Sabres Sign Olen Zellweger to 3 year 3 million AAV Deal

[Ghost of Ville Leino]

2 minutes ago, dudacek said:

And before I forget about this deal as free agency gets nuts, spending $3M on your 4/5 over the next 3 years is good business the way the cap is going.

Curious to find out how good he actually is and can be.

This has to be one of the best spots in the NHL for a young offensive defenseman to develop.

[Doohickie]

44 minutes ago, SDS said:

I would start with the dining room.

Kitchen is a better bang for the buck.

[Doohickie]

45 minutes ago, inkman said:

Yeah who is the dumb ***** giving me bad info? WTF. 

No one stated it was two years.  @Derrico asked if 2 years would take him to FA (meaning UFA) and you thought that was the term.  Don't jump to conclusions.  And when you do, don't bitch at everyone else about it.

But have a good day.

[Taro T]

5 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

No one stated it was two years.  @Derrico asked if 2 years would take him to FA (meaning UFA) and you thought that was the term.  Don't jump to conclusions.  And when you do, don't bitch at everyone else about it.

But have a good day.

Well, no one but the thread starter.  @Derrico asked that Q because that's how the info was originally conveyed.  When it became clear that the contract was 3 years rather than 2; the thread title was updated.

The 2nd bolded might be good advice.  😉 

[Big Guava]

Cheap deals, me likey!

[sabresparaavida]

41 minutes ago, Ghost of Ville Leino said:

This has to be one of the best spots in the NHL for a young offensive defenseman to develop.

Maybe, maybe not. The play style of getting the D men up in the offensive zone would certainly indicate that, but being behind Dahlin, Power, and Samuelson will somewhat limit that. Kesselring was considered a 2 way defenseman, and because he was behind our top 4 he was somewhat limited to a more defensive role. It remains to be seen whether that will repeat or not. 

[inkman]

35 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

No one stated it was two years.  @Derrico asked if 2 years would take him to FA (meaning UFA) and you thought that was the term.  Don't jump to conclusions.  And when you do, don't bitch at everyone else about it.

But have a good day.

My daily reminder the internet sucks 

[Ghost of Ville Leino]

6 minutes ago, sabresparaavida said:

Maybe, maybe not. The play style of getting the D men up in the offensive zone would certainly indicate that, but being behind Dahlin, Power, and Samuelson will somewhat limit that. Kesselring was considered a 2 way defenseman, and because he was behind our top 4 he was somewhat limited to a more defensive role. It remains to be seen whether that will repeat or not. 

Kesselring got hurt and boxed out of the top by Samuelsson's ascension. Zellweger is going to get the benefit of playing with Owen Power and not having to lug the mail defensively.

[Brawndo]

1 hour ago, inkman said:

Yeah who is the dumb ***** giving me bad info? WTF. 

[tom webster]

1 hour ago, Brawndo said:

I think it’s clear my esteemed friend was worried about me finally beating him to the keyboard and in his haste, provided some partially correct info.😉

[PerreaultForever]

This is a good deal for less than I expected so hats off to Jarmo. 

The D now is solid and (unless they trade the prospects) could potentially be cup winning caliber in 2-3 years if/when Mrtka and Rudolph are ready. Financially balanced at that point too with 2 ELCs possibly in the 7. 

Also in 3 years you can either part ways with Zellewegger for the kids if he's not what you expect him to be or you have the too many good D problem and can make a trade. It's smart management.

[Flashsabre]

 

[#freejame]

2 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

 

I’m looking forward to seeing what I’ve got wrong about him because nothing about this trade from Anaheim’s perspective has made sense to me. Great trade and signing for Jarmo 

[CTJoe]

i agree - he's small and struggles playing defense as a defensman but, not sure why ANA was in such a rush to trade him for only a 2nd and a career AHLer/maybe a 4th line NHL center tops

[shrader]

30 minutes ago, CTJoe said:

i agree - he's small and struggles playing defense as a defensman but, not sure why ANA was in such a rush to trade him for only a 2nd and a career AHLer/maybe a 4th line NHL center tops

They don’t really have any defensemen at this point either. It’s very strange. 

[Second Line Center]

How I see the pairings:
 

Dahlin - Muel

Power - Crevier

Zellweger - Timmins 

 

7/8

Metsa

Gilbert

In the pipeline 

Mrtka

Kleber

Rudolph

 

 

Edited July 2 by Second Line Center

[Flashsabre]

14 minutes ago, Second Line Center said:

How I see the pairings:
 

Dahlin - Muel

Power - Crevier

Zellweger - Timmins 

 

7/8

Metsa

Gilbert

In the pipeline 

Mrtka

Kleber

Rudolph

 

 

They have the flexibility to move Zellweger and Crevier around. Would be great if your lineup stuck. And Metsa as 7th is great he always plays so well. Issue might be a Zellweger-Metsa pairing

[Night Train]

It's all about who can carry Power. 

[#freejame]

18 minutes ago, Night Train said:

It's all about who can carry Power. 

Nobody needs to carry Power. He will be a consensus top-25 dman by the end of the season. 

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, Second Line Center said:

How I see the pairings:
 

Dahlin - Muel

Power - Crevier

Zellweger - Timmins 

 

7/8

Metsa

Gilbert

In the pipeline 

Mrtka

Kleber

Rudolph

 

 

Maybe, but I think it more likely Zellewegger just slots into Byram's old spot beside Power and Crevier in the bottom pair spot Stanley etc. had with Timmins. 

There's others who believe Crevier is top 4 but I just don't see that myself. 

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, #freejame said:

Nobody needs to carry Power. He will be a consensus top-25 dman by the end of the season. 

That is way too lofty but I do think he is still developing and it's possible he gets to top pair level sooner than later. Just wish he had some snarl.

[ska-T Chitown]

On 7/1/2026 at 11:58 AM, Nacho Libre said:

Ballroom 

Those are going for way more than $8M these days ...

[LGR4GM]

9 hours ago, Brawndo said:

It’s well founded 

This is so fascinating to me because you look at the fancystats and Zellweger is better Mintyukov, why trade him? I think looking over some other numbers it is closer than Evolving Hockey has but even still, what is the point of the trade? My only logical conclusion is that Verbeek doesn't want any defenders under 6' on his roster but like.... broseph, you don't even have 6 defenders signed. What are you doing? I guess you are hoping that Tristen Lunau is g2g and I do love Lunau but that is risky. Idk, that is a team with a lot of young talent that just doesn't quite feel balanced and yet they are trading defenders for forward prospects. 

[inkman]

I’m very curious why Olen Zellweger has been given a free pass through most of this thread. He’s a 5’10” 20 point defenseman. I’m keeping my mind open but the Sabres are now back to being one injury away from having 2 defenseman under 6’ tall. Liger will tell me size doesn’t matter anymore with defenseman but having two seems dubious. 

[Dr. Who]

3 minutes ago, inkman said:

I’m very curious why Olen Zellweger has been given a free pass through most of this thread. He’s a 5’10” 20 point defenseman. I’m keeping my mind open but the Sabres are now back to being one injury away from having 2 defenseman under 6’ tall. Liger will tell me size doesn’t matter anymore with defenseman but having two seems dubious. 

So will @tom webster.