Sabres’ offseason kicks into high gear in Las Vegas

Sabres’ offseason kicks into high gear in Las Vegas

I’m Lance lwy the Sabers beat writer for the Buffalo News here in Las Vegas it’s much hotter than it is in Buffalo I’m sure it was 112° when I arrived on Tuesday I’m sure it’s going to be something similar on Wednesday as we prepare for the NHL draft on Friday and Saturday which surprisingly won’t be held in this building T-Mobile arena is where the Vegas Golden Nights Play It’s occupied this week There’s a UFC fight this weekend there’s an UFC award show on Thursday so the NHL has set up shop at the sphere which I if you haven’t heard or seen about or seen anything about it I would recommend Googling it is sort of a Marvel in of itself so it’s going to be interesting this is one of the last well currently the last in-person draft that we’re scheduled to have the NHL is going to shift to a remote setup or a hybrid in the next couple of years we’ll see how long at last but as much as you’re going to hear about the draft eligible prospects in the next couple of days who the Sabres might pick 11th overall you’re going to see a lot of coverage about mlin celebrini the consensus top prospect who’s headed to the San Jose Sharks but really a lot of what is going to go on this week in Las Vegas is about next season how are the Sabers going to improve their roster to try to snap that 13-year playoff drought now the buyout window the NHL’s buyout window begins on Thursday so that is the earliest the Sabers can buy out the remaining three years on Jeff Skinner’s contract if they elect to do so of course a trade is a much easier proposition for the Sabers in terms of being able to retain salary trade him to a team that’s not in their own division but Jeff Skinner has a no movement clause he has control of the situation he can deny any move anywhere and he could simply tell the Sabers I’m not going to approve a trade anywhere you can buy me out and then he could sign Elsewhere for the sabes that route creates $7.5 million in cap space for next season which is no small amount especially in a summer where they’re going to have to pay uko peka lukanin they may pay defenseman Henry Yoki Haru both their restricted free agents this team has needs though and accomplishing and filling those needs is very challenging with what their cap picture looks like for next season so as much as losing a perennial 25 to 30 goal score is a very difficult pill to swallow for a team that was 23rd in the NHL and goals four per game this is one of the few realistic routes that they have to create Financial flexibility to add different types of players now we know Jeff Skinner he averaged 30 goals per season under Don Granado would he fit under Lindy Ruff though Carolina didn’t want to keep SK Jeff Skinner any longer for similar reasons to why you would think that he won’t fit under Lindy Ruff doesn’t for check nearly enough no physicality not strong defensively and the sabes if they lose schinner they’re going to need a top six Winger in addition to the third or fourth line Center the defense depth an AHL goalie and you’re really betting on JJ PKA Jack Quinn bounceback Seasons from Jack from pardon me Dylan cousins Tage Thompson and Alex tuck it is a significant risk but is the type of difficult decision the Sabres are going to have to make to be aggressive to create more options could it backfire in a big way of course it could all right it’s you know Skinner could go sign with the Florida Panthers win a Stanley Cup next year and here we are in a different local for the draft whether that be Buffalo or elsewhere and they’re still searching for the solution to get this team to the playoffs but that buyout window begins Thursday it ends Sunday under restrictor free agency begins on Monday at noon every team their general managers their hockey op staff are gathering in Las Vegas this week where not only are they preparing for the giraffe which is a very important part for any organization including the one that just won the Stanley Cup on Monday night but they’re also beginning continuing I should say contract negotiations trade talks continue to heat up a process that began a few weeks back at the scouting combine in Buffalo the top draft prospects meet with the media on Wednesday afternoon myself and Mike Harrington the Buffalo News will be there always an interesting event you can gather some Intel on who these guys are meeting with in 2022 for example Matt seavoy re revealed that he dined with the Sabers and had met with them multiple times which revealed that if he were still on the clock Matt SEO was going to be a Sabers Prospect we’ll see if that’s the case of course the 11th overall pick the Sabers own is for sale for the right price Kevin Adams is not going to move that pick under for undervalue not an easy trade to make that’s why we don’t see those types of of draft selections getting moved leading up to the draft teams above Buffalo are considering moving how do you value the 11th overall pick when that player may not even contribute to the NHL for 3 to 4 years depending on who you select there’s a lot of layers to to this conversation here are the Sabers finally going to trade one of their top prospects package them with a draft pick and whatever else may be to upgrade their roster it is going to be a fascinating couple of days the Buffalo News will have you covered from start to finish and then continuing next week with free agency and Sabers development Camp which will run July 1st through the 4th busy time of year but the hot stove is eating up as well as it is outside in Las Vegas the sun is shining on me so I have sunglasses on so I could actually see without squinting and it’s probably time for me to get out of the Sun but plenty more coverage to come Mike Harrington and I will be here on the giraffe floor and with you every step of the way thank you all I’m Lance lysowski from the Buffalo News take care

Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News checks in from Las Vegas, where Sabres GM Kevyn Adams may begin to shape his roster for next season.