Defenders of interest, who could bolster the defense

[The Jokeman]

14 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Kesselring really only had 1 good season and only has about 2 seasons of play. I think Byram is worth more. He's younger, way more experience, way more points. 

I agree Byram is better hence looking for a prospect back. I brought up Smith as he one that gives us a type we don't have. 

Edited 14 hours ago by The Jokeman

[LGR4GM]

12 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

I agree Byram is better hence looking for a prospect back. I brought up Smith as he one that gives us a type we don't have. 

Smith is interesting. I don't agree he's a type we don't have. Still, you're trading at worst a 35pt top 4 defender for a lesser defender, and a B level prospect. I think Utah would have to add. I also think offers for Byram might be higher. 

Recent trades make me think he's worth 3 assets. Decent roster player, good prospect, sweetener. 

[The Jokeman]

20 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Smith is interesting. I don't agree he's a type we don't have. Still, you're trading at worst a 35pt top 4 defender for a lesser defender, and a B level prospect. I think Utah would have to add. I also think offers for Byram might be higher. 

Recent trades make me think he's worth 3 assets. Decent roster player, good prospect, sweetener. 

Sounds you'd want Cole Beaudoin and Matias Maccelli. If Adams could pull it off sure but not sure he could.

[Mr. Allen]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Could have had Cossa but Forton. 

I was screaming for Cossa or Wallstedt.  

[bob_sauve28]

1 hour ago, Mr. Allen said:

I was screaming for Cossa or Wallstedt.  

How are they doing now? 

[dudacek]

That COVID draft was a real crapshot.

Combination of weaker class and lack of scouting.

None of the top 9 picks look like surefire stars yet, but most of them still could be, and there's not a ton of separation there.

Then you get the Wyatt Johnston outlier — potentially the best player in the draft at pick 23, who didn't play in his draft year.

But the rest of the 1st round is a whole lotta maybe. You've got 6 picks who have yet to play an NHL game, and 8 others who have played 25 games or less.

Edited 7 hours ago by dudacek

[Mr. Allen]

18 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

How are they doing now? 

I’m not even sure.  Once Sabres don’t draft them I don’t really pay attention.  So I’m not even sure if I was right or wrong for wanting them.  I just remember I really really wanted one of them.  

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, bob_sauve28 said:

How are they doing now? 

Both have put up good, but not great, #'s in the AHL.  Both have had a cup of coffee in the NHL and neither has done well in their brief opportunity in the show.

Still wanted either over Rosen with that pick.  But pretty sure Adams didn't go there figuring it'd cost him Portillo (but trading for Levi did that anyway).  Maybe he was afraid he'd lose Levi too by grabbing 1 of the 2 "big names" at G in that draft.  Don't know the reasoning behind it, but was not a fan of the Rosen pick and even knowing neither of the 2 G's has been a stud yet would still have rather had one of them in the system than Rosen.  Both will likely have better NHL careers than him.

[thewookie1]

7 hours ago, Taro T said:

Both have put up good, but not great, #'s in the AHL.  Both have had a cup of coffee in the NHL and neither has done well in their brief opportunity in the show.

Still wanted either over Rosen with that pick.  But pretty sure Adams didn't go there figuring it'd cost him Portillo (but trading for Levi did that anyway).  Maybe he was afraid he'd lose Levi too by grabbing 1 of the 2 "big names" at G in that draft.  Don't know the reasoning behind it, but was not a fan of the Rosen pick and even knowing neither of the 2 G's has been a stud yet would still have rather had one of them in the system than Rosen.  Both will likely have better NHL careers than him.

Rosen was always a pick that was based on  the idea of him being an earlier version of Eklund in SJ. They tried to get to Eklund and were unable to get there. After all that was the original Reinhart trade, moving up from Philly’s 1st to LAK’s 1st using Reinhart as the piece. We don’t know what else was involved. However the guy LA liked fell to them so they turned us down and we pivoted to the Florida offer of a 1st the next year and Levi. In that regard it wouldn’t have made much sense to draft another goalie at 13? since we had Portillo and Levi(to be) already on the depth chart but both had College careers. 
 

Rosen reminded them of Eklund from the year prior and thus they took him with the hope he’d take a similar path.

[Happy Days]

Trade for Adam Larrson of Seattle.Team him with Power. Keep Bo Byram. Find a good goalie that you can count on. 

[Archie Lee]

On 5/24/2025 at 7:12 PM, Brawndo said:

He was drafted four years ago and in the 15 games he has played with the Sabres he has one assist, and is -6. 
His fancy stats were bad as well 

Another Jerry Forton Special 

Who are the other Jerry Forton specials?

The Sabres reached just a bit when drafting Rosen. McKenzie's final rankings had him at 18.  Rosen at 13, was not a huge reach.

In my view, Rosen has been a bit of a victim of the organization he was drafted by. Somewhat weirdly, the "no blocking" philosophy has blocked Rosen.  The Sabres routinely had 6-7 forwards under 24 on their roster this season.  They were already too young. Yes, Benson and Kulich passed Rosen on their respective paths to the NHL, but we love those two players. 

I'll compare Rosen to Mackie Samoskevich in Florida. Samoskevich was drafted 23rd by Florida in the same draft as Rosen. McKenzie had him at #33. He is a late birthday and is 5 months older than Rosen. He is 5'11' / 180.  Last year in D+4, Samoskevich had 22 goals and 54 points in 62 AHL games, quite comparable to  Rosen's  20 goals and 50 points in 67 games. In 7 NHL games last year, Samoskevich had 0 points.  This year he made the jump to the NHL full-time. But, he was one of only two forwards under 24 on the Panther roster. And, Florida was up against the cap and needed his ELC.  He had a solid rookie season with 15 goals and 31 points in 72 games. What's important here, is that Samoskevich's most common linemate this season was Sam Bennett. He played over 250 minutes at even strength on Bennett's wing, with Evan Rodrigues being the other winger for the majority of the time . Rosen, in his time up with the Sabres this year, never came close to being paired with a single player or to having two regular linemates. His most common linemates were Malenstyn and fellow rookie, Tyson Kozak.  

Adams has set all of his young players up to fail.  Some have risen above this.  I'm not predicting anything when it comes to Rosen, and his value is likely pretty low. But I think it is far to soon to write him off as a bust.

[thewookie1]

If I get Kesselring I'd look at Doan's kid