The return of the Tom Webster predict the offseason contest.

[SABRES 0311]

Tuch leaves.

Levi, Lyon, and Ellis are the three headed monster until Levi shows he’s not dependable at the NHL level.

UPL to EDM.

Greenway, Kesserling, Schenn are gone.

Norris+ for Thomas

Benson and Byram get resigned but not for a full eight years because both will want more money when the cap goes up and up.

Benson Thomas Thompson

Doan Östlund Quinn

Kulich McLeod Helenius

Malenstyn Krebs Zucker

Kozak

 

Dahlin Muel

Power Byram

Timmins Metsa

Stanley

Lyon

Ellus/Levi

 

[elijah]

Tuch resigns 8yr/$10.25M

Benson (unfortunately) bridges 2yr/$4.75M

Byram gets extended 6yr/$7.25M

Krebs walks and gets paid $4M+ AAV

Josh Norris + Jiri Kulich + Mrtka + 1st for Robert Thomas

Levi to the Oilers for a 3rd (could see Nugent-Hopkins being a sneaky trade target) 

Malenstyn resigns 3yr/$2.25M

Jordan Greenway + picks gets traded to clear cap in the first move of the like we’ve seen in forever thankfully 

Edited May 26 by elijah

[Indabuff]

38 minutes ago, Carmel Corn said:

I don't expect much significant change during the summer......which will leave me sadly disappointed:

 

There better be some change or I'm gonna be pissed.  They can't run this same unit back and expect the same results.  Upgrade or die trying.  

 

[JohnC]

Tuch moves on because a suitable contract can’t be worked out to satisfy the negotiating parties.

Stanley gets a better contract elsewhere. So Kesserling is retained.

Kulich, Östlund and Helenius make the roster.

Our goalie staffing stays the same. 

Greenway is cut loose.

For the most part, the GM decides to follow my recommendation and stay the course.

I get viciously booed by the disreputable crowd for the cautious approach to this roster that I’m promoting. 😋

 

 

 

[LGR4GM]

Tuch leaves for richer pastures 

Dunne, Pearson, Stanley and Schenn are not retained

Greenway is traded at the draft for a 3rd rnd pick with 1million retained

Kesselring is signed to a bit over his qualifying offer for 2yrs, I also think he turns it around

Byram gets an ext of 5yrs 8.5million

The Sabres trade for Hellebyuck (UPL, Levi, 2027 1st top 5 protected, and Radim Mrtka)

Sabres trade for Robert Thomas (Östlund, Norris, 2026 1st round pick, Ryan Johnson)

Helenius, Kulich, Metsa are all on the opening night roster

Zach Benson 8yr extension (8x8.25)

Krebs get 3.75 for 4yrs

Malenstyn gets 2.75 for 3yrs

This should fit under the cap if I did math correct.

[#freejame]

Tuch walks

Greenway traded with a high pick

Malenstyn, Pearson, Shenn and Stanley walk

Dunne 1 year deal

Benson 7/8 year deal

Byram 7/8 year deal

Östlund + Norris + 1st for Thomas

Kesselring 2 year deal

Krebs 4 year deal

UPL and Levi both moved

Mystery goalie brought in for 1A role/competition

 

Krebs-Thomas-Thompson

Benson-McLeod-Doan

Kulich-Helenius-Zucker

Kozak-Carrick-Danforth

Extra: Dunne

 

Dahlin-Samuellson

Power-Byram

?-Kesselring

Extra: Metsa

 

Mystery Goalie

Lyon

Ellis

 

 

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Tuch leaves for richer pastures 

Dunne, Pearson, Stanley and Schenn are not retained

Greenway is traded at the draft for a 3rd rnd pick with 1million retained

Kesselring is signed to a bit over his qualifying offer for 2yrs, I also think he turns it around

Byram gets an ext of 5yrs 8.5million

The Sabres trade for Hellebyuck (UPL, Levi, 2027 1st top 5 protected, and Radim Mrtka)

Sabres trade for Robert Thomas (Östlund, Norris, 2026 1st round pick, Ryan Johnson)

Helenius, Kulich, Metsa are all on the opening night roster

Zach Benson 8yr extension (8x8.25)

Krebs get 3.75 for 4yrs

Malenstyn gets 2.75 for 3yrs

This should fit under the cap if I did math correct.

This is what I would like to see happen.   UPL an Levi for Helly?  Go for it but not sure that will get it done.  

Östlund and Norris for Thomas?  Is there a chance that Östlund has a similar ceiling than Thomas?  

The only "Add" I make is that they get someone that plays and fights for the 4th line Greenway replacement.  I think both Ruff and Jarmo like a guy like that on the roster.  

[Archie Lee]

- Tuch is traded to Seattle in a sign and trade deal for Tampa's 1st in 2027 

- Jarmo gets a bad feeling about Byram and revisits discussions with Armstrong in St. Louis. The Blues agree to an extension with Byram,.  Thomas and Parayko agree to waive for the Sabres. The trade is Thomas, Parayko and a 3rd for Byram, Norris, Östlund, Mrtka and a 1st. There is much anger over losing Byram and Östlund.

- Levi is dealt to the Oilers for a midround pick 

- Greenway is bought out at $1.33 million x 2

- Benson ($7.5 x 7), Krebs ($3.75 x 4), and Kesselring ($2.4 x2) extend

- Malenstyn, Stanley, Pearson, Schenn leave.  The Sabres try to sign Malenstyn, but he signs a UFA deal with a Western team for $3.5 x 4.

- Dunne comes back but is waived and is the captain in Rochester to start the year.

- The season opening cap is $102,371,765.  Depth is significantly depleted, but the teams successfully relies on call-ups throughout the year of Dunne, Fiddler-Schultz, and Wahlberg up front, and Johnson and Komorov on defence.

- Sabres finish 1st in the Atlantic and in the East with 114 points.  Win cup in 21 games.

 

 

[PerreaultForever]

Stanley goes to free agency and is overpaid by the Bruins because they like big and stupid. 

Schenn is actually re-signed by Sabres to league minimum 1 year. 

Pearson, was he ever here?

Tuch, calls his realtor. 

Mrtka, Kesselring, Kulich, McLeod plus possibly a first in 2027 for Thomas

(Binnington, UPL/Ellis possibly also involved in that deal but unlikely)

Benson gets Doan contract

Byram signed to something like Power.

They probably don't give Malentstyn what he wants and he goes back to Washington or to Carolina. We sign some sort of 4th liner like Greer or Eyesimont or somebody else like that. 

Krebs traded for a draft pick. 

Levi traded for a draft pick. 

[TageMVP]

More like hoping 

Tuch signs 

Krebs gets traded or not resigned 

Benson gets signed 

Dont care too much about any Jarmo trade acquisitions. I like Schenns stay at home style but he's getting old 

UPL has two good years in a row instead of alternating years. Hes done that since his rookie season 

Dont really care about Lyon whether he stays or goes. Trading for a no.1 goalie seems impossible and would probly take too much 

And 

Get McDavid lol 

[PerreaultForever]

3 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Östlund and Norris for Thomas?  Is there a chance that Östlund has a similar ceiling than Thomas?  

I would make that trade but I don't think it's realistic. The ceiling doesn't matter because it's a win now vs. win later scenario. Where we are now at if we get the best current player in the trade we win the trade. Is the team better now, we win the trade, Years from now who cares. 

Having said that I do not think you can move Norris. Injury history and contract make him undesirable. No rebuild wants that unless they have a cap floor situation. So I think the guy you want to throw in there is McLeod as part of a larger group of prospects. He's their fill in while they rebuild and wait for prospects and if we add a Thomas and Helenius plays there's no McLeod roster spot for us. 

I like Östlund. I like Helenius. I also like Kulich (assuming healthy) and Mrtka but I'd let those two go in the deal as they cause no impact to our current roster. 

[Pimlach]

2 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

I would make that trade but I don't think it's realistic. The ceiling doesn't matter because it's a win now vs. win later scenario. Where we are now at if we get the best current player in the trade we win the trade. Is the team better now, we win the trade, Years from now who cares. 

Having said that I do not think you can move Norris. Injury history and contract make him undesirable. No rebuild wants that unless they have a cap floor situation. So I think the guy you want to throw in there is McLeod as part of a larger group of prospects. He's their fill in while they rebuild and wait for prospects and if we add a Thomas and Helenius plays there's no McLeod roster spot for us. 

I like Östlund. I like Helenius. I also like Kulich (assuming healthy) and Mrtka but I'd let those two go in the deal as they cause no impact to our current roster. 

Agree with the win now strategy. 

Östlund's ceiling matters because he could reach is soon.   Is he an 85 point guy?   Thomas is, and he possibly could be 100 point guy if playing with the right players.  

[PerreaultForever]

1 minute ago, Pimlach said:

Agree with the win now strategy. 

Östlund's ceiling matters because he could reach is soon.   Is he an 85 point guy?   Thomas is, and he possibly could be 100 point guy if playing with the right players.  

Well that's true and that's why I'm reluctant to include him in a Thomas deal. I suspect his ceiling is 3-4 years away but he definitely looks like he could be a top 6 guy. I'd like to see him add strength and muscle, but he should. 

If giving up Östlund lets you move the Norris contract (as per your trade suggestion) I do it as that will help down the road as well in terms of cap and paying Helenius etc. in time. Otherwise, he's in my list of reluctant to move guys. 

[LGR4GM]

Jason Robertson is an RFA. Just something to think on, I hope Jarmo is. 

[tom webster]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Jason Robertson is an RFA. Just something to think on, I hope Jarmo is. 

If you’re thinking RFA, I’d go after Leo Carlsson. I’d give up four firsts for him.

[irregularly irregular]

Jarmo makes one big move on top of signing Tuch to a fairly team friendly deal. $8.5M for 8 with the majority front loaded into the first 5 seasons and easy to trade (if necessary) numbers in the last 3 seasons.

Thompson/UPL/Mrtka/2027 protected first for McDavid who signs a new contract. Add Krebs if needed to seal the deal. 

Boom. Done. 

 

[tom webster]

10 hours ago, #freejame said:

Tuch walks

Greenway traded with a high pick

Malenstyn, Pearson, Shenn and Stanley walk

Dunne 1 year deal

Benson 7/8 year deal

Byram 7/8 year deal

Östlund + Norris + 1st for Thomas

Kesselring 2 year deal

Krebs 4 year deal

UPL and Levi both moved

Mystery goalie brought in for 1A role/competition

 

Krebs-Thomas-Thompson

Benson-McLeod-Doan

Kulich-Helenius-Zucker

Kozak-Carrick-Danforth

Extra: Dunne

 

Dahlin-Samuellson

Power-Byram

?-Kesselring

Extra: Metsa

 

Mystery Goalie

Lyon

Ellis

 

 

You forgot about Quinn

[TageMVP]

4 hours ago, tom webster said:

If you’re thinking RFA, I’d go after Leo Carlsson. I’d give up four firsts for him.

Anaheim scoffs at that

I would offer 4 1sts though

I would also go after Robertson but Dallas would be nuts to move him 

Best bet is probly the legend Robert Thomas. Jarmo tried and was very close it seems. Get him and id be 10x more excited for the upcoming season 

[GoPuckYourself]

Trade- 1st round pick 2026 (protected), 2nd round pick 2028, 3rd round pick 2027, RW Jack Quinn (3.38M AAV), C/F Jiri Kulich (887K AAV), RHD Radim Mrtka (974K AAV) to the St. Louis Blues for C Robert Thomas (8.13M AAV), G Jordan Binnington (6M AAV). 

Trade- G UPL (4.75M AAV) to the Edmonton Oilers for 2030 2nd round pick

Trade- LW/RW Jordan Greenway (4M AAV), 2026 5th round pick to the Vancouver Canucks for a 2026 5th round pick (VAN)

Through trades we shed 13.99M and take on 14.13M so we add 140K of cap with those deals. It's said the St. Louis Blues want the equivalent of 4- 1st round picks for Thomas which they get in this deal, Binnington imo would be an upgrade to UPL and he's on his last year of his deal so getting a 2nd and 3rd round pick for a rental is decent value for the Blues and Sabres.

Free Agency-

a long term deal for Benson (along the lines of Doan)

restructure Bowen Byram long term

Re-sign Logan Stanley to a bridge deal 2 years ( I want to see what he can do)

Sign RW Anthony Mantha 2 years 7M (3.5M AAV)

Nothing crazy just add and re-add size and get the guys who killed it for us signed up long term. I want to see what Stanley can do in a full season under Ruff, Anthony mantha can actually add skill that Greenway couldn't and he plays the penalty kill also.

 

Line1 - LW Benson C Thomas RW Thompson

Line 2- LW Östlund C Norris RW Doan

Line 3- LW Zucker C McLeod RW Mantha

Line 4- LW Malenstyn C Carrick RW Krebs

Helenius for Mantha? I'm not sure if Ruff wants him up yet.

 

 

 

 

 

[...]

Quite the puzzle. I feel as though I have more control over an Uno game than sussing out the Sabres' off-season.

[tom webster]

3 hours ago, TageMVP said:

Anaheim scoffs at that

I would offer 4 1sts though

I would also go after Robertson but Dallas would be nuts to move him 

Best bet is probly the legend Robert Thomas. Jarmo tried and was very close it seems. Get him and id be 10x more excited for the upcoming season 

The four first wasn’t a trade offer, that’s the price for signing a RFA. They probably match but who knows.

[Doohickie]

On 5/25/2026 at 11:55 AM, Taro T said:

Krebs gets an offer sheet the Sabres don't match.

[LGR4GM]

12 hours ago, tom webster said:

If you’re thinking RFA, I’d go after Leo Carlsson. I’d give up four firsts for him.

I think they match. I'd give him 11 million x7 July 1 without blinking. 

[Flashsabre]

Leo Carlsson is a special player. No way do the Ducks let him walk. Him and Senneke will be dangerous for years in Anaheim

[Flashsabre]

The Sabres lose the Co-Captains on July 1st after fumbling the contract negotiations but are convinced they can be replaced by the younger talent on the roster….,,,,oh wait wrong timeline😛😁