Playing GM: Part II
8/01/2010 | Posted by
Devin
Since we're roughly a month into free agency for the NHL and camps will be opening up sooner than we think, I thought it would be fun to play GM again. I took my first stab when I ranked the upcoming free agent class and while none of it came to fruition, there is still plenty out there. Plus I figure with the more I write, I might actually get something right for once.
Thanks to Cap Geek and there new and improved cap calculator, it literally is amazing, I was able to have some fun with the roster and easily see the cap numbers.
So as it stands now, the Sabres have 13 forwards signed for the 10-11 season with another looming, Tim Kennedy. Kennedy just finished up his arbitration, as he was awarded $1 million for next season. Since the number is below a certain amount, the Sabres don't have the option of walking away from the number (not that I would expect them to anyways).
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| Kennedy was awarded a $1 million/1 year deal. |
My first step would be moving Tim Connolly and Drew Stafford for whatever they can get. I know this isn't the Sabres style but both contracts run out after this season and neither are worth keeping at this point, so why not get something in return? Neither player is completely useless and I'm sure some team would value those guys. My hope would be the Maple Leafs but I'm guessing that Brian Burke isn't biting on that one. Unfortunately I think Burke would want Derek Roy in a trade and he isn't someone I'm so quick to let go, although I could be talked into it.
In fact, if trading Roy and letting Stafford and Connolly walk after the season resulted in gaining a new top 6 forward and having the money to lock Tyler Myers up for the long haul, I'd gladly sign off on that deal, but that is another discussion for another day.
So for the sake of argument, let's pretend the Sabres could move Connolly and Stafford and acquire some guy with the last name of Kaberle. (I know…work with me on this)
This now leaves the Sabres with more cap space, $8.8 million to be exact, and clears up some of the roster jumble. Now we're down to 12 forwards and seven defensemen, which allows for Chris Butler and Andrej Sekera to compete for the 6th d-man spot. Perfect. This also gives the Sabres their much coveted PP QB. Kaberle is a UFA after the season but so is Craig Rivet, and assuming he takes a rather large pay cut, it's safe to say this might be his last season in Buffalo.
We're missing one more thing. A top six forward. This is a risky proposition, but the Sabres have nothing to lose. They need to throw an offer sheet out to a restricted free agent. Specifically, they need to go after Bobby Ryan.
The Ducks have already offered Ryan a 5 year, 25 million dollar deal which has been turned down. If I were playing the part of GM, I'd be more than willing to offer a 5 year deal worth $30 million. At $6 million per season, it's a significant raise and might be just enough to have Anaheim take the draft picks in return. If it doesn't work and Anaheim matches, no harm no foul. Again, for the sake of argument, let's pretend that works and he comes to Buffalo.
This move would leave the Sabres with a nice $2.8 million dollar cap cushion for the season, which could give them some flexibility down the road for the trading deadline or even next season. It also adds a 30 goal scorer to the team in addition to Thomas Vanek.
Playoff disappointments aside, the Sabres accumulated 100 points and were division champs last season. They also survived the Olympics and Ryan Miller's added work load in the process. They won't have that distraction this year. They would be replacing Stafford and Connolly's production/disappearing act with a 30 goal scoring, 23 year old Olympic forward. They would also be adding one of the better PP defensemen in the league.
Yes please. Where do I sign up?
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