[Bo Byram ultimate final prediction]

8 hours ago, Scottysabres said:

I think Adams is playing this perfectly. He can match any offer sheet, so if a team thinks they will, they are lying to themselves and hockey fans in general. If Byram stays, even short term, it’s a win. He’s more than capable of making us better.

if he’s traded, it will be on Adams terms, he holds all  the cards.

I appreciate the optimism, but from my angle he holds almost no cards.  He's a 6th year GM who has never made the playoffs and who has at present assembled a team and staff that will be predicted to make the playoffs in 25-26 by nobody except the most optimistic of Sabre fans (I mean no disrespect to optimistic Sabre fans as I was one just 14 months ago).  And the big thing he has accomplished this off-season is to protect the Sabres against a potential offer-sheet on a player who, let's be honest, nobody is 100% certain is actually good (at least in the $7-9 million AAV context). 

 

 

[Trade : Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Connor Clifton and the 39th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.]

13 hours ago, dudacek said:

 

Following up on this.

I see Adams in his post-July 1 presser saying something like "If you but Bo and Dahlin together maybe Lindy wants to go with a big shutdown pair".

So Samuelsson/Kesselring is something that is on the table.

I think this is true.  I don't think they are as down on Samuelsson as the fanbase is.  If Byram is dealt and a top 4D does not come back, then I think the top-4 is likely just Dahlin, Power, Kesselring, and Samuelsson, in some configuration.

[The offseason so far - Are the Sabres better?]

8 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I think he does. He's gambling that there will be enough internal improvement to be on the fringe boundary for a playoff team. The big issue is the goaltending. Is it good enough? He may think so. To put it mildly, I'm very queasy about that critical issue. Unless that positional issue is addressed, all the other roster machinations will mean little. It's a gamble where the house has the advantage over the novice at the table. 

The goaltending argument is letting Adams and Ruff off the hook in my view. It’s putting the outcome of the season on an unpredictable variable: Is this the year they get better than average goaltending (they did in 23-24 and it didn’t get them in). As though roster construction, experience, talent, coaching, special teams, culture, etc., are inconsequential in their impacts on the final result. 

[Bo Byram ultimate final prediction]

5 minutes ago, JohnC said:

If Byram is as good as he believes to be then possibly his best contract enhancing strategy should be to take is a bridge deal. He then will have the opportunity to demonstrate his current and future market value. The cap is going up so that should also increase his future value. The advantage for Buffalo is that if he plays well, he helps the team. And if his potential future salary becomes too big to handle, then his trade value also increases.

What it comes down to for the GM  is that a Byram trade either returns a commensurate asset or he is retained and helps the team right now. I have been a harsh critic of KA. But in his handling of the Byram situation he is doing it deftly. 

I'll reserve judgment.  For now, I see a GM whose off-season has been dictated to him by a couple of young players who don't want to be here.  I don't see a GM who is proactively working a plan to take his team into the playoffs. 

[Bo Byram ultimate final prediction]

28 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I don't understand the thought process for $9 million per year. 

Is he a high draft pick with potential? I guess so. But nothing in his play, even if you dig deep into the advanced stats, says $9 million per year... Or even close to that.

I think it is just that 9 million isn't what it used to be.  It's July 4th and there are 19 teams with $5 million in cap space and 14 with $10 million. And many of those teams have no notable RFA's left to sign. I don't think he will get $9, but the floating of $9 maybe gets him $8 - $8.5.

[Kevyn Adams Press Scrum, July 2, 2025]

36 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

Prediction, there are rumblings that Lindy is not a Malenstyn Fan

General question, not directed specifically to you:   Why should a fan believe that Danforth and Doan are different than Lafferty, Aube-Kubel, and Malenstyn?

[Chad D: expect a Byram trade at or around the draft]

1 hour ago, ponokasabre said:

Fowler would be a nice veteran presence to add to the D core, his best days are behind him, but he would be valuable especially for a young Buffalo team, id assume they need Fowler in the deal to offset the cap of Byrams new deal. The only thing is Fowler has a partial no move so would he waive? He may have played with Kesserling and Doan and Tage at worlds I dont know? His partial no move is why I leaned to Kessel or Broberg in previous trade ideas

 

Neighbors is the opposite of Peterka, a hard working no nonsense winger, he would be a major add

 

Byram, Östlund and a pick if necessary for Neighbors and Fowler

Fowler has a 4 team trade list. My guess is that the Sabres are not one of the 4 teams he would accept a trade to. 
 
The Sabres would need a D back I think. And the Blues would need to shed some space to extend Byram. Would Broberg be a good partner for Dahlin?  Broberg and Neighbors for Byram and…

 

[Kevyn Adams Press Scrum, July 2, 2025]

1 minute ago, JohnC said:

I have a different take on JJP's "reported" attitude problem that is less lenient than your interpretation regarding the player. More than a few reports indicate that the source of the problem was that JJP was too lax when it came to his defensive role. So the coach got on him for that deficiency that even us laymen saw. What's wrong with that? Whether you call it hard coaching or good coaching, I have no problem with a coach addressing a problem with a player's play. That's what a coach is supposed to do. It seems that the player was not receptive to that type of authoritative style in coaching. My response is: TOUGH.  

There is no question that consistent losing is demoralizing for the players. The issue then becomes how do you change that toxic environment? You create an environment where the coaches and players hold themselves accountable. And when he was held accountable, he reacted poorly. So this talented offensive player was traded for players who addressed some weaknesses and had a more positive attitude about playing in a responsible way. The problem with the Sabres is not necessarily about the talent as it is about the attitude and "how" one plays. The bottom line is that this trade was the right thing for the departed player and it was the right thing for the team to do to alter the mix on the roster.  

I think Lindy Ruff is the sort of coach who “gets on” a young player rather than coaches them. 

[Kevyn Adams Press Scrum, July 2, 2025]

9 hours ago, dudacek said:

 

I’ve heard this from a few informed sources. 

There’s a minority opinion out there that the great unwashed may have an inflated view of Peterka and don’t know how good Kesselring is. Even most of these people still think JJ is the best player in the deal, so it was interesting to hear Fairburn - the most credible of the Sabres beat guys - say it may end up being Kessel.

Wishful thinking I’m sure, and I’ve had a lower opinion of Peterka than most.

The red flag on the Peterka criticism, to me, is that so much of it is based on Peterka’s attitude. Not enough consideration is being given to the toxic environment the players are existing in. I’m giving the benefit of the doubt to the 23 year old, whose attitude has not prevented him from improving year after year, and not to the GM who has a now lengthy track record of failure. 

[Kevyn Adams Press Scrum, July 2, 2025]

3 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I think JBD was let go with Adams believing he could get an equal or better player at the same price with no risk of arbitration.

Jones ended up being that guy.

We'll see if he's right.

I guess the follow-up question would be, did Adams try and get JBD signed before a decision on a qualifying offer had to be made?  If he did and there was no interest in extending, then I can see the logic. If no attempt was made to get him on a 1-2 year deal at $900-950 K, then I think it was a mistake. Fatal?  Of course not. 

I would rather have JBD as the #7 than Bryson (right shot, bigger, 3 years younger, higher pedigree). 

[The offseason so far - Are the Sabres better?]

If we extend Byram and Timmons to their projected contracts and, hypothetically, replace Quinn with a veteran at Rust's level, we would be spending between 97-99% of the cap (depending on if Byram is bridged or signed long-term). If we are spending that kind of money and are nowhere close to having a playoff team, then either Adams is one of the worst GMs in modern NHL history (it’s already open to debate I think) or Ruff is, at this time, one of the league's worst HCs, or both.

I don’t like the job that Adams has done. Even if he has an internal cap to contend with, he has wasted enough money on underperforming players that had he been better at his job, the team could have been better also. Further, I think he does have influence over Pegula and if he wanted to go in a different direction in certain areas, like coaching, I think he could convince Pegula to do so. Ruff continues to get too much credit from the fan-base in general, in my view. It remains that the single biggest thing that could be done to improve the team’s fortunes between now and October would be to replace Ruff with a better HC. It would do more for the team than adding Robertson or Ehlers, in my view.

Brind'Amour could get this team in the playoffs.  I know we aren't getting Brind'Amour, but we could try to hire the next Brind'Amour. There is a reason why NHL teams cycle through head coaches so quickly. You can't fix your roster as fast as you can change coaches. Look at all the money the Sabres have wasted in the past few years on players who underperformed or were sent to Rochester or were bought-out.  Spending an extra $2 million a year on a fired head coach is comparative peanuts.    

[The offseason so far - Are the Sabres better?]

8 hours ago, Pimlach said:

This sounds like poor team to me. 

It’s not a contending team.  I think with a good HC and/or better goaltending (and I think these go together) it could be a playoff / WC team. To me, it is the best we can hope for that we are this year’s Montreal or Ottawa, a 91-96 point team that gets in.

It was never going to be the case that we would get to July 2nd and look at the roster and say: "That's a playoff team". It was always going to be that we will need Tage to again score 40+, Norris to be healthy and be the player that some project him to be, that Benson takes a step forward, Tuch maintains his strong play, McLeod repeats his performance from a year ago, Dahlin plays like a Norris winner, Power takes a step forward, UPL bounces back, and a couple of new guys contribute positively, etc.  If most of those things happen, maybe we can complete for a WC spot.

We are never going to be a contending team under Adams and Ruff. 
 

[Chad D: expect a Byram trade at or around the draft]

11 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

Yeah I guess but still you'd like to think he could at least be in the discussion for a 6/7D man. Personally I would have kept him but have a feeling KA didn't because of cap concerns or maybe he didn't want to be here. 

On B-Docker, it is just weird to me that they are obviously placing an emphasis on upgrading right shot D and based on what B-Docker is being paid, he would have been a near perfect 7th D who happens to be right shot.  The Athletic had an article from day one of free agency that included him on a list of cheap value-add d-men who make near league minimum but can play on your bottom-pairing. Losing him should not be considered a season-altering move, but it is odd.     

[The offseason so far - Are the Sabres better?]

48 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Kulich is the No. 1 center.  He is making this team.  

The reason for the 3 years deals for both Kozak and Johnson is to try to avoid them getting claimed if management has to send one of them down.  

Odds are that one or more injuries in camp will make sending Kozak or Johnson down moot.  

Kulich should be the 3C, playing between a couple of vets like Zucker and trade acquisition Rust.

Norris is 1C by default until he is injured or proves he isn’t up to it. Thompson and Benson on the wings. 

McLeod should be 2C with Tuch and Greenway. Potential to be a real shut down line. 

Krebs, Doan, Malenstyn, Danforth, Kozak make up line 4, with Krebs and Doan playing up when there are injuries. 

Need to move Quinn in a package for Rust.

I actually think this works as a wild card level group of forwards on a team that actually plays with structure. So, not the Sabres. But the best I am hoping for is that the pieces are there and Adams and Ruff are turfed in November. 

[The offseason so far - Are the Sabres better?]

17 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Here is where the roster stands

Forwards
Thomspon Kulich Tuch

Benson Norris Quinn

Zucker McLeod (RFA) Greenway

Malenstyn Krebs Doan (Kozak-RFA, Danforth)

Defense

Dahlin Byram (RFA)

Power Kesselring

Samuelsson Timmins (RFA)

Johnson Bryson

Goalies

UPL, Lyon, Levi (RFA) 

Lyon is an upgrade on Reimer, but what do we need a 5'8 4th line player for in Danforth?

If Byram, Timmins, and McLeod get more or less what is projected, the roster will be full and they will be about $4 million under the cap.

I don't think we are trading for a forward unless we are trading one out.  And, I doubt Adams extended players like Greenway and Quinn with the intent of trading them.  He also didn't give Greenway and Quinn $4 million and $3.375 million, to play on line 4.  They might end up there, but I doubt that is the intent.

 

[Free Agent Frenzy 2025]

Just now, Rasmus_ said:

Also pass on the 72nd rhd this offseason.

We only have two R shot NHL D-men.  We aren't adding Parayko or Weegar, but they would both be good additions in a Byram trade.

[Free Agent Frenzy 2025]

5 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

Dreger, LeBrun and Chris Johnston 

 

Yeah, it was Gord Miller who brought it up and Dreger, Johnston, and LeBrun all went along with it.

[Free Agent Frenzy 2025]

Just now, jad1 said:

It would be hysterical if Bryam gets an offer sheet.

They were just discussing Byram on TSN.  According to their Insider-Panel:

- Byram is a year away from UFA status

- If a team offer sheets him at one year and $7 million, then the cost is a 1st and 3rd

- If the Sabres match an offer-sheet, the rule is that you can't trade the player for 12 months

- Thus, if the Sabres match a one-year offer sheet on Byram, they would not be able to trade him as he would hit UFA status before 12 months passed.

Does anyone know if this is all correct? Or did I misunderstand?

[Sabres announce qualifying offers]

26 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I doubt this. 

That said:

Power, 6'6"

Kesselring, 6'5"

Samuelsson, 6'4"

Dahlin, 6'3"

Timmins, 6'2"

That's the defense right now with JBD not signed and Byram a big ???

I think this is it. Adding size on D is this year’s version of last year’s 4th line upgrades. 

[Chad D: expect a Byram trade at or around the draft]

11 hours ago, shrader said:

So are we upset now because he passed on a deal that we wouldn't want to see him make?

Yeah. This is what happens when you are as bad as the Sabres though. Even the things just considered are reason to question Adams’s competence. 

Also, one of the underrated negative consequences of always drafting in the top 10, is that those picks are valued higher than the players who are available in trade. Rust for 25th OA and nobody blinks an eye. Rust for 9th and ooff. 

[Sabres Prospect Pool 2025-26]

15 hours ago, Turbo44 said:

Rosen and his 0G, 1A -6 in 25 nhl games doesn’t have gm’s salivating

his AHL numbers are okay but nothing great

he’s just a partial wiff of a 1st rd pick ….it happens

15 games, not 25. Rosen’s most common linemates in the NHL?  The likes of Tyson Jost, Brandon Biro, fellow rookies Kozak and Östlund. 

Contrast that with Mackie Samoskevich in Florida. Same draft as Rosen. Similar AHL #’s. Similar size. He breaks in with Florida last year because the panthers are up against the cap and NEED a rookie on an entry level contract. He gets 31 points in 72 games this past year. His most common linemate? Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett. 

If they Sabres were a serious NHL team, Rosen would play on the 3rd line this year with McLeod and Zucker or Greenway.  And he would put up 30-35 points and nobody would think he was a complete bust. But, the Sabres are not a serious NHL team and they are failing Rosen, who is likely to rot on the vine. 
 

 

[The offseason so far - Are the Sabres better?]

6 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

In the case of Byram-Dahlin, they keep the puck out by possessing the puck and threatening the opposition to back off because when either of them gets the puck they can immediately begin the transition to offense.

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/pairings.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=ALL&loc=B&toi=500&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410  Then, sort by GF%. They are better than the other top pairs in the league with big minutes:   Hedman-Moser, Samberg-Pionk, McDonagh-Cernak, their +20 goal differential is the same as Toews-Makar.   In most cases, the B-D pair gives up fewer goals in more minutes than any of those, and in times they do give up more goals, they scored many more, too. What's odd is Ruff didn't play them together more.

Just specific to bad defense, it's not just the D-corps -- we're also underselling the importance of good goaltending (Toews-Makar gave up a ton of goals early in the season because of crap goalies) and the commitment of the forwards to getting the puck out of their own zone.

Give it 12 hours... he may not be. (At this point, I hope they keep him, because I think removing him weakens their blue line and brings Bryson that much closer to the daily lineup.)

Great post.

It is an argument for re-signing Byram.  Also, if we do trade Byram, it is an argument to just pair Power with Dahlin, as I think their results could be similar.  It's ok to just put your two best D-men together and let them play 25 minutes a game.  Maybe Samuelsson and Kesselring would work together as a 2nd pair. 

 

[Goaltending is still the issue...]

13 minutes ago, Drag0nDan said:

I have more faith in Levi than UPL at this point.  

I'm not trying to sway anyone on this, but of all the accomplishments of UPL and Levi, the single most impressive thing that either of them has done, and it isn't close in my view, is UPL playing 54 NHL games in 23-24 and going 27-22-4 with a 2.57 GAA and a .910 save %. Nothing Levi has done in his career, comes close to this as it relates to actually translating to NHL success.  I wouldn't say I have tremendous faith in UPL at this point, but at least it can be said he has an actual good NHL season in his recent history.  

[We need to go after Marner HARD!]

36 minutes ago, Huckleberry said:

Marner is just not a 14 mill a year player, let vegas pay that.

My best guess is if Marner goes to Vegas he gets something in the Rantanen range ($12-$13). $14 mil was, I think, always the outer edge of what it would take a non-contender or a team in a high-tax state or province, to be in on him.
 

[The offseason so far - Are the Sabres better?]

5 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I'd never question Dahlin, or even Byram's offensive ability. Power has good offensive ability as well. I, however, want to keep the puck out of our own net. 

This is the time of year (every year) where the optimists try to convince me that the Sabres have lots of talent and players are really good and the stats say this or that and yet, they miss the playoffs the following season. Go figure. 

Our defense was not good. Still isn't good enough. and we are not a playoff team. 

When it comes to defensemen I am only interested in how they help keep the puck out of our net. The stats are very misleading. 

But we still have Samuelsson. 

I’m not trying to convince you of anything. But the Sabres being bad in general doesn’t mean the Dahlin/Byram pairing was bad. Last year, the pairing was very good. That’s all.