No thanks on Eller
Sabres pass imo

Lehner isn't waiving, And forget Sean Horcoff as GM because he loves it in Detroit and now Grand Rapids and he's going nowhere.

I had 2 options listed. Depending on the pay raise I’m sure they could entice him to leave

Doesn’t need to be Buffalo but seems like a dumb trade to pass on imo

He’s an average player who could help a playoff teams bottom6
But we aren’t a playoff team yet & he doesn’t fit our timeline
He doesn’t make sense for the Sabres to spend assets on

He’d accept that, or at least 99% of human beings would accept a deal where they get a pay raise and a promotion. You’ve made some good suggestions here, and ones that could very well be realistic.

Not sure why “Tampa22” (who is actually a Detroit fan) thinks he knows exactly what this guy wants to do when he’s never met him.

Actually I’d say the Sabres can be very much a playoff team next year with the right additions and a little luck. The biggest needs are goaltender and a veteran defender to help lead our young core. We have the money to do all of that and more, Especially with Quinn and Peterka costing very little and taking 2 spots in the lineup next year. Eller is a more than capable upgrade on Cody Eakin.

But if Peterka & Quinn are in the lineup,
then the question is if Eller would be an upgrade over Girgensons or Asplund
Bc Eller would be slotting in on our “checking” line

I’m just fine with Okposo, Girgs & Asplund in that role

Peterka and Quinn are wingers, Eakin is a center and so is Eller. I figure they are taking the spots on the roster that Bjork and Hayden are currently. Every team needs depth, so a guy like Hinostroza can still stay.

Mitts hasn’t been traded & neither has Olofsson
Girgs & Okposo likely still here

Make a lineup next season without Eller &/or Hinostroza
Then make 1 with them
There isn’t room to bring up Quinn & Peterka AND add more forwards unless you’re moving guys out

Let’s try it:

Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
Krebs-Cozens-Olofsson
Peterka-Mittelstadt-Quinn
Apslund-Eller-Okposo

Bench: Hinostroza, Girgensons (keeping in mind that I expect both players will get plenty of games anyway due to injuries or players like Peterka or Quinn getting into a slump and needing a game or two off) Also I wouldn’t be shocked if Eller were moved in and out of the lineup in favor of Girgensons once in a while too. I also think there’s a decent chance they could be willing to trade Mittelstadt in a package that nets them an upgrade somewhere in this line up.

My big problem with your lineup is that the Sabres aren’t gonna PAY assets to insert Eller on line4 and bench Girgs, who wears an “A” for us
And i don’t think we sign Hinostroza to make him an extra forward either

That’s why i don’t think there’s room for us to bring in a forward
Not unless it’s a significant upgrade
And i don’t think Eller > Girgs is all that significant
I’d say it’s slight, if at all

Depending on how well Eller does you could flip him at the deadline for a higher pick. Not unthinkable

It’s very doubtful
Sabres PASS

Personally, I think they should stick with Lav as coach for now but they definitely should find a different GM. Because GMBM has not done a good job since they won the cup he has made only bad trades