Trade : Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Connor Clifton and the 39th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

[Thorny]

It’s fine to have Dahlin Byram Kesselring Power Samuelsson Docker and Timmins and say those 7 D are your 6 D. It’s really the 8th guy that’s the spare. A fully healthy unit is more uncommon than common imo 

[Dr. Who]

8 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Docker needs to play. He is a solid third pair D.

Not really a problem, because Muel will spend 60% of the season on IR.

[Derrico]

On paper that’s the most potential we’ve had on D in years.  Obviously a big hole up front losing JJ but I hope they keep Byram. 

[Pimlach]

45 minutes ago, Thorny said:

It’s fine to have Dahlin Byram Kesselring Power Samuelsson Docker and Timmins and say those 7 D are your 6 D. It’s really the 8th guy that’s the spare. A fully healthy unit is more uncommon than common imo 

I’m good with this, makes Bryson 8, Johnson 9. 

But then Byram isn’t used to bring in more top 6 help and they have to improve on Peterka’s old spot at a min.  

Prefer to trade Muel and keep Byram but that won’t get much unless packaged.  

Edited 6 hours ago by Pimlach

[dudacek]

2 hours ago, Derrico said:

On paper that’s the most potential we’ve had on D in years.  Obviously a big hole up front losing JJ but I hope they keep Byram. 

In my ideal world they kept Byram with Dahlin, found a partner for Power, and dumped Samuelson and Clifton (who was the awful no one talked about last year) for a better, cheaper 3rd pair.

No faith, but - amazingly - still hope.

Edited 4 hours ago by dudacek

[K-9]

3 hours ago, JohnC said:

You bring up an interesting question about how much influence does Ruff have in personnel decisions. As you point out with the additions, the Sabres are bigger than they were last year. I’m sure he was a factor on that issue. I also believe that Ruff was instrumental in the trading of Peterka. It appears that the coach/player relationship was fractious. 
 

I’m hoping that Ruff and Jarmo push the GM to make more moves to reshape the roster in order to play a tougher brand of hockey. Some progress has been made in that facet of the game but more needs to be done.

KA is always going on about how they always have consensus, yada yada yada. All I know is that Ruff was learning how to build tough, resilient teams when Adams was still a piss pot running around in Clarence. Ruff also understands you build a team from the D end out. And while we may not yet have the answer in goal he would prefer, it’s no coincidence that big RHDmen have been a priority so far this summer. 

[Mango]

4 hours ago, JohnC said:

You bring up an interesting question about how much influence does Ruff have in personnel decisions. As you point out with the additions, the Sabres are bigger than they were last year. I’m sure he was a factor on that issue. I also believe that Ruff was instrumental in the trading of Peterka. It appears that the coach/player relationship was fractious. 
 

I’m hoping that Ruff and Jarmo push the GM to make more moves to reshape the roster in order to play a tougher brand of hockey. Some progress has been made in that facet of the game but more needs to be done.

I think Ruff has some voice but Terry refuses to move on from Adams.

Just via the smell test, the last two off-season don't seem to match Adams prior off-season. We haven't done enough but the type of player we target seems to be different. Plus the willingness to move on from Cozens, Savoie, and JJP (despite the request) is something I don't think Adams does without a major push.

[Mango]

1 hour ago, K-9 said:

KA is always going on about how they always have consensus, yada yada yada. All I know is that Ruff was learning how to build tough, resilient teams when Adams was still a piss pot running around in Clarence. Ruff also understands you build a team from the D end out. And while we may not yet have the answer in goal he would prefer, it’s no coincidence that big RHDmen have been a priority so far this summer. 

I mentioned after one of the years draft "Embedded's" that I don't think Adams has control of the room, nor leads it. He reminds of Tom Hanks in 'Big'. He's just trying to fake it.

He's talking about building concencus because he isn't making any decisions. He's loser.

Go back and watch the behind the scenes with McD at the Sabres game. He basically B-lines it to Ruff after sort performatively saying hi to Kev-Kev. Then Ruff and Adams seem to chat together, and Adams like a 3rd grader goes "coach, I've always wondered, how many half time adjustments can you really make".

It was clear that Lindy and McD were the alphas in the room and everybody was aware that Adams was Pegula cuck.

[Indabuff]

10 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Guess the defense is gonna be different. Adams has added 3 nhl rhd since the deadline and 4 if you wanna count Mrtka 

A Lindy thing perhaps?

[Taro T]

7 hours ago, ... said:

Dumping salary could equal being able to spend big money in FA and keeping Tuch.

And IF they USE that cap space, the Peterka trade looks a LOT better.

Again, am HOPING they do that.  But until they actually do it, won't expect it.

THIS trade could work.  Clifton wasn't bad as the 6.  But he was brought in to be much more than that.  They'd likely like to see Timmons be more than the 6, and if he is great.  But if he isn't, at least he's cheaper than Clifton and MAYBE they'll actually use that cap space..

[Mango]

1 minute ago, Indabuff said:

A Lindy thing perhaps?

Lindy has mentioned a few times he likes having guys play on their strong side. Easier to move the puck is the reason he has given.

I don't understand why Kevyn Adams still works here.