Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[Chainshot]

I almost mentioned Gourde too, since they need scoring. His contract is only for less than 2 seasons though, and how much do we want to give up for that.

And he's such a tempo setter for the Kraken. Irie can probably speak even more to it than I, but in watching them, as he goes, so goes their forwards. He's back to being the honey badger he was when he first came up in Tampa - just all over pucks.

The other thought is that they need to sit down with someone they already have in house to try to mold into a possession monster who is defensively responsible. Kozak seems more like a high-end 4th line type (one who could be a PK guy and also do the d-zone start thing with regularity) but I don't know if he's one who can play further up the lineup. I'm losing patience with Krebs turning into that sort of player, though again, is that coaching?

Acciari is purely a 4th line type but maybe see if Eller is available as the Pens slide out of contention? Again, just random spitballing without having eaten breakfast and on my second cup of coffee, so this is entering my brain dead territory.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

You think Levi will make $3m and Quinn/Peterka will both make $4M? Which comparables are you using?

What's to compare? None of them have done hardly a damn thing yet in this league. I expect them to improve and produce around 40-50 pts the next two seasons, nothing like some breakout 70+ production.

 

[Dingo44]

And he's such a tempo setter for the Kraken. Irie can probably speak even more to it than I, but in watching them, as he goes, so goes their forwards. He's back to being the honey badger he was when he first came up in Tampa - just all over pucks.

The other thought is that they need to sit down with someone they already have in house to try to mold into a possession monster who is defensively responsible. Kozak seems more like a high-end 4th line type (one who could be a PK guy and also do the d-zone start thing with regularity) but I don't know if he's one who can play further up the lineup. I'm losing patience with Krebs turning into that sort of player, though again, is that coaching?

Acciari is purely a 4th line type but maybe see if Eller is available as the Pens slide out of contention? Again, just random spitballing without having eaten breakfast and on my second cup of coffee, so this is entering my brain dead territory.

I see Kozak as our long-term fourth line center. Just a perfect fit.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

And he's such a tempo setter for the Kraken. Irie can probably speak even more to it than I, but in watching them, as he goes, so goes their forwards. He's back to being the honey badger he was when he first came up in Tampa - just all over pucks.

The other thought is that they need to sit down with someone they already have in house to try to mold into a possession monster who is defensively responsible. Kozak seems more like a high-end 4th line type (one who could be a PK guy and also do the d-zone start thing with regularity) but I don't know if he's one who can play further up the lineup. I'm losing patience with Krebs turning into that sort of player, though again, is that coaching?

Acciari is purely a 4th line type but maybe see if Eller is available as the Pens slide out of contention? Again, just random spitballing without having eaten breakfast and on my second cup of coffee, so this is entering my brain dead territory.

Yeah, Gourde is probably as non-realistic as Couts.

Any thoughts on my one other guy -- Luke Kunin? Not sure what that trade would look like but I'd really like to pry him away as another bottom 6 option with a scoring touch, not unlike Tuch. I see him as a poor man's Tuch (or affordable Tuch).

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Here are my fantasy trades to balance out the team:

Krebs + 2nd = Gourde (this season and next)
Rosen = Kunin (this season and next)

Skinner - Tage - Tuch
Greenway - Mitts - JJP
Kunin - Cozens - Quinn
Girgs - Gourde - Okposo
x- Biro, Jost

 

[Chainshot]

Yeah, Gourde is probably as non-realistic as Couts.

Any thoughts on my one other guy -- Luke Kunin? Not sure what that trade would look like but I'd really like to pry him away as another bottom 6 option with a scoring touch, not unlike Tuch. I see him as a poor man's Tuch (or affordable Tuch).

Weirdly, Kunin is one of the other guys I was thinking about. But I'm having a hard time parsing out if he could do the job since the Sharks the last few years are just so bad overall.

 

[Chainshot]

I see Kozak as our long-term fourth line center. Just a perfect fit.

I hope he is. I hope he could be some sort of Sami Pahlsson or John Madden type of depth guy. But until he is up, I'm not sure if they can't find something between now and then who can fill that job.

 

[HaNotsri]

I hope he is. I hope he could be some sort of Sami Pahlsson or John Madden type of depth guy. But until he is up, I'm not sure if they can't find something between now and then who can fill that job.

Why are you turning swedish cult player Samuel Påhlsson into a finn?

 

[Irie]

No, you were roasted for suggesting we shouldn’t put Mitts on the top line because it would affect his next contract. That he should play on lesser lines to keep his cost down. Thats what posters took issue with.

That is exactly what I said..... if taken completely out of context

What I originally said and what I clarified in half a dozen posts and i can see it is still being misinterpreted is that Mitts should be extended BEFORE given a regular spot between Tuch and Skinner *if* Thompson (and later Cozens) are healthy and playing well*.

My initial post did not include the *starred* disclaimer, but within the context of the discussion where everyone was just throwing out line ideas, it was assumed that both players were healthy and continuing their upward swing, and I clarified that point in multiple posts.

My personal position has always been to re-sign Mitts. This particular discussion started and was ONLY about replacing a healthy, effective 94 point Tage with Mitts before signing Mitts and having him go off and price himself out of the Sabres cap situation(currently a real situation). You, as always, ignored the general spirit of the post to focus on what the post was never about, which was misconstrued as "keep Mitts on the third line no matter what to keep is contract low", which was just disingenuous misrepresentation of the entire discussion.

If you want to go back and waste your day searching for the entire conversation to post things out of context for your "gotcha" moment, (like you always do), be sure to include the post that started it all where it says "SIGN Mitts before the season starts if the plan is to have him be the #1 center". Also, please include the multiple posts that say "if tage is injured or not playing well, then casey should be the first player to be given 1st line center, regardless of contract status".

 

[SabresFanNorthPortFL]

I don’t need a fighter but a little size, defensive chops, play center and can win a face off…..

And we laughed at Nashville for giving us a first for Paul Gaustad….

I’d trade one of our smurfs and a second for that center immediately

 

[Jimmybarndoor2]

most fans looking to get mcdavid, but not here. A mediocre 4th line center is the missing piece

Lol

 

[Dubi Doo]

I hope he is. I hope he could be some sort of Sami Pahlsson or John Madden type of depth guy. But until he is up, I'm not sure if they can't find something between now and then who can fill that job.

Oh man, that would be awesome. I loved that dude on those stacked Devils teams. Gritty player that played the depth role to perfection.

 

[Chainshot]

most fans looking to get mcdavid, but not here. A mediocre 4th line center is the missing piece

Lol

Which one is likely? And where is there ANYTHING about a 4th line center being the "missing piece"? Make up more interesting hyperbole.

 

[zenthusiast]

If we’re talking “likely” we ought to look more to AHL guys

 

[StrompTroller]

The mention of a Gourde or Daunalt type just makes me remember how badly I wanted to overpay Tampa to pry away Cireclli and help get them into a better space cap wise...alas....

 

[dkollidas]

On a 1yr, even 2yr deal, I’d be alright with Kane. Nothing more than that.

But it really logjams the forwards.

I’d be happier with 1yr. Let Savoie, Kulich, & Benson stay in Roch/WHL. Plus with the injuries we don’t know how Quinn will be coming back. But Kane is also coming back from a rough injury so that has to be kept in mind as well.

 

[Jimmybarndoor2]

Which one is likely? And where is there ANYTHING about a 4th line center being the "missing piece"? Make up more interesting hyperbole.

4th line centers all over the place. Remember the best line in hockey girgs, okposo and Larson. Haha

Don’t give up on a developing team yet. Look at the oilers, lots of talent there

4th line additions won’t move the needle. Remember sheary and all the others?

 

[dkollidas]

He’s a true center so we can’t really move him unless we really believe in Krebs to step up.

Instead, we’ll have to move one of Quinn or JJP before their next contracts since they’ll need raises the same year Levi does, and there’s no space for them all.

And that’s assuming we move Tuch at the end of his contract, to give you an idea of the difficult decisions coming up after next season.

I mean, couldn’t they just sign them to short term deals? I understand it’s an exercise, but having Peterka & Quinn earmarked for $6.5M ea seems unrealistic.

Also, as of now Krebs at $2M+ isn’t happening. He’s as close as Olofsson to bring a healthy scratch.

I believe a more likely scenario is that one of Quinn/Peterka/Krebs gets moved after the ‘24-‘25 season and the other two are signed to short term bridge deals. The contract system is set up in this way for a reason. Lock up your middle (C’s Thompson/Cozens & Mitts?, then your top-3 D, Dahlin, Power & Sammy). Use the rest to rotate youngsters on elc’s on the wings and your depth defensemen.

Now they need to slowly put those elc’s into the lineup so that they can line up with Skinner’s deal expiring. But even so next year, if they signed Mitts, at say $7M AAV, their top 8 forwards(Skinner, Tuch, Thompson, Cozens, Quinn, Peterka, Mittelstadt & Greenway) & top 5 defensemen (Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson, Clifton & Johnson) would all be signed, plus Levi here and UPL still under team control, they’re projected to have about $18M in cap space. With guys like Kulich, Rosèn, Savoie, Benson, Rousek all available, only a couple lesser role defensemen to bring back (maybe EJ on another 1yr deal?).

They have a TON of flexibility moving forward

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I mean, couldn’t they just sign them to short term deals? I understand it’s an exercise, but having Peterka & Quinn earmarked for $6.5M ea seems unrealistic.

Also, as of now Krebs at $2M+ isn’t happening. He’s as close as Olofsson to bring a healthy scratch.

I believe a more likely scenario is that one of Quinn/Peterka/Krebs gets moved after the ‘24-‘25 season and the other two are signed to short term bridge deals. The contract system is set up in this way for a reason. Lock up your middle (C’s Thompson/Cozens & Mitts?, then your top-3 D, Dahlin, Power & Sammy). Use the rest to rotate youngsters on elc’s on the wings and your depth defensemen.

Now they need to slowly put those elc’s into the lineup so that they can line up with Skinner’s deal expiring. But even so next year, if they signed Mitts, at say $7M AAV, their top 8 forwards(Skinner, Tuch, Thompson, Cozens, Quinn, Peterka, Mittelstadt & Greenway) & top 5 defensemen (Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson, Clifton & Johnson) would all be signed, plus Levi here and UPL still under team control, they’re projected to have about $18M in cap space. With guys like Kulich, Rosèn, Savoie, Benson, Rousek all available, only a couple lesser role defensemen to bring back (maybe EJ on another 1yr deal?).

They have a TON of flexibility moving forward

I disagree with almost every point you made.

 

[Chainshot]

4th line centers all over the place. Remember the best line in hockey girgs, okposo and Larson. Haha

Don’t give up on a developing team yet. Look at the oilers, lots of talent there

4th line additions won’t move the needle. Remember sheary and all the others?

Sheary was brought in for depth scoring not to be a fourth line player.

 

[Djp]

It comes down to having playoff performing depth, which is not ELC players or bargain bin 1M vets.

I think @Doug Prishpreed did a good job of realistically estimating raises, but this team is going to have to move some of the top 6 talent for the playoff grit if they want to get out of the second round.

I also think that this problem starts next offseason. Having 8 ELCs\bargain bin retreads next year is not going to cut it. They are going to need to start thinking about bringing in a difference maker or two in that bottom 6.

I have been the poster child on this board for preaching patience with this rebuild, but the time to start to make those moves is quickly approaching, and I think it may need to begin next offseason.

yes there are going to be roster decisions to be made in thr next couple years. You don’t trade top 20 drafted players for short term fixes.

For sure.

I have been posting almost daily about the reality of the cap next offseason, and those posts are mostly met with the "25 million in free cap!" responses, but no one pays attention to the free agents and how many players need new deals.

I was roasted by half the board for saying it would be a very smart idea to lock Mitts up before playing him in the top six this season if Cozens and Tage were healthy and playing well because if they don't, his next contract is going to be a back breaker on the cap. Well Adams didn't, and Cozens isn't healthy or playing well, and now the writing is on the wall. Mitts is playing himself into a big raise. Joker is playing well enough to justify keeping around and giving a slight raise to, and even UPL or Comrie are making their case for more money if they can keep it up.

The Extra cap needed to address the depth for playoff performers is quickly vanishing, and we are likely looking at 8 players next year on ELC or bargain bin deals - and that will be with the team at the cap.

this why I’m looking at players under longer term contracts like Rasmus Andersson. You look at what Joker might be asking for. You could also trade Samuelsson.

Hip resurfacing surgery was a career-ender for Jovanovski, Kesler, and Backstrom, yet I'm dumbfounded to read reporters talking about multi-year deals for Kane!? This has to be wishful thinking from player/agent for a last LTIR payday. I don't get it.

I agree.

I don’t need a fighter but a little size, defensive chops, play center and can win a face off…..

And we laughed at Nashville for giving us a first for Paul Gaustad….

I’d trade one of our smurfs and a second for that center immediately

Gausted was a 4C. Nashville resigned him at a high salary but he wasn’t that role.

On a 1yr, even 2yr deal, I’d be alright with Kane. Nothing more than that.

But it really logjams the forwards.

I’d be happier with 1yr. Let Savoie, Kulich, & Benson stay in Roch/WHL. Plus with the injuries we don’t know how Quinn will be coming back. But Kane is also coming back from a rough injury so that has to be kept in mind as well.

Buffalo in acquire a player or signing can’t go past 2025

 

[HaNotsri]

I know Adams will probably wait until the Savoie experiment ends, and then he'll wait for Quinn but I'm afraid we'll start slipping if we don't get a stable forward soon.
I guess I have this feeling every year since we always come crashing down at some point. Just wish Granato had more to work with.

 

[Dirty Dog]

What's to compare? None of them have done hardly a damn thing yet in this league. I expect them to improve and produce around 40-50 pts the next two seasons, nothing like some breakout 70+ production.

I hear you, and but Peterka is currently on pace for 35 goals and 60 points this year. I didn’t realize that

 

[toddkaz]

Benson is out while Savoie gets his games. Benson probably gets AHL rehab assignment like Savoie had.

they have to watch the 30 day roster day count if thry don’t want to burn their first year contract.

they can do the Levi, Krebs, Peterka paper shuffle in managing a 23 man roster with Benson and Savoie.

I think a trade occurs in early January when Benson and Savoie would return from WJC that opens up roster spots.

I doubt that Benson and Savoie gets sent back to CHL.

Looks like I was right about Savoie being sent down but we will have to wait for Benson. I think he gets sent down too when he is healthy like I said before.

 

[SundherDome]

Didn't expect Savoie to go down so quick