The Jokeman

Power could be a piece too but the question if you wanted to keep Byram instead.

Quinn and Norris' inability to stay healthy concern me. I don't get the Benson love to me he feels like another Krebs, 3rd/4th line guy at best. Kullich could replace JJP points but feel JJP has more skill.

The fault in this as time we did that had guys like Audette, Dawe, Plante, Holzinger and eventually Satan to come in that chip in 20 or more goals a piece and we might have 2 guys besides JJP that can do that. Toss in a goalie/defense who gave up only 2.5 goals a game so we didn't need as many goals on offense. I agree we need grit but also can't go lose scoring either.

Levi might but the next great one but thus far he hasn't shown it in the NHL. That said we need a legitimate 2nd line player besides bring back JJP that. Moving him isn't going to help unless we get someone equal or better to him back. Yet we also don't have any tough guys, Greeenway has size but I mean he isn't what I think as gritty. As need a Vaclav Varada/Matthew Barnaby type for the 3rd line. The 4th line is non existent in that can't score or defend so that needs improvement. Our defense is a mess outside of Dahlin. Power got paid way too early in his career and same with Samuelsson. Clifford looks like he was a product of Boston's system and was a bad signing. At Goalie UPL regressed last year and have nobody to pair with him. Yet guys like Norris and Levi give us some hope but still need that top 6 forward and top 4 RHD and legitimate 40 game goalie to pair with UPL until Levi can be a consistent player in the NHL to take a step up just to be a playoff team but so much more to expect to do anything in the playoffs.

It's because Vegas let him get the surgery that we were not approving. Had we approved he'd likely still be here IMO.

If we stay at 9 I'm wishing for Carter Bear but ultimately hope it's traded for a proven player.

Why are we trading Norris and Byram in one move and only getting one player even close to their value back in EP40? Sorry Demko and Petterson do nothing to improve this team substantially better if we're giving up what you propose.

It all depends on what we get back, To me Byrum is the best option to move if get a top 4 RHD back or a top 6 F.

Unless we take a very bad salary and get a 3rd team involved I can't see them getting us anything we'd want. I mean almost their entire roster is over aged.

Exactly, I can't see his stance changing any after passing on us last season. That said to me a trade like that isn't much of a needle pusher. The only thing Necas to me adds is a right hand shot and possible the ability to play 1C yet think ultimately he'd be our top RW.

Until I see a trade my hopes lie with Norris to give us an extra player in the top 6 that can improve our scoring. Assuming we keep JJP or move him and Byram for a suitable replacement and a top 4 RHD and sign or somehow get another goalie that can play 30-40 games this season along with UPL.

Please once the Sabres make it to the playoffs again the Arena will get packed again, as a life long Buffalonian I hate to say it but most fans are frontrunners and show the Buffalove when teams win, see Bills and Bandits always selling out. Sabres well we can only take so much losing. Heck I've stopped watching them on tv on a regular basis.

Vorhees, a jolly good fellow...

Bear gets buried because of the injury but I stated earlier he'd be on my short list of guys I'd take for the Sabres if we keep 9OA.

Rackell, Rackell?

And both are over 33. Yeah it take more than either one of these two if make any kind of move with Helenius involved IMO.

Why trade a LHD for another LHD with a similar skillset? Aka Cam York? While I don't like Liljegren at least I can at least justify it because give us a RHD that can play in the top 4.

We either get a Top 4 RHD back for Byrum that is in same age bracket 20-25 or a top 6 forward in the same age bracket. That's all I'm willing to take at bare minimum

Ick why do we need another last pair Dman? Yes he's a righty but he's been a -94 the last three seasons combined. Even worse he's never been a + in six NHL seasons.

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/latest-news/sam-rinzel-is-playing-well-beyond-his-years-with-blackhawks

Exactly why trade a player for a prospect when the Sabres need players. IF I'm trading Byram I'd look at the Blackhawks who are littered with young Dmen, the one I like best is Sam Rinzel as he's a righty and only 20.

If we add Miller than Samuelsson has to go not necessarily in the same deal.

I mean either EP40 or Robertson could fit in my trade scenarios, I just went with the Center that already has the long term contract in place.

They should but the question is why would the Sabres look to move away from that unless he not a team player/and or unwilling to stay here? And if we do move on from him how to we replace him and improve the team at the same time? Yes, it likely going to take more than 1 move hence my suggestion in getting after EP40 after moving JJP for a RHD Dman on a low salary but still a RFA after this salary runs out, a prospect and hopefully a pick we can flip for a forward that is arguably better than JJP.

Yeah Necas essentially killed a trade to us as stated wouldn't sign here https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/sabres-almost-landed-hurricanes-star-forward