DarthEbriate

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.

And are fine sitting in the press box. That's a critical skill. I still think he gets waived at the end of preseason. Every team has that guy. It was just the silly optics of it -- he's not someone you build around. You re-sign him on July 2nd and say "we got a great guy in the locker room to be our 7/8" and then you send him to Rochester.

He could have a jump in his game (doubtful he'll have great number behind this Sabres defensive lineup, although they'll be better this season in their own zone with Cozens/JJP swapped out). But thus far, he's still only a backup goalie and he's never been a starter (unlike Reimer/Anderson). Anderson had been a great goalie in his prime.

They've gotta get bigger -- as of this offseason. But that wasn't the mandate when Bryson was extended in-season. Adams can only focus on one thing at a time. 4th line. RHD. True, not this year. But life the Sabres finds a way.

If Luukkonen or Levi have improved their game (overall) the last couple seasons, then the answer would be yes. UPL had a regression last season for sure, but I'd take 2024-25 UPL over 2022-23 UPL (although they won his starts, they needed to score 5 to do it). But it is crazy how Adams undervalues the goalie position on a team that's supposedly trying to get good. (And I like Levi's potential.) But he's signed experienced backups to be backups to backup-caliber goalies [at this point in their career] for his entire tenure. Adam has had 1 starting-caliber goalie in his entire tenure and he let Ullmark walk in free agency.

Unless Levi erupts. Of course, he could as easily get an offer sheet this week that crosses the Sabres' EEE internal threshold for combined goalie salaries for the team. Someone offers Levi a little bit of cash and Adams can recoup a 2nd rounder to trade for a 7th D-man at the deadline.