Sabres Acquire The 4th Overall Pick, 45 Overall Pick and Defenseman Louis Crevier to Chicago for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway

[Scottysabres]

Larkin asks for a trade…..

Rumors of Hellybuck wanting out in the Peg…

Whispers of Werenski question CBJ direction…

An article about a team USA chat group…,

 

[Night Train]

34 minutes ago, _Q_ said:

Yea let's let him walk for nothing like Tuch.  Makes sense.

1 year left at 6.25 Mil.  

Edited June 18 by Night Train

[The Jokeman]

If the Golden Knights whispers are true does anyone think we could get the rights to Pavel Dorofeyev for Bo? As be a top end RW to replace Tuch. 

[_Q_]

2 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

If we are good and I have a shot at the cup, yea. 

In my mind that is mismanagement of assets.

So we are good and we have a shot and we lose in the 2nd round.  Now we are out Tuch and Byrum with nothing in return?  Your window just closed.  Welcome to the new drought.

Edited June 18 by _Q_

[Night Train]

7 minutes ago, _Q_ said:

In my mind that is mismanagement of assets.

So we are good and we have a shot and we lose in the 2nd round.  Now we are out Tuch and Byrum with nothing in return?  Your window just closed.  Welcome to the new drought.

Alrighty then...

 

[dudacek]

22 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

My intention is not to call out anybody who likes Knies.... But I don't see it. Those who want him here in the worst way, I wonder have they actually watched him play and studied his game just a little bit? 

He is is almost 100% the product of playing with auston Matthews offensively. Yeah there's some good players here but to be honest we don't have an Austin Matthews. 

And he will occasionally use his body, but don't confuse that with being a good forchecker or good defensively. I don't watch every Toronto game, but I probably see 10 to 15 a year and he's not a good forchecker, he's not a good backchecker, he gets a little bit lazy on the back check, falls behind plays, and he's out of position a lot because he chases the puck. 

Now I'm not saying he won't get better... maybe eventually he will turn into a well-rounded player... But he's not it now.

Stylistically he is not a replacement for Alex Tuch in the least.  Tuch is a good skater and an excellent forchecker. When he's on his game, He's also aggressive on the back check. Those are three areas of weakness with Knies. They're both wingers. They're both pretty big and they both can score goals, but stylistically I don't really see much else between them That would make one a direct replacement for the other at all.

 

I wouldn't say I think he's as good as Tuch, or that I want him in the worst way.

I like him because:

• a) he is in the 80th percentile-plus for skating speed, weight and points among all NHL wingers and would be one of the few potential additions that wouldn't represent a dropoff from Tuch in each of these important areas.
• b) he represents a potential cap savings of $2-3M which we need in order to lock up Benson and Byram
• c) he is 23 locked up for another five years and at the beginning of his prime, as opposed to 30 and about to exit it.

I don't actually see him as Tuch's replacement in terms of deployment, long-term that's Benson. I see him as filling Zucker's role as a netfront presence and a nice complement to one of our more pass-first transporters, like Östlund and McLeod, although he's perfectly capable of cleaning up the garbage for the likes of Bennie and/or Tage.

[LGR4GM]

10 minutes ago, _Q_ said:

In my mind that is mismanagement of assets.

So we are good and we have a shot and we lose in the 2nd round.  Now we are out Tuch and Byrum with nothing in return?  Your window just closed.  Welcome to the new drought.

We don't agree. 

[Second Line Center]

50 minutes ago, _Q_ said:

Yea let's let him walk for nothing like Tuch.  Makes sense.

The return won’t be as good as we think - isn’t he taking his status as a UFA right to free agency next summer?

 

What team getting him is going to trade top end pieces for that?

If we’re in the playoff picture he plays out the year.  If we’re out of it we trade him for team’s elite prospects.  
 

Lots of ways this could go.  I’m not opposed to trading him but the return basically has to be Robert Thomas or better.  And that means keeping Norris to if I do that.   

 

[Scottysabres]

Seems odd if it’s the agent and Jarmo can’t even discuss an extension until after the 1st.

I don’t know if this is entirely money related. I feel like Bo’s obsession to be on a 1st pairing may have some sway on this situation. But I’m just guessing. It’s just odd if it were strictly money and they haven’t even heard Jarmo’s #’s yet.

1 minute ago, Second Line Center said:

The return won’t be as good as we think - isn’t he taking his status as a UFA right to free agency next summer?

 

What team getting him is going to trade top end pieces for that?

If we’re in the playoff picture he plays out the year.  If we’re out of it we trade him for team’s elite prospects.  
 

Lots of ways this could go.  I’m not opposed to trading him but the return basically has to be Robert Thomas or better.  And that means keeping Norris to if I do that.   

 

Teams that fully intend to re-sign him.

[EM88]

39 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

You're not letting him walk for nothing. 

It's like the argument that happens at every trade deadline.. "better trade this player now or else you're letting him leave for nothing." 

No, you're not letting him leave for nothing. You are getting his services for one year.  It's like when somebody trades for a rental, you value that person a certain way for a short period of time You are getting him for. 

When the trade deadline came this year, you made a decision that the return you could have got for Tuch was not worth what he could bring to the team for a playoff run.

Also, when you are in a cap League and you are near the salary cap, you are getting the money to do other things With that you would normally pay that person. Opportunity cost. 

That doesn't matter quite as much when you're not a cap team, but when you are a cap team, every dollar you spend, it's about the opportunity cost of what else you could do with it 

Put those two things together.. The opportunity cost of what else you could do with the money, and the fact that you are getting that player's service for a short period of time, and you certainly would not be losing them for nothing.

The whole... Letting him walk for nothing... Is an argument that became antiquated about 20 to 30 years ago. It all depends on the situation. The situation of the player, the situation of the team, and the alternative opportunity cost.

With the one notable exception to the above being if you are not a playoff team and it is regarding a deadline move. When you keep a player on an expiring contract for a team playing the season out.

 

[Second Line Center]

3 minutes ago, Scottysabres said:

Seems odd if it’s the agent and Jarmo can’t even discuss an extension until after the 1st.

I don’t know if this is entirely money related. I feel like Bo’s obsession to be on a 1st pairing may have some sway on this situation. But I’m just guessing. It’s just odd if it were strictly money and they haven’t even heard Jarmo’s #’s yet.

Teams that fully intend to re-sign him.

 

But that’s my point.  Isn’t our concern “he’s going to the market no matter what bc his agent.”  
 

If he’s willing to sign now it should be us.  
 

11 million.  12 million.  Do it.    

[dudacek]

1 minute ago, Scottysabres said:

Seems odd if it’s the agent and Jarmo can’t even discuss an extension until after the 1st.

I don’t know if this is entirely money related. I feel like Bo’s obsession to be on a 1st pairing may have some sway on this situation. But I’m just guessing. It’s just odd if it were strictly money and they haven’t even heard Jarmo’s #’s yet.

They can and have discussed an extension. They can't sign one until July 1.

The trade Tweet, IMO, is about the agent trying to drum up value for his client and leverage in the negotiations, just like he did last summer.

As I said upthread, the real news here (courtesy Brawndo) is that it appears Byram is willing to entertain an extension in Buffalo if the money's right.

[Taro T]

29 minutes ago, Hoss said:

"Whether it's smart or not" is the reason I don't see them doing it, for the record. I imagine @inkman feels the same. The cap is going up significantly, but three $8M+ dmen (especially when at least one is far over that number) is a LOT. I don't imagine that will be a common model across the league, and I'm not super interested in being the first to try it.

It's about 26% (if using $8, $8, $11) of your cap and it's about 24% of the ice time your skaters get (yeah, it neglects goalie time/ cap space) and adding Samuelsson into the mix it's about 31% of each.  Seems pretty reasonable from this kid's perspective.

Btw, welcome back!!!  I 🍺

[oddoublee]

Rank Team Est. Cap % on Defense

1Buffalo Sabres~31.2%Rasmus Dahlin ($11.0M), Owen Power ($8.35M)

2Montreal Canadiens~30.4%Noah Dobson ($9.5M/12M), Lane Hutson ($8.85M/12M)

3Dallas Stars~29.8%Thomas Harley ($10.5M+), Miro Heiskanen ($8.45M)

4Boston Bruins~29.4%Charlie McAvoy ($9.5M)

5Nashville Predators~28.9%Roman Josi ($9.05M), Brady Skjei ($7.0M)

6Edmonton Oilers~28.5%Evan Bouchard ($10.5M), Darnell Nurse ($9.25M)

7New York Rangers~28.2%Adam Fox ($9.5M), Jacob Trouba ($8.0M)

8New Jersey Devils~27.9%Dougie Hamilton ($9.0M), Luke Hughes ($9.0M)

9Vegas Golden Knights~27.4%Alex Pietrangelo ($8.8M), Noah Hanifin ($7.35M)

10Winnipeg Jets~26.8%Josh Morrissey ($6.25M), Neal Pionk ($5.87M)

 

This was generated by AI - so I'm sure there are variables to consider.

We are already at the top in D spending. Is that the right move and we dig in? Interesting question on Bo....

[Hoss]

35 minutes ago, tom webster said:

First, the Sabres would sign him to $8M in a heart beat. He’s looking for $10M.

Second, with a $130M cap it’s right in an appropriate wheelhouse.

I didn’t mean smart because it’s not a good business model. I think if you have the right three it makes sense. I’m not sure he’s worth the $10M.

Also, I would rather pay three defensemen $29M than pay a goaltender $8.5M unless you have one of the top two guys.

I was a little curious how three dmen at about $29M would compare to recent cap percentages spent on the top three, and it's not far off. It'd be about 22.3% of a $130M cap.

The top three active dmen on the final four teams this season (percentage of the 2025-26 cap spent):

- Carolina: $17.5M (18.3%)

- Vegas: $19.325M (20.2%)

- Montreal: $19.925M (20.9%)

- Colorado: $20.75M (21.7%)

All this to say: yup, seems like it would be roughly on par. I'd rather not be super ahead of the curve on this one, though. You would be far above that percentage in the years that the cap isn't $130M yet (and thus significantly above what contenders are doing), and there's the chance the cap trajectory changes.

[Taro T]

19 minutes ago, Scottysabres said:

Seems odd if it’s the agent and Jarmo can’t even discuss an extension until after the 1st.

I don’t know if this is entirely money related. I feel like Bo’s obsession to be on a 1st pairing may have some sway on this situation. But I’m just guessing. It’s just odd if it were strictly money and they haven’t even heard Jarmo’s #’s yet.

Teams that fully intend to re-sign him.

They can discuss an extension anytime they want.  Byram is an employee of the Sabres.  The agent and player cannot talk contract with any other organization without the Sabres express permission.

Byram can't sign on the dotted line of a new contract with the Sabres until July 1.  And he has until the clock strikes midnight on September 15th to put pen to paper on an 8 year deal.

[Hoss]

15 minutes ago, Taro T said:

It's about 26% (if using $8, $8, $11) of your cap and it's about 24% of the ice time your skaters get (yeah, it neglects goalie time/ cap space) and adding Samuelsson into the mix it's about 31% of each.  Seems pretty reasonable from this kid's perspective.

Btw, welcome back!!!  I 🍺

Looping this response in here to the numbers I "crunched" above, since I think it shows that 26% (or even 24%) is significantly too high (and it would be higher, as Byram will get more than $8M).

And thanks! Interestingly, I was still logged in on an old laptop I finally decided to sell and was lurking around and figured I'd say hello.

Edited June 18 by Hoss

[LGR4GM]

5 minutes ago, oddoublee said:

Rank Team Est. Cap % on Defense

1Buffalo Sabres~31.2%Rasmus Dahlin ($11.0M), Owen Power ($8.35M)

2Montreal Canadiens~30.4%Noah Dobson ($9.5M/12M), Lane Hutson ($8.85M/12M)

3Dallas Stars~29.8%Thomas Harley ($10.5M+), Miro Heiskanen ($8.45M)

4Boston Bruins~29.4%Charlie McAvoy ($9.5M)

5Nashville Predators~28.9%Roman Josi ($9.05M), Brady Skjei ($7.0M)

6Edmonton Oilers~28.5%Evan Bouchard ($10.5M), Darnell Nurse ($9.25M)

7New York Rangers~28.2%Adam Fox ($9.5M), Jacob Trouba ($8.0M)

8New Jersey Devils~27.9%Dougie Hamilton ($9.0M), Luke Hughes ($9.0M)

9Vegas Golden Knights~27.4%Alex Pietrangelo ($8.8M), Noah Hanifin ($7.35M)

10Winnipeg Jets~26.8%Josh Morrissey ($6.25M), Neal Pionk ($5.87M)

 

 

 

This was generated by AI - so I'm sure there are variables to consider.

We are already at the top in D spending. Is that the right move and we dig in? Interesting question on Bo....

This is not accurate. Minnesota has 35.125 million tied up in defender cap at 33.8% of cap for example. 

[tom webster]

4 minutes ago, Hoss said:

I was a little curious how three dmen at about $29M would compare to recent cap percentages spent on the top three, and it's not far off. It'd be about 22.3% of a $130M cap.

The top three active dmen on the final four teams this season (percentage of the 2025-26 cap spent):

- Carolina: $17.5M (18.3%)

- Vegas: $19.325M (20.2%)

- Montreal: $19.925M (20.9%)

- Colorado: $20.75M (21.7%)

All this to say: yup, seems like it would be roughly on par. I'd rather not be super ahead of the curve on this one, though. You would be far above that percentage in the years that the cap isn't $130M yet (and thus significantly above what contenders are doing), and there's the chance the cap trajectory changes.

Because you have Tage and Sammy and McLeod  at below market rate and Doan right around it, you could absorb the hit if you believe they are good enough.

Also, the $130M is a very conservative projection.

[LGR4GM]

Just now, tom webster said:

Because you have Tage and Sammy and McLeod  at below market rate and Doan right around it, you could absorb the hit if you believe they are good enough.

Also, the $130M is a very conservative projection.

The economy is about to crash so is it? 

[Scottysabres]

1 minute ago, Taro T said:

They can discuss an extension anytime they want.  Byram is an employee of the Sabres.  The agent and player cannot talk contract with any other organization without the Sabres express permission.

Byram can't sign on the dotted line of a new contract with the Sabres until July 1.  And he has until the clock strikes midnight on September 15th to put pen to paper on an 8 year deal.

Why burst on to the scene so early in discussions then? You think Jarmo is playing hard ball maybe? Seems odd.

[dudacek]

It's pretty shortsighted to lock into a ceiling for any one position.

If you have 4 top 50 D, and 1 top 50 forward on your roster, pay the D now, trade a D for a F later if you need to balance the roster.

[inkman]

2 hours ago, tom webster said:

Do you guys realize how much the cap is going up. They can easily afford to pay Byram $10M if they want. Whether it’s smart or not is another question but they will have at least $15M more to play with next year and another $10M the year after. They could afford Byram and Thomas.

My only concerns with any given players salary is only for next season due to the god awful Skinner buyout bump.  It’s going to cost the Sabres a good player. Probably already did with Kesselring. 

[DarthEbriate]

10 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

This is not accurate. Minnesota has 35.125 million tied up in defender cap at 33.8% of cap for example. 

And this summer Makar is going to sign an extension and he's going to make a pretty penny more than his current $9M. The cap% comparisons will shift in the next month.

[dudacek]

7 minutes ago, Scottysabres said:

Why burst on to the scene so early in discussions then? You think Jarmo is playing hard ball maybe? Seems odd.

You mean with the Dreger leak?

That's been the Darren Ferris MO, no?

Meanwhile, is it early? Jarmo probably would like a deal in principle (or confirmation he can't get one) by the draft in order to play out his hand for the rest of the roster.

He's not trading Benson regardless, so Byram extend or trade is probably right at the top of his list in terms of what direction he takes with the options that are out there.

Edited June 18 by dudacek