To everyone clamoring for the Sabres to trade the pick

[JP51]

To everyone clamoring to trade the pick... Kevyn Adams will be doing the trading... do you still want that...?  Just a question...  not a statement... 

[Standing Room Smoking Cigs]

McKenna should be great next year, but I don't need a decade and a half of a rebuild. Power and #9 for Misa, it's a toss up but Misa could be our Marner. Eichel was a wise choice but he was so immature, Misa seems to have humility.

Edited Tuesday at 05:00 PM by Standing Room Smoking Cigs
new wording

[dudacek]

25 minutes ago, JP51 said:

To everyone clamoring to trade the pick... Kevyn Adams will be doing the trading... do you still want that...?  Just a question...  not a statement... 

How many of these Adams trades would you reverse?

• Norris and Bernard Docker for Cozens, Gilbert and a 2nd
• McLeod for Savoie
• Pick 14 and Malenstyn for pick 11
• Byram for Mittelstadt
• Greenway for pick 56
• Tuch, Krebs, 1st, and 2nd for Eichel and a 3rd
• Levi and 1st for Reinhart
• 1st, 2nd and Hagg for Ristolainen
• 2nd and Bjork for Hall and Lazar
• Staal for Johansson

Just a question, not a statement.

 

 

[Thorny]

3 minutes ago, dudacek said:

How many of these Adams trades would you reverse?

• Norris and Bernard Docker for Cozens, Gilbert and a 2nd
• McLeod for Savoie
• Pick 14 and Malenstyn for pick 11
• Byram for Mittelstadt
• Greenway for pick 56
• Tuch, Krebs, 1st, and 2nd for Eichel and a 3rd
• Levi and 1st for Reinhart
• 1st, 2nd and Hagg for Ristolainen
• 2nd and Bjork for Hall and Lazar
• Staal for Johansson

Just a question, not a statement.

 

 

7

[dudacek]

16 minutes ago, Thorny said:

7

Not sure if this is serious or random..?

I’m thinking I keep the Byram and the McLeod deals

And I chuck the Malenstyn and Reinhart deals.

I’d rather have a healthy, happy Eichel but given the circumstances I probably keep that deal?

TBD on the Cozens trade, based on Norris’ health.

The rest all just seem like a big bag of “meh”.

And I guess that makes sense because with Adams the issues seem less about the moves he’s made and more about the ones he hasn’t.

[Thorny]

11 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Not sure if this is serious or random..?

I’m thinking I keep the Byram and the McLeod deals

And I chuck the Malenstyn and Reinhart deals.

I’d rather have a healthy, happy Eichel but given the circumstances I probably keep that deal?

TBD on the Cozens trade, based on Norris’ health.

The rest all just seem like a big bag of “meh”.

And I guess that makes sense because with Adams the issues seem less about the moves he’s made and more about the ones he hasn’t.

Why wouldn’t it be serious? Your non-defence defence of Adams on the lowest day for many fans wasn’t going to get a rebuttal? Haha 

Eichel and Reinhart deals are both terrible. The circumstances the GM helped create? Sure? Yes, bad trades, didn’t have to make them. Easy Nos there those are the two I started with 

Mittelstadt deal was next. He was really good here - our best forward statistically when we moved him. Byram hasn’t scratched that value here. Easy take back 

Malenstyn lol next. 

“Addition by subtraction ” re the cozens deal was always a cop out but, yes getting literally nothing wouldn’t be enough so I agree it depends on Norris. As of now it’s an exceptionally shaky return and is I’d imagine we’d have gotten more in the summer considering how mediocre the return seems, so there’s number 5.

Hall and Staal can aren’t guys I want atall

thats 7. 

Edited Tuesday at 06:10 PM by Thorny

[dudacek]

7 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Why wouldn’t it be serious? Your non-defence defence of Adams on the lowest day for many fans…

I’m going to miss you calling me out on stuff like this.

Seriously.

[SABRES 0311]

6 hours ago, inkman said:

You answered a whole bunch of questions I never asked. 

That happens in discussions 🤩

[steveoath]

6 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I'd make the trade bigger. Get Dobson and Barzal. 

Edit: if the islanders want to rebuild. 

Would love barzal. Would add next years first and other stuff for him if we could. 

[Archie Lee]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

How many of these Adams trades would you reverse?

• Norris and Bernard Docker for Cozens, Gilbert and a 2nd
• McLeod for Savoie
• Pick 14 and Malenstyn for pick 11
• Byram for Mittelstadt
• Greenway for pick 56
• Tuch, Krebs, 1st, and 2nd for Eichel and a 3rd
• Levi and 1st for Reinhart
• 1st, 2nd and Hagg for Ristolainen
• 2nd and Bjork for Hall and Lazar
• Staal for Johansson

Just a question, not a statement.

 

 

I think there are solid arguments for Adams with every trade (given the circumstances surrounding each). A few, could even be called good trades.

The larger point though, is that in his 5 years Adams had traded away multiple young players that cost us a 1st rd pick to acquire, with nothing to show for it. Adams has traded Montour, Ristolainen, Reinhart, Eichel, Mittlelstadt, Savoie and Cozens (we acquired Montour with the 1st rd pick we received from San Jose for Evander Kane).  So, Adams has traded away seven players that we acquired using 1st rd picks, five of which were top 10 picks, two were 2nd overall.  Every one of the players traded is either still in the NHL or, in Savoie's case is still a prospect. Only Montour is over 30. These players are largely still in, or heading into, the prime of their careers. And 5 years into Adams's tenure, we had a 79 point season.  The year before Adams took over, in the covid shortened season under Botterill and Krueger, the Sabres had 68 points in 69 games; that is an 80-81 point pace.  Five years of Adams trading all these highly drafted and young players, has produced nothing.

So, it's not that Adams won't get value in any particular trade, but rather he will do nothing with the value he obtains.

Ray Ferrero said it best when he was doing a Sabre game a couple of years ago:  Buffalo's roster is just a collection of nice pieces. I'm not afraid that Adams will make a terrible trade. I just have no faith that any trade he makes will result in the Sabres becoming a playoff-level team. And so, every day that Adams remains GM is just putting off the day when the job is given to someone who might be able to get us there. 

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 06:44 PM by Archie Lee

[JohnC]

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/hosts/sabres-live

Within the above link is a 13 minute segment with Kris Baker on the show and talking about some prospects in the draft within our drafting range. More interesting, is his commentary about what we should do with our pick and with players in our system. His views on Kris Baker provided sound advice and concise opinions on how the Sabres should handle this offseason. He was emphatic that this team needs to get older.  His response about Ryan Johnson was very sensible. 

[thewookie1]

4 hours ago, Thorny said:

Why wouldn’t it be serious? Your non-defence defence of Adams on the lowest day for many fans wasn’t going to get a rebuttal? Haha 

Eichel and Reinhart deals are both terrible. The circumstances the GM helped create? Sure? Yes, bad trades, didn’t have to make them. Easy Nos there those are the two I started with 

Mittelstadt deal was next. He was really good here - our best forward statistically when we moved him. Byram hasn’t scratched that value here. Easy take back 

Malenstyn lol next. 

“Addition by subtraction ” re the cozens deal was always a cop out but, yes getting literally nothing wouldn’t be enough so I agree it depends on Norris. As of now it’s an exceptionally shaky return and is I’d imagine we’d have gotten more in the summer considering how mediocre the return seems, so there’s number 5.

Hall and Staal can aren’t guys I want atall

thats 7. 

Barring Adams getting Botts fired, you can’t exactly blame him for Eichel wanting out. Unless you wanted to keep Botts at the helm there were going to be changes regardless of who we hired.

Reinhart was a casualty of COVID, I doubt we give him a 1 year bridge had the season ended normally.

Mitts for Byram was a good trade in hindsight but more of a head scratcher as a whole. Byram is a good player but doesn’t add anything new to the mix.

Malenstyn trade in the OP is wrong, we traded a 2nd (pick 43) for him. I wouldn’t have offered that. At best I’d of offered a 4th.

Cozens is too early to say; still don’t like the return personally but I wasn’t against trading him by the time they did.

Hall was actually a solid trade in the circumstances but his signing was a dumb attempt to either help Krueger or make Eichel happy after not trading for him the previous year.

Staal is a hard one; the idea behind the trade was solid; a vet C/W for a less celebrated one. It failed in hindsight but wasn’t abjectly bad at n the immediate.

If I could go back in time I’d of kept ROR, made Eichel respect his elders so he wouldn’t become toxic and signed Reinhart when Botts had the opportunity. Additionally I bring back Pommers for the COVID season with Vanek to play the 3rd line with Mitts. Traded Risto + 4th for Ehlers and played harder ball with Skinner’s contract. If all goes well, 2019-2020 has

Skinner - RoR - ???

Ehlers - Eichel - Reinhart

Vanek - Mitts - Pominville

??? - ??? - ???

Dahlin - Montour

Scandella - Jokiharju

??? - Miller

That could very well make the playoffs.

[dudacek]

21 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

.

Malenstyn trade in the OP is wrong, we traded a 2nd (pick 43) for him. I wouldn’t have offered that. At best I’d of offered a 4th.

.

I looked at it as two connected trades: Adams traded down to acquire an extra 2nd specifically with the intent of flipping it for Malenstyn

[JP51]

19 hours ago, dudacek said:

How many of these Adams trades would you reverse?

• Norris and Bernard Docker for Cozens, Gilbert and a 2nd
• McLeod for Savoie
• Pick 14 and Malenstyn for pick 11
• Byram for Mittelstadt
• Greenway for pick 56
• Tuch, Krebs, 1st, and 2nd for Eichel and a 3rd
• Levi and 1st for Reinhart
• 1st, 2nd and Hagg for Ristolainen
• 2nd and Bjork for Hall and Lazar
• Staal for Johansson

Just a question, not a statement.

 

 

6 or 7

[Drag0nDan]

18 hours ago, Thorny said:

Why wouldn’t it be serious? Your non-defence defence of Adams on the lowest day for many fans wasn’t going to get a rebuttal? Haha 

Eichel and Reinhart deals are both terrible. The circumstances the GM helped create? Sure? Yes, bad trades, didn’t have to make them. Easy Nos there those are the two I started with 

Mittelstadt deal was next. He was really good here - our best forward statistically when we moved him. Byram hasn’t scratched that value here. Easy take back 

Malenstyn lol next. 

“Addition by subtraction ” re the cozens deal was always a cop out but, yes getting literally nothing wouldn’t be enough so I agree it depends on Norris. As of now it’s an exceptionally shaky return and is I’d imagine we’d have gotten more in the summer considering how mediocre the return seems, so there’s number 5.

Hall and Staal can aren’t guys I want atall

thats 7. 

My thing with Mittelstadt is, if you keep him you don't trade for Mcleod.  Who would you rather have?  

[GoPuckYourself]

I'd say Adams is 99.9% chance of making the pick, I mean he doesn't want to block all the talent am I right?

[inkman]

22 hours ago, JP51 said:

To everyone clamoring to trade the pick... Kevyn Adams will be doing the trading... do you still want that...?  Just a question...  not a statement... 

I don’t think we really have a choice. If they want to package Byram, Quinn and 9 OA for an actual top line player.  Make it happen. The Cozens trade happened.  We got better just by removing him from the team. The same could happen with that potential trade as well. 

[JP51]

1 hour ago, inkman said:

I don’t think we really have a choice. If they want to package Byram, Quinn and 9 OA for an actual top line player.  Make it happen. The Cozens trade happened.  We got better just by removing him from the team. The same could happen with that potential trade as well. 

Oh I know you are right... I am just having my little snit... LOL...  just gimmie my moment 🙂 🤣

[GoPuckYourself]

22 hours ago, inkman said:

I don’t think we really have a choice. If they want to package Byram, Quinn and 9 OA for an actual top line player.  Make it happen. The Cozens trade happened.  We got better just by removing him from the team. The same could happen with that potential trade as well. 

I’m trying to think of who this magical top forward is? The only guy I can think of is Elias Pettersson. I know Barzals/Dobsons names have come up but there is no clear indication that they’re actually available or that the Islanders are looking to rebuild. I know Brock Nelson was dealt but he was older and expensive so who knows.

[inkman]

10 minutes ago, GoPuckYourself said:

I’m trying to think of who this magical top forward is? The only guy I can think of is Elias Pettersson. I know Barzals/Dobsons names have come up but there is no clear indication that they’re actually available or that the Islanders are looking to rebuild. I know Brock Nelson was dealt but he was older and expensive so who knows.

Yeah Brady Tkachuk was the apple of many Sabres fans eye a year ago.  I think he’s cemented himself as their centerpiece and core player.  I doubt any package not involving Tage or Rasmus wouldn’t be good enough for him.  
 

As far as who else is available, if I’m KA (I know bear with me here), I’d call every team asking about their grittiest most intense actually good hockey player under 30 and see if some semblance of a deal can get done with Byram/Power, Quinn, Rosen, 9 OA whatever it takes.  

[DarthEbriate]

On 5/7/2025 at 6:06 AM, Drag0nDan said:

My thing with Mittelstadt is, if you keep him you don't trade for Mcleod.  Who would you rather have?  

They could easily have afforded Mitts and McLeod’s salary this season if Byram isn’t on the team. If they wanted to stay lean, then don’t sign Lafferty. McLeod still would’ve been the 3C/PK specialist of the bunch.

edit: It would have meant Joker was a top-4 D man all year though or another guy would’ve need to be brought in aside from Gilbert. 

Edited 2 hours ago by DarthEbriate

[GASabresIUFAN]

On 5/6/2025 at 1:24 PM, dudacek said:

How many of these Adams trades would you reverse?

• Norris and Bernard Docker for Cozens, Gilbert and a 2nd
• McLeod for Savoie
• Pick 14 and Malenstyn for pick 11
• Byram for Mittelstadt
• Greenway for pick 56
• Tuch, Krebs, 1st, and 2nd for Eichel and a 3rd
• Levi and 1st for Reinhart
• 1st, 2nd and Hagg for Ristolainen
• 2nd and Bjork for Hall and Lazar
• Staal for Johansson

Just a question, not a statement.

 

 

What happened to the Montour trade?  I wouldn’t have made that deal either.  Nor would I have acquired Stillman, 

I would have extended Ullmark and Reinhart to long-term deals instead of letting Ullmark walk and the Reinhart trade.  I wouldn’t have traded Mitts for Byram since he was a redundant asset.  I would have kept Robinson over trading for Malenstyn.  

The Norris trade is a complete unknown.  I wouldn’t have signed Hall for 8 mill nor would I have given him such a deal with a full NMC.  We got so little for Hall because of Adam’s terrible contract construction.   The Eichel mess is not something I’m sure about.  I like Tuch and the other assets were ok given the circumstances.  

Ultimately, Ristolainen, Greenway, and McLeod are the only deals I’ve made for sure.  Also Zucker is his only good FA signing.

[Pimlach]

On 5/6/2025 at 3:36 AM, SabreFinn said:

I think it could be wise to keep the pick and in 3-4 years have a player on a cheap contract to hopefully  put in the line-up. We have plenty of other assets to trade, like Rosen for example, that will never be roster players for Sabres but might be one on another team.

You are an opposing GM, would you want #9 or Rosen?  

[SabreFinn]

7 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

You are an opposing GM, would you want #9 or Rosen?  

think it depends on what timeline I have to work with. Is it a rebuilding team I take the pick. Otherwise I take a shot on Rosen.

[inkman]

1 minute ago, SabreFinn said:

think it depends on what timeline I have to work with. Is it a rebuilding team I take the pick. Otherwise I take a shot on Rosen.

Every GM values the unknown more than the known.  They could draft a star at 9.  Rosen will be lucky to be a 3rd line NHL player.