Buffalo Sabres 2025 Off-Season Plan

[SundherDome]

Dude do you really think it’s so easy to acquire all of those things? It isn’t, especially not in one offseason.

This off-season, yes.

 

[MOGlLNY]

This off-season, yes.

We’ve been saying that for the last 2 offseasons. Power going into his 4th full season and the best partner we’ve gotten for him is JBD.

I have very limited faith they can get all that done

 

[ValJamesDuex]

My kingdom for a stout penalty killing defenseman, who is very good against the rush and great at killing plays. He doesn’t even have to be right handed shooting.

Johnson maybe ?

 

[SundherDome]

We’ve been saying that for the last 2 offseasons. Power going into his 4th full season and the best partner we’ve gotten for him is JBD.

I have very limited faith they can get all that done

This off-season has a different feel to it based on last off-season and this years deadline, I would expect a few bigger names to be moved this off-season, hopefully Kevyn planted seeds that if one is available, overpay.

 

[CowbellConray]

My slightly realistic management:

Weaknesses: PP is still an issue. Team Defense. Take too many penalties. Top 6 talent. Goaltending
Strengths: Good wingers. Young. Norris defenseman. Potential starting goalie

Resign:
Brett Murray: 1x800,000
JBD: 2x1,150.000
McLeod: 4x4,250,000
JJP: 6x6,500,000 (I think this is a bit wishful but it's close)
Levi: 2x1,100,000
R. Johnson: 2x950,000
Kozak: 2x975,000
Byram: 6x7,000,000
Reimer: 1x950,000 - I expect this, not that I want it

Trade:
Lafferty & Washington 7th to Nashville for Futures - Clears $2M
Quinn to NJ for Nemec (NJ needs offensive help, Quinn is an RFA who can be bridged on the cheap, Nemec heavily struggled this year but is 21 RHD and has potential)
Power to SJS for Musty, EDM 2026 1st, STL 2025 4th - Cap move, Musty is a legit top 6 prospect, EDM First could be early 20s next year, SJS needs top end defense and Power can learn with a good young core in the west

FA Signings:
Cody Ceci: 2x4,000,000 - not a sexy option, but sexy options dont sign in Buffalo. RHD, averages 20 minutes a game, solid bottom 4 option who can actually play some defense
Nate Schmidt: 1x2,500,000 - again, not sexy. Bottom pair guy, played with FLA this year and has done well. Would slot as a guy who knows how to play defense, something we have struggled with...
Nic Dowd: 1x2,000,000 - Washington probably can't sign him, and he is a great 4th line center. Really good defensively, and has played with Beck so there is a bit of a connection already created.


Cap Space: $4,144,486

Depth Chart:

Benson	Norris	Thompson
Kulich (I think he needs time on the wing	McLeod	Peterka
Zucker	Krebs	Tuch
Malenstyn	Dowd	Greenway

Dahlin	Sammy
Byram	Ceci
Schmidt	Clifton

UPL

Levi

Extra:
Rosen
JBD
Nemec

More veteran presence, better defense (moving Power out is a win, can't bank on JBD to play well all season. Nemec gives us a potential great player if he can put it together).

Goal scoring should continue, 4th line get's a true 4th line center, bottom pairing D aren't a joke in their own end.

Unfortunately this doesn't solve goaltending, and that's an issue. Unfortunately, I just dont see that being fixed this year...

Musty is an A prospect, we continue with spots on the team for young guys (Oslund/Rosen could supplant Krebs and push him down, Beck may not play every game).

Tried to be realistic as well as productive... flame away!

EDIT: Also, fire the assistants and bring in true guys who can work out the PP

 

[TommyDangles]

Byram is the key trade chip. Trade him to a team needing a LD with some RD to spare. Kings for Clarke/Spence, Utah for Kesselring, NYR for Schneider. Save some cap not having to extend Byram.

Add a vet. Bryan Rust no longer has trade protection. Pittsburgh needs a shakeup.

Keep Peterka. He's got the IT factor. Rossi is a bit overrated. His production fell off a cliff with Kaprizov out. Never been that big of a fan. I'd add him to the lineup if the cost was a pick/prospect. Hell no to moving Peterka for him.

Try to find a taker on Sammy. Big man with NHL pedigree. GMs tend to drool over something like that even if they're awful. If nobody bites just buy him out. Team is better with him off the ice.

Add a depth LD in FA or acquire one in a trade. Plenty of teams with logjams looking to make space for young talent.

Talks of Sharks moving Ferraro. Add him. No trade protection.

Always thought about putting Power/Dahlin together. Dallas did it with Heiskanen/Harley this season.

Bring back Reimer

Something like

Peterka - Tage - Tuch
Kulich - Norris - Rust
Benson - McLeod - Zucker
Greenway - Krebs - Rosen
Ostlund, Malenstyn

Power - Dahlin
Ferraro - Schneider/Clarke/Kesselring
FA/Trade - Clifton
RyJo

UPL
Reimer/Levi

 

[toddkaz]

What UFA defensemen should Buffalo target in the off season to play in the top 4.(Not that they will sign here)

Orlov
Gavrikov
Lindgren
Dumoulin

Anyone interested in any of them? All Left handed, right handed defencemen are slim pickings.

Overpay for Gavrikov? That would be my first choice.

 

[nickdawg95]

What defensemen should Buffalo target in the off season to play in the top 4.(Not that they will sign here)

Orlov
Gavrikov
Lindgren
Dumoulin

Anyone interested in any of them? All Left handed, right handed defencemen are slim pickings.

Overpay for Gavrikov? That would be my first choice.

lundkvist

 

[CowbellConray]

What UFA defensemen should Buffalo target in the off season to play in the top 4.(Not that they will sign here)

Orlov
Gavrikov
Lindgren
Dumoulin

Anyone interested in any of them? All Left handed, right handed defencemen are slim pickings.

Overpay for Gavrikov? That would be my first choice.

Ceci as a bottom 4 RD. Isn’t sexy, but is a stable option that would take a short term deal

 

[Der Jaeger]

I’ve always thought Fabbro would be a good add. He plays the shotgun role to a 1D well.

 

[MOGlLNY]

My slightly realistic management:

Weaknesses: PP is still an issue. Team Defense. Take too many penalties. Top 6 talent. Goaltending
Strengths: Good wingers. Young. Norris defenseman. Potential starting goalie

Resign:
Brett Murray: 1x800,000
JBD: 2x1,150.000
McLeod: 4x4,250,000
JJP: 6x6,500,000 (I think this is a bit wishful but it's close)
Levi: 2x1,100,000
R. Johnson: 2x950,000
Kozak: 2x975,000
Byram: 6x7,000,000
Reimer: 1x950,000 - I expect this, not that I want it

Trade:
Lafferty & Washington 7th to Nashville for Futures - Clears $2M
Quinn to NJ for Nemec (NJ needs offensive help, Quinn is an RFA who can be bridged on the cheap, Nemec heavily struggled this year but is 21 RHD and has potential)
Power to SJS for Musty, EDM 2026 1st, STL 2025 4th - Cap move, Musty is a legit top 6 prospect, EDM First could be early 20s next year, SJS needs top end defense and Power can learn with a good young core in the west

FA Signings:
Cody Ceci: 2x4,000,000 - not a sexy option, but sexy options dont sign in Buffalo. RHD, averages 20 minutes a game, solid bottom 4 option who can actually play some defense
Nate Schmidt: 1x2,500,000 - again, not sexy. Bottom pair guy, played with FLA this year and has done well. Would slot as a guy who knows how to play defense, something we have struggled with...
Nic Dowd: 1x2,000,000 - Washington probably can't sign him, and he is a great 4th line center. Really good defensively, and has played with Beck so there is a bit of a connection already created.


Cap Space: $4,144,486

Depth Chart:

Benson	Norris	Thompson
Kulich (I think he needs time on the wing	McLeod	Peterka
Zucker	Krebs	Tuch
Malenstyn	Dowd	Greenway

Dahlin	Sammy
Byram	Ceci
Schmidt	Clifton

UPL

Levi

Extra:
Rosen
JBD
Nemec

More veteran presence, better defense (moving Power out is a win, can't bank on JBD to play well all season. Nemec gives us a potential great player if he can put it together).

Goal scoring should continue, 4th line get's a true 4th line center, bottom pairing D aren't a joke in their own end.

Unfortunately this doesn't solve goaltending, and that's an issue. Unfortunately, I just dont see that being fixed this year...

Musty is an A prospect, we continue with spots on the team for young guys (Oslund/Rosen could supplant Krebs and push him down, Beck may not play every game).

Tried to be realistic as well as productive... flame away!

EDIT: Also, fire the assistants and bring in true guys who can work out the PP

I'm going to put this nicely cause I appreciate the effort, but this team is significantly worse than what we put out there this year.

 

[Chainshot]

Johnson maybe ?

I like RJohnson as a defensive defenseman in the AHL. I don't think he's going to be an elite play killer at the NHL level.

 

[Djp]

My slightly realistic management:

Weaknesses: PP is still an issue. Team Defense. Take too many penalties. Top 6 talent. Goaltending
Strengths: Good wingers. Young. Norris defenseman. Potential starting goalie

Resign:
Brett Murray: 1x800,000
JBD: 2x1,150.000
McLeod: 4x4,250,000
JJP: 6x6,500,000 (I think this is a bit wishful but it's close)
Levi: 2x1,100,000
R. Johnson: 2x950,000
Kozak: 2x975,000
Byram: 6x7,000,000
Reimer: 1x950,000 - I expect this, not that I want it

Id only do 2 on JBD. He's 3 yrs from UFS iirc.

Mcleodeould be 3-5 yrs. He's 2 yrs to UFA

Peterka does a bridge if 3 yrs at $5M. He's not signing 6 yrs at thst when others go 7-8 yrs.

Kozak is a 1 yr deal.

Because Levi still has 1 yr of waiver exemption, I think it's 1 yr if the plan on him splitting time. If they have him full time on sabres, then 2 yrs.

Trade:
Lafferty & Washington 7th to Nashville for Futures - Clears $2M

Why? Just hold onto him.

Quinn to NJ for Nemec (NJ needs offensive help, Quinn is an RFA who can be bridged on the cheap, Nemec heavily struggled this year but is 21 RHD and has potential)

Sabres need to add.coulf be a 1st round pick flip if Buffalo is around 12 and NJ at 17.

Power to SJS for Musty, EDM 2026 1st, STL 2025 4th - Cap move, Musty is a legit top 6 prospect, EDM First could be early 20s next year, SJS needs top end defense and Power can learn with a good young core in the west

This is low. Its also contingent on sabres acquiring a RD

FA Signings:
Cody Ceci: 2x4,000,000 - not a sexy option, but sexy options dont sign in Buffalo. RHD, averages 20 minutes a game, solid bottom 4 option who can actually play some defense

Absolute no.

Nate Schmidt: 1x2,500,000 - again, not sexy. Bottom pair guy, played with FLA this year and has done well. Would slot as a guy who knows how to play defense, something we have struggled with...

Unnecessary move

Nic Dowd: 1x2,000,000 - Washington probably can't sign him, and he is a great 4th line center. Really good defensively, and has played with Beck so there is a bit of a connection already created.

Washington keep him. Buffalo does not need him with Krebs and kozak.

 

[DJN21]

Id only do 2 on JBD. He's 3 yrs from UFS iirc.

Mcleodeould be 3-5 yrs. He's 2 yrs to UFA

Peterka does a bridge if 3 yrs at $5M. He's not signing 6 yrs at thst when others go 7-8 yrs.

Kozak is a 1 yr deal.

Because Levi still has 1 yr of waiver exemption, I think it's 1 yr if the plan on him splitting time. If they have him full time on sabres, then 2 yrs.



Why? Just hold onto him.


Sabres need to add.coulf be a 1st round pick flip if Buffalo is around 12 and NJ at 17.


This is low. Its also contingent on sabres acquiring a RD

Absolute no.

Unnecessary move


Washington keep him. Buffalo does not need him with Krebs and kozak.

This is a horrendously bad take.

 

[toddkaz]

Clifton and Samuelsson need to go. Plenty of UFAs even if its a 1-2 year deal that are better than these two pylons.

 

[jd1970]

Adams came within an eyelash of finishing last in the conference.
Everything is on hold till he is gone, whenever that is.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Adams came within an eyelash of finishing last in the conference.
Everything is on hold till he is gone, whenever that is.

Not happening

 

[Der Jaeger]

Is cry an option?

 

[Gabrielor]

Build out a full NHL roster.

Of note:

-Make Levi (who I love) take the job, don't give it to him.

-Re-structure the D. Perfect world, Byram and Sammy go out, hard-nosed D partners for Power and Dahlin come in.

-Continue building up the forward core. If there's another Savoie for McLeod type, do it. If Pettersson is available, DO IT. Especially if it doesnt cost you Power, Dahlin, Tage. Add Norris to make it happen.

-Add a heavyweight. Someone to answer the bell on a regularly basis. They're hard to find, but this is the kind of team that needs one.

====

-Trade the 1st to make the above possible. You don't need another 7th-9th pick. It hasn't worked. (Ristolainen poorly developed, Nylander complete bust, Mittelstadt already diminished value, Cozens gone, Quinn failing, Savoie traded before coming of age)

-Spend to the cap to make the above possible.

 

[CowbellConray]

Build out a full NHL roster.

Of note:

-Make Levi (who I love) take the job, don't give it to him.

-Re-structure the D. Perfect world, Byram and Sammy go out, hard-nosed D partners for Power and Dahlin come in.

-Continue building up the forward core. If there's another Savoie for McLeod type, do it. If Pettersson is available, DO IT. Especially if it doesnt cost you Power, Dahlin, Tage. Add Norris to make it happen.

-Add a heavyweight. Someone to answer the bell on a regularly basis. They're hard to find, but this is the kind of team that needs one.

====

-Trade the 1st to make the above possible. You don't need another 7th-9th pick. It hasn't worked. (Ristolainen poorly developed, Nylander complete bust, Mittelstadt already diminished value, Cozens gone, Quinn failing, Savoie traded before coming of age)

-Spend to the cap to make the above possible.

Would you consider trading our first and Quinn for NJ first and Nemec? Say our pick is 9th overall and NJ is 20th. Quinn and 9 for Nemec and 20?

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

Would you consider trading our first and Quinn for NJ first and Nemec? Say our pick is 9th overall and NJ is 20th. Quinn and 9 for Nemec and 20?

New Jersey doesn't have their first this year (traded to Calgary for Markstrom).

 

[CowbellConray]

Power vs. Byram is a really interesting discussion. Power has the higher ceiling - he could become Victor Hedman #1 D. Byram's ceiling is more a good top pairing guy, but not that #1 D that Power has.

Over the past 20 games, we've seen Ruff take ice time away from Power and keep Byram consistently around 21-23 minutes a game. Power has also had issues at ES, Byram is outscoring him 8 to 5 at ES since March 1st.

Do you trade Power to Seattle for Beniers or Wright? Do you trade him to SJS for prospects and picks? Do you keep him and trade Byram, who has been a better ES player in the back half of the season with Clifton?

I think I'd like to keep both, but if I HAD to trade one, I think it's Power. Gives us the chance to bring in a really good top 6 center and maybe even free up some cash to sign Byram to a long term deal.

 

[Gabrielor]

Would you consider trading our first and Quinn for NJ first and Nemec? Say our pick is 9th overall and NJ is 20th. Quinn and 9 for Nemec and 20?

I...probably pass. It's a good idea, but frankly, we need a more ready solution than Nemec.

 

[CowbellConray]

New Jersey doesn't have their first this year (traded to Calgary for Markstrom).

Thanks! Didn't know

 

[debaser66]

One of Bryam or Power has to go.
Still a dumb move now as it was last year bringing in another puckmoving OD instead of a DD.