Is Adams done with his "overhaul" of the Sabres 25-26 roster?

[GASabresIUFAN]

I think he's probably done.  The only moves I think he has left is possibly trading someone like Kozak, Bryson, Malenstyn or Ryan Johnson, but those type of moves are likely during the pre-season.  I believe the Byram signing signals the end of any major Adams moves before next season.

I believe these are your 25-26 Buffalo Sabres.  

Forwards

Thompson Kulich Benson

Quinn Norris Tuch

Zucker McLeod Greenway

Danforth Krebs Doan (Malenstyn, Kozak)

Defense

Dahlin Byram

Power Kesselring

Samuelsson Timmins

Bryson (Johnson)

Goalies

UPL, Lyons (Levi back to Rochester - He's waiver exempt)

Another season millions from the cap and another missed opportunity top build a playoff team.

*note: RFAs Levi and Timmins remain unsigned.

Edited 12 hours ago by GASabresIUFAN

[dudacek]

I would feel a lot better about the forwards if everyone would stop putting in a 24-point sophomore as the 1C. He’s not and everybody understands that, right?

In answer to your question, they have the need, the space and the assets to add a good forward.

I will believe it when I see it.

[Taro T]

Still expecting one more move at F.  Really not sure if it'll be a Rust level (top 6) or more of Chinakov (middle 6) move.

Expecting the back end is set.

Sadly, expect the coaching staff is set too.

 

Realize the past 4 years say we should expect to end up with about $5MM in cap space based on where they are now; but just can't believe they really are going to do that again and expect them to end up more like $2MM under when all the dust has settled.

[DarthEbriate]

31 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

The only moves I think he has left is possibly trading someone like Kozak, Bryson, Malenstyn or Ryan Johnson,

I would love to see what the GM of a competing franchise offers for Bryson in a trade.

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 minute ago, DarthEbriate said:

I would love to see what the GM of a competing franchise offers for Bryson in a trade.

[DarthEbriate]

7 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I would feel a lot better about the forwards if everyone would stop putting in a 24-point sophomore as the 1C. He’s not and everybody understands that, right?

In answer to your question, they have the need, the space and the assets to add a good forward.

I will believe it when I see it.

I hope we all know that. But, they liked his all-around game. He certainly has potential to be a 2C in the right conditions/lineup, but I think we've all generally thought of him as the 3C type who can be dangerous because of his plus shot.

[DarthEbriate]

1 minute ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

If we play him in the top 4... he's a top 4 d-man. And going by Adams' words, then his value in a trade is 1:1 for a top 6 forward. Get it done!

[dudacek]

Depth chart (hierarchy, not lines)

Zucker Norris Thompson

Benson McLeod Tuch

Greenway Kulich Quinn

Malenstyn Krebs Doan

Rosen Kozak Danforth

Dunne Östlund Helenius

 

Power Dahlin*

Byram Kesselring

Samuelsson Timmons

Jones Bryson*

Novikov Johnson*

 

Luukkonen

Lyon

Levi

Ratzlaff

*offhand

Edited 13 hours ago by dudacek

[Pimlach]

18 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

I would love to see what the GM of a competing franchise offers for Bryson in a trade.

[dudacek]

Lines-wise I think

Thompson/Norris should be a thing and Benson is the best choice to ride shotgun.

I think McLeod/Tuch is going to win a lot of matchups.

And I really like the idea of Zucker continuing his mentorship of Kulich on line 3.

I could see Greenway fitting in with either of those units, with Quinn or Doan working on the other.

Or run Quinn and Doan with Kulich on a sheltered line and put Zucker with McLeod and Tuch for offensive situations and Greenway for defensive.

[Thorny]

1 hour ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Forwards

Benson Kulich Thompson

FTFY sorry I just  

27 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

I hope we all know that. But, they liked his all-around game. He certainly has potential to be a 2C in the right conditions/lineup, but I think we've all generally thought of him as the 3C type who can be dangerous because of his plus shot.

Wasn’t he lined up at 1C at time last year? I really tuned out towards the end

[Thorny]

20 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Depth chart (hierarchy, not lines)

Zucker Norris Thompson

Benson McLeod Tuch

Greenway Kulich Quinn

Malenstyn Krebs Doan

Rosen Kozak Danforth

Dunne Östlund Helenius

 

Power Dahlin*

Byram Kesselring

Samuelsson Timmons

Jones Bryson*

Novikov Johnson*

 

Luukkonen

Lyon

Levi

Ratzlaff

*offhand

I could see that being the lines tbh merely switching benson and Zucker. And honestly I don’t know where the centres like up

if I was lining up to win a hockey game, right now, McLeod is the one C. I think when Norris is slotted there it’s at least partially the “idea” of Norris and I think when Kulich is there it’s basically an attempt to visually minimize the lines that look wonky (properly slot McLeod and Norris) and basically hope he’s masked by Tage’s shadow 

[LabattBlue]

Adams doesn’t know if he is done until he asks Terry.  😂

[Thorny]

The benson Zucker switch is balance and I do expect it for fit too, Kulich OR Norris at 1C as we need a playmaker on that line, with Tage on other side 

If I wanted to win a game right now 5 V 5 I’d probably line up 

Zucker - McLeod - Thompson

Byram - Dahlin

- - - 

you could extrapolate the full top 12 from there actually (I just think they may lean Benson - Norris on top line beside Tage to maximize offensive upside)

Zucker - McLeod - Thompson

Benson - Norris - Tuch

Doan - Kulich - Quinn

Greenway - Krebs - Danforth

would probably be my “win at 6 pm tonight” lineup. Maybe switch greenway w/doan if I’m falling victim to shiny new toy

- - - 

As for the question…I think we are close to done ya. Maybe a depth add somewhere but I doubt something at least consequential like a Roslovic or something 

Edited 12 hours ago by Thorny

[LGR4GM]

I went with hope but in my heart, I know we're done. 

[Night Train]

7 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I went with hope but in my heart, I know we're done. 

Ditto. 

I will wait for the actual line combo's and D pairings. Camp will sort that out. Not buying any of the combo's listed above.

Byram believes he's playing with our Captain, which is fine. 

Goalie still worries me. UPL turned into a head case last year. Can he rebound ?  

[Broken Ankles]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

Lines-wise I think

Thompson/Norris should be a thing and Benson is the best choice to ride shotgun.

I think McLeod/Tuch is going to win a lot of matchups.

And I really like the idea of Zucker continuing his mentorship of Kulich on line 3.

I could see Greenway fitting in with either of those units, with Quinn or Doan working on the other.

Or run Quinn and Doan with Kulich on a sheltered line and put Zucker with McLeod and Tuch for offensive situations and Greenway for defensive.

  How can you say in sequential posts how crazy the fan base is to even consider Kulich starting on FL1, then follow it up with penciling in Benson there?  I think the fact either starting there is equally egregious.  In fact it kind of explains the impotence of the organization, doesn’t it?.  There are zero 10 goal/28 point forwards slotted on the first line around the league. Benson had the same point total as Krebs, with better line mates, and a higher ATOI.  No one is clamoring for Krebs to play alongside Tage. Until Benson puts up a 20 goal season like JJP, then first line LW should not be a consideration. 

   In terms of age and pedigree, why would Quinn not supersede Benson in the overall hierarchy?  I think it’s more probable than not he out points both Kulich and Benson.  

[LGR4GM]

5 minutes ago, Broken Ankles said:

  How can you say in sequential posts how crazy the fan base is to even consider Kulich starting on FL1, then follow it up with penciling in Benson there?  I think the fact either starting there is equally egregious.  In fact it kind of explains the impotence of the organization, doesn’t it?.  There are zero 10 goal/28 point forwards slotted on the first line around the league. Benson had the same point total as Krebs, with better line mates, and a higher ATOI.  No one is clamoring for Krebs to play alongside Tage. Until Benson puts up a 20 goal season like JJP, then first line LW should not be a consideration. 

   In terms of age and pedigree, why would Quinn not supersede Benson in the overall hierarchy?  I think it’s more probable than not he out points both Kulich and Benson.  

Because Benson is elite defensively and 2 of the "better" players he had were Cozens, a guy who can't shoot for *****, and first half Quinn who wouldn't score on a goalie until December. It's unclear if Benson sticks there though. 

[Broken Ankles]

6 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Because Benson is elite defensively and 2 of the "better" players he had were Cozens, a guy who can't shoot for *****, and first half Quinn who wouldn't score on a goalie until December. It's unclear if Benson sticks there though. 

Elite defensive forwards play on FL2 against an another teams first line (when at home and you can matchup better).  I have no issues with him moving up to a second line role (assuming Greenway/Zucker aren’t both injured or producing). I also now he is an analytics darling and loved by the masses on SS.  But you need your best talent on the first line.  Tage/Norris/Tuch.  These are known quantities. Men who score goals.  

[LGR4GM]

6 minutes ago, Broken Ankles said:

Elite defensive forwards play on FL2 against an another teams first line (when at home and you can matchup better).  I have no issues with him moving up to a second line role (assuming Greenway/Zucker aren’t both injured or producing). I also now he is an analytics darling and loved by the masses on SS.  But you need your best talent on the first line.  Tage/Norris/Tuch.  These are known quantities. Men who score goals.  

Greenway is a 4th line guy when healthy. I think Tage - Norris - Tuch as a line has a playmaking deficiency, it also means other teams can match all their good D players against 1 line. 

[mjd1001]

4 hours ago, dudacek said:

I would feel a lot better about the forwards if everyone would stop putting in a 24-point sophomore as the 1C. He’s not and everybody understands that, right?

In answer to your question, they have the need, the space and the assets to add a good forward.

I will believe it when I see it.

You may be correct, but to me I look at him as a 'unit', him and Tage.   As I posted a week or two ago, as a combo, the two of them meshed so well they were one of the most dangerous combos in the league.  It wasn't just 2-3 games, in almost 20 games together, when they were on the ice they scored goals at a greater pace than Draisaitl/McDavid and Matthews/Marner.   Now, can you EXPECT that level of production to continue? Probably not, but I don't think its unreasonable to think it can tale a step back and still be really good.

In 352 minutes played together, when they were on the ice even strength, the Sabres scored a goal about every 12.5 minutes.  That is super, super productive.  Again, since it wasn't over 20 minutes, or even 80-100, it was over 352 minutes (not a small sample size), I think it would be silly to not see where that combo can go this year.

For comparison, Draisaitl/McDavid scored a goal together on the ice ES last year in just over 400 minutes once every 13.1 minutes..and their career numbers together are close to once every 14 minutes.

Edited 8 hours ago by mjd1001

[Pimlach]

5 hours ago, Pimlach said:

OK Mr @7+6=13 wow me with your hockey knowledge. 

The question was "what will an NHL GM offer for Bryson"?   You disliked my response,  i.e. loose change (like a 6th rounder, a grade b prospect, or a minor league tweener).  The the guy is an undersized career 7-8 defenseman on a bottom tier team.   The guy is decent skater that moves the puck when he has room, but he gets into big trouble under a forecheck, and he cannot clear the net front.  He is not much offensively, does  play PP, and should not play PK.  

You seem to have other thoughts.    What is the correct answer?  What will Bryson get on the trade market?   

[7+6=13]

29 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

OK Mr @7+6=13 wow me with your hockey knowledge. 

The question was "what will an NHL GM offer for Bryson"?   You disliked my response,  i.e. loose change (like a 6th rounder, a grade b prospect, or a minor league tweener).  The the guy is an undersized career 7-8 defenseman on a bottom tier team.   The guy is decent skater that moves the puck when he has room, but he gets into big trouble under a forecheck, and he cannot clear the net front.  He is not much offensively, does  play PP, and should not play PK.  

You seem to have other thoughts.    What is the correct answer?  What will Bryson get on the trade market?   

NHL players can't be traded for money.

[dudacek]

6 hours ago, Broken Ankles said:

  How can you say in sequential posts how crazy the fan base is to even consider Kulich starting on FL1, then follow it up with penciling in Benson there?  I think the fact either starting there is equally egregious.  In fact it kind of explains the impotence of the organization, doesn’t it?.  There are zero 10 goal/28 point forwards slotted on the first line around the league. Benson had the same point total as Krebs, with better line mates, and a higher ATOI.  No one is clamoring for Krebs to play alongside Tage. Until Benson puts up a 20 goal season like JJP, then first line LW should not be a consideration. 

   In terms of age and pedigree, why would Quinn not supersede Benson in the overall hierarchy?  I think it’s more probable than not he out points both Kulich and Benson.  

I think we need Tuch and Tage to be on different lines for sake of balance even if Lindy hadn’t decided they’re both right wings.

I don’t like the heirarchy method of line construction. That said, right now Benson is a better hockey player than Quinn and a better complement to Norris and Thompson in terms of his game.

As far as the Kulich thing goes, 1C was referring to ice time and usage.

Benson’s “1st line” role would be Brieres Hecht or Drury’s Grier.

And yes, it is a sad situation that he’s the teams best option there. Hopefully he grows into it.