Sabres Links: Schedule Released, "All-in" for Stamkos, Gambling on Vesey

Sabres Links:

• The Sabres and the NHL released the team's 2016-17 season schedule. Buffalo opens at home vs. Montreal on Thursday, October 13 [Sabres.com]
• Bill Hoppe breaks down next season's schedule [Buffalo Hockey Beat]
• According to Darren Dreger, the Sabres are "absolutely all-in" on Steven Stamkos [Today's Slapshot]
• The Sabres can't luxury shop (read: Stamkos) without clearing cap room first [Kukla's Korner]
• Buffalo has three players in their sights at No. 8, two of which are defensemen [The Buffalo News]
• The Vesey acquisition is "a gamble", but it's one Tim Murray is comfortable making [Buffalo Hockey Beat]
• Vesey's agent told the AP that the Sabres are on the shortlist, but free agency is still likely [AP]
• The Sabres are in the market for a young, left-handed defenseman and are willing to deal No. 8 to acquire one [NHL.com]
• Duff and Baker discuss late round "sleepers" who could prove to be draft steals [Sabres.com]
• Down Goes Brown set a few odds for the NHL Draft, including how many words we'll get from GMTM this year. I'll take the under. [Sportsnet]

Around the League:

• Dates of note from the 2016-17 NHL schedule [Yahoo! Puck Daddy]
• Things are "all quiet" on the Ben Bishop trade front, despite rumors to the contrary [Pro Hockey Talk]
• Craig Custance ranks the top 25 free agents in this year's class [ESPN Insider]
• After 17 seasons, Vincent Lecavalier announced his retirement from the NHL [Sportsnet]