Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[Jim Bob]

Erhoff & Leino

How long ago was that?

Pegula was still in his pre-Bills honeymoon phase with the Sabres and they were able to buy the two of them out without negative impacts to their cap moving forward.

I will believe that buying out a big contract is on the table after it actually happens.

It's kind of like all the talk about Adams looking to make moves to add to the NHL roster now. I'm am beyond caring about what could happen in theory. Wake me up when they actually make moves to meaningfully improve the NHL roster.

 

[Dirty Dog]

How long ago was that?

Pegula was still in his pre-Bills honeymoon phase with the Sabres and they were able to buy the two of them out without negative impacts to their cap moving forward.

I will believe that buying out a big contract is on the table after it actually happens.

It's kind of like all the talk about Adams looking to make moves to add to the NHL roster now. I'm am beyond caring about what could happen in theory. Wake me up when they actually make moves to meaningfully improve the NHL roster.

I think there is more than enough evidence Pegula will pay when it comes to players. When it was big free agents, he did it. When it was buyouts, he did it. When it was handing out huge long term contracts to five young players the last year, he did that too.

Agree on Adams though

 

[Jim Bob]

I think there is more than enough evidence Pegula will pay when it comes to players. When it was big free agents, he did it. When it was buyouts, he did it. When it was handing out huge long term contracts to five young players the last year, he did that too.

Agree on Adams though

Pegula spent big on the Sabres in the past. But lately, that has not been the case even with the extensions to lock in young core players.

But, we saw people make all sorts of excuses for Pegula's cost cutting during the pandemic and we have seen Pegula being unwilling to do upkeep to the arena, as well.

So, again, I'll believe that Pegula would pay for a big buyout like Skinner when I see it.

 

[Jim Bob]

The Sabres are 6th in the NHL in spending on forwards, 24th in spending on D (just ahead of TB), and 31st in spending on goalies.

 

[Gras]

Pegula spent big on the Sabres in the past. But lately, that has not been the case even with the extensions to lock in young core players.

But, we saw people make all sorts of excuses for Pegula's cost cutting during the pandemic and we have seen Pegula being unwilling to do upkeep to the arena, as well.

So, again, I'll believe that Pegula would pay for a big buyout like Skinner when I see it.

So he should have paid them more to prove he's not being cheap?

 

[Jim Bob]

So he should have paid them more to prove he's not being cheap?

No, but they should not have let cap space go unused. In a limited resource environment, it is non-optimal to let some of those limited resources expire without allowing you to add to your team one way or another.

 

[Beerz]

Pegula spent big on the Sabres in the past. But lately, that has not been the case even with the extensions to lock in young core players.

But, we saw people make all sorts of excuses for Pegula's cost cutting during the pandemic and we have seen Pegula being unwilling to do upkeep to the arena, as well.

So, again, I'll believe that Pegula would pay for a big buyout like Skinner when I see it.

No owner would buy out Skinner so it's kind of a moot point.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

View attachment 818809

The Sabres are 6th in the NHL in spending on forwards, 24th in spending on D (just ahead of TB), and 31st in spending on goalies.

That’s this year for D - what does it jump to next year ?

 

[Gras]

No, but they should not have let cap space go unused. In a limited resource environment, it is non-optimal to let some of those limited resources expire without allowing you to add to your team one way or another.

The return has to also be worth it. We could have got in to a bidding war with Minny for cap dumps at the last deadline and taken a 5th for retaining on ROR and a 6th for Orlov. Maybe Webers contract for a 6th.

 

[KeyserSoze81]

Wake me up when they actually make moves to meaningfully improve the NHL roster.

 

[Dingo44]

Pegula spent big on the Sabres in the past. But lately, that has not been the case even with the extensions to lock in young core players.

But, we saw people make all sorts of excuses for Pegula's cost cutting during the pandemic and we have seen Pegula being unwilling to do upkeep to the arena, as well.

So, again, I'll believe that Pegula would pay for a big buyout like Skinner when I see it.

It's been reported multiple times the Pegulas were waiting until the new Bills stadium plan was approved before working on the Arena. Changes are already planned and more are coming.

Sabres planning various improvements to KeyBank Center in coming seasons

The Buffalo Sabres are planning various upgrades to KeyBank Center both before this season and beyond.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

 

[MOGlLNY]

things have gone so terribly for the Sabres in free agency (they usually do for most teams actually) I don’t think I give a shit that Pegula won’t shell out there.

Adams and Pegula needs to be willing to take on contracts + re-signing to big deals in trades though.

 

[Jim Bob]

It's been reported multiple times the Pegulas were waiting until the new Bills stadium plan was approved before working on the Arena. Changes are already planned and more are coming.

Sabres planning various improvements to KeyBank Center in coming seasons

The Buffalo Sabres are planning various upgrades to KeyBank Center both before this season and beyond.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

And the work they are doing is the bare minimum (scoreboard and roof) and they are going relatively cheap with those two, as well.

The return has to also be worth it. We could have got in to a bidding war with Minny for cap dumps at the last deadline and taken a 5th for retaining on ROR and a 6th for Orlov. Maybe Webers contract for a 6th.

Any return is worth more than nothing.

 

[Jim Bob]

That’s this year for D - what does it jump to next year ?

$27.9M for Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson, Clifton, and RyJo. And that current number is minus Samuelsson who is out.

Sabres notes: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's surge, Owen Power's injury, trade deadline thoughts

Since Jan. 1, Luukkonen is third in the NHL with a .937 save percentage and second with a 1.72 goals-against average.

theathletic.com

2. Adams has likely been popular with his fellow general managers given where the Sabres are in the standings. Buffalo entered Tuesday 12 points out of a playoff spot. Almost half the league was represented in the press box at the Sabres’ game against the St. Louis Blues over the weekend. Expect Erik Johnson and Zemgus Girgensons to be the two most attractive trade assets among the Sabres’ unrestricted free agents. Johnson’s playoff experience and ability to help on the penalty kill will be attractive to contenders. Girgensons plays a game that translates to the playoffs, too, even though he has never played in the postseason, having spent his entire career in Buffalo. Kyle Okposo will be an interesting case. He has four young kids and is the captain of the Sabres so he may not be keen on leaving, but his career is winding down so if a playoff team comes calling, he might be interested. My sense is Adams will be checking in with all three of these players closer to the deadline to see what their preference is. As long as they are willing to move, Adams should be able to collect some assets for them.

Scouts?!?!?

 

[Dingo44]

And the work they are doing is the bare minimum (scoreboard and roof) and they are going relatively cheap with those two, as well.

That's not the same as

We have seen Pegula being unwilling to do upkeep to the arena, as well

And what do you have to show they are going cheap on the scoreboard and roof? Or that's all they are doing? I keep a close eye on that stuff and have read nothing that says any of that.

 

[Chainshot]

things have gone so terribly for the Sabres in free agency (they usually do for most teams actually) I don’t think I give a shit that Pegula won’t shell out there.

Adams and Pegula needs to be willing to take on contracts + re-signing to big deals in trades though.

It would be new if they get good at identifying valuable possession forwards that they can acquire in trade. Artturi Lehkonen comes to mind. People knew. But not Sabre people.

 

[Chainshot]

$27.9M for Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson, Clifton, and RyJo. And that current number is minus Samuelsson who is out.

Sabres notes: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's surge, Owen Power's injury, trade deadline thoughts

Since Jan. 1, Luukkonen is third in the NHL with a .937 save percentage and second with a 1.72 goals-against average.

theathletic.com

Scouts?!?!?

 

[TehDoak]

$27.9M for Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson, Clifton, and RyJo. And that current number is minus Samuelsson who is out.

Sabres notes: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's surge, Owen Power's injury, trade deadline thoughts

Since Jan. 1, Luukkonen is third in the NHL with a .937 save percentage and second with a 1.72 goals-against average.

theathletic.com

Scouts?!?!?

"The Bruins are sending 2 pro scouts...."

"Ha, Good one. 2 pro scouts. You mean their 1 pro scout and 1 of his friends"

"No Kevyn, they have 2"

"Wait, you can have more than one?"

 

[Jim Bob]

That's not the same as


And what do you have to show they are going cheap on the scoreboard and roof? Or that's all they are doing? I keep a close eye on that stuff and have read nothing that says any of that.

You just pointed out that they did not want to invest in KBC until the new Bills stadium deal was done. That is Pegula being unwilling to do much needed upkeep to KBC over the past number of years. It has turned KBC into an old, rundown building.

New scoreboard among projects Buffalo Sabres are planning for KeyBank Center

Fans attending Buffalo Sabres games and other arena events are going to see immediate differences this season with upgrades in food and beverage, both in products and point-of-sale technology, and bigger changes are on the horizon for 2024.

buffalonews.com

“They’re going to come up with a bunch of different options for us with the board, everything from taking something close to what we have and making it modern to doing something completely different,” Roth said. “I think the appetite to do a massive, massive board like some other places is probably not there, and that’s more a ‘Terry aesthetic’ thing. But you’re looking at a major upgrade. Ultimately, he’ll decide what he likes and how much he wants to spend. These things aren’t cheap.”

Phrasing it such that a big scoreboard like other arena's have will be 'a ‘Terry aesthetic’ thing' and 'Ultimately, he’ll decide what he likes and how much he wants to spend. These things aren’t cheap.' sounds like they are planning on going the lower cost route as opposed to trying to actually make KBC an up to date arena that will provide a high end fan experience.

 

[slip]

And the work they are doing is the bare minimum (scoreboard and roof) and they are going relatively cheap with those two, as well.

Wouldn’t shock me to see a crew of Amish roofers on top of the arena this summer.

 

[Beerz]

Wouldn’t shock me to see a crew of Amish roofers on top of the arena this summer.

I was expecting a blue tarp

 

[Jim Bob]

And this is especially disappointing from that TBN article:

As for seating upgrades, those are on the team’s to-do list, but not on the front burner for the next couple of years.


“We don’t have anything to share at this time,” Roth said when asked about seating, which has been virtually unchanged since the building opened. “We’re viewing all of this as a multiple-year process, and there will be more things to come later. But rest assured, we’re actively thinking on that topic.”

The seats should be the first things that get replaced, IMO. I am sure Terry would not want to spend 41 games sitting in many of the seats in the arena because they are so worn out.

 

[slip]

I was expecting a blue tarp

Gotta put something on it until Amos and Jedediah show up in their single horsepower wagon.

 

[Beerz]

Sounds like we lucked out on not getting Pesce over last off season...

Everyone saying he has hit the wall and is on his downside

 

[DeletedUser539]

Part of it is his PP production. He's got that drag move around the net, the step out, and has always been pretty good at deflections. Florida has adapted to the reduced power of the one-timer off the wing to play to their strength with a couple of guys who produce well around the crease in him and Tkachuk.