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Yeah, time for them to move on from Erik Karlsson as their go to. Dahlin has been better than Karlsson for a few years now. Hedman is probably their go to because of experience but they saw Dahlin as an equal at that tournament.

One of Aecheson, Bear or Martin. In order of preference id go Martin, Bear, then Aicheson. But its got to be one of those 3

Thatcher Demko would be a significant upgrade. I have no love for EP40, but objectively he’s a much better bet as a 1C than Norris. And having him and Tage on either side of Ras is a PP even the Sabres shouldn’t be able to ***** up.

Correct! If it was Byram for EP40, then deal, but I am not giving Byram and Norris for EP40, never in a million years, we actually got the much better player in the Cozens deal, I am not trading him for pennies on the dollar for a risky EP40. Byram for EP40, sure!

Very real concern. I disagree though that his at-worst is a point total he has yet to hit. At worst, he is Jeff Skinner: an overpaid 45 to 65 point offensive winger who doesn’t play winning hockey. (Not saying that’s what he will be, just that it’s as likely as “80-point winner” particularly if he stays in Buffalo)

have a great trip.

This looks really good, id love to add another vet winger in there that is harder to play against but the center spine is very solid And then we can absorb a possible Norris injury if it happens lol

Tuch extension announced on July 1st. Him trying to get himself on another roster would be a real kick in the balls.

Said repeatedly they don't have to trade him, they should only do so if it improves the team which means for a player that fills an hole or upgrades the forward group.

One reason for hope : Rasmus Dahlin

I agree that this would seemingly take us closer to the playoffs this season. Of course, it's probably fair to say that if the Tampa Bay Lightning are willing to trade Cirelli for Peterka, that there are some smart hockey people who think Peterka has the potential to be very, very good. Peterka is going into the season that Panarin and Kaprizov were in when they first game to the NHL from Russia. In what would have been their respective D5 years, Panarin and Kaprizov were in the KHL and repectively put of 62 points in 54 games and 62 points in 57 games. Peterka had 68 points in 73 NHL games in his D5. I'm not saying that Peterka will be a Panarin/Kaprizov level of player. But, I wonder if some teams perhaps see that level as his potential ceiling. With star level players being so hard to find, particularly when you are always finishing in the top 3rd of the league and/or trading your 1st rd picks, Tampa might just see Peterka as a chance worth taking. At worst, he's a 70 point winger, which is nothing to sneeze at. At best, maybe he is the 90-100 point winger that Peca (allegedly) predicted when he coached him in Rochester.

@Taro T made the point that a number of young players are at a stage where they have had enough experience to expect (hope) for higher production baseline. Players such as Quinn, JJP, Power, Benson and to a lesser extent Samuelsson. Not far from that group based on his showing last year is Kulich. The big question mark for me is the goalie play. It's a big risk to count on UPL as your primary goalie. What better options are there to be pursued? I simply don't know. And, associated with the goalie discussion is how much will the blueline be remade? Clearly, I don't have much confidence in KA to be wise enough to rework the lineup so that it becomes a serious team. However, with the addition of the former Columbus GM added to the staff. my hope that he can steer the current stolid GM to make enough good decisions to alter the course of this lost franchise. Last year, @dudacek made a list of "questionable issues" that the Sabres had entering the season. He pointed out that the list was long and that it was a big gamble to have that long list entering a new season. He was proven right that many of the unresolved issues resulted in plaguing the team all season long. Again, we are entering next season with a long list. The difference is that there is a young core that should be in a better situation due to the added experience. (A point that @Taro T noted.) I am eagerly waiting for the action to happen soon. I just don't know what to expect from this abnormally operated franchise.

As this thread has progressed...anyone having pause over the idea of trading away a 68 point forward who is only 23, rather than paying him 7m a year? Not saying he will be a 2 way juggernaut...but he's young and has 7 or more years of really good hockey ahead of him...

I voted for "best owner" because, well, a lot of these options just felt like blatant sarcasm. I have no hope for next season until something big changes and I suspect that won't happen.

This is exactly right, and i'd be interested if they are. I would rather go with Cirelli than Peterka in my top 9 with this mix. A Norris Cirelli McLeod centre spine is a lot more veteran and harder to play against than what we had last year. Something like this? Thompson Cirelli Benson Tuch Norris Zucker Quinn McLeod Greenway With Kulich forcing his way into the mix.

The only real hope is that a group of players out performs expectations and have career type years. Ruff has had two winning seasons in his last 11 as a head coach. One of then was 22-23 in NJ. The Devils had 112 points that year and Ruff was nominated for Coach of the Year. But several players had career years. Hughes, Hischer, Hamilton, and Mercer, all had their best offensive seasons that year. And Vanecek had a .911 save %, before dropping the next year to .890. So, Thompson could score 50, Dahlin could get to 80 points, Benson to 50, a healthy Norris to 60, Tuch in a contract year could put up 75 points. If Peterka was coming back, he might be an 80 point player. Luukkonen could bounce back and be a .910 goalie again. These or similar things, could happen. That's really the only thing to be hopeful for.

Why are we trading Norris and Byram in one move and only getting one player even close to their value back in EP40? Sorry Demko and Petterson do nothing to improve this team substantially better if we're giving up what you propose.

Yes and then in 2027 it switches to a 16 team NTC.

Puckpedia could be wrong, but in the fine print on their player page for Cirelli it indicates that his no trade clause kicks in July 1st this year.

As of right now there is little to no hope. Until positive moves are made to at least re-work the defense (2-3 new players in the top 6 including at least 1 top 4 defensive D), this team will remain at the bottom of the standings. I have zero faith in Adams to accomplish even the minimum of improvement. Remember, despite the additions of Zucker, McLeod and Byram, this team took another step backwards last season.

Thompson and Dahlin are top players. The key thing is hope for better goaltending, it was awful last year. Cozens being gone for me is a big thing. I think the Center combinations including Norris, Tage (possibly), Krebs, and Mcleod are better than taking any of those guys out and putting in Cozens.

Seravalli is a complete hack. Why anyone listens to this clown is beyond me.

is there an option for what is hope? I think many fans are just numb to the Sabres at this point. I know I am. Sure i always hope for some success but its in the same category as hoping for a winning scratch off ticket. You know you're likely not gonna win anything but deep down you still hope you get a winner.

I’m in Vancouver right now. First time here for me. What a lovely city. Beautiful! I will be cruising to Alaska in a few hours. I will probably miss the game.