Jarmo first move(s) with free agency two weeks away?

[GASabresIUFAN]

Free Agency starts July 1.  I expect the trade market to heat up as free agency draws near. I also expect key extensions to start hitting the news. 
 

So what are Jarmo’s first move(s)?

Re-sign Tuch?  Re-sign Benson?  Trade some dead weight to create cap space like Greenway? Or does he go full blockbuster and get Larkin or Thomas? 

Edited June 16 by GASabresIUFAN

[PromoTheRobot]

Don't get too excited. Despite winning the division and breaking the drought, Buffalo is still a not a destination for many players. Especially the ones we are dreaming of.

[msw2112]

17 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Don't get too excited. Despite winning the division and breaking the drought, Buffalo is still a not a destination for many players. Especially the ones we are dreaming of.

I think the Sabres have moved from "avoid at all costs" to "I might consider it."  Given how well the team did this year, the youth of the team (meaning that the window for success should be open for several years to come), the positive vibes coming out of the locker room (guys ask around before joining a team), and the style of play (fast-paced, puck moving), the Sabres could have some appeal to players around the league.  Plus, Jarmo comes across as a much stronger leader than Adams, and probably the same can probably be said about Ruff vs. Granato (and I like Granato and don't hate Adams).  A lot of guys also like the location - near Southern Ontario, where a lot of guys are from, but in the U.S.

So while I don't see guys lining up to come to Buffalo or demanding a trade to Buffalo, I think the current team can attract players, including some who may not have wanted to come in recent years.  Prior to the drought, the Sabres never really had a problem getting players to come.

All this said, the salary cap is tight and there's a lot of young, ascending players, so there's not a ton of room for new players.  I also believe in staying the course, to a large extent.  We suffered all those years waiting for the youth to develop, and now it's finally happening.  I don't think trading a lot of it away is the best course.  I could see one significant move where the team moves on from one of its young stars for a veteran player at a position of need, but I don't think blowing the whole thing up makes any sense.  Trading draft assets to a rebuilding team would be best, although now that they're picking later in the draft, the Sabres' picks (including their 1st) are not that valuable.  A package of picks, including the Sabres' 1st rounder, might net a decent player, but they don't have too much to offer.

[thewookie1]

My guess would be Benson as it will effectively give us an answer on Tuch.

[krakensabr56390]

Free agency is a crappy way to build a team anyways - trade will be the way and unless we’re on no trades still this matters less - Parayko seemed less about Buffalo and more about out wanting to be out west - nothing to do about that 

[pi2000]

expect Jarmo to fill some depth spots... replacements for Malenstyn, Dunne, Stanley.

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, msw2112 said:

I think the Sabres have moved from "avoid at all costs" to "I might consider it."  Given how well the team did this year, the youth of the team (meaning that the window for success should be open for several years to come), the positive vibes coming out of the locker room (guys ask around before joining a team), and the style of play (fast-paced, puck moving), the Sabres could have some appeal to players around the league.  Plus, Jarmo comes across as a much stronger leader than Adams, and probably the same can probably be said about Ruff vs. Granato (and I like Granato and don't hate Adams).  A lot of guys also like the location - near Southern Ontario, where a lot of guys are from, but in the U.S.

So while I don't see guys lining up to come to Buffalo or demanding a trade to Buffalo, I think the current team can attract players, including some who may not have wanted to come in recent years.  Prior to the drought, the Sabres never really had a problem getting players to come.

All this said, the salary cap is tight and there's a lot of young, ascending players, so there's not a ton of room for new players.  I also believe in staying the course, to a large extent.  We suffered all those years waiting for the youth to develop, and now it's finally happening.  I don't think trading a lot of it away is the best course.  I could see one significant move where the team moves on from one of its young stars for a veteran player at a position of need, but I don't think blowing the whole thing up makes any sense.  Trading draft assets to a rebuilding team would be best, although now that they're picking later in the draft, the Sabres' picks (including their 1st) are not that valuable.  A package of picks, including the Sabres' 1st rounder, might net a decent player, but they don't have too much to offer.

We sure give Jarmo a lot of credit before he's done anything. Let's hope that faith is rewarded.

Edited June 16 by PromoTheRobot

[PromoTheRobot]

23 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

expect Jarmo to fill some depth spots... replacements for Malenstyn, Dunne, Stanley.

Bryson and Rosen were not big losses but I still feel like we overpaid for Shenn and Stanley, especially when you add in the 2nd and conditional 4th picks, and that neither player added anything and are now leaving. That trade felt like a panic move as the deadline was approaching. Rosen was a trade chip we could use now instead of moving a Kulich, Östlund or Helenius.

Edited June 16 by PromoTheRobot

[Nacho Libre]

26 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

We sure give Jarmo a lot of credit before he's done anything. Let's hope that faith is rewarded.

This HAS to be satire. 

has to be

Edited June 16 by Nacho Libre
😭😭😭😭😭😭

[ska-T Chitown]

52 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

expect Jarmo to fill some depth spots... replacements for Malenstyn, Dunne, Stanley.

I will be sad to see Malenstyn go, if he goes. Fast, plays hard, throws hands, interviews well, and handsome!

[JKB1646]

4 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Don't get too excited. Despite winning the division and breaking the drought, Buffalo is still a not a destination for many players. Especially the ones we are dreaming of.

TO is the #1 team, per Elliot Friedman, on players NMC. This means when asked to submit a list of which teams are a no go its the Maple Laffs, not the Sabres

[NAF]

32 minutes ago, JKB1646 said:

TO is the #1 team, per Elliot Friedman, on players NMC. This means when asked to submit a list of which teams are a no go its the Maple Laffs, not the Sabres

When did he say this? I believe you but am surprised to hear it. Considering that many NHLers are from the GTA, Toronto is a relatively nice city, the team is pretty good, and the fans are great I’d have thought it was a top destination for some players. Perhaps the media and taxes drive some guys away?

[Pimlach]

4 hours ago, pi2000 said:

expect Jarmo to fill some depth spots... replacements for Malenstyn, Dunne, Stanley.

I think Ruff would appreciate an effort to try to keep Malenstyn.   What would it take in USD?  

[Standing Room Smoking Cigs]

I'd move a goalie before or at the draft. Don't ask me which one!

[Doohickie]

I hear he's going to plant some palm trees. 

Then he's going to negotiate with the Seneca Nation to get the reservation that is Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino expanded westward, encompassing all of KBC. 

Once Terry contracts with the Seneca Nation to become the operator of KBC and all events there, making income derived therefrom tax free, he's going to sign not only Alex Tuch, but Rasmus Andersson, John Carlson and Viktor Arvidsson also, all with those tax free discounts.

Edited June 17 by Doohickie

[Cranky old man]

5 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Bryson and Rosen were not big losses but I still feel like we overpaid for Shenn and Stanley, especially when you add in the 2nd and conditional 4th picks, and that neither player added anything and are now leaving. That trade felt like a panic move as the deadline was approaching. Rosen was a trade chip we could use now instead of moving a Kulich, Östlund or Helenius.

I wish this was my analysis but it’s not: Those trades were in preparation for a series with Tampa. The Habs flipped the script and rendered the moves a negative. Stanley was just too slow and seemed to avoid every opportunity to fight. He was injured at some point but Ruff kept him in the line up too long. I didn’t mind Schenn in limited minutes, he brought something the team lacked in experience and grit. What the Sabres have to give up certainly depends a lot on who they seek. Any big name (Pettersson, Hellibyck, etc) is going to cost one of those guys and more. Rosen wouldn’t get that deal done. So, in hindsight, it didn’t work against the speedy Montreal line up. I don’t think those were bad deals at the time. They made sense. 

[PromoTheRobot]

3 hours ago, JKB1646 said:

TO is the #1 team, per Elliot Friedman, on players NMC. This means when asked to submit a list of which teams are a no go its the Maple Laffs, not the Sabres

An AI search says Winnipeg and Buffalo are usually tops in the league. No mention of Toronto. While I'm sure some players want to avoid a pressure cooker market like Toronto, I doubt it's the top NMC market.

[Cranky old man]

I wonder about a guy like Ilya Mikheyev to pick up some of what we lose if Tuch leaves (seems likely)

Winger, Shoots Left, Age 31: 

Previous contract

4 years, $4,750,000 AAV

2025-26 stats

77 GP, 18 G, 36 PTS, 17:26 ATOI

“A big winger capable of playing up and down the lineup, Mikheyev brings a fair amount of versatility. He’s been deployed as a penalty-killer throughout his NHL career and is a threat to score short-handed. There have been discussions with Chicago on an extension, but they haven’t produced much traction.”

The Athletic projects 3 years at $3.45M for his next contract.

[Big Guava]

Gather round...

He's the new fool in town,

And his sounds laid down by the Underground...

He'll drink up all the Hennessey you got on your shelf...

So just let him introduce himself...

 

[Turbo44]

Guessing Beck will be his first move. 3 years $8million. So 2.67m per 

[dudacek]

44 minutes ago, Turbo44 said:

Guessing Beck will be his first move. 3 years $8million. So 2.67m per 

Not a big fan of teams prioritizing 4th liners.

I wanna know what’s going to happen with Benson, Byram, Tuch/Tuch replacement before I start eating up the limited cap space.

[dudacek]

1 hour ago, Cranky old man said:

I wonder about a guy like Ilya Mikheyev to pick up some of what we lose if Tuch leaves (seems likely)

Winger, Shoots Left, Age 31: 

Previous contract

4 years, $4,750,000 AAV

2025-26 stats

77 GP, 18 G, 36 PTS, 17:26 ATOI

“A big winger capable of playing up and down the lineup, Mikheyev brings a fair amount of versatility. He’s been deployed as a penalty-killer throughout his NHL career and is a threat to score short-handed. There have been discussions with Chicago on an extension, but they haven’t produced much traction.”

The Athletic projects 3 years at $3.45M for his next contract.

Do you plan to start him ahead of Doan, Benson, Quinn, Zucker, Kulich, Östlund, Helenius, Norris, Thompson or McLeod?

Even without Tuch, this team has no need for middle six wingers.

[PerreaultForever]

I doubt he does much in free agency. 

Assuming they are not signing Stanley, maybe D depth. Lauzon might be good and shouldn't be too expensive as an example. 

I think he will look to trade Kesselring, Krebs and Levi (and unsuccessfully Greenway but we'll never hear about it)

He will sign Benson and Byram. Tuch will leave.

That's your team.

[GASabresIUFAN]

14 hours ago, pi2000 said:

expect Jarmo to fill some depth spots... replacements for Malenstyn, Dunne, Stanley.

My guess is that actually keep Kesselring over Stanley, but Malenstyn is the interesting decision.  I would think Ruff wants him back and that has to carry some sway with Jarmo.

I do think Greenway is the first cap casualty if they can find a taker.  I’m also worried that he could trade Byram if the contract negotiations aren’t going well.  Could you get a Larkin or Thomas for Byram? 

[sabrefanday1]

36 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

My guess is that actually keep Kesselring over Stanley, but Malenstyn is the interesting decision.  I would think Ruff wants him back and that has to carry some sway with Jarmo.

I do think Greenway is the first cap casualty if they can find a taker.  I’m also worried that he could trade Byram if the contract negotiations aren’t going well.  Could you get a Larkin or Thomas for Byram? 

It is pivital that they either sign Bo or start the process of trading him NOW, and not wat like they did with Tuch, which was clearly another blunder as with Briere and Drury, when we lost both for nothing, which really set the team back. A package with Bo among others should get us Thomas whichj woukd help losing Tuch (which we will no doubt).  Tuch was poor asset management and fear we will do same with Bo...  

Edited June 17 by sabrefanday1