GASabresIUFAN

The irony of Myers returning to mentor Power. Lots of good players on the list but none are Ellis

The next Taylor Hall? What will Boston offer for him? Bergeron is an UFA after this season.

Thx @pi2000. It's actually not my idea. I saw it on a capfriendly mock Sabres for next year, although the poster's other trades made no sense. However this one really struck a cord with me. When healthy, Ellis is an amazing D and started this year on fire before his injury. The guys is a winner and such a smart player. He would do wonders for this roster much like Teppo did 17 years ago. I doubt Philly wants to move him, as they just acquired him for this season, but they really are in cap hell and it might be a golden opportunity to move this team foward.

Seriously, should we see if Philly is willing to trade Ryan Ellis. He is 31 and has 5 years left on his deal at 6.25. Philly is already committed to 5 D, including 3 vets with $17 mil in contracts. In fact without Ellis, they already have 66.5 mill committed to 14 players.

Most teams can't afford middle class depth like that. We can and that's kind of the point. Eller is playing a 3rd line role in Wash, a role I believe they'll want McMichael to take as they cut cap. Compher is in a similar situation in Colorado. Minn also has to cut costs to cover their 13 mill dead cap. We have the cap space to take on good veterans with term but who are cap casualties. What I'm trying to build is effective veteran depth that can move up and down the lineup as needed, or as chemistry dictates and roll 4 lines when everyone is healthy. I don't want a traditional scrub line, but instead a line like Hecht Gaustad and Grier. I envision a Thomspon line, a Cozens line, a Mitts line and a Eller line. I don't care who plays how many minutes as long they are effective. This should help us weather injuries, continue to build the competitive culture, and make us hard to defend. It will also compensate for the lack of the traditional franchise center which we don't have. When I ran the numbers, the team's cap figure was 66.5 mill

It's contrary to the goal because it's a waste on money, even cap money. It's past time for this team to turn the corner and adding another dead contract to get to the cap floor does nothing to make us more competitve. As to UPL the backup, I don't disagree that this is likely KA's plan, but unfortunately that decision will put us back into the same situation where we are now. I put it as plain as I can. Right now UPL is a below replacement NHL goaltender and a mediocre AHL goaltender.

Hayden doesn't bring any skill but size. We can upgrade the 4th line by moving on from Girgensons, Eakin, Bjork etc by bringing in guys like Eller, Compher, and Foligno.

I generally agree, except I want Teppo vs Mckee. However I would really like him to be more aggressive with the 4th line.

Except that is contrary to KA stated goal of getting a proven D to play/mentor Power. While 10 games is a small sample size, 47 games of sub 900 save% is no longer a small sample size but a bad trend.

This plan will likely leave us under the cap floor even with re-signing VO. Signing a Pysyk type also isn’t the player KA has stated he wants to pair with Power. I also think we need a nearly complete overhaul of the energy line. I want better players who can play up and a real center.

@tom webster has often and correctly argued that many guys development is tied to their physical maturity. Thompson is a classic example of a talented guy who needed to grow into rather large frame. However, he doesn’t hit these highs without opportunity.

Ryan Ellis

First time?

Are the Sabres in now the Leaf’s heads? 10-3 in the last two games. We dominated from the opening whistle the first game and were the better team in the Heritage Classic. Honestly they looked lost at the end of the outdoor game.

I don’t think management ever had a problem with Krebs the person or the player. Their issue was his pre-draft Achilles injury. The injury sent a top 10 player down to 17. We are fortunate that he has recovered well and is now playing to his original draft status.

You seem to be ignoring the 22 games this season and now 46 AHL games of mostly mediocre play. He is certainly improved but it’s not enough to simply give him an NHL job next season. If I’m deciding between UPL and Levi in the AHL next season I’m choosing Levi.

Or he played well for a short stretch in Buffalo and is really not that good, especially when you consider that in 3 seasons he's never topped 900.

1) Girgensons is always hurt. Not playing doesn't do us any good and he could use a fresh start elsewhere. The retention is what would hit the cap anyway if he is waived. 2) Eller isn't a JAG but a very solid center who can move up and down the lineup, kill penalties and add depth scoring. He is on pace for about 14 goals and 35 points this season (current totals 9g and 23 pts). That isn't JAG production. JAG production is Cody Eakin with 4g 7a for 11 pts. 3) Samsonov is only 25 and still has upside, but I only want him in a tandem with another old veteran goalie to help him reach his potential which I believe is higher then UPLs. 4) Oscari is a good offensive player, but can't play defense. We need a veteran RHD to team up with Power and the odds of us needing an offensive minded D who can't play D with Dahlin and Power already on the team are zero, thereby making Oscari expendable. Jensen on the other hand is a very good stay at home D on a very reasonable contract and is a significant upgrade on Pysyk. Jensen has significant market value and the 2nd plus Oscari is to get him in the deal. 5) Part of this is also to get to the cap floor with players with term or control that are already NHLers. 6) UPL isn't ever going to be an NHL starter for the Sabres. That's a bold statement, but I don't think he is NHL ready as he is currently being outplayed by Dell in Rochester. If Levi and Portillo are signed, we need minor league starting slots to get those two the required PT to develop. If I'm correct, I'd much rather have Levi or Portillo playing in the AHL over UPL. As I believe Levi and Portillo have more upside, I view UPL as expendable.

I'm sure they'll draft another guard for added depth. Still I like the move. Only one year. I think Beane is going all in this year before Josh's cap hit gets to huge.

I forgot about the draft. Grrrrr. Right now we have picks 6, 17, 30 and 38. At 6 we are probably looking at Savoie, Lambert and maybe David Jiricek? Basically someone this is unlikely to step into the lineup immediately. With the Sabres luck, we'll probably end up picking 8th (again). at 17 I'm looking at USNTDP forwards like Howard, Snuggerud (son of a former Sabre) and Nazar. Northeastern's Jack Hughes should also be of interest considering we have probably have been scouting him while following Levi's progress. at 30 LW's like Ohgren or Ingram? Maybe another D like Bichsel or Buchinger, although one of these guys could easily fall to us at 38 depending on how the draft goes.

I don't think anyone has a any issue with giving Anderson a choice of quality destinations. I'd also love to have him back as a minor league goalie coach (and emergency goaltender). While UPL did decent work in his games this season, I'm not sure that it was sustainable play long term. He has yet to even hit a 900 save % in the AHL. So far UPL's save % in his 3 AHL seasons are 874, 888 and 897. Compare to Ullmark's he had increasing save % of 902, 909 and then 922 before graduating to the NHL. UPL simply isn't good enough. If he isn't NHL ready, which I suspect he isn't and we sign Levi and Portillo, UPL needs to be traded so that one of Levi or Portillo can start in the AHL and one in the ECHL. As to Varlamov, he has a 16 team no trade list. It's certainly possible that the Sabres are on it, but maybe a one year extension for similar money will clear that obstacle. Getting the right goaltending here next season is certainly going to be KA's biggest challenge; a challenge he has failed at for two straight seasons. If I were in his shoes the patient approach has failed. Time to be aggressive.

The best discipline was Cozens' legal hit later that period that sent Matthews flying.

With the trade deadline a week or so away, KA is already beginning the process of building his team for next year. By my calculations the team is about 19 mill under next years cap. He has some important roster decisions to make and he had made clear in recent statements that if he finds a piece at the trade deadline for next year he's willing to make the deal. He is also willing to use the team's cap space to get more picks and prospects at the deadline. There are 15 players already under contract for next season (Cap cost 41.9 mill, includes CoHo's 800K of dead money). Wingers (8) : Tuch, Krebs (c), Quinn, KO, Skinner, Asplund (c), Girgensons (c), and Bjork Centers (3): Thompson, Cozens and Mittelstadt Defense (4): Dahlin, Jokiharju, Fitzgerald and Samuelsson Key RFAs: UPL, VO, Bryson, Biro, R2 and Murray UFAs of Note (Assuming they are here after the deadline): Pysyk (900K), Anderson (750K), Hinostroza (1.05), Tokarski (750K). Obvious Needs: Good goaltending, 4th line center who can play up, Veteran RHD. Offseason objective? Is this finally the year we make a run at the playoffs? Step 1: The trade deadline: Who goes and who stays: Plenty of UFAs to choose from in Anderson, Butcher, Miller, Hagg, Pysyk, Eakin, and Hinostroza. Will RFAs like VO and Bryson or guys with term like Bjork, Girgensons or even KO be made available? I thinks it's realistic to believe 4 or 5 players from this list will be traded. I can also see Pysyk and Hinostroza being re-signed before the deadline to help retain organizational depth. Step 2: The College Boys: Power, Johnson and Levi should all be signed. The question is whether Portillo will be signed as well. I'm leaning toward signing him as well. Now comes the hard part. How do we get to at least the cap floor and how does KA get this team to take the next step. My approach. Goaltending. I'm trading UPL. I don't think he has anywhere near the upside of Levi and Portillo and I also don't think he's ready for NHL backup duty. I want Levi to be the starter in Rochester next season. I'm acquiring through trade or free agency two NHL experienced goaltenders. I want KA to look at Varlomov, Talbot, and Quick, but also to look at Samsonov and Georgiev. I'm also re-signing Houser and Tokarski to mentor Levi in the AHL and Portillo in the ECHL. Defense I think I have 5/6 of my starters already locked in Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson, Bryson and Jokiharju. What we need is a modern version of Toni Lydman or Teppo Numminen to partner with Power and mentor the entire young group. This is probably the 2nd most important decision of the offseason after the goaltending. I'd like Orlov but I don't that's realistic, but maybe Nick Jensen (Washington) or Jan Ruutta (TB) would fit the bill. I'm also carrying 8 D this coming season. I'm also willing to include either Fitz or Bryson to help get a trade done. If we do trade on of the them, then a 2nd vet RHD needs to be acquired or signed. Forwards With 11 forwards already under contract and VO an RFA, it seems pretty straight forward for next season. I hope KA doesn't go this route. I'm ready to move on from Girgensons (who can't stay healthy) and Bjork (who stinks at hockey). I'm also making guys like R2, Biro and Asplund available to trade to help get a deal done. We need a 4th line center and I think we can probably pry Lars Eller from the Caps. They need to get younger and cheaper and maybe we can get Jensen and Eller in a deal. I believe KA will re-sign VO for at least 3 years. I wouldn't mind retaining Hinostroza. The other trade I'd like to make is to go get Compher back. If KA decides to trade VO, then that opens up a top 6/9 winger slot to fill in the off-season. The moves (deadline or in season) 1) At the deadline - Trade Miller (for a 3rd), Hagg (for a 4th), Eakin (for a 5th) and Anderson (for a 3rd). 2) A 2nd and 3rd (2023) to NYI at the deadline for Varlomov. 3) Extend Pysyk and Hinostroza 4) Sign Power, Levi, Johnson and Portillo once their college seasons end. The Moves post season) 1) trade Murray (or R2) and a pick to Colorado for Compher 2) Re-sign Olofsson 3) Girgensons (50% retained), Laaksonen and UPL and a 2nd in 2023 to Washington for Eller, Jensen and Samsonov. 4) Re-sign Houser and Tokarski 5) Waive Bjork and assign to Rochester The Roster Skinner, Tnt, Tuch VO, Mittelstadt, Quinn Krebs, Cozens, KO Hinostroza, Eller, Compher (Asplund 13th) Dahlin Bryson Power Jensen Samuelsson Jokiharju Pysyk Fitzgerald Varlomov, Samsonov https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/3121751

Absolutely. I also think that the guys will be happy for some of their mates if they get an opportunity to play on a playoff team. I don't remember anyone being sad for Ray when he got traded to Ott for a chance at a Cup. If KA trades Anderson to a contender, I think all the guys will be happy for him. Ultimately it comes down to the real leadership in the lockerroom. Tuch, Skinner and KO seem to have the guys pulling together win or lose. I think those leaders are strong enough to weather JAGs moving on to other teams. It's also not like KA is going to dump 10 guys overnight. He is going to look for value and to make sure he can field a roster in the NHL without decimating the AHL.

I have zero problem generally with re-signing Vinnie, except where does he play? Right now we have 5/6 top 9 wingers locked in for next season in Skinner, Tuch, Krebs, Quinn, and KO. The 6th is VO who is an RFA, one of our best goal scorers and a needed cap hit (strange as that sounds). JJP is also waiting in the wings for his opportunity in the top 9. We also have 3 "energy" wingers signed for next year in Asplund and Girgensons (although both can play center), plus a Bjork. So where does Vinnie slot? Get KA to dump Girgensons and Bjork and I'd retain Vinnie in a heart beat.