Big Guava

I'd rather have the Fiddler On The Roof

Ugh...sucks they are giving him a contract in what might be a career best goal season

Why do I keep wanting to say MmBop when I read his name??

I'd rather have Ollie Rathbone

Kozak does not get the Bozak

Kozak can get the Bozak with the fresh Nozak

Hey, fah-geddaboutit! Ba Fangoul!

Is that a knockoff of Molson Golson?

UPL for a bag of picks. Or a lot of Swedish Pancakes. With Lingonberries.

But who is making a 20 player trade? That's not even realistic 🤣

Actually that was terrible from a programmatic standpoint.

Haha, here is Grok 3's plan as an elite Stanley Cup Winning GM specializing in building championship rosters: Given Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (UPL)’s poor 2024-25 performance (.889 SV%, >3.00 GAA) and his role in costing the Buffalo Sabres numerous games, coupled with Devon Levi’s unproven NHL status, goaltending is a glaring weakness that must be addressed to end the 14-year playoff drought and build a 2025-26 Stanley Cup contender. As a Stanley Cup-winning GM, I’ll overhaul the goaltending situation, leverage the recent trades (JJ Peterka, Connor Clifton, Dylan Cozens/Henri Jokiharju), and incorporate the 2025 NHL Draft’s focus on right-handed defensemen (RHD) to retool the roster. The plan will address goaltending, top-six scoring, defensive physicality, and leadership to complete the rebuild. --- ### Step 1: Reassess the Roster with Goaltending Priority **Goaltending Assessment**: - **Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (UPL)**: A .889 SV% and >3.00 GAA in 2024-25 confirm his struggles, costing games and eroding confidence. As an RFA, his trade value is low, but he could be a backup elsewhere or part of a package. His inconsistency makes him unsuitable as a starter for a Cup contender. - **Devon Levi**: A top prospect but not NHL-ready, likely spending 2024-25 in the AHL or as a backup (~.900 SV% in limited starts). He’s a long-term asset but not a 2025-26 solution. - **Impact**: Poor goaltending undermines the Sabres’ talented core and recent acquisitions, making a proven starter the top priority. **Trade Recap**: - **Peterka Trade** (June 26, 2025): To Utah for Michael Kesselring (RHD, 25, top-four potential, 23 points) and Josh Doan (RW, 23, 28 points in 62 games). Peterka’s 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists) leave a top-six wing gap. - **Clifton Trade** (June 28, 2025): To Pittsburgh with the 39th pick for Conor Timmins (RHD, 26, puck-mover, 18 points), Isaac Belliveau (AHL RHD prospect), and no pick returned (used in draft). - **Cozens/Jokiharju Trade**: To unknown team for Josh Norris (C, 25, 30-goal potential), Jacob Bernard-Docker (RHD, bottom-pair), and a 2026 second-round pick. **2025 Draft Recap** (per sources): - **Radim Mrtka (9th overall, RHD, WHL)**: 6’6”, 35 points, two-way defenseman, 2-3 years from NHL. - **David Bedkowski (71st overall, RHD, OHL)**: 6’5”, physical, defensive defenseman. - **Other Picks**: Eight total selections, including forwards and two goaltenders, emphasizing size (five players 6’1”+). **Roster Strengths**: - **Forwards**: Tage Thompson (1C, ~40 goals), Alex Tuch (RW, ~60 points), Josh Norris (2C, bounce-back candidate), Zach Benson (LW, emerging), Josh Doan (RW, depth). - **Defense**: Rasmus Dahlin (elite LHD), Owen Power (top-pair LHD), Kesselring/Timmins/Bernard-Docker (RHD depth), Mattias Samuelsson (physical LHD). - **Cap Space**: ~$20M (assuming $92M cap), with RFA contracts for Quinn (~$2.5M) and others (~$2M total). UPL’s poor season lowers his AAV (~$3M) or trade likelihood. - **Prospects**: Mrtka, Bedkowski, Helenius, Östlund ensure a strong pipeline. **Weaknesses**: - **Goaltending**: UPL’s .889 SV% is unacceptable; Levi isn’t ready. A proven starter is critical. - **Top-Six Wing**: Peterka’s departure leaves a scoring void. - **Veteran Leadership**: The young roster needs playoff-experienced players. - **Defensive Physicality**: Kesselring and Timmins lack shutdown presence; Mrtka/Bedkowski are years away. **Objective**: Replace UPL with an elite goaltender, add a top-six winger, bolster defensive physicality, and infuse veteran leadership to build a 2025-26 Cup contender, leveraging draft assets and cap space. --- ### Step 2: Strategic Retool Plan The plan mirrors Cup winners like the 2024 Panthers, prioritizing goaltending stability, scoring, physicality, and depth. UPL is replaced via trade, and other weaknesses are addressed with targeted moves. #### 1. Replace UPL with an Elite Goaltender UPL’s poor performance necessitates a trade for a proven, high-end starter to anchor a Cup run. **Trade Target: Juuse Saros (Nashville Predators)** - **Rationale**: Saros, 30, is an elite goaltender (2.40 GAA, .920 SV% in 2024-25, extended at $7.74M AAV through 2033). Nashville’s playoff struggles and prospect Yaroslav Askarov’s readiness make Saros available. His consistency addresses UPL’s volatility. - **Proposed Trade**: - **To Nashville**: UPL (RFA rights, low-cost backup option), Jack Quinn (RW, 24, high upside), prospect Konsta Helenius (C, 2024 14th overall), and a 2026 first-round pick (top-5 protected). - **To Buffalo**: Juuse Saros. - **Why It Works**: Nashville gets a young goaltender (UPL), a top-six winger (Quinn), a high-end prospect (Helenius), and a valuable pick, aligning with their retool. Buffalo lands a Vezina-caliber starter to transform the crease. - **Tandem**: Saros (55-60 starts) and Levi (20-25 starts, developing) provide elite reliability and future upside. **Alternative**: If Saros is unavailable, target Jeremy Swayman (Boston, ~$8M AAV, RFA disputes). Swayman’s 2024-25 performance (~2.50 GAA, .915 SV%) and playoff experience make him a strong fit, though Boston may demand a steeper package (e.g., UPL, Quinn, 2026 first, prospect). #### 2. Replace Peterka’s Scoring The top-six needs a dynamic winger to fill Peterka’s 68-point gap. **Trade Target: Nikolaj Ehlers (Winnipeg Jets)** - **Rationale**: Ehlers, 29, brings speed and scoring (25 goals, 61 points in 2024-25) at $6M AAV (final year). Winnipeg’s cap constraints make him attainable. - **Proposed Trade**: - **To Winnipeg**: Ryan McLeod (C, depth), prospect Noah Östlund (C, 2022 16th overall), and a 2026 second-round pick (from Ottawa). - **To Buffalo**: Nikolaj Ehlers. - **Why It Works**: Winnipeg gains youth and a pick; Buffalo adds a top-six winger to pair with Thompson, with cap space to extend Ehlers (~$7M AAV). #### 3. Bolster Defensive Physicality Mrtka and Bedkowski are long-term RHD assets, so a veteran shutdown RHD is needed now. **Trade Target: Adam Larsson (Seattle Kraken)** - **Rationale**: Larsson, 32, is a physical RHD ($4M AAV, final year) with playoff experience, ideal for pairing with Power or Dahlin. - **Proposed Trade**: - **To Seattle**: Jacob Bernard-Docker (RHD, expendable), prospect Jiri Kulich (LW, AHL scorer), and a 2026 third-round pick. - **To Buffalo**: Adam Larsson. - **Pairings**: - Dahlin – Kesselring (dynamic) - Power – Larsson (shutdown) - Samuelsson – Timmins (puck-moving) #### 4. Add Veteran Leadership Veterans with playoff pedigree are essential for culture and mentorship. **Free-Agent Signings**: - **Tyler Bertuzzi (UFA)**: 2 years, $4M AAV. Gritty third-line winger (~40 points) with playoff experience. - **Nick Foligno (UFA)**: 1 year, $3M AAV. Veteran fourth-line center and leader. #### 5. Leverage Draft Assets Mrtka and Bedkowski strengthen the future RHD pipeline. Remaining prospects (e.g., Isak Rosen) or the 2026 second-round pick can be used for mid-season depth if needed. --- ### Step 3: Projected 2025-26 Roster **Forwards**: 1. Nikolaj Ehlers – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch (elite scoring) 2. Zach Benson – Josh Norris – Josh Doan (young, two-way) 3. Tyler Bertuzzi – Peyton Krebs – Isak Rosen (grit and upside) 4. Nicolas Aube-Kubel – Nick Foligno – Tyson Kozak (physical depth) **Defense**: 1. Rasmus Dahlin – Michael Kesselring (dynamic) 2. Owen Power – Adam Larsson (shutdown) 3. Mattias Samuelsson – Conor Timmins (reliable) **Goaltenders**: 1. Juuse Saros 2. Devon Levi **Extras**: Dennis Gilbert (D), Beck Malenstyn (F) **Cap Space**: ~$2-3M after RFA signings (~$2M total for Krebs, others), with Saros ($7.74M), Ehlers ($6M), and Larsson ($4M) fitting comfortably. --- ### Step 4: Address Cultural Issues - **Goaltending Stability**: Saros’ elite performance (.920 SV%) erases UPL’s .889 SV% nightmare, restoring team and fan confidence. - **Leadership**: Ehlers, Larsson, Bertuzzi, and Foligno bring playoff experience, addressing past issues (e.g., Peterka’s dissatisfaction, Tuch’s lukewarm commitment). - **Coaching**: Lindy Ruff’s experience drives accountability. Foligno mentors young players like Benson and Doan. - **Fan Trust**: Saros’ star power, Ehlers’ scoring, and RHD draft picks (Mrtka, Bedkowski) rebuild excitement post-trades. --- ### Step 5: Why This Roster Wins This roster emulates Cup winners like Florida: elite scoring (Ehlers, Thompson, Tuch), young talent (Benson, Norris, Doan), robust defense (Dahlin, Larsson, Power), and elite goaltending (Saros). Key fixes: - **Goaltending**: Saros’ consistency solves UPL’s catastrophic .889 SV%, preventing game losses. - **Scoring**: Ehlers replaces Peterka’s production. - **Defense**: Larsson adds playoff-ready physicality. - **Culture**: Veterans instill a winning mindset. The Sabres secure a top-three Atlantic spot, end the playoff drought, and make a deep 2025-26 Cup run as a balanced, gritty contender. --- ### Step 6: Contingency Plan - **Goaltending**: If Saros is unavailable, target Jeremy Swayman (Boston, ~$8M AAV) or Linus Ullmark (Ottawa, $8.25M AAV, former Sabre) for similar packages. - **Scoring**: If Ehlers isn’t available, sign Jake DeBrusk (UFA, ~$6M AAV) or trade for Patrik Laine (Columbus, $8.7M AAV). - **Defense**: If Larsson is off the table, pursue Colton Parayko (St. Louis, $6.5M AAV). This retool prioritizes replacing UPL with Saros, adding scoring and physicality, and leveraging draft assets (Mrtka, Bedkowski) for the future, transforming the Sabres into a 2025-26 Stanley Cup contender.

Johnson would likely be in group 1 or 2...he played quite a few games for the Sabres and looked decent most times. Someone they had on WGR talking hockey described Rosen as a "tweener". A player too good for the AHL but not good enough for the NHL.

Jiri's son?

Never know who is going to pan out, better to not put all your eggs in one basket. Still have plenty of talented forwards in the pipeline

Haha, definitely not ... Regier might be one of the all-time GMs in fleecing other GMs in trades. Drury, Briere and Gaustad trades were all heavily lopsided towards the Sabres, among others.

Perhaps Peterka told them they needed to move him.

OK, well he identified the need and is getting as many resources as possible to ensure at least a few pan out. I can't complain about it.

Gibson hasn't been good for several years, stop wanting to trade for has beens

I think part of that comes from holding yourself to a higher standard and holding your teammates to a higher standard and having belief in what you are doing as a team. This team hasn't had that in a long long time. What many people are willing to do for something they truly believe in and feel an integral part of is different than for something they don't.

It really is strange that people still consider the Sabres "small" when they are the 7th tallest team in the NHL and really only by fractions of an inch since their average height is the same as the #1 team at 6'2" and the 14th heaviest at 201 lbs. I keep seeing how the Panthers are showing the Sabres that you "can't be a small team and win in the NHL anymore" but they are 3 lbs lighter than the Sabres averaging 198 lbs and fractions of an inch shorter(in 9th place for height) but still averaging 6'2". Suffice to say that "getting bigger" is not the answer it once was for the Sabres.

As usual, the other leagues are miles behind the well oiled machine that is the NFL.

Need to tell UPL he is in danger of losing his job...seems like he only plays well and stays focused when he has something to lose.

We have plenty of prospects already playing and in the AHL...we need NHL players not prospects.

I mean it makes sense logically. If you are trying to bolster your defense corp, why would you want to trade away a defenseman in return? Seems to not make much sense.