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Raw stats I see it really coming down to who he plays with. If he's with Keller and Cooley - he'll probably score 30 goals. If he's with Guenther and Hayton I could see a regression statistically. How much were his stats boosted by playing with finishers like tage and tuch?

He’s no enforcer, but he did go after Radko Gudas without hesitation in that clip up-thread.

My issue is...Adams handed Cozens a major contract (for this franchise) and it was a clear mistake less than 2 years in. Samuelsson that way. No one is saying the Power deal is good either. Luukkonen? Eh. He gets credit for Tage, who probably got praise from Granato to extend, but otherwise, his extensions have hurt the team. Dahlin is another no-brainer. It's not just trades, it's the lack of a coherent plan and now the extensions. Everything he touches is almost guaranteed to go sour.

You’d think with your handle being a legendary fictitious pugilist, you’d have a little more respect for Doan and to a lesser extent Kesserling’s willingness to throw hands.

Yup, that would have been a huge difference, and I think it would have been better optics for fans.

Cozens was so terrible last year that even with the risk of injury for Norris, i was happy with the return. I don't have the same issues with peterka, but he was also a bit of a turnover machine, and for 8M AAV I'd like a plus player on the power play - especially as a winger.

I think where I come down is that Peterka is likely to regress.

https://nhltradetracker.com/user/trade_list_by_GM/Kevyn_Adams/306/1 This is Adams' trade record going back 5 years now. The McLeod-Savoie deal is a TBD unless they re-sign him. Maybe the Norris/B-D for Cozens/Gilbert trade provided Norris is actually healthy. Otherwise it's dealing disgruntled players for less value, minor moves, and swapping draft picks. Or, adding a decent player who'll be flipped for goodness know what. Not anticipating some monumental move from this guy, who seems content with just keeping his job.

Not sure, but I think I detect a note or two of truculence in this thread.

Doan's ceiling could be higher, but I'm hopeful that with the right guidance, coaching, and on-ice opportunity, we'd see a bigger version of Jason Zucker. Which... is good. He is not Marcus Foligno, though. He has no career NHL fights and is not an enforcer by any stretch despite being a go-to-the-net and forechecking type. His "stand up for teammates" credibility has never been tested and is unknown.

Why are people calling for us to get 32 plus year olds? We aren't playing for a one year Cup run but hopefully playoffs next year and more in the years after.

Respectfully but strenuously disagree with your conclusions. It’s not so much about rearranging chairs as it is replacing some chairs. I expect some additional transactions. Then we will be in a better position to judge.

It would still be a career year, and I'd be surprised if JJ took a step back.

Robertson would be an ideal left winger for Thompson.

Hard to get traits for easier to find and cheaper. Their MO the new “revamped 4th line”

Josh Doan has 40 goals and 78 points in 104 AHL games and 12 goals and 28 points in 62 NHL games. Jiri Kulich has 53 goals and 94 points in 123 AHL games and 15 goals and 24 points in 63 NHL games. (Not a fair comparison because Doan is 2 years older, but interesting nonetheless; he's not Beck Malenstyn, there may be some offence in there)

Everyone ripping Peterka for not being defensively sound just blows my mind. He's a 23 year old goal scoring winger. You pay him to score goals and create scoring chances, his ability to defend will improve as he matures but that's not his role. You now have 27..likely future 30-40 less goal production in your lineup moving forward. You have to replace that hole or you've made your team appreciably worse.

Absolutely. I think the first time he did it was well before we knew the cap would be $95M this season and over 100 next year. (And he has the silly unspoken internal cap and now the Skinner buyout cap to manage.) But, the RFAs change. Quinn, JJP, and Levi and have transformed into Quinn on a bridge only, McLeod for a real contract, maybe Byram, JBD, and Levi. It's still applicable. (But we all know he'll trade Kesselring at the deadline or next summer for another 1-year until RFA guy. Unless the team starts winning and Power/Levi start looking the part of their potential.)

This trade only makes sense if the Sabres are reeling in a big fish this offseason. Instead of spending 7MM on JJP, the Sabres added physicality and RD. That’s what folks wanted this summer and they did it inexpensively. Kesselring, 1 year @ $1.4 million Josh Doan, 1 year @ 900k (ELC) I doubt it is Marner, but if this paves the way for Robertson, I’m good. If this was done for EEE considerations, then this franchise is truly cooked. Have to hope it’s the former.

Who knows. Given the way things have transpired with Sabres trades in recent years I expect Peterka to be a 50 goal scorer in 2-3 years and going deep in the playoffs with Utah. Lol. That said, they got the kind of players they need. I know it’s not all that meaningful but Kesselring had 89 minutes in penalties last season. The most on the Sabres was Cozens with 62. After that Benson with 60. He has good size at 6’5, 215. Was positive in plus minus the past two seasons. Appears we got two players who bring a solid two-way, physical mentality who play with some grit. Which is one of the characteristics missing from the team. Not the be all but I asked ChatGPT about both: Michael Kesselring is a tall (6’5”), mobile, right-shot defenseman who blends physicality, puck-moving ability, and improving offensive instincts—an ideal modern two-way NHL blueliner. Defensive Strengths & Physicality Strong, physical presence: Known for delivering hits, engaging in board battles, and using his size effectively. He logged 106 hits and 59 blocked shots in 65 games with Arizona in 2023–24 . Solid one-on-one defender: Coaches praise his defensive fundamentals and ability to consistently win battles . 🚀 Mobility & Skating Smooth-skating for his size: Scouts say he “moves the puck,” transitions well, and is agile despite being a big body . Reliably energetic: Regularly logs 18–20 minutes per game, with early-season top-pair minutes and power-play duty in Utah . 🎯 Offense & Puck Skills Rising offensive upside: In the AHL (Bakersfield) he erupted with 13 goals and 22 points in 49 games, and at one point in the NHL had 14 points and nearly 50 shots through 26 games . Point-shot threat: Coaches encouraged him to “get your shot through,” and he has responded with a hard release and increased scoring from the point . Here is what ChatGPT said about Doan: Mentality & Hockey IQ Elite mindset: Coaches describe him as singularly focused and mentally tough—emotionally resilient, hardworking, and adaptable . Leadership qualities: Skated with responsibility from college days to the pros; even as a freshman he had captain’s qualities . Summary Type of player Power-scoring winger with strong puck instincts Key strengths Fast, physical forechecking; quick release; high response to adversity Potential role Middle-6 winger who contributes energy, goals, and grit nightly Mental makeup Dedicated, focused, and coachable—a true competitor. In short, Josh Doan plays with a blend of physicality, grit, and scoring savvy—a modern NHL winger who works hard on all three zones. With his relentless forecheck, willingness to crash the net, and mental toughness, he’s quickly built a reliable, middle-six role.

He's an rfa, as is Kesselring.

for the 1 year he's here?

I'd rather have him as 2C than Kulich (this season at least, maybe not for the duration of the contract he'd need to sign), but I think his price tag will be significantly beyond what Pegula is willing to offer.

Well didn’t Adams say specifically that he was saving for the RFAs? Like we know that was what they WANTED us to think the plan was but I think he also outright said it multiple times