Summer 2025: NHL Offseason

[kas23]

On 7/24/2025 at 8:34 PM, Flashsabre said:

I mean how much blowback has Anaheim gotten about hiring Quenville?

Quenville certainly knew about what was happening (and didn’t do anything), but he wasn’t the person accused of the act. This isn’t to say Q is a great guy; I wouldn’t want him to run the Sabres. I just don’t feel comfortable with any of these people, guilty or not. This wasn’t something completely fabricated like the Duke lacrosse players. Something happened that night, legal or not, that many of us wouldn’t take part in. Pass. 

[Drag0nDan]

22 hours ago, kas23 said:

Quenville certainly knew about what was happening (and didn’t do anything), but he wasn’t the person accused of the act. This isn’t to say Q is a great guy; I wouldn’t want him to run the Sabres. I just don’t feel comfortable with any of these people, guilty or not. This wasn’t something completely fabricated like the Duke lacrosse players. Something happened that night, legal or not, that many of us wouldn’t take part in. Pass. 

Kinda how i felt about araiza with the bills tbh.  People feel like getting acquitted means you did nothing wrong, or didn't display poor judgement.  

[JP51]

On 7/27/2025 at 12:06 PM, kas23 said:

Quenville certainly knew about what was happening (and didn’t do anything), but he wasn’t the person accused of the act. This isn’t to say Q is a great guy; I wouldn’t want him to run the Sabres. I just don’t feel comfortable with any of these people, guilty or not. This wasn’t something completely fabricated like the Duke lacrosse players. Something happened that night, legal or not, that many of us wouldn’t take part in. Pass. 

Sometimes the tarnish fair or not makes me want to walk away.... for right or wrong... 

[Ducky]

On 7/23/2025 at 6:12 PM, LGR4GM said:

Where do you play Roslovic?

Rosie needs to learn that there are 2 sides to the red line.

[LGR4GM]

39 minutes ago, Ducky said:

Rosie needs to learn that there are 2 sides to the red line.

Seems to be the antithesis of what the Sabres have been trying to add to the forward group then. 

[JohnC]

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Seems to be the antithesis of what the Sabres have been trying to add to the forward group then. 

If you had the choice between Rust and Rosov, which player would you prefer if the cost was equal? 

[Taro T]

18 minutes ago, JohnC said:

If you had the choice between Rust and Rosov, which player would you prefer if the cost was equal? 

Darn good Q.  Issue is, the acquisition cost won't be the same.  Roslovic is a UFA and Rust would necessitate something going back to the Pens.

And at current costs, issue really comes down to how one feels about the current leadership in the room.  If you feel strongly the team needs another veteran voice that has been THERE, the choice goes to Rust.  

If you're looking for a guy that could be part of the solution for the longer term, the choice is Roslovic.

[Pimlach]

36 minutes ago, JohnC said:

If you had the choice between Rust and Rosov, which player would you prefer if the cost was equal? 

Rust, but it has to be 2 years or less.  

[That Aud Smell]

This USA Today story about how the Dallas Stars control (and apparently profit from?) youth hockey in North Texas is frickin' wild.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2025/08/01/nhl-dallas-stars-texas-youth-hockey-monopoly/84289184007/

[That Aud Smell]

And it's a long read! I didn't get through even half of it, I think.

[SabreFinn]

1 hour ago, That Aud Smell said:

This USA Today story about how the Dallas Stars control (and apparently profit from?) youth hockey in North Texas is frickin' wild.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2025/08/01/nhl-dallas-stars-texas-youth-hockey-monopoly/84289184007/

"The model för all non-traditional NHL markets". It really was wild. Interesting read. Thanks.

[Taro T]

8 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

This USA Today story about how the Dallas Stars control (and apparently profit from?) youth hockey in North Texas is frickin' wild.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2025/08/01/nhl-dallas-stars-texas-youth-hockey-monopoly/84289184007/

A lot of the allegations do seem rather unsavory.  But one that they made a huge deal over is essentially a fact of life for youth hockey.  If you want to play in a tournament, you WILL have X% of your team stay in the approved hotels which do kickback to the tournament host organization.  

Not saying it's right.  Just sayin' it is what it is and it goes on in rink rich regions like WNY/CNY as just as much as it does in central Texas.

While it may not seem right, it does bring significant money into many organizations that are 501(c)7's (or is it 501(c)6's?) and really does help keep costs down for those organizations.  USA Today makes it seem that the Stars do not use those monies to help defray costs for their participants and maybe they are correct about that.  And if that's the case, that is wrong.  But all the local organizations in upstate NY run their own tourneys and everybody knows that part of their organization's funding comes from those hotel arrangements.  (And you have to play in your own organization's tourney to get more teams involved (even though obviously there is no travel / hotel stays involved in that) and everybody knows you'll stay in the hotels that are tied in with the host organizations for other tourneys when you choose to play in them.)

[Flashsabre]

Don’t tell Kevyn this😛

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, Flashsabre said:

Don’t tell Kevyn this😛

I just don't think that KA has the ability to be bold enough and strategic enough to make the necessary moves to change the dynamic in this fluttering franchise. The irony is that the GM (maybe forced to) brought on Jarmo as a senior advisor who is better suited to make the necessary changes. 

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

I just don't think that KA has the ability to be bold enough and strategic enough to make the necessary moves to change the dynamic in this fluttering franchise. The irony is that the GM (maybe forced to) brought on Jarmo as a senior advisor who is better suited to make the necessary changes. 

Well ya, Adams moment to begin changing the franchise was when he started and he tore it down by trading the big 3 away. Problem is he started a rebuild basically following the same methods and plans. Why? Well, because I think Pegula is our actual GM and KA just does the grunt work, but in terms of all the big hockey decisions and the direction, that's all Terry. and Terry can't admit his ideas are just plain wrong. 

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

Well ya, Adams moment to begin changing the franchise was when he started and he tore it down by trading the big 3 away. Problem is he started a rebuild basically following the same methods and plans. Why? Well, because I think Pegula is our actual GM and KA just does the grunt work, but in terms of all the big hockey decisions and the direction, that's all Terry. and Terry can't admit his ideas are just plain wrong. 

I’ve said this for a long time that the owner is the primary source of the degrading of this franchise. The organization is structured the way he wants it to be structured and he has also made the major staffing hires. In addition, he has established the financial parameters/restrictions that the staff has to work within.

As you point out, even after making debilitating blunders during his ownership tenure he has had more than enough time and opportunities to get this lost franchise back on track. 
 

He’s a stubborn rich fellow who doesn’t have the self-awareness to know what he doesn’t know. I haven’t been an advocate of making blockbuster deals that strip away a lot of our young talent this offseason. However, a little more activity by our GM this would have been beneficial.
 

The lack of urgency is troubling. When you are in a race and are ambling along while your competitors are running hard, you will continue to be a back of the pack competitor.

Edited 20 hours ago by JohnC

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, JohnC said:

I’ve said this for a long time that the owner is the primary source of the degrading of this franchise. The organization is structured the way he wants it to be structured and he has also made the major staffing hires. In addition, he has established the financial parameters/restrictions that the staff has to work within.

As you point out, even after making debilitating blunders during his ownership tenure he has had more than enough time and opportunities to get this lost franchise back on track. 
 

He’s a stubborn rich fellow who doesn’t have the self-awareness to know what he doesn’t know. I haven’t been an advocate of making blockbuster deals that strip away a lot of our young talent this offseason. However, a little more activity by our GM this would have been beneficial.
 

The lack of urgency is troubling. When you are in a race and are ambling along while your competitors are running hard, you will continue to be a back of the pack competitor.

Biggest problem I have with their plan and the pace they operate on is that they forever get caught in a cycle of people wanting out as they reach their limit with the most recent plateau. I firmly believe Dahlin is at his breaking point and if this season goes badly (which it most likely will with what they did and didn't do) he's the next one who will want out. and so it will repeat yet again. 

[SabreFinn]

Thinking there might be some big trades still to come. I doubt they involve Sabres even if we have assets to trade with. Seems like the McTavish situation with Ducks, and the fact a lot of teams with cap space and assets to trade with need a top6 upgrade on C, has the trade market on hold.

[JohnC]

On 8/1/2025 at 3:24 PM, Taro T said:

Darn good Q.  Issue is, the acquisition cost won't be the same.  Roslovic is a UFA and Rust would necessitate something going back to the Pens.

And at current costs, issue really comes down to how one feels about the current leadership in the room.  If you feel strongly the team needs another veteran voice that has been THERE, the choice goes to Rust.  

If you're looking for a guy that could be part of the solution for the longer term, the choice is Roslovic.

 

On 8/1/2025 at 3:40 PM, Pimlach said:

Rust, but it has to be 2 years or less.  

Both your views make sense. I lean towards Rust because it sure would be advantageous to have another veteran presence in the room when facing a tough spell. Last year, when we were subjected to the losing streak, the team couldn't handle the adversity and lost its confidence. The team never recovered from that season sabotaging spell. It just seems to me that if the GM could add another second line forward to the mix, (whoever it might be) it will provide a lot of line flexibility. 

[LabattBlue]

On 8/1/2025 at 3:40 PM, Pimlach said:

Rust, but it has to be 2 years or less.  

Rust is under contract with a 5mil cap hit for the next 3 seasons. 

[JohnC]

8 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Rust is under contract with a 5mil cap hit for the next 3 seasons. 

If Pitts wanted to move on from him and his contract, then the compensation for him should be reasonable. A 5 mil per for the next three years for a second line forward is not outlandish, especially when the cap is going up. However, if you are a penny pinching and not serious franchise, then he is a player you would not be interested in. 

[Taro T]

20 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Rust is under contract with a 5mil cap hit for the next 3 seasons. 

IF the Sabres were to cut a deal with the Pens, would expect they'd retain ~$1MM of the cap hit.  Trading Rust would cement that the Pens are in rebuild mode.  And they've got ~$13MM in cap space with a full roster currently.  When Malkin's deal goes away next year, they'll never even notice that $1MM they'd be retaining.

[JohnC]

15 minutes ago, Taro T said:

IF the Sabres were to cut a deal with the Pens, would expect they'd retain ~$1MM of the cap hit.  Trading Rust would cement that the Pens are in rebuild mode.  And they've got ~$13MM in cap space with a full roster currently.  When Malkin's deal goes away next year, they'll never even notice that $1MM they'd be retaining.

If the Pens say no to any retention on the cap hit, you would then say no to the deal? For the sake of argument, if Rust was a factor in a playoff run and possible qualification, the revenue return would more than compensate for not getting a Pitt’s retention. Ultimately, a nickel and dime approach to business will end up losing dollars. 

[Taro T]

25 minutes ago, JohnC said:

If the Pens say no to any retention on the cap hit, you would then say no to the deal? For the sake of argument, if Rust was a factor in a playoff run and possible qualification, the revenue return would more than compensate for not getting a Pitt’s retention. Ultimately, a nickel and dime approach to business will end up losing dollars. 

Rust's salary is ~$5.12MM.  The Sabres have $5.19MM in cap space with a full roster.  Presuming no rostered players go back to the 'Burgh and there's no retention, the Sabres would have only ~$900k in space after adding Rust (presuming a guy on a 2 way deal would be the eventual casualty of Rust getting added to the roster).  

Personally, am OK with the Sabres running that tight to the cap (heck, wanted them to do that the past few years) but doubt Adams will be comfortable operating in that space.  As soon as you have 2 guys out on IR you start to have to make use of BF-LTIR to fit everyone onto the roster.  So, expect the Sabres would say no.

Edited 3 hours ago by Taro T

[JohnC]

23 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Rust's salary is ~$5.12MM.  The Sabres have $5.19MM in cap space with a full roster.  Presuming no rostered players go back to the 'Burgh and there's no retention, the Sabres would have only ~$900k in space after adding Rust (presuming a guy on a 2 way deal would be the eventual casualty of Rust getting added to the roster).  

Personally, am OK with the Sabres running that tight to the cap (heck, wanted them to do that the past few years) but doubt Adams will be comfortable operating in that space.  As soon as you have 2 guys out on IR you start to have to make use of BF-LTIR to fit everyone onto the roster.  So, expect the Sabres would say no.

Your last sentence indicating that you don’t expect the Sabres to make such a move captures why the Sabres are not considered to be a serious franchise. The irony is that making such a money $$$ decision will ultimately result in a loss of revenue.