Do the Sabres need a heavyweight fighter?

[dudacek]

22 minutes ago, Slack_in_MA said:

You’re noting an anecdote to make a broad statement of fact. 

You can’t observe the cheap shots that didn’t happen because somebody was afraid of retaliation.

Forget the enforcer. Isn’t a roster that’s “hard to play against” physically something to aspire to (obviously you have to score more than the other team)? Hard checking. Playing with push-back and a physical edge. 

I personally don’t see that the organization values this like it used to. The best old Sabres teams had rugged men who could play the game and hit. And some could throw hands really well. Or at least defend themselves.

 

 

Already on the record just upthread as wanting a Brad May type on my team.

i was responding to the statement “no one in his right mind would take run at Reinhart…” with what I consider proof that isn’t true.

Guys who are wired to take liberties will continue to take liberties, regardless of the presence of a tough guy.

[PerreaultForever]

On 10/3/2026 at 4:08 PM, dudacek said:

Already on the record just upthread as wanting a Brad May type on my team.

i was responding to the statement “no one in his right mind would take run at Reinhart…” with what I consider proof that isn’t true.

Guys who are wired to take liberties will continue to take liberties, regardless of the presence of a tough guy.

I agree with you but I don't like the idea of the word "liberties". Taking a run at a star player isn't a liberty. It's just good hockey. You don't let opposing stars skate around and do what they want. Hitting is allowed in this game. It's only a liberty if it's a penalty or illegal act. Those happen, but every hit on a star isn't a liberty. 

[GoPuckYourself]

On 10/2/2026 at 10:42 AM, Night Train said:

Give UPL that job. Maybe he's good at something. 

Maybe getting punched in the face a few times will wake his ass up. 

[Pimlach]

Was watching NHL highlights.  

Florida is carrying yet another big fighter on their roster.  Boko Imana.  

Even with the Tkachuk's, Bennett, Ekblad, Marchand and the rest of them, they added an AHL level pure pugilist to their 4th line.  

[GoPuckYourself]

5 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Was watching NHL highlights.  

Florida is carrying yet another big fighter on their roster.  Boko Imana.  

Even with the Tkachuk's, Bennett, Ekblad, Marchand and the rest of them, they added an AHL level pure pugilist to their 4th line.  

This is what I;ve been saying for quite some time. You can't have 4 skill lines, they will get manhandled by teams like this who are built for the playoff grind.

[SwampD]

7 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Was watching NHL highlights.  

Florida is carrying yet another big fighter on their roster.  Boko Imana.  

Even with the Tkachuk's, Bennett, Ekblad, Marchand and the rest of them, they added an AHL level pure pugilist to their 4th line.  

Other than Brady, are any of those guys actually fighters?

[Taro T]

On 10/3/2026 at 2:52 PM, Archie Lee said:

I agree. Players who play to the edge or beyond, don't spend any time worrying about getting punched in the back of the helmet by players like Olivier. Yet, as stated, it remains part of the game and I have yet to see a player say he didn't appreciate having such a teammate.

The odd and somewhat concerning thing to me is that we gave up a lot at the deadline to get tougher, when such toughness really isn't needed or utilized in the playoffs, only to then conclude that we didn't need such players for this season. What changed? Were Jarmo and Ruff not on the same page? Why did we give up Rosen, a 2nd, a 3rd, a 4th, and a 6th to get tougher (that is unquestionably what we did), only to conclude 4-5 months later that we didn't need that toughness (I acknowledge that 34 year old Sam Carrick is still here and a useful 4th line player).

I understand that some fans view what we gave up at the deadline as meaningless assets that a team should trade at the deadline to address depth needs, but surely we could have grabbed something more useful in the longer-term. Warren Foegele was acquired for a 2nd. Bobby McMann for a 2nd and a 4th.  

Thing is, at/after the deadline, provided you remain  cap compliant, you can have as many guys as you want on the roster and a guy like Schenn (guy we got from LA too) who is too old to be consistently good at the hockey can be kept on the roster until there is an injury or situational reason to play him.

Of the guys brought in last year at the deadline, only Stanley had a chance of being re-signed, and apparently they weren't happy with him and they landed Crevier & Zellweger so that ship sailed.

They didn't give up any legit assets.  They gave up Rosen who had no spot on this team and draft picks.  As Thorny loves to say, you get 7 more every single year.  They gave up some of those filler pieces you have sometimes have to give up to finalize a deal.  They didn't give up any centerpieces.

Sure, you could get a McMann.  But what did he bring for the stretch run that wasn't adequately addressed and which kid that is now contributing wouldn't be on the roster because you've added another bottom 6 guy to the line up for this season. Plus what does that do to the cap situation?

Kelalainen tried a couple of big swings.  Couldn't strike a deal on 1 and couldn't convince the player to come over on the other.  Plan B was a reasonable one IMHO.

[Archie Lee]

Just now, Taro T said:

Thing is, at/after the deadline, provided you remain  cap compliant, you can have as many guys as you want on the roster and a guy like Schenn (guy we got from LA too) who is too old to be consistently good at the hockey can be kept on the roster until there is an injury or situational reason to play him.

Of the guys brought in last year at the deadline, only Stanley had a chance of being re-signed, and apparently they weren't happy with him and they landed Crevier & Zellweger so that ship sailed.

They didn't give up any legit assets.  They gave up Rosen who had no spot on this team and draft picks.  As Thorny loves to say, you get 7 more every single year.  They gave up some of those filler pieces you have sometimes have to give up to finalize a deal.  They didn't give up any centerpieces.

Sure, you could get a McMann.  But what did he bring for the stretch run that wasn't adequately addressed and which kid that is now contributing wouldn't be on the roster because you've added another bottom 6 guy to the line up for this season. Plus what does that do to the cap situation?

Kelalainen tried a couple of big swings.  Couldn't strike a deal on 1 and couldn't convince the player to come over on the other.  Plan B was a reasonable one IMHO.

They gave up Rosen (value maybe a late 2nd or 3rd), a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th for Stanley, Schenn, Pearson, and Carrick. Short of a 1st, that's nearly an entire draft class for a group of players who had next to no impact on the playoffs, with only Carrick still here.  I understand that there was no centerpiece traded and that they get 7 new picks every year, but that is a terrible return for the assets expended.

If the Sabres had McMann, they could trade other players for something they are missing.

 

[Ogelthorpe]

20 hours ago, SwampD said:

Other than Brady, are any of those guys actually fighters?

Better fighters than anyone on Sabres.

[Taro T]

2 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

They gave up Rosen (value maybe a late 2nd or 3rd), a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th for Stanley, Schenn, Pearson, and Carrick. Short of a 1st, that's nearly an entire draft class for a group of players who had next to no impact on the playoffs, with only Carrick still here.  I understand that there was no centerpiece traded and that they get 7 new picks every year, but that is a terrible return for the assets expended.

If the Sabres had McMann, they could trade other players for something they are missing.

 

They can STILL trade other players for something they are missing.  Having McMann at a higher cost than Pearson wouldn't appreciably change their current situation.

And they ended up with a LOT of value for Byram and Greenway.

McMann's addition doesn't make it easier to land a 1C.  And would be mildly surprised if his being here helped them land a 1G too.

Those are the only things they really don't have and they're pretty deep w/ everything else.

[Pimlach]

22 hours ago, SwampD said:

Other than Brady, are any of those guys actually fighters?

I have seen them all fight and they can handle themselves quite well.  

[Mr Peabody]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

I have seen them all fight and they can handle themselves quite well.  

As can Gudas 

[GoPuckYourself]

On 10/5/2026 at 6:09 PM, SwampD said:

Other than Brady, are any of those guys actually fighters?

They have 3 top heavyweight fighters, Brady Tkachuck, Jonah Gadjovich, Bokondji Imama and 2 who will drop the gloves if need be but aren't technically fighters in Radko Gudas and Sam Bennett.