Proposal: Andersson to Buffalo

[Ledge And Dairy]

I mean I like the guy but he was the worst Dman for +- and overall on the flames. I know that's not a be all end all on evaluating a player but it's certainly a stat that can't be ignored, given anyone he played with was better away from him.
He was great last year but wasn't great this year.
Byram for him sounds more realistic.

If you scroll up I've explained why his +/- does not match his play at all in 2 different ways. A large chunk has to do with him being on the ice for a bunch of OT goals, empty net goals, and goals against on the power play. As for 5v5, his actual goals for per 60 was bottom 10 in the league whereas his analytics ranked him top 50. He tied his career high in goals, it's his assists that dropped off, meaning his teammates couldn't score. Scoring was a problem all year in Calgary. It's the same reason why Huberdeau had the same amount of primary points as guys like Eichel and Keller, yet finished with 30 less points.

 

[Satanphonehome]

I mean, the Flames got Bahl + first for Markstrom. They got Brustewicz + first + for Lindholm. Nelson just got a first + Ritchie +

I don’t see why Andersson returns any less than those guys.

I think this is a lot closer to where I'd peg an unsigned Andersson's return: a mid- to late first and a similar prospect.

Nowhere in these packages do I see a top 10 pick, a 23-year-old defenceman who was +11 playing 1st-pairing minutes on a bad team and 15th in ES scoring among NHL blueliners, or a 23-year-old winger who put up nearly 70 points in his 3rd year.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Perhaps because Calgary's overall defensive quality has eroded, Rasmus Andersson just had a season where his analytical value is closer to zero. Not a good season. And he's one year from UFA.

Given that, the asks are kind of over the top. There's surprisingly not many U24 players who have been more productive than JJ Peterka.

And Ostlund and Kulich are high end prospects. You'd think Calgary might be the one to add if they want a piece of that caliber.

Last year Buffalo traded a "high end prospect" for a 3rd line center and have appeared to win that trade by a landslide so far.

Sabres can keep collecting all the "high end" prospects they want but if they aren't actively helping a desperate team get closer to the playoffs, they are simply just prospects.

You have to basically force a winning culture into the organization and taking some "projected value losses" to do that is worth it in the long run because your core guys will want to be there and other players will want to come there.

 

[Satanphonehome]

Last year Buffalo traded a "high end prospect" for a 3rd line center and have appeared to win that trade by a landslide so far.

Sabres can keep collecting all the "high end" prospects they want but if they aren't actively helping a desperate team get closer to the playoffs, they are simply just prospects.

You have to basically force a winning culture into the organization and taking some "projected value losses" to do that is worth it in the long run because your core guys will want to be there and other players will want to come there.

This might be true, but it's not relevant to the discussion at hand.

The Sabres aren't being asked to trade Ostlund or Kulich for a 24-year-centre with 3 years team control and possible upside who will be there for the long run, they're trading him for one year of a very good defenceman.

 

[Uberpecker]

Ok. I'll play.

To Buffalo
Rasmus Andersson

To Calgary
Ryan McLeod
2025 2nd
Nikita Novikov

Doesn't really work for BUF. McLeod is a player they need with no good replacement.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

This might be true, but it's not relevant to the discussion at hand.

The Sabres aren't being asked to trade Ostlund or Kulich for a 24-year-centre with 3 years team control and possible upside who will be there for the long run, they're trading him for one year of a very good defenceman.

I'm not going to debate Kulich since he is a regular NHLer in my eyes, but Ostlund is not anything more than a prospect. Sabres management needs to identify who are guys that can be locker room leaders to develop and maintain a winning culture, while also addressing on ice needs, and go out and get them even if it's an overpayment.

Trying to say a D+4 prospect not in the NHL, like Ostlund, is more valuable to your team is ridiculous

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

I think this is a lot closer to where I'd peg an unsigned Andersson's return: a mid- to late first and a similar prospect.

Nowhere in these packages do I see a top 10 pick, a 23-year-old defenceman who was +11 playing 1st-pairing minutes on a bad team and 15th in ES scoring among NHL blueliners, or a 23-year-old winger who put up nearly 70 points in his 3rd year.

I said Kulich who had 24 points. A good prospect but not vastly superior to Cal Ritchie.

Or a guy who had .75 ppg in the AHL plus a move up in the draft.

Byram is rumoured to be potentially moved, personally I think a LD for RD would make sense for Buffalo. I think Ras would be a great option for Power or Dahlin, Ras and Hanifin were one of the best pairs in the league for years, and I see a lot of comparability between your guys and Hanifin. He’s also a verbal leader which I think your team could use. If he’s willing to stay I think it’s a solid trade for Buffalo. If you don’t like it that’s fine but I don’t think it’s as far fetched as you are saying.

I never said anything about Peterka as you are suggesting.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

I'm not going to debate Kulich since he is a regular NHLer in my eyes, but Ostlund is not anything more than a prospect. Sabres management needs to identify who are guys that can be locker room leaders to develop and maintain a winning culture, while also addressing on ice needs, and go out and get them even if it's an overpayment.

Trying to say a D+4 prospect not in the NHL, like Ostlund, is more valuable to your team is ridiculous

The Sabres need a leader for longer than 1 season. Saying a prospect is more valuable to a non-playoff team than a rental is conventionally logical.

 

[KeyserSoze81]

Andersson would pair nicely with Dahlin on the top pairing for buffalo.

Would something around Samuelsson, Krebs and a pick be good starting ground?

As a Sabres "fan": Samuelsson's value is slightly negative, and Krebs is slightly positive (as a fringe third liner who can backfill lots of roles). I feel like their value is close to a wash, so you are kinda just getting the pick and 2 fewer contract slots.

If he pick is 9th overall, I would say the value is pretty close?

 

[Satanphonehome]

I'm not going to debate Kulich since he is a regular NHLer in my eyes, but Ostlund is not anything more than a prospect. Sabres management needs to identify who are guys that can be locker room leaders to develop and maintain a winning culture, while also addressing on ice needs, and go out and get them even if it's an overpayment.

Trying to say a D+4 prospect not in the NHL, like Ostlund, is more valuable to your team is ridiculous

The bold is not what we’re talking about though with an Andersson unwilling to sign an extension. We’re talking about a mercenary expressly unwilling to commit to “developing and maintaining a winning culture” who is explicitly putting in his time in order to go to a place where that already exists.

You won’t find many Sabres fans unwilling to trade prospects like Ostlund for the type of player you describe. In fact, it’s exactly what most of them want.

Where you’re making your mistake is framing it as an either/or of Andersson/Ostlund. Because that’s not what’s on the table; it’s Ostlund+ for Andersson versus what else such a package might yield.

If the market of an Ostlund is similar to the market for Savoie, I’d prefer trading him for someone with a age/control/upside profile like McLeod’s than Andersson’s one-and-done.

 

[HighLifeMan]

Rasmus clearly wouldn't be accepting a trade to Buffalo unless he has an extension at a good number locked up so this whole one year rental talk to diminish his value is moot to begin with.

 

[Satanphonehome]

I said Kulich who had 24 points. A good prospect but not vastly superior to Cal Ritchie.

Or a guy who had .75 ppg in the AHL plus a move up in the draft.

Byram is rumoured to be potentially moved, personally I think a LD for RD would make sense for Buffalo. I think Ras would be a great option for Power or Dahlin, Ras and Hanifin were one of the best pairs in the league for years, and I see a lot of comparability between your guys and Hanifin. He’s also a verbal leader which I think your team could use. If he’s willing to stay I think it’s a solid trade for Buffalo. If you don’t like it that’s fine but I don’t think it’s as far fetched as you are saying.

I never said anything about Peterka as you are suggesting.

I was responding to the thread in general.

I think Ras is a great fit for the Sabres and would pay a lot to acquire him, but only if he is interested in signing.

 

[MrLunatik]

As a Sabres "fan": Samuelsson's value is slightly negative, and Krebs is slightly positive (as a fringe third liner who can backfill lots of roles). I feel like their value is close to a wash, so you are kinda just getting the pick and 2 fewer contract slots.

If he pick is 9th overall, I would say the value is pretty close?

Elsewhere a couple Sabres fans and I have agreed that #9 and Quinn for #18 and Andersson would be pretty close in value.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

The Sabres need a leader for longer than 1 season. Saying a prospect is more valuable to a non-playoff team than a rental is conventionally logical.

All my posts assume Calgary allows Andersson to discuss and agree to an extension in advance. I don't expect Buffalo to go for him if he's not willing to sign there.

 

[Beerz]

Elsewhere a couple Sabres fans and I have agreed that #9 and Quinn for #18 and Andersson would be pretty close in value.

Maybe a signed Andersson... This just seems foolish for Buffalo otherwise.

 

[MrLunatik]

Maybe a signed Andersson... This just seems foolish for Buffalo otherwise.

it's based on the notion there would be a verbal agreement in place to extend on Jul 1

 

[MOGlLNY]

Love Andersson but he's a bit redundant in Buffalo and I don't want to be the guy to pay him his extension when his play has already been slipping a bit.

Now if you wanna talk Weegar

 

[Baksfamous112]

To get Andersson? Not close.
Byram + Paterka. Getting a player like Andersson will be painful.

Even a sogned Andersson at a reasonable cap hit wouldn’t get half of that.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

The bold is not what we’re talking about though with an Andersson unwilling to sign an extension. We’re talking about a mercenary expressly unwilling to commit to “developing and maintaining a winning culture” who is explicitly putting in his time in order to go to a place where that already exists.

You won’t find many Sabres fans unwilling to trade prospects like Ostlund for the type of player you describe. In fact, it’s exactly what most of them want.

Where you’re making your mistake is framing it as an either/or of Andersson/Ostlund. Because that’s not what’s on the table; it’s Ostlund+ for Andersson versus what else such a package might yield.

If the market of an Ostlund is similar to the market for Savoie, I’d prefer trading him for someone with a age/control/upside profile like McLeod’s than Andersson’s one-and-done.

Debating him not willing to sign is a complete waste of time. There's no conversation of him going there if he won't sign. Buffalo will simply look elsewhere.

I think Ostlund has value as a prospect, but I don't think it's the same as Savoie, also as nice a fit as McLeod has been he was not at all expected to produce the way he did this year. That trade was widely viewed as an overpayment at first and to me that just goes to show that prospects are so often overvalued vs actual NHL players. Now I get it's a different situation in Buffalo, but look at the return that guys like Nelson got. Weegar would obviously be more ideal but he would be ideal on 32/32 teams, that's just how good and versatile he is. With Andersson, he's not Weegar, but the leadership, the positional value, the cap hit, and the skill is there.

 

[Satanphonehome]

Debating him not willing to sign is a complete waste of time. There's no conversation of him going there if he won't sign. Buffalo will simply look elsewhere.

I think Ostlund has value as a prospect, but I don't think it's the same as Savoie, also as nice a fit as McLeod has been he was not at all expected to produce the way he did this year. That trade was widely viewed as an overpayment at first and to me that just goes to show that prospects are so often overvalued vs actual NHL players. Now I get it's a different situation in Buffalo, but look at the return that guys like Nelson got. Weegar would obviously be more ideal but he would be ideal on 32/32 teams, that's just how good and versatile he is. With Andersson, he's not Weegar, but the leadership, the positional value, the cap hit, and the skill is there.

Even the Savoie was the highest pick, within a year or 2 of making 3 first rounders in 2022, the Sabres had reversed them to Kulich-Ostlund-Savoie in their internal pecking order and were actively shopping Savoie to acquire a 3C.

Agree with most of what you say about the McLeod trade.

Not sure what you are suggesting with the Nelson reference, but if it's that an unsigned Andersson has a value in the same ballpark, I would generally agree.

And it seems that neither of us think the Sabres should pay it.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Even the Savoie was the highest pick, within a year or 2 of making 3 first rounders in 2022, the Sabres had reversed them to Kulich-Ostlund-Savoie in their internal pecking order and were actively shopping Savoie to acquire a 3C.

Agree with most of what you say about the McLeod trade.

Not sure what you are suggesting with the Nelson reference, but if it's that an unsigned Andersson has a value in the same ballpark, I would generally agree.

And it seems that neither of us think the Sabres should pay it.

The point with Nelson is that value of the trade itself does not change much whether the player signs an extension post trade. Buffalo simply won't trade for him if he's not willing to extend. Whether Buffalo pays the price for Andersson or someone else he will get a very good return. A lot of teams will be cap strapped next season and would love to add a top pairing caliber RD at that cap hit.

 

[CraigsList]

I would want Byram. Otherwise, why even bother. Andersson agreed to an 8-year extension it makes sense. I too think Andersson would be a great d partner for Dahlin.

 

[Djp]

Ok. I'll play.

To Buffalo
Rasmus Andersson

To Calgary
Ryan McLeod
2025 2nd
Nikita Novikov

Sounds like Tkachuk for a 2nd..

McLeod>Andersson

Anderson dies not return snything close yo that.

I mean, the Flames got Bahl + first for Markstrom. They got Brustewicz + first + for Lindholm. Nelson just got a first + Ritchie +

I don’t see why Andersson returns any less than those guys.

Markstrom wasn't a 1 yr rental. He had 3 yrs of contract.

The 1st was anticipated to be in the mud 20s. If injuries didn't hammer the team ot would have. Bahl was rather expendable given their other players

Anderson at the deadline gets s late 1st× secondary prospect.

Last year Buffalo traded a "high end prospect" for a 3rd line center and have appeared to win that trade by a landslide so far.

The center had 3 yrs of team control. The prospect they traded was not viewed as thrir too prospect.

Sabres can keep collecting all the "high end" prospects they want but if they aren't actively helping a desperate team get closer to the playoffs, they are simply just prospects.

You have to basically force a winning culture into the organization and taking some "projected value losses" to do that is worth it in the long run because your core guys will want to be there and other players will want to come there.

They are not trading assets for pure rentals who could walk.

Elsewhere a couple Sabres fans and I have agreed that #9 and Quinn for #18 and Andersson would be pretty close in value.

9 for 18 + Andersson. Is closer to correct value. If you want Quinn then a 26 2nd comes along too to balance it out

The problem is Buffalo needs to move salary.

Such a trade is contingent on other trades occuring