Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[Archie Lee]

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

The 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

The PP is a factor to be sure.

On Benson, of course he is not personally to blame. No one player is to blame. Benson has been fine and has at least held his own. To take a step forward we needed better than that though.

The other thing on Benson is that his value has been diminished by being in the NHL. It's just one website/projection I acknowledge, but the model used on dobber prospects has Benson's projection lowered from superstar potential to 2nd line potential.

Zach Benson

January 2024 - Benson has already exceeded expectations for his NHL rookie campaign. The five-foot-ten forward might have been considered too small by some to start the 2023-2024 season in the NHL, but he persuaded many to reconsider that notion during the Buffalo Sabres' preseason when he...

dobberprospects.com

Not that there is any chance we would trade Benson for a veteran upgrade (and I'm sure NHL teams have their own models), but I think his value would be higher were he leading the WHL in scoring.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

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.

Proof? Make a list or just as straight up wrong as you pretend I will be. Or just continue to be all doom and gloom about the guy like other folks in here who know next to nothing about how an under 22 yo big D will progress - yall would have wanted to trade Hedman out of town at this stage too. I get the lack of patience with the team but that doesn’t mean you’re right on a player to player basis especially on a well performing number one draft pick young defenseman

 

[Archie Lee]

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.

It's probably between the two projections. Depending on what Seider gets, Power will be 15th or 16th next year.

40th in 3-4 years seems unlikely, but I don't think he will be in the top 20 by then either.

 

[Beerz]

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+

Look me in the eye and tell me Owen Power is going to "break out" in 2 or 3 years... now do it with a straight face.

Break out into what?

 

[Beerz]

And quit comparing Owen Power to Hedman because he is tall.. Power doesn't have the pedigree Hedman had.. nor the skills and especially not the smarts.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Proof? Make a list or just as straight up wrong as you pretend I will be. Or just continue to be all doom and gloom about the guy like other folks in here who know next to nothing about how an under 22 yo big D will progress - yall would have wanted to trade Hedman out of town at this stage too. I get the lack of patience with the team but that doesn’t mean you’re right on a player to player basis especially on a well performing number one draft pick young defenseman

One way is to factor 7 years of inflation into his contract and compare it to today’s AAVs. Assuming 3% inflation, that would put him right at #30 in the NHL at the end of his contract.

 

[Dingo44]

 

[Zman5778]

At least this means that RyJo will play every game for the most part from here in.

Cliffy's better form of the last month better not be a mirage.

 

[Ace]

There’s nothing left to say anymore. They needed to add a legit top 4 D capable of playing hard minutes WITH Samuelsson in the lineup. That’s with Banking on his health against the odds. You really needed 2. Still do. Let’s all hold our breath for the fourth offseason in a row that the absentee landlord bothers to get one. They’ve known they needed it since they won the draft lottery for Power. And here we are.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

Look me in the eye and tell me Owen Power is going to "break out" in 2 or 3 years... now do it with a straight face.

Break out into what?

A top 2 D - why is that so hard for you to believe when its happened over and over again including with Dahlin here in buffalo? Or Tage as a fwd - bigger guys take longer to peak - I'm not saying anything revolutionary here. But its like arguing with a brick wall of pessimism so you be you and enjoy that...

 

[MOGlLNY]

There’s nothing left to say anymore. They needed to add a legit top 4 D capable of playing hard minutes WITH Samuelsson in the lineup. That’s with Banking on his health against the odds. You really needed 2. Still do. Let’s all hold our breath for the fourth offseason in a row that the absentee landlord bothers to get one. They’ve known they needed it since they won the draft lottery for Power. And here we are.

I've actually come to the conclusion I think Adams is going to use the excuse of injuries as to why we've stunk this year (it's 1 of many reasons- but certainly not why we're going to miss) and will be repeating that over and over when he has another underwhelming off-season.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

One way is to factor 7 years of inflation into his contract and compare it to today’s AAVs. Assuming 3% inflation, that would put him right at #30 in the NHL at the end of his contract.

OK so here is an actual list:

For reference currently the 30th ranked D makes 7 mil dollars - so add in multiple re-upped top 4 and new extensions for topend youngsters in 4 years and I can guarantee you that number is 8-8.5 at least

Vlasic is making 7 mil THIS year as the 30th highest paid D man...

	PLAYER	POS	CAP HIT
1	Erik Karlsson​ PIT	D	$11,500,000
2	Rasmus Dahlin​ BUF	D	$11,000,000
	Drew Doughty​ LAK	D	$11,000,000
4	Zachary Werenski​ CBJ	D	$9,583,333
5	Charles Mcavoy​ BOS	D	$9,500,000
	Seth Jones​ CHI	D	$9,500,000
	Adam Fox​ NYR	D	$9,500,000
8	Darnell Nurse​ EDM	D	$9,250,000
9	Roman Josi​ NSH	D	$9,059,000
10	Cale Makar​ COL	D	$9,000,000
	Dougie Hamilton​ NJD	D	$9,000,000
12	Alex Pietrangelo​ VGK	D	$8,800,000
13	Mikhail Sergachev​ TBL	D	$8,500,000
14	Miro Heiskanen​ DAL	D	$8,450,000
15	Owen Power​ BUF	D	$8,350,000
16	Jake Sanderson​ OTT	D	$8,050,000
17	Brent Burns​ CAR	D	$8,000,000
	Jacob Trouba​ NYR	D	$8,000,000
	Thomas Chabot​ OTT	D	$8,000,000
	John Carlson​ WAS	D	$8,000,000
21	Victor Hedman​ TBL	D	$7,875,000
22	Shea Weber​ ARI	D	$7,857,143
23	Quinn Hughes​ VAN	D	$7,850,000
24	Dmitry Orlov​ CAR	D	$7,750,000
25	Jared Spurgeon​ MIN	D	$7,575,000
26	Aaron Ekblad​ FLA	D	$7,500,000
	Morgan Rielly​ TOR	D	$7,500,000
28	Vince Dunn​ SEA	D	$7,350,000
29	Devon Toews​ COL	D	$7,250,000
30	Marc-Edouard Vlasic​ SJS	D	$7,000,000

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Great. Now we get to see Bryson every time EJ needs a break, Granato inexplicably decides to scratch R. Johnson, or another injury strikes.

This season could easily morph from disappointing into disastrous.

 

[Beerz]

A top 2 D - why is that so hard for you to believe when its happened over and over again including with Dahlin here in buffalo? Or Tage as a fwd - bigger guys take longer to peak - I'm not saying anything revolutionary here. But its like arguing with a brick wall of pessimism so you be you and enjoy that...

It didn't happen here with Dahlin. Dahlin showed 100x's more promise even at 18 than Power has to this date. That is a ridiculous argument.

We could make the argument to wait and see how Power progresses into but unfortunately Adams fast forwarded that process by handing out that disgusting contract. Waiting is dangerous now.

 

[HaNotsri]

Great. Now we get to see Bryson every time EJ needs a break, Granato inexplicably decides to scratch R. Johnson, or another injury strikes.

This season could easily morph from disappointing into disastrous.

We're already in disaster territory. A long losing streak and we might be in the nuclear zone.

Nothing worse for team culture than losing avpositive trend and take several steps back.

 

[Chainshot]

This hurts their PK which for about 6 weeks has actually been good because one of Jokiharju, Bryson or Dahlin is going to be drawing in on those minutes. Jokiharju is not good at scanning and tends to lose his positioning. Bryson is easily overwhelmed around the net. Dahlin's been playing with something that might be a lower back thing that is limiting his use and effectiveness. Not great.

And of course, the loss of Quinn takes a body out of PP2 overall. Not that it really is going to make a difference for the 20-30 seconds they may get per PP with the sort of tactics they're deploying, but of all of their guys, Quinn had the ability to mask his shot in the high slot to catch a moving goalie by surprise.

 

[SundherDome]

Great. Now we get to see Bryson every time EJ needs a break, Granato inexplicably decides to scratch R. Johnson, or another injury strikes.

This season could easily morph from disappointing into disastrous.

Wait until EJ is traded in a week or two. Then it's the Bryson show, full time!

This hurts their PK which for about 6 weeks has actually been good because one of Jokiharju, Bryson or Dahlin is going to be drawing in on those minutes. Jokiharju is not good at scanning and tends to lose his positioning. Bryson is easily overwhelmed around the net. Dahlin's been playing with something that might be a lower back thing that is limiting his use and effectiveness. Not great.

And of course, the loss of Quinn takes a body out of PP2 overall. Not that it really is going to make a difference for the 20-30 seconds they may get per PP with the sort of tactics they're deploying, but of all of their guys, Quinn had the ability to mask his shot in the high slot to catch a moving goalie by surprise.

Stillman helped the PK when he came over last year. Wouldn't be surprised to see him up soon unless he is hurt.

 

[TehDoak]

It didn't happen here with Dahlin. Dahlin showed 100x's more promise even at 18 than Power has to this date. That is a ridiculous argument.

We could make the argument to wait and see how Power progresses into but unfortunately Adams fast forwarded that process by handing out that disgusting contract. Waiting is dangerous now.

We have 4 years to buy him out with the under 26 clause (1/3rd of remaining contract vs 2/3rd)

And even with this year, he probably would have gotten a 3 year bridge between 4-5M anyways.

Essentially, Adams gave away 3M in dead cap with this deal in hope it'd be cheaper for the last 4 years. If he bombs after 3 years, the Sabres have to be willing to either trade him with retention or eat the 8 years a little under 1.4M to get rid of him. It's basically a 21M dice roll (9M in overpayment now, 12M potentially in buyout cost) that the contract will be a good value. The REAL problem with his logic, if he's worth 8M+ at the end of what would have been a no brainer bridge deal, you would want to sign him for longer than the 4 years left.

Best case scenario, he lives up to his draft position, your shorted yourself term to save 2-3M a year.

Worst Case scenario, you pissed 21M+ away are stuck with 6-8 years of dead cap.

The deal was dumb.

 

[Chainshot]

Wait until EJ is traded in a week or two. Then it's the Bryson show, full time!


Stillman helped the PK when he came over last year. Wouldn't be surprised to see him up soon unless he is hurt.

He's hurt.

 

[Dubi Doo]

It didn't happen here with Dahlin. Dahlin showed 100x's more promise even at 18 than Power has to this date. That is a ridiculous argument.

We could make the argument to wait and see how Power progresses into but unfortunately Adams fast forwarded that process by handing out that disgusting contract. Waiting is dangerous now.

I'll start this by writing I haven't watched games since early Dec...

Power's rookie year was very good considering his age. As for his strengths- size, skating, and vision are what Ive noticed. I've always said he could become a poor man's Scott Neidermayer, which would still be a really good player. His potential is still incredibly high.

His flaws are things that 95% of defenseman his age struggle with, and most of it is in his own zone.

All that being said, I was iffy abou the Power contract, but as others have mentioned- if he's a top-30 defenseman in 3-4 years, then it should be solid value. The issue is, he's going to be severly overpaid starting next year and onward until/unless he progresses fast.

So, Im not giving up on Power at all, but the contract likely wont be great value over the duration of it, though if we're contending in 3 years, and he breakouts into a top-20 defenseman, then the cap savings will be nice as we'll likely be up to the cap by that point.

Risky contract for sure, though.

 

[SundherDome]

He's hurt.

f***

 

[StrompTroller]

f***

you know the season is gone when you get that upset about no Stillman in our top 4/6 lol

 

[Chainshot]

I've actually come to the conclusion I think Adams is going to use the excuse of injuries as to why we've stunk this year (it's 1 of many reasons- but certainly not why we're going to miss) and will be repeating that over and over when he has another underwhelming off-season.

I fear the possible truth of this.

 

[Ace]

I've actually come to the conclusion I think Adams is going to use the excuse of injuries as to why we've stunk this year (it's 1 of many reasons- but certainly not why we're going to miss) and will be repeating that over and over when he has another underwhelming off-season.

Oh I completely agree. It’s why I’ve been consistently saying since he chose to not replace Quinn in the lineup when he was hurt before free agency even opened that the excuse holds zero water. He didn’t care about injuries when he could have done something about it…chose to start down an important man. He doesn’t get to say it now and have people accept it. This was the team he wanted back. Here they all are.

Its also why I laugh whenever people say Samuelsson‘s contract is bad. They LOVE his contract. It’s everything they want.

1. They can pretend they have an under market value top 4 D and spend years not addressing the position meaningfully

2. He’s always injured so they can make excuses for failed seasons.

A perfect one-two punch of their lack of commitment and lack of accountability

 

[Ehran]

My personal opinion. No real data to back it up but....

I think the team (management and leadership) took the time during the break to evaluate the team, the roster, and the season. I think they came to the same conclusion as the fans have. The season is lost, there is almost no chance of the playoffs.

This is why I think Samuelsson had his surgery today. Everyone was probably hoping to wait until the offseason to do it but when the consensus was that the season is lost they went ahead and did it.

That sort of explains why it was so late in the break for the surgery to take place.

It will be interesting to see what, if anything else happens, if they've come to that conclusion, over the next few weeks leading up to the trade deadline, which is about 4.5 weeks away. Not that they have UFAs that are worth much at the deadline.

Again, just my own conclusions. No proof. YMMV