GASabresIUFAN

Just ask Power.

Defensive liability means he gets beat on transition, he is positionally lousy in the D zone and makes bad decisions with the puck. This isn’t just my opinion but Ruff’s as well. You mention he was a net positive player. That’s only true when he played with Dahlin. Ultimately my biggest issue with both Power and Byram is that the Sabres need one of them to be able to anchor their own pairing and be effective. Right now neither player can do it, and until they can play decently in the D Zone they won’t be able to anchor a pair successfully. I don’t want to pay 7 mill or more for a young partner for Dahlin if they can’t stand on their own. Why? The answer is simple. When Dahlin got hurt the team lost 13 straight. One of the main factors in the losing streak was that the other 6 D weren’t good enough defensively. We can no longer afford Power and Byram’s on the job training. Adams gave Power the dumbest contract in the NHL. His offense is worth about $5 mill a season, his defense $-1 mill or more making his contract a net negative to the Sabres of about 4.5 million. Byram’s new contract should be $4 million max, but it won’t be based on the projections. So do we really want to hand out a $7 million contract to basically Power 2.0; an all offense no defense blueliner? Remember Byram gets almost no PP time. Power poorly QB’d the 2nd PP. If we want to max Byram’s offensive value he needs PP time. I think Power and Byram are redundant players. They are offensively talented, defensively a work in progress (I’m being generous here), and only one of the two gets PP time. We need to move on from one of them so that we can reallocate cap resources to defenders who can actually defend. PS: If your name is Power, show some and knock someone on their butt once in a while. He had 26 hits last season. That’s about one hit every 3 games. Byram had 75.

Constantly repeating that they were the "most effective" doesn't change the fact that Byram is a defensive liability just like Power. Remember I want to keep Byram over Power. Byram with Dahlin had a solid expected goals of 54.58%. Byram with every other defender on the Sabres his XGF was 44.58% or worse. Samuelsson with Dahlin had an expected goals of 51.49%. Mattias with every other defender except Joki was 41% or worse. Power with Dahlin had an expected goals of 69.92%. Unfortunately with his 3 most common pairings he had an expected GF of 40.93 with Samuelsson, 44.44% with Byram and 46.09% with Joki. The good news is when he played with the defensively aware JBD at the end of the season he had a xGF of 53.51% For additional context Dahlin had an XGF% with Clifton of 53.57%, and 52.99% with Joki. The common denominator is Dahlin. He is a superstar and can carry anyone and make them look good. Unfortunately, when you put the rest of the D group with anyone else they stink and the stats clearly show that to be true. In fact, of the 10 most common pairings last season, the only 4 with a 50% or better XGF% were the 4 pairings involving Dahlin. The rest of our returning D (except maybe JBD) all stink defensively and most need to go. Spending $15 mill to keep both Byram and Power is a flat out waste of resources. https://www.naturalstattrick.com/pairings.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=BUF&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410

He lost me by bringing back both Power and Byram. Re-signing Byram will likely cost 6.5 to 7 per season. Do we really wants to lock up over 15 mill in two LHD offensive D who can't play a lick of defense and then have both in our top 4 D?

Absolutely. It’s a 3 step process. First you’d try to trade him even if you have to retain to get a deal done. If no trade, then waive him and see if someone will take him, when that fails you buy him out and move on. I utilized the buyout in the example as it’s a clean move with a specific low $ amount. I do think someone might trade for him if we retain some of his deal. The question is how much do you have to retain before the buyout, which is less than 800k becomes a better option.

That goes to the heart or my question. I grant that keeping the status quo coaches and management offers little hope for the franchise today. However, would you gain hope if Adams is able to pull off an offseason similar to what I described which adds a playmaker to the offense, while improving the goaltending and defensive skillset of the D group?

The exact move was less important than the concept of the move, which is subtracting a redundant offensive blueliner and possibly expensive to re-sign D for a playmaking forward under contract and control.

But if you buy him out you save nearly $4 mill immediately and free up money to sign or acquire actual good players.

I’m going play devil’s advocate for a minute. What if Adams and the coaches stay, but Adams gets aggressive this summer and does the following (or something like it)? 1) trades UPL and other assets (Wahlberg?) to Van for Demko 2) Signs Orlov and acquires another proven D (Fabbro, Ceci, Perbix?) 3) Buyout of Samuelsson and trades Quinn. 4) Trades Byram for Zegras Would these moves change your opinion on lack of management changes? I agree there is no reason to believe that Adams can or will be that aggressive or that he could convince any of the FAs to come here. However, he has been more aggressive lately whether we liked the moves or not. Since March of 24, slightly over a year ago, he has traded Mitts for Byram, Savoie+ for McLeod, Cozens+ for Norris and JBD, a 2nd for Malenstyn, signed Zucker, re-signed Zucker and Greenway. That’s two young “core” forward pieces and a top 10 draftee traded away. He also finally dumped Joki opening up a slot for JBD which was a net positive. He talked about the poor defense and goaltending at his end of year presser and despite a vote of confidence in UPL rumors persist that he is on the trading block. If Terry puts him squarely on the hot seat, could we get the changes we want and need even with Adams remaining? Granted no one here trusts him to make good decisions, but last offseason’s McLeod and Zucker moves have been the best of his tenure.

Aren't we paying Power 8+ and his metrics are terrible with anyone but Dahlin.

I’ve said a million times that I’d keep and re-sign Byram and trade Power. I think Byram is as good offensively as Power and plays physically. I also think he’d be cheaper to sign. However both Power and Byram are inept defensively. The numbers y’all mention are on Dahlin alone and prove my point. His numbers are great with anyone. Take that partner away from Raz and their numbers plummet as we saw with Samuelson away from Dahlin and Byram away for Dahlin. My whole plan this summer if I were GM would be to trade Clifton, buyout Samuelsson and trade Power, then acquire two smart solid defensive or all around D to partner with Dahlin and Byram with JBD as the anchor on the third pair. I mentioned Orlov as one example. I like Gavikov as well. My plan saves considerable cap and improves the defense.

So Van has Quinn Hughes and acquires Hronek to partner with him to insure a dynamic pair. Colorado acquires Devon Toews to partner with Makar to have a dynamic pair. We on the other hand saddle Dahlin with Byram, Samuelsson, Power and other defensively challenged players and people here are ok with not giving Dahlin the right partner to maximize his potential. It would be laughable if it wasn't so sad. Dahlin and Power need legit partners next season! Power needs a mentor and a smart partner who can help him play 2 way hockey (Orlov?). Dahlin needs good skating defensively sound partner who can free him up to dominate offensively.

But you are diminishing Dahlin in the process. How good could he be without having to carry his D partner every game? it's like putting a 300lbs jockey on Secretariat. Sure Secretariat will still run pretty fast, but he isn't winning the Derby with the 300lbs jockey. Dahlin with a good partner would be the best defenseman in the NHL. With the crap he has to play with, he is barely in the Norris conversation.

He's 22 and one of the best EV scoring forwards in the NHL. He will continue to get stronger and smarter and likely improve his PP numbers. By that time he'll be a pt a game player.

Isn't entering the zone of the PP TNT and Dahlin's job?

This thread is about not what you want done, but what you think will actually happen. For example I want Power traded because he stinks defensively and has a redundant skill set to Byram who will be cheaper to re-sign and will actually hit someone. The Adams' lead Sabres will likely trade Byram for a middling prospect and conditional 3rd pick in 2027 so that they don't have to re-sign him.

I'm thinking more like 5 years @ 6.5 per season. We need to save a few $ for cap space to improve the D.

That's an illusion John, he is not a top pair D. Dahlin makes him appear to be a better player than he is. At some point we need to stop wasting Dahlin and get him a legit partner so that Dahlin can be free instead of having to carry his partner all the time. The truth remains that only Dahlin (and maybe JBD in a depth role) should be brought back on defense next season. Obviously that's not realistic, but Samuelsson, Clifton, Bryson and either Power or Byram need to go.

He was also 48th among NHL forwards in overall scoring and tied for 56th in goals. He had the same number of goals as Boldy with 100 less shots. Only Wyatt Johnson (71 pts 33g), Tim Stutzle (79 pts, 24g) and Lucas Raymond (80 pts, 27g) had more pts for players in their age 22 or younger seasons. JJP had more EV goals (21) and more EV assists (29) than the other 3 players mentioned above. Stutzle was second with 19EV goals and 27 EV assists. Unlike the other guys Adams handed out long-term deals, JJP has steadily improved each season in the NHL. He still has work to do on the defensive end, but unlike the Skinners of the world, he actually is improving there as well.

So you want to keep an overpaid oft injured player because he played 20 decent games with best player, the same best player who makes everyone he plays with look good? or.... you could buyout/trade the overpaid oft injured player and open a roster spot for an actual good player who will improve the worst defense in the NHL.

LOL, he needs to be bought out.

He is going to control where he signs. The story is he wanted to sign and play with the Lightning for the playoffs. They said no as they had no cap space to put him on the roster. Think of the Vesey situation. He refused to sign here and I don’t see why Howard would be different. From a Sabres perspective, do we really want or need another young forward?

https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-locker-cleanout-press-conferences-top-quotes-kevyn-adams-lindy-ruff It's interesting reading some of these comments in print. 1) On Norris - Adams knew he was injured, but "we did this for long-term reasons." I take that to mean Adams believes Norris is part of his core going forward. 2) On Byram - "Bo had an excellent season." "I think he had a nice season." "He's a good player." So which is it Kev? By the way he isn't a good player. He is a talented offensive D who was terrible when not paired with Dahlin. The most telling remark "Lets bring in a really, really good hockey player and see how it shakes out." I translate that mean a highly talented player that Sabres management had no idea what to do with. 3) On Kulich - "tremendous rookie season." "he's definitely a center." "He's very sound defensively" Is there any question that he's one of our top 3 centers next season? 4) On UPL - "I believe in UPL." (Ruff) " I have a huge amount of faith in UPL" This despite lousy stats in all his pro seasons except one. The best news from the comments on UPL was the acknowledgement by both Ruff and Adams about how poor the defense is. From Ruff - Until I get the team to clean up some of the poor puck play, it's going to be hard on any goalie." From Adams - We need to play better in front of him." Does this mean that might actually work hard this offseason to actually fix the defense or is it more talk and hope that the young players miraculously improve defensively? 5) On JBD - "JBD is pretty simple with the puck and makes good decisions." Thinks he is a good pair for Power. 6) On Power - Adams admits he's failed to support him properly. " I haven't been able to get that right person (to play with Power)." Seems to completely ignore Power's lack of physical play, poor puck decisions, poor positioning and general regression as a player. https://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/after-struggling-and-getting-scratched-sabres-mattias-samuelsson-thrived-late/ 7) Adams on Samuelsson - Strong play in the final weeks (when paired with Dahlin). Wants him to "attack the offseason and be ready on Day One next year." Does this mean Adams has no plans to buy him out or trade him this offseason? Has anyone seen the comments on other players?

The question is why hasn’t he seen for the last 5 years?

I was worried for a minute there. One takeaway from the presser was the Ruff knows his defenders can't defend worth a crap. They likely don't want to pay Byram, I think he is the guy traded away. Sadly I think the rest of the sorry D group returns. Maybe the return from the Byram trade gets Dahlin or Power a partner. Adams delusional comments make me think that he believes JBD can play in our top 4, possible as Power's partner. Overall, if Adams returns, I'm expecting most of the run it back roster to return.