Kisakov isn't interesting and CHI isn't sending the TBL pick in that deal. Retaining on Skinner defeats the whole purpose for BUF, anyway.

Meh, I think he's got the value close. I figure with no retention, 11oa should cover the amount he is overpaid, maybe buffalo adds a minor piece. I assume attempting to retain is covering what he is overpaid, so he wanted something of value returned. I'd be inclined to say- if Chicago will take him at 9m and we get future considerations back, fine. Whether the Sabres retain and get a late first or not doesn't matter much to me. If Chicago and Skinner would agree to that, the Sabres should take it and not look back. I still think that if the Sabres wanna give lindy a skinnerless roster come fall, it's gonna be a buyout.

Skinner isn't waiving to come to Chicago

As in Skinner and the 11th overall to CHI for FC's?

Yep.

Oh, man. That's a LOT of loot for the Hawks to take on, even for #11 OA... I think the Hawks at least think about it, though. What sort of "minor piece" might BUF add?

I love Buch but Kulich and the 6th overall pick would be nice additions.

Would BUF add Strbak to Skinner and #11 OA for F/C? If so, and assuming Skinner waives, of course, I'd do that deal despite the big bite out of CHI's AAV for three years.

These skinner dumps are off the rails

I disagree. Even though the cash outlay is less than Skinner's AAV over the last three years, it's still $22mm! Even a full buyout now (for the last three years of his contract) is upwards of $15mm. VERY few teams have the cap availability to take that contract fully off of BUF's hands. CHI is one of them (maybe the ONLY one, for all I know).

Hence why Buffalo should keep him and let him score 25-35 goals again

Strbak is a bridge too far for me. We have no right shot d, and our d as a whole are left shot puck movers without much jam. Strbak is a physical defense first right shot d. In fact, I'm hoping that if the Sabres keep their pick, that yakemchuk is on the board, and they take him.

Totally get that. I think Strbak is developing nicely and like him for the same reasons you do. Interesting that the Hawks have the opportunity to take his MSU teammate with the #2 OA this year (Levshunov.)

And I had the same thing in mind to target with #11 pick... If the Hawks elected to go offense with the #2 OA pick (Demidov or whomever), I want Yakemchuk with #11. Those two selections alone would make the Hawks' 2024 draft a big success, IMO.

But I digress... If you were to also add a "minor piece" to the Hawks for fully taking on the remainder of Skinner's full contract, and if Strbak is a bridge too far, whom might that be?

Thanks for the sane discussion. Cheers

For me? One of Rosen, ryan johnson, and Wahlberg would be the most I would give up. And here's the funny thing, you'll say Wahlberg. Ryan johnson is an nhl defenseman right now, but soft left shot puck movers don't float everybody's boat. Rosen is pacing to be a swell middle 6 winger, with a great shot, and our ahl coach has been preaching two way hockey to him, teaching him that middle 6 wingers should be able to pk, and stuff like that. But Rosen isn't big, isnt at a point per game in the ahl, and he isn't bringing a physical game with him. Wahlberg is the biggest of the 3, just came over to play in the ahl near the end of the season. He was drafted as a center, and may be a power forward. He's the least polished and least talented of the 3, and I'd be shocked if you didn't say he's your guy.

Indeed. You're correct - Wahlberg would absolutely be my choice from among those three. In fact, I hoped the Hawks might get him with the 44th pick in last year's draft, but BUF got him at #39. The Hawks have a dearth of power wingers in their system; in fact, they have almost no prospects at RW of any size. Kyle from Chicago (KFC) has shown a propensity to draft players with raw abilities but large potential upside, and develop them properly. That's what'd the Hawks would aim to do with Wahlberg, IMO.

So, I say you have a deal: All of Skinner's remaining three years at $9mm per year AAV (*gulp*), plus Wahlberg and the #11 OA, for F/C.

On a different note, I suspect KFC might really wheel and deal at this year's draft. This off-season, KFC has TONS of cap room to use in trades and retentions; he's shown he's unafraid to wheel and deal. Prospects have started to trickle into the big club and those who stick will need to be paid (as BUF fans are all too aware), reducing flexibility in the future. But for now, the Hawks still have TONS of holes to fill and I expect Kyle to dynamically get after filling them - wouldn't be surprised if he creates as many as five picks in the first round this year.

Cheers, LA

Yeah. I think CHI should be interested in something along those lines.