Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[Jim Bob]

The Czech Mafia needs to force Adams to trade for him.

 

[DeletedUser539]

Do you guys think that something around savoie+Rosen as a base would be enough to peak Phillips interest in koneckny? Or do we try to get a dman for that package?

 

[Irie]

Do you guys think that something around savoie+Rosen as a base would be enough to peak Phillips interest in koneckny? Or do we try to get a dman for that package?

Giving up those two for just a little over a year of Konecny seems fairly unwise.

Pretty sure those are the types of deals Adams has been coming out saying the is absolutely against the past couple of seasons.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Dom's model does not yet take into account deployments/usage, but he says it's coming.

51% of ~20 = 10
42% of ~20 = 9

So on a per game basis, Dumba is getting one extra D-zone start per game as compared to Clifton. Maybe 2 for a high usage game.

That's not a whole heckuva lot on a per game basis. And he's not doing THAT much better per the metrics.

Seems like it's at best a lateral move, and costs us money twice -- the money to buy-out Cliffy and then the money to pay Dumba.


All else being equal, I'd rather see us keep Cliffy (who has been playing well recently) and then find a top 4 RHD in the trade market.

I think they're getting somewhere with this d core if Dahlin can be healthy for a year for once and Power progresses, which I think he will.

 Sammy-Dahlin
Power-XXX
Clifton- Johnson

I really hope we get a savvy, bonafide top-4 guy in the Pesce mold, but under contract already. That'd provide a ton of stability for Power.

 

[Tatanka]

I think they're getting somewhere with this d core if Dahlin can be healthy for a year for once and Power progresses, which I think he will.

 Sammy-Dahlin
Power-XXX
Clifton- Johnson

I really hope we get a savvy, bonafide top-4 guy in the Pesce mold, but under contract already. That'd provide a ton of stability for Power.

The Sabres absolutely need a top 4 d, but not to partner with Power but rather to push him down the lineup into more manageable situations.

 

[Beerz]

The Sabres absolutely need a top 4 d, but not to partner with Power but rather to push him down the lineup into more manageable situations.

That contact is a mistake. It needs to be jettisoned. We're going to have our own Seth Jones/Darnell Nurse situation

 

[Djp]

Do you guys think that something around savoie+Rosen as a base would be enough to peak Phillips interest in koneckny?

That is an awful trade.

 

[Dubi Doo]

The Sabres absolutely need a top 4 d, but not to partner with Power but rather to push him down the lineup into more manageable situations.

That's interesting. It balances the D better too

Sammy-Dahlin
XXX-Johnson
Power- Clifton

 

[Der Jaeger]

I’m all for a Sissons trade but not for Mittelstadt.

Sissons and Fabbro would be a good trade package to target.

 

[sabremike]

That contact is a mistake. It needs to be jettisoned. We're going to have our own Seth Jones/Darnell Nurse situation

I have reached the point where I actually want to see the team do something like this so that when it backfires in the most horrible way possible I can laugh my ass off for days and days and days.

 

[TehDoak]

That contact is a mistake. It needs to be jettisoned. We're going to have our own Seth Jones/Darnell Nurse situation

The contract was a mistake (you can’t give out money/term/ntc before it’s earned) but it doesn’t mean power is going to bust. It just means we are way overpaying for who he is until he reaches his potential.

 

[debaser66]

I’m all for a Sissons trade but not for Mittelstadt.

Sissons and Fabbro would be a good trade package to target.

exactly, we need to add someone (3C/4C) and keep Mitts

 

[toddkaz]

The contract was a mistake (you can’t give out money/term/ntc before it’s earned) but it doesn’t mean power is going to bust. It just means we are way overpaying for who he is until he reaches his potential.

He also may never reach that potential, its not a given. Its the issue handing out big contracts to guys with 1 year of NHL experience.

 

[OkimLom]

That's interesting. It balances the D better too

Sammy-Dahlin
XXX-Johnson
Power- Clifton

Why exactly are we still putting Sammy on the first pairing Or even in the top 4? If we’re questioning Power’s place in the top 4 based on his play we should be doing the same for Sammy.

 

[TehDoak]

He also may never reach that potential, its not a given. Its the issue handing out big contracts to guys with 1 year of NHL experience.

My big issue with the Power deal specifically is that since he was a 10.2 RFA, he had no arb rights. And, unless he had a Norris trophy type season this year, there is no way there would be any cost savings by giving out that massive deal this soon. Just really throwing away money and flexability (and potentially stuck with an albatross contract).

The only real "good" thing is ie he does absolutely bomb, we have a 1/3rd buyout option available until he's 26. So until June 2028, the buyout is 'reasonable'

But still, the Power deal is a real unforced error by Adams. Hopefully he rounds into form in a year or two and we don't talk about it anymore. But a massive diceroll that a guy will be a top 15 d-man before that contract is over. Power might simply be a very good d-man, not an elite one. Which would make that contract an albatross.

 

[Chainshot]

My big issue with the Power deal specifically is that since he was a 10.2 RFA, he had no arb rights. And, unless he had a Norris trophy type season this year, there is no way there would be any cost savings by giving out that massive deal this soon. Just really throwing away money and flexability (and potentially stuck with an albatross contract).

The only real "good" thing is ie he does absolutely bomb, we have a 1/3rd buyout option available until he's 26. So until June 2028, the buyout is 'reasonable'

But still, the Power deal is a real unforced error by Adams. Hopefully he rounds into form in a year or two and we don't talk about it anymore. But a massive diceroll that a guy will be a top 15 d-man before that contract is over. Power might simply be a very good d-man, not an elite one. Which would make that contract an albatross.

Just to parse the "Top 15" thing, his salary is 15th among signed defensemen next year. He won't be paid to be a top 15 defenseman very, very soon.

 

[Archie Lee]

The Sabres absolutely need a top 4 d, but not to partner with Power but rather to push him down the lineup into more manageable situations.

This is the problem with any short-term future roster building exercise: the things fans think we should or must do are quite clearly not things that we will even consider doing.

I don't personally agree with you on Power. I think our overall disappointing season has served to highlight his short-comings. I still see a guy who will play 20+ minutes a night and drive play to the right end of the ice. Maybe he's not yet worth what he will be paid next year, but he does not need to be pushed down the line-up.

For me, the two players who fit in the category of needing to be pushed down or out of the line-up but who I know have spots nearly guaranteed, are Levi and Benson. I have nothing against either player and am glad both are in our system, but they are my poster-children for how Adams's "we will not block our prospects" philosophy is flawed.

Levi has yet to show he can be a consistent NHL goalie (and neither has UPL, to be fair) and yet we know there is zero chance that he will acquire a goalie between now and next year who will push Levi to Rochester to start the season.

The same with Benson to me. I just can't get excited about any roster-building exercise when I know we are fully committed to having in at least our middle-6 next season, a 19 year old, undersized, below NHL-average skating winger who is currently on pace for an 8 goal rookie season. I love Benson and, again, am happy he is in our system; I see that he has a high hockey IQ, has great small-ice puck skills and plays a good 200 ft game. But there will unquestionably be better wing options available this off-season and he had no reason to commit to him as we have. And now we are stuck because he can't go to the AHL and it would make zero sense to have him on the roster and not play.

If Mitts is resigned, then barring a major trade or Greenway being demoted to the 4th line (which would almost certainly be for a Kulich promotion), our top-9 is set and it is just a matter of hoping that player performance either rebounds (Thompson, Cozens, Tuch) or progresses (Quinn, Peterka, Benson).

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Just to parse the "Top 15" thing, his salary is 15th among signed defensemen next year. He won't be paid to be a top 15 defenseman very, very soon.

By time the contract is over, he will still be in the top 30-40, which is awful anyway you look at it. Not the slightest bit of a deal for Buffalo, and didn’t even get 8 years.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

By time the contract is over, he will still be in the top 30-40, which is awful anyway you look at it. Not the slightest bit of a deal for Buffalo, and didn’t even get 8 years.

If he’s paid as the 40th highest D in the league in 3-4 years it will in fact be a deal. People are so shortsighted with young d- men, every time they over react when they are 21/22/ if they’re not already, Makar… if we signed him to a bridge and then he broke out in two years, we’d be paying 10 to 11+

 

[Tatanka]

This is the problem with any short-term future roster building exercise: the things fans think we should or must do are quite clearly not things that we will even consider doing.

I don't personally agree with you on Power. I think our overall disappointing season has served to highlight his short-comings. I still see a guy who will play 20+ minutes a night and drive play to the right end of the ice. Maybe he's not yet worth what he will be paid next year, but he does not need to be pushed down the line-up.

For me, the two players who fit in the category of needing to be pushed down or out of the line-up but who I know have spots nearly guaranteed, are Levi and Benson. I have nothing against either player and am glad both are in our system, but they are my poster-children for how Adams's "we will not block our prospects" philosophy is flawed.

Levi has yet to show he can be a consistent NHL goalie (and neither has UPL, to be fair) and yet we know there is zero chance that he will acquire a goalie between now and next year who will push Levi to Rochester to start the season.

The same with Benson to me. I just can't get excited about any roster-building exercise when I know we are fully committed to having in at least our middle-6 next season, a 19 year old, undersized, below NHL-average skating winger who is currently on pace for an 8 goal rookie season. I love Benson and, again, am happy he is in our system; I see that he has a high hockey IQ, has great small-ice puck skills and plays a good 200 ft game. But there will unquestionably be better wing options available this off-season and he had no reason to commit to him as we have. And now we are stuck because he can't go to the AHL and it would make zero sense to have him on the roster and not play.

If Mitts is resigned, then barring a major trade or Greenway being demoted to the 4th line (which would almost certainly be for a Kulich promotion), our top-9 is set and it is just a matter of hoping that player performance either rebounds (Thompson, Cozens, Tuch) or progresses (Quinn, Peterka, Benson).

Our roster should not be ”set” until the members prove they can win. This is in agreement with your position on developing players at the NHL level. Ice a playoff team first. Then worry about a CF. Then. a Cup. “Setting” a roster or committing to a core before they win is why we are approaching 13 years of not even eclipsing the top half threshold of making the playoffs. It is a pretty low bar and this organization needs a soviet style succession of 5 year plans to even be mediocre.

I will add that some who this fanbase are projecting as good enough to be a championship team are middle six or worse not wanted on a good team. IMHO We are farther away than I think most.

 

[Tatanka]

If he’s paid as the 40th highest D in the league in 3-4 years it will in fact be a deal. People are so shortsighted with young d- men, every time they over react when they are 21/22/ if they’re not already, Makar… if we signed him to a bridge and then he broke out in two years, we’d be paying 10 to 11+

A player who has shown nothing special other than having won the tallest midget contest of being no.1 overall in a middling draft should not be paid like a top dman until earned. You assume he will “develop” and ignore the strong body of evidence from those who have been watching him since long before he was a Sabres property that he may simply be what he is. Soft, disinterested in his own zone and without any superlatives on offense. There is no guarantee we get anything more from him at 8mil/season than we are right now. We had the opportunity to see growth warranting a big raise by waiting, and KA rewarded him based on draft position. Can he get better? Sure anything can happen. But assuming it is inevitable is why the Sabres are where they are.

 

[blackjackmulligan]

I think they're getting somewhere with this d core if Dahlin can be healthy for a year for once and Power progresses, which I think he will.

 Sammy-Dahlin
Power-XXX
Clifton- Johnson

I really hope we get a savvy, bonafide top-4 guy in the Pesce mold, but under contract already. That'd provide a ton of stability for Power.

Any interest in Travis Sanheim?

Also what do Sabres fans think the do in the next month? Try to make some moves for a playoff spot or look towards next season?

 

[Mattilaus]

Any interest in Travis Sanheim?

Also what do Sabres fans think the do in the next month? Try to make some moves for a playoff spot or look towards next season?

I don't think they do much of anything. Maybe trade away Zemgus, Okposo, and/or E. Johnson for scraps if they want to go to contenders.

 

[Djp]

I’m all for a Sissons trade but not for Mittelstadt.

Sissons and Fabbro would be a good trade package to target.

Fabbro= Jokiharju.

I doubt Fabbro get a QO.

This is the problem with any short-term future roster building exercise: the things fans think we should or must do are quite clearly not things that we will even consider doing.

I don't personally agree with you on Power. I think our overall disappointing season has served to highlight his short-comings. I still see a guy who will play 20+ minutes a night and drive play to the right end of the ice. Maybe he's not yet worth what he will be paid next year, but he does not need to be pushed down the line-up.

I would have preferred giving him a 3 yr bridge.

For me, the two players who fit in the category of needing to be pushed down or out of the line-up but who I know have spots nearly guaranteed, are Levi and Benson. I have nothing against either player and am glad both are in our system, but they are my poster-children for how Adams's "we will not block our prospects" philosophy is flawed.

Levi has yet to show he can be a consistent NHL goalie (and neither has UPL, to be fair) and yet we know there is zero chance that he will acquire a goalie between now and next year who will push Levi to Rochester to start the season.

I would have preferred Levi play in the A this year with some call ups.

I would have preferred Brnson be sent back to juniors just for the contract sliding. Thst said …He is not to blame for this team. He’s thr same size as bedard..

The same with Benson to me. I just can't get excited about any roster-building exercise when I know we are fully committed to having in at least our middle-6 next season, a 19 year old, undersized, below NHL-average skating winger who is currently on pace for an 8 goal rookie season. I love Benson and, again, am happy he is in our system; I see that he has a high hockey IQ, has great small-ice puck skills and plays a good 200 ft game. But there will unquestionably be better wing options available this off-season and he had no reason to commit to him as we have. And now we are stuck because he can't go to the AHL and it would make zero sense to have him on the roster and not play.

If Mitts is resigned, then barring a major trade or Greenway being demoted to the 4th line (which would almost certainly be for a Kulich promotion), our top-9 is set and it is just a matter of hoping that player performance either rebounds (Thompson, Cozens, Tuch) or progresses (Quinn, Peterka, Benson).

Thr issue this year has bern thr PP by far. We have a top 10 unit we’d be in a playoff spot evrn with some underperforming.

as another poster said….buffalo is st or better than TB across the board except for PP

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

If he’s paid as the 40th highest D in the league in 3-4 years it will in fact be a deal. People are so shortsighted with young d- men, every time they over react when they are 21/22/ if they’re not already, Makar… if we signed him to a bridge and then he broke out in two years, we’d be paying 10 to 11+

It will take the full 7 years until he’s like the 33rd highest paid defenseman. In 3-4 years he’ll still be in the top 20.

You’re just straight up wrong.