Not enough cap to do this since Okposo isnt going to LTIR

Preds probably decline. Pilut has already bailed for the KHL, so I'm going with the assumption he doesn't care to come back. That means Turris w/$1M retained, Tinordi, and a 3rd = a 4th. The only way I'd make this deal is if I had a middle 6 wing guaranteed to sign with the team and the $5.7M saved in this trade would all but guarantee 25-35 goals in the each of the next 4 years. Otherwise, I'd let Turris play another year under Hynes, see if he continues to get back to his old form, then try to trade at a higher value.

I guess you would be thinking Nashville is a cup favorite with the current roster then. If they don't move this contract or one's similar their roster will be at best the same but likely slightly worse due to the age of their top players and what they may lose to UFA. Pilut has an NHL out clause in his KHL contract, which leads one to believe he would sign to play in the NHL with a team that would have room for him in their NHL lineup and would not bury him in the AHL behind lesser players.

I don't know what's more crazy, the fact that this buffalo fan actually proposed this deal, or the fact that you said no.

The current roster is in 100% win now move, regardless of inconsistent performance. I agree that the roster is aging, and could be in trouble soon. Could be very Chicago or LA like, just without the cups to show for it. I didn't know about the out clause. That makes it a little different, but at best, he's playing 3rd LD unless Ekholm is moved.



What makes saying no crazy? The part where I'm not convinced to retain salary and give up a decent player on a bad contract, a depth defenseman, and a 3rd round pick for RFA rights to a player who went overseas because he couldn't crack Buffalo's elite defense and a 4th round pick, all with no other plan in place to better utilize that cap space?

You aren't crazy for not wanting to do this, but Pilut definitely should have been playing in the Sabres top 4 last year. Our prior GM was unwilling to part with assets even if they were declining in value unless he was clearly winning a trade after the Oreilly deal. This caused him to resign all or our RFA's last year even though many had no value and then he went into last year year with 10 NHL defenseman and forced one of our better Dmen Pilut into the minors because he didn't have to clear waivers. He could have moved Risto and Montour for higher returns then we will likely be able to get at this point, but it he wasn't presented with a slam dunk win in a trade so he wouldn't pull the trigger for fear that one of these players takes off elsewhere

...and there is no situation I can think of that would justify moving Ekholm.