GASabresIUFAN

And this is why I started the thread. Running it back one more time runs us into both the internal cap and possibly the actual cap without any real improvement in the roster. I honestly didn’t think the mis-management could get any worse until I started running numbers using the projections.

He won’t.

So dump more vets, get younger, don’t improve the defense, stay at the internal cap and actually get worse again. What a plan.

First the 13 players under contract for nearly 62 million is fact. Second we have 4 current RFAs on the roster who will almost certainly be retained and AFP's models have been very good. So if you follow the model and the players under contract you come up with 17 players for about 80 million (using only bridge deals) with no upgrades. This may not be "fact" but it's simple logic given Adams' operating history and the players involved. This is before trying to keep either vet (Greenway or Zucker), going against the grain and not locking up either Byram or JJP long-term or even completing the roster. No matter how you spin it, the Sabres are in a difficult starting position to upgrade the roster. So yes this needs it's own thread and needs to be discussed. I'm not even suggesting what I truly want done. I'm only going where the number say we are going and trying to look at it from the Adams/TP point of view. If you read the number differently please show us.

The cap for next year could be as high as $93 million, but we all know that the team has an internal cap. If they bring back most of this current failed squad they will have zero $ for actual upgrades without moving on from Power, Cozens and/ or some other high priced player(s). Here is the situation in a nutshell. There are 13 current Sabres under contract for next season for 61.793 million (including 4.44 to Skinner) Forwards: The Sabres have 8 forwards under contract (TNT, Cozens, Tuch, Lafferty, Malenstyn, Krebs, Benson and Kulich). Cap cost 25.629 Defense: 4 "Defenders" (and I use that term loosely) are under contract for nearly $27 million (Clifton, Dahlin, Samuelsson, & Power). Goaltending: 1 UPL 4.75 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EIVzd3tGEpaoQXCXkE3DkiksczGJvlc8GywXZl0Twjo/edit?gid=1769332179#gid=1769332179 Mid-season contract projections from AFP Sabres UFAs - Zucker (2 years $5 per season), Greenway (4 year 3.74) RFAs = McLeod (3 years 2.947); Byram (ST) (2 years 5.073), (LT) (7 years 7.045); Quinn (ST) (2 year 3.371), (LT) (6 years 5.624); JJP (ST) (2 years 4.091), (LT) (6 Years 5.624) Using these contract estimates and bringing back all the RFAs and UFAs listed with LT deals for Byram and JJP and a bridge for Quinn, the Sabres would have a cap of 90.364 million for only 19 players (13F, 5D & 1G). Obviously this isn't sustainable, it would still be a horrible roster and at 90 million, it will be above TP's internal cap. We still be missing defenders who can defend and playmakers to make the offense go. It's a pretty grim state of affairs. Here is what that roster would look like. JJP Cozens Thompson Benson Kulich Tuch Zucker McLeod Quinn Greenway Krebs Malenstyn (Lafferty) Dahlin ????? Byram Power Clifton Samuelsson UPL ????? My guess is that the internal cap for next season with be about 85 to 86 million. To get there, Adams will have to let Greenway walk (allowing Kozak to take his job) and bridging all the RFAs. Those decisions will bring the projected cap back down to about 81.5 million, but still leave us short one goalie, a partner for Dahlin, 2 depth defensemen and without any help on offense. I don't see how Adams can reasonably fix all those holes, much less improve the squad of 4.5 to 6 million. The only way to fix this crap roster is to move on from at least 2 major contracts and use the saving to fix other roster holes. Step 1 is deciding to keep either Power or Byram and then trading the other. Step 2 is trading Cozens. These two moves clears $15 million from the internal cap allowing money to be invested in actually defensemen and maybe, just maybe a top 6 center.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6037690/2025/01/14/nhl-prospects-rankings-under-23-2025/ (139 players rated) Power 18th. JJP 43rd Kulich 79th Benson 83rd Helenius 85th Östlund 87th Wahlberg 101st Kleber 125th

He is, but why pay him $4 mill when Kulich and Kozak combine for 1.6 mill? Thompson is the No. 1 C The Sabres need to find a 2 Kulich 3 Kozak 4 with Krebs as a floater.

I have been outspoken about my wish to move on from Cozens and McLeod. I have also been outspoken about my wish for the Sabres to bring in a top 6 forward, preferably a playmaking center. I have also been outspoken on my belief we need more vets like Zucker not less. However, I have been watching the Sabres again lately just to see if there is really any hope left and I have found two players, that are bringing me some hope. They are Kozak and Kulich. Kozak brings an honest effort every shift. He has shown more effort in heart in his 8 games than all of Adams 4th line acquisitions except maybe Malenstyn. Kulich just keeps getting better with each game played. He now has 12 points (8 goals) in 33 games and as many goals as Benson (8, 8, 41 games) and twice that of Krebs (4, 12 46 games). Kulich also was solidly 9/20 in the face off circle last night. If Kozak and Kulich continue to build on this game and others like it, the Sabres just may have their 3rd and 4th line centers for the near future. The best news about their ascension is it frees our limited capital to begin to fix the other holes in the lineup like defense and playmaking in the top 6.

True.

Samuelsson and Dahlin. Two guys from the stands. Me and you. Anyone would be better.

Why do these two teams remind me so much of each other?

Power doesn’t touch anyone. UPL saves the game.

Power and Byram on the ice for 5 in 6. Terrible coaching.

Kulich and Kozak have back bone.

Icing, off-sides and no shots. Sabres PP continues to excel.

Hope can really only grow if Adams is gone. His plan is crap and everyone in the NHL knows it including him.

There is always hope, but this season is over and hope remains at a very low ebb as long as the current management is in place.

Good think we drafted Power over Beniers.

Do we really care anyone longer about what the public speak from anyone associated with the Sabres say? Actions speak louder than words. What management says is meaningless. Their actions; bad roster construction, bad contracts, and bad personnel moves have destroyed the team. The coaches haven’t made any improvement in the play of this team for the last season and half. Why should what they say matter? The players don’t seem to listen why should we? Most of the young Sabres are regressing on the ice again? Apathy? Lack of talent? Poor work ethic? Injuries? Who knows, but whatever they say about their effort is clearly not reflected in results.

Are you saying that there is a danger in giving a player a long-term deal after only one good season? Who knew? Cozens, UPL, Samuelsson, Power; I seem to be spotting a trend. The Sabres have 6 long term contracts, 5 were given out after the player's "break out year." Only TNT's is marginally working out. Dahlin's was after a success bridge deal. Maybe, just maybe Adams' strategy isn't the smartest way to handle guaranteed contracts.

UPL isn’t the problem. The problem with this team is Dahlin, Power, Byram, Joki, Bryson, Samuelsson, Clifton and Gilbert. They can’t place defense.

Centers? We need no stinking centers.

That's how you score an empty net goal.

The PK is having a hell of a night. They won in the end.

The Sabres are already "playing" for next year. As hard as this is to write, it’s already audition time for jobs for next year. If we did a stock report McLeod, Zucker, Quinn, Byram and Kozak up; Power, Cozens, Joki, Reimer, JJP down. With each passing good game, Zucker's trade value increases. A competent GM can start to get what this team needs for next season at any time, but Adams is a pretty much a deadline/off-season GM. I don't expect anything to improve the team between now and the deadline. My guess is even Terry has had enough and will instruct Adams to only move out contracts (Zucker and Joki) to save money and replace with waiver pickups or callups. This will buy Terry time to decide as to whether or not to finally do the right thing and fire yes man Howdy Doody at season's end. I'm guessing right now Adams will be moved upstairs with the GM duties handed over to Karmanos. Hopefully I'm wrong and Terry cleans out the lot (Adams, Karmanos and Forten), but I doubt it. Anyway I have enough faith in Karmanos to believe he might know what the team needs to improve this summer and he will find better D as the GM. Maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.