GASabresIUFAN

Former Sabre prospect Josh Bloom score the Memorial Cup winning goal for Saginaw. One of things I've noticed while watching the Memorial Cup is how many of their forwards crash the net. Why do they forget this skill set when playing for the Sabres?

By the way bolstering the bottom 6 is not a bad plan this offseason. If you ask Lindy, he'll want to be able to roll 4 good to decent lines and if we get reasonable production from the 3rd and 4th lines for a change, it will take a lot of pressure off TNT and Cozens to carry the team. I also like the idea of adding guys like Amadio and Blueger to our bottom 6. These are guys that don't take playing in the NHL for granted and play they have to earn it every shift. There are incumbent players who would benefit from working with those kind of players. Skinner Kerfoot Greenway - Greenway attacks the net and Kerfoot creates for Skinner Krebs Blueger Amadio - Hard working guys who hopefully rub off on Krebs. Also swapping one Latvian (Girgensons) for another (Blueger). That's a significantly upgraded bottom 6 over the mess we had last season. If Savoie earns a slot, Greenway goes down to the 4th line and Krebs to the bench.

The problem is does Adams even recognize the need? Will he try to default to Krebs, Kulich or Savoie, or will he finally grasp the obvious and make a necessary move to bolster the center position?

The more I think about the best trade candidate for the Sabres at 3C, I keep coming back to Alex Kerfoot. Kerfoot is a playmaking C, who plays a 200 foot game, is one of the top Pkers in the NHL, he put up 45 pts last season, is on reasonable contract with one year left (@3.5 million) and has limited trade protection (10 teams). He even had 73 hits last season, with 76 blocks as well as 47 takeaways (to only 27 giveaways). Arizona is in desperate need of defenseman. Joki for Kerfoot seems like a place to start on a deal. Other trade candidates I want Bennett, but I doubt Florida wants to part with him and certainly not in the division. He had 41 pts (20 goals) this season. I year left at 4 mill Gourde has been talked about ad nauseum. He has 33 pts last season and has one year left at 5.16 with a M-NTC Cirelli has also been talked about often. He had 45 pts last season and has 7 years left at 6.25. I doubt TB wants to trade him either and certainly not in the division. I think the $ and term make him a non-starter for Adams. Another very interesting trade prospect is Nic Roy from LV. He had 41 pts last year and has 3 years left @ 3 per season. LV needs to shed salary, but I think they'd like to move other players like Karlsson and Shea Theodore before Roy. Roy would be a good fit here Williams Karlsson - LV needs to move salary and he is coming off a good rebound year with 30 goals and 60 points. I'd love to see KA get him. However he has a M-NTC. Not sure why he'd waive it to come to Buffalo. He has 3 year's left at 5.9 per season. A note a LV. Chandler Stephenson is moving on. Their top 2 C are Eichel and Hertl. They also have rookie Brendan Brisson who is going to earn a job in LV next season. Odds are that at least one center is going to be moved. What would you pay for Kerfoot or Roy?

Back on topic what would you pay for Theodore or Larsson?

Finally some good news.

Getting Gourde and Tanev without salary retention is a non-starter for me. If they were UFA there is no way in he.. that we'd give Gourde 5+ and 3.5 to Tanev. They aren't worth it. Sending the 11th over pick for them and Larsson is a terrible deal. None are worth that kind of consideration in part or as a group. Why do y'all want declining players nearing the end of their careers anyway when there are UFAs who are just as good if not better and who can be signed for less money? Even in trade there are better options. Alex Kerfoot has one year left at 3.5. He's only 29 and is a better player right now than Gourde is. Why not trade for him? If we are going to throw significant assets at someone, why not Sam Bennett? Here's the good news, Larsson, Tanev and Gourde at have M-NTCs. Hopefully, if KA even offers a trade for these guys, they'll save KA from himself and turn us down.

Certainly could be. Played nearly 20 minutes a night for TB & AZ last season. Larsson is probably a better choice, but I was looking for someone we didn't have to trade assets.

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/5196088 Thought this might be a low cost in terms of internal assets, but it would give us 4 bona fide centers. It would also improve the PK, add a center that wins draws, allow Lindy to roll 4 lines, give Krebs an opportunity to contribute and elevate the physicality of the entire lineup. Here are the transactions Sign UFAs - Matt Dumba (Physical RHD to play with Power - 3 years 3.125), C Teddy Blueger to man the 4C (3 years 2.75), W Mike Amadio (3 years - 3.25) Trade Joki to Utah for Alex Kerfoot. Re-sign UPL (3 years @ 3.5), Krebs (2 years @ 1.25), Bryson (2 years @ 1.25) Total cap cost about 84 million. So why those 4 players 1) Dumba - Physical RHD who hits, blocks shots, is a vet with playoff experience and as a former top 10 pick can relate to the pressure on Power and Dahlin and unlike Johnson, he has significant tread left on the tire. 2) Kerfoot - playmaking center who is an excellent Pker. Surprisingly physical and is willing to block shots. 3) Amadio - Winger with decent size, a bit of late bloomer with 27 points back top back. Can score. Solid playoff contributor as well 4) Blueger - C who wins draws, hits and has playmaking skills.

What about UFA Matt Dumba? Physical, kills penalties, blocks shots, solid skater with a big shot. Projection is 3 years at 3 mill per season. I am also a interested in trading for Alex Kerfoot and signing Michael Amadio. Kerfoot has one year left at 3.5. (also a M-NTC, but does he want to stay in Utah?). He is a playmaking center who I believe is a pretty solid 2 way player. Utah doesn't need picks (10 2nd rd picks in the next 3 seasons). They need players. They have no D under contract for next season. None!. Joki might be a very solid addition there. Samuelsson as well. No idea what a deal would look like, but maybe Joki for Kerfoot straight up? By the way, Kerfoot was one of the leading PK centers last season in TOI. Amadio is a bit of a late bloomer with a some size at 6'1 204. He's had back to back 27 point seasons and has contributed in the playoffs. I'm not sure LV can afford to keep him with a projected 3 year 3.2 per season deal. I'd also like to make a run at Blueger for 2-3 year deal. He hits, can create, and wins draws. I think he'd be a perfect fit for an elevated 4th line. I'd give him a 2-3 year deal at 2.75 per season. JJP Tnt Tuch Benson Cozens Quinn Skinner Kerfoot Amadio Krebs Blueger Greenway Samuelsson Dahlin Power Dumba Byram Clifton UPL Levi https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/5196088

Ok, but at what cost? 2 mill for Tanev and 3.5 for Gourde are all they are worth at this point. Spending nearly 8.7 on them is terrible cap management. We can get currently better players for the same money or less. Bennett for example. He has one year left and no trade protection at $4 mill. I’d rather take on Jeannot at 2.6 vs Tanev at 3.5, but I don’t want either.

I think you're missing the broader point. Acquiring diminishing vet players simply because they are vets is a failing strategy. How did signing Johnson or re-signing Okposo work out? We need to acquire players with tread left on the tire. Larsson ok, but as to the other 2, there are cheaper and better options.

Gourde, age 32, 33 pts last year - contract 5.15 Tanev, age 32, 16 points last year - contact 3.5 Larsson, age 31, 18 points last year - contract 4.0 Gourde and Tanev will add nothing to this team except cap expense at this point in their careers. If Seattle is willing to eat 50% of their contracts, I might be interested. Why does anyone have an interest in two forwards who no longer can play anywhere close to their contract cost. Better current players, and probably younger as well, are available as UFA and for less money. Blueger, had 28 pts last year, is 29 on a 1.9 mill contract. Roslovic had 31 pts (in only 59 game) is 27 and could be signed for 3.5 to 4. I'd rather give a one year prove it deal to Kapanen then trade for Tanev. Larsson I'd take over Joki in a minute for next season. He has something left in the tank.

Because of limited games in Buffalo and his point a game average is well below Gilbert, Patty, and Hawerchuk, who all played more games for the franchise. Eichel also played more games and had more goals, assists and points in a Sabres uniform.

Looking at not only production, but how their teams did, how many games they played for the franchise and with the forwards, I tried to keep eras together. On defense I matched our 3 top offensive D with our 3 best stay at home D. In goal it's Hasek and Miller and then everyone else. Line 1: French Connection Line 2: Andreychuk Patty Mogilny Line 3: Vanek Eichel Pommers Line 4: Ramsay Luce Gare extra: Hawerchuk Hard to find places for Satan and Mike Foligno. I went with Vanek because he scored more goals and Pommers because he is 5th all time in games played by a Sabres forward D1: Ramsey Housley D2: Hajt Dahlin D3: Schoenfeld Bodger extra: Korab, Zhitnik Hasek & Miller in goal.

Doesn't he go back to the draft? Regardless, he may or may not agree to a deal. What's the harm is trying? Jbot was correct when he said that the CHL rules force decisions on many kids before those decisions should be made. The 2 European 7th rd D also let go today are from 2020. One is nearly 22 and the other nearly 23. This is a much better evaluation period. I don't know if Lindgren will amount to anything, but the he has pro wheels and it could be a matter and maturity and physical development to make him a viable prospect.

An AHL deal does not count against the 50 contract limit. The depth doesn't look good for him making the Sabres long-term, but we need organizational depth in the ECHL and AHL. The kid also has NHL caliber wheels, and there is no rush to develop him.

What does it hurt? He is an excellent skater and may just need more time (like Hagel) to develop. Give him an AHL deal, let him go back to juniors and see what happens.

Sign him to an AHL deal

Dominate D man? LOL. Maybe you didn't watch him last season for either the Sabres or Avs. For an offense oriented D, his best season so far is 29 pts. He has averaged under 20 minutes a night for his career so far. These numbers put him in as a 3/4 on a decent to good NHL team. Dahlin is a dominate D. Makar is a dominate D, Fox, etc.... He's not even in Montour's class. Try again. So is a top 4 D, better than a middle 6 center who plays a 200 foot game? Colorado is trying re-sign Mitts as we speak to be their 2C next season. Sorry, but the facts don't support your contention that Byram is better than Mitts. He is younger and has a better draft pedigree, but he isn't there yet and may never be. I think I'd be comfortable with that.

What would a Bennett trade look like? Zadorov, a 4/5 D, was traded early last season to Van for a 3rd & a 5th with most of one year remaining on his deal at 3.75 Conner Brown was traded for a 2nd to Washington after 3 consecutive 35 to 43 pt seasons with one year remaining on his deal at 3.6 Mill.

One of the reasons I'm interested in guys like Roslovic and Monahan is their position flexibility. They can fill a need at 3C or wing and can both play up in case of injury. This would give Adams the flexability to allow the kids to make a run at 3C or 3W without hindering the roster is they don't earn a job. No he's not.

I picked Karlsson despite his NTC because his term and skill seem like a perfect fit. That said, I'm intrigue by trying to get Bennett even for a year. I like the idea of a proven hard nosed center who actually seems to be getting better with age and experience. He'll be playing for a contract extension (or big FA contract) and would be a good fit for how Ruff wants to play. If it works, both sides could agree on the extension, and if it doesn't, he'll bring back a good asset at the deadline for the replacement GM. His one year term, should limit the cost to acquire him as well. I'm not sure I'd give up the 11th overall pick for him, but maybe Rosen and a draft pick would get the job done.

I agree with you, except he will acquire a 3C of some sort. As to Jeannot, I’d rather have Teddy Blueger. Let him C the 4th line and move Krebs to the wing (or trade him for an asset).