Équipe: 2018-19 Sabres de Buffalo

Date de création initiale: 6 avr. 2018

Publié: 6 avr. 2018

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

1st move: Signing Kunitz and Hutton.
—> Adds veteran presence and helps to build a winning culture. Kunitz has 4 Stanley Cups, while Hutton has been on playoff competitive teams St. Louis and Nashville the past few seasons. Kunitz has shown ability to play with elite players and Hutton should be able to fill in for Ullmark should there be growing pains in his first season as a number 1.

2nd move: Beaulieu Trade.
—> With the winning of the draft lottery and emergence of Guhle and Nelson there isn’t room for Beaulieu on the roster. Alone Beaulieu would fetch about a 4th round pick. By sending him to Pittsburgh, retaining salary and taking Hunwick Buffalo is able to get a 2nd round pick. Also, once Hunwick is sent to Rochester he can serve as a valuable leader and mentor to Buffalo’s young prospects.

3rd move: Lehner Trade.
—> Everyone knows the Islanders badly need goaltending. With few strong options available in free agency, the Islanders take a flyer on Lehner who actually has respectable stats outside of this season. Just needs a change of scenery. The Islanders and Sabres swap RFAs, while Buffalo adds defensive center Larsson to help fill the void left by Nelson. In Buffalo, Nelson would be a big left winger and with lessened defensive responsibilities his offensive stats should rocket playing with Eichel, Mittelstadt or O’Reilly.

4th move: Girgensons Trade.
—> St. Louis looks to get younger and makes some minor changes after missing the playoffs (assuming they do). In Girgensons they get a player who can play either forward position, unlike Jaskin. Girgensons is also younger and provides similar offence. Jaskin is a RFA and will cost more than Jaskin, which takes valuable cap space that St. Louis could use if they pursue a top free agent (ie. Tavares, JVR, Thornton or Bozak). Jaskin is very good defensively (59% of shifts start in defensive zone) whilst driving possession and like others he has been playing on a winning playoff team the past few seasons helping to create a winning culture. A line of Kunitz-O’Reilly-Jaskin could make a great shutdown combo and eat up defensive zone assignments allowing for the Eichel and Mittelstadt lines to focus on offence. Buffalo also adds a pick to entice St. Louis.

A-Jack Eichel
A-Rasmus Ristolainen
A-Ryan O’Reilly
A-Chris Kunitz

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