Turbo's 2025 Offseason Plan

[Turbo44]

Mods, merge this with another thread if you wish:

This is what my offseason would look like:

-Re-sign Byram for 5 years $35million.  Trading him would create a huge hole next to Dahlin, he wants to stay, and I give him PP minutes. This allows him to got to UFA at a young age (29)

-Trade with Dallas for Jason Robertson, one of the top 2 way wingers in the league at a position, LW, of desperate need.  Dallas wants futures, as they're up against the cap, and we have futures. It's a lot but this is what I send; 2026 top 3 lottery protected, Östlund, Rosen, Strbak.  It's a lot, but our prospect pool is deep, we avoid giving them top prospects like Quinn, Kulich and Helenius and get a top 10 NHL player who is tenacious defensively (what we desperately need) who hasn't missed a game since 2021 while averaging 37 goals and 53 assists.  Put him on the top line with Norris and Tage and the 3 players will threaten 300 points next year.  This move could save Adam's job. Robertson is young (25) with one year left at $7.75m.  We extend him 7 years (to his still relatively young age 32 year) for $75million - Slightly under Dahlin's annual salary.

-Sign Jake Allen, 1 years $4million (slightly less than UPL's $4.75million per).  At worst, he backs up UPL, at best, he outperforms UPL and gets at least equal playing time. At 34, he's getting up there but has a lifetime 2.76 GAA, .908 save percentage and 28 shutouts in 460 regular-season games while last year posting 13-16-1 with a 2.66 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and four shutouts in 31 games. This dwarfs anything and everything UPL has ever posted. With the chance to start at a nice contract (he's coming off one of 2 years at 3.85million per year), Allen jumps at our offer. I'm willing to match his 2 year at 3.85 per if he wants the security.  Levi seasons another year in Rochester.

-Trade Malenstyn and Lafferty for small futures and eliminate $3.35million from the cap

-Trade Samuellson for a marginal prospect.  Don't have room for him salary cap wise or team morale wise. The moment he didn't defend Tage was the moment he was no longer a Sabres in my eyes. His cap savings is significant.

-Extentions: Tuch 5 years $38million ; McLeod 3 years $10million; Timmins 2 years $2.8million (savings of $1.93million from what you would have paid Clifton and you get a better defenseman). It's the same salary as Kesselring; Levi 2 years 2.5million, Kozak 2 years $2milliion. Bernard-Docker and Ryan Johnson both 2 years $2.25million, 

DEPTH CHARTS

FORWARDS

Robertson-Norris-Thompson (wow just wow - PLEASE STAY HEALTHY NORRIS)

Benson-Kulich-Tuch (Zucker for Benson and McLeod for Kulich are interchangeable here)

Zucker-McLeod-Quinn - a great 3rd line which has a little of everything

Greenway -Krebs - Doan - a very solid 4th line and a b1tch to play against - we're going to love Doan

Extra: Kozak 

DEFENSE

Byram - Dahlin - Dahlin prefers the off-wing

Power-Kesselring - Power gets the steady partner he should have had the last 2 years. Kesselring is nasty and surprisingly solid analytics-wise

Timmins - Bernard-Docker - okay bottom pair that will get limited minutes - 13-15 per game

Extra: Bryson

GOALIE

UPL-Allen - Levi gets one more year in Rochester while we see how UPL plays behind a much better defensive team. Make it or break it year for UPL.

PP1

Thompson-Zucker-Robertson-Dahlin-Norris

PP2

Kulich-Quinn-Tuch-Power-Byram 

PK1

McLeod-Greenway-Kesselring-Power

PK2

Norris-Tuch-Dahlin-Timmins

 

CAP CALCULATION

$95.5MILLION CAP CEILING

 

 

 

 BUYOUTS 

 

BASICALLY SPENDING TO THE CAP. $1.6M under the cap and this, I believe, is a much improved, playoff team. Going forward, we'd have some new extensions hit (Tuch, Robertson, etc.) but with the projected Cap at $104,000,000 we'd be fine.  Is Pegula willing to spend, Is KA capable of this?  This is the biggest offseason in a long time and I'd argue that if the team performs (and I'm confident this roster would), the extra spend be dwarfed by the extra revenues generated from playoffs and higher ticker sales.  This is the best fans in the world - give them a product and they will come and spend!!!

Thoughts?

Edited 6 hours ago by Turbo44

[LGR4GM]

20 minutes ago, Turbo44 said:

Mods, merge this with another thread if you wish:

This is what my offseason would look like:

-Re-sign Byram for 5 years $35million.  Trading him would create a huge hole next to Dahlin, he wants to stay, and I give him PP minutes. This allows him to got to UFA at a young age (29)

-Trade with Dallas for Jason Robertson, one of the top 2 way wingers in the league at a position, LW, of desperate need.  Dallas wants futures, as they're up against the cap, and we have futures. It's a lot but this is what I send; 2026 top 3 lottery protected, Östlund, Rosen, Strbak.  It's a lot, but our prospect pool is deep, we avoid giving them top prospects like Quinn, Kulich and Helenius and get a top 10 NHL player who is tenacious defensively (what we desperately need) who hasn't missed a game since 2021 while averaging 37 goals and 53 assists.  Put him on the top line with Norris and Tage and the 3 players will threaten 300 points next year.  This move could save Adam's job. Robertson is young (25) with one year left at $7.75m.  We extend him 7 years (to his still relatively young age 32 year) for $75million - Slightly under Dahlin's annual salary.

-Sign Jake Allen, 1 years $4million (slightly less than UPL's $4.75million per).  At worst, he backs up UPL, at best, he outperforms UPL and gets at least equal playing time. At 34, he's getting up there but has a lifetime 2.76 GAA, .908 save percentage and 28 shutouts in 460 regular-season games while last year posting 13-16-1 with a 2.66 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and four shutouts in 31 games. This dwarfs anything and everything UPL has ever posted. With the chance to start at a nice contract (he's coming off one of 2 years at 3.85million per year), Allen jumps at our offer. I'm willing to match his 2 year at 3.85 per if he wants the security.  Levi seasons another year in Rochester.

-Trade Malenstyn and Lafferty for small futures and eliminate $3.35million from the cap

-Trade Samuellson for a marginal prospect.  Don't have room for him salary cap wise or team morale wise. The moment he didn't defend Tage was the moment he was no longer a Sabres in my eyes. His cap savings is significant.

-Extentions: Tuch 5 years $38million ; McLeod 3 years $10million; Timmins 2 years $2.8million (savings of $1.93million from what you would have paid Clifton and you get a better defenseman). It's the same salary as Kesselring; Levi 2 years 2.5million, Kozak 2 years $2milliion. Bernard-Docker and Ryan Johnson both 2 years $2.25million, 

DEPTH CHARTS

FORWARDS

Robertson-Norris-Thompson (wow just wow - PLEASE STAY HEALTHY NORRIS)

Benson-Kulich-Tuch (Zucker for Benson and McLeod for Kulich are interchangeable here)

Zucker-McLeod-Quinn - a great 3rd line which has a little of everything

Greenway -Krebs - Doan - a very solid 4th line and a b1tch to play against - we're going to love Doan

Extra: Kozak 

DEFENSE

Byram - Dahlin - Dahlin prefers the off-wing

Power-Kesselring - Power gets the steady partner he should have had the last 2 years. Kesselring is nasty and surprisingly solid analytics-wise

Timmins - Bernard-Docker - okay bottom pair that will get limited minutes - 13-15 per game

Extra: Bryson

GOALIE

UPL-Allen - Levi gets one more year in Rochester while we see how UPL plays behind a much better defensive team. Make it or break it year for UPL.

PP1

Thompson-Zucker-Robertson-Dahlin-Norris

PP2

Kulich-Quinn-Tuch-Power-Byram 

PK1

McLeod-Greenway-Kesselring-Power

PK2

Norris-Tuch-Dahlin-Timmins

 

CAP CALCULATION

$95.5MILLION CAP CEILING

 

 

 

 BUYOUTS 

 

BASICALLY SPENDING TO THE CAP. $1.6M under the cap and this, I believe, is a much improved, playoff team. Going forward, we'd have some new extensions hit (Tuch, Robertson, etc.) but with the projected Cap at $104,000,000 we'd be fine.  Is Pegula willing to spend, Is KA capable of this?  This is the biggest offseason in a long time and I'd argue that if the team performs (and I'm confident this roster would), the extra spend be dwarfed by the extra revenues generated from playoffs and higher ticker sales.  This is the best fans in the world - give them a product and they will come and spend!!!

Thoughts?

I don't think you can get Robertson for that trade offer. 

There's no way McLeod signs a contract for only 3yrs at 10 million. He's going to command at least 4.5 million a year. 

[Turbo44]

2 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I don't think you can get Robertson for that trade offer. 

There's no way McLeod signs a contract for only 3yrs at 10 million. He's going to command at least 4.5 million a year. 

Yeah just guessing on both. McLeod at 1.2m isn’t a game change and as for Robertson, I’d be open to give up a lot for him. Ehlers would be ideal (as you give up nothing other than money) but (a) he’s not as good as Robertson and (b) I don’t think he’d ever come to Buffalo

[Turbo44]

20 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I don't think you can get Robertson for that trade offer. 

There's no way McLeod signs a contract for only 3yrs at 10 million. He's going to command at least 4.5 million a year. 

Though who knows what the value is for him. Peterka and the guy from ANA didn’t get much. Robertson is clearly the best of the three but his extended cost is prohibitive and DAL really can’t afford him

[LGR4GM]

5 minutes ago, Turbo44 said:

Though who knows what the value is for him. Peterka and the guy from ANA didn’t get much. Robertson is clearly the best of the three but his extended cost is prohibitive and DAL really can’t afford him

Hey I'm all for trying to get Robertson. I think your extension avg is probably really close too.

[triumph_communes]

It’ll take Byram to get Robertson I think

We paid dearly to get rid of one year of Clifton, I have no idea how Samuelson is removed. I think he’s a penalty we pay until we’re ready to buyout. Or increase his value by sheltering his minutes. 
 

im not opposed to any of the philosophy here, just the realism of the moves. And that isn’t Adam’s fault (going forward), but you can blame him for being here in the first place. But I give him the benefit of the doubt of not having us with long term forward contracts with Cozens, Mittelstadt, Skinner, Peterka, etc. was a whole lot of money tied into the perimeter 

Edited 5 hours ago by triumph_communes

[Turbo44]

16 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Hey I'm all for trying to get Robertson. I think your extension avg is probably really close too.

Sadly I’m pretty sure my plan will be better than what KA ends up doing. Granted, he might have “Pegula Constraints” I don’t have

[Dr. Who]

1 hour ago, Turbo44 said:

Mods, merge this with another thread if you wish:

This is what my offseason would look like:

-Re-sign Byram for 5 years $35million.  Trading him would create a huge hole next to Dahlin, he wants to stay, and I give him PP minutes. This allows him to got to UFA at a young age (29)

-Trade with Dallas for Jason Robertson, one of the top 2 way wingers in the league at a position, LW, of desperate need.  Dallas wants futures, as they're up against the cap, and we have futures. It's a lot but this is what I send; 2026 top 3 lottery protected, Östlund, Rosen, Strbak.  It's a lot, but our prospect pool is deep, we avoid giving them top prospects like Quinn, Kulich and Helenius and get a top 10 NHL player who is tenacious defensively (what we desperately need) who hasn't missed a game since 2021 while averaging 37 goals and 53 assists.  Put him on the top line with Norris and Tage and the 3 players will threaten 300 points next year.  This move could save Adam's job. Robertson is young (25) with one year left at $7.75m.  We extend him 7 years (to his still relatively young age 32 year) for $75million - Slightly under Dahlin's annual salary.

-Sign Jake Allen, 1 years $4million (slightly less than UPL's $4.75million per).  At worst, he backs up UPL, at best, he outperforms UPL and gets at least equal playing time. At 34, he's getting up there but has a lifetime 2.76 GAA, .908 save percentage and 28 shutouts in 460 regular-season games while last year posting 13-16-1 with a 2.66 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and four shutouts in 31 games. This dwarfs anything and everything UPL has ever posted. With the chance to start at a nice contract (he's coming off one of 2 years at 3.85million per year), Allen jumps at our offer. I'm willing to match his 2 year at 3.85 per if he wants the security.  Levi seasons another year in Rochester.

-Trade Malenstyn and Lafferty for small futures and eliminate $3.35million from the cap

-Trade Samuellson for a marginal prospect.  Don't have room for him salary cap wise or team morale wise. The moment he didn't defend Tage was the moment he was no longer a Sabres in my eyes. His cap savings is significant.

-Extentions: Tuch 5 years $38million ; McLeod 3 years $10million; Timmins 2 years $2.8million (savings of $1.93million from what you would have paid Clifton and you get a better defenseman). It's the same salary as Kesselring; Levi 2 years 2.5million, Kozak 2 years $2milliion. Bernard-Docker and Ryan Johnson both 2 years $2.25million, 

DEPTH CHARTS

FORWARDS

Robertson-Norris-Thompson (wow just wow - PLEASE STAY HEALTHY NORRIS)

Benson-Kulich-Tuch (Zucker for Benson and McLeod for Kulich are interchangeable here)

Zucker-McLeod-Quinn - a great 3rd line which has a little of everything

Greenway -Krebs - Doan - a very solid 4th line and a b1tch to play against - we're going to love Doan

Extra: Kozak 

DEFENSE

Byram - Dahlin - Dahlin prefers the off-wing

Power-Kesselring - Power gets the steady partner he should have had the last 2 years. Kesselring is nasty and surprisingly solid analytics-wise

Timmins - Bernard-Docker - okay bottom pair that will get limited minutes - 13-15 per game

Extra: Bryson

GOALIE

UPL-Allen - Levi gets one more year in Rochester while we see how UPL plays behind a much better defensive team. Make it or break it year for UPL.

PP1

Thompson-Zucker-Robertson-Dahlin-Norris

PP2

Kulich-Quinn-Tuch-Power-Byram 

PK1

McLeod-Greenway-Kesselring-Power

PK2

Norris-Tuch-Dahlin-Timmins

 

CAP CALCULATION

$95.5MILLION CAP CEILING

 

 

 

 BUYOUTS 

 

BASICALLY SPENDING TO THE CAP. $1.6M under the cap and this, I believe, is a much improved, playoff team. Going forward, we'd have some new extensions hit (Tuch, Robertson, etc.) but with the projected Cap at $104,000,000 we'd be fine.  Is Pegula willing to spend, Is KA capable of this?  This is the biggest offseason in a long time and I'd argue that if the team performs (and I'm confident this roster would), the extra spend be dwarfed by the extra revenues generated from playoffs and higher ticker sales.  This is the best fans in the world - give them a product and they will come and spend!!!

Thoughts?

I would agree with the view that you probably need to add to get Robertson, but this is a solid plan. 

[Archie Lee]

32 minutes ago, Turbo44 said:

Yeah just guessing on both. McLeod at 1.2m isn’t a game change and as for Robertson, I’d be open to give up a lot for him. Ehlers would be ideal (as you give up nothing other than money) but (a) he’s not as good as Robertson and (b) I don’t think he’d ever come to Buffalo

I think @LGR4GM is right that the acquisition cost on Robertson would be higher than you propose. I think it would cost us one of Benson or Kulich or Helenius and maybe two of them. I would happily give them Quinn in such a deal, but I doubt they would have any interest in him as part of a package for Robertson. Also agree that you are likely between $1-2 million light on the McLeod deal. 

Ehlers is my sneaky “the Sabres might have a chance” UFA candidate. It was reported last year that Ehlers, who had some trade protection, would accept a deal to the Sabres but was not willing to extend. That means that either Buffalo was not on his NT list or they were but he was ok with it anyway. His lack of willingness to extend could be viewed that he didn’t see himself staying in Buffalo longterm, but it could just mean he wanted to go to UFA and see what his value is on the free market. Also, I am certain I have seen more than one interview with Ehlers when the Jets were playing the Sabres, where he spoke positively about Buffalo or the Sabre players. He gives me Ekholm vibes; he might value things other than palm trees and low taxes. 

[triumph_communes]

1 minute ago, Archie Lee said:

I think @LGR4GM is right that the acquisition cost on Robertson would be higher than you propose. I think it would cost us one of Benson or Kulich or Helenius and maybe two of them. I would happily give them Quinn in such a deal, but I doubt they would have any interest in him as part of a package for Robertson. Also agree that you are likely between $1-2 million light on the McLeod deal. 

Ehlers is my sneaky “the Sabres might have a chance” UFA candidate. It was reported last year that Ehlers, who had some trade protection, would accept a deal to the Sabres but was not willing to extend. That means that either Buffalo was not on his NT list or they were but he was ok with it anyway. His lack of willingness to extend could be viewed that he didn’t see himself staying in Buffalo longterm, but it could just mean he wanted to go to UFA and see what his value is on the free market. Also, I am certain I have seen more than one interview with Ehlers when the Jets were playing the Sabres, where he spoke positively about Buffalo or the Sabre players. He gives me Ekholm vibes; he might value things other than palm trees and low taxes. 

I could see how everything is on hold until we know what Ehlers does. If he accepts, cap moves go one way. If he doesn’t, we go another. So unless it’s for Robertson or Peterson, Byram won’t move til the initial fallout from Jan1

[Turbo44]

3 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

I think @LGR4GM is right that the acquisition cost on Robertson would be higher than you propose. I think it would cost us one of Benson or Kulich or Helenius and maybe two of them. I would happily give them Quinn in such a deal, but I doubt they would have any interest in him as part of a package for Robertson. Also agree that you are likely between $1-2 million light on the McLeod deal. 

Ehlers is my sneaky “the Sabres might have a chance” UFA candidate. It was reported last year that Ehlers, who had some trade protection, would accept a deal to the Sabres but was not willing to extend. That means that either Buffalo was not on his NT list or they were but he was ok with it anyway. His lack of willingness to extend could be viewed that he didn’t see himself staying in Buffalo longterm, but it could just mean he wanted to go to UFA and see what his value is on the free market. Also, I am certain I have seen more than one interview with Ehlers when the Jets were playing the Sabres, where he spoke positively about Buffalo or the Sabre players. He gives me Ekholm vibes; he might value things other than palm trees and low taxes. 

Ehlers would be ideal.  Though not nearly the player Robertson is, and older, he'd be cheaper cap wise and of course cost nothing to obtain.  I just think, with the market so thin for LWers, he'll have 10+ better suitors than Buffalo and KA dsiad himself, "overpaying for a guy to come generally doesn't work out well)."

3 minutes ago, triumph_communes said:

I could see how everything is on hold until we know what Ehlers does. If he accepts, cap moves go one way. If he doesn’t, we go another. So unless it’s for Robertson or Peterson, Byram won’t move til the initial fallout from Jan1

Makes sense.

8 minutes ago, triumph_communes said:

It’ll take Byram to get Robertson I think

We paid dearly to get rid of one year of Clifton, I have no idea how Samuelson is removed. I think he’s a penalty we pay until we’re ready to buyout. Or increase his value by sheltering his minutes. 
 

im not opposed to any of the philosophy here, just the realism of the moves. And that isn’t Adam’s fault (going forward), but you can blame him for being here in the first place. But I give him the benefit of the doubt of not having us with long term forward contracts with Cozens, Mittelstadt, Skinner, Peterka, etc. was a whole lot of money tied into the perimeter 

I don't think DAL can take on Byram's salary.  It was also reported that they'd want futures for him.

[Dr. Who]

18 minutes ago, Turbo44 said:

I don't think DAL can take on Byram's salary.  It was also reported that they'd want futures for him.

You'd have to turn Byram into futures and picks, and use that as part of the package to get Robertson.

Edited 5 hours ago by Dr. Who

[Turbo44]

1 hour ago, Dr. Who said:

You'd have to turn Byram into futures and picks, and use that as part of the package to get Robertson.

Quite possibly which means KA doing 2 things at once which means it ain't happening as KA struggles with one thing at once