GASabresIUFAN

Forwards (Cost 41.225) TNT, Skinner, Tuch JJP, Cozens, Quinn Mitts, Jost, VO ???? Krebs ???? Defense (Cost 18.302) Samuelsson Dahlin Power ????? ???? Jokiharju Bryson Lyubuskin Goalies (Cost 2.638) UPL Comrie This group is 61.5 with 5 opening So how would I fill those openings? On defense I’d start with Nick Jensen (2 years 3.5 per season) for Power’s partner. I’d also make a run at Conor Clifton who Boston can’t afford to keep. (3 yr 2.5 per season) for Jokiharju’s partner. At forward, I’d bring back Z (2 yr 2.5 per season) and I’d like to see if Rousek is ready. I’d bring in a vet for the 13 F in case Rousek isn’t ready. This would cost about 11.3 for the 5 guys bringing the team to about 72.8. I am interested in Miles Wood, but I doubt KA would spend the money.

I agree with much of the above. Frazier is not adjust quickly enough if at all and Dorsey play calling is just terrible. Throwing bomds to Diggs and Davis all game is not an offense. He was better when Josh was hurt and he had to relay on the running game.

Sorry, but most of the guys will be back. Dawkins 15 mill (13 mill dead cap), Morse 11.3 (5 mill dead cap) and Bates 4.8 mill (6.5 dead cap) aren't going anywhere. Brown is a starter making 1.3 (400k dead cap). I expect all 4 back. Saffold is also on the books for 2 mill (2 mill dead cap).

How about KA getting Donnie better D and goalies?

It’s amazing how much these models vary in their results (Computer models for teams making the playoffs). I looked at 4 sources, moneypuck, the athletic, 538, and Hockey-reference. Results list in that order. All have been updated within the last two days. NYR - 60.6, 70, 87, 80.1 Pitt - 53.9, 88, 72, 70.9 Wash - 78, 55, 61, 61.7 Fla - 52.4, 68, 43, 26.6 Buff - 30.8, 4, 16, 33 NYI - 17.2, 16, 24, 23.2

According to whom? Last projection I saw was for a $1 million increase next season. https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/bruins/latest-nhl-salary-cap-projection-2023-24-bad-news-bruins?amp

I didn’t say that at all. I asked what he thought they were worth. No question, as I wrote in the IP, that Jost will return. The question is how much and how long. Do you qualify him and say next year you have to prove your deserve a long term deal or do you give him 3 year at 2.75 and hope he continues to develop? Really the same question for Z other than the developement piece. Is he worth a 3 year commitment or does management see him being phased out before then. I have written elsewhere that if we let Z and KO walk, we’d have to replace their skill set. However at some point, we won’t be able to afford medium $ contracts for 4th line players.

There are certainly guys in the pipeline who we are pretty sure will make the team over the next few years like Levi, Kulich, Rosen and Savoie, but after that it gets a little murky. There are lots of guys with promise like Östlund, Bloom, Nadeau. Kisakov and even Komorov, but none are a sure thing.

So you want Z back. How much are you investing and for how long? Same goes for Jost. His qualifying offer is 2.25. Keep in mind that 10 guys need new deals the following year including Power, Dahlin, Krebs, Mitts, UPL, and Joki.

Over the next few years the Sabres will be paying the core big $ Tuch, Tnt, Skinner, and Samuelsson are locked in for at least the next 3 years for 25.179 The next 3 big contracts are Cozens (8 for 8?), Dahlin (8 for 11?) and Power (3 for 6?) to be signed this offseason or next. After they sign we'll be paying $50 mill plus for 7 players. That leaves about 32-34 million for everyone else. That will include JJP, Quinn, and maybe some or all of VO, Joki, Mitts, UPL, Krebs and Jost. Now add another 7 or 8 players. The money is going to start running out pretty quickly. These decisions will have to come pretty quickly. 17 current players need new contracts over the next 2 off-seasons Cap difficulty is coming. Not next year, but probably in 2024-25 and certainly after that when Quinn and JJP need new deals.

The Sabres have given up 45 goals in their last 13 games. They need better defensemen. Schenn is better than Lyubuskin and it isn’t even close. Who said Schenn is a rental. Why could he be retained if he is a fit here. We need playoff-Cup experience and our young D group needs a mentor.

You can get WRs much easier than Oline help. Also I like Davis and I think Shakir is going to be much better as a 2nd year player.

Only Atlanta can lose a playoff game they aren't even playing in.

Come draft day it's obvious that Safety and O Line are the biggest needs, but I'd love to see the Bills draft Darnell Washington TE from GA even in the 1st rd, but if still available for sure in the second. Washington is a 6'7" 265 TE who runs a 4.6 40, who had 26 catches for 417 yards and 2TDs for GA this season. He was one of team's best blockers and often served as a 6th OL. He wasn't the primary TE receiver at GA because of Brock Bowers, but for a team like Buffalo, whose offense is very similar to GA he'd help protect Josh, make more running lanes for Cook and Singletary and also give the Bills a match up nightmare for LB's and Safeties when used as a pass catcher. In 12 personnel, he'd allow Knox to block less and serve as a primary receiver to maximize his abilities. https://www.profootballnetwork.com/darnell-washington-te-georgia-nfl-draft-scouting-report-2023/

That's correct and that's on Beane who has to improve the O line. However, Dorsey didn't adjust and move the pocket and he had a terrible game plan. Dorsey also had a terrible game plan and he always comes out in the base defense and it's wearing thin. O coordinators have adjusted and he hasn't. IMHO Frazier needs to go bye bye and Dorsey needs to have a chat with Daboll on how to call a friggin game and create a game plan where Josh isn't just chucking the ball 40 yards on 3rd and 2 and 4th and 2.

Why? I expect the Van will now being the process of dumping players to try to get Bedard. We need a veteran D to help solidify our D and he is an excellent fit.

Nice of the Bills to do their TCU impersonation.

Schenn to Buffalo?

Also any trades at the deadline could have profound effect on the 2023-24 Sabres roster. For example: KO let's KA know he won't be back next season. Does KA trade him at the deadline or just let him walk? How that plays out may determine how that roster spot is filled next season. What if someone makes a TB for Hagel like offer for Olofsson at the deadline? If KA accepts, that may open a 3rd line opportunity for someone outside the organization next season.

I agree and I doubt he is being moved at the deadline, but if we fall out of contention and someone like the Devils offers up 2 1st rd picks wouldn't KA have to listen? Tampa gave Chicago 2 1sts, Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk for Hagel. Hagel had a cheap contract when acquired similar to Tnt's. Sadly I do think that next season will be both Casey and VO's last season with the Sabres. With Krebs, Jost, Cozens, Power, UPL and Dahlin needing to be re-signed over the next 2 offseasons, Mitts and VO's 7.5 mill will need to be reallocated elsewhere.

Most of the scenarios I have with VO getting traded is based on his age and someone coming up from the system like a Kulich or Savoie to replace that skill set. That doesn't look like it's going to happen any time soon. Therefore trading VO is off the table unless someone makes KA an offer he can't refuse like TB trade for Hagel.

@Pimlach wrote the following in another thread and when I think about whether KA will re-sign KO and or Z, I think he has to ask how does he replace their skill set if he doesn't re-sign them. In context of what he said in the podcast, can he replace them with younger players who can grow with the core? How does he repalce their leadership if he goes that route?

Why not. KA made it clear from the podcast that this is on his mind as the deadline approaches and how he is going to handle prospects going forward. If he is already thinking about next season, it seems like a worthy discussion here.

I was joking about trading VO. That's why there was a little smiley face next to comment. People on this board have been trying to bum rush Mitts and VO out of town all season. I was again pointing out how silly it was as I have been defending both all season.

I listened to KA on Ray Ferraro's podcast and came away with the impression that he isn't going to make any major moves at the deadline or even this summer. He is set on letting the guys mature and will only fill holes as they naturally occur. From that standpoint the status quo team looks like it will return in 2023-24 In goal (2) - UPL and Comrie - UPL's play has convinced KA to let him become the starter. (Cost 2.638) Defense (6) - Power, Dahlin, Samuelsson, Jokiharju, Lyubushkin and Bryson. They are all under contract. Only question is RFA Clague. This is a huge mistake imho. Jokiharju isn't good enough for the 2nd pairing and Bryson isn't good enough to be an everyday player. (Cost 18.302) Forwards (8) - Tnt, Tuch, Skinner, Mitts, VO, JJP, Quinn and Krebs are all under contract. Jost, Cozens and Asplund are all RFAs and both will be re-signed. KA was clear on the podcast how happy he was with Jost and how he is a guy who can grow with the group. That leaves Z and KO, both UFAs as the only points of possible change. (Cost 30.726) Capwise - The 16 players cost 51.166. Add about 10.5 for Cozens ($8?) and Jost (2.5?) and we are at approx 61.5 for 18 players. Basically KA's biggest offseason question is what to do about KO and Z. Re-sign or not and if re-signed for how long. How do you replace them if not re-signed. Cap space is not an issue for next year, but the year after Power, Dahlin, Mitts, Joki and UPL will all need new deals. VO will also if KA thinks he is part of the core. 30+ goal scorers are hard to replace. Prospects looking for jobs 1) Forwards - Savoie is NHL or CHL only next year. Kulich is prospering at 18 in the AHL (17 pts in 29 games). Older prospects Bio (24) 29 pts in 30 games, Weissbach (24) 26 pts with 13 goals in 36 games and Rousek (23) 25 pts in 36 games are the Amerks leading scorers. 2) Defense - Only former 1st rd pick Johnson is possibly NHL ready assuming KA signs him once Minn's season ends. 3) Goalie - None, but KA was gushing over Levi. He was clear that Levi won't be rushed to the NHL. KA was also happy with Portillo, but his words were very measured. After listening to the podcast, I now doubt Kulich or Savoie will be Sabres next year. No need to rush either, but I still don't like the idea of Savoie returning to the CHL. I think it's a waste of his time. Might he go to Europe for a year to play against older competition? If I'm honest, I think this is the wrong strategy for next season. It's now time to start moving on from some of the former prospects, now players, who aren't contributing how they should. Asplund, Bryson, Jokiharju, and even Mitts and VO should all be discussed. For me I'm ok with Mitts and Vo for another season especially if the chemistry with Jost continues to improve. However allowing 3+ goal a game against is not acceptable. If I were KA I'd be looking for a partner for Power. My thought would be, in keeping with the status quo theme, to drop Bryson and Bush to the 7/8 roles, move Joki to the 6, find a RHD partner for Power and a LHD partner for Jokiharju.