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I was actually wondering if Tage would be a highly valued asset if we were to ever even consider trading him. I mean, with his goal scoring abilities and on that great contract…. Not many players of his caliber are on contracts that nice.

I agree, I think they should trade Peterka. Given his ability on the powerplay is not great and his defense is also not great... I agree with @dudacek that there is a certain jeff skinner ish element to his game. Trading him now might be the best thing for both the team and player. If he goes somewhere with a coach that can get him to buy in on defense, he stands to improve a lot and make the sabres look silly. However, if he stays in buffalo and it is more of the same (likely with no change of coach), I'm not sure that's a player that you want to hitch yourself to long term with a massive contract. You should be getting a really good return for Peterka, so look for a trade that can either substantially improve our defense, our goalie situation, and/or our powerplay. If you can fix at least one of those things immediately with this trade, it should be a no brainer

I’m sure just like with other coachable abilities, it’s all about willingness. If you don’t want to learn how to play defense, you’re not gonna. If you don’t want to learn to be tougher, you’re not gonna.

It's not too difficult to figure out what we'll get. We'll get outhustled, as usual. The organization's motto should be: Moving forward by going backward.

Package him up with Thompson and see what we get.

Adams and Pegula do.

https://apnews.com/article/nhl-income-tax-7c70f7164aeb58851da7afcf983f0a3c

We must really enjoy seeing former Sabres win cups elsewhere.

Yes on Pronman. Psenicka has physicality, I'm curious if it improves as he adds strength. "Simply put, Pšenička is a playoff-style defenceman: High-paced, physical, fearless, and intelligent. With a never-quit attitude and quick feet, Pšenička is always impacting the play. He denies entries with well-timed pokes off the rush, aggressive step-ups, and hits. Along the walls, he wins inside position as soon as possible, intercepts opponents with his shoulder, and immobilizes them. Instantly rotating and switching assignments, he’s rarely behind the play – and he has the reach and quickness to correct mistakes. No matter the situation, Pšenička never stops battling. He gives himself a chance to impact every play with his motor, and he’s always willing to absorb punishment to make a play." Elie Prospects Owen Power

It shouldn't be forgotten that our GM dealt for Norris knowing his injury history. Why would he deal his new acquisition before seeing him play in a Buffalo uniform? The questions that you are bringing up about his injury history are the same concerns that KA considered when he traded for him. He still decided to acquire him. The notion that our GM will trade him so soon is improbable.

Ehhhh. You kind of can.

“Rangers Reportedly in 'Advanced Discussions' on Chris Kreider Trade with Ducks” Would this be more of a cap dump situation for the rangers?

I want big defenders in our system as well, BUT I also want them to have a built-in mean streak. You can’t coach size….but you also can’t coach toughness. I’d rather have a 6-3 defender who instinctively wants to punish opposing players vs. a 6-5 softee who wants to play with finesse.

If a trade can be had for a top 6 player that immediately makes this team look more like the Panthers, I’m all for it….including moving JJP and a bunch of other younger/unproven players. That said, I also think it is dangerous for a pending RFA to be able to dictate (through his agent) an interest to be moved. Pending UFA’s like Tuch can make demands, but JJP should not be able to as a pending RFA.

Why do you call what the agent is doing "nonsense"? He's doing what agents are paid to do i.e. stir interest in a player to raise the bid price for him as his contract comes up. What the agent is doing is standard practice where the agent is willing to garner the negative attention in the hope that his client is in a better negotiating position. The next question that you pose gets at the heart of the matter regarding JJP, and also applicable to the other young players. This team needs to add experience and be able to play a tougher brand of hockey. If a return can be secured that helps to do that, then few people would argue against it. But if the return can't be arranged to get back a roster improving deal, then find another avenue to upgrade. There are other assets that can be used to bulk up the roster. Greenway was procured with a second-round pick. And Zucker wasn't a costly acquisition. Some front office creativity would sure help. In my view, the big swing that needs to be made should focus on net and the blueline. If dealing JJP would help in doing that, I would be all for it.

No this isn’t the right move. You can’t keep trading away the good players you draft and develop. Truly I don’t understand your championing keeping Byram and then promoting trading Peterka. Both players are about the same age and will cost about the same to retain. However, one, JJP, is actually good at his job, while Byram isn’t. JJP’s job is to score and create offense, which he does well. Byram is a defensemen who can’t play defense. He also is our 3rd best offensive D and doesn’t get PP time. You seem to want to trade JJP because he is not great defensively and keep Byram who has the same issue, especially when our D group is terrible defensively.

$8 million for Norris who can’t stay healthy is so Sabres. I’d rather roll the dice on EP40 if I can move Norris in the deal. I have more confidence in EP40 returning to form and being healthy than Norris. I have no confidence in UPL. If I can roll the dice on Demko returning to form for one year then I take it. If he doesn’t then he is a UFA after the season and you walk away. Something significant has to change to change the Sabres fortunes on the ice. Take some swings.

Just Over half of JJ Peterka's assists were secondary. He probably is a 30g scorer. You can't trade him for futures, you'd need to find a slightly older player with better metrics defensively. That's a tall order and unless Jason Robertson is coming this way, idk who that player would be, so you keep jjp.

Your logic is confusing. As you point out, Adams apparently didn’t feel his injury history was an impediment in dealing for him. So why would he trade him?

Would we be "selling high" though? or does he still have even more upside? I'm not sure, but I think he can still be better. Not sure he can do that in this system as a Sabre but I'm not sure he's peaked yet either. I personally want the make up of this roster altered but I also know I'm unlikely to get that.

KA as GM is defined by do you want to be here. I don't think he's capable of playing that card.

And physicality based on height.

If I'm GM I tell JJ he's not being moved, end of story. You don't like it? Too bad.

I appreciate the thought and rationale. I’d like to add one more reason why I’d be fine with the move. There may be better return for a team willing to trade D for a young forward and reluctance to trade D for D, D for two prospects, or D for #9 overall. If you go into the offseason limited in trading only prospects and/or Byrum, you are narrowing the teams willing to trade with you for the stay at home defender you desire. Adding JJP to mix opens up other avenues. Maybe Byrum and a prospect could yield a top 6 forward that is a better fit for the Sabres. Options.

Exactly. This isn't about "we have to get rid of JJ". It's about stepping away from moves on the margins and asking "what meaningful asset can we afford to give up?" This is about selling high on a very good player of certain skill set for very good player or players for a skill set we lack.