I like the Girardi deal but still think Buffalo would ask for some retained salary....maybe a million. In return they could throw in a higher draft pick but 5.5 Million for the next 4 years will be a lot for the Sabres.

Girardi's salary might be lower but his cap hit is still at 5.25m a year for four years. Experience is nice but goodness, the Sabres Dmen don't need four years of Girardi. And you want the Sabres to give up 2 picks also?
No there is much better value than Girardi for 5.25m. Gee Yandle signed for only 1m more a year.

i have a hard time seeing yandle agree to play limited minutes in new york when high minutes and a better role will be offered elsewhere. i see new york looking to use that money to upgrade there rw or rd instead. the rest seems okay, although some retained money from girardi deal may be neccessary as buffalo will need cap space a few years from now.

Buffalo could care less of actual salary, they are not a budget team, they are owned by a billionaire who also owns the Buffalo Bills and the Minor League Baseball Tram the a barons, he also just built a sister rink to move a major junior team too which he also wants to buy. Money is no issue, making a great team and winning is

Thus Girardi ain't going there, or anywhere he is done

Sabres haven't worried about budget in 6 or 7 years now, only cap hit matters