Friedman- Sabres looking to move prospects for players

[Palm Trees And Taxes]

The only way I am dealing Helenius is in a package for a player like Jordan Kyrou or Jason Robertson

[Drag0nDan]

1 minute ago, Archie Lee said:

Good thing we aren’t trading Benson for Rust.  

If anyone has access to the Athletic’s player cards, they rank Rust as a +7 overall (Benson a +2, Peterka a +4). They have Rust’s contract value at $1.5 million higher than his actual $5.125 AAV.  Their summary makes clear he is not great defensively.

That said, I am not big on a Helenius for Rust or Rakell trade. Quinn, Rosen, and a 2nd?  Sure. But as we are plagued by the same things that plagued the Sabres in the Eichel, O’Reilly, Reinhart days (a bad GM and a bad HC), I prefer we hold on to our best future assets out of hope that Pegula gets lucky with his next GM/HC hirings.

My worst fears may be unfolding. Our near historically bad GM is about to trade our best future assets in a desperate attempt to save his job. 

I don't like moving helenius because he actually profiles as a middle-six center.  Seeing the scarcity and difficulty acquiring two-way centers makes it tough to want to move him.    

[DarthEbriate]

11 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

My worst fears may be unfolding.

My worst fear is that Jeff Skinner, Evander Kane, Jake McCabe, Nic DesLauriers, and Hudson Fasching all end up with their name on the Stanley Cup while Sheevyn is still the leader of the Hockey Ops department with the Sabres and is the one direct conduit to ownership and churns thorough GMs who listen to the master for eternity. 

[Drag0nDan]

Just now, Palm Trees And Taxes said:

The only way I am dealing Helenius is in a package for a player like Jordan Kyrou or Jason Robertson

Agreed - bring me a superstar and every prospect is available.  

[dudacek]

I don't want to trade Helenius for Rakell either.

But I have to point out that Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn and Owen Power were far better prospects than any player currently in the Buffalo pipeline.

In terms how they rank as prospects — which is not proof of how they will be as players — Helenius and Östlund are similar to where Peyton Krebs was 2 or 3 years after he was selected.

Edited Friday at 03:23 PM by dudacek

[Thorny]

46 minutes ago, Palm Trees And Taxes said:

The only way I am dealing Helenius is in a package for a player like Jordan Kyrou or Jason Robertson

Dealing who? 

[Weave]

20 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I don't want to trade Helenius for Rakell either.

But I have to point out that Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn and Owen Power were far better prospects than any player currently in the Buffalo pipeline.

In terms how they rank a prospects — which is not proof of how they will be as players — Helenius and Östlund are similar to where Peyton Krebs was 2 or 3 years after he was selected.

The sound of truthi-ness.

Helenius seems like he might be our top prospect right now.  But he’s still a big unknown.  There is value in moving an unknown for a known quantity, especially when success has been so hard to find.

It would have to be for a substantial player, but moving even our top prospects needs to be on the table right now.

[Thorny]

We are past the point where moving prospects stings.

[Weave]

1 minute ago, Thorny said:

We are past the point where moving prospects stings.

Most of “we” anyway.

[Drag0nDan]

1 hour ago, Weave said:

The sound of truthi-ness.

Helenius seems like he might be our top prospect right now.  But he’s still a big unknown.  There is value in moving an unknown for a known quantity, especially when success has been so hard to find.

It would have to be for a substantial player, but moving even our top prospects needs to be on the table right now.

Agreed.  Drafting him made it easier to move savoie (in addition to kulich just lapping him during development.  Norris being so injury prone also gives me pause on moving probably the top non-NHL center.  

He was also the youngest player in the AHL last year, so he likely projects to be a year away.  As it stands today though, the only center keeping him in the AHL is krebs.  

[LGR4GM]

27 minutes ago, Drag0nDan said:

Agreed.  Drafting him made it easier to move savoie (in addition to kulich just lapping him during development.  Norris being so injury prone also gives me pause on moving probably the top non-NHL center.  

He was also the youngest player in the AHL last year, so he likely projects to be a year away.  As it stands today though, the only center keeping him in the AHL is krebs.  

2 years. I'm glad Krebs will block him from the NHL. He could be a 2nd line center someday with the right dev path. 

[PerreaultForever]

3 hours ago, Palm Trees And Taxes said:

The only way I am dealing Helenius is in a package for a player like Jordan Kyrou or Jason Robertson

Well good for you. Enjoy missing the playoffs forever. 

35 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

2 years. I'm glad Krebs will block him from the NHL. He could be a 2nd line center someday with the right dev path. 

3 years for proper development. But otherwise yes. 

[Flashsabre]

Paging Liger!😁

[LGR4GM]

54 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Paging Liger!😁

Bernard Docker makes Spence less relevant but I'd kick the tires. 

[Palm Trees And Taxes]

The NY Rangers 2025 1st round pick was Top 13 protected this year (was in the JT Miller trade) so doesnt that mean the NY Rangers 2026 1st automatically goes to Vancouver?

[Mr. Allen]

5 hours ago, dudacek said:

 

In terms how they rank as prospects — which is not proof of how they will be as players — Helenius and Östlund are similar to where Peyton Krebs was 2 or 3 years after he was selected.

Was Krebs ever on the Top Prospect Team?  (Joking). But I think Helenius has more value than Krebs ever did.  Östlund is probably similar though.  I just happen to like Östlund a lot. 

[Taro T]

19 hours ago, Palm Trees And Taxes said:

The NY Rangers 2025 1st round pick was Top 13 protected this year (was in the JT Miller trade) so doesnt that mean the NY Rangers 2026 1st automatically goes to Vancouver?

Depends on the details of how it the protection was worded.  Oftentimes the team trading the pick away has the option of deciding whether to send the pick that meets the protection criterion or the following season's pick unprotected.  And they'd have to let the 'Nucks know by a certain date which pick they're getting, so they can't wait until the pick is on the clock to tell Vancouver it's yours, have fun with it.  😉

But it might've been written that if it's top 13 it automatically remains with the Rags.

[inkman]

On 6/7/2025 at 10:26 PM, thewookie1 said:

Either that or teams are trying to poach him from us 

Sure. Ten first round picks plus their 3 best roster players.