Good Morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans! I’m going to talk to you about offer sheets today. NO! Don’t run away! It’s not about Mitch Marner!

I’m going to give you the good type of offer sheet talk: Where we can laugh at others’ mistakes.

In 2007, the Buffalo Sabres would make a miracle run to the Eastern Conference Final. They had co-Captains Chris Drury and Daniel Briere in their prime, Ryan Miller was setting the goaltending world on fire, and a collection of wingers were helping to rack up the points - Thomas Vanek had 43 goals and 41 assists that season.

The only problem surrounding the team? They had no money.

The team was coming off bankruptcy protection and having the league run the team, and the Pegulas were still about a decade away from riding in and saving Buffalo sports.

This was bad because Briere and Drury were UFA’s and wanted to get paid. So much so that Briere left for the Flyers and Drury went to the Rangers that off season. Sensing that the Sabres were vulnerable, and still stinging from Chris Pronger pointing out that no one would voluntarily go and stay in Edmonton longer than one season, Oilers GM Kevin Lowe threw a seven year $50 million offer sheet at Thomas Vanek, the last Sabres star forward remaining.

This wasn’t smart because 06-07 was only Vanek’s second NHL season, and now he wouldn’t be playing with Drury and Briere. But, the Oilers were desperate to try and get back to the Stanley Cup final before the joy of 2006 wore off.

The Sabres had a choice: vastly overpay a second year player or take four first round picks from a team that just made the cup final?

They chose....poorly.

The Sabres kept Vanek, stunk up the joint, then traded him just before his contract expired.

The Oilers went on to offer sheet Dustin Penner from the Ducks and stank up the joint until...I want to say 2021?

Had the Sabres taken those picks they would have had:

2008 1st round pick (Oilers chose Jordan Eberle)
2009 1st round pick (Oilers chose Magnus Paajarvi)
2010 1st round pick (Oilers chose Taylor Hall)
2011 1st round pick (Oilers chose Ryan Nugent-Hopkins)

Let’s all take a moment and thank Darcy Regier for being desperate enough to not lose his entire top line that he’d keep a sophomore rookie ahead of that bounty.

Now, the news.

Here’s what you missed at PPP yesterday:

The Leafs Have Two Tasks and Few Options
Toronto Maple Leafs announce the 2019 Development Camp Roster

And other stuff:

Puck 77 Reviews the Leafs Draft

As does Centre of Leafs Nation

Philadelphia Flyers trade Ryan Hartman for Tyler Pitlick - Broad Street Hockey
Yet another trade for Chucky who knows how many Trades

Carolina Hurricanes’ trade of Calvin de Haan creates a tightrope - Canes Country
They have no wiggle room now. The Hurricanes’ path forward is crystal clear, and if they don’t follow it, they’re in deep trouble.

Free Agent Profile: Jake Gardiner - Defending Big D
Gardiner is the top defenseman on the market, but will he be too expensive for Dallas?

The Good, The Bad, and The Plaid: Draft Day Fashion Debrief - Japers' Rink
The Capitals made four picks at the 2019 NHL Draft. We know their stats, but what about their style?

Enjoy the day folks!

From The Branches