Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[Djp]

Couple ideas to throw out for discussion. Here's what's been going through my head for the Sabres. Remember, trades that are fair probably hurt.

@My Cozen Dylan proposed a trade that I like. Here's what he proposed:

Buffalo sends Kulich, Krebs, Joliharju, and a 2024 2nd round pick to Calgary for Weegar and Coleman.

The only thing I don't like about this trade is that Weegar is 30 years old and Coleman is 32 years old.


I really like the idea of making a trade with Minnesota. Would Guerin be willing to trade value to get rid of some salary? Minnesota is up again the cap again next season with $14.7M in dead cap space. I like Stramel and Khusnutdinov from their prospect pool. @TheBarnIsElectric brough up Foligno and Brodin as trade targets. Again, love the players, don't love the ages.


And a blockbuster type that's been rolling around in my head. I like Power, but having him behind Dahlin seems like a wasted asset. He really needs to be a #1 power play guy to maximize who he is as a player. Ottawa now has an issue with Chychrun. I think it's only a matter of time before Tkachuk gets frustrated - that's purely my speculation, but based off his dad and his brother's situation.

Power and a lot for Tkachuk and Chychrun?

Just for discussion on a Friday.....

Weager contract is an anchor in 4 years.
Brodin is 30+ LD. Not trading Mitts for that.


Ottawa- buffalo trade wouldn’t occur…

salary needs to balance

Cozens, Peterka, Power for Tkachuk, Chychrun, Greig. With secondary stuff

 

[Snippit]

We need to get an NHL quality back-up so we can send Levi down to the AHL.

And we need to find some new homes for some of our AHL goalies so Levi can get AHL starts.

KA really screwed up with his Levi gamble this year.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Weager contract is an anchor in 4 years.
Brodin is 30+ LD. Not trading Mitts for that.


Ottawa- buffalo trade wouldn’t occur…

salary needs to balance

Cozens, Peterka, Power for Tkachuk, Chychrun, Greig. With secondary stuff

For Tkachuk, I'd keep it as simple as I could make it.

Tkachuk
Chychrun

- for -

Power
Kulich
Peterka

Kulich replaces Cozens in your proposal, as the up and coming prospect. I'd even add a 1st if Ottawa asked. Tkachuk is everything the Sabres need.

 

[Djp]

For Tkachuk, I'd keep it as simple as I could make it.

Tkachuk
Chychrun

- for -

Power
Kulich
Peterka

Kulich replaces Cozens in your proposal, as the up and coming prospect. I'd even add a 1st if Ottawa asked. Tkachuk is everything the Sabres need.

like I said…I don’t see ever happening. I’m not going to deeply analyze it. I’d look at a western team equivalent.

We need to get an NHL quality back-up so we can send Levi down to the AHL.

And we need to find some new homes for some of our AHL goalies so Levi can get AHL starts.

KA really screwed up with his Levi gamble this year.

Thry can bring Comrie up. Send Levi down.

 

[SundherDome]

We need to get an NHL quality back-up so we can send Levi down to the AHL.

And we need to find some new homes for some of our AHL goalies so Levi can get AHL starts.

KA really screwed up with his Levi gamble this year.

We already have Comrie. Just call him up and play him every so often. I do wonder if having Levi up makes UPL look over his shoulder though and that may be helping him

 

[Djp]

Mentioned thisbenson forum…today 32 thought talked to James Patrick. He talks of his time in buffalo and tidbit about benson

 

[Snippit]

We already have Comrie. Just call him up and play him every so often. I do wonder if having Levi up makes UPL look over his shoulder though and that may be helping him

Comrie had a .850 in 7 games here. I want someone better.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Because I'm bored I played the proposed Tkachuk and Weegar/Coleman trades out just to see what it'd look like.

Tkachuk and Chychrun for Kulich, Peterka, Power, and 2025 1st.

Weegar and Coleman for Rosen, Krebs, Jokiharju, and 2024 2nd.

Skinner - Thompson - Tuch
Tkachuk - Mittelstadt - Benson
Greenway - Cozens - Quinn
Coleman - Girgensons - Okposo
x Robinson

Samuelsson - Dahlin
Chychrun - Weegar
R. Johnson - Clifton
x E. Johnson

Suddenly a lot tougher to play against with a whole lot of skill still there. It'd have to happen in the off-season, because this roster would be around $93M in season.

 

[Chainshot]

Comrie had a .850 in 7 games here. I want someone better.

I'd like to see Comrie continue what he's doing in Rochester for a few more starts and come back a new man since I don't see them making a trade for that position with a trio in Rochester already that doesn't involve sending a goalie the other way. That makes it even stickier - is there a team that needs an AHL tender and has an NHL backup worth it for Buffalo to move something to get him?

 

[MOGlLNY]

I know Power has really driven some up a wall but I’m not trading him. Maybe if we managed to get Andersson instead of Weegar I’d be more open to it.

 

[Chainshot]

 

[SabresFan26]

Send Levi down and call up Comrie.

Give UPL 75% of the starts remaining and on back to backs give Comrie a game.

Let Levi play 75% of the starts in Rochester.

 

[thewookie1]

I'm weary of the endless trades involving Power and Cozens because they've become the newest whipping boys.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

This, and this...

Send Levi down and call up Comrie.

Give UPL 75% of the starts remaining and on back to backs give Comrie a game.

Let Levi play 75% of the starts in Rochester.

One or the other should have happened a long time ago (to have two goalies), but if you want your two future goalies getting the most starts, it's obvious what to do.

 

[Chainshot]

Comrie's been very good in Rochester. If they wanted him to get some confidence rebuilt, maybe that's a step in the right direction.

 

[Irie]

@My Cozen Dylan proposed a trade that I like. Here's what he proposed:

Buffalo sends Kulich, Krebs, Joliharju, and a 2024 2nd round pick to Calgary for Weegar and Coleman.

The only thing I don't like about this trade is that Weegar is 30 years old and Coleman is 32 years old.

Lots of these proposals popping up and none of them take the cap into account.

You are bringing in 11M and sending out zero cap.

Assuming you make this deal and re-sign Mitts at 7M, You then have 8M for 8 roster spots (both of your goalies, your entire 4th line and all of your depth players - D and forwards).

They wouldn't be able to ice a full team unless they planned on having 10+ ELCs/league-Minimum-bargains on the roster. And realistically, you would be looking at 30+ games of someone like Clague again when injuries happen.

They add some nice pieces, but the depth is abysmal and the team is likely worse off.

 

[Chainshot]

They need to find an economy #4 defenseman IMO. Someone who can PK and play the harder game around the net and corners but isn't a suck when required to move the puck. They aren't likely in a spot to spend their way out of the deficit and while I like RJohnson's game, he's not that guy yet.

 

[HaNotsri]

We need to get an NHL quality back-up so we can send Levi down to the AHL.

And we need to find some new homes for some of our AHL goalies so Levi can get AHL starts.

KA really screwed up with his Levi gamble this year.

Short term solution could be swapping Comrie/Levi and then call Levi back up when UPL needs a rest.

 

[BFLO]

They need to find an economy #4 defenseman IMO. Someone who can PK and play the harder game around the net and corners but isn't a suck when required to move the puck. They aren't likely in a spot to spend their way out of the deficit and while I like RJohnson's game, he's not that guy yet.

Could have afforded the best top 4 D available rather than an economy option if EJ, Clifton and Bryson weren't sucking up $8.43 million in cap space.

 

[Chainshot]

Could have afforded the best top 4 D available rather than an economy option if EJ, Clifton and Bryson weren't sucking up $8.43 million in cap space.

Even when two of those three are gone this summer, they still need to find better economy in that spot because they seem like they're tied to paying the guys who are performing now.

 

[BFLO]

Even when two of those three are gone this summer, they still need to find better economy in that spot because they seem like they're tied to paying the guys who are performing now.

I fully expect Adam's "solution" for a top 4D this summer to be a Joki extension at like 7x$4.5m and expecting more internal growth from everyone.

 

[Chainshot]

I fully expect Adam's "solution" for a top 4D this summer to be a Joki extension at like 7x$4.5m and expecting more internal growth from everyone.

I too dread that. Same with Krebs as the checking line center.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I fully expect Adam's "solution" for a top 4D this summer to be a Joki extension at like 7x$4.5m and expecting more internal growth from everyone.

I too dread that. Same with Krebs as the checking line center.

My dream scenario is Roy via UFA, slotting everyone down and then/when cap is a problem, trade one of Jokiharju or Clifton. Cap space won't preclude carrying both those guys next season, but after that one of them would have to go. I'm partial to keeping Joker, as he could be signed for longer-term at about the same AAV as Clifton, since CC will only have one more year under contract at that point, and not a guy worth giving a raise and keeping longer. Either way maybe Komarov or Strbak will be ready the year CC hits UFA.

 

[Chainshot]

My dream scenario is Roy via UFA, slotting everyone down and then/when cap is a problem, trade one of Jokiharju or Clifton. Cap space won't preclude carrying both those guys next season, but after that one of them would have to go. I'm partial to keeping Joker, as he could be signed for longer-term at about the same AAV as Clifton, since CC will only have one more year under contract at that point, and not a guy worth giving a raise and keeping longer. Either way maybe Komarov or Strbak will be ready the year CC hits UFA.

I'm in the opposite camp - Jokiharju's skill set is replicated across a lot of players and while he's a RH shot, he doesn't offer enough for me to think of him as a long-term piece. A possible part of an upgrade package (say where they move him and a pick or prospect for a guy they want in that role longer term), sure, but I don't see the appeal to retaining him. Smallish, mildly mistake-prone and of no ability to play the sort of stout defensive game that teams in the playoffs need... I can see him being appealing to a team that needs to get some better transition and perhaps even a #2 or #3 point man for their PP, but he's on my list of "should go" candidates.

Roy seems like a player far too many are going to covet, including the Kings who still have his rights. I don't think banking on him becoming available is going to help - I know, that's your dream, not that you are saying it's a reality - and if he does, it's going to be an outsized deal. Weirdly, former King Sean Walker is another who seems like a guy who is going to get some traction in UFA too.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I'm in the opposite camp - Jokiharju's skill set is replicated across a lot of players and while he's a RH shot, he doesn't offer enough for me to think of him as a long-term piece. A possible part of an upgrade package (say where they move him and a pick or prospect for a guy they want in that role longer term), sure, but I don't see the appeal to retaining him. Smallish, mildly mistake-prone and of no ability to play the sort of stout defensive game that teams in the playoffs need... I can see him being appealing to a team that needs to get some better transition and perhaps even a #2 or #3 point man for their PP, but he's on my list of "should go" candidates.

Roy seems like a player far too many are going to covet, including the Kings who still have his rights. I don't think banking on him becoming available is going to help - I know, that's your dream, not that you are saying it's a reality - and if he does, it's going to be an outsized deal. Weirdly, former King Sean Walker is another who seems like a guy who is going to get some traction in UFA too.

I figure slotting him down to 3rd pair and pairing him with Samuelsson or RyJo (whoever doesn't blossom into Dahlin's partner) would be a pretty good spot for him. They wouldn't be a big and physical shut-down pair, but that isn't in the cards for Buf via prospects either (not until Strbak develops for however long that takes...IF he turns out). If KA trades Joker + for a legit top-four guy then great - long-term somebody should be able to take CC's spot when his contract is up. It boils down to me not seeing much in Clifton either, and choosing between which guy is best to keep on a mid-term basis as a 3rd pair guy, and which guy has more potential (even if not much more). If not getting that top-4 guy via UFA, which is likely, the clear path is trading somebody and adding.

Long-story short - KA should find a legit 2nd pair RHD, and hope Strbak can develop into a better 3rd pair guy than both Joker/CC, or go trade for that guy if Strbak isn't the one.