About a mil and a half short on Skinner

No thank you to Connolly and Skinner. Just keep Saad and Caggiula and put them in instead. Keep Murphy as well in case Boqvist isn't ready for the NHL, and even if he is that defensive core still looks lacking in actual defense.

You also overpaid for Murray and underpaid in the Tampa trade. Remove a 2nd in the CBJ deal and take away the condition in the TBL deal.

Saad is overpaid for his production. Connolly gives the same production at a lower cap hit. Skinner is a dynamic goal scorer
that could become even better when playing with Kane. With the defense, I agree with you that Boqvist may not be ready to handle that workload, but I also don’t know how to substantially improve the D-core with Keith, Seabs, Gus, Joki, Dahlstrom, and Koekkoek already taking up 6 spots in this scenario. I’d be hesitant to trade Gus unless the package was very favorable. I really think that improving the forward lines would make this team a better possession team and ultimately a better defensive team.

I think 9 Mil is a significant overpay for a guy who scored 63 points, albeit with 40 goals

I thought maybe I underpaid for a top-3, 25 year old D-man, but I would gladly remove a 2nd in that deal. I’m also okay with removing the conditions on the Tampa pick.

So does that mean Laine is worth 7 mil?

He's a goal scorer. He gets paid to score goals. If the sabres don't pay him 9, another team will.

In my opinion, yeah I do think Laine is worth maybe 7.5 on an 8 year deal coming off his ELC. Whereas, I think someone like DeBrincat is worth 8-8.5 mil at his current pace between he’s a 40 goal scorer and is a great playmaker. I’m aware that some GM will overpay for Skinner, but in no way is Skinner worth 9 mil and Panarin is worth 10.5-11

This was the first time in Connolly's career that he scored more than 30 points. Saad has hit 50 multiple times. Not only that, but Saad was our best defensive forward this past year, playing high PK minutes and not allowing easy goals, unlike most of the rest of the team. Saad is a top 6 forward, which many people don't see because all they look at are points, and Connolly just isn't and never will be.

As for the defense, Dahlstrom and Koekkoek are depth guys, maybe #6 defensemen on a bad team. If you are getting Murray, you can have a top 6 with Keith, Gus, Joki, Murray, Murphy, and Seabs with Koekkoek as the #7. That's a hell of a lot better than last year. They signed Koekkoek and Dahlstrom to small deals because they expect to send them between the AHL and NHL.

The guy can also out skate and out play some of the best in the league though. He has some of the best even strength numbers in recent years including being top5 in even strength goals. He is definitely worth 9 as of right now.

Oh I’m with you on how great of a 5 on 5 goal scorer he is, and that he’s a great skater as well. I think it’s just going to be hard for him to find comparables to his production for the 9 mil price tag. If he doesn’t budge on that price then the Hawks have to pass on him. They can’t be strapped to so many high cap hit contracts that hamstring them in the future.

I see the points that you’re making and I agree with the sentiments. I just personally am not a huge Saad fan and don’t think he is worth 6 mil. Honestly I would love a top 6 of Murray, Murphy, Gus, Joki, Keith, and Seabs. I’m fine replacing Connolly with Caggiula and having that D-core.