Varlamov might be interesting assuming he leaves NYI. Sabres wont give that contract to Mayfield though.

Mayfield is 100% worth it and would be a great shutdown edition to play beside Power. They need a significant upgrade on the right side.

Im not saying he is or isn't worth it. Im saying the Sabres won't be the ones who give him that deal.

If they can't find a suitable trade partner for a RHD and Mayfield is just sitting there... then yeah.. they could. Immediate upgrade to Joki and is exactly what they need.

Im not going to go 10 rounds about whether Mayfield is a fit or not, to each their own. They won't spend that amount on a UFA, period.

That amount? You mean 4.5m on a great 2nd pairing shutdown D? Lmao.

yeah, they dont want to spend in UFA. They're operating under an internal cap.

It will be the death of them.

I dont disagree, but it is what it is.

Where exactly are you pulling this BS from. The only reason we had low salaries the last two years was due to the roster being primarily ELCs.

Buffalo is a 2RHD and a 1A goalie away from being contenders lol. Get someone like Mayfield, DeMelo, etc... and a goalie to mentor Levi for a year and you're solid.

I like this fine enough. Anyone who thinks Levi is going to take over sooner rather than later (raises hand) should like the idea of Varlamov for a year (or maybe one of the Carolina vets).
Mayfield and Jokiharju suddenly give them two RD's that keep Lyubushkin on the bench, and basically both guys can push each other for that 4th spot. No more needing two of Bryson, Fitzgerald, and Lyubushkin every night, which alone should vastly improve the D.

I think I'm gonna lean this way on my next armchair. Why give up ANY of the young assets now in a trade?

That's why the first move they made was acquiring a goalie on permanent IR to help get to the cap floor? They knew they were going to not be spending long before the off season even played out. Its the worst kept secret that theyre operating with far less money than before.

They'll draft them, its cheaper.

If Buffalo can't find a 2RHD in FA, they can make a move for one in the offseason.

Levi isn't ready yet. We know he's capable of playing a 1B, but having a pairing of him an UPL will be terrible. When Levi needs load management, is UPL capable of taking that weight off him? Big no. He needs an actual 1A in front of him.

Who are you going to draft? Willander, ASP, Reinbacher, Dragicevich...? Then what, wait for them to be ready in 2 seasons when the team can clearly contend now?

Really bad take here. Buffalo doesn't need anymore futures, they need to start getting ready to make a push.

This is still speculation lol

It's not a take lol this is what their plan is.

Dude, you're still looking at this like the team is ready to just drop bare $ and contend. Thats not happening. They could have done all this last year too. They chose their first move to be adding a guy to get them to the floor. An insured contract so that they only had to pay 1 million to get a 5 mil cap hit. Does this sound like a team thats about to spend and contend? You think its a coincidence their entire shtick now is their draft and development?

Theyre sitting on a gold mine of trade assets and their biggest move has been...Josh Bloom for Riley Stillman? This isnt a serious organization lol. Not until the Pegulas are out.

No they actually traded for ben bishop. thats a real thing that happened lmao.

Edit: Seravalli did a whole thing on owners who got whopped financially by the pandemic and now have an internal cap, Buffalo was one of them.

Spending 4m on a RHD and signing a 1A to play with Levi for one season isn't spending "bare $" lmfao. You're acting as if I just traded three firsts for Hellebuyck.

Nobody knows what Buffalo is going to do. You aren't in the front office, everything you've said to me is legitimate speculation, unless you have any of this in writing from the source itself?
It's no surprise Buffalo is a poorly run organization either way. This team needs to start making a push. You developed your prospects yesterday. Contend now.

You just missed the playoffs lacking a top 4d and an actual starting goalie. The organization is going to take that into consideration.

you spent 4.5 on mayfield, a 1A is what 4 mil too? Thats 8.5 mil, plus the 10 mil dahlin is getting and the 8 mil Power will get. You really think they are going to spend that much by July 1? C'mon.

Of course I dont know the exact moves they will make. But I will bet anyone on here anything they wont be anywhere near the salary cap. They'll still be one of the lowest spending teams come October. You dont have to believe, not like you have any stake in it lmao. Thats just my 2 cents.

But everyone said the exact same thing to me last year. Oh they have tons of cap! Youll see the moves theyll make! Yeah I saw. Great stuff. lol.

Your team just spent a 2nd and a 5th on a bottom 6 grinder that scored 4 total points for you.
.... who's also making 3m per....

Stop acting like you're sleeping in the front office lmao.

Theyre not my team lmao. Not the way theyre run. You do realize the 3m for greenway is offset by Girgensons not being re-signed right? And Jost going unqualified?

Im not sleeping in the front office. But there are tons of connected people out there who have reiterated that theyre not in the same financial shape they once were. Also Ive seen the team operate, im not naive. You dont have to believe me. To each their own, just my 2 cents. Mayfield isnt going to be a sabre though. That much i can pretty much guarantee.

Offsetting cap for a 2nd and a 5th... hahahaha.

yeah they do it all the time? I didnt say it was smart but greenway is taking girgensons spot cause he used to play with granato. I also dont get your point? Trading for greenway was dumb, Mayfield is allegedly really good, therefore, because adams did something dumb hes gunna do something smart? If anything it just makes it less likely that they do the right thing according to you.

Edit: I could see them getting a late pick back for jost but id still bet on him being unqualified.