Roster thread: Get To Work (2022-2023 Season)

[Matt Ress]

Gavrikov is generating interest. If CLB departs with him, it won't be to skate off in the summer sunset. Someone will pay a 1st for him at the deadline. And they'll most likely want an extension.

 

[Rowley Birkin]

I think the aversion to trading picks is a result of Murray's tenure. We're in a really good position to make one of those Murray trades though imo.

The aversion to trading picks is a result of prospects (especially undrafted ones) being wildly over rated on HF. It's a story as old as time itself...

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

The aversion to trading picks is a result of prospects (especially undrafted ones) being wildly over rated on HF. It's a story as old as time itself...

While this is a thing, the scenario the Sabres are in with a complete lack of D-men prospects simply forces them to put picks on the table for anyone worth a damn. We've seen the debates about drafting for BPA vs need, and while I personally think of it as a case-by-case issue, once a team finds itself in a spot like Buffalo does, the result is having to overpay to make up the difference. While a draft pick is a crap shoot on a sliding scale, the pick that develops is worth 2-3-4 times as much. Buffalo has to pay to solve this problem, and picks are inevitably going to be part of the price. They just don't have a choice regardless of how anyone over rates the picks.

 

[DustyZ]

Don't trade our first this year.

Simple

 

[Chainshot]

The aversion to trading picks is a result of prospects (especially undrafted ones) being wildly over rated on HF. It's a story as old as time itself...

While that is the normal pond the site swims in, there remains a definite outcry about making deals that is oft-prefaced by commentary about Murray's outcomes.

 

[Fjordsen]

Trade our first of the year with top 10 protected for the right player. Of course, if we can get Gavrikov or someone else for 2nd + prospect it would be better, not sure if it will work out.

 

[Chainshot]

While this is a thing, the scenario the Sabres are in with a complete lack of D-men prospects simply forces them to put picks on the table for anyone worth a damn. We've seen the debates about drafting for BPA vs need, and while I personally think of it as a case-by-case issue, once a team finds itself in a spot like Buffalo does, the result is having to overpay to make up the difference. While a draft pick is a crap shoot on a sliding scale, the pick that develops is worth 2-3-4 times as much. Buffalo has to pay to solve this problem, and picks are inevitably going to be part of the price. They just don't have a choice regardless of how anyone over rates the picks.

And what's funny in this is how there are still people who take the lazy path regarding say Johnson that there is limited or no opportunity to play defense for the Sabres sooner rather than later due to what is at the top of the lineup which ignores the issues of both NHL and AHL depth and the limited quality in the feeder system.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I’m fine with a Chychrun trade in this sense: I don’t agree with the idea that a team can’t go three deep on elite defensemen who are of the same shot hand.

Tampa had Hedman, Sergachev, and McDonaugh for their cups. Through 2 periods, they just had one of the three on the ice at all times. When things got tight in the 3rd, Sergachev shifted to RD.

Samuelsson and Dahlin is set. When Granato shortens the bench, Chychrun plays left side and Power moves to right side.

The question is the cost. That’s where I’m not sure it’s worth it.

 

[Rowley Birkin]

Trade our first of the year with top 10 protected for the right player. Of course, if we can get Gavrikov or someone else for 2nd + prospect it would be better, not sure if it will work out.

I'm fine trading the pick without protection - if it's the right player / deal.

I also prefer to trade one of our highly rated, non roster forward prospects instead of the protected pick - if he has more value to the other team.

 

[Chainshot]

I’m fine with a Chychrun trade in this sense: I don’t agree with the idea that a team can’t go three deep on elite defensemen who are of the same shot hand.

Tampa had Hedman, Sergachev, and McDonaugh for their cups. Through 2 periods, they just had one of the three on the ice at all times. When things got tight in the 3rd, Sergachev shifted to RD.

Samuelsson and Dahlin is set. When Granato shortens the bench, Chychrun plays left side and Power moves to right side.

The question is the cost. That’s where I’m not sure it’s worth it.

I'm close on it but it's that Chychrun is UFA in 2.5 years. If it was 3.5...

 

[Rowley Birkin]

I'm close on it but it's that Chychrun is UFA in 2.5 years. If it was 3.5...

The Pegula connection is probably overblown on this forum - but you don't give up a haul for a long term piece, without the intention of resigning them...

 

[Chainshot]

The Pegula connection is probably overblown on this forum - but you don't give up a haul for a long term piece, without the intention of resigning them...

If the Pegula connection were actually that strong, they likely would've drafted him in his draft year. The association is so tangential.

 

[Rowley Birkin]

If the Pegula connection were actually that strong, they likely would've drafted him in his draft year. The association is so tangential.

I'm not disagreeing. But any Pegula connection is meaningless - you do your due diligence as GM in terms of sounding out the player before committing to such a big move.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

And what's funny in this is how there are still people who take the lazy path regarding say Johnson that there is limited or no opportunity to play defense for the Sabres sooner rather than later due to what is at the top of the lineup which ignores the issues of both NHL and AHL depth and the limited quality in the feeder system.

I really wish we could know what's up about Johnson. If he's willing to sign, I'm willing to wait on a trade for a 3rd pair LHD...even though it's more time and some degree of uncertainty about Johnson's ultimate value to the team. If he's not signing, that leaves a bigger hole than all the RHD talk we've bantered about, imo, as the last couple months have proven to me that we don't have a 3rd pair LHD. Of course that means waiting until after any trade opps have passed.

 

[Beerz]

If the Pegula connection were actually that strong, they likely would've drafted him in his draft year. The association is so tangential.

Pegula was probably vetoed by Murray

 

[debaser66]

Of course it's not his fault, he's just constantly unlucky with injuries, and we regularly have a hole in the line-up and our defenders play too much. But we needed the top 4 RD yesterday and it was always discussed on this board.

Chry is even more unlucky with injuries

 

[Fjordsen]

Chry is even more unlucky with injuries

So they will take turns playing. While one is injured, the second plays, then they change places.

 

[joshjull]

I think going overkill on a top 4 D-man is reasonable with our current AND future cap situation. For me it just all boils down to the details of the trade, who the D-man is, etc. The concept makes sense to me though. Our best chances at goalie are going to be cheap, our best FW is relatively cheap for the next 7 years, and a bunch of young talent at FW will be cheap. ONE single bad contract right now, and even Skinner isn't that bad at an 80 pts pace. We can afford going big on defense. Yes, we can have a nice thing...just as long as KA doesn't get desperate and overpay.

I’m pretty sure the overkill comments are about Chychrun specifically. What he would cost and is it worth it. I don’t think anyone is against acquiring a top 4 dman at a reasonable cost. Though some may feel its not a top priority.

In a perfect world Johnson signs and could be that option. Young dman with top 4 upside on an ELC.

 

[Diaspora]

I'm close on it but it's that Chychrun is UFA in 2.5 years. If it was 3.5...

I'm not bothered by a term of two and a half years. Plenty of time to integrate him fully into the culture and negotiate a reasonable follow-on contract, if desired.

The point of this trade is to accelerate our *playoff* development. Being in the position to trot a number one defenseman out onto the ice for the entire game can do that. Those draft choices aren't likely to help us until 2026 at the earliest -- more likely 2028 to be serious contributors. That's if they ever manage to crack the lineup.

But time is of the essence. We can't wait till the TDL. In the off-season, the calculations change. On Jan 1, unprotected 2023 1st for Chychrun is fine (don't go overboard with the ++). Put a good take it or leave it offer on the table now.

2024 1st and a mid for Gavrikov (extended) is fine.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I’m pretty sure the overkill comments are about Chychrun specifically. What he would cost and is it worth it. I don’t think anyone is against acquiring a top 4 dman at a reasonable cost. Though some may feel its not a top priority.

In a perfect world Johnson signs and could be that option. Young dman with top 4 upside on an ELC.

Let's all set up fake social media accounts and lay siege to Johnson's FB, IG, etc...we have to do our due diligence after all!

 

[Chainshot]

I'm not bothered by a term of two and a half years. Plenty of time to integrate him fully into the culture, and negotiate a reasonable follow-on contract, if desired.

The point of this trade is to accelerate our *playoff* development. Being in the position to trot a number one defenseman out onto the ice for the entire game can do that. Those draft choices aren't likely to help us until 2026 at the earliest -- more likely 2028 to be serious contributors. That's if they ever manage to crack the lineup.

But time is of the essence. We can't wait till the TDL. In the off-season, the calculations change. On Jan 1, unprotected 2023 1st for Chychrun is fine (don't go overboard with the ++). Put a good take it or leave it offer on the table now.

2024 1st and a mid for Gavrikov (extended) is fine.

It isn't a case of Chychrun or one-day the draft pick arriving, it's that whatever they use for Chychrun in trade is paying for 2.5 years of a player with assets that can not be used in any other way, including in trade for another player/players.

 

[joshjull]

It upgrades the top 4 which is the point. Joker has been injured quite a bit himself.

And for the posters calling for Fabbro he was part of the 2018 Canadian WJC team . Police are looking to charge 5 members from that team. A good young DMan suddenly being available might have more to it. We don’t know who the players are but the connection might be a red flag.

You're replacing one injured top 4 dman with a more frequently injured top 4 dman. Yes he’s better and improves the top 4 when he’s healthy. But the issue we need to address is having depth to deal with injuries to the top 4. Its a depth issue and swapping those two doesn’t address that. The top 4 is fine when healthy.

 

[Dubi Doo]

I’m fine with a Chychrun trade in this sense: I don’t agree with the idea that a team can’t go three deep on elite defensemen who are of the same shot hand.

Tampa had Hedman, Sergachev, and McDonaugh for their cups. Through 2 periods, they just had one of the three on the ice at all times. When things got tight in the 3rd, Sergachev shifted to RD.

Samuelsson and Dahlin is set. When Granato shortens the bench, Chychrun plays left side and Power moves to right side.

The question is the cost. That’s where I’m not sure it’s worth it.

That's exactly where Im at. I see the reasoning behind it, and I too thought of TB. But I would not want Adams to pay the premium.

 

[Diaspora]

You're replacing one injured top 4 dman with a more frequently injured top 4 dman. Yes he’s better and improves the top 4 when he’s healthy.

But the issue we need to address is having depth to deal with injuries to the top 4. Its a depth issue and swapping thsoe two doesn’t address that. The top 4 is fine when healthy.

Getting Chychrun wouldn't be about the improving the top-4. It would be about dominating the blue line for every minute of the game.

 

[joshjull]

Getting Chychrun wouldn't be about the improving the top-4. It would be about dominating the blue line for every minute of the entire game.

I can’t tell if this is serious.