The offseason so far - Are the Sabres better?

[PerreaultForever]

39 minutes ago, GoPuckYourself said:

You should know this by now, were selecting 8th, then we will lose a spot in the lottery and select 9th. 

Usually, but this year I think we've actually taken a step backwards. 

[Archie Lee]

48 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Kulich is the No. 1 center.  He is making this team.  

The reason for the 3 years deals for both Kozak and Johnson is to try to avoid them getting claimed if management has to send one of them down.  

Odds are that one or more injuries in camp will make sending Kozak or Johnson down moot.  

Kulich should be the 3C, playing between a couple of vets like Zucker and trade acquisition Rust.

Norris is 1C by default until he is injured or proves he isn’t up to it. Thompson and Benson on the wings. 

McLeod should be 2C with Tuch and Greenway. Potential to be a real shut down line. 

Krebs, Doan, Malenstyn, Danforth, Kozak make up line 4, with Krebs and Doan playing up when there are injuries. 

Need to move Quinn in a package for Rust.

I actually think this works as a wild card level group of forwards on a team that actually plays with structure. So, not the Sabres. But the best I am hoping for is that the pieces are there and Adams and Ruff are turfed in November. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

6 minutes ago, Carmel Corn said:

Only in Buffalo would a young prospect be anointed as a 1C where otherwise in properly managed teams it would be questionable that he is even a center and/or top 6 player (yet).

It's a nominal designation.  Your choices are McLeod, Norris and Kulich.  Who are you playing with Thompson?  You need McLeod to play against the other teams' best line.  Norris and Thompson are both shoot first players.  I don't see a fit there.  That leaves Kulich who showed good chemistry with Thompson last season.  This isn't ideal but I disagree with those who argue he can't handle the job.  He is defensively aware and has good offensive instincts and plays hard.  I expect him to blossom this season.

[Pimlach]

2 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

Kulich should be the 3C, playing between a couple of vets like Zucker and trade acquisition Rust.

Norris is 1C by default until he is injured or proves he isn’t up to it. Thompson and Benson on the wings. 

McLeod should be 2C with Tuch and Greenway. Potential to be a real shut down line. 

Krebs, Doan, Malenstyn, Danforth, Kozak make up line 4, with Krebs and Doan playing up when there are injuries. 

Need to move Quinn in a package for Rust.

I actually think this works as a wild card level group of forwards on a team that actually plays with structure. So, not the Sabres. But the best I am hoping for is that the pieces are there and Adams and Ruff are turfed in November. 

This sounds like poor team to me. 

[SABRES 0311]

Answer is still no. McLeod signing doesn’t change what already existed. A couple AHL signings. A little more physicality on the backend.

KA has to get something done be amuse real soon GMs are going to be content with what they have. Either trade Byram or resign him for what he wants then figure out another way to get the 1st forward line set.

[Turbo44]

No answer until Byram situation and any subsequent related moves occur

[Archie Lee]

8 hours ago, Pimlach said:

This sounds like poor team to me. 

It’s not a contending team.  I think with a good HC and/or better goaltending (and I think these go together) it could be a playoff / WC team. To me, it is the best we can hope for that we are this year’s Montreal or Ottawa, a 91-96 point team that gets in.

It was never going to be the case that we would get to July 2nd and look at the roster and say: "That's a playoff team". It was always going to be that we will need Tage to again score 40+, Norris to be healthy and be the player that some project him to be, that Benson takes a step forward, Tuch maintains his strong play, McLeod repeats his performance from a year ago, Dahlin plays like a Norris winner, Power takes a step forward, UPL bounces back, and a couple of new guys contribute positively, etc.  If most of those things happen, maybe we can complete for a WC spot.

We are never going to be a contending team under Adams and Ruff. 
 

Edited Wednesday at 01:48 PM by Archie Lee

[Archie Lee]

If we extend Byram and Timmons to their projected contracts and, hypothetically, replace Quinn with a veteran at Rust's level, we would be spending between 97-99% of the cap (depending on if Byram is bridged or signed long-term). If we are spending that kind of money and are nowhere close to having a playoff team, then either Adams is one of the worst GMs in modern NHL history (it’s already open to debate I think) or Ruff is, at this time, one of the league's worst HCs, or both.

I don’t like the job that Adams has done. Even if he has an internal cap to contend with, he has wasted enough money on underperforming players that had he been better at his job, the team could have been better also. Further, I think he does have influence over Pegula and if he wanted to go in a different direction in certain areas, like coaching, I think he could convince Pegula to do so. Ruff continues to get too much credit from the fan-base in general, in my view. It remains that the single biggest thing that could be done to improve the team’s fortunes between now and October would be to replace Ruff with a better HC. It would do more for the team than adding Robertson or Ehlers, in my view.

Brind'Amour could get this team in the playoffs.  I know we aren't getting Brind'Amour, but we could try to hire the next Brind'Amour. There is a reason why NHL teams cycle through head coaches so quickly. You can't fix your roster as fast as you can change coaches. Look at all the money the Sabres have wasted in the past few years on players who underperformed or were sent to Rochester or were bought-out.  Spending an extra $2 million a year on a fired head coach is comparative peanuts.    

[Pimlach]

29 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

It’s not a contending team.  I think with a good HC and/or better goaltending (and I think these go together) it could be a playoff / WC team. To me, it is the best we can hope for that we are this year’s Montreal or Ottawa, a 91-96 point team that gets in.

It was never going to be the case that we would get to July 2nd and look at the roster and say: "That's a playoff team". It was always going to be that we will need Tage to again score 40+, Norris to be healthy and be the player that some project him to be, that Benson takes a step forward, Tuch maintains his strong play, McLeod repeats his performance from a year ago, Dahlin plays like a Norris winner, Power takes a step forward, UPL bounces back, and a couple of new guys contribute positively, etc.  If most of those things happen, maybe we can complete for a WC spot.

We are never going to be a contending team under Adams and Ruff.  Terry Pegula.  
 

FIFY

 

[Justin C]

If we had a GM with any balls:

Trade your 2026 1st unprotected, Krebs and Rosen to Dallas for Robertson and extend him (If I have to throw in another prospect I don’t care)

Trade Byram to Calgary for Andersson and a 2nd. If Anderson resigns it goes to a 3rd. I don’t care if he doesn’t. You’re on a 1 year contract. If the team gets to the Playoffs you’re extended and if it is struggling your gone and don’t worry about it.

Sign Pius Suter

 

Robertson-Norris-Thompson

Kulich-Suter-Tuch

Benson-McLeod-Quinn

Greenway-Danforth-Zucker

 

Dahlin-Andersson

Power-Kesserling

Timmins-Whoever

 

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 02:26 PM by Justin C

[Drag0nDan]

9 minutes ago, Justin C said:

If we had a GM with any balls:

Trade your 2026 1st unprotected, Krebs and Rosen to Dallas for Robertson and extend him (If I have to throw in another prospect I don’t care)

Trade Byram to Calgary for Andersson and a 2nd. If Anderson resigns it goes to a 3rd. I don’t care if he doesn’t. You’re on a 1 year contract. If the team gets to the Playoffs you’re extended and if it is struggling your gone and don’t worry about it.

Sign Pius Suter

 

Robertson-Norris-Thompson

Kulich-Suter-Tuch

Benson-McLeod-Quinn

Greenway-Danforth-Zucker

 

Dahlin-Andersson

Power-Kesserling

Timmins-Whoever

 

 

 

I'm not sure "balls" are the biggest factor in here, this isn't madden.  Suter has to want to sign here, Dallas has to want to trade Robertson for a really weak offer, and trading for an expiring contract player who has no-trade protection.  

[LGR4GM]

25 minutes ago, Justin C said:

If we had a GM with any balls:

Trade your 2026 1st unprotected, Krebs and Rosen to Dallas for Robertson and extend him (If I have to throw in another prospect I don’t care)

Trade Byram to Calgary for Andersson and a 2nd. If Anderson resigns it goes to a 3rd. I don’t care if he doesn’t. You’re on a 1 year contract. If the team gets to the Playoffs you’re extended and if it is struggling your gone and don’t worry about it.

Sign Pius Suter

 

Robertson-Norris-Thompson

Kulich-Suter-Tuch

Benson-McLeod-Quinn

Greenway-Danforth-Zucker

 

Dahlin-Andersson

Power-Kesserling

Timmins-Whoever

 

 

 

I wouldn't trade the Sabres 2026 first for anything short of McDavid at this point. 

[dudacek]

Right now?

Some unproven talent and 3 options, but mostly huge questions in goal. They are betting on someone to emerge and have to be considered lacking until that happens.

A real odd mix of pieces up front. There is some unproven skill, decent speed and a surprising amount of size. They've improved the grit. Thompson can drive a 1st line, Tuch a 2nd and McLeod a 3rd. But there is a lack of passers and huge question marks at the top 2 centre slots. And so many possible variations in terms of what you’re going to get from Kulich Quinn, Benson, Norris, Doan, Krebs and Greenway and how those pieces are going to fit together.

I actually like the defence as it looks right now: lots of size and skill and improved reliability. Dahlin and Byram is an excellent first pair. I think a better Owen Power is almost inevitable. Kesselring was a good add, pretty much exactly the missing piece. Samuelsson is someone I wanted to move away from, but he’s certainly capable of being a solid 5 and Timmins a serviceable 6. Trading Byram without a solid replacement would push everybody up a slot and erase most of this.

I see the depth chart  changes as it stands looking like this:

• Cozens -> Norris top 6 centre
• Peterka -> Quinn top 6 wing
• Quinn -> Doan middle 6 wing
• Lafferty -> Danforth energy depth forward
• Samuelsson -> Kesselring shutdown D
• Jokiharju -> Samuelsson 3rd pair D
• Clifton -> Timmons 3rd pair D
• Reimer -> Lyon backup goalie

Looks better away from the puck, worse with it, and a lot like another 79 point team

 

Edited Wednesday at 03:35 PM by dudacek

[Believer]

1 hour ago, Archie Lee said:

Further, I think he does have influence over Pegula and if he wanted to go in a different direction in certain areas, like coaching, I think he could convince Pegula to do so. Ruff continues to get too much credit from the fan-base in general, in my view. It remains that the single biggest thing that could be done to improve the team’s fortunes between now and October would be to replace Ruff with a better HC. It would do more for the team than adding Robertson or Ehlers, in my view.

Got the impression at his Draft Presser KA gave Ruff a backhanded compliment that it was helpful having Ruff “in the room,” but didn’t get the impression he needed his input. Made me think Pegula championed Ruff for the coaching job. Would be just like Pegula to go the nostalgia route as some opined.

Agree with you a new HC and coaching staff with a record of winning would do more to reshape a consistent SC contending future team than Robertson or Ehlers or any other signable FA as long as Ruff and staff are in place.

 

[Thorny]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

FIFY

 

I don’t agree tbh. Adams is terrible and he still got to 91 points under Terry. The opportunity was clearly there for huge gains and he utterly missed the boat. A better GM couldn’t have pushed that forward under Terry? 1 point was a magical barrier? 
 

Terry is bad but that need not limit our impression of Adams who is worse as a GM than Terry is an owner. Fact. And Terry stinks as an owner because he won’t spend.
 

A good GM could have shown the mental baby that is Terry the light 

Adams is a doofus but also a liar and disingenuous. Terry is an old rich guy. Your general connotations of those descriptors should suffice nicely 

Edited Wednesday at 04:06 PM by Thorny

[LTS]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

I wouldn't trade the Sabres 2026 first for anything short of McDavid at this point. 

It's probably the unspoken strategy of the team.  Let's get McKenna.  It worked well when they tried it with McDavid.

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, LTS said:

It's probably the unspoken strategy of the team.  Let's get McKenna.  It worked well when they tried it with McDavid.

Well, this time will be different.  They won't have upper management crowing about losing on purpose.  😉 

[LTS]

1 minute ago, Taro T said:

Well, this time will be different.  They won't have upper management crowing about losing on purpose.  😉 

Back then they had to try to lose.. now it's just natural.

[LGR4GM]

12 minutes ago, LTS said:

It's probably the unspoken strategy of the team.  Let's get McKenna.  It worked well when they tried it with McDavid.

Well the Sabres start to gut the roster of all talent it will be like what happened before. Until then, trading an unprotected 2026 first for a team that has been a lottery team for the past 14 years, is foolish. 

Edited Wednesday at 04:17 PM by LGR4GM

[Indabuff]

Is there anyone still on the market that can truly improve this cluster ***** of a team?

[Porous Five Hole]

Just now, Indabuff said:

Is there anyone still on the market that can truly improve this cluster ***** of a team?

Maybe Ehlers, but someone is going to massively overpay for 25-30 goals a season. 

[#freejame]

21 minutes ago, LTS said:

It's probably the unspoken strategy of the team.  Let's get McKenna.  It worked well when they tried it with McDavid.

If they’re living in dream world, they better be planning on getting McKenna and McDavid. It wouldn’t surprise me if GMKA couldn’t think that up even in his wildest fantasies though. 

[Wyldnwoody44]

We went from ROR/eichel/Sammy 

 

To 

Maybe Norris for the 6 games he's healthy

Possibly Kulich

McLeod (who I like.... As a 3C)

Tage (who isn't a center) 

Krebs (ha) 

 

And we've spent the off season shoring up role players and RHD and a career backup goalie. 

So NO, a F'n resounding NO, this team is not better than last year. I'd say right now we finish within 5 points +/- of where we finished last year. 

[LTS]

36 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Well the Sabres start to gut the roster of all talent it will be like what happened before. Until then, trading an unprotected 2026 first for a team that has been a lottery team for the past 14 years, is foolish. 

You've identified the one criteria Buffalo clings to when making decisions.

23 minutes ago, #freejame said:

If they’re living in dream world, they better be planning on getting McKenna and McDavid. It wouldn’t surprise me if GMKA couldn’t think that up even in his wildest fantasies though. 

Adams couldn't, but Admiral Pegula can. He's a visionary. 

And now I feel like I had Taco Bell.

[DarthEbriate]

7 minutes ago, LTS said:

You've identified the one criteria Buffalo clings to when making decisions.

Adams couldn't, but Admiral Pegula can. He's a visionary. 

And now I feel like I had Taco Bell.

What's the worst that could happen?

In going after McDavid, Pegula will get tagged for tampering before the draft and forfeit the 1st overall that they won -- moving up from 4th -- in the lottery. McDavid then refuses to sign on day 1. McKenna goes to Pittsburgh who finished #2. Tuch walks. Benson refuses to sign RFA, and Dahlin and Tage request trades for trivial futures.