Slight overpay? Tampa declines, lmao.

It's not an overpay with Cernak involved

Cernak and Risto are pretty much even, at this point in their careers I would still probably want Risto, but his fit with the Sabres just hasn't worked out. Then you're getting a promising, young prospect and a late 1st round pick for JT Miller and a much needed cap dump. What is unfair about this?

Why do we have to make this strange deal with Edmonton? Borgen is quite a decent prospect, I see no reason to exchange it in such a deal. Let Borgen and Nelson compete for a place in the third pair, while Bogosian injured.

My question is how are they going to sign Vasilevskiy, Sergachev, Cirelli, Joseph, Cernak, and Rutta with pretty much no money coming off the books in 2020? They are in a cap crunch now with Point, but next year looks to be even worse. Would taking on Killorn's contract move the needle at all?

Look at Benning's RAPM charts and GAR charts, he's an underrated, relatively young, solid defenseman

Suppose it is, but why can't Borgen be the second Benning? I'm not at all sure about the cost of Benning, if you want to get it just exchange one-on-one Sheary.

Tampa has several 5-6 million dollar redundant forwards that have value. Thats the pieces they will move to create space. Those pieces should be sufficiently easy to move that they wont have to resort to moving young players on elcs that are producing. There is something crazy about the idea that "we have to move cap out to sign our successful players" and then sending a cost effective elc back as well.

Yeah you're right, I was thinking just Sheary and like a 3rd/4th, but that makes Borgen useless for the Sabres in this scenario because the RD is filled long-term

I agree, but I think they would be more open to moving Cernak than one would think. They would have Risto coming in and playing with Hedman, which would most likely improve Risto's play significantly because he has a franchise defenseman next to him. After that, TBL has Cal Foote coming up who can be the second pairing RD, and then Ruutta or one of their UFA's can fill the 3rd RD spot.

Cernak is much better defensively and trading him away doesn't solve our problem, it creates another one. We would still need TOP4 RD.

Keep your overrated Risto.

Borgen can develop in the NHL or be sold in another deal, it simply makes no sense to include it in this deal.

Cal Foote? The kid is looking fantastic, could be better than both Risto and Cernak in a year or two. He is filling the defensive hole left by Cernak while Risto can put up at least 45 points offensively on the first pairing

Fair point, I edited it

Foote needs at least one more season in AHL. Not NHL-ready yet imo.

Risto on 1st pairing with Hedman would be disaster. We need solid RHD with solid defensive skills on 1st pair, not Risto and his "points"...

Do you think Cernak is 100% that guy though? Foote can been down the road