Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[Der Jaeger]

I'd keep it simple at the TDL if I were Adams.

- Trade Olofsson, Girgensons, Okposo, Comrie, Erik Johnson, and Robinson at the deadline
- Look for a RHD option to pair with Power. I'd look hard again at Fabbro who seems to be available again.

Make the bigger moves in the off-season.

Some things I think he might consider:

- Re-sign Mittelstadt, aside from some massive offer

- UPL is the starter so he's either only looking for a backup or Levi to step up. I'd rather get a real back up and let Levi take the longer route to development in Rochester.

- If he's able to get a RHD, I seriously consider swapping Ryan Johnson and Samuelsson in terms of roles. Johnson looks like a better pairing partner for Dahlin due to his skating and overall game. That'd put Samuelsson on the 3rd pair, which I actually like in terms of usage and deployment. Get him a partner who he's not covering for all the time. Clifton could be that guy.

- I don't know what you do with Skinner. I think he's a drag on the team in a lot of ways, and the good is outweighed by the bad. Maybe get him to agree to a trade with retention? That way the cap his is three more years instead of the buyout time, which is 6 years. Toronto is headed to an off-season where they have 11 players under contract (8 forwards) but around $20M to spend with the current cap. Would they take Skinner for 3 years at 50% retention?

- Adams needs to get some power forwards into the lineup. Strip away Skinner and the UFAs from the forwards, and here's what you get:

xxx - Thompson - Tuch
Quinn - Cozens - Peterka
Benson - Mittelstadt - Greenway
xxx - Krebs - xxx

Kulich, Savoie, and Rosen are vying for those spots, but that's a weak group in terms of power and grit. I'd look to make some kind of move to fill the xxx's with a different type of player.

 

[HOOats]

there are too many to develop at once, and they are actively creating diminished returns on potential talent.

What's the evidence of that? Trading Cederqvist and having Nadeau in Jax? Hardly matters. With Savoie in WHL, Ostlund and Wahlberg in Sweden, all our priority F prospects are getting proper opportunities.

 

[WiHockeyGuy]

I'd keep it simple at the TDL if I were Adams.

- Trade Olofsson, Girgensons, Okposo, Comrie, Erik Johnson, and Robinson at the deadline
- Look for a RHD option to pair with Power. I'd look hard again at Fabbro who seems to be available again.

Make the bigger moves in the off-season.

Some things I think he might consider:

- Re-sign Mittelstadt, aside from some massive offer

- UPL is the starter so he's either only looking for a backup or Levi to step up. I'd rather get a real back up and let Levi take the longer route to development in Rochester.

- If he's able to get a RHD, I seriously consider swapping Ryan Johnson and Samuelsson in terms of roles. Johnson looks like a better pairing partner for Dahlin due to his skating and overall game. That'd put Samuelsson on the 3rd pair, which I actually like in terms of usage and deployment. Get him a partner who he's not covering for all the time. Clifton could be that guy.

- I don't know what you do with Skinner. I think he's a drag on the team in a lot of ways, and the good is outweighed by the bad. Maybe get him to agree to a trade with retention? That way the cap his is three more years instead of the buyout time, which is 6 years. Toronto is headed to an off-season where they have 11 players under contract (8 forwards) but around $20M to spend with the current cap. Would they take Skinner for 3 years at 50% retention?

- Adams needs to get some power forwards into the lineup. Strip away Skinner and the UFAs from the forwards, and here's what you get:

xxx - Thompson - Tuch
Quinn - Cozens - Peterka
Benson - Mittelstadt - Greenway
xxx - Krebs - xxx

Kulich, Savoie, and Rosen are vying for those spots, but that's a weak group in terms of power and grit. I'd look to make some kind of move to fill the xxx's with a different type of player.

I'm not sure jettisoning every single veteran player is keeping it simple.

 

[Jim Bob]

Did GMKA reiterate Casey has two RFA years after this one. People have said he had one, but if he has two, I don't see any panic about trading him at all.

Yes he did.

 

[TageGod]

I'd keep it simple at the TDL if I were Adams.

- Trade Olofsson, Girgensons, Okposo, Comrie, Erik Johnson, and Robinson at the deadline
- Look for a RHD option to pair with Power. I'd look hard again at Fabbro who seems to be available again.

Make the bigger moves in the off-season.

Some things I think he might consider:

- Re-sign Mittelstadt, aside from some massive offer

- UPL is the starter so he's either only looking for a backup or Levi to step up. I'd rather get a real back up and let Levi take the longer route to development in Rochester.

- If he's able to get a RHD, I seriously consider swapping Ryan Johnson and Samuelsson in terms of roles. Johnson looks like a better pairing partner for Dahlin due to his skating and overall game. That'd put Samuelsson on the 3rd pair, which I actually like in terms of usage and deployment. Get him a partner who he's not covering for all the time. Clifton could be that guy.

- I don't know what you do with Skinner. I think he's a drag on the team in a lot of ways, and the good is outweighed by the bad. Maybe get him to agree to a trade with retention? That way the cap his is three more years instead of the buyout time, which is 6 years. Toronto is headed to an off-season where they have 11 players under contract (8 forwards) but around $20M to spend with the current cap. Would they take Skinner for 3 years at 50% retention?

- Adams needs to get some power forwards into the lineup. Strip away Skinner and the UFAs from the forwards, and here's what you get:

xxx - Thompson - Tuch
Quinn - Cozens - Peterka
Benson - Mittelstadt - Greenway
xxx - Krebs - xxx

Kulich, Savoie, and Rosen are vying for those spots, but that's a weak group in terms of power and grit. I'd look to make some kind of move to fill the xxx's with a different type of player.

The only real path to ADDING a forward is to slide greenway to 4th line and put new forward on 3rd line, or a big addition they go on top line. Prospect will have to slide in on 4th line/13th/injury. Rather push people down than just fill in those 4th line holes. Want krebs gone for a 4C though which could be a spot for prospect.

So 1 power forward type in top 6 added, 1 on 4th line added.

I am not remotely worried about this teams D. Dahlin Samuelsson power Clifton Johnson is great. Add a top 4 and were done.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Yes he did.

That is pretty great to hear. I'm going to assume that is because his 2019-20 year, when he played 31 games, doesn't count as a full year, so he is in year five of his NHL status and still under 27 on July 1, 2025.

I feel like that gives the Sabres some leverage because he gets a better RFA deal if he gives up some UFA years.

Also: This is a major reason why playing a kid like Benson at 18 made very little sense. He's not really NHL ready and we just moved him close to UFA status for not a very good reason.

 

[paulmm3]

Good post by Der Jaeger above and I largely agree. What's weighing on me is how we're going to get some defense from both our forwards and our defensemen. Trade for it? Coach it? Hope it comes with increasing age?

Right now we're 7th from the top in goals for and 7th from the bottom in goals against and it's obviously not working.

 

[thewookie1]

I'd keep it simple at the TDL if I were Adams.

- Trade Olofsson, Girgensons, Okposo, Comrie, Erik Johnson, and Robinson at the deadline
- Look for a RHD option to pair with Power. I'd look hard again at Fabbro who seems to be available again.

Make the bigger moves in the off-season.

Some things I think he might consider:

- Re-sign Mittelstadt, aside from some massive offer

- UPL is the starter so he's either only looking for a backup or Levi to step up. I'd rather get a real back up and let Levi take the longer route to development in Rochester.

- If he's able to get a RHD, I seriously consider swapping Ryan Johnson and Samuelsson in terms of roles. Johnson looks like a better pairing partner for Dahlin due to his skating and overall game. That'd put Samuelsson on the 3rd pair, which I actually like in terms of usage and deployment. Get him a partner who he's not covering for all the time. Clifton could be that guy.

- I don't know what you do with Skinner. I think he's a drag on the team in a lot of ways, and the good is outweighed by the bad. Maybe get him to agree to a trade with retention? That way the cap his is three more years instead of the buyout time, which is 6 years. Toronto is headed to an off-season where they have 11 players under contract (8 forwards) but around $20M to spend with the current cap. Would they take Skinner for 3 years at 50% retention?

- Adams needs to get some power forwards into the lineup. Strip away Skinner and the UFAs from the forwards, and here's what you get:

xxx - Thompson - Tuch
Quinn - Cozens - Peterka
Benson - Mittelstadt - Greenway
xxx - Krebs - xxx

Kulich, Savoie, and Rosen are vying for those spots, but that's a weak group in terms of power and grit. I'd look to make some kind of move to fill the xxx's with a different type of player.

Frankly I'd wait a year to buy out Skinner before ever retaining 4.5 mil so he can play for a division rival. My max retention is 3 mil. Also my goal would be to send him outside the division where he won't do to us what he does to Montreal

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

There's no use talking about retention on Skinner since he's been consistent from day one in not wanting to be traded out of the area. And Toronto could never afford him at full price.

He'll be bought out eventually, it's a matter of when Terry approves it.

 

[Der Jaeger]

There's no use talking about retention on Skinner since he's been consistent from day one in not wanting to be traded out of the area. And Toronto could never afford him at full price.

He'll be bought out eventually, it's a matter of when Terry approves it.

Your first two statements don't work together.

The only spot he would possibly area to be traded to would be Toronto. They can't afford full price. Why wouldn't they take him at $4.5M per season?

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Your first two statements don't work together.

The only spot he would possibly area to be traded to would be Toronto. They can't afford full price. Why wouldn't they take him at $4.5M per season?

It would be cheaper to buy him out so it makes no sense. Keefe would never accept a player like that to begin with. I'm fine with either a buyout or trade, I just think that if you can't trade him, you need to buyout.

 

[Der Jaeger]

It would be cheaper to buy him out so it makes no sense. Keefe would never accept a player like that to begin with. I'm fine with either a buyout or trade, I just think that if you can't trade him, you need to buyout.

Cheaper? Sort of. For 2024, yes. For 2025, basically the same as a 50% retention. For 2026, it's cheaper to retain than to buy out by $2M.

Then you get a $2.5M cap hit for the next three years. So cheaper is relative and may not be true at all.

Keefe already plays with a bevy of forwards who play little to no defense. Why not add a player he can put on his 3rd line and provide scoring at $4.5M?

 

[Zman5778]

Good lord. If one of these 2 things were happening, we'd be in the mix for 3rd in the Atlantic:

1.) Our PP producing at the same rate it was last year
2.) This team actually shows up in the 1st and STOPS FALLING BEHIND 2-0

I think someone showed a graphic (ABC?) that we have fallen behind 2-0 or worse SEVENTEEN times this year, easily the worst in the NHL. And that we've allowed the 1st goal somewhere in the low 30s. That's what? Roughly 75% of the time we're playing from behind? And like 35% of the time we're playing from behind by multiple goals?

Yeah. Unreal.

 

[Zman5778]

I'd keep it simple at the TDL if I were Adams.

- Trade Olofsson, Girgensons, Okposo, Comrie, Erik Johnson, and Robinson at the deadline
- Look for a RHD option to pair with Power. I'd look hard again at Fabbro who seems to be available again.

That's keeping it simple? Really?

 

[Dex]

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.

While I'd ultimately be satisfied with replacement seats, my preference for the seat colors is reflected in my avatar - taken a couple of years ago on a 70s Night at the arena with appropriately colored T-shirts draped over the seats.

While the seats at KBC suck, I'm guessing the roof is a more pressing issue based on age of the building. Plus with public gathering areas that might replace some seating on the table - maybe they want to plan that first - if it's happening at all.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Good lord. If one of these 2 things were happening, we'd be in the mix for 3rd in the Atlantic:

1.) Our PP producing at the same rate it was last year
2.) This team actually shows up in the 1st and STOPS FALLING BEHIND 2-0

I think someone showed a graphic (ABC?) that we have fallen behind 2-0 or worse SEVENTEEN times this year, easily the worst in the NHL. And that we've allowed the 1st goal somewhere in the low 30s. That's what? Roughly 75% of the time we're playing from behind? And like 35% of the time we're playing from behind by multiple goals?

Yeah. Unreal.

OTOH, I think in a decent chunk of those games the opposing team sat back and played conservatively while protecting that early lead. Take out the score effects and the other numbers probably drop a bit. Their record might not be much better even if they started better.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Good lord. If one of these 2 things were happening, we'd be in the mix for 3rd in the Atlantic:

1.) Our PP producing at the same rate it was last year
2.) This team actually shows up in the 1st and STOPS FALLING BEHIND 2-0

I think someone showed a graphic (ABC?) that we have fallen behind 2-0 or worse SEVENTEEN times this year, easily the worst in the NHL. And that we've allowed the 1st goal somewhere in the low 30s. That's what? Roughly 75% of the time we're playing from behind? And like 35% of the time we're playing from behind by multiple goals?

Yeah. Unreal.

These stats are totally misleading. As many have already mentioned, most of the good things the team has done seem to be only after the other team has us buried and they take their foot off the gas. These stats make them seem better than they've been.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

There's no use talking about retention on Skinner since he's been consistent from day one in not wanting to be traded out of the area. And Toronto could never afford him at full price.

He'll be bought out eventually, it's a matter of when Terry approves it.

Why would we buy Skinner out? He has three years after this and he's one of our better forwards. His value is probably $6.5 m to $7 million. There is zero reason to buy him out. Even in the last two years, we would pay major cap penalties and not get a better player for the difference in price over the last two years of the deal.

Unless he falls off the map, Skinner plays out his contract.

Even in the last year of the contract, it would be a $5.66 M penalty and then another $1.667 penalty. Makes no sense unless he goes back to Krueger years.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Why would we buy Skinner out? He has three years after this and he's one of our better forwards. His value is probably $6.5 m to $7 million. There is zero reason to buy him out. Even in the last two years, we would pay major cap penalties and not get a better player for the difference in price over the last two years of the deal.

Unless he falls off the map, Skinner plays out his contract.

Even in the last year of the contract, it would be a $5.66 M penalty and then another $1.667 penalty. Makes no sense unless he goes back to Krueger years.

Because I disagree that he's one of our better forwards, and I think his presence makes fixing the "no accountability" and "no effort" culture impossible. Same reason the Wild made their big buyouts. A good GM does what needs to be done.

All the cap space in the world doesn't help when you have players tainting the stew.

 

[TehDoak]

Did GMKA reiterate Casey has two RFA years after this one. People have said he had one, but if he has two, I don't see any panic about trading him at all.

I believe that would be factually incorrect.

A player becomes a free agent when their contract expires on July 1 after the last League Year of their contract. Any player who meets the following requirements becomes an unrestricted free agent (UFA):

1. Is 27 years of age on June 30 of the contract expiry year
2. Has seven (7) Accrued Seasons where an Accrued Season is earned when the player was on the clubs active roster for 40 Regular Season games (30 if the player is a goaltender). Games missed due to a hockey related injury will count towards an accrued season in the season of the injury, plus one additional season after the injury.
3. Meets the requirements for Group 6 UFA Status (See below)

An unrestricted free agent is eligible to sign a contract with any club as of noon ET on July 1 after the last League Year of their contract

Mittelstadt is currently at 6 accrued seasons (2017-18 counts)

he is eligible to be a UFA at the end of next year.

I'd keep it simple at the TDL if I were Adams.

- Trade Olofsson, Girgensons, Okposo, Comrie, Erik Johnson, and Robinson at the deadline
- Look for a RHD option to pair with Power. I'd look hard again at Fabbro who seems to be available again.

Make the bigger moves in the off-season.

Some things I think he might consider:

- Re-sign Mittelstadt, aside from some massive offer

- UPL is the starter so he's either only looking for a backup or Levi to step up. I'd rather get a real back up and let Levi take the longer route to development in Rochester.

- If he's able to get a RHD, I seriously consider swapping Ryan Johnson and Samuelsson in terms of roles. Johnson looks like a better pairing partner for Dahlin due to his skating and overall game. That'd put Samuelsson on the 3rd pair, which I actually like in terms of usage and deployment. Get him a partner who he's not covering for all the time. Clifton could be that guy.

So uhh, what we doing with Joker is that scenario.

- I don't know what you do with Skinner. I think he's a drag on the team in a lot of ways, and the good is outweighed by the bad. Maybe get him to agree to a trade with retention? That way the cap his is three more years instead of the buyout time, which is 6 years. Toronto is headed to an off-season where they have 11 players under contract (8 forwards) but around $20M to spend with the current cap. Would they take Skinner for 3 years at 50% retention?

Even with 50% retention, the NMC limits his market.

But, a trade with full retention > having to buy him out. I'd even send a pick with him if it got the deal done and him gone.

- Adams needs to get some power forwards into the lineup. Strip away Skinner and the UFAs from the forwards, and here's what you get:

xxx - Thompson - Tuch
Quinn - Cozens - Peterka
Benson - Mittelstadt - Greenway
xxx - Krebs - xxx

Kulich, Savoie, and Rosen are vying for those spots, but that's a weak group in terms of power and grit. I'd look to make some kind of move to fill the xxx's with a different type of player.

 

[Der Jaeger]

So uhh, what we doing with Joker is that scenario.



Even with 50% retention, the NMC limits his market.

But, a trade with full retention > having to buy him out. I'd even send a pick with him if it got the deal done and him gone.

It was inferred that there would be moves during the off-season. I'd likely move him as part of a trade to bring in different forwards.

Skinner is from Toronto, which is why I used them. I don't think he'd agree to any other trade.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

I believe that would be factually incorrect.



Mittelstadt is currently at 6 accrued seasons (2017-18 counts)

he is eligible to be a UFA at the end of next year.





So uhh, what we doing with Joker is that scenario.



Even with 50% retention, the NMC limits his market.

But, a trade with full retention > having to buy him out. I'd even send a pick with him if it got the deal done and him gone.

I highly doubt the GM of a professional hockey hockey team doesn’t know how many RFA years a player has left - his first season did not count as an accrued season because of when he signed his contract, just like power did not count towards his UFA years as well.

17-18 counts towards burning elc but NOT towards ufa years

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I highly doubt the GM of a professional hockey hockey team doesn’t know how many RFA years a player has left - his first season did not count as an accrued season because of when he signed his contract, just like power did not count towards his UFA years as well.

Yes, I know Adams is bad but I have a hard time believing he doesn't know when his players hit UFA.

 

[Zman5778]

These stats are totally misleading. As many have already mentioned, most of the good things the team has done seem to be only after the other team has us buried and they take their foot off the gas. These stats make them seem better than they've been.

If the other teams take their foot off the gas, shouldn't our PP be better then?

As I said -- if one of the two scenarios I mention occurs/ed. If the PP is better, we could afford the slower starts (to a degree)

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

If the other teams take their foot off the gas, shouldn't our PP be better then?

As I said -- if one of the two scenarios I mention occurs/ed. If the PP is better, we could afford the slower starts (to a degree)

When we're ahead behind, the other teams don't take nearly as many penalties, so no, it's not really applicable.

The team not showing up in the first period isn't some minor thing that just takes some tweaking. The way you start the game defines you as a team. If you start games great, you'll be a top team; if you can't, you're a bottom team.

You're basically saying "This team is so close! They just need to be a better team, and then they'd be in the playoffs." Of course that's true.