Per Friedman Beck Malenstyn signs a 6 year 2.9167 million idollar AAV Extension with the Sabres

[Taro T]

4 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Why do people undervalue pluggers? 

It isn't so much that they undervalue pluggers, it's more of a question of how much larger are the contracts of the non-pluggers going to now be in a world where even the pluggers get nearly $3MM/year?

Once you've reached the cap floor (an easy reach for all teams trying to win now), every extra $ any player on the team gets is one less you have to work with to bring in higher end players.

And, all that said, am a little leary of the term, but considering how long the term is am fine with the $'s.  And as said upthread, he really is a perfect fit for his particular role on the team.  One less roster slot to worry about for hopefully at least a half decade.

[oddoublee]

The contract is fine imo.

I suspected he was going to get 4m on open market (although I thought it would be 2-4 years).

This saves against the cap - and active GM's find a way to move a player like this down the road if necessary. 

Like Beck - glad he is ours for the next few years (that could change after when his body is best to snot!). 

[That Aud Smell]

10 minutes ago, caseydean said:

Curious, who are they and what exactly don't they like.

the term (6 years) seems to be the sticking point.

[#freejame]

The Sabres, players and front office alike, all love Beck. It’s an interesting deal for sure. It makes me believe there’s going to be a ton of money thrown around to some guys this offseason that might not be worth it. There’s more money than ever out there and it’s arguably an absolutely terrible FA class. More of these deals are coming league wide. 

[French Collection]

That term tells me he is seen as a core player.

[Ghost of Ville Leino]

I like Malenstyn. But this is another 4th liner overpay. The summer of kevy continues.

[That Aud Smell]

1 minute ago, Ghost of Ville Leino said:

I like Malenstyn. But this is another 4th liner overpay. The summer of kevy continues.

this account's name and avatar should have a trigger warning and one of those requirements to click-through to see what's there.

[Night Train]

With Greenway and Tuch leaving, McLeod ( 8 SHG's ) and Beck are the key guys on the PK ...in addition to their regular shifts. 

[Slack_in_MA]

57 minutes ago, Apollo said:

They each have a turntable and one microphone. That is where it's at.

Bottles and cans, just clap your hands.

[Weave]

25 minutes ago, French Collection said:

That term tells me he is seen as a core player.

That’s how I see it too.  The core players can be identified by the length of their contracts.  These are the guys that the coach and GM are prioritizing around for an extended run.

Beck getting signed first, and for an extended term, indicates to me that he is closer to a core player than Krebs, for instance.

[LGR4GM]

12 hours ago, The Jokeman said:

They have one if not the best the goalie prospect in the league in Michal Postava. 

Detroit also has:

Landon Miller, 126th overall 2024 (probably an AHL guy)

Michal Pradel, 75th overall 2025 (might be an NHL guy or backup)

Micahl Orsulak, 79th overall 2026 (same as Pradel)

[LTS]

9 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

This one still screams Sabres having to overpay to retain players. 

I liked Beck's game last year but he's just a 4th line player and I think I would have tried to find a cheaper option with less term. 

He isn't just a 4th line player. He's a critical PK component. He was also T-10th in the league last year in blocked shots by forwards at 75.  He did that with avg TOI of 11:15. The next closest player in the players above him is Adam Henrique who he is tied with at 75. Henrique had 13:14. Beck's 4.94 BS/60min is the highest of the players above him as well.

He's a locker room guy. He's a hard skating forechecking 4th liner and he's a key part of the PK.  He's worth the money.

Josh Dunne?  He is just a 4th liner. Justin Danforth? Just a 4th liner. There are plenty of just 4th liners out there.

1 hour ago, Archie Lee said:

I wonder if Jarmo does this if he was able to extend Tuch and/or Byram?  Obviously not the same level of players. This does seem though, like a bit of a “stop the bleeding” move. All indications are that Tuch, Byram, and Malenstyn were important locker room players. It might be a slight overpay for vibes. I maintain Malenstyn was getting a Barclay Goodrow-type deal if he hit UFA, and this isn’t too far off.  I’m fine with this. Carrick, Malenstyn, Danforth, Kozak, maybe Dunne still, make for a solid 4th line, and Krebs may find himself there to start the year. 

I think we should make it a SabreSpace truth: Byram and Tuch were not extendable. Byram wants #1 status, not happening in Buffalo. Tuch's wife wanted anywhere but Buffalo status, clearly not happening in Buffalo.

Any "what if" scenario should be put aside as pure folly as those two were leaving.

Malenstyn's contract is not even a concern. Length or term as has been noted above. 

[Taro T]

13 minutes ago, Weave said:

That’s how I see it too.  The core players can be identified by the length of their contracts.  These are the guys that the coach and GM are prioritizing around for an extended run.

Beck getting signed first, and for an extended term, indicates to me that he is closer to a core player than Krebs, for instance.

He definitely is a core piece.

Whether they put more emphasis on his being here or Krebs LT isn't absolutely a given.  They now have a little under $11MM left to spend and hopefully are still looking for a true #1G and a 1st liner (or another 2C).  Depending on what they bring in they may not have the $'s to give Krebs and Zellweger LT deals too.  

Krebs can be bridged for 1 year, which still leaves him 1 more year as an RFA and puts a subsequent contract's start date out beyond the $6.4MM Skinner (thanks Jason and Kevy) sink hole.

Is Doan more of a core piece than Benson?  They both got the same term and nearly the same $'s.  But if they were going to sign Tuch, they didn't have the tagged room for all of them to be under contract next year during this season.  Doan signed 1st; Benson got a smidge more money.  Seems about the same at the end of the day for where each is in the pecking order.

[Carmel Corn]

49 minutes ago, #freejame said:

The Sabres, players and front office alike, all love Beck. It’s an interesting deal for sure. It makes me believe there’s going to be a ton of money thrown around to some guys this offseason that might not be worth it. There’s more money than ever out there and it’s arguably an absolutely terrible FA class. More of these deals are coming league wide. 

I worry they will overpay to keep Krebs….in this case more money than Beck.  IMHO - Beck is more important of the two.

[oddoublee]

Just now, Carmel Corn said:

I worry they will overpay to keep Krebs….in this case more money than Beck.  IMHO - Beck is more important of the two.

Gun to my head, krebs is only back if they don't find a top 6 forward in the next week or two (trade or UFA). If they find one, I would guess krebs rights are traded. If they don't, he gets a 3-4m bridge and leaves next year as a UFA or trade deadline piece. 

[Taro T]

Just now, oddoublee said:

Gun to my head, krebs is only back if they don't find a top 6 forward in the next week or two (trade or UFA). If they find one, I would guess krebs rights are traded. If they don't, he gets a 3-4m bridge and leaves next year as a UFA or trade deadline piece. 

He's got 2 years to go to being eligible for UFA status.

[Doohickie]

36 minutes ago, Ghost of Ville Leino said:

I like Malenstyn. But this is another 4th liner overpay. The summer of kevy continues.

Yeah it was all we could do to get rid of Greenway at $4M but Mal at $3M is fine, huh?

[oddoublee]

Just now, Taro T said:

He's got 2 years to go to being eligible for UFA status.

Thanks ..not sure I like a 2 year 3-4m bridge.

The fact his name hasn't been brought up by Jarmo (beck, Benson, bo, etc...) makes me think the sabres aren't keen on keeping him.

Could be over reading it ...and I do like krebs. 4th line players that can assimilate into the top 9 as needed are nice players

[Brawndo]

 

[LGR4GM]

2 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

Yeah it was all we could do to get rid of Greenway at $4M but Mal at $3M is fine, huh?

The only year this contract will be an "overpay" is year 1 and maybe year 6. With the cap going up and Skinner dropping off, 3million for good 4th line guys is going to be the new norm. 

Just now, Brawndo said:

 

such a random number

Wish it was only 5 years or even 4 but I understand

[#freejame]

Krebs is a RFA whereas Malenstyn was a UFA. There is no rush with Krebs. I wouldn’t read anything into this as it concerns Krebs. 

[#freejame]

13 minutes ago, Carmel Corn said:

I worry they will overpay to keep Krebs….in this case more money than Beck.  IMHO - Beck is more important of the two.

Old NHL math says Krebs is probably getting at least 4M a deal. I’d sign him to 6x4 without hesitation. 

[Big Guava]

1 hour ago, Taro T said:

It isn't so much that they undervalue pluggers, it's more of a question of how much larger are the contracts of the non-pluggers going to now be in a world where even the pluggers get nearly $3MM/year?

Once you've reached the cap floor (an easy reach for all teams trying to win now), every extra $ any player on the team gets is one less you have to work with to bring in higher end players.

And, all that said, am a little leary of the term, but considering how long the term is am fine with the $'s.  And as said upthread, he really is a perfect fit for his particular role on the team.  One less roster slot to worry about for hopefully at least a half decade.

Are you factoring in that they have locked up their top end talent to extremely cap friendly deals long term for the most part which more than makes up for an extra 500K or a million on a single contract like that?

I mean how many millions are they saving on Tage Thompson's contract alone?

Edited June 29 by Big Guava

[shrader]

3 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

The only year this contract will be an "overpay" is year 1 and maybe year 6. With the cap going up and Skinner dropping off, 3million for good 4th line guys is going to be the new norm. 

such a random number

Wish it was only 5 years or even 4 but I understand

The median salary is north of $2 million at this point. So when you take a guy who making an impact, even on the 4th line, and about to hit UFA, this money makes sense. 
 

And the number is really strange. $17.5002 million total? They must be letting AI do all the negotiating. 

[Doohickie]

10 minutes ago, Carmel Corn said:

I worry they will overpay to keep Krebs….in this case more money than Beck.  IMHO - Beck is more important of the two.

In an ideal world, Krebs is a fourth liner.  He can elevate if need be due to injuries.  Assuming Kulich and Helenius are healthy I don't see Krebs elevating above third line.  I could see where he is valued over Malenstyn, depending on how much (if any) they value his versatility over Mal's PK ability.

Based on that brief analysis, I think he gets about the same as Mal, possibly less, especially on a one year bridge.  He was only making $1.45M on his last contract, so a 1 year bridge at $2.5M sets him up for a decent payday next summer if his play continues to improve.