DarthEbriate

If I want a path to the ECF -- meaning don't run into Florida or Toronto in the first and/or second round for the 1st three years of my new contract -- I choose Carolina.

As TSN just discussed, you're a playoff team. Your 2026 1st is a lock to be 17 or afterward (or is it?). Offer sheet Byram for 1 year -- Buffalo can't match because if you match you can't trade him for a year (no deadline sweepstakes). That walks him directly to UFA next summer and... he alone is not getting the Sabres to the playoffs... is he? Can Adams take that bet? So... present a contract giveaway trade and a lesser pick. And if Buffalo doesn't like it, you offer sheet Byram. If you're... say... Vegas, you'll figure out a way to make it under the cap by opening day.

Future D-partner to Clifton in the race to McKenna.

He doesn't stink, he can get to 20 goals (in the right setup). Now, would I rather have Ehlers as the LW1 and have Benson on the 2nd? Sure. But I'm not paying Ehlers $10M+ because he's the biggest ticket out there... he's never scored more than 64 points. He's JJP-production with 200' game. That's great, but I'm not paying that much for it. I'd rather have Tuch extended at 9 and Mangiapane at 5 than Ehlers only in 2026-27. Doesn't want to be here. And he's not wrong.

Sign Mangiapane to be LW2, bridge Byram and Timmins. Lock up McLeod, Kozak, and Levi and call it good.

Jeannot is protection for... their tank to McKenna sweepstakes. And then the expected McKenna protection if they get him. But that's like getting Okposo to be on your 4th line, instead of signing him in UFA to be in the top 6.

If you can't beat Edmonton, take their Perry.

That's some quality GM-ing right there. 2026 6th, N/A, Brännström to Europe, Norris, JBD to UFA, Kesselring, Doan, 2026 4th It's Norris, Doan, Kesselring right now.

This is Karmanos' work. Rathbone was really solid for the Amerks last year and in the playoffs.

I could see it as a preseason injury-bug waiver pickup -- and then realizing... This guy is dirt cheap and can be a #7 who I'm not afraid to play because I have a good team and I can spend that extra $1M on my D5/6.

Lafferty played a bunch of RW last season --- Doan ($925k) took his job, and Kozak (RFA) outplayed him at center. Bennett Ekblad Marchand Marner Ehlers Boeser Suter That's one possibility. Remember: He has all the resources he needs.

They do... for the next year.

From his time in Vancouver, I thought he was going to be the most pleasant surprise (exceeding expectations) on the roster at the start of last season. He was not. Good EEE, Adams. You just saved $2M. Now --- go spend the savings! (on a good player)

He'll be waivers exempt this season (to start at least, I think he can exceed the GP if he were in the lineup all year). After that, he could be an easy waivers claim, with term, for someone else.

$775. 2-way, then?

That was an extension for a starter, but I've been talking about their 2nd goalie (which has been everyone except Ullmark & UPL [and ELC Levi] since Adams took over. The market price for 5 years for a starter was right where UPL got paid. It was easy negotiation. Between 2022 and 2025, 9 goalies have signed for 5 years. They range from $4M AAV (Korpisalo) to $5.375M (Jarry). UPL is right in the middle. (Was this the right move? That's our ongoing conversation forever. If the team defense vastly improves and UPL continues to improve from experience, it could still be fine. Maybe.)

Plus, we can all work (post) remotely in the digital age. He can still ask for Pegula's approval to approve Karmanos' signing of an AHL vet to replace Rousek today.

If Levi follows a Miller track, he'll be great in the AHL again this season and be in the NHL in 2026-27 at age 25. (Note: Miller couldn't be in the NHL in age 24 season because of lockout, but prior to that he was not good in the NHL, just as Levi's been a bit overwhelmed. Miller had a better team supporting him, though, obviously.) Alex Lyon has never earned over $1M/year in the NHL. He's a backup who has been signed as a backup every time. Adams doesn't pay goalies. And he doesn't give them term. The cap went up so it can't be the $750k special. Last year, Reimer got a 1x$1M. Factor in the taxes and palm trees. 1 x $1.75M sound good? Can't block Levi in 2026.

Welcome to Buffalo! Home of palm trees and taxes, pitchforks and torches. Except the palms all burned because they make for big torches.

Fine for Ottawa to be roster balancing. But --- who initiates the trade. The Sabres are looking to trade Cozens. Fine. But that's not required to be at the trade deadline. They're not going anywhere; he doesn't have a NTC/NMC kick in for 2 more years. Ruff could've just moved him to 3rd line wing, but he also wasn't showcasing Cozens between Benson & Thompson for a trade. On the other hand, Ottawa wants to move Norris. They need a more physical player for the playoffs. The NEED someone who will be healthy and available going into the playoffs (Norris already has his ---oblique?--- strain). Norris is a better overall player than Cozens right now, but is he a 3-for-1 trade better than Cozens if Cozens reaches his potential, or is at least moved from center to wing? Adams wasn't operating from a place of need in that trade; Ottawa was. Why was Adams the one feeding in the 2nd?

More pitchforks and more torches?

One note: Living out of market and being able to watch the opposition broadcasts on ESPN+ is very helpful. But, you know, those broadcasts are critical of the Sabres, too. (also, you could do this within market with VPNs, etc.)

What, exactly, does uncritical Brian Duff look like? I guess Biron will have to go elsewhere because he won't be able to break down the play in between periods with any sense of integrity (if they have a poor period).

And then he assistant-coached a Sabres squad that had Miller/Enroth and Vanek and... Drew Stafford's best season, though the goals probably all came in 3 games... the last time the Sabres made the playoffs. But they had goaltending.

^ Lyon got the Panthers to the playoffs over the Sabres in 22-23. They lost in the Final to Vegas. Then, Lyon went off to Detroit and the Panthers have gone back-to-back. Must be nice. So many playoff seasons to choose from.