Lower limit for cap this year is 60.2 mil, you are about 7 mil lower

I know, I thought about putting in the description that we take a Boychuk deal to get over. I'll add it to make it more clear

I'd rather spend another 7 mil (minimum) on upgrading the RHD and goaltending so our team is better

My only concern with that plan is overpaying. I think the Sabres are a year a way from spending big. Next year, my personal goal for the Sabres is the same as this year, consistent improvement, get closer to the bubble.

I think we will have to pay more money to Lyubushkin and Rutta to come to Buffalo. We will also need to find a good goalie, not Subban.

Will do for the next time

Tyson Barrie is likely to be available, either by the TDL or this coming off season. His contract runs two more seasons, at $4.5M per. No trade protection, so no worries about him blocking a deal, and he could be a useful trade chip later on. Cost could be a draft pick, or a good young player or prospect.

No thanks. Barrie is not the kind of player Buffalo wants on D. We need defensively responsible players

That reputation he gained in Toronto is a bit unfair. He's not a defensive stalwart, there are always going to be risks with offensive defencemen, but I would not go so far to say he's not defensively responsible. Still, there really aren't any solid defensive defenders in Buffalo so I appreciate he's a not a great fit there.

He has been very poor defensively in Edmonton. You are hilarious too. Its not like Pysyk or Samuelsson are good defensively, you are absolutely right.

He's an offensive defenseman, and produced elite numbers for much of his career. It's idiocy to measure his game against defense-first guys, and calling him defensively irresponsible is even more so. That's like saying Pysyk is a top 4 d-man... It just isn't true.

Sure. Hes a liability on D. Not someone I want on Buffalo

Fair enough.

It looks to me as though the Sabres are at least two seasons away from escaping the lower echelons of the league and, much like Edmonton, players prefer to to sign elsewhere. That's why, when it is suggested the Sabres bring in a RD to fill the roster, I suggest Tyson Barrie as a stop gap and future trade asset. However, I appreciate you want your team to turn its situation around ASAP and you understand good defense wins more often than offense.