Will Victor Olofsson be traded?

[GASabresIUFAN]

11 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

It literally does not matter. Everyone keeps throwing this out in defense of Oloffson but he was a defensive sieve. His 28 goals were offset by -23 goals alone at even strength. So if Rousek can be a +/- 0 and score 5 goals, he is as useful as Olofsson. 

Olofsson can't play defense. Rousek can, I will take Rousek and his less of a shot over Olofsson's shot and almost nothing else. 

There is no question he is our worst defensive forward and he had a terrible year last year.  His EV differential was -18 (according to NHL.com) and his GV/TK was -2.  However, he has been on the + side of the ledger in recent years and was better in 2021/22 where his differential was the same as TNT and better than Cozens and Krebs. 

My guess is KA thinks he can improve and he isn't going to trade him. 

Edited July 3, 2023 by GASabresIUFAN

[klos1963]

If we don't trade him before the season, he needs to get quality minutes and produce or else his trade value disappears. If he plays well, should we even trade him?

[Weave]

VO was pretty circumspect after the end of season meetings.  He knew, and said, he needed to he better, and he knew where he needed to be better.

I find it interesting that 2 seasons ago alot of the posters that are calling VO a one trick pony and PP specialist were making credible arguments that he had matured his game and was playing responsibly.

I think Quinn’s injury will ultimately give VO the opportunity to show whether the discussions from 2 seasons ago were accurate, and if he can move his game to another level.

[GASabresIUFAN]

@LGR4GM

What is the market for his services at this point?  How many teams can take on a nearly $5 mill cap hit? (17 already have $5 or less in cap space).  How many actually have a roster slot?  Most of the few teams with a roster spot don't have cap space or have RFAs to re-sign.

In addition, there are better and cheaper alternatives. Guys like Tarasenko are still available as UFAs and guys like Yamamoto are signing 1 years deals for $1.5.  

[SABRES 0311]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

There were middle 6 UFAs that we passed on, although rumor has it we pursued one pretty hard but could not reach an agreement. 

I figured as much. If VO stays I see it as the safe move.

[Randall Flagg]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

It literally does not matter. Everyone keeps throwing this out in defense of Oloffson but he was a defensive sieve. His 28 goals were offset by -23 goals alone at even strength. So if Rousek can be a +/- 0 and score 5 goals, he is as useful as Olofsson. 

Olofsson can't play defense. Rousek can, I will take Rousek and his less of a shot over Olofsson's shot and almost nothing else. 

Are we or are we not supposed to use plus minus

[Taro T]

14 hours ago, dudacek said:

Someone who needs to move out a body, thinks the combination of Victor and the other assets constitutes the best offer, and disagrees with your opinion on Victor.

I think Adams will have to retain in order to close any deal and I think many GMs would be interested in a 28-goal scorer at $2.3 million, regardless of the other holes in his game.

With the Sabres cap space, absolutely expect the Sabres to retain salary when he gets traded.

And have said this before, coming this close to being traded but getting a reprieve MIGHT end up being his come to Jesus moment.  He can play reasonably well defensively if he really concentrates on it.  Now maybe he'll actually concentrate on it.  Wouldn't have money on it, but it is POSSIBLE.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

Still no poll.

I still say 'no'.

[LGR4GM]

35 minutes ago, Taro T said:

With the Sabres cap space, absolutely expect the Sabres to retain salary when he gets traded.

And have said this before, coming this close to being traded but getting a reprieve MIGHT end up being his come to Jesus moment.  He can play reasonably well defensively if he really concentrates on it.  Now maybe he'll actually concentrate on it.  Wouldn't have money on it, but it is POSSIBLE.

but can he though? I mean, what if the teams defense is just better and that's why he suddenly stands out as not that good at it? 

[Taro T]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

but can he though? I mean, what if the teams defense is just better and that's why he suddenly stands out as not that good at it? 

There are things that he does that are very reminiscent of when Skinner started here (not that he's great in his own end, he isn't, but he isn't a tire fire anymore) that should be easily correctable IF he is willing to concentrate on them (because they won't be anywhere close to a habit until later in this season if even then).  One of them being, if you charge the point man, don't then turn away from him giving a clear lane past him.  Ideally, he'd actually engage him, but even if he doesn't if he turns towards the point man's skating lane (typically towards the boards but not always) he's at least taking space away if not time as well and he isn't letting the point man easily create an odd man situation.

He also can, when a linemate or the Sabres D-man creates the turnover or picks up a loose puck, also move to a place where that teammate that has the puck can get it to him.  Part of Mittelstadt's problem early this season is when he got control of the puck he looked to move it out of danger but there was no pass open to him so he'd skate the puck to the boards where the forecheckers would double team him resulting in either an easily recovered dump out or a turnover.  Neither Olofsson nor the other winger dujour were on the same page with him.

These are 2 little things that would make him look MUCH better in his own end and would help to keep his line from getting hemmed in.  Don't really want to make this a bashing Olofsson post, so won't mention any other things he should be able to easily do.  And he was doing some of them when he was dealing with the hand/wrist injury.

[Doohickie]

59 minutes ago, Taro T said:

One of them being, if you charge the point man, don't then turn away from him giving a clear lane past him.

He's made a habit of precisely that and it's infuriating.  I think the rest of the league knows it so they wait him out and as soon as he curls away the skate behind his back, usually up the boards while Ollie's skating at the blue line, out of the play.

Edited July 3, 2023 by Doohickie

[postseasonblues]

Did Quinn's injury make Olofsson a more complete player?

I seem to have missed something.

[Weave]

42 minutes ago, postseasonblues said:

Did Quinn's injury make Olofsson a more complete player?

I seem to have missed something.

No.  There was alot of discussion in ‘21-22 that VO had evolved his game and was not a single tool player.  Last year that description of VO vanished and seems to still be missing.  The discussion is if VO ever really was more than a single dimension player, and if he was, why can’t he get that back this season?

[Thorny]

2 hours ago, Weave said:

No.  There was alot of discussion in ‘21-22 that VO had evolved his game and was not a single tool player.  Last year that description of VO vanished and seems to still be missing.  The discussion is if VO ever really was more than a single dimension player, and if he was, why can’t he get that back this season?

Eichel passing him the puck was..a big part of it 

[Brawndo]

Reilly Smith, who had two less goals but 16 more points and is a much better offensive play driver than VO went for 3rd Round a pick. 
 

It was Vegas Original 2024 3rd coming back to them, so that should be late. 
 

The Sabres would probably have to retain 50% to get anywhere close to that return for VO. 

[stuuuuuuuuu]

If I’m KA I wait. Some team on the cusp will think they’re a power play boost away from making a run and pay more later

[RochesterExpat]

If he’s moved it’s either following the arbitration week when teams have a final cap picture or it’s after the season starts and he shows zero growth to round out his game. 

I expect him to be on the opening night roster only because the market for wingers appears soft.