Player Discussion Buffalo Pickers - The Search For Serviceable Defensemen, Summer of '23 Edition

[Chainshot]

So the blueline has been strained this year whenever part of their top two pairings have been out. The jumble gets worse when the injuries get compounded. They have one possible signee in Johnson whose season is still probably a three weeks to a month from being over right now, but looking out into the summer... these things aren't going to be fixed by UFA spending alone.

So I thought maybe we could do for the defense the same thing that we've done with the goaltending (again... *sigh*) and take a dive into who they might find or more specifically who we would like to see. I know I've been sifting through some draftees going back to about 2015, trying to find someone who is 26 or younger and might be under-utilized by their current team either in the NHL or down in the AHL or even not yet signed (think Marino moving to the Penguins).

There is internal on their protected list are draftees - Ryan Johnson if he signs, Komarov, Novikov (under KHL contract), Lindgren, Albert Lyckåsen, and Philip Nyberg.

That's not a list that inspires a lot of confidence for near-term improvement though we'll know sooner if Johnson is coming in or not. The rest are either a ways off or still need development time (Komarov, Lindgren) or are distant longshots at this point (Lyckasen, Nyberg).

Nearer term guys might be in the guise of collegiate UDFA:

Jake Livingstone from Minnesota St., Sam Malinski from Cornell, Zack Metsa who was at dev camp from Quinnipiac, Jacob Bengtsson from LSSU, Colton Huard from UNH...

It's a mixed bag, without a slamdunk like Whitecloud was when he came out.

European UDFA's:

Hardy Haman Aktell from Vaxjo in the SHL, LHD; Grigori Dronov from Magnitogorsk in the KHL, LHD; Valtteri Pulli from TPS in the Finnish Liiga, also LHD... I'm sure there are more just those have come up in the various articles and chatter.

NHL UFA's... that's a list. I sorted this on Capfriendly by UFA's who are free agents this summer: 2022-23 Active NHL Players - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

And then there is trade. Small trade, big trade... something. That could be anyone.

Who do you have and what are the pros and cons of that player or players coming in? Do we see them making multiple moves or just one? How much is Johnson's situation going to impact this if at all?

I got tired of talking about goalies...

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

There's Uvis Janis Balinskis from my home country. I heard rumours that some teams are interested. He plays in Czech Extraliga .Doing quite well this year. Edit: was thinking there' another team in Buffalo

 

[Chainshot]

There's Uvis Janis Balinskis from my home country. I heard rumours that some teams are interested. He plays in Czech Extraliga .Doing quite well this year. Edit: was thinking there' another team in Buffalo

Czech league leading scorer among defensemen, though it looks like his deal runs through next season. Would he have a North American out?

 

[Gabrielor]

Is there a Saros + Ryan McDonagh package I wonder. The wonder of course is if McDonagh still has it

 

[Sabre the Win]

I want a top 4 stay at home defensive defensemen. I don't care about points. I want shut down ability at #4 and #2

 

[KiwiGriff]

I wonder if we could get Jensen from the Caps. Plays RHD, wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg

 

[Dahlicious]

Connor Clifton and Carson Soucy are my UFA targets. I think both are realistic gets for us, especially Clifton since he played for Granato.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I wonder if we could get Jensen from the Caps. Plays RHD, wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg

Seems like a no-go as he just re-upped. Pretty strong indicator that he's not moving. I know there's a ton of guys out there that @Chainshot and others know more about, but I simply assume they don't move the needle as top-4 candidates. I'll happily settle for Johnson as the eventual 3rd LHD, but we need a legit 2nd pair RHD this summer. It's a bigger need than goalie imo. Probably has to come via trade...who knows who could be available.

 

[Chainshot]

Is there a Saros + Ryan McDonagh package I wonder. The wonder of course is if McDonagh still has it

Three years left after this, NTC, family... not sure he's down for moving to Buffalo honestly, no matter how hard Girardi pleads.

 

[Chainshot]

Connor Clifton and Carson Soucy are my UFA targets. I think both are realistic gets for us, especially Clifton since he played for Granato.

Clifton is my preferred target too. Make him Power's partner and it solves some net-front defense issues.

 

[KiwiGriff]

Seems like a no-go as he just re-upped. Pretty strong indicator that he's not moving. I know there's a ton of guys out there that @Chainshot and others know more about, but I simply assume they don't move the needle as top-4 candidates. I'll happily settle for Johnson as the eventual 3rd LHD, but we need a legit 2nd pair RHD this summer. It's a bigger need than goalie imo. Probably has to come via trade...who knows who could be available.

Dang. Didn’t see he’d done that.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Dang. Didn’t see he’d done that.

Yeah, I had the same sigh of disappointment.

 

[sabresfan129103]

I want a top 4 stay at home defensive defensemen. I don't care about points. I want shut down ability at #4 and #2

It's crazy how hard it is to find these guys. Mostly because once teams get them they do not let them go. You're pretty much forced to draft them.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

Czech league leading scorer among defensemen, though it looks like his deal runs through next season. Would he have a North American out?

Yes .Team said if he have suitors they not going to stop him.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

For me, my number 1 target is Mayfield if he makes it to free agency.

Then I approach Winnipeg and try to workout a Stanley + Gustafsson for Victor and whatever trade.

Then I approach Columbus about a Peeke for Joker swap.

And then I look at signing Mikkola or Gavrikov.

Kjell 2.0 - Dahlin
Power - Mayfield/Peeke
Stanley/Gavrikov/Mikkola - Gummy Bear
One of the above - Stillman

 

[Dahlicious]

For me, my number 1 target is Mayfield if he makes it to free agency.

Then I approach Winnipeg and try to workout a Stanley + Gustafsson for Victor and whatever trade.

Then I approach Columbus about a Peeke for Joker swap.

And then I look at signing Mikkola or Gavrikov.

Kjell 2.0 - Dahlin
Power - Mayfield/Peeke
Stanley/Gavrikov/Mikkola - Gummy Bear
One of the above - Stillman

Stanley and Peeke are not good. Peeke is at least better than Joker but his new contract is too much.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Stanley and Peeke are not good. Peeke is at least better than Joker but his new contract is too much.

Which is why I have Stanley on the third pair. It’s also odd that he’s not physical in the NHL but was a hitting machine in the OHL.

 

[Chainshot]

Which is why I have Stanley on the third pair. It’s also odd that he’s not physical in the NHL but was a hitting machine in the OHL.

He has a hard time keeping up at this level so he doesn't get a lot of contact, his recent tackle of Kaprizov aside.

 

[Dahlicious]

Which is why I have Stanley on the third pair. It’s also odd that he’s not physical in the NHL but was a hitting machine in the OHL.

He hasn’t shown he’s an NHLer at all.

 

[Ace]

I think Johnson will be in the NHL next year if/when he signs. Him, Stillman and Lyubushkin as the bottom pair/7th D. Power, Dahlin and Samuelsson are obvious.

The spot that needs to change is Joker out…quality top 4 D in.

 

[HaNotsri]

With Borgen rumored to be available if Kraken could upgrade I think he's a good target.
That said I don't think we'll upgrade anyone, it's unlikely Adams changes his philosophy. I bet the consider Jokiharju a top 4 guy and that Johnson us all that we need for the bottom pairing.
Sure sucks to be a Sabres fan.

 

[KiwiGriff]

With Borgen rumored to be available if Kraken could upgrade I think he's a good target.
That said I don't think we'll upgrade anyone, it's unlikely Adams changes his philosophy. I bet the consider Jokiharju a top 4 guy and that Johnson us all that we need for the bottom pairing.
Sure sucks to be a Sabres fan.

The funny thing is though, it’s not possible to draft a D-first defensemen in his mid to late 20s. I wonder if anyone pointed out to KA that he has a whole in his plan to fill the team through draft alone.

 

[Gabrielor]

1st 23
UPL
Joker
Rosen
Olofsson

For

Saros
McDonagh
Sissons

 

[Dahlicious]

1st 23
UPL
Joker
Rosen
Olofsson

For

Saros
McDonagh
Sissons

I don’t get the Sissons love. Guy hasn’t been good in a long time.

 

[Chainshot]

1st 23
UPL
Joker
Rosen
Olofsson

For

Saros
McDonagh
Sissons

Looking just at McDonagh, he just waived his NTC to go to Nashville. I don't see him waiving again to come to Buffalo, not to relocate his family again a year after that last trade. He had input on going to the Preds.