Walsh is loved by advanced stats people and is solid two-way, young RHD. If all we could get is a 6th round pick, I’d pass.

And we have plenty of room to keep Sharangovich at how qualifying amount, $2.05m.

Walsh isn’t going to make the team next year, unfortunately. He’s behind Hughes, Nemec, Casey, Vilen. It doesn’t have to be picks btw, it can be a prospect swap (look at description). It’s hard to believe teams are going to pay more than a 5th for Walsh.

In regards to Sharangovich, he doesn’t fit on the top 9 (especially if we’re bringing back Tatar and Haula is 3C instead of Mercer). I would rather do a hockey trade for a better 3C or get a 2nd+ (floor) and late First as the max value. He isn’t going to sign at his minimum qo either. He will want more. The cap isn’t the problem, but the way the lines run it doesn’t make sense to resign.

**edit** this is for the most part, a floor trade price. Anything less and it doesn’t make sense at all.

Casey will still be at michigan, Vilen will stay in sm-LIIGA, and even if he didn't he'd need a year to adjust to NA hockey, Hughes will likely be LHD, and Nemec could be a slide candidate again next year to preserve his ELC.

Walsh is probably ahead of Nemec (has slide year), Casey (will be in college), Vilen (may not be in North America). If/when Severson walks, he is probably a viable option to buy a year until they bring Nemec up. They did say he was ready last year when Subban went down, but he had a positive covid exposure and they changed plans.

Sharangovich will likely get 1-year deal and play for his last RFA deal in summer 2024. Cannot imagine he commands much more than his QO figure. If they do option to keep him in long-term deal, I imagine it’s around $4m.

Yes

I’m not paying Sharangovich to play 4th line minutes. I’d rather get some assets back and send him to a team where he can play consistently in the Top 9. Holtz and Boqvist are capable of playing in the Top 9, and Foote and Clarke are capable of replacing Sharangovich on the fourth line while saving 1 million in cap. He’s the odd man out if you’re resigning Haula and Tatar (which Fitzy will do). It’s a numbers game at the end of the day. He became expendable once Meier was acquired and Tatar gained a second life in hockey. Walsh is waivers eligible, so if he doesn’t make the team, another team gets him for free.

Vilen said he’s going to NA this year. He will be in AHL. Walsh is waivers eligible next year. If he doesn’t make the team, he’ll get claimed for nothing. I don’t think he’ll make the 23 man roster, so I would rather get something rather than nothing at all. Plus, I don’t mind late pick instead of a prospect if that’s the offer.

Sabres don't have much in the way of D prospects and Tyce is a career AHLer. Could probably just wait and sign him in FA

You do realize the isles can just sign varlamov, who will be cheaper to retain than Blackwood…

Wait so an oft injured goalie sporting a .900 sv% is an above average goalie? Also why are the isles trading for a worse more expensive goalie when they could just re-sign Varlamov who the organization knows and likes who has performed well and loves it here on LI.