How would you retool this team this summer?

[PerreaultForever]

3 hours ago, JohnC said:

It would take a creative and bold GM to accomplish your wish list. KA is our GM. He is cautious and not very imaginative with how he operates. What you are expecting is beyond his capacity. That's how I see it. 

Not what I'm expecting. If you go back to where I first posted it you will see I said it's not going to happen. No chance. 

It was put out there as dream of what would be possible for a good GM with the assets and cap room Adams has. If you look at the Sabres objectively they have a luxury position to make moves compared to other teams. Other teams have no prospects to trade if they've been all in for years, no or few picks, few desirable players to unload without damaging their rosters and often little to no cap space. or one or more of those issues. Sabres have cap room and a treasure chest full. NOT getting it done takes an extreme amount of ineptitude. 

and that ineptitude is what I expect. 

11 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

It's a fun roster, but I don't think it remains cap-compliant given the Buffalo Tax that Adams/Pegula have caused for this team through their decade of ineptitude. They have $91.056M cap space to work with after the Skinner buyout (90.3 if Samuelsson is also bought out).

To join Buffalo, Bennett needs low 1C money and term (7x$8M) for his one career payday -- on the worst of non-contenders. Likewise, Marchand is not taking some discount here... so 2x$7M+. To ensure getting the Rangers to drop Cuylle means going over the 7.1M threshold and that 1st,2nd,3rd trio. At least $6M for the Top 4 RHD and $5M for the goalie (minor $ increase from UPL, who'd have to be traded). I may be a bit low with the UFA estimates.

It definitely requires bridging JJP and McLeod, and probably sacrifices Tuch long-term for just a couple seasons of end-career Marchand.

I'm not doing the math but remember you would shed Norris and Byram. Other teams get these things done. Teams with taxes too. 

[PerreaultForever]

13 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

I hedge my bets

We are the Murphy's Law of the NHL. With how our luck goes either via injury or the like we'll end up within 1 pt of a spot but end up 10th from the bottom. Then proceed to win the lottery.

Also I don't trust Cuylle to be a great player worth that risk; he reminds me way to much of Jeannot who had 1 20 goal year and looked like a super player only to fall off a cliff

 

Keeping Tuch is a priority

I mentioned Cuylle because Rags have cap issues and he's there as an RFA they might not think worth keeping if he got offer sheeted. I see him as a 20 goal guy with an edge. Power forward. Not Jeannot. A thing we are lacking in though. 

I disagree with this "we are unlucky" narrative. Sabres make their own bad luck with bad decisions. Injury stats are boosted by trading for injury prone players. Zucker, Greenway, Norris all had injury issues before they ever came here. 

[thewookie1]

4 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

I mentioned Cuylle because Rags have cap issues and he's there as an RFA they might not think worth keeping if he got offer sheeted. I see him as a 20 goal guy with an edge. Power forward. Not Jeannot. A thing we are lacking in though. 

I disagree with this "we are unlucky" narrative. Sabres make their own bad luck with bad decisions. Injury stats are boosted by trading for injury prone players. Zucker, Greenway, Norris all had injury issues before they ever came here. 

As a whole our teams have always been unlucky

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, thewookie1 said:

As a whole our teams have always been unlucky

disagree. You make your own luck. No season has been lost because of bad luck. It's been bad decisions by management and bad rosters. 

[JohnC]

7 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

As a whole our teams have always been unlucky

As a whole our organization has been inept. The caliber of ownership a franchise has permeates throughout the organization. When you live by excuses you fail by them. A generation of failure is a generation of failure. The record can’t be explained away by making lame excuses. 

[thewookie1]

6 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

disagree. You make your own luck. No season has been lost because of bad luck. It's been bad decisions by management and bad rosters. 

51 minutes ago, JohnC said:

As a whole our organization has been inept. The caliber of ownership a franchise has permeates throughout the organization. When you live by excuses you fail by them. A generation of failure is a generation of failure. The record can’t be explained away by making lame excuses. 

I’m not just talking recently or even the Pegula era; I mean as a whole. This city genuinely seems to have bad luck.

 

For me, the 2026 1st is a hedge against complete darkness. 
 

1. I don’t trust Adams to make a good enough team to feel confident we’d make the playoffs.

2. Our 1st being owned by another team only to win the Lottery is far too possible and Buffalo-y not to have happen.

[LGR4GM]

There's very few things I'd let our 2026 first leave for. Our 2025 first though... that's a different story. 

[JohnC]

23 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

I’m not just talking recently or even the Pegula era; I mean as a whole. This city genuinely seems to have bad luck.

 

For me, the 2026 1st is a hedge against complete darkness. 
 

1. I don’t trust Adams to make a good enough team to feel confident we’d make the playoffs.

2. Our 1st being owned by another team only to win the Lottery is far too possible and Buffalo-y not to have happen.

I understand your point but still don't accept it. The main reason is that all franchises in all sports contend with unexpected challenges. It's an inescapable part of sports and life. Over time, things should level out. Good organizations overcome unexpected adversities (what you call bad luck) while mediocre organizations succumb to them. 

Needless to say, I don't have much confidence in KA. But the person who should be the most scorned here is the obtuse owner who not only stunningly installed this ill-equipped congenial fellow into a position he was not prepared to handle but weirdly has kept him in the position after inadequately doing the job for half a decade. No other organization and owner would have kept a GM on the job so long except for the Sabre owner.

Again, it's not a question of luck. It's an issue of pervasive incompetency. Not only am I sad to say that but also, I'm no longer tolerant of this ever-present foolishness. 

[thewookie1]

2 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I understand your point but still don't accept it. The main reason is that all franchises in all sports contend with unexpected challenges. It's an inescapable part of sports and life. Over time, things should level out. Good organizations overcome unexpected adversities (what you call bad luck) while mediocre organizations succumb to them. 

Needless to say, I don't have much confidence in KA. But the person who should be the most scorned here is the obtuse owner who not only stunningly installed this ill-equipped congenial fellow into a position he was not prepared to handle but weirdly has kept him in the position after inadequately doing the job for half a decade. No other organization and owner would have kept a GM on the job so long except for the Sabre owner.

Again, it's not a question of luck. It's an issue of pervasive incompetency. Not only am I sad to say that but also, I'm no longer tolerant of this ever-present foolishness. 

In the end even if I trusted the GM and the owner fully I still wouldn't make a move with the 26' 1st. You have to play smart from both a short term and long term angle. Even if we had made the playoffs 10 of the last 14 I would be cautious with this 1st.

[JohnC]

3 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

In the end even if I trusted the GM and the owner fully I still wouldn't make a move with the 26' 1st. You have to play smart from both a short term and long term angle. Even if we had made the playoffs 10 of the last 14 I would be cautious with this 1st.

I don't disagree with you that you need to be cautious about giving up high future picks. You make calculated judgments balancing the present with the future. It's a case by case situation. Would I give up a future first for a young player such as a Kulich type talent who could play for you right away? Yes. And I would be less reluctant to do so if I had depth in my prospect pool. Do I trust KA to make a good judgment? No. 

[LGR4GM]

Trades of unprotected 1sts are rare.

[PerreaultForever]

6 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

I’m not just talking recently or even the Pegula era; I mean as a whole. This city genuinely seems to have bad luck.

 

For me, the 2026 1st is a hedge against complete darkness. 
 

1. I don’t trust Adams to make a good enough team to feel confident we’d make the playoffs.

2. Our 1st being owned by another team only to win the Lottery is far too possible and Buffalo-y not to have happen.

I do understand, but I also do think that's a loser mentality that the franchise has driven into you with all the failure (and maybe you magnify it with the Bills as a "city"). If one keeps thinking that way. If the franchise keeps looking down the road in case of these things, it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. 

Look, the bottom line is we already know Dahlin put them on notice. He told Adams he's tired of this and he expects improvements now. I guarantee you if they crap out this coming season he's gone. That might even be why Adams gets another year. He's on notice to get it done this year or else. If he doesn't they clean house and the next guy guts it trading Dahlin maybe Thompson, and we start a new 5 year plan same way Adams gutted it with Eichel Reinhart Risto. It'll suck, but that'll be the TP plan. 

We have the assets. Get it done now. Future picks don't matter. 

[thewookie1]

1 minute ago, PerreaultForever said:

I do understand, but I also do think that's a loser mentality that the franchise has driven into you with all the failure (and maybe you magnify it with the Bills as a "city"). If one keeps thinking that way. If the franchise keeps looking down the road in case of these things, it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. 

Look, the bottom line is we already know Dahlin put them on notice. He told Adams he's tired of this and he expects improvements now. I guarantee you if they crap out this coming season he's gone. That might even be why Adams gets another year. He's on notice to get it done this year or else. If he doesn't they clean house and the next guy guts it trading Dahlin maybe Thompson, and we start a new 5 year plan same way Adams gutted it with Eichel Reinhart Risto. It'll suck, but that'll be the TP plan. 

We have the assets. Get it done now. Future picks don't matter. 

I don't want them to look down the road so to speak but at very least look for potholes or other hazards on the road. Nothing we can hope to acquire would make me feel good trading next year's 1st.

[PerreaultForever]

3 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

I don't want them to look down the road so to speak but at very least look for potholes or other hazards on the road. Nothing we can hope to acquire would make me feel good trading next year's 1st.

pave over it. Fill those potholes with some of that Frakking leftovers. Get it done!

[DarthEbriate]

15 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I'm not doing the math but remember you would shed Norris and Byram. Other teams get these things done. Teams with taxes too. 

But the math is important. You're starting with $24M in cap space with no RFAs accounted for. You have $31M with Norris out.

Bennett, Marchand, and Cuylle, I'm saying conservatively, because of the Adams/Pegula historical ineptitude, is $23M. A top-4 RHD to be the guide for Power is...  $6M plus? You're basically out of space for JJP, McLeod, and even JBD. Tuch is gone the following summer. And that's without fixing the goalie situation.

Now, you're creating lineup gaps for a 37 year-old Marchand, a 1C (by pay) whose career high is 51 points, and a young power forward who plays the right way, but is still a lottery ticket just like JJP/Quinn/Kulich/Benson (all of whom are more inexpensive in their next contract - if bridged).

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, DarthEbriate said:

But the math is important. You're starting with $24M in cap space with no RFAs accounted for. You have $31M with Norris out.

Bennett, Marchand, and Cuylle, I'm saying conservatively, because of the Adams/Pegula historical ineptitude, is $23M. A top-4 RHD to be the guide for Power is...  $6M plus? You're basically out of space for JJP, McLeod, and even JBD. Tuch is gone the following summer. And that's without fixing the goalie situation.

Now, you're creating lineup gaps for a 37 year-old Marchand, a 1C (by pay) whose career high is 51 points, and a young power forward who plays the right way, but is still a lottery ticket just like JJP/Quinn/Kulich/Benson (all of whom are more inexpensive in their next contract - if bridged).

You make it work. Bennett and Marchand I'm thinking is 15. Cuylle is projected at 3.43 and according to the internet if you offered him 4.67 you'd only have to give up a second. Would he take it? idk. I'm offering all the same. So let's just say 20 all 3. I'm moving Norris out and then Byram likely out as well. Byram makes 3.85 but is being projected at around 9 which to me is crazy but there it is. Norris is 7.95. That's your top 4 D money. Parayko for example makes 8. St. Louis isn't trading him but there's enough money to pay a top 4 D man. You might have to bridge JJP if he's greedy but I don't see a problem. The cap is rising too and then we shed Zucker and later Greenway. I see no issue. 

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

You make it work. Bennett and Marchand I'm thinking is 15. Cuylle is projected at 3.43 and according to the internet if you offered him 4.67 you'd only have to give up a second. Would he take it? idk. I'm offering all the same. So let's just say 20 all 3. I'm moving Norris out and then Byram likely out as well. Byram makes 3.85 but is being projected at around 9 which to me is crazy but there it is. Norris is 7.95. That's your top 4 D money. Parayko for example makes 8. St. Louis isn't trading him but there's enough money to pay a top 4 D man. You might have to bridge JJP if he's greedy but I don't see a problem. The cap is rising too and then we shed Zucker and later Greenway. I see no issue. 

Only problem with the offer sheet in the 2nd round range is the Sabres don't have their 2nd.  Went to the Otters in the Cozens/Norris trade.

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

You make it work. Bennett and Marchand I'm thinking is 15. Cuylle is projected at 3.43 and according to the internet if you offered him 4.67 you'd only have to give up a second. Would he take it? idk. I'm offering all the same. So let's just say 20 all 3. I'm moving Norris out and then Byram likely out as well. Byram makes 3.85 but is being projected at around 9 which to me is crazy but there it is. Norris is 7.95. That's your top 4 D money. Parayko for example makes 8. St. Louis isn't trading him but there's enough money to pay a top 4 D man. You might have to bridge JJP if he's greedy but I don't see a problem. The cap is rising too and then we shed Zucker and later Greenway. I see no issue. 

You really believe that Marchand would be interested in coming here, even if he was offered more money at this stage of his career? The same thought applies to Bennett. Just stop with this fanciful thinking. It might be fun imagining these types of acquisitions, but they fall in the land of fantasy. I'm not arguing that we shouldn't be taking actions to reconstruct the roster but let's not get carried away with what is actually doable. If you look at some of the deals that KA has actually made, they involve players such as McCleod, Zucker and Greenway. If we can add a few more of this caliber of players, I would be pleasantly surprised. 

I just don't see any blockbuster deals materializing involving players like Marner. If that is the case, then go out and make a few meat and potato deals that help to toughen and reshape the roster. If you can't make a big splash, then make more little splashes that add up. 

[Thorny]

14 year drought and we are still seeing “be careful with draft picks” posts 

super-serum, captain buffalo fans 

Never change 

[PerreaultForever]

28 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Only problem with the offer sheet in the 2nd round range is the Sabres don't have their 2nd.  Went to the Otters in the Cozens/Norris trade.

Right. Forgot about that. Well, higher or not at all then. 

I just want moves and progress. Rolling out the same basic thing with Norris and Levi is going to fail.

[Thorny]

1 minute ago, PerreaultForever said:

Right. Forgot about that. Well, higher or not at all then. 

I just want moves and progress. Rolling out the same basic thing with Norris and Levi is going to fail.

It’s significantly more likely Levi is never an nhl goalie at all than a good one. Man, that was a WILD time for a while. The suggestion he wasn’t Hasek was a hot take 

[PerreaultForever]

27 minutes ago, JohnC said:

You really believe that Marchand would be interested in coming here, even if he was offered more money at this stage of his career? The same thought applies to Bennett. Just stop with this fanciful thinking. It might be fun imagining these types of acquisitions, but they fall in the land of fantasy. I'm not arguing that we shouldn't be taking actions to reconstruct the roster but let's not get carried away with what is actually doable. If you look at some of the deals that KA has actually made, they involve players such as McCleod, Zucker and Greenway. If we can add a few more of this caliber of players, I would be pleasantly surprised. 

I just don't see any blockbuster deals materializing involving players like Marner. If that is the case, then go out and make a few meat and potato deals that help to toughen and reshape the roster. If you can't make a big splash, then make more little splashes that add up. 

You want me to be blatantly honest? No. No I do not see anybody wanting to come here unless maybe they were born in Buffalo and even then. Why would they? If I was a hockey player in the NHL you'd have to offer me a boatload of cash for any bottom feeder team and a perennial loser like Buffalo? Not a chance. Only if I had no other options. 

I'm just dreaming about type and style and what the team needs. I'm tired of supporting a loser and making/accepting excuses. 

[PerreaultForever]

Adams needs to get off his butt too. I'm reading that Ottawa's primary off season concern is getting a top 4 D man so there's competition if one is in fact available. Sitting back and looking for the perfect trade or trying to win that trade isn't going to get it done. 

Unless of course they are interested in Byram. 

[JohnC]

4 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

You want me to be blatantly honest? No. No I do not see anybody wanting to come here unless maybe they were born in Buffalo and even then. Why would they? If I was a hockey player in the NHL you'd have to offer me a boatload of cash for any bottom feeder team and a perennial loser like Buffalo? Not a chance. Only if I had no other options. 

I'm just dreaming about type and style and what the team needs. I'm tired of supporting a loser and making/accepting excuses. 

The point I'm making and stressing is that just because you can't get the bonanza deal done doesn't mean that you can't make enough smart moves that will consequentially improve your roster. The model to follow are the Washington Capitals. Over the past two years, their GM made at least a half a dozen deals that weren't headline deals, yet dramatically remade the team. Including in those deals were the addition of their two goalies who were an excellent tandem. It can be done. If you have a GM who is creative and enterprising, there are good deals to be made. 

The Sabres are in a lot better position to participate in the market than most teams. We have a number of good prospects in the system, some players on their current roster that can be dangled (most notably Byram), some cap room  and draft pick to parlay. It can be done!

[elijah]

He’s another left handed guy but Niko Mikkola would look nice next to Owen Power

Holding down 20 minutes per night with positive xGA% and a positive +/- (by double digits) over the past few years, he’s also 6’6” and big. Little bit of everything for all the different fans personal preference