A lefty shot yes, but has played a lot of his career on the right side, at least from what I recall. He had a rough start, but has been fine since then (since 12/1 his GA/60 is a paltry 1.34 and GF% at 63.16%, not to mention by far the best dman on the PK in terms of GA/60). Either way, regardless of opinion on Chara, the point remains that right side Dmen is not one of the areas the Isles should be focused on upgrading right now.
This season they’ve had him on the Left even if his partner also shoots left but that is correct, RHD are not a need of this team currently.
Right, that's why I clarified I was talking him as playing a lot there over his career, not this season. He can be included in the depth there because he is an option due to his experience playing it.
The only real useful piece in the offer for Mayfield is the late first. The 2 undersized prospects really don’t tip the scale enough to move Varlamov as well. Both Bryson and the Finn basically give me Aho 2.0 and an NHL/AHL tweeter feel. Bryson isn’t what the Islanders need when it comes to asking for an OFD since he won’t crack the lineup next year even.
. And that would be a vastly different trade to acquire him.
I don’t even know if Lou would move Mayfield unless it was a noticeable overpayment. The first isn’t really the concern eventhough the Islanders prospect pool isn’t stocked with high end talent, it’s the replacement for Mayfield at a similar AAV (or something affordable even). They don’t have anyone in the system that can step in. Bolduc is having a rough year but could be a promising prospect and Salo is an LH offensive defenseman. Aho watches from the press box because he seems to always get caught out of position and isn’t strong or big enough to make up for it with his play. Bryson would just be the same and probably be a Bridgeport lifer. Every team has those types of prospects, Koivula being one. Guys that can produce easily in the AHL but don’t do anything real noticeable to stick in the NHL.I mean, Dahlin is about the only OFD we have. The rest are just offensive
And the Varlamov deal is done in the summer, even though the terms are agreed to. It’s basically the cap dump trade the Isles need to do, without looking at capfriendly to see who is UFA/RFA this off-season. They keep him until June.
As far as the two players, I don’t disagree with your take, nor do I agree with it. They’re no worse than players the Sabres have who will get signed this summer (Miller, Hagg, Eakin), but they’re better than AAAA guys. I think Bryson tops out as a 5/6 and is arguably the Sabres second best dman currently (not that that’s a high bar to clear, but the point still stands). As far as R2, the Sabres are using him badly when they do. They use him as a defensive checker with 0 PP time, when they should be using him with Cozens at even strength and in the Olofsson spot on PP2. But Buffalo gonna Buffalo.
I mean a deal could probably be worked around between Mayfield and Olofsson, but then the 1st rounder is probably off the table.
Samuelsson available? He’s good buddies with Wahlstrom. They’d make perfect teammates.Bryson is like watching Brodin. Or Slavin. Obviously he’s not on their level, but he’s one of those guys that will neither hurt or help you. You just don’t notice him, which is my highest praise I can give a dman. Although Mayfield is the same way. He just plays the right side, instead of the left side, where the Sabres are deepest. Someone of Bryson, Johnson and Samuelsson is moving to the right side eventually. Or being traded. Or being the depth D. But Bryson rarely gets caught out of position. You’ll rarely ever see him get criticized on our board. And we’re not nice on HFSabres
As mentioned earlier, the Isles need a scoring winger. Quinn is obviously not available. Olofsson probably is, but he also might not be. I don’t care either way, because you gotta give to get. R2 is available, even though I personally like him better than Olofsson and think he’s badly misused by Buffalo. He’s basically the Sabres version of Wahlstrom, who last I knew was being misused by Trotz.
But yes, Mayfield’s contract makes him valuable as well. That’s a “by next TDL” problem with him. Because regardless he’s getting a raise from somebody.
