Chad D: expect a Byram trade at or around the draft

[Taro T]

Just now, PromoTheRobot said:

That's true but he's also negotiating with Tuch for an extension. He has much more flexibility this way.

Tuch's extension doesn't factor into this year's team salary at all.

Worry about fitting all the guys that need to be re-signed or all the guys they hope to bring in next year in the next off-season.  They can trade a piece or pieces for something cheaper next year IF that's necessary.  It certainly isn't necessary at present.

[LGR4GM]

3 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

That's true but he's also negotiating with Tuch for an extension. He has much more flexibility this way.

Come on now. Alex Tuch's cap hit won't matter until 2026. 

[sabremike]

So the Sabres are in a complete state of paralysis until the situation with Byram is resolved.

What a hilarious shitshow this organization is.

[ponokasabre]

5 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Tuch's extension doesn't factor into this year's team salary at all.

Worry about fitting all the guys that need to be re-signed or all the guys they hope to bring in next year in the next off-season.  They can trade a piece or pieces for something cheaper next year IF that's necessary.  It certainly isn't necessary at present.

Exactly they off loaded Cliffton and Lafferty this year, that can be done again if needed

[LGR4GM]

They should trade Byram and Rosen for Riley Heidt and Marco Rossi. 

[thewookie1]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

They should trade Byram and Rosen for Riley Heidt and Marco Rossi. 

Sure

[sabremike]

3 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Tuch's extension doesn't factor into this year's team salary at all.

Worry about fitting all the guys that need to be re-signed or all the guys they hope to bring in next year in the next off-season.  They can trade a piece or pieces for something cheaper next year IF that's necessary.  It certainly isn't necessary at present.

I'm sure Tuch is watching this insanity with Yakety Sax playing in the background going on thinking "GET ME THE ***** OUT OF HERE".

[PromoTheRobot]

17 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Come on now. Alex Tuch's cap hit won't matter until 2026. 

You're right about this season. But anyone you sign now, unless it's a one year deal, is going to have an impact going forward.

Edited 4 hours ago by PromoTheRobot

[OverPowerYou]

Maybe he meant the 2026 draft 

[DarthEbriate]

15 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Maybe you missed when Adams said the Sabres needed to get into a position to not be caught by an offer sheet. So yes, they were shedding salary, but it was for a good reason. I'm sure you would have lost your s**t if they traded for Rossi but lost Byram to an offer sheet (and not a very big one.) 

As for Kesselring, he was also a big need for the team, so there's that.

Why does everything have to happen immediately? Does the season start next week?

As others noted above, Adams would have time to get cap compliant even with matching an offer sheet.

But the more telling issue was the priority. Quinn didn't get a contract (arguably an overpay) until Peterka didn't want to re-sign. Byram was being rumored to be shopped forever, rather than being given a bridge -- they could have said they loved him and signed him during the season like Zucker and Greenway. McLeod could have been extended earlier as well.

Whichever was the last Sabres RFA to sign was going to be a great offer sheet target by other teams, but Adams allowed that to happen by waiting on them all. And the best time to trade someone is before the draft so that their new team can make their picks and have more info on their roster before going into UFA. After 7/1, the money dries up and Byram will net less value and potential teams/offers.

[DarthEbriate]

7 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

You're right about this season. But anyone you sign now, unless it's a one year deal, is going to have an impact going forward.

It will. Next year the cap jumps from 95.5 to 104 (minus the 6.4 for Skinner and minus the internal cap). There's still room for Tuch with one easy move, provided he still wants to be here.

[LGR4GM]

12 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

You're right about this season. But anyone you sign now, unless it's a one year deal, is going to have an impact going forward.

Or you just trade Byram in 2026. Or you trade Samuelsson. Or you do what they did this offseason which is clear out fringe guys and replace them with cheaper yet similar alternatives. 

[dudacek]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

But you aren't on the phone now. So you don't know what's being offered. He may be getting offered 3rd line players. Do you want more of those? I doubt it. 

When Byram and pieces are dealt for Robertson feel free to gloat to your hearts content.

Personally, my preference is Byram signed to term, followed by a deal for a top six forward.

History and the tea leaves have taught me to expect Byram for a lesser defenceman and a lesser forward, with any leftover cap space invested into the new Bills stadium concourse or a bilge pump system for Terry’s yacht.

But I am genuinely looking forward to the day when you are finally able to say “I told you so.”

[thewookie1]

Neighbors, Fowler & a lottery protected 1st for Byram, Krebs and our 26 3rd (Stole this from a guy on Twitter)

[Thorny]

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I would argue 2 deals. McLeod but your point stands. I suppose if you put McLeod in that working class parts bucket it doesnt apply.

I’d put the McLeod deal in and take the Norris deal out 

[dudacek]

6 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

Neighbors, Fowler & a lottery protected 1st for Byram, Krebs and our 26 3rd (Stole this from a guy on Twitter)

Dont see the Blues interested in Krebs after signing Suter but I do see a Neighbours and Fowler combo as very much something the Sabres would focus on.

Pretty much exactly

[Carmel Corn]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Come on now. Alex Tuch's cap hit won't matter until 2026. 

Yes…..Adams is simply using Tuch as an excuse for not spending to the cap.  It’s not true for 2026, but Kevyn needs any excuse he can for not spending TP’s money.  This team simply LIES about anything to justify it’s incompetence.

[Thorny]

3 hours ago, Rasmus_ said:

Just sign Byram to a bridge contract and trade futures for Rust and call it a day.

The “just trade futures” thing has been totally obvious for a while I completely agree. We just used our 1st round pick, of course, a draft selection. But that’s ok we still have next year’s*, and one the year after. Prospect pool is dumbfoundingly thin but not empty, especially at D, we need to rebuild it anyways so if we need to deal one of the few high-end prospects we do have to fortify the roster in the direction we should have been for a long time (with an eye towards winning now), it’ll only buy us time to rebuild it overall if we actually, for once, have some “current winning” breathing room and not every up and coming prospect is counted on to fill a key role.

Draft picks, up to and including our best ones.

Helenius. Östlund. And below them re:prospects.

Sheesh, even Kulich if we got creative: we don’t HAVE to slot that sort of inexperience at 1C. He’s still essentially a prospect.

Those are valued assets that can be used as the currency we need - we didn’t/haven’t upgraded yet this summer. And like @dudaceksays we almost never do or seemingly attempt to. 

Edited 2 hours ago by Thorny
*I know. Next year’s pick is “off the table”. But I gotta say, nothing we’ve kept “off the table” in recent years has done much to aid in the pursuit of actually winning..

[Thorny]

3 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Nonsense, unless Byram was lost. Then your on Adams for not planning. 

Thankfully for Adams what we say means sh*t all and all he has the automatic out, whether we like or not not, of being able to shove it in our faces by simply winning

oh wait

 

If adams and his defenders are sick of us running up the score, he can, ya know, stop it.

but he didn’t. 5 years. 

Edited 2 hours ago by Thorny

[Crusader1969]

Imagine the hope they would create if they traded next years first rounder (lottery protected of course) for a legit NHL player?   
 

it won't happen though.  Sabres are a draft and develop team. bottom feeders for the rest of the league

only real hope is to luck into the playoffs on the back of a goalie that gets hot for A couple of months.  

[ponokasabre]

21 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Dont see the Blues interested in Krebs after signing Suter but I do see a Neighbours and Fowler combo as very much something the Sabres would focus on.

Pretty much exactly

Fowler would be a nice veteran presence to add to the D core, his best days are behind him, but he would be valuable especially for a young Buffalo team, id assume they need Fowler in the deal to offset the cap of Byrams new deal. The only thing is Fowler has a partial no move so would he waive? He may have played with Kesserling and Doan and Tage at worlds I dont know? His partial no move is why I leaned to Kessel or Broberg in previous trade ideas

 

Neighbors is the opposite of Peterka, a hard working no nonsense winger, he would be a major add

 

Byram, Östlund and a pick if necessary for Neighbors and Fowler

[Flashsabre]

Byram for Neighbors and Fowler. Blues have to shed cap.

Anyway to flip them UPL for Hofer?😝

Neighbors would give them a hard to play winger that could get 25-30 goals and you can plug Fowler next to Dahlin.  Might be the best realistic return they can hope for.

Edited 1 hour ago by Flashsabre

[Thorny]

 

[ponokasabre]

13 minutes ago, Thorny said:

 

I dont know what these charts are supposedly saying, but is that they are both really bad defensivley??

[Thorny]

Just now, ponokasabre said:

I dont know what these charts are supposedly saying, but is that they are both really bad defensivley??

It’s basically saying with the visual that the only striking/notable difference between the two players is a clear win in Byram’s favour. 

So dealing him say for Neighbours straight up would be kinda funny work