Broken Ankles

…because I’m running out of excuses for missing the playoffs, again. …and if you even infer that you don’t want to be here, then I’ll find a way to trade you for younger and cheaper assets. It’s called purgatory kids. Look it up.

Agreed. But injuries forced Joki to play in top 4 more often than not. And his $4m AAV was a hinderance for a guy playing PK when not suited, and not getting time on PP, bc he was behind Ras, power and Byram. Kesselring and Docker offer balanced pairings and can play a much better complimentary game up and down the line up.

Benson is the equivalent of a future, and does not hurt their cap number this year. Next years first from Buffalo could be higher than most, if history is any indication. And they could flip Byram for two late firsts next year.

Asked, Answered. I get Benson is a hill you die on (not others) but next years first? The trade makes the team much better immediately.

Byram, Benson and next years first round pick for Robertson. Who says yes?

Is it not Josh Allen?

Costanza

I'm glad I had the opportunity to experience the trade while visiting family in the 716. Loving the chance to discuss with friends and family. I seem to align with a few on the board, including @Archie Lee - I'll need to see what Adams does with the cap space and the decision on Byram and #9OA before I make a final judgment on the offseason. If this was just a ploy to reduce cap, then Adams is a bigger clown than I imagined. I'll reserve judgment on the trade itself until Thanksgiving. A few quick/random thoughts - The origin story of JJP's desire to leave will always be tied Adams' failures, the early years. Doan is not a 4th line player. 41% of his even-strength time last year was on the third line. He had the greatest success playing alongside LAWSON CROUSE & JACK MCBAIN. Why would he not have similar results with Benson and McLeod. JP's production in the top six will be replaced by Kulich. He's ready to take the next step. I can see 20+ on the second line. The team is tougher than it was last week, and still needs MORE. Trade out for Mr. Glass, and bring more sandpaper and grit to the Defense. Can Weegar be extracted from Calgary? Heard a rumor while downtown, enjoying the sounds of Sublime by Badfish: Terry is considering selling the Sabres. There is interest from a private equity group. The source is not a Sabre insider but someone who is in similar social circles.

Read this entire thread and you will get an idea that some fans appreciate his play more than others. I fall in line with you that he was a win in terms of trade, but it never translated to wins for Buffalo as a team. The argument to trade (adding on to what Steve wrote) is the Sabres not only paid Power, but also overpaid Samuelsson and Clifton. They have, going into the offseason $28m committed to the blue line and they still don’t have a veteran to pair with Power. If you pay Byram $8m+, then you would have ~$2m more than any other team in the league on Defense and unless you can somehow trade for the stabilizing force to help Owen and remove both contracts of Samuelsson and Clifton (call it $7.8m), then you have the top paid Defensive unit in the league. But are they better? I fall into the category of trying to extricate three players - Mule, Clifton and one of Power or Byram. Rasmus can play either side so it frees you up to trade for a L/R player that is hard nosed and a top PK guy. Then another similar stay at home defender to play alongside Power/Byram. If the third pairing is JBD and say Novikov (entry level) your cap is aligned and balanced. Lastly, the handedness of the D makes it challenging to keep Byram. Left hand D - Dahlin, Byram, Power, Samuelsson, Bryson, and waiting in the wings, Novikov and Johnson.

I appreciate the thought and rationale. I’d like to add one more reason why I’d be fine with the move. There may be better return for a team willing to trade D for a young forward and reluctance to trade D for D, D for two prospects, or D for #9 overall. If you go into the offseason limited in trading only prospects and/or Byrum, you are narrowing the teams willing to trade with you for the stay at home defender you desire. Adding JJP to mix opens up other avenues. Maybe Byrum and a prospect could yield a top 6 forward that is a better fit for the Sabres. Options.

Sometimes? There should be a list of Adams faux pas that every GM must read on day 1. Thinking back to year one or two after the Pegula purchase, when there was actual hope, there was something on twitter - #Blueprint. Almost comical to think about that today.

The Baron of blunder is still paying Christian for three more years. Second longest buyout to DiPietro. Fitting Erhoff finds his way into this thread. Both he and Kevyn taking $900k/year from the Duke of disappointment; and neither contributing to making the playoffs.

That moment coupled with his follow up embarrassing quote in a blue/gold video - “Matt Irwin - we got ‘em”, will forever capture the ineptitude of Kev. I mean, are you not getting final say after the editing? Did you not look at either of those two moments and second guess it?

Just because he can play on his off-hand, doesn’t mean he should. Dahlin provides flexibility that other defenders do not but for planning, it needs to be RD. In addition, others on the farm (little Nikita and RJ) are LD and will soon need a vet RD to support. Let’s cross that bridge now in stead of waiting like they did with Owen.

Forsberg, with a high bid on AAV (cause taxes and tree types) but low term. Give him a legit chance to capture a 1a role and spin it into a long term deal in summer of 2026/27. Don’t use trade capital on a Demko or others this year. Use Bo + prospects + Draft picks to solidify two RD/stay at home types. Then see results of a 1a/1b tandem can do. We need at least one season with a respectable top 4 group. Question is how much does the offer have to be over others to convince a UFA to sign with Buffalo? If he was $2.75M in OTT would $4M do it?

I agree that the Sabres would/could accept the “camp dump” (hard saying this about a guy who has averaged 33 goals per season the last three). Assuming JJP is going the other way, what does taking Kreider on net you as the return from the Rangers?

Yeah. I’m trying to do the math though to see how large of an indictment it is on Adams. The smaller his salary, the bigger the problem is.

I just saw this on Puckpedia, and I was surprised. I’ve seen the Sabres give Brett Murray and other Career AHL guys a minors salary of $350k but $775k/one way is just another bad decision by Adams in spending. Nothing about his game screamed one way. So if presented a decision to make $250-350k (??) with the Americans vs the SHL where he can make what, $250k max, and no real chance of a call up to earn more what does this say about the organization?

….and won two series. Half as many as the Sabres since the Lockout* (stealing this stat from someone on SS). You could honestly say the line up was incredibly soft until Treliving joined the organization. And none of us know what his role was in accumulating more grit over the last two years vs Shanny. I mean Brad still has a job so that must mean something. Dude also had an unlimited budget in terms of staffing, assistants, scouts, etc. If the choice is binary, then easy. Of course. But all things factored, no thanks.

This plus cost. I saw a report that showed his resigning in Toronto was $5m/year. What does Kev make in the 716? Maybe $1.1- 1.4m? Definitely at the low end.

Dallas is not in line for Marner. In fact they are just about the only team that desperately needs to shed cap dollars. But I get your point about the “tax states” getting big signings lately. Serious question. What was the last big name UFA that was “over paid” (let’s use $13.5M for Marner) that paid dividends to that team? Scott Niedermayer in Anaheim was key to their D and helped win a cup. Panarin has been solid to above average for the term of his UFA deal. But no cup. How many other signings have been abject failures? Is the Tavares signing in Toronto a failure? Still playing at a high level but didn’t his AAV affect what they could do with their RFAs? Not a fan of the risk/reward element around that type of commitment.

That was our 6’4” D-man, Little Nikita leading the rush then with a backhand flip for the 🍎. Too early to think he’s not #6/7?

I’m onboard a Byram/Weegar trade. More stay at home type, more physical and contract certainty. A number 1 PK guy on D. AAV is a nice fit too.