Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[DapperCam]

According to CapFriendly Krebs has 12 more NHL games until he has to go through waivers.

If I’m Adams, I’m sending him down to the AHL to play first line minutes for the rest of the season, or trading him for a 4th line veteran center now. Playing with Girgensons and Okposo is doing nothing for him.

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Thank you for the amazing 9 years

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[Jacob582]

Krebs to San Jose for Nico Sturm & Yegor Spiridonov (22 defensive C playing in Russia). Yay or nay?

We need to find a way to send them Olofsson.

 

[Matt Ress]

According to CapFriendly Krebs has 12 more NHL games until he has to go through waivers.

If I’m Adams, I’m sending him down to the AHL to play first line minutes for the rest of the season, or trading him for a 4th line veteran center now. Playing with Girgensons and Okposo is doing nothing for him.

Thank You - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com

It will be nice to get healthy. Cozens and Savoie should at least push VO out. Then Rousek/Krebs and even Jost if we get super healthy.

On the bright side, it looks like we have 7 real NHL defensemen when healthy but Sammy and Joker are ailing atm

 

[Dirty Dog]

I come back to Patrick's words on Krebs - the league puts you in your place.

What Krebs needs is to think about being good at the defensive side of the game, to be the grinder they need him to be, and then when he's doing that if a great pass falls out of his toolbox, it's a bonus.

Oh 100%. And I know this wasn’t what your post was about, but a jumping off point for my tangent:

a bigger picture thought is why develop Krebs into a grinder when his (theoretical) potential as an offensive contributor is much more valuable.

It will take time for him today develop into that grinder player. Sure, if it goes well, it would be extremely valuable as he is a great passer like you mention. But this team is ready to compete now, we don’t need to spend a couple years developing a 4th line grinding center. Let’s just go aquire one.

And he shouldn’t be a hard player to move and get something of value back.

 

[Chainshot]

We need to find a way to send them Olofsson.

I'm wondering if Olofsson to one of the other floundering WC teams could be part of the contractual end of a deal since he expires this summer. Early on, I was thinking Garland as an option (not knowing what he's like in the room, etc... but he was available and produces at 5-on-5 in a depth role) but the Canucks are chugging along now. Most of Edmonton's forwards are on NTC or NMC that likely precludes them from coming to Buffalo. But if the Flames continue to falter (last night not withstanding), they would be a team I would hope they're trying to work something out with and that would wind up with Vic as part of contract equalization.

 

[DapperCam]

It will be nice to get healthy. Cozens and Savoie should at least push VO out. Then Rousek/Krebs and even Jost if we get super healthy.

On the bright side, it looks like we have 7 real NHL defensemen when healthy but Sammy and Joker are ailing atm

I would trade for a 4th liner to fill a roster spot if it allowed us to send Krebs down before his waiver exemption expires.

Can’t imagine the cost would be too much.

 

[Jacob582]

Remember when everybody thought this team had enough depth on D because we had Clague, Stillman, and Bryson? LOL. We traded Ilya Lyubushkin for no apparent reason other than to save money because we still have $8.5 M in cap. Samuelsson is out, Maybe Jokiharju. Clifton is okay but not really a top-4 guy. Thankfully, someone came to their sense and bumped Ryan Johnson ahead of some real bums.

What I saw was Bryson playing again in October. We never had enough D, even with Johnson who was a nice chip to have in Rochester, and we've played it now.

So we traded Ilya Lyubushkin for no real reason. Trust me, don't love the guy at all but he has a minimum NHL skill set. We didn't get more depth. Bryson will likely pencil into the next game unless they bring up an AHL-level guy like Davies or Clague.

There isn't a team in the league that doesn't get injuries on D. Every year. You always end up 8 deep over a year. We should have had a decent 7th guy not named Bryson and Ryan Johnson as a maybe 8th guy eligible to go up and down.

So here we are again 6-6-0-1, with defensive problems and tons of cap room. It makes sooooo much sense.

Lyubushkin was traded for a reason. Why did they actively work to replace him (Clifton, EJ)? We will never really know.

We have a GM who sticks with other players (KO, Girgs, Jost) but gets rid of those who he doesn't want on the team (Boosh, Hino, Bjork). It has nothing to do with salary.

 

[Chainshot]

Oh 100%. And I know this wasn’t what your post was about, but a jumping off point for my tangent:

a bigger picture thought is why develop Krebs into a grinder when his (theoretical) potential as an offensive contributor is much more valuable.

It will take time for him today develop into that grinder player. Sure, if it goes well, it would be extremely valuable as he is a great passer like you mention. But this team is ready to compete now, we don’t need to spend a couple years developing a 4th line grinding center. Let’s just go aquire one.

And he shouldn’t be a hard player to move and get something of value back.

Almost every NHLer was some sort of offensive dynamo at a lower level. It's how quickly they figure out that they can be a checking player and how they apply that that makes a difference. If he puts it together that being a safe player first and foremost contributes to winning, then the offensive side of things will open up a bit. But right now, he's back to throwing backhand passes into the middle of the ice toward his own offensive blueline and that just does not work at the NHL level.

 

[Jacob582]

It will be nice to get healthy. Cozens and Savoie should at least push VO out. Then Rousek/Krebs and even Jost if we get super healthy.

On the bright side, it looks like we have 7 real NHL defensemen when healthy but Sammy and Joker are ailing atm

I think we are better without a healthy Cozens. (for now)

I would trade for a 4th liner to fill a roster spot if it allowed us to send Krebs down before his waiver exemption expires.

Can’t imagine the cost would be too much.

If Biro could stay healthy........


(He's played center in Rochester)

 

[MOGlLNY]

Remember when everybody thought this team had enough depth on D because we had Clague, Stillman, and Bryson? LOL. We traded Ilya Lyubushkin for no apparent reason other than to save money because we still have $8.5 M in cap. Samuelsson is out, Maybe Jokiharju. Clifton is okay but not really a top-4 guy. Thankfully, someone came to their sense and bumped Ryan Johnson ahead of some real bums.

What I saw was Bryson playing again in October. We never had enough D, even with Johnson who was a nice chip to have in Rochester, and we've played it now.

So we traded Ilya Lyubushkin for no real reason. Trust me, don't love the guy at all but he has a minimum NHL skill set. We didn't get more depth. Bryson will likely pencil into the next game unless they bring up an AHL-level guy like Davies or Clague.

There isn't a team in the league that doesn't get injuries on D. Every year. You always end up 8 deep over a year. We should have had a decent 7th guy not named Bryson and Ryan Johnson as a maybe 8th guy eligible to go up and down.

So here we are again 6-6-0-1, with defensive problems and tons of cap room. It makes sooooo much sense.

What are you talking about dude?

You are literally making things up to say “I told you so”. Winning an imaginary argument with yourself, congrats.

 

[Jacob582]

I'm wondering if Olofsson to one of the other floundering WC teams could be part of the contractual end of a deal since he expires this summer. Early on, I was thinking Garland as an option (not knowing what he's like in the room, etc... but he was available and produces at 5-on-5 in a depth role) but the Canucks are chugging along now. Most of Edmonton's forwards are on NTC or NMC that likely precludes them from coming to Buffalo. But if the Flames continue to falter (last night not withstanding), they would be a team I would hope they're trying to work something out with and that would wind up with Vic as part of contract equalization.

I wonder about how Garland is in the room....

 

[Matt Ress]

I think we are better without a healthy Cozens. (for now)

I think we are better without a healthy Cozens. (for now)

Maybe but also an upgrade on some filler we're icing atm. He's certainly not going to be on the list of healthy scratchables any time soon and he'll need ice to break through.

 

[Jim Bob]

Right now, I think they have three sets of lines that they don't really have to tinker with:

Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
Greenway-Mitts-JJP
Girgensons-Jost-Okposo

The big piece of the puzzle for the last line will be getting Cozens back. And I think between Quinn, Krebs, Savoie, Benson, Kulich, Rosen, Biro, and Rousek they should be able to find a line that works at least as good as the Legion of Zoom line did last year.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Right now, I think they have three sets of lines that they don't really have to tinker with:

Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
Greenway-Mitts-JJP
Girgensons-Jost-Okposo

The big piece of the puzzle for the last line will be getting Cozens back. And I think between Quinn, Krebs, Savoie, Benson, Kulich, Rosen, Biro, and Rousek they should be able to find a line that works at least as good as the Legion of Zoom line did last year.

Agree, but I'm also curious if Granato might want to reunite Quinn-Cozens-Peterka to get that last line going, and put someone else with Greenway-Mitts.

 

[toddkaz]

I wonder about how Garland is in the room....

I like Garland he is the type of player the sabres could use and could also use a change of scenery but I think he has 2 more years at 5 million which gives him negative value.

I think if Vancouver takes Olofsson and gives us a draft pick back/retains it would be something to think about but in the end I think Garland is probably untradable without sending draft picks with him.

 

[Matt Ress]

I would trade for a 4th liner to fill a roster spot if it allowed us to send Krebs down before his waiver exemption expires.

Can’t imagine the cost would be too much.

I would totally be game for that. I haven't been a Krebs fan for I guess ever but I'm also on record as saying R. Johnson would top out as a 3rd pairing guy so yeah. But it's pretty clear the grinder line ain't what it used to be.

I hope the team and players are gracious about whatever happens as Girgs/Okie were our most and often only effective line through some dark times.

 

[Chainshot]

I wonder about how Garland is in the room....

Same.

 

[Matt Ress]

I like Garland he is the type of player the sabres could use and could also use a change of scenery but I think he has 2 more years at 5 million which gives him negative value.

I think if Vancouver takes Olofsson and gives us a draft pick back/retains it would be something to think about but in the end I think Garland is probably untradable without sending draft picks with him.

I don't know if garland really solves any problems for us. Could we use some winger depth? Sure, but that's a lot to take on when that depth could be filled by an elc in as early as a couple months.

 

[TageGod]

Right now, I think they have three sets of lines that they don't really have to tinker with:

Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
Greenway-Mitts-JJP
Girgensons-Jost-Okposo

The big piece of the puzzle for the last line will be getting Cozens back. And I think between Quinn, Krebs, Savoie, Benson, Kulich, Rosen, Biro, and Rousek they should be able to find a line that works at least as good as the Legion of Zoom line did last year.

Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
Quinn-Cozens-Peterka
Greenway-Mitts-Savoie
Girgs-Jost-Okposo

This is what I was hoping for. Swap Okposo for Rousek/Biro, send Krebs down, and fire Okposo into the sun.

 

[Jim Bob]

Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
Quinn-Cozens-Peterka
Greenway-Mitts-Savoie
Girgs-Jost-Okposo

This is what I was hoping for. Swap Okposo for Rousek/Biro, send Krebs down, and fire Okposo into the sun.

I am assuming you mean to fire VO into the sun.

 

[toddkaz]

I am assuming you mean to fire VO and Okposo into the sun.

Fixed

The positive about moving on from Okposo would be having a new captain to energize the team but ultimately I dont see Okposo gone until next offseason.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

What are you talking about dude?

You are literally making things up to say “I told you so”. Winning an imaginary argument with yourself, congrats.

Sure. The present state of our defence was an obvious accident waiting to happen. I've never been a Lyubushkin fan. He's a one dimensional third-pair slug who takes dumb penalties. But he's better than Bryson, Stillman, and Clague. And he was signed. The issue is we had him and really added nothing to replace him on the depth chart. Ryan Johnson is great. But we are about to enter a period where we get into the same scenario of overplaying Dahlin/Power to survive.

Bryson is at three games and counting. I expect him to get 25 games this year. Yuch. I don't get this. So excited to see him in person Friday, if Jokiharju is really out.

 

[Chainshot]

Sure. The present state of our defence was an obvious accident waiting to happen. I've never been a Lyubushkin fan. He's a one dimensional third-pair slug who takes dumb penalties. But he's better than Bryson, Stillman, and Clague. And he was signed. The issue is we had him and really added nothing to replace him on the depth chart. Ryan Johnson is great. But we are about to enter a period where we get into the same scenario of overplaying Dahlin/Power to survive.

Bryson is at three games and counting. I expect him to get 25 games this year. Yuch. I don't get this. So excited to see him in person Friday, if Jokiharju is really out.

How exactly is signing Connor Clifton and Erik Johnson not part of "replace him on the depth chart"? That is exactly what they did.

 

[Dingo44]

 

[TageGod]

I am assuming you mean to fire VO into the sun.

I must have mentally protected myself from the thought of VO still existing, but yes, both.