i know its a rumor but that Vesey - McCabe trade would make me wanna put my head in a vice... that trade is terrible.

Buffalo declines with deals with Tampa and Rangers

I love it for Buffalo.....they could use a forward with some size and grit and Vesey will probably come well motivated in his contract year. NYR are in need of a need of a more stay at home D and we have Scandella and McCabe who could be moved. It's a #4-5 D-Man for a top nine winger and secondary scoring. I don't have an issue with it. Not to mention... moving McCabe or Scandella will open a clear path for Pilut next year. Buffalo fans need to get over Vesey turning down Buffalo.... He wanted to test free agency and turned down several teams including Nashville, Toronto, and Boston. We gave up third round pick....who cares

But i'd rather keep McCabe and move Scandella if your dealing for Vesey.

Vesey is at best a 3rd liner he only had 35 points last year and that was his best season. If you trade him you're going to want to extend him and that would probably be around $4 million per year IF he wanted to play here, which he's already decided once that he doesn't.

McCabe on the other had is still a young-ish defenseman who I believe we could extend for the next 4 years at a very reasonable number ($2.5 - $3 million) he still has a ton of upside. Buffalo's defensive core is depleted right now.. after Risto, Montour, Dahlin, McCabe you have nothing but a bunch of 7th defensemen.. Especially with Bogosian being hurt again. The ONLY way i would trade McCabe right now would be after the draft, if somehow by trading up or dumb luck Buffalo could draft Bowen Byram. But even then i think McCabe is a nice player to have unless the return for him is stupid good.

I know Buffalo needs to fix their bottom 9 forwards but the defense still has plenty of holes.

I kicked the tires on the Vesey trade and as you I do not think it really does not make much sense for Buffalo. I know most people are down on Okposo (I am as well because he is over pair), but he played with Sobotka, Girgensons, Larsson a great deal of the time. Of his 14 goals he had only one assist from Skinner and none from Eichel. When he was on the PP he played with Rodrigues and Sheary. I think he was misused by Housley, but I could be in error. if the Sabres could find a decent 3rd line center they could try this line up:
Skinner - Eichel - Okposo
Olofsson - Mittelstadt - Reinhart (Mittelstadt needs to work out with Reinhart over the summer)
Sheary - Bonino for a 3rd - Rodrigues (Sheary and Rodrigues played really well together, put Bonino between them and Sheary could be the H of the KBH line.
Ruotsalainen - Asplund - Thompson/Nylander

If I have Nylander/Thompson/Ruotsalainen up I'd rather them playing with Eichel and Skinner as their upside and potental is much higher. Of those three ideally its Nylander and the other two (especially Thompson are in Rochester) I totally agree that one of the problems with Okposo the last few years has been who he has been playing with. But i'd rather give our premium prospects the best chance to succeed and try to figure out better linemate for Okposo. Think maybe: Sheary - Rodriguez - Okposo as a line with just players we have now.. but thru trade or free agency that could be upgraded.

I agree that we should have sent Thompson to Rochester, but since STL had him in the NHL most of the year, it may have been tough to send him down.
BTW he made the most of his short time in Rochester, with 6 goals in 8 regular season games and scored half of the Amerks playoff goals.
Asplund had an amazing last 1/3 season scoring 22 pts in 21 games.
Ruotsalainen had only one less goal than Kakko last year.
Olofsson did well in Rochester last year and looked very comfortable playing with Jack with 2 goals and 4 pts in 6 games.
Nylander is a conundrum (a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma). Only Olli Juolevi has performed more poorly than he. I have only watched his play with the Sabres and during the prospect challenge and he has not impressed me yet. But maybe he will break out.
Finally I think Okposo, would do well with Rodrigues and Sheary. I just wanted to put Okposo on the top line to show case him. If playing with Jack could get him up to 25 goals maybe he would be trade-able especially if the Sabres retained part of his salary.
Well, I enjoy reading you comments, you provide excellent insight.