Buffalo Sabres 2025 Off-Season Plan

[toddkaz]

Mattias and Connor gotta go.

 

[CowbellConray]

Alright, I'm bored so here are some potential targets to help for next year.

Focus areas:
Top 6 ES scoring
Middle Pair Defenseman Support (Two Way/Defensive D focused)

Target #1: Jared Mccann. Really solid Top 6 ES scorer. In that Alex Tuch mold, could be a 30-35 goal guy and PKer. Doesn't really play center, but could spot in as needed. Would be a HUGE upgrade on Quinn. Also on a great contract. Would think Seattle will want young NHL talent/NHL ready prospects plus maybe picks. They dont look to be contending any time soon.

Cost? I think it could be had for a second in 2025 + a B prospect. Maybe you do Quinn + our 2nd if you are trying to ship Quinn out as an RFA with value. Note: He does have a M-NTC, but I'd hope he would waive. That would be the contingency...

Target #2: Combined trade: Jack McBain and Michael Kesserling. McBain is a solid under the radar option in Utah. Not really a part of the core, 25 years old, on a Krebs type deal. Only getting 13 minutes a night, plus faceoff guy, and if given the right situation could be this years McLeod. Kesserling is that perfect Will Borgen type option for this team. Would fit in our top 4 to play alongside Dahlin or Power.

Cost? Kesselring would be quite the cost. To me, it is worth it, he is cheap for a year and fits our team mold incredibly well. Is Kulich + Clifton too rich for a third line Center and a solid Top 4 RD with team control? to me, it's not.

Target #3: Simon Nemec: Total buy low possibility. RHD and recent #2 overall selection. Had a BAD year for Jersey, and with Casey and Hughes playing well it might make sense for the Devils to move on if the right offer comes along. Played well in the AHL however. Tons of potential. Would absolutely take our first in 2025 or top 3 prospect. Would probably rather dangle our first as a draft day trade depending on how the board fell. NJ doesn't have their first, so they may consider selling on Nemec and drafting someone new into their org.

So trade:
Quinn + 2027 2nd for Mccann (may need to give more here but that's my starting point)
Kulich and Clifton for McBain and Kesselring
2025 1st for Nemec
Lafferty for futures to save cap

Benson - Norris - Thompson
Mccann - Mcleod - Peterka
Ostlund - McBain - Tuch
Zucker - Krebs - Greenway
x: Beck, Kozak, Rosen

Dahlin - Sammy
Bryam - Kesselring
Power - JBD/Nemec
x: Nemec/Bryson/Johnson (again, Bryson probably in the A through waivers)

UPL
Levi
x: Reimer

Bridge JJP and give Byram the Durzi contract from last year. Cap space is 1.5-2.5M, and you have roster flexibility. If Rosen plays well, he takes a spot and you move out someone else. Nemec plays well? JBD sits. He doesn't? JBD slots in.

 

[HOOats]

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?

1000% and I think this is the kind of trade Quinn could be involved in. Our trading partner will likely think they're getting a great deal with an eye towards Quinn's upside and that's totally fine with me.
Edit: I saw that NJ doesn't have their first, but the concept stands.

 

[Selanne00008]

Some are saying Power and Byrum gotta go.

Others say Mattias and Clifton gotta go.

My thoughts are this isn't NHL 2025 xbox, we are moving one, MAYBE two of our top 6 D. That's it.
I'd say Clifton is one of them. The other is probly Byrum or Samuelsson.

Chain said it earlier. Of the UFA's lists I have seen, I'd be targeting Bennett, based on age, production and player type he is. But, would he even pick up our phone call? Doubt it, so I just sigh and go to the driving range and hit some balls.

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

Giving this a shot. Please be gentle.

Going on the assumption that Adams and Ruff are back I'm trying to keep the following proposals modest and doable. Many of the names and ideas have already been offered by other, more knowledgeable posters.

Fire all the assistant coaches. Preferably into the sun so there's no chance of them coming back.

Target two free agents: Fabbro and Iafallo. Both names have been bandied about enough that I don't believe any explanation is needed. Personally believe Fabbro is a longshot given how well he's worked with the Jackets and the amount of cap space they have. Sidenote: I would love, LOVE to get Bennett here. But it's not happening, not even if we dumped a dump truck load of cash on his front lawn.

Three hockey trades:

The first target is Whitecloud. Very good fit on our second pairing, likely with Power. I considered Kesselring, but I don't feel Utah is under any pressure to move him.

The second target is either Rossi or Beniers. A lot of smoke in Minnesota around Rossi so he seems gettable. Seems more unlikely with Beniers but their roster construction and overall direction (or lack thereof) of the franchise makes me believe it's worth a try. Personally feel he would be a great fit. Sidenote: I considered the idea of targeting a vet who could play a heavy, 200' game in our top 6 and couldn't find any (that doesn't have trade protection). Additionally, I think we need the flexibility that another center can provide given that our new nominal 1C is apparently made of peanut brittle.

Third target is Kolesar. Pretty obvious what he can provide.

Sidenote: Just want to be clear I give zero shits about the optics of the trades. I'm looking for players that can help achieve a coherent roster structure, not a collection of skillsy talents. So overpay if we must.

Potential Trade Assets:

Peterka. I have nothing against him; he's a great talent. But we can't have two top 6 forwards that are so consistently inept in their own zone and ever expect to be contenders. And next to Power, he has the highest trade value that I would be willing to part with.

Power/Byram. I don't believe Adams has the psychological strength to part with Power, but I've included him anyway. If our roster construction is ever going to be fixed, one of these guys has to go.

2025 first (unprotected) and later picks
2026 first (top 5 protected) and later picks

Prospects not named Ostlund or Helenius.

Quinn. I know this might be selling low, but I just don't see a place for him. That said, I'm not trading him for a bag of chips either. Unless it's bag of Ruffle's Sour Cream 'n Bacon, that I'll do.

So if all goes well (in the most relative sense):

Benson - Norris - Thompson
Kulich - Rossi/Beniers - Tuch
Greenway - McLeod - Zucker
Iafallo/Malenstyn - Krebs/Kozak - Iafallo/Kolesar

Dahlin - Fabbro
Power/Byram - Whitecloud
Sammy/Johnson - JBD/Clifton

UPL
Vet/Levi

Not a world-beating roster by any means, but given management/ownership concerns it might ballpark be the best we can hope for. Or I could be way off base. Shrug.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Mattias and Connor gotta go.
View attachment 1013552

Clifton lost his edge/toughness as well, so I agree. Johnson can take his spot

 

[Jimmybarndoor2]

3 exciting takeaways from the Sabres 2024-2025 season​

The Sabres will be ending another disappointing season this week, but there are some exciting takeaways from the season.
ByZackary Laware|1 hour ago

Ah the spin has started

 

[CowbellConray]

Clifton lost his edge/toughness as well, so I agree. Johnson can take his spot

I actually think Clifton has been plenty physical at the line. He just isn’t quite as “scummy” as I thought a player from Boston would be

 

[Zman5778]

Some are saying Power and Byrum gotta go.

Others say Mattias and Clifton gotta go.

My opinion -- for his role, Cliffy is solid. He stays. Power and Byram basically occupy the same space -- puck-moving LHD on the 2nd pair. Choose 1. Don't care which.

Sammy is the enigma, IMO.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

My #1 priority would be a complete overhaul of the coaching staff.

Lindy hasn't been a total disaster, but he's not the answer. Let's face it, he was mostly a feel-good Pegula hire. The assistants are all disasters.

Can we please see what this roster can do with a top-notch coaching staff? They have too much talent to be as bad as they perform on too many nights.

Maybe a better question would be "can Adams hire one?".

 

[TommyDangles]

Target #2: Combined trade: Jack McBain and Michael Kesserling. McBain is a solid under the radar option in Utah. Not really a part of the core, 25 years old, on a Krebs type deal. Only getting 13 minutes a night, plus faceoff guy, and if given the right situation could be this years McLeod. Kesserling is that perfect Will Borgen type option for this team. Would fit in our top 4 to play alongside Dahlin or Power.

Cost? Kesselring would be quite the cost. To me, it is worth it, he is cheap for a year and fits our team mold incredibly well. Is Kulich + Clifton too rich for a third line Center and a solid Top 4 RD with team control? to me, it's not.

Trading Kulich for a 4C and top 6 RD would really be something

 

[Der Jaeger]

If the Sabres are moving any of their three young centers, it needs to be part of a package for a high end player. Pettersson, Tkachuk, etc. Something akin to that.

After listening to the Quinn podcast I’m on board for POHO, leadership help for Dahlin, and Mike Grier type acquisitions. The physical talent is in the Sabres room.

 

[CowbellConray]

Trading Kulich for a 4C and top 6 RD would really be something

McBain is a 3 C and Kesselring is a true top 4 RD. This isn’t Clifton and Krebs.

It’s the Savoie for McLeod style deal.

 

[jc17]

I actually think Clifton has been plenty physical at the line. He just isn’t quite as “scummy” as I thought a player from Boston would be

When I think of scummy I think of Corey Perry. I don't think we need that, or a fighter.

We need someone that people are scared to make angry because they'll run over the entire team. Clifton has a little of it, Greenway has some but that's about it.

But the threat of our tough guy fighting your tough guy isn't a deterrent. And having a scummy guy maybe makes people think a little of retribution,but I don't think enough. Need a wrecking ball

 

[CowbellConray]

When I think of scummy I think of Corey Perry. I don't think we need that, or a fighter.

We need someone that people are scared to make angry because they'll run over the entire team. Clifton has a little of it, Greenway has some but that's about it.

But the threat of our tough guy fighting your tough guy isn't a deterrent. And having a scummy guy maybe makes people think a little of retribution,but I don't think enough. Need a wrecking ball

Agreed, those guys just aren’t really available. You want a tom Wilson, a tkchuck, a Hathaway. I just don’t think those guys grow on trees.

Maybe Kolesar, but he just signed an extension with Vegas. L

 

[BFLO]

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

Yep. He was saved by a random 8-1-0 stretch where we were shooting 19%

We're 0-2-1 since cooling off to a 8.51% SH%.

 

[Jim Bob]

Maple Leafs Mailbag: Do Marner, Tavares, Knies all re-sign?

The Toronto Maple Leafs — winners of five of their past six — are riding out of the final weekend of the regular season hot. So, naturally, when we tossed out the call for mailbag queries, Leafs Nation pounded us with questions about the off-season.

www.sportsnet.ca

This makes me wonder if Tavares is more of a target for the Sabres than Marner if they both hit the market given that they view Thompson more as a winger than a center.

 

[Sabresbyswords104]

Nothing like this Will happen ; often we Will see one trade and thats Max . And 1 free agent signing depth player .

 

[Chainshot]

I actually think Clifton has been plenty physical at the line. He just isn’t quite as “scummy” as I thought a player from Boston would be

He knows most of the team doesn't have his back. It's part of what is fundamentally wrong with the whole of it.

 

[TehDoak]

In looking at this, being realistic, its going to depend wildly on the GM/coach situation.

I don't think its impossible that Adams stays and Ruff retires.

I don't think its impossible that Adams is fired and Ruff stays.

But....to me its more about who is gone than anything else.

Looking at the cap numbers, when you sign the RFA, we are close to the cap since we are spending 8M+ on Zucker and Greenway.

For us to make serious changes to the roster, bodies have to go out. Is Adams going to move/buyout Clifton and Samuelsson? Is Byram staying? Will he sell low on Quinn? Does Peterka want to be here?

My expectation is that Adams will revert to his 'run it back' ways and claim the big move was Norris and we will come back with mostly the same roster.

 

[Chainshot]

They will change out one forward, one defenseman, and maybe a goalie. That's it. That's the summer. And "change" is relative since it may involve simply filling in from below.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

I think they can trade Ostlund, Rosen, Helenius to get a playoff roster. Is that a wise decision?

 

[DapperCam]

- Fire Adams
- Fire Ruff
- Fire all of the assistant coaches
- Buy out Samuelsson
- Bridge Byram (with the intention to trade eventually, maybe not this offseason)
- Trade some of the youth for legit vets. Rosen, Kulich, JJP, Quinn, Helenius, Ostlund are fair game. Everybody has their favorites, but we are way too young and we need more balance.
- Extend Tuch
- First round pick is fair game for a hockey trade.
- Figure out something with goaltending. It killed us this season. To be honest, I don’t know what the answer is here. Definitely a tough one if/until Levi establishes himself.
- “The best 4th line in hockey” experiment failed. NAK and Lafferty were a failure, and Malenstyn was meh. Buy out/cut/waive Lafferty. Look for good replacements.
- We need at least one actual top-4 defensive defenseman (literally since Tallinder has left).

If I were Pegula I would have a very busy summer. I expect more of the same, even though Adams told us at the preseason presser that it was playoffs do or die this year.

 

[Jim Bob]

Ten Buffalo Sabres offseason questions after yet another year missing playoffs

The questions facing the Sabres this summer are heavy, and they start right at the top of the organization.

www.nytimes.com

I think this is a solid list of questions. I am expecting to be underwhelmed with how many get addressed in a meaningful way this offseason.

 

[toddkaz]

Maple Leafs Mailbag: Do Marner, Tavares, Knies all re-sign?

The Toronto Maple Leafs — winners of five of their past six — are riding out of the final weekend of the regular season hot. So, naturally, when we tossed out the call for mailbag queries, Leafs Nation pounded us with questions about the off-season.

www.sportsnet.ca

This makes me wonder if Tavares is more of a target for the Sabres than Marner if they both hit the market given that they view Thompson more as a winger than a center.

Isn't Center set in Buffalo?
Norris
Kulich
McLoed
Krebs

On the flip side of that Tavares says he wants to keep his family in Toronto so Ottawa and Buffalo would be ideal destinations if Toronto doesn't want to resign him. It also sounds like Tavares will take a discount to resign in Toronto.