Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[TehDoak]

Fantasies are nice, but Skinner isn't being bought out, and Levi is 100% going to be on the Sabres next year. You can't possibly be following Pegula this long and think either of those are anything but a foregone conclusion. 100% of the media has basically said as much too.

What is competent and what the Sabres front office does are rarely the same thing.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Sabres are:

19-19-1 home
17-16-4 away
Combined 36-35-5
5-5 in their last 10
A season long goal differential of: 0
2-1 in shootouts

Talk. About. Mediocrity.

Mediocre teams make the playoffs once in a while in the NHL. The Sabres always seem to fall just shy of that coveted "mediocre" label.

 

[sabremike]

I would like to trade the 1st round pick ++ for a Center++

Yup, Buffalo needs to find a 2C/3C

Its up to Adams to find one

Trading one they had (after years of patient development) for a guy whose play has fallen right off a cliff and has been one of the worst players on the roster since his arrival was probably not a wise choice.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

What is competent and what the Sabres front office does are rarely the same thing.

I thought you were making predictions. If you were talking "should," you missed the new coach and GM in your list. Without experience in those positions, anything else is just window dressing, or whatever the phrase would be. Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Trading one they had (after years of patient development) for a guy whose play has fallen right off a cliff and has been one of the worst players on the roster since his arrival was probably not a wise choice.

Signing Casey and trading Cozens might've been the smarter move, but I don't think Cozens is tradeable with that contract. And I don't think Adams would admit to a mistake, which is what trading Cozens would be.

Need a new GM, and he needs to bring in a new coach before the current ones make it so that we need to do a complete rebuild again.

 

[TehDoak]

I thought you were making predictions. If you were talking "should," you missed the new coach and GM in your list. Without experience in those positions, anything else is just window dressing, or whatever the phrase would be. Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

You aren't wrong.

If I had to guess what they were ACTUALLY going to do:

1. I think the assistants to Granato are gone except for Bales. I think one person brought in will be an ex NHL head coach.
2. They are going to bet on internal fixes for 3C spot. One of Savoie/Krebs/Kulich/maybe Ostlund.
3. Joker is going for futures.
4. Going to make a "splash' by getting a 4th line center and a middle six winger. Either via UFA or trade. And I doubt either involves their top 10 pick.
5. And yes, they will go UPL/Levi next year

We will start the season well under the cap.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

You aren't wrong.

If I had to guess what they were ACTUALLY going to do:

1. I think the assistants to Granato are gone except for Bales. I think one person brought in will be an ex NHL head coach.
2. They are going to bet on internal fixes for 3C spot. One of Savoie/Krebs/Kulich/maybe Ostlund.
3. Joker is going for futures.
4. Going to make a "splash' by getting a 4th line center and a middle six winger. Either via UFA or trade. And I doubt either involves their top 10 pick.
5. And yes, they will go UPL/Levi next year

We will start the season well under the cap.

This is the exact offseason we all know is coming. Sadly.

I think we all foresee Granato getting fired mid-season as well. Because it’s obviously not going to work and Terry will finally be forced to grant permission.

You had number 3 in your last list too, which I somehow don’t think you’d do if you had the choice.

 

[Irie]

You aren't wrong.

If I had to guess what they were ACTUALLY going to do:

1. I think the assistants to Granato are gone except for Bales. I think one person brought in will be an ex NHL head coach.
2. They are going to bet on internal fixes for 3C spot. One of Savoie/Krebs/Kulich/maybe Ostlund.
3. Joker is going for futures.
4. Going to make a "splash' by getting a 4th line center and a middle six winger. Either via UFA or trade. And I doubt either involves their top 10 pick.
5. And yes, they will go UPL/Levi next year

We will start the season well under the cap.

You really think Granato dumps his assistant coach buddies?

While I would love to see it, my money is on him keeping his staff intact and pointing to a couple of good games as proof that things are fine, and blaming the inconsistency on the team being young and still learning.

I think it is pretty clear Adams, Pegula, and Granato are living in a different reality than the rest of us.

 

[Gras]

You really think Granato dumps his assistant coach buddies?

While I would love to see it, my money is on him keeping his staff intact and pointing to a couple of good games as proof that things are fine, and blaming the inconsistency on the team being young and still learning.

I think it is pretty clear Adams, Pegula, and Granato are living in a different reality than the rest of us.

At the end of the day if the Assistants contracts are up it isnt up to Granato

 

[TehDoak]

This is the exact offseason we all know is coming. Sadly.

I think we all foresee Granato getting fired mid-season as well. Because it’s obviously not going to work and Terry will finally be forced to grant permission.

You had number 3 in your last list too, which I somehow don’t think you’d do if you had the choice.

I mean, I am fine with keeping him, but Samuelsson probably has to go then, and I think moving that contract is going to be difficult. An injury prone, 4/5 d-man locked at top of market for 6 years isn't attractive unless some team sees super upside in him.

Adams has created a defensive logjam, and with no contract and close to UFA age, Joker is the 'easiest' to move. I think you get decent value for Joker, you probably take a loss on Samuelsson.

 

[The Blunder Years]

I mean, I am fine with keeping him, but Samuelsson probably has to go then, and I think moving that contract is going to be difficult. An injury prone, 4/5 d-man locked at top of market for 6 years isn't attractive unless some team sees super upside in him.

Adams has created a defensive logjam, and with no contract and close to UFA age, Joker is the 'easiest' to move. I think you get decent value for Joker, you probably take a loss on Samuelsson.

I just don’t think it is wise to start moving out players we’ve signed long term. We have the cap space to have them all on the team for the foreseeable future. Also, I’m sick of this team trading players when their value is at a low point. If the ship gets turned around, everyone’s value goes up and the contracts look better.

 

[Tatanka]

I just don’t think it is wise to start moving out players we’ve signed long term. We have the cap space to have them all on the team for the foreseeable future. Also, I’m sick of this team trading players when their value is at a low point. If the ship gets turned around, everyone’s value goes up and the contracts look better.

I do not understand this sentiment concerning long term deals. If a player doesn’t fit or becomes redundant, the length remaining on their contract is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is movement protection and it is better to move a player before that kicks in and they become immovable like Skinner. Samuelson is overpaid for what he brings and his injury history is troubling. Keeping a player because they have a long term deal seems like a weird way to build a roster. If they keep him for on ice reasons, fine. But the contract thing is puzzling.

 

[Irie]

At the end of the day if the Assistants contracts are up it isnt up to Granato

That is assuming the front office is choosing the assistants, and Don doesn't have any say, which I do not believe is the case with this team.

I believe Granato makes his case and Adams listens and more often than not does what Donny asks for. Adams has shown time and time again that he is a committee guy who weighs everyone's opinions before making moves. He is way more manager than decision-maker.

Hoping I am wrong on this, but I am not feeling it.

 

[Irie]

I mean, I am fine with keeping him, but Samuelsson probably has to go then, and I think moving that contract is going to be difficult. An injury prone, 4/5 d-man locked at top of market for 6 years isn't attractive unless some team sees super upside in him.

Adams has created a defensive logjam, and with no contract and close to UFA age, Joker is the 'easiest' to move. I think you get decent value for Joker, you probably take a loss on Samuelsson.

I think you are off the mark here.

Samuelsson would be fairly easy to move. With his injury history, he may not return much, but if Adams made him available, there would be several GMs calling.

 

[Gras]

I think you are off the mark here.

Samuelsson would be fairly easy to move. With his injury history, he may not return much, but if Adams made him available, there would be several GMs calling.

He also has what 2 seasons left where they could buy him out at 1/3

 

[The Blunder Years]

I do not understand this sentiment concerning long term deals. If a player doesn’t fit or becomes redundant, the length remaining on their contract is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is movement protection and it is better to move a player before that kicks in and they become immovable like Skinner. Samuelson is overpaid for what he brings and his injury history is troubling. Keeping a player because they have a long term deal seems like a weird way to build a roster. If they keep him for on ice reasons, fine. But the contract thing is puzzling.

My point was more that removing Samuelssons and Cozens from our roster doesn’t make sense when we have the cap room for them. Especially when Cozens had a down year and Samuelsson was hurt. Both players are worth exponentially more and are worth their contracts if they bounce back, which is likely.

Also, who replaces them? There is not a single player in our org that can replace what Samuelsson brings. Maybe Novrikov someday but that’s impossible to tell. The alternative is free agency which is bleak or trade which would seem unlikely. And with Cozens, doesn’t make sense unless we somehow pull off a move for a better top 6 center.

Yeah maybe in 3 years we might need to make moves like this but moving roster players now just seems like It would set us back more.

 

[Irie]

I do not understand this sentiment concerning long term deals. If a player doesn’t fit or becomes redundant, the length remaining on their contract is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is movement protection and it is better to move a player before that kicks in and they become immovable like Skinner. Samuelson is overpaid for what he brings and his injury history is troubling. Keeping a player because they have a long term deal seems like a weird way to build a roster. If they keep him for on ice reasons, fine. But the contract thing is puzzling.

No one is eligible for NMC/NTCs untill they are UFA eligible, which disqualifies most of this team. As far as trading guys before their trade protection kicks in, most UFA's trade protection starts on day one of their deals.

As far as I know, none of the Sabres players that signed long term contracts that take them into UFA years have any sort of trade protection that kicks in once they hit the requirements, so it should not be an issue.

 

[Tatanka]

My point was more that removing Samuelssons and Cozens from our roster doesn’t make sense when we have the cap room for them. Especially when Cozens had a down year and Samuelsson was hurt. Both players are worth exponentially more and are worth their contracts if they bounce back, which is likely.

Also, who replaces them? There is not a single player in our org that can replace what Samuelsson brings. Maybe Novrikov someday but that’s impossible to tell. The alternative is free agency which is bleak or trade which would seem unlikely. And with Cozens, doesn’t make sense unless we somehow pull off a move for a better top 6 center.

Yeah maybe in 3 years we might need to make moves like this but moving roster players now just seems like It would set us back more.

I think Cozens is worth keeping even if it means utilizing him in a different way. Samuelson is a bottom pair guy with limited offense. Playing him up the lineup hinders whoever you pair him with. RyJo can replace what he brings. If you are talking about physicality, you may have a point but that is certainly not an overwhelming factor. Either way, if they want to keep either do it for on ice reasons not because of cost certainty of a long term contract.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I mean, I am fine with keeping him, but Samuelsson probably has to go then, and I think moving that contract is going to be difficult. An injury prone, 4/5 d-man locked at top of market for 6 years isn't attractive unless some team sees super upside in him.

Adams has created a defensive logjam, and with no contract and close to UFA age, Joker is the 'easiest' to move. I think you get decent value for Joker, you probably take a loss on Samuelsson.

I don’t get why you’d have to move him just for picks though and not an NHL forward?

 

[DapperCam]

I’m actually looking forward to our middle six next season. If everybody stays healthy (knock on wood) we have some good chemistry there. I would buy out Skinner and waive Krebs. I don’t think Kulich makes the jump out of camp. Maybe he gets promoted during the season.

??? - Thompson - Tuch
JJP - Cozens -Quinn
Benson - ??? - Savoie
Greenway - ??? - Rousek

??? needs to be an experienced vet that isn’t on the roster right now. Not sure about cap implications.

 

[jcbeze]

I’m actually looking forward to our middle six next season. If everybody stays healthy (knock on wood) we have some good chemistry there. I would buy out Skinner and waive Krebs. I don’t think Kulich makes the jump out of camp. Maybe he gets promoted during the season.

??? - Thompson - Tuch
JJP - Cozens -Quinn
Benson - ??? - Savoie
Greenway - ??? - Rousek

??? needs to be an experienced vet that isn’t on the roster right now. Not sure about cap implications.

I'd keep JJP with Tage and Tuch

 

[Djp]

My current template for the "proper" build this summer:

1) Move Skinner out. Either find a trade or buyout. I'm assuming buyout is the probably the only viable route
2) Keep Levi in Rochester next year and sign a competent backup
3) UPL gets a 4-5 year deal. (marked at 5M per for ease of planning, could be less)
4) Joker likely moved out for picks

I see them having Levi in Rochester to play regularly vs sitting on the bench playing 1 time in s 2-3 week period then call him on b2b/3 in 4 or 4 in 6 stretches.

UPL signed to 4-5 yr contract.

Not buying out Skinner. If you do it summer 2026 when cap space could be needed.

Gives us a skeleton of:

Peterka-Thompson-Tuch
XXXXX- Cozens-Quinn
Benson-XXXXX-XXXX
Greenway-Krebs-XXXX

Byram-Dahlin
Power-Samuelsson
Johnson-Clifton

UPL
XXXX

Jokiharju and Krebs could be trade things this summer. Power could but it be a stunner to happen.

I expect lines next year as
skinner-Thompson-quinn
peterka-Cozens-Savoie
Benson-xxx-Tuch
Greenwsy-xxx-Girgs/Rousek
Krebs would be one xxx if not traded

Bryson as 7D.

Do they trade Krebs, joker+ for a 3C+ younger RD+

Gives you around 25M in cap space and enough roster space to both graduate players and bring in from the outside.

My only real possible change is to keep Joker and ship out Samuelsson, or ship them both out and add a better RH partner for Power.

My priorities in term of resource usage are C3 (the elusive 2 way C) LW2- Decent two way acumen here

Both RW3 and RW4 should be either internal graduation or a mid/low range veteran UFA.

They arent spending long term in UFA market buying 4 yr contract.

During Adams’ interview with STH’s he said he’s looking for a “top 9 forward” and/or a “4th line center” in the offseason.

Getting a 2C doesnt seem likely. He’s setting the bar low already.

He wants a vet middle 6 C/W who is strong PK and draws that I'd not a long term contract.

Mediocre teams make the playoffs once in a while in the NHL. The Sabres always seem to fall just shy of that coveted "mediocre" label.

The difference is 10 pts from bring a WC vs mediocre. 5 games are small differences in one goal games end in rrg or coming away with 2 pts instead 1e in OT games.

I do not understand this sentiment concerning long term deals. If a player doesn’t fit or becomes redundant, the length remaining on their contract is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is movement protection and it is better to move a player before that kicks in and they become immovable like Skinner. Samuelson is overpaid for what he brings and his injury history is troubling. Keeping a player because they have a long term deal seems like a weird way to build a roster. If they keep him for on ice reasons, fine. But the contract thing is puzzling.

I think the message ou s you arent trading a 7+ yr contract but you would a 3-5 yr contract later on

If they sign UPL yuuu o a rrg ound 3-5 yrs then in 2026 summer they could trade him or levi for big return

 

[is the answer jesus]

I’m actually looking forward to our middle six next season. If everybody stays healthy (knock on wood) we have some good chemistry there. I would buy out Skinner and waive Krebs. I don’t think Kulich makes the jump out of camp. Maybe he gets promoted during the season.

??? - Thompson - Tuch
JJP - Cozens -Quinn
Benson - ??? - Savoie
Greenway - ??? - Rousek

??? needs to be an experienced vet that isn’t on the roster right now. Not sure about cap implications.

Not meant to single you out as it's quite prevelant in general but I don't get the Krebs hate. Sure he hasn't produced but the majority of his time in Buffalo has been spent playing with trash linemates in a checking role and to that end he's actually developed quite a bit in the areas that make him a useful bottom 6 guy and I think he's got potential for more. Waiving him just to put Rousek in the lineup seems foolish. I'm all for getting useful vets though. Let's get a couple of them and see if that helps unlock Krebs rather than jettisoning a guy just for the sake of change.

 

[DapperCam]

Not meant to single you out as it's quite prevelant in general but I don't get the Krebs hate. Sure he hasn't produced but the majority of his time in Buffalo has been spent playing with trash linemates in a checking role and to that end he's actually developed quite a bit in the areas that make him a useful bottom 6 guy and I think he's got potential for more. Waiving him just to put Rousek in the lineup seems foolish. I'm all for getting useful vets though. Let's get a couple of them and see if that helps unlock Krebs rather than jettisoning a guy just for the sake of change.

I just don’t think he has a role, and I’m out of patience. If his role is checking line center, I think we could bring in a much more effective veteran that isn’t learning on the job for not much money. If we want to bump him over to wing and send down Rousek instead, that’s fine with me as long as Krebs is dedicated to playing a simple game without bad turnovers which he still commits.

 

[Beerz]

Not meant to single you out as it's quite prevelant in general but I don't get the Krebs hate. Sure he hasn't produced but the majority of his time in Buffalo has been spent playing with trash linemates in a checking role and to that end he's actually developed quite a bit in the areas that make him a useful bottom 6 guy and I think he's got potential for more. Waiving him just to put Rousek in the lineup seems foolish. I'm all for getting useful vets though. Let's get a couple of them and see if that helps unlock Krebs rather than jettisoning a guy just for the sake of change.

When your "trash" teammates are better than you... it might indicate he is trash as well