GASabresIUFAN

There is no question he is our worst defensive forward and he had a terrible year last year. His EV differential was -18 (according to NHL.com) and his GV/TK was -2. However, he has been on the + side of the ledger in recent years and was better in 2021/22 where his differential was the same as TNT and better than Cozens and Krebs. My guess is KA thinks he can improve and he isn't going to trade him.

How did you quote my VO post in the Development Camp thread? I fixed the typo. 🙂

While I think Rousek has a great shot at making the Sabres, I doubt he'll add 20-25 goals next season.

Here are a couple of stats about Johnson and Clifton that should help clarify why they are here. PK time: Clifton played 100 minutes on the PK last year. That was 5th on the Bruins D (they took a lot of penalties), but about the same amount of time Dahlin spent on the PK. Clifton's GP has increased each year in the NHL starting at 19, then 31, 44, 60, and 78 last year. He also had his best scoring season with career highs in goals (5) assists (18) and pts (23). Those stats would have placed him 3rd in pts and assists and 2nd in goals on the Sabres. This was accomplished on Boston's 3rd pair who zero PP time. His 120 blocked shots would have been second behind Dahlin's 132. Two not-great stats are his 60 PIMS (only Dahlin's 96 were more on the Sabres) and his 47 giveaways (but those are still less than Power and Dahlin). Erik Johnson: Did you realize EJ only had 12 penalty minutes last season? For a team as disciplined as the Sabres in not taking penalties (3rd least in the NHL), that's a nice addition. Stillman had 13 in 18 games and Clague 24 in 33 games. He also killed 128 minutes of penalties for the Avs (3rd on the Avs). Johnson also lead the Avs in hits (121) was 3rd in blocks (102) and only had 17 giveaways for the season. All in all, we are getting 2 guys who hit, block shots, kill penalties and are defensively responsible.

Why trade him at this point unless we are getting an upgrade elsewhere in the roster (goalie?) or for an offer KA can't refuse? Our roster currently stands at 3G, 9D, and 12F. Move Bryson and your back to the 23 contract limit. The team has nearly 6 million in cap space. If Bryson is traded, that number jumps to nearly 8 million. There is literally no pressure to trade VO. I also think we are forgetting that VO was one of our best forwards in the second half of 2021/22. PS: I'd also move UPL or Comrie to make room for a 13th forward.

I agree in general, but I’d trade Wpg Rosen for one year of Helle. Then again I think Rosen is Joel Armia 2.0.

same answer. If Wpg would trade us Helle for Rosen, UPL, and something, I think KA would have to consider it.

They played Old Apartment and Brian Wilson during the set and both sounded just fine without Page. I think Ed said during the show how much del Amitri sounds just like they do in the studio.

Fair question. Finding someone with similar credentials on a 2-4 year deal would have been ideal. $5 mill per season for up to 4 years should not be a problem for us cap wise. Also such a contract is likely very trade-able after 2 years. I fully understand why none of the bigger names came here. All the big names, Hill, Andersen, Jarry and Varlamov all stayed with their current teams leaving not much for those looking for help. That doesn’t change the disappointment in not finding help and keeping the lousy status quo. I still believe help is possible, but KA is going to have to be creative.

Be careful folks. Someone will say you are being disrespectful to Levi if you think KA should upgrade Comrie and UPL. It’s entirely possible that Levi starts 40+ and the other 3 guys play 35 or so and the Sabres get NHL average from them and we squeak into the playoffs. Is that really the goal? Our offense last year put up 293 goals. We just upgraded the D and PK. We still have plenty of cap room why settle for bad backup goaltending and put the weight of the franchise on a rookie with 7 games of pro experience? Here are the backups in case things go wrong. Eric Comrie - NHL experience - 47 games over 7 years - Career Gaa - 3.32 with a .897 save %. Quality save % .465 UPL - NHL experience - 46 games over 3 years - Career GAA - 3.47 with a .897 save %. Quality save % .422 Tokarski - NHL experience - 80 games over 9 years - Career GAA - 3.15 with a .902 save %. Quality save % . 463 By comparison here is what Tristan Jarry looks like - 206 gp - 2.65 GAA, .914 save% and .606 Quality save %. Who would you rather share the net with Levi, guys like our 3 backups or someone like Jarry?

Your probably right that they’ll get more him at the deadline than they will right now.

Another Sabre turned GM in the offing ?

Who is left worth looking at?

3rd pair in 24/25 Johnson & Johnson.

KA won’t do it, but to get a great mentor for Levi, and solidify the goaltending this season I’d trade Comrie/UPL and Rosen for one season of Hellebuyck. It’s worth the risk. Even without Rosen ( Joel Armia 2.0?) our pipeline would still include 4 1st rd forwards, 3 second round forwards, plus Neuchev, Nadeau, Rousek and Kozak who are tracking to be NHL players. Truthfully we won’t miss Rosen if traded. I won’t not be in favor of the Hellebuyck with an extension. It would be too big a hit to our pipeline and we don’t want the cap hit long-term. Levi is our goalie long-term but KA still has to field quality for 82 games for a playoff caliber team. One year of Helle gives Levi some runway to develop without all the expectations riding on him. I also think he’d learn a lot from a goalie of Helle’s stature, especially given Helle’s college background.

One would hope. However, to get Tokarski to 3rd in the pecking order, 2 goalies would be traded if KA manages to acquire a veteran. It seems more likely at this point that KA trades away the loser of the camp battle between UPL and Comrie to back up Levi and Tokarski becomes No. 3 that way. Maybe the Sabres pick up a goalie as part of a team's deal to land Karlsson. For example; the rumor mill had Pitt acquiring Karlsson in a 3-team deal. The Pens signed two goalies and are now over the cap. Some money needs to come off their cap to work Karlsson in. How about we take DeSmith and Jan Ruuta off their hands to help make the numbers work.

and honestly not very smart.

No, but in his pressers he repeatedly mention D upgrades and in recent weeks he hasn’t addressed adding a goalie. I’m not saying he won’t make a trade, but the odds have decreased significantly of getting adequate goaltending help.

Varlamov has officially re-signed. There are no longer any goalies on the FA market worth signing unless KA is willing to make an offer sheet for Swayman. That’s not happening. While I’m perfectly happy with the 2 D signings. Not getting a goalie is a huge mistake. While a trade is still possible, I don’t see KA as willing to part with any key assets to get it done. The better D will help bring down the goals against some, but will it save us the 30 - 40 goals needed for us to be a legit playoff team. This mistake will be magnified if Levi isn’t ready or gets hurt.

He wants a longterm big $ deal. At this point I don’t see anyone making a move for him unless it’s a crap team like Chicago. I don’t see us trading for him unless Wpg gives us him for nothing as a 1 yr rental. Sorokin just re-signed for 8 years at 8.25. That is also going to put a limit on Hellebuyck contract and I doubt anyone going 8 years for a 29 year old goalie.

What are you talking about? We were discussing Johnson being 3rd pairing depth and KA getting a top 4 D, which he did minutes later when he signed Clifton. Moving on from Joki is a logical suggestion to remove the now logjam on D as he has the most trade value. Waiving Bryson also is a distinct possibility. We aren’t going to carry 3 goalies and 9 D.

Not according to capfriendly.

Rumor has it that Pitt also trying to sign Nedjelkovic. Maybe they’ll trade us DeSmith to save some cap space.

Varlamov still un-signed.

Jarry re-signs in Pitt. Varlamov is the best available UFA. Hellebuyck still best available but not enough term for KA.