Mitchell Marner, Unrestricted Free Agency

[LGR4GM]

16 minutes ago, Scottysabres said:

The only way he comes here is if he gets paid. I don’t think he’s worth it, offense isn’t the Sabres problem. Consistency, defense and putting a full 60 in each game is as far as I can tell. Marner doesn’t add to any of that, yes or no?

He finished 3rd in selke voting for the 23 season and I think 17th in the 24 season. He plays defense and is good at it. Unsure of where he'll fall in this year's Selke conversation but I don't think Buffalo should complain about a top 20 defensive forward. 

[Mustache of God]

Why on earth would Marner choose to sign in Buffalo? 

[PerreaultForever]

thumbs down war now with @LGR4GM what a surprise 🙂

I am always amused how we both hate Sabres losing so much but have such antithetical visions of how to fix it or build the team. Neither of us gets what we want so the debate goes on forever. 

[LGR4GM]

Just now, PerreaultForever said:

thumbs down war now with @LGR4GM what a surprise 🙂

I am always amused how we both hate Sabres losing so much but have such antithetical visions of how to fix it or build the team. Neither of us gets what we want so the debate goes on forever. 

My plan for fixing the team would have fixed the team. I've constantly argued for hard nosed, 200ft, players at draft time. I just don't care if they're 5'10" like Zach Benson. 

I've also refused to believe tall players are inherently gritty and continue to be proven correct. By all means, sign Sam Bennett. I'd be fine with that. Start a thread about it. 

[PerreaultForever]

Just now, LGR4GM said:

My plan for fixing the team would have fixed the team. I've constantly argued for hard nosed, 200ft, players at draft time. I just don't care if they're 5'10" like Zach Benson. 

I feel the same way. 

That's not Marner by the way. 

[...]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Tage Thompson has the most 5v5 goals in the NHL over the last 2 years. Instead of viewing it your way, I view it as a chance to make our pp better which Marner is sure to do. 

Our offense would be certifiably lethal.

Maybe get another guy in there somewhere on offense who has some skill, isn't afraid to take hits and who can dish them out.

Replace Sammuelson (and Power - but that ain't going to happen) with a person not made of thin glass and who knows how to clear the front of the net.

This could be a good team and that's before finding a goalie who is top 16 NHL caliber.

[Palm Trees And Taxes]

Players like Marner rarely hit UFA. This feels like when Panarian was a UFA and the Rangers overpaid for him.

Say what you want about the Bread Man in the playoffs, but he did help the Rangers quite a bit.

Marner is the injection this franchise, and fan base, needs. 14M AAV? Done.

[Porous Five Hole]

50 minutes ago, shrader said:

I'm not a gambler but I'd consider Columbus with those numbers.  They still have all the Gaudreau money and they could be looking for a big piece (like they were with him originally) to build on their surprising season last year.

I also don’t bet on sports, but that is a good long shot. Aside from the cap space, the Columbus media and fan pressure would also be a welcome break from Toronto.  

Edited 4 hours ago by Porous Five Hole

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, inkman said:

Given how toxic it has become for Marner the last few seasons due to the insanity that is the Toronto hockey market, I could see him signing a max deal with someone like the Mammoth and disappear into the oblivion.  

[CallawaySabres]

He would NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER even think about coming to this blackhole, ever. Blackhawks or Sharks have tons of money and could be on the rise with someone like Marner to play with their other superstars.

[LGR4GM]

Jfc. Toronto tried to trade Marner for Rantanen and asked him to waive his ntc. His wife was like 6 months pregnant. 

1 minute ago, CallawaySabres said:

He would NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER even think about coming to this blackhole, ever. Blackhawks or Sharks have tons of money and could be on the rise with someone like Marner to play with their other superstars.

The Sharks, yes. The Hawks... nope. 

[pi2000]

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Mitch Marner finished 3rd in Selke voting last season. What nonsense. 

Also, I can't even fathom arguing but to sign Marner because we need to upgrade the 4th ***** line. Not to mention, Marner is an upgrade over Quinn.

Agree with all of this.    

Let's say they allocate $12mil to one guy... leaving them with what?  $11m?

I don't know,  is that enough to re-sign Peterka, McLeod, extend Tuch... Quinn will probably get a relatively cheap bridge deal, and then what's left?   Enough to find a veteran partner for Power?   Upgrade Clifton, Docker?   Sign a vet goalie?     Those are all glaring needs.

[Flashsabre]

3 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

Agree with all of this.    

Let's say they allocate $12mil to one guy... leaving them with what?  $11m?

I don't know,  is that enough to re-sign Peterka, McLeod, extend Tuch... Quinn will probably get a relatively cheap bridge deal, and then what's left?   Enough to find a veteran partner for Power?   Upgrade Clifton, Docker?   Sign a vet goalie?     Those are all glaring needs.

The pieces they already have in place have gotten them nowhere. Ship guys out. 
 

Adams biggest failure is identifying cheap vets that can help the team win. Every other team seems to do it but the Sabres struggle something fierce.

Sign a superstar and make the other pieces fit.

If Marner signed you could move on from Peterka. Move Byram . Bring in some solid pieces that aren’t costing $7-8 million each.

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, pi2000 said:

Agree with all of this.    

Let's say they allocate $12mil to one guy... leaving them with what?  $11m?

I don't know,  is that enough to re-sign Peterka, McLeod, extend Tuch... Quinn will probably get a relatively cheap bridge deal, and then what's left?   Enough to find a veteran partner for Power?   Upgrade Clifton, Docker?   Sign a vet goalie?     Those are all glaring needs.

The $'s remaining in the '25-'26 cap are immaterial to signing a guy like Tuch to a new deal that starts in '26-'27.  So, Tuch doesn't matter for that exercise.

Really am leaning towards an expectation that they do bring in a vet goalie but with UPL going out the door this off-season as well.  So, the goalie won't eat too far into the cap unless someone you find a situation like the Swamp Cats for some reason souring on Bob and being open to trading him; and that sort of move isn't likely to happen.  Demko's the most likely established guy that MIGHT become available and he only costs $5MM against the cap in his last season.

And, personally expect both Byram and Samuelsson going bye-bye this off-season, so there's money on the backline getting freed up.  (Though also personally expect moving Byram to be opening a brand new hole in the lineup.)  So, don't expect Bernard-Docker going away and would be mildly surprised if Clifton went away either.