Next step if playoffs are the goal

Équipe: 2020-21 Sabres de Buffalo

Date de création initiale: 26 nov. 2020

Publié: 26 nov. 2020

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

1. NYI-BUF TRADE:
Why Isles do it: Losing Boychuk to retirement/LTIR, they have a hole at RD; Miller fills that with PP ability and 1/2 the cap hit.
Why Sabres do it: They free up cap space for another move and recoup a draft pick. Miller was the odd man out over Montour & Ristolainen, two players that Krueger obviously trusts more.
2. AZ-BUF TRADE:
Why Coyotes do it: They shed $6.2M in combined salaries of two players over age 28 while adding a younger goalie and two other players under age 24 that Housley is very familiar with, plus a 2nd round pick.
Why Sabres do it: They bolster their goaltending with proven starter and veteran LHD on bottom pairing; Mittelstadt has fallen out of favor and Pilut wasn't utilized by Krueger. Moving Johansson then allows Hutton to be demoted to Rochester as Lukkonnen's mentor and veteran experience, freeing up some cap hit in the process, with Tokarski likely to be sent to ECHL thereafter. Oesterle's contract is for 1 year and can be released next summer if one of the Amerk prospects shows development to be promoted.
Cap Implications: Absorbing Kuemper's $4.5M deal for another season after this is manageable with 7 UFAs next summer of which only Hall is vital.

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