Chad D’s Latest Mock Offseason

[Thorny]

Just now, GASabresIUFAN said:

First things first: Dahlin/Dobson is a non-starter.  Dahlin prefers the right side and although we have seen time and again Dahlin can play with anyone, if we are bringing in a Dobson he needs to anchor his own pair. 

We need a partner for Power (if we are keeping him) and while Dobson is an experienced RHD, Dobson's game doesn't not match up well with Power as they are similar style players except Dobson is slightly more aware defensively.  Dobson was most effective the last 2 season playing with the physical Alex Romanov.  

If we are bringing in Dobson, we need to move on from Clifton, Power, Byram and probably Samuelsson.  

?????  Dahlin

????? Dobson

Samuelsson?  JBD

 

I think the “Dahlin prefers the right” thing is a regurgitated myth. I could easily be wrong but I’ve searched many times and have never found more than his insistence he doesn’t care 

[GASabresIUFAN]

4 minutes ago, Thorny said:

I think the “Dahlin prefers the right” thing is a regurgitated myth. I could easily be wrong but I’ve searched many times and have never found more than his insistence he doesn’t care 

https://www.notedhockey.com/p/rasmus-dahlin-and-playing-the-offhand - He played mostly right side in Sweden.  

Not only is it not a myth, there are plenty of articles floating around that says he is more effective from the right side.  

 

I'm wondering if we are looking at the wrong NYI FA.  What about trading for RFA Alex Romanov.  He is a physical LHD and he has proven he can play 22 minutes a night and he effective playing with a Power like partner in Dobson.  I'm wondering if he would be a perfect pair for Dahlin.  

[Thorny]

26 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

https://www.notedhockey.com/p/rasmus-dahlin-and-playing-the-offhand - He played mostly right side in Sweden.  

Not only is it not a myth, there are plenty of articles floating around that says he is more effective from the right side.  

 

I'm wondering if we are looking at the wrong NYI FA.  What about trading for RFA Alex Romanov.  He is a physical LHD and he has proven he can play 22 minutes a night and he effective playing with a Power like partner in Dobson.  I'm wondering if he would be a perfect pair for Dahlin.  

So, no quote ever that he prefers the right? Eh? 

And the deep dives on Dahlin have him slightly better on the left  

Edited Saturday at 06:03 PM by Thorny

[JohnC]

26 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

Samuelsson's 2 most common partners, by a lot, were Dahlin and Power.  And, unless I'm recalling incorrectly, he ended the season back with Dahlin (Byram with Clifton, Power with Bernard-Docker). I don't think Samuelsson is going anywhere.

This might be a hot-take, but I think there are many head coaches in the league, and a few who are currently unemployed, who would look at a 6 man D of Dahlin, Byram, Power, Samuelsson, Clifton, and B-Docker, and view them as more than good enough to be in the playoffs with.  Contend with?  No.  But wild-card and make some playoff noise?

I apologize to all if my comments on Ruff are getting repetitive and boring, but he was a huge mistake. 

My problem with the Ruff selection as HC isn't directed toward Ruff being selected as it is to the nonexistent/fraudulent process used to hire him. It was another Pegula whimsical hire. Is he a good HC at this stage of his respectable career? I don't know. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt right now. He inherited a team that wasn't smartly assembled and was required to take on the coaches already on staff. It was a third-rate hiring process by a third-rate Pegula organization.  

I look at the members of the blueline unit that you listed. If you are able to parlay Byram plus assets to add another good second pairing caliber blueliner, you have a respectable group that will be even better if the forwards learn to play a more responsible two-way game. In my assessment, I'm expecting Power and Samuelsson to be better. Also, the Docker acquisition is a credible lower pairing add on to that unit.  Few people would rate it as a high-end group but it can be a better than respectable unit. Some smart tweaking can better round out that unit.  

[Thorny]

33 minutes ago, Thorny said:

So, no quote ever that he prefers the right? Eh? 

And the deep dives on Dahlin have him slightly better on the left  

This is his standard/closest I can find:

“I actually like the right side a lot,” Dahlin said, eliciting images of Red Wings great Nicklas Lidstrom. “I can play both, so it doesn’t matter.”

(i could swear a few years ago I read something about him liking the right on O specifically and the left while on D, but can’t find it for life of me)

So it’s not an obstacle - he can play either side. I’ll see if I can find the deep dive 

here it is, slightly better on left:

Great article 

“Lastly, in Dahlin’s case, he experienced a relative xGF uptick playing on his natural side. That said, he was so proficient on his off-hand that he was the logical choice to handle the lion’s share of off-hand duties in 2022-23. Again, a testament to the coaching staff (and likely the analytics staff) for handling things the way they did in that regard.”

could have changed slightly since then. I think the main takeaway is Dahlin can play either side so it shouldn’t limit any incoming transaction 

Edited Saturday at 06:37 PM by Thorny

[SwampD]

6 hours ago, JohnC said:

When it comes to music I'm a dullard. The era I'm still musically attached to is MoTown.  Don't mock me because I deserve empathy for being so far out of touch. 

 

There is no band Internal Disgruntlement. I was joking.

I mean, maybe there is, but they certainly don’t have 3 albums.

I mean, maybe they do, but the third one certainly isn’t a masterpiece.

I mean, maybe it is, but I’ve never heard it.

 

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, SwampD said:

There is no band Internal Disgruntlement. I was joking.

I mean, maybe there is, but they certainly don’t have 3 albums.

I mean, maybe they do, but the third one certainly isn’t a masterpiece.

I mean, maybe it is, but I’ve never heard it.

 

You are having a good time mocking me. It’s apparent to all that I’m out of step and out of tune.

True story: In grammar school at graduation my malicious music teacher told me not to sing at the ceremony but to just mouth the words and fake singing. 😀

[Rasmus_]

On 6/20/2025 at 3:52 PM, LGR4GM said:

I just need 9oa and Samuelsson for Dobson? Done. Sign me up. Like now. 

Yes please.

 

[SwampD]

5 hours ago, JohnC said:

You are having a good time mocking me. It’s apparent to all that I’m out of step and out of tune.

True story: In grammar school at graduation my malicious music teacher told me not to sing at the ceremony but to just mouth the words and fake singing. 😀

You think too highly of yourself. My jokes have nothing to do with you. I’m just having fun. 

[OrangeSeatVertigo]

Does Byram simply not want to be with the Sabres?   Seems he is certainly worth re-signing?   Is it that he won't sign any contract the Sabres put in front of him? 

 Is this the same situation with JJ Peterka? 

If so, what possible future does this franchise have, if its best players don't want to be with the franchise at any price?  

[steveoath]

1 hour ago, OrangeSeatVertigo said:

Does Byram simply not want to be with the Sabres?   Seems he is certainly worth re-signing?   Is it that he won't sign any contract the Sabres put in front of him? 

 Is this the same situation with JJ Peterka? 

If so, what possible future does this franchise have, if its best players don't want to be with the franchise at any price?  

From what I gather from various reports he sees himself as first pair guy and wants a contract to suit. Doesn’t really compute with Dahlin and power already on big deals. 

[aristocrat]

This team needs a legit center as we can’t count on Norris. Get pettersson. 

[clink]

On 6/20/2025 at 5:22 PM, ponokasabre said:

So id swap Ferraro for Liljigren, Ferrao is left handed and he and Dahlin would be perfect together, and he has a ton of bite to his game

 

The Sammy deal is perfect, I can see NYI liking his size and the may feel they can ressurect his career, Power - Dobson would be an amazing pair, and this would be the "puck mover" type that Owen says he likes to play with. 

 

Still think you could add a vet Left handed dman to compete for the bottom pair that has some jam, someone like a Doumalin or someone like that, say a better Gilbert 

 

Then you sign Jeannot for the 4th line and think about moving Lafferty or keeping him as the 13th forward

Is Jaennot the guy who, basically, recalculated Cousins' trajectory when he broke Cousins' face in that ugly fight??? 

[ponokasabre]

3 minutes ago, clink said:

Is Jaennot the guy who, basically, recalculated Cousins' trajectory when he broke Cousins' face in that ugly fight??? 

No that was Garnet Hathaway who plays for Philly, he would also be a nice adds and I figure we could get him for a Sammy swap 

[clink]

On 6/21/2025 at 6:30 PM, JohnC said:

You are having a good time mocking me. It’s apparent to all that I’m out of step and out of tune.

True story: In grammar school at graduation my malicious music teacher told me not to sing at the ceremony but to just mouth the words and fake singing. 😀

I think you're a cool cat, if my opinion means anything? 

I had the opposite chorus exp during my scholastic years 

Music teachers would volunteer me, EVERY year, from 1st grade up to middle school b/c of my vox capabilities (not bragging, it's whatever) and it was my duty to get myself booted from chorus, as I found the experience not to my liking 🫡

I suppose they heard something they liked/needed b/c it was more than one teacher AND it happened every year, until high-school 

Now, had they been performing Fauré's Requiem, maybe I would have reduced my resistance 

 

 

[Thorny]

 

[Mr. Allen]

11 minutes ago, Thorny said:

 

So center spine would be Norris - ? - McLeod. 
But do we have a spot for a top 6 winger if we bring back Peterka?  

[JohnC]

54 minutes ago, clink said:

I think you're a cool cat, if my opinion means anything? 

I had the opposite chorus exp during my scholastic years 

Music teachers would volunteer me, EVERY year, from 1st grade up to middle school b/c of my vox capabilities (not bragging, it's whatever) and it was my duty to get myself booted from chorus, as I found the experience not to my liking 🫡

I suppose they heard something they liked/needed b/c it was more than one teacher AND it happened every year, until high-school 

Now, had they been performing Fauré's Requiem, maybe I would have reduced my resistance 

 

 

The teacher’s insensitivity wasn’t  too damaging to me because I was voted the class president and gave a short speech on stage to the audience at the graduation ceremony. It ended well. 

[Thorny]

35 minutes ago, Mr. Allen said:

So center spine would be Norris - ? - McLeod. 
But do we have a spot for a top 6 winger if we bring back Peterka?  

Hard to say the order of the Cs, tbh they’d probably be saying they are after a “1C” if that was reasonably attainable, unless the plan for Tage is back to C. If we add a 2C as is, I suppose we’d have 3 guys who can be 2C on a good day. Suppose they’d be hoping you get a viable 1, 2 and 3 out of that (the 1 will be lacking, the 3 hypothetically an advantage). But to me that’s more of a solid plan if we had 3 written in stone 2Cs. McLeod and Norris are more so “maybes” on that front and we don’t even have the third guy yet. 

their idea to keep adding Cs is a good one - we need it 

I wouldn’t worry about “room” for anyone - we can afford to add literally everywhere 

Edited 4 hours ago by Thorny

[PerreaultForever]

On 6/20/2025 at 1:46 PM, Brawndo said:

The highlights-9OA and Samuelsson to NYI for Noah Dobson, who is signed to a 4 year 9 Million AAV contract.

Byram to San Jose for Timothy Liligren and 30th Overall. 
 
 

So what he's saying is Darche fired after one season? No way Islanders are that stupid unless Hagens is still there at 9. Then maybe. The SJ deal I could see happening. 

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, Mr. Allen said:

So center spine would be Norris - ? - McLeod. 
But do we have a spot for a top 6 winger if we bring back Peterka?  

There is ALWAYS a spot for another top 6 winger.  It might be on the 3rd line, but that is a 1st World problem that would be a very nice problem to have.

[Thorny]

1 minute ago, Taro T said:

There is ALWAYS a spot for another top 6 winger.  It might be on the 3rd line, but that is a 1st World problem that would be a very nice problem to have.

It’s just like the “save money for the RFAs” thing. How did that turn out?

the sabres never get to “good problems to have” stage because they don’t create an environment where good scenarios emerge

Cart/horse, always 

don’t build a playoff team, build a cup team

ok, you hubristic bastards 

[clink]

32 minutes ago, JohnC said:

The teacher’s insensitivity wasn’t  too damaging to me because I was voted the class president and gave a short speech on stage to the audience at the graduation ceremony. It ended well. 

Good on you for deflecting said teacher's $hit bullet 

 

It's sad that a person, who's job is/was to aide in the molding/shaping of our future citizens, was THAT lacking in situational awareness. Just a shite thing to do to a developing mind, IMO 

 

For the sake of clarity, I feel obliged to share that I'm not a 'participation trophy' sort of patent, I'm (mostly) from the "old school" and I'm trying to instill in my son the same traditions, minus the, quick-to-use-corporal punishment, for 'behavioral modifications' 😃

I do remember encounters with faculty like the one you described, and I hope that my kid won't experience anything similar! Faculty seems, generally speaking, rather soft on the kids these days, IMO

Incidentally, my boy received an academic performance award in science (5th grade) and the thing has a TYPO in the descriptor!!!! I suck at written composition, so you know it's blatantly obvious if I saw it. 😃

The irony of an educational institution presenting an 'exemplary' award with a mistake that I assume is due to lack of checking for errors is not lost on me.  

We are in strange times, my friend... 

 

[clink]

On 6/20/2025 at 7:59 PM, JohnC said:

Tuch may be another player who might not want to be here. We'll have to wait to see how things materialize with him. If the team struggles next season and is out of the playoffs he might prefer to be somewhere else. 

Man, if Mr Sabre, himself wanted out have we achieved "rock bottom" ???

Reality, is a sad sack in Sabreland 

If THIS is "hockey Heaven" then, Hail Satan, I guess??? 

 

[Night Train]

I would trade Muel for basically anything. What a stupid contract by Adams.