A nine million 4th line is rather problematic, and the defense as above is just not good.

I expect better returns than this season, but that's a lot of empty and key spots. Simmonds might not have it for top 9 play anymore and Mittelstadt's non progression is a killer.

One of the bigger salaries has to go, one of Montour, Rasmus, Okposo, Johansen. I'm not sure for what or exactly who to grab, but lower priced 1.5-3million type UFAs or guys in trade would appeal.

Buffalo has such a lopsided salary scheme at the moment, with four forwards making 6 mil or more, (similar to TOR), theres just not much space for mid level guys who are key in playing with and helping the youngsters. Ultimately, if this was two years ago I'd put Mittelsdtadt and Simmonds on 2nd line.

I would like Botterill to pull off a trade with Seattle to take Okposo but that probably won’t happen and also the off-season next year. Two defenseman (would rather keep Montour over Risto) have to go. Mittelstadt is progressing in Rochester which is giving him confidence so he isn’t not improving, Thompson will most likely be in AHL with his surgery this year, Kahun will most likely be in the team (just don’t know where he’ll be placed) and if Larsson or Girgensons isn’t on team next year I’d like to see Asplund up here.

What wouldn’t be a bad idea is that Botterill throws a team like Ottawa or Detroit a pick to retain half of Okposo’s contract like Vegas did with Toronto with Lehner’s contact (but that’s different with only a one year contract)

Id go with Cozens and Mittelstadt down the middle and Kahun 3RW. then trade risto/Montour and Thompson for a 2RW. Id also trade Miller for a 2LD (Gardiner) since we dont want to play him.

Dahlin-Jokiarju
Gardiner-Montour
Pilut-McCabe

Yes, they need to move that Okposo contract...a team doing well at the cap is one thing, a team not doing well and getting similar/if not worse is another.

Buffalo has some good prospects, but as witnessed in other places (Philly for one, with Ghost, Provorov, Sanheim, Myers, Morin, Hagg all arriving in 2-3 yrs), you need veterans to help them develop, and no organization can develop tons at the same time.

Maybe a cheaper UFA dman like Braun, is a better bet for Rasmus, or a good two way forward like Sam Bennett from CALG, etc... but it comes down to cap space, and Buffalo needs to decide is Rasmus can learn defense, if Okposo can be moved at cost, if Skinner at 9mil is an investment to keep and Mittlestadt and other prospects will be the real deal, so they can concentrate on developing the few, not the many, etc...

Yeah I'd think cozens and Kahun are the obvious 3rd liners here. That 2nd c as always us sticking out and the Ufa crop at center is terrible. You could try getting strome out of NY or maybe a guy like bonino from Nashville but he'd be a short term fix.

It seems that the wheels of Simmonds no longer drive, of course he brings an element of sand, but he is already too slow and it obviously will not be enough for the whole season. Josh Anderson may be the target for trading. Risto/Montour/Miller one of them must definitely be traded, maybe even two if Borgen is ready to join the NHL. Mittelstadt can be on the table in a package with one of the RD for 2C. If we could replace McCabe with a guy like Brodin, it was very cool, but first we need to solve the problems in the attack. Hutton is unstable and we need a new partner for Ullmark, in a free agency there will be 5-6 good goalies for this role, this should not be difficult.

It’s hard to say where Cozens will be next season. He cannot play in the AHL, but whether he will be ready for the NHL is a question, or does he need another season in juniors. Kahun in theory should become a solid player in our top 9. We must definitely re-write Larsson and Girgensons, this is our best line after the Jack line, you can’t just scatter such players in the hope that Asplund, Ruotsalainen and Lazar can easily replace them, I doubt very much in that.

Erik Haula (at #3C) and Derek Grant (at #4C) seem to be obvious candidates for your strategy, but I think Haula will stay in the South and a variety of teams will be competing for Grant.