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I think Ruff has some voice but Terry refuses to move on from Adams. Just via the smell test, the last two off-season don't seem to match Adams prior off-season. We haven't done enough but the type of player we target seems to be different. Plus the willingness to move on from Cozens, Savoie, and JJP (despite the request) is something I don't think Adams does without a major push.

Byram is in his way out which reduces trade value. The defense has been improved by Kesserling. Trade: Byram, Norris, Mrtka for 1C Or: Byram for a 1LW Norris is 1C (not ideal) Trade Muel for serviceable third pairing Dman New Guy - Norris TNT Quinn - Kulich - Tuch Greenway - McLeod - Benson Malenstyn - Krebs - Doan Dahlin Timmins/Kesserling Power Timmins/Kesserling JBD New Guy

I've update the op to reflect the 2025 draft.

Haha, I hear ya — but if you’ve got a better plan to fix goaltending, the top six, and actually end the drought, let’s hear it! Otherwise, I’ll keep building the roster ideas Pegula should be paying for. 😉 YOUR AI FRIEND DATA!!!!!!!!

Elite Prospects' draft guide says he isn't an overly physical player. They do say he ties up opponents, thus giving him something Power can't do. He also doesn't sound much like a Hedman or Ristolainen physically or Hedman offensively. The scouting reports I've read make him seem like bigger a possible Provorov

AI Response: Right? 🤣 A 20-piece mega-deal looks like something straight out of an NHL video game trade override! But the heart of the plan isn’t about moving half the roster — it’s about recognizing the only realistic path: lock up Saros first, then go big on one or two proven scorers. Keep it surgical, not scattershot. AI Response: LMAO — love the South Park chaos energy! But if we’re dropping mountains, let’s make sure they land on the Sabres’ 14-year playoff drought first. Then we’ll worry about Northrop Grumman-level trades! 🏒😅

Nah, that's not his style.

I'm pretty sure I saw some data from analytics that just having Cozens not on the roster, we improved. So to me Norris plus Cozens gone is a plus plus. Meaning, Norris, IMO, isn't about Cozens, it's about him absorbing production and is a better 2 way player than JJ. We're better on defense today. Less UPL, even if it's Levi, is slightly better, IMO, than 55 UPL games. Benson a year older is a good thing. Doan is a good addition. We're tougher.

Thank you for that deep insight 🙂

AI Response: You read it because you know deep down the Sabres might finally pull the trigger on something big — admit it, it’s more entertaining than watching them blow another 3rd-period lead! 😅 If Marchand says no? We pivot fast. There’s always another veteran scorer or we double down on a Saros-level goalie and let our Top 6 grow into it. Flexibility wins Cups!

Basically all chl players can go to the ncaa now. As long as you're grades and hs stuff is in order and a team wants you, that's all you need. Mrtka might want to stay in Seattle though. No idea if he's finished hs yet. He's also going to play more games in Jr's. After the 2025 season college might be something for him. Idk what his AHL eligibility will be.

AI Response: Love the guts, that’s a blockbuster! Trading Byram, Norris, and Mrtka could absolutely land an elite 1C — but with Saros and a top-6 winger in place, would you risk thinning the D-core and center depth that much? Who’s your dream 1C target that makes the gamble worth it?

or an RHD Power.

Yes

They really need a goalie to fix things. The Def changes help.

Too soon to ask this question honestly. Have to give it to August.

I hope so. Loved the way Shane played.

Why would Vegas do this? Why not just wait a couple days and get him without having to give Toronto anything? Will Mitch not sign unless he gets an 8 year deal?

They did this one. Josh Doan.

There is more moves to be made for sure, this is not close to enough. Add a high skill forward (Robertson) and add a wrecking ball forward that is middle 6 skilled. And as usual, get an NHL goalie. Stop praying for UPL and Levi to bloom.

I mean maybe but it would make more sense for them to get rid of an old dman or Buchnevich rather than their 2nd best player.

KA is always going on about how they always have consensus, yada yada yada. All I know is that Ruff was learning how to build tough, resilient teams when Adams was still a piss pot running around in Clarence. Ruff also understands you build a team from the D end out. And while we may not yet have the answer in goal he would prefer, it’s no coincidence that big RHDmen have been a priority so far this summer.

Considering the draft capital we have had over the years it is unfortunate that we still have a number of holes to fill or positions that need improving. I think the defense is better right now than last season, but that can change if they trade Byram. I would take the improvement in our defense (which was one of the areas that the Sabres had deficiencies), sign Byram to a bridge deal and try to sign a scoring forward and goalie in free agency, or trade some of our prospects for the same. I would note that after listening to KA's press conference after round one of the draft late yesterday, i have very little hope that the Sabres will keep Byram. He said a number of times during the press conference that he would be open to a trade, which seemed to me to be unhelpful however this turns out.

In my ideal world they kept Byram with Dahlin, found a partner for Power, and dumped Samuelson and Clifton (who was the awful no one talked about last year) for a better, cheaper 3rd pair. No faith, but - amazingly - still hooe.