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it just makes so much sense, I think you do Byram plus our first for Weegar and Calgarys first, its a low first casue they lost theres in the Monahan debacle but that would be an overpayment id be okay with

Amen Brother. @JohnC raised a trade idea on another thread that I like as well that I think belongs here. What about K'Andre Miller for Byram as the basis of a trade with the Rags. The Rags could use a 2nd offensively gifted D behind Fox and the Sabres could use a good skating physical D with some scoring ability to play with Dahlin as I outlined above. Both are RFAs with Byram likely garnering a slightly larger contract. The Rags need to save some cap space, so the Sabres would likely need to get a contract back. The Rags acquired Soucy in a trade with Van late last season. He has one year left @3.25 but has a NTC. If Adams could convince Soucy to come, Miller and Soucy for Byram and an a prospect would be a deal I'd make in a minute. We'd have to find a taker for Clifton and Samuelsson, but I think that's possible. Dahlin - Miller Power - Orlov JBD - Soucy Bryson

If we could turn Sammy into Ferraro, again with picks and prospects im all for it The Miller idea is intersting, maybe they would be intersted in swapping Sammy plus plus, he would be great with Dahlin, much like Sammy to be honest but K'Andre has that mean bone that Sammy doesnt I also think Perbix is great in the Gilbert role

Too early to move on from Mule. Defenseman take time. Look at Forsling in Florida, claimed off waivers, now he is a super good player for them.

Nic Hauge has to be really looked at, Vegas will need to cut cap and he will get a raise probably to roughly 4 -5 million per year, he is left handed and an RFA, I proposed a Hauge for Quinn swap Vegas would be scared of an offer sheet for Hauge

Severson also played with Lindy in NJ so I think its possible For this my hope would be Kovacevic, he got in the dog house becasue he called out the team at one point in the season, he just was extended, but I dont think he has trade protection Id also say Mayfield from the Islanders, has a modified no trade clause, or Manson from Colorado if they need to cut cap which they will, he has a no move clause

I wonder if the Devils make a rhd available. Seamus Casey would be interesting to grab with a prospect flip.

I’m onboard a Byram/Weegar trade. More stay at home type, more physical and contract certainty. A number 1 PK guy on D. AAV is a nice fit too.

I wouldn’t mind this either. In fact, Marty Biron thought the Sabres should have pursued him years ago. I want say he was choice #2 or 3. Make it a real competition.

The issue isn’t which player is better. I agree with you that Bryan is the greater talent. However, it is essential that the blue line needs to be reconstituted in order to play a tougher brand of defense.

Agent for Byram says he has not asked for a trade.

Severson had kind of a rocky year in CBus is the only one of the trade targets i could see being available.

If we start to think alike I will be troubled and have to reconsider. 😀 I strongly agree with you that the blue line needs to be reconstituted and the goalie position needs to be addressed this off-season. I still believe that the goalie position is the first priority. Counting on UPL to be the primary goalie is a loser’s bet.

I think we can all agree that Miller is bigger and Byram is more skilled. Miller, statistically at least, hasn't shown to be any better than Byram in terms of his analytics, and despite his size he's not a banger. Is the thinking here that he's cheaper and better fit in terms of usage? Doesn't solve the handedness issue and I think Byram is the better player, but I could be argued into this as the basis of a trade.

Depends upon whether he can convince the GM (or ownership) to make changes at the coaching level, at the strategic level (what style the coaches should be coaching, and that's one thing that having Ruff behind the bench is good for is that he has run several different styles of play depending upon what players he has), and can he help grease the skids to make a trade or FA signing that the GM on his own would not have been able to make. Where he has more say is over changes to the rest of the hockey departments. My understanding is that pretty much all scouts and development coaches have their contracts expire in June and then they reup or move elsewhere in July. THOSE changes don't help much with the current season, but they do set the stage for potential major moves in-season and beyond.

I think Byram for Miller is the start of a very possible trade. I don't think they'll trade Borgen as they just extended him for 5 years @4.1. The Rags top 2 D if they trade Miller to us would be Schneider and Fox. They could use a second offensively gifted D like Byram to play with Borgen as part of their 2nd pair. I think they like the 3rd pair of Soucy and Vaakanainen. However, If the Rags need to balance out the money or achieve some cap savings, they could trade us Soucy (NTC) or Vaakanainen and then they'd have room to extend Zac Jones who actually average more PT per game last season with the Rags than Vaakanainen or Soucy. It's funny that you posted this idea here, as I was just about to post something similar in the new Defense thread.

FA's: de Haan, Fabbro Trade: Weegar, Severson, Kovacevic, Pesce, Demelo

Do or die tonight. GAME NOTES

in Chad's latest Expected Buffalo pod he talked like this a still very much a live thing. His theories are 'It's Dudley and it will be announced after the Panthers are done" followed by "Bergevin, but he's still in the running for the Isles job". He also ran through a bunch of other names but gave the overall impression to me that he doesn't really have a clue what they're thinking. He did raise a good point though: the combine is nearly here, and the draft and free agency are a month or so away, how much of an impact can an advisor hired in June really have on next year's team?

Just booked a trip to the UK for July, going to see Tim Michim, an Australian comedian that rarely comes to the states. Fly into London and drive around hitting some cool smaller towns, see the show in Sheffield and head home. Sucks it's peak tourist season, but still cool nonetheless.

I'm 100% for D upgrades and additions. It's essential and should be top priority. All of those players could go but I caution moving people out before moving people in. We need depth. If Samuelson's bumped to bottom pairing that's great but I'm not moving him or Clifton unless bodies come in. Maybe you can get York out of Philly as someone mentioned. Send them Samuelsson. Not sure that's an upgrade. This is why I want to move Norris for a D man and then we can move a D man out for another D man and change the make up. Adams created a 2C hole by adding Byram and Cozens wasn't up for the job. My fear is that he will just do something similar again. His "hockey trade" philosophy has to go. He needs to be more creative and make multiple transactions. Trade picks and prospects for a D man. Then trade a D man for picks and prospects. Flip those. Whatever. Mix and match. Just get it done, but add depth as well, not a bare bones one injury away from a problem D.

He tried to build around his 4 top guys and they wilted in the playoffs. I blame those 4. Not him.

This has been my position for years. I hate the 15 years and want the playoffs for sure but I keep seeing a strategy and plan that will fail if it gets there and I don't want to end 15 years of no playoffs with 10 years of first round exits. Sure, it might be better than not getting in, but after a few years it'll be just as frustrating.

I think Washington has more prospects coming. They have a solid veteran young mix and they did leap the development curve. Getting next level will be harder and some of the vets will age out eventually. Carolina's another team that can never get past this round. Meanwhile Florida, who was supposed to have a weakened D this year actually seems to have a better D and they even have a Carolina waiver guy. They are such a disciplined and well structured team they get the most out of everybody they have. The GM built a good team, but they are also an example of why coaching and leadership really does matter. Everybody on that roster plays bigger and everybody knows they all have each other's back.