Friedman: Sabres gauging the market on Byram

[BowieSabresFan]

How about you gauge the value on Tage Thompson instead

The league leader in even strength goals last year on a very nice contract? That would be a steep price indeed.

 

[tsujimoto74]

How about you gauge the value on Tage Thompson instead

No.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

>Cuylle getting 7M+
lmao

So, youre saying offersheet him for 7 mill ?

 

[5 Minute Major]

With Hronek for a partner wouldn’t that be what Dahlin needs to teach his best, and get into that Norris discussion? Look what Toews did for Makar and Hronek did for Hughes.

The Sabres need a solid vet to play alongside Power. They have needed that since the day Power stepped on the ice in Buffalo but the Sabres have failed him and themselves in the process.

In fact, I think finding Power the right pairing is probably the Sabres most (and there are many) pressing need this offseason.

 

[Juxtaposer]

So what you are saying is he either stays or? He goes.

Wow, you went out on a limb there.

No, I’m saying he signs for two years so he can get to UFA as soon as possible or he gets traded for a package Sabres fans don’t like. Plenty of room to be wrong there if he signs in Buffalo long-term or gets traded for big piece that Sabres fans are happy with.

 

[thewookie1]

What Dahlin needs to be in the Norris conversation is for the Sabres to make the playoffs. Or relocate to a large market that gets media attention even when they suck. He’s already there as a player and has been for 3 seasons.

Sorry Dahlin ain’t going anywhere

 

[tsujimoto74]

Sorry Dahlin ain’t going anywhere

I was talking about the entire team. Obviously Dahlin is untouchable.

 

[AirGut]

So, youre saying offersheet him for 7 mill ?

I just don't expect any big offer-sheets this summer. I don't know why everyone assumes it's a given with these RFA's just because of Holloway & Broberg last year. People try and predict the same thing every year and it usually never ends up coming to fruition.

 

[Fatass]

I just don't expect any big offer-sheets this summer. I don't know why everyone assumes it's a given with these RFA's just because of Holloway & Broberg last year. People try and predict the same thing every year and it usually never ends up coming to fruition.

The Sabres would match, wouldn’t they?

 

[AirGut]

The Sabres would match, wouldn’t they?

The Sabres have 20M+ of flexibility and a very loose roster

 

[DJN21]

I don’t hate this for either team

If the Sabres could afford TK's contract long tem I'd do this. I can't see this working out long term though just money wise.

 

[Miller Time]

Byram to Calgary for Andersson+ makes a lot of sense for both sides.

 

[toddkaz]

No, I’m saying he signs for two years so he can get to UFA as soon as possible or he gets traded for a package Sabres fans don’t like. Plenty of room to be wrong there if he signs in Buffalo long-term or gets traded for big piece that Sabres fans are happy with.

Why would Buffalo offer a contract that gets him to UFA? They would trade him before that ever happens.

 

[thewookie1]

I was talking about the entire team. Obviously Dahlin is untouchable.

They aren’t going anywhere either

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Byram to Calgary for Andersson+ makes a lot of sense for both sides.

Except for the part where Calgary isn't adding to Andersson sure

 

[Juxtaposer]

Why would Buffalo offer a contract that gets him to UFA? They would trade him before that ever happens.

Besides the fact that Byram could elect arbitration or sign his QO? It would put Buffalo in a really bad negotiating position and then other teams will only make low-ball offers.

 

[toddkaz]

Besides the fact that Byram could elect arbitration or sign his QO? It would put Buffalo in a really bad negotiating position and then other teams will only make low-ball offers.

So all you have is speculation which is meaningless. None of that lowers Byram's value.

 

[Juxtaposer]

So all you have is speculation which is meaningless. None of that lowers Byram's value.

The fact that Byram can get himself to UFA easily if the Sabres don’t move him is meaningless? Okay, whatever you say!

 

[Petes2424]

They should’ve been gauging interest before the trade deadline. It’s safe to say they were warned, not only by his agent, but other teams. Now nobody’s trading for Byram without knowing they have a deal in place. Not with arbitration staring down at them.

Agents have been waiting for it to get to this point, and managers have been dreading it. They gave too many wealth contracts, to too many unproven Dmen. Now above average arbitration eligible Dmen, are going to force long term deals or trades to their preferred destinations.

Byram now owns all the leverage he needs. He can force a trade to whatever team he wants to play with, and the ONLY leverage the Sabres still have, is to accept a large award at the arbitration table, and watch him walk for free afterwards. Or at least hope he’s willing to give them a list of teams he’d accept a trade to.

Bottom line? Sabres dropped the ball on this. They needed to either give him the long term wealth contract, or trade him while they still had leverage, before this last trade deadline.

The owners and managers did this to themselves.

 

[toddkaz]

The fact that Byram can get himself to UFA easily if the Sabres don’t move him is meaningless? Okay, whatever you say!

You don't really know how Buffalo works and its not up to Byram. Not sure why you keep going about it.

Buffalo doesn't let players go to free agency. Lets revisit this and see where is Byram in a few months.

"Byram can get himself to free agency easily" - No, he can't. He doesn't have a NTC so he would be traded before that 100%. If he hits free agency it won't be as a sabres player.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

You don't really know how Buffalo works and its not up to Byram. Not sure why you keep going about it.

Buffalo doesn't let players go to free agency. Lets revisit this and see where is Byram in a few months.

"Byram can get himself to free agency easily" - No, he can't. He doesn't have a NTC so he would be traded before that 100%. If he hits free agency it won't be as a sabres player.

The leverage Byram has here will get him to a team he wants to go rather than to a team where Buffalo can extract the most trade value.

 

[is the answer jesus]

The leverage Byram has here will get him to a team he wants to go rather than to a team where Buffalo can extract the most trade value.

I think the market for Byram will dictate that Buffalo should get a good return. He's a good young top 4 defenseman so I'd imagine a good portion of the league will be calling on him especially with the cap going up. The teams looking to acquire him will being doing so with the expectation that they can give him the role he wants. I don't know that he holds quite the leverage that many are insinuating here as I believe he still has two more years of team control. Could he play hardball and walk himself right to free agency through two years of team control? Absolutely as any RFA could. What I think happens is he'll be moved and he'll sign a long-term deal to get the money and security well before he hits FA.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I think the market for Byram will dictate that Buffalo should get a good return. He's a good young top 4 defenseman so I'd imagine a good portion of the league will be calling on him especially with the cap going up. The teams looking to acquire him will being doing so with the expectation that they can give him the role he wants. I don't know that he holds quite the leverage that many are insinuating here as I believe he still has two more years of team control. Could he play hardball and walk himself right to free agency through two years of team control? Absolutely as any RFA could. What I think happens is he'll be moved and he'll sign a long-term deal to get the money and security well before he hits FA.

He likely does because teams have started to realize that fighting against this player leverage is a losing battle. I’m sure Byram has a lengthy list of options he’d be happy to be traded to and Buffalo can extract at least a 1st rounder and another asset. I just don’t think they have the leverage to get the RHD or 2C that may be seeking this offseason.

 

[Juxtaposer]

You don't really know how Buffalo works and its not up to Byram. Not sure why you keep going about it.

Buffalo doesn't let players go to free agency. Lets revisit this and see where is Byram in a few months.

"Byram can get himself to free agency easily" - No, he can't. He doesn't have a NTC so he would be traded before that 100%. If he hits free agency it won't be as a sabres player.

Where are you getting confused?

- Byram HAS THE ABILITY to accept his QO or elect salary arbitration to avoid signing with Buffalo long-term; he is only two years away from unrestricted free agency
- Buffalo not being able to sign him long-term reduces his trade value
- Buffalo not wanting to let him walk as a free agent puts pressure on them to trade him this summer
- Teams will see all of these factors and not offer premium assets for Byram
- Therefore Buffalo will be stuck trading him for non-premium assets if they don’t want to let him walk in free agency

Really not that hard to piece together. Buffalo won’t be getting a top-4 RHD or two-way 2C unless he’s old or has similar leverage to escape signing long-term.

 

[Djp]

With Hronek for a partner wouldn’t that be what Dahlin needs to teach his best, and get into that Norris discussion? Look what Toews did for Makar and Hronek did for Hughes.

Dahlin is a 1RD. They done need Hronek for him. Hes in thr norris discussion when Sabres make thr playoffs.

Power is the one they would like a def first RD partner for

I just don't expect any big offer-sheets this summer. I don't know why everyone assumes it's a given with these RFA's just because of Holloway & Broberg last year. People try and predict the same thing every year and it usually never ends up coming to fruition.

The issue in buffalo is their space.

If they focus on signing peterka, mcleod, and Byram to higher contracts. It can expose their other RFAs to compensatory 2nd round OD because Buffalo could be cap space strapped to match. I think Quinn could be thus years broberg