GASabresIUFAN

That does change the fact that all are overpayments.

Besides Lafferty, does any of the contracts KA signed this summer make sense? $5 mill for 32 pt player in Zucker, 5 years at 4.75 for a goalie with one good year in pro hockey, 2 years at 1.45 for a 13th forward who had 4 goals last year. 1.5 for a depth forward that hasn’t been good enough to play a full season for any of his previous teams. 2 years at 1.35 for a 26 year old rookie with 6 goals. Not that any of these deals are horrible on their face, but they are all overpayments and some significantly like Zucker and UPL. Not a surprise given he paid a 2nd rd pick for the 26 year old rookie forward and a former top prospect for a 3rd line center with a career high of 12 goals 30 points.

Probably. That's the only rationale explanation for overpaying a guy with zero leverage and no spot in the lineup.

Why? He hasn't proved he is anything but a marginal 4th line player. Stupid contract for a 13th forward with no leverage.

The only issues for both big Russian D is their skating. There were similar discussions with Samuelsson, but he seems to get around ok. I hope both guys prove that it's not an issue and can make the jump to the NHL. We certainly could use both guys sooner than later. After this season, the Sabres only have 4 D under contract (Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson and Clifton) D - RFAs - Byram & Ryan Johnson; UFAs - Jokiharju, Bryson, Gilbert, and Clague. It would surprise me at all that we could have Russian 3rd pairing starting in 2026-27 once Clifton is gone as well.

Not sure why there is angst about Krebs' contract. It will get signed when it's signed and if for some reason it doesn't get signed who cares. Krebs is the 13th forward. If he doesn't sign Rousek, a prospect or someone from outside or the organization will take his place. Maybe Kulich has a great camp and breaks with the Sabres forcing Greenway to the 4th line and Aube-Kubel to the 13th role. He has zero leverage in the "negotiations" and the Sabres have zero incentive to give a 13th forward more than the minimum contract, especially as he hasn't earned a bigger or longer deal. The Sabres also have zero incentive to sign him beyond this season as Rosen, Kulich, Helenius etc... are knocking on the NHL door and I believe Krebs will still be an RFA after this coming season if signed to a 1 year deal. Truthfully, adding McLeod and Lafferty sealed his fate. He failed his 3rd line center audition and KA moved on. As to trading him, what value does he have? A 3rd in 2026? Less? No real incentive to trade him either as his position flexibility is a useful trait in a 13th forward. I still hold our diminishing hope that KA makes a deal for a top 6 forward and Krebs is part of the package going the other way. Scant hope I admit, but still some hope that he kept the cap space open for a reason other than Pegula being cheap. https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/nhls-top-12-rfas-of-2024-latest-rumours-reports/

For what? A 5th rd pick in 2026? He should sign his QO get to camp and earn a friggin job.

I have many negative opinions of KA and his management of the Sabres, but if you look at the roster, the list is a real "team" comprised of our prospects. No outside filler. These are all guys management wants to see and wants to see excel. I'm all for maximizing their reps and getting them an early start toward building a cohesive Amerks group from day one. It will also help management determine which of these guys are close to NHL ready.

Does it matter that they are Russian?

I'm excited to see the two goalies. Both are part of the broader Team Canada. Ratzlaff played for them at the Hlinka (22/23) and sat on the bench for the U20s and Leenders played on U17 and U18 teams before ridding the pine in last season's Hlinka. Both have good potential and it will be nice them in action. @dudacek This is preview almost of the Amerks with 8 of their probably top 9 forwards and 3 key defensemen.

Maybe he earns a 3rd line gig and pushed Greenway to the 4th line. He has good defensive metrics, maybe he pushes Aube-Kubel to the bench. Kubel has never played a full NHL season.

The best thing that can happen for Krebs now is that he signs his QO, comes to camp with w chip on his shoulder, and goes and earns a job in camp. Prove to Ruff that you belong in the lineup and prove you are more than Lazar 2.0 or Jost 2.0.

Yeah, I think he can play with the top 6 D

Actually he is using the Sabres to get a bigger contract with a Swiss team to play with Zadina.

And better players.

So what’s the plan? Sign Giordano, trade Joki and Krebs plus a pick for Kadri? I don’t know if it would work, but it would at least look like a franchise in win now mode.

Not if that coach is the GM in waiting. Who has more credibility around the league; Adams or Ruff? Since Adams has none, it’s Ruff by default, but I suspect Ruff carries a fair amount of respect and credibility.

We need to stop being an average or below average team. That’s kind of the point. Fielding an average 3rd line doesn’t really help us make the playoffs. Having better talent on the 3rd line creates matchup problems. It’s one of the reasons the Vanek line was so successful. Our current 3rd line won’t be a matchup issue for anyone. McLeod is fast but has no physical game. Greenway is slow as molasses and isn’t really a good partner for McLeod, while Zucker is a nice player but on the downside of his career. I’ll be surprised if they show real chemistry. A Benson, McLeod and Zucker line sounds much more appealing. This can only happen if and when Adams goes into win now mode as promised and upgrades the top forwards.

If we were a good team, I’d expect about 45-50 goals. The Vanek, Roy, Max line scored about 60.

Can we preemptively fire Adams?

If we get 35 goals next season from McLeod, Greenway, and Zucker we’ll be lucky. They might not out score the 4th line. The truth is we’ll be fielding a decent 1st line, an average 2nd line, a below average 3rd line and an above average 4th line offensively. The gap in scoring ability between the 2nd and 3rd lines is the size of the Grand Canyon and could be a major problem this coming season. Hell Quinn could outscore the 3rd line by himself. Adams keen eye for talent and roster construction took a roster with potentially 7 20 goal scoring forwards to 5 unless Benson improves his scoring dramatically.

Didn’t Grigorenko have a similar fall on draft day?

I general I agree with you on the Mitts/Byram trade and I don't think there is a snowballs chance in hell that Byram outplays Mitts this coming season. I especially hate that we only get one year on Byram at a fair price. I also a agree that I would have preferred a two way RHD. My hope to make this bad trade work is that Ruff pairs Power and Dahlin with Dahlin as Raz is very comfortable on his off side. He then tries to build a 2nd pair with Byram as the puck mover. This issue is neither RHD, Joki or Clifton are that great defensively, likely limiting the effectiveness of Byram's pair. As to the PP, my guess is the 2nd PP has 2 D on it with Power as QB and Byram as the L Wall cannon.

Well he's already 1st in his draft class in games played and 2nd in points behind Bedard. 😉

1) you don't know what teams are on the his NTC 2) Even if Calgary is on the list, Greenway can still agree to go, especially on his UFA season to get more PT. If Kadri is acquired, Greenway, if not traded, could easily be pushed to the 4th line. Not exactly the most conducive spot for maximizing counting stats before free agency.