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Every year guys with 1yr left get traded. Byram currently has two. If a GM thinks he can sign him or even just go on a run, they'll be able to trade him either this summer (you're right, no trade there) or at the deadline or next summer or next deadline.

I was commenting on the 1st part The 2nd part I sadly agree with; I feel like we are running on a ***** treadmill

No I said they are about break even

Had they punted Wilford, would not only hope the D will be better with the changes, but would actually expect it. (Now, would those changes be enough to materially alter their results, no data, but it would legitimately be in the realm of possibilities.) As it is, with keeping Wilford, it is likely too little to materially make this a truly good D. So truly despise watching the D stand around unengaged in front of the goalie; but that isn't as bad has having both of them go behind the net to try to prevent the pass to the now wide open slotman.

30 goals better, after accounting for Peterka subtraction so Kesselring is worth like…..65 goals on his own Phil Kesselring with a cheeseburger on the line… maybe

I cannot refute anything you said. A lateral move is not an obvious improvement to the team. Osmosis is a ***** strategy, but that’s the best I can hope for with our awful GM. He did not improve us overall.

Dahlin Byram Power Kesselring Timmins Muel Johnson Unless this defense goes sideways, no excuse for UPL having a bad SV%.

Yes, Kess’s trajectory can be elite. This team is going to have to be better than everyone else by being better at the blue line than everyone else. It’s just the way that it is when you draft #1 overall at the blue line twice. Hope is a ***** strategy, but I hope the blue line takes a huge step forward. It’s the most logical path toward this team being elite. And no credit to KA if and when that happens.

Do you honestly feel that the additions of Kesselring and Timmins as replacements for Joki and Clifton will make our defense nearly 4/10th of a goal a game better next season?

Ya, next year. He’s not getting traded this summer. D is improved. I do not think adding Kesselring trims the D by THIRTY GOALS, no. Not 30. Peterka was one of our best PP players relatively - it’s just that our entire PP was bad. He’d have been the first to benefit if we actually, you know, changed the pp coaches - - - Not really trying to have an argument - if you want to argue Kesselring for Peterka is a wash: fine. That’s fine. So Adams made a lateral move he only made BECAUSE jj asked for a deal. Ok. So we are the same. We…sat in last almost the whole year and haven’t made the playoffs in 14 years There’s..no plan for improvement? If JJ doesn’t ask out we just…do nothing? we haven’t done anything

Because of course; the only way to be angry with your favorite team is to feel utterly hopeless, say they deserve to lose all their great players and complain when anyone wants to do anything but that.

His value goes up now that his contract is a known commodity.

If they didn't have a weenie running the PP, they'd be giving Byram time on the top unit along WITH Dahlin. They're only running 1 true set up man on the PP running 1-4. Go to 2-3 and you add another one. BUT they have a weenie running the PP, so no, Byram will either be on a 2D 2nd unit like he often was last year or not on one at all.

So his value will go up when he fails to get opportunity? Just curious

Honestly, that’s ok. Defense Dahlin-Byram Power-Kesselring Timmons-Samuelsson To me, that trims the goals against by 30ish compared to last year to cover for Peterka and his poor D and not much PP production. Plus Bo & OP should continue to ascend in ability. Bo & Dahls were elite together last year. No argument there. Kess and Power should be better because it is OP’s best partner to date. Sammy at third pair minutes is a better fit than his previous top four role. Protected minutes could keep him healthier and more productive. I still want a top six forward, but the D core is better with Bo here. Our GM still sucks, but I think this is best case with Bo here at this point and if we blow next year…he can be traded with a year to go for the new team. Cost controlled next year is OK.

He is a better all around player than Power with nearly identical offense.

Leverage to do what? Trade Byram? Play Byram? Sign him again in two years?

Sadly, you are probably correct.

Still think he gets traded. He won't get the opportunity he deserves with Dahlin and Power anchoring the power play units. In my opinion, he should be ahead of Power on the second unit.

Dude there’s no hope - I think we have to realize this. If the team can be this blatantly bad and insulting to its fans and still get people refusing to call it out I think it’s a lost cause I think we have the 7th most space right now

Not speaking for him, but they really need to add 1 more F now that they know they'll have middle 6 money left to spend. If they don't, those criticizing ownership for being cheap will have something when combined with no coaches getting canned (a S&C coach doesn't count) to use as an argument. About 1/2 of the league ends up within $2MM of the cap or over it when BF-LTIR is included. Really want them to be one of those teams that is there at least going through the motions of trying legitimately to compete.

Ya I doubt we carry 3 goalies

He puts himself in positions where he has no leverage. And he’s not smart enough to execute anything. Explain to me going into year 6 what he has done to set this team up to succeed?

No, please enlighten me. Which move this off-season has changed the trajectory of this franchise and made the Sabres a legit contender for the playoffs?

Not of guys that are locked up on deals exactly to UFA point - they have years of control remaining/the need to negotiate a new contract without a free pass to UFA. Even wtih Reinhart, he was still RFA with the need for a new deal of course you think a contract that walks him to UFA doesn’t hurt his trade value. Why would you? He’s a Sabre. i linked a post in thread where I told you what would happen to a T. By all means get on me, again. They aren’t trading him