In my mind, Botterill created this cap mess by brining back Johan Larsson and Zemgus Girgensons, which added $3.15 million to the Sabres cap.
There are ways to get out of this. The easiest is send Lawrence Pilut and somebody else to Rochester.
The next solution would be make a few trades, but it would have to be dollars in and dollars out.
Another solution is once Linus Ullmark’s arbitration is settled, the Sabres get another buyout period. They could buyout Vladimir Sobotka, which would cost the Sabres $1.5 million on the cap this season and $1 million next. That would save them $2 million this season.
Buffalo would save $4 million on this year’s cap by buying out Zach Bogosian. He would cost them $1,142,857 against the cap this season and $2 million next year. Buffalo could also put Bogosian on long-term IR in which his salary would not count against the cap.
If Botterill would like to buyout Marco Scandella, he’d save $3,166,667 this season and it would only be $833,333 against this season’s cap and $1,583,333 against next year’s cap.
Matt Hunwick would be another candidate. His buyout would save Buffalo $1,666,667 this season. He would cost $1,083,333 against this year's cap and $583,333 against next year's cap.