GASabresIUFAN

What a bunch of BS. The Sabres have a huge credibility problem. No one “wants to be here”. Mitts must feel like he got paroled from prison. Winning and money cure the problem. Do you really think Buffalo was Zucker’s first choice? He came for the money. If you bring in a rental and the team starts winning, you’ll be amazed how quickly he starts saying how great it’s been to be part of the turnaround. Even if the player “doesn’t want to be here” but he’s playing for a big FA deal, you’ll be amazed at how hard he still works. The more success he has with the Sabres the bigger the next contract. By the way it’s KA’s job to overcome that objection. Using it as an excuse for failure is getting old.

So were many players on that list. My first reaction to that list was the same, but blazing speed does not necessarily equate with offensive success. For every McDavid or McKinnon you have the McLeod brothers or Aube-Kubel. Dahlin, Reinhart and Mitts aren’t blazing fast, but they seem to be effective. The more I look at the list, it makes you wonder, given we just acquired 3 guys from the top 20, if Adams printed it a few weeks ago and used it as his shopping list.

At some point a Sabres GM, be it Adams or his replacement, is going to have to take a risk to improve the talent on his roster. I agree you can’t break the bank on a rental, but for talent like Ehlers or Necas bringing them in for a year gives you a year to prove Buffalo is a good destination and winning cures most “destination” issues. Teams throw big time assets at 17 game rentals every year at the deadline. Is this really so different? Doesn’t the playoff chase start game 1 for the Sabres this season? The upside of a rental is that you also aren’t locked in if it doesn’t work. If the player isn’t a longterm fit and doesn’t elevate the guy can be traded at the deadline to recover similar assets spent in the off-season.

Guys like him are a dime a dozen and can be had for free. We signed two in free agency. Our friend Robinson, has size, excellent speed, hits people and has multiple 20+ point seasons was acquired basically for free. Why spend a premium pick on a 26 year rookie with a one year track record? Had he given Wash a 4th or 5th rd pick then who cares, but it’s just another example of Adams poor asset management.

Well the “No’s” were wrong about the 3C. Is it to far fetched to think the “No’s” could be wrong about a top 6 forward? I voted No by the way.

That's fine with me. I don't mind spending assets for an upgrade, but we also don't Adams to be completely viewed as an easy mark. The Malenstyn deal was bad enough.

It's probably always come easy for him. Maybe this last dreadful season showed him that you have to work to make it in the NHL where even the "worst" players are among the best in the world. Ruff would certainly be a good mentor for someone like Zegras. Ruff has always worked for everything and he'll hold players who aren't working accountable. KA likely won't acquire him without a consult with Lindy.

A Tkachuk brother may not be available, but Necas, Zegras and Ehlers still are.

Q, the Continuum called. Tkachuk is not available.

Given our need for playmakers I’d be interested in Zegras. The deal would be half of what it would have been a year ago. His playmaking skills would elevate Quinn and Cozens. I guess the questions are cost and how improved is his 2-way game. Greenway and/or Krebs would have to be part of the deal. A lottery protected 1st plus Kulich and Greenway for Zegras and a 3rd? JJP TNT Tuch Zegras Cozens Quinn Benson McLeod Zucker That’s a pretty good top 9

My guess is the conversations were recent. Once Edm signed Henrique and went over the cap, Kevyn called Edm and asked for McLeod. He probably offered Rosen. Edm said no and asked for Savoie. Kevyn said ok, but I need something else. If he had slated Savoie to start in Rochester, getting a young player with decent AHL results but young enough to potentially have upside makes sense. I don’t think this is an overpay. We saw how few centers changed teams this off-season by trade. There is value in youth, with experience, and cost control, especially when the player has some very marketable skills like speed and PK ability.

Why would Colorado trade Colton and why would Colton, with a full NTC, waive it to come to Buffalo?

@Doohickie Malachi Brothers - Happy Days TV Show

Depends on the player and their contract. It also depends on what you consider a top 6 forward. What would it cost to get Ehlers from Wpg vs Iafallo from them.

Could you live with a smaller deal like trading for Eden’s Alex Iafallo from the Jets? He is a hard nosed dirty work player who can move up and down the lineup. He has one year left on his deal at $4 mill and no trade protection. Seems like a perfect Adams type acquisition; someone on a short deal, who is an upgrade on some current players, has ties to Buffalo, can be acquired cheaply, and who can’t say no. I’d slide him to the 3rd line with Zucker and McLeod and put Greenway on the 4th line with Lafferty. I can even see Adams trading Greenway to save $ and get more assets like he did Lyubushkin.

My guess is Adams is now done unless a major injury occurs. 5/6 of his top 6 is probably written in ink. (TNT, Cozens, Tuch, Quinn and JJP) Camp battles for a 2nd line winger and both 3rd line wingers (Greenway, Benson, Zucker) Camp battle for the 3C job with McLeod the heavy favorite (Krebs and Lafferty also competing) Aube-Kubel, Malenstyn, Lafferty, and Krebs fighting for the last 3 starting forward jobs. If Kubel, Malenstyn and Lafferty comprise the 4th line, I'd be tempted to call them the Malachi Brothers. On defense the only pairing certainty is Dahlin anchoring the top pair. After that we are going to Lindy play mix and match with Power, Byram, Mule, Clifton and Joki. Gilbert and Bryson likely make the team as 7 & 8, but I could see Clague beating out Bryson for the 8th slot. In goal UPL will be in the NHL. Will Levi need to be sent down opening the door for Reimer to win the backup job? Right now Adams was 11 forward under contract with 2 pending RFAs, 10 D (Johnson and Clague to the other 2 ) and 3 goalies.

That is a very generous description of Byram

except I don't think KA is going to cut him for getting a $1 mill decision.

is there an NHLe that is both league and age based?

Hits, EV pts, XGF @ EV, Faceoff %, Blocks, PK skills, speed, size takeaways, etc are just a small sample of the differentiating stats that factor into who plays where and when. McLeod is definitely the favorite to win the 3C job, but I was just showing how close the counting stats were between the 2 players.

Even with Savoie gone, our top forward prospects are Helenius, Kulich, Östlund, Wahlberg, Rosen, Neuchev, Ziemer and Poltapov. How many guys do we actually need? Don't forget that Benson is younger than half those guys and JJP is only 6 months older than Rosen and Poltapov.

This won't get to arbitration. They rarely do. My guess is a 3 year deal.

No I wanted KO and Z gone before 2023/24. I have also advocated for launching Krebs into space. However, I am trying to look at the team objectively with an eye toward how Adams views the roster. Krebs actually had 100+ hits last year, has good to excellent passing skills and position flexibility. If you are KA and trying to build a team with position flexibility than simply tossing Krebs into the dumpster is not what Adams would do. Also he is cheap talent. His Q-offer is 832K and he has no leverage. If Krebs put in the work he promised this off-season he can still have a viable NHL career. Remember Curtis Lazar had a similar pedigree to Krebs and ultimately has carved out a career as an effective depth forward. I agree with you, but I was surprised by how close their numbers were.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5619075/2024/07/05/oilers-ryan-mcleod-sabres-trade/ A perfect Sabre. 🙂 McLeod and Krebs can play both center and wing. McLeod's best offense came playing higher in the lineup. This move takes the pressure off Krebs to immediately be productive as the 3C and gives him a chance to win a job as the 4C or a 3/4 winger. When injuries occur, you will see McLeod move to wing and allow Lafferty or Krebs to step up into the 3C role. This trade was about creating internal competition, improving the PK and getting a controlled younger player with 3 years of NHL experience and 50+ games of playoff experience.

Krebs vs McLeod. Player 1 - 219 gms 32g 43a 75pts Player 2 - 215 gms 20g 46a 66pts