probably more than this, and probably somewhere else.

Kevyn Adams is still sweating over whether its right for the vibes to add a Depth D lol.

Depth in defensemen will be helpful. Defensemen who clear the puck out of the zone are desired by the Sabres.

U could be right on both counts. However, imo, that's a pretty good offer for a top-four d-man who's 32 years old making $6.25M/season. An offersheet for that salary is a 1st, 2nd and 3rd so I built the trade around that.

As for Adams, I believe he's looking for a player with term. Granted, Ekholm's older than what he wants, but the guy checks a lot of boxes on defense.

Edit: will turn 33 on May 24

A few years ago, Ekholm would’ve made the PERFECT partner for Dahlin, but NOW :

1- does Dahlin need a “star” partner?
I don’t think so

2- Ekholm unfortunately is a bit too old to make sense for us
He turns 33 before next season starts


Someone like McCabe makes a lot of sense to me to bring back
He’s 29- so not too old
Signed for 2 more years, at a reasonable $4.0mil per
And could play on any pairing just fine imo
He’ll also cost less to get than an Ekholm level player

Plus he knows Buffalo & would presumably be up for a return

I think adams is just posturing. Saying all the right things to hide the fact that he doesn’t have the mandate to spend.

Although you could very well be right on Ekholm's age, I wouldn't actually call him a "star" and if he is it's more of unheralded one. We had McCabe and if i recall correctly dude could hit and block shots, but struggled in when playing up top on d and was injured a lot. No comparison between him and Ekholm playing up and down the lineup because Ekholm can, McCabe can't. Not sure how you came to "presume" he'd be "up for a return" but I get the feeling it's the opposite.

I really hope your wrong. But...

The evidence kinda points to it, and some insiders have alluded to it…

I dunno. I think pegulas mandates are more guidelines, we had an internal cap before hall agreed to come here. I don't think they like losing money, but if they get a chance to make a splash...
Plus there's gonna be internal guys to pay. It's nice having the space, but I bet pegulas arm could be twisted.

All their splashes have been ice cold that I think they're pretty much done. I mean they'll re-sign their own no problem, but big acquisitions/FA's that want bonus heavy contracts? That's a wrap. They're far more invested in the Bills.

Not sure how u get the feeling “it could be the opposite”

Whelp, first off, he spent his entire career in a losing environment from Rochester to Buffalo and I'd bet the farm that the Sabres were on that original 7-team no-trade list. Sure, things have changed and the Sabres are on the rise, but one would think that those memories are still in his head. Secondly, he's made his home in Chicago, which isn't too far from Eau Claire, WI, his hometown. Chicago has been his home for a few years now and it doesn't seem as if he'd be interested in disrupting the family through a move. I'd even surmise that he's not interested in moving to any new team right now and his ability to separate a losing work environment from family allows him to keep on keeping on in Chicago.

What it comes down to is that neither of us really know but I will say this, McCabe would be great in a third-pair role because not only does he have grit and can play defense, but he also isn't bereft of offensive skills. I'd have to think that come 2024-25, when he's in the final year of his contract, he might strongly consider being moved to a Cup contender at the '25 TDL. If the Sabres somehow are in that conversation, if he's still capable of playing his game and Buffalo is not on his no-trade list, I'd welcome him on the team. He's a strong-willed, character guy that every playoff team could use.

And NOW, Chicago is a losing environment & Buffalo is a winning one
Athletes play to win- especially at this level

And a flight from Buffalo isn’t that far at all
I’m sure he still has plenty of friends here as well
Buffalo was home to him for a long time
And I’ve heard NOTHING at all that makes me think he had any negative feeling about Buffalo

*shrugs*

You think Buffalo is not one of the seven teams on his no-trade clause?

Knock yourself out. My guess is that the odds are very slim at best that he comes back to Buffalo prior to the 2024 off season, maybe even the '25 TDL.

Agree to disagree.

Guessing whether or not Buffalo was on his No Trade List isn’t of interest to me
And that’s ALL you’re doing here- is guessing
We don’t have ANY evidence at all to support 1 side or the other

But even if Buffalo WAS on his list, we’ve made great strides this year- enough for anyone to possibly reconsider
We are an up & coming team with a lot of talent
That seems enticing to me
Maybe not to top UFAs like Pasternak, but to mid level players who wanna get off of a bad team & onto a decent one…. Sure

You might want to think about heading to Google, type in Jake McCabe, go to news and read some articles on him.

But, you won't. So, adios.

🤣🤣🤣
You don’t have to be all butthurt bc i disagree with you

And if u have evidence to support your guesses,
then feel free to post links & I’ll happily read them

Incorrigible on Hockeybuzz, incorrigible on here.

https://theathletic.com/4044751/2022/12/29/jake-mccabe-chicago-blackhawks/?redirected=1

Idk what to tell ya?
I said I’d be happy to read any evidence you’d actually provide,
yet u come back with insults

Your maturity is noted

see update

I don’t pay for the athletic, so i could only read part of it

Like I’ve said before though,
the Sabres aren’t a crappy team anymore
We’re an up & coming team who’s take great strides this year
Much more attractive to play for than the Hawks

Apparently Toronto was not on his no-trade list, and off he goes to the center of the hockey universe.

Just saw that
Leafs might actually make some noise in the playoffs this year
O’Reilly & McCabe we’re GREAT pickups for them

If their goaltending holds up…..

EDM pieces in Ekholm trade...................................offered here

D, Tyson Barrie..........................................................D, Jacob Bryson
LW, Reid Schaefer (2022, 32nd overall).................2023, 2nd
2023 1st round pick .................................................2024 1st
2024 4th round pick..................................................2025 4th

Edmonton's offer gets the edge, but it wasn't that far off