Off-Season Roster Thread #2 -- Nothing to do but wait

[old kummelweck]

Judicious application of assets seems like the best path to forge this summer. They can't be meager and they have said they leaned toward being frugal. So that leaves a targeted acquisition or two but nothing out of the ordinary and certainly not extravagant in nature.

So Duff and Biron don't really know anything, and they are in the topic desert that is June/July, but I was wondering about someone like Fiala as was thrown around on their show. Sabres have the assets to get that done. Do they wait for Mittlestadt, or do they move on from him in a trade like this? Obviously, they'd need to pony up much more (this years Vegas pick, a 2nd next year, maybe even R2).

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

So Duff and Biron don't really know anything, and they are in the topic desert that is June/July, but I was wondering about someone like Fiala as was thrown around on their show. Sabres have the assets to get that done. Do they wait for Mittlestadt, or do they move on from him in a trade like this? Obviously, they'd need to pony up much more (this years Vegas pick, a 2nd next year, maybe even R2).

I prefer to wait on Mittelstadt, considering how high teammates/coaches were about him at the end of the season. I recall a post about which player was ready to break out, and multiple players said Mitts. Even if he doesn't quite make a 60 pt two way C, I don't think the price of Fiala is worth the on-ice difference between the two.

 

[dkollidas]

I think management will give these guys 1 more year to develop/show what they have before making moves. Add a veteran forward, add a veteran defenseman, add a starting caliber goalie. Other than that, it’s depth for rochester.

Also, people who want to move Bjork, wouldn’t it be easier to just let him clear waivers and go play in rochester and provide some added depth? As opposed to trading him away for some nothingburger asset like a 6th or 7th round pick?

 

[Jacob582]

Also, people who want to move Bjork, wouldn’t it be easier to just let him clear waivers and go play in rochester and provide some added depth? As opposed to trading him away for some nothingburger asset like a 6th or 7th round pick?

I don't want Bjork moved. I want him bought out. He has negative trade value.
Pegula isn't going to pay him $1.8M to play in Rochester. Hope he pays him $600K to go away.

 

[sabremike]

I prefer to wait on Mittelstadt, considering how high teammates/coaches were about him at the end of the season. I recall a post about which player was ready to break out, and multiple players said Mitts. Even if he doesn't quite make a 60 pt two way C, I don't think the price of Fiala is worth the on-ice difference between the two.

I would be leery of trading him because last season was probably the first time in his pro career he played for a coach who didn't actively wreck his development and the improvement was quite noticeable.

 

[Ace]

Mittelstadt is one of the reasons I want to wait the year to make big moves. We watched him push through a difficult year with injury and learn to do what he could while he couldn’t. And there were enough flashes of him learning a high level that his body wouldn’t let him achieve that I’m excited to see what happens this year.

I want to know more about what I have here.

 

[Jimmybarndoor2]

I don't want Bjork moved. I want him bought out. He has negative trade value.
Pegula isn't going to pay him $1.8M to play in Rochester. Hope he pays him $600K to go away.

Sabres are not going to buy out players this year. We don’t need cap room

 

[Chainshot]

I don't want Bjork moved. I want him bought out. He has negative trade value.
Pegula isn't going to pay him $1.8M to play in Rochester. Hope he pays him $600K to go away.

They are going to have to pay some people something to get to the cap floor, it would not surprise if Bjork is paid for not being in Buffalo but is paid for being in Rochester.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

They are going to have to pay some people something to get to the cap floor, it would not surprise if Bjork is paid for not being in Buffalo but is paid for being in Rochester.

I mean as bad as Bjork is, he still never really complained about limited minutes, sitting in the press box etc.
Another year as the 13th forward is probably fine since it's likely guys like R2 and Peterka would leapfrog him into the line-up if someone gets hurt. He's a guy you can take on road trips if they decide to let JJ stew in the AHL at the start of the season so he isn't missing playtime.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Sabres are not going to buy out players this year. We don’t need cap room

Moving Bjork (or buying him out) isn't about the cap hit. It's about the roster spot.

 

[Dingo44]

I mean as bad as Bjork is, he still never really complained about limited minutes, sitting in the press box etc.
Another year as the 13th forward is probably fine since it's likely guys like R2 and Peterka would leapfrog him into the line-up if someone gets hurt. He's a guy you can take on road trips if they decide to let JJ stew in the AHL at the start of the season so he isn't missing playtime.

People just hate certain players and are willing to do irrational things to get them off the team, even if it makes no sense and even hurts the team going forward.

That's why GMs should not think like fans.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

People just hate certain players and are willing to do irrational things to get them off the team, even if it makes no sense and even hurts the team going forward.

That's why GMs should not think like fans.

Yea. I mean I'm not a big Bjork fan myself, but I also realize they need guys willing to spend half the season in the press box. R2 could be that guy, but he's also not signed and who knows if that's a role he would be content with at least for now. Guys like Bjork, Fitzgerald and even Bryson haven't seemed at all bothered by it.

 

[Sabreality]

would love a guy like Nino

 

[Blitz]

And what happens when Donny asks him to do something he doesn't want to do? Is he going to pout and mail it in? What if Donny decides to move on in a couple of seasons? Also if he's dead set on becoming a UFA why would you waste assets on that when this team is not ready to compete for the playoffs yet?

Are you seriously comparing Donny and Torts' coaching style/personalities??? GTFO w that nonsense...

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Are you seriously comparing Donny and Torts' coaching style/personalities??? GTFO w that nonsense...

No I didn't compare their styles. Where did I say a single thing about their coaching styles? If that's all you took from everything that was said then you're the one who needs to stop with the nonsense.

 

[Jacob582]

They could buy out Bjork, pay Hayden to sit in the press box AND save Pegula money at the same time. How is that irrational?

 

[Chainshot]

I mean as bad as Bjork is, he still never really complained about limited minutes, sitting in the press box etc.
Another year as the 13th forward is probably fine since it's likely guys like R2 and Peterka would leapfrog him into the line-up if someone gets hurt. He's a guy you can take on road trips if they decide to let JJ stew in the AHL at the start of the season so he isn't missing playtime.

Didn't say he was an issue. His limited abilities have him as a fringe NHLer and the likelihood is that he'll be passed on the roster by others by the end of camp. That puts him in the boat of many others who willingly embrace their role and do what it takes to stay in or near the show as long as possible. Matt Ellis is an example of that from recent history. Chris Taylor in his own way did something similar. It's a job. Being the 14th forward normally means someone who can come up and not hurt the team defensively. He'll get some games, heck, he might even impress enough at camp to push someone else off to the Amerks - weird things happen - but I don't think he's going to be a full-time NHL regular next season or in fact at all ever again.

 

[Djp]

Well they did sign 11 UFA's last summer - forwards, defensemen, and goalies. So we will do the same this time. A bunch of bargain bin depth players on 2-way deals or NHL minimum.

Dreger is full of crap. I hope he proves me wrong, but every indication from what KA has said (making three 1st round picks, not blocking prospects, not rushing the process) to what he has done so far (trade for a cap dump to help reach the lower limit) indicates that it will be more of the same.

I can see it changing. Terry is a fan like us. He may have caught the winning bug at the end of last season and may want to speed things up. And we know who pulls the strings.

there is no reason to get players that possibly block Quinn/ Peterka.

theonly players I see them shopping fir are

2 goalies
a 7 th vet Dman
Himostroza/ vet who coukd be that 13F who can. R injury sub on any line or can be a regular if by chance Peterka/ Quinn need to be sent down.
a vet 4th center

if Olofsson only signs fir 2 yr then they could be shopping

RE: Dreger and forwards

Could we be wrong to think that KA is not willing to change the makeup of the team through trades this summer?

i don’t see any major trades. Give Bishop trade they don’t need to in order to get to the floor. Hey can operate in the $2.5M and under specials market

They could buy out Bjork, pay Hayden to sit in the press box AND save Pegula money at the same time. How is that irrational?

Sure thry could do that but then they need to spend more elsewhere.

if you send Bjork to Rochester it leaves $500K+ left on Sabres cap

he might do an interesting structure on UPL where he dies a low contract next year having him in Rochester then higher salaries the following 2 yrs knowing he’d be in the nhl. That could make his cap hit around $2M or so then having a $1M residual against the Sabres.

 

[Lloydchristmas138]

I wouldn’t do anything drastic at forward yet either, but if they could find a way to upgrade Olofsson into Fiala I wouldn’t be mad. We need to see Mittelstadt again because his trade value probably isn’t close to what his potential is. We were playing at a 100 point pace to end the year, so let’s run it back with better goaltenders and maybe a D man or two. The continued growth of Cozens, Krebs etc. should be a boost too. Let’s say they add Subban, Husso and bring back Hinostroza.

Skinner - Thompson - Tuch
Cozens - Krebs - Okposo
Asplund - Mittelstadt - Olofsson
Quinn - Girgensons - Peterka
Hinostroza, R2, bjork

We have so much depth spread out that we can roll 4 lines like a Carolina/LA.. this Is how I see the forward depth chart somewhat shaking out. Injuries and slumps will bump Quinn and Peterka into bigger roles maybe even by game one.

Asplund and Olofsson just work together, and Okposo works with Cozens. He can bring those guys some beef and some stability until it’s Quinn/Peterka time for real. It’s definitely a flawed lineup still, it’s no Tampa or Colorado but you still have a bunch of questions on players before you go all in win now.

 

[SundherDome]

Unpopular opinion but I'm not sure Quinn would be on my opening night roster. He missed some time and could stand to work on his game a little more all while getting top minutes. If all goes well, maybe a Thanksgiving or Christmas promotion.

 

[Ace]

That opinion will only be unpopular because it’s bad

 

[Der Jaeger]

Unpopular but correct: the best 23 players should make the Sabres regardless of who they are.

 

[Ace]

Unpopular but correct: the best 23 players should make the Sabres regardless of who they are.

This is where you are going to have to go ahead and explain to me how the Bjork/Hinostroza/Eakin/Hayden level guys they cycle through all the time would fit that criteria this year.

or don’t because it’s absurd

 

[Der Jaeger]

This is where you are going to have to go ahead and explain to me how the Bjork/Hinostroza/Eakin/Hayden level guys they cycle through all the time would fit that criteria this year.

or don’t because it’s absurd

It’s timing.

Last season, players like Quinn and Peterka were not ready for NHL minutes right off the bat. You ruin players that way. Look how rushed Thompson and Mittelstadt were. They had to go back to the AHL to figure things out.

Sometimes you send the better players down so they aren’t rushed.

This season, I don’t see that need. I think most of the kids who would qualify as being part of the best 23 are ready for NHL minutes.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

just some quick math:

1. thompson 2. tuck 3. skinner 4. VO 5. Cozens 6. Mitts 7. Krebs 8. girgs 9. OK 10. Asplund 11. Quinn 12. JJ 13. R2 (in my head you only get him back if hes playing in the nhl, but I havent paid attention to his contract status in a bit) 14. bjork (because technically hes still under contract)

that doesnt re sign anyone, doesnt add anyone, leaves you short of the cap floor, and puts someone (probably under the age of 24 if you push the ditch bjork for roster spots) in the press box

I personally think that forward group sucks if you're hoping for meaningful march games in 22/23 and doesnt change much if anything for our chances in 23/24. Looking at last season bjork 58gp, murray 19, drake 18, john fing hayden 55 and 6gp from a collection of players that wont even make it into trivia night. There's plenty of season for both JJ and Quinn to have 50gp this season and not start opening night on the sabres roster. How long do you think they go before the first injury that brings 1 of the 2 up? training camp? 10 games in? I'd wager 10 internet points that even if neither makes opening night at least 1 is playing every night by the time october ends as an injury replacement.