty dead set against giving him a long term (7+ year deal) given his age and past production going into the season. Seeing him work with Eichel and his effectiveness around the net, I'd be willing to give him a "buy-outable" 6-7 year deal. Basically, slightly backloaded deal with minimal signing bonuses on the back end.

Kane is bad defensively, certainly not better than Skinner.

 

[HaNotsri]

Worst case scenario we keep Skinner and still don’t get to the playoffs. We’ve done worse deals than giving away Pu+2nd for one year of Skinner. And the benefit of Skinner making the team less terrible and a better environment for prospects is hard to measure but still something we should take into account.
Not going over a set amount (say 7.5 for 8 years or 8.5 for 6) might be a good way to insure that we won’t end up in an actual losing scenario.

Pretty burnt by the Murray deals.

 

[toomuchsauce]

The proof is on the tape. Go re-watch the game (I was there). The play dies on his stick, and has for maybe the last dozen games.

Zone starts: 11-3 for the Offensive
Shots: 0
Goals Against 2

I single him out because of how many times he turned open space with the puck into nothing last night. He was the most visible person on that line who did that.

Last night was definitely a bad game for that line, him included - but, overall, I just don't see him being a "problem." I think he can be a useful player. I think his contract could be a problem, moreso than his on-ice play.

 

[Fezzy126]

Skinner is a better goal scorer than Kane....but Kane is a more complete player. Kane can play the PK, be out in the last minute up a goal, and will provide a physical presence. Skinner is a very one dimensional goal scorer. While he's very good at that, he doesn't generate much when he's not scoring. He reminds me of Miro Satan a bit.

I think they actually have pretty similar value. That being said....I was pretty dead set against giving him a long term (7+ year deal) given his age and past production going into the season. Seeing him work with Eichel and his effectiveness around the net, I'd be willing to give him a "buy-outable" 6-7 year deal. Basically, slightly backloaded deal with minimal signing bonuses on the back end.

Kane also submarined the flow of whatever line he played on at ES both here and in Winnipeg. I'm happy he found a fit in SJ, but he wasn't going to work here.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I think the Sabres need to put a smart, big forward at RW to create a bit of traffic in the net area. I like Reinhart but he defers way too much to Eichel. Chayka seems to be moving players acquired before he got there. Christian Fischer is a player I really wanted in the 2015 draft. Chayka might bite if Botterill threw in assets which rated well analytically.

Something around Nelson and ERod?

Edit:

Then send Sobotka and a pick to the Pens for Brassard.

Skinner - Eichel - Fischer
Sheary - Mittelstadt - Okposo
Thompson - Brassard - Reinhart
Berglund - Larsson - Girgensons
x Elie, Wilson

Dahlin - Bogosian
Pilut - Ristolainen
Scandella - McCabe
x Beaulieu

 

[Goathead]

He's worth considerably more than Evander got...which is 7.

I see him about the same as Kane and Kane got overpaid. In my eyes they are very similar. Skinner would be better suited as a second liner. He is mainly a one dimensional scorer. His passing isn’t great I can’t remeber the last time he set up a goal. Most of his come from rebounds in tight. Eichel is still carrying that line most nights.

Edit: Teh beat me to it basically everything he said.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

Kane also submarined the flow of whatever line he played on at ES both here and in Winnipeg. I'm happy he found a fit in SJ, but he wasn't going to work here.

Kane had a good season last year with both Eichel and O’Reilly, because the former finally got pronounced OZS and the latter needed puck carrying with the team ditching the stretch pass.

 

[CrazyPsycho]

Scandella practicing...hopefully ready for tmrw

 

[Djp]

and how do we get under the salary cap? We'll have so much tied up in Eichel, Skinner, and Kane thatw e couldn't resign Reinhart and possibly Dahlin

If Buffalo sent back Okposo for Pat Kane the cap could be managed.

If we keep KO we could only afford around a $4M player to sign. That is keeping Reinhart.

Kane= KO+$4M.

 

[Royal Thunder]

Kane had a good season last year with both Eichel and O’Reilly, because the former finally got pronounced OZS and the latter needed puck carrying with the team ditching the stretch pass.

I thought after his hot start with Jack, that Kane was awful last year up until we traded him. He stopped caring and it showed.

 

[Yatzhee]

I'd like to see Smith and Nylander up.
Girgensons to center.

Skinner - Eichel - Reinhart
Sheary - Girgensons - Nylander
Smith - Mittlestadt - Okposo
Larsson - Berglund - Rodriguez

Sit Pominville and Sobotka, send Thompson down.

 

[Team Cozens]

I think the Sabres need to put a smart, big forward at RW to create a bit of traffic in the net area. I like Reinhart but he defers way too much to Eichel. Chayka seems to be moving players acquired before he got there. Christian Fischer is a player I really wanted in the 2015 draft. Chayka might bite if Botterill threw in assets which rated well analytically.

Something around Nelson and ERod?

Edit:

Then send Sobotka and a pick to the Pens for Brassard.

Skinner - Eichel - Fischer
Sheary - Mittelstadt - Okposo
Thompson - Brassard - Reinhart
Berglund - Larsson - Girgensons
x Elie, Wilson

Dahlin - Bogosian
Pilut - Ristolainen
Scandella - McCabe
x Beaulieu

There has to be a move coming soon with Scandella, McCabe, Hunwick and Nelson coming back onto
the roster. Pilut is the easy move back to Rochester but he has certainly earned a roster spot.

Hoping a package for a 2/3C. Brassard would be a good guess.

 

[Zman5778]

I'd like to see Smith and Nylander up.
Girgensons to center.

Skinner - Eichel - Reinhart
Sheary - Girgensons - Nylander
Smith - Mittlestadt - Okposo
Larsson - Berglund - Rodriguez

Sit Pominville and Sobotka, send Thompson down.

To me, Larsson and Girgensons is a more unbreakable duo than Skinner and Eichel. 22 and 28 just seem to make each other play so much better. They may not ever light up the scoresheet, but a few here and there as well as providing excellent D zone play and pinning the opposing team deep is good enough for me. Want to work around 22 and 28? Fine. But don't break them up, IMO.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[Fezzy126]

Kane had a good season last year with both Eichel and O’Reilly, because the former finally got pronounced OZS and the latter needed puck carrying with the team ditching the stretch pass.

that's true, I remember thinking that he was doing a better job at multiple points during the season. But I still think his strengths and weaknesses didn't naturally compliment with Jack very well. And there's no sense debating his fit with ROR because... well there's a deep dark vortex of a thread dedicated to that name But I do remember people complaining about him not having the defensive chops to hang long term with ROR in the role that he was deployed.

 

[Reddawg]

If Okposo is a no-go, it would be nice to see Goaloffson come up and take some snipes. He would look good with Casey and Tage.

 

[Gabrielor]

That’s the right answer. Love it.

 

[jcbeze]

If Okposo is a no-go, it would be nice to see Goaloffson come up and take some snipes. He would look good with Casey and Tage.

c'mon...you know they'll just play Ellie, and call up some vet tweener just in case....

 

[sabresfan129103]

As much crap as I've give Scandella this year it's pretty apparent that they miss his presence out there. When it's all said and done he is pretty steady defenseman (outside of the occasional PK gaff) .

 

[sincerity0]

If you’re worried about skinner aging, think about this: what is the one thing teams worry about with aging players? Skating. Skinner is a fantastic skater. He’s not going to go full Moulson at 32 because of his skating ability.

My biggest concern with signing players to deals into their 30s is skating. If they’re not great skaters now then age will hit them like a ton of bricks.

Signing any player to their 33+ season(s) is risky but I believe that Skinner has a style and skating that can be effective at least to his 32y/o season.

I’d push hard to sign him to a 7 year deal even with a more elevated AAV. Buffalo definitely wouldn’t be able to have the chance to go to 6 years which would be the most preferable but eight is a tough buy

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

that's true, I remember thinking that he was doing a better job at multiple points during the season. But I still think his strengths and weaknesses didn't naturally compliment with Jack very well. And there's no sense debating his fit with ROR because... well there's a deep dark vortex of a thread dedicated to that name But I do remember people complaining about him not having the defensive chops to hang long term with ROR in the role that he was deployed.

Yeah, his eye test last season still wasn’t great, but I think people’s reactions were colored a bit by his performance under Bylsma.

Overall, his performance last year was somewhere between the two data points.

 

[hizzoner]

I see him about the same as Kane and Kane got overpaid. In my eyes they are very similar. Skinner would be better suited as a second liner. He is mainly a one dimensional scorer. His passing isn’t great I can’t remeber the last time he set up a goal. Most of his come from rebounds in tight. Eichel is still carrying that line most nights.

Edit: Teh beat me to it basically everything he said.

Yes. Back on November 27 I said Skinner did not drive a line by himself and was sharply rebuked by some.....