LeBrun: Sabres looking to make “big” trade

[NyQuil]

Might as well add a few more names to the highly successful ex-Sabres line-up throughout the league.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

Rasmus Andersson not defensively oriented? He plays the toughest minutes on the team and has made Kevin Bahl look like a top pair D. They play on a mediocre to below average team. And I am not sure if he has got one point on the PP this year… put him with Power and I think you have something special.

 

[VanillaCoke]

Samuelsson & Cozens/Tage ---> Vancouver for EP & Hoglander

 

[Chainshot]

Jokiharju is a bit of an enigma all-round. He's a guy who, if you look strictly at analytics, looks fairly impressive. His advanced stats with Dahlin are stupidly good. Problem is, that pairing doesn't pass the eye test at all.

It may be that Dahlin has to work so f'ing hard to cover defensively. I've spent times watching them as a pair and counting puck touches on shifts with Jokiharju getting 4-5 and Dahlin 1-2 in a shift in the offensive zone. Nothing he does is good enough to consistently be dangerous offensively and he's overhandling and just not that creative with his touches. Dahlin it seems is the guy who makes the decision to cover for him. It's kinda like the U20's when Dahlin was paired with Brannstrom and he was the defensive valve. Maybe that's for the better. It does seem to neuter Dahlin's offensive game to me.

I think the ultimate issue when it comes to Joker and Ruff......I think Ruff wants more intensity and consistency from Joker. I don't think Ruff wants Joker to be physical per se, as that's not really part of his game. But on the ice, Joker comes across as very non-intense at times.

And he's just a bit weird overall. He skates well, can pass well......but his offensive zone awareness is not good. Positionally he can be quite sound.....but pucks tend to pass through him like he's not there.

I disagree on his positioning. He's likely to be just far enough out of position that his man is free at the net or he is unable to get a stick or body on a man to disrupt a chance. He gets mesmerized on the PK and drifts and has done so his whole career.

Everything is there for Joker to be a really solid 2nd pair RHD who's a bit of a do-it-all, master-of-none type.....but he just can't put it all together consistently.

A serviceable 2nd pair minute eater who is just sort of their. He's the Finnish version of Connor Murphy (albeit without the injuries).

 

[Chainshot]

Rasmus Andersson not defensively oriented? He plays the toughest minutes on the team and has made Kevin Bahl look like a top pair D. They play on a mediocre to below average team. And I am not sure if he has got one point on the PP this year… put him with Power and I think you have something special.

Andersson seems like he would be a dream acquisition but why does Conroy make that deal and could Buffalo afford to extend next summer him if they could get him to agree to the move?

 

[The Great Weal]

Okay fine we will take Tage Thompson off your hands

 

[M2Beezy]

I dont have inside information as posting that is not allowed but I have come to understand the trade will look something like:

To Buffalo: 2025 7th, 2026 6th, 2026 7th

To Los Angeles: 2027 5th

 

[benfranklin]

Cozens/Byram seems like the obvious ones potentially on the move. What can they fetch without simply bringing in the same type of players?

Maybe trade both together for one great player?

 

[Gurglesons]

Owen Power for Zegras or McTavish makes a lot of sense if we are talking “big”.

Anaheim probably sends back a small add.

 

[Chainshot]

I dont have inside information as posting that is not allowed but I have come to understand the trade will look something like:

To Buffalo: 2025 7th, 2026 6th, 2026 7th

To Los Angeles: 2027 5th

You've seen inside Jason Botterill's old GM notebook I see.

 

[VaporTrail]

What is Buffalo looking for? Seems like they have their 1C, 2C, 3 top 4D and a starting goalie. Unless they are trading one of them, what big trade are they looking to do and what position are they trying to upgrade?

They need toughness,.leadership, and grit...Really no one on the roster should be untouchable...As a fan, I'd like to see Tuch, Power, and Cozens shipped out for starters.

 

[belair]

Owen Power for Zegras or McTavish makes a lot of sense if we are talking “big”.

Anaheim probably sends back a small add.

Zegras probably isn't even worth a first rounder at this point. It's been a while since he's shown he's a reliable top six talent. A lesser Fiala.

 

[RedHawkDown]

Thompson for Compher, Brandsegg-Nygard, Holl, and a 2nd

 

[Warden of the North]

Incoming 5th rounder for futures, with both GMs saying how they've been putting this one together since the draft.

 

[Amadeus]

Byram's name is out there I heard!

 

[Chainshot]

Thompson for Compher, Brandsegg-Nygard, Holl, and a 2nd

Ba-dum-tisch.

 

[bleachdrinker]

IMO, their glaring need is a top 4-caliber RHD to pair with Power long-term. Preferably one a little more defense-oriented who's a PKer.

A lot of fans are questioning the fit of Cozens at center long-term......so maybe an upgrade there that puts Cozens on the wing. OR, using Cozens himself to upgrade the 2C position so we've got two guys who are 1C/2C types (along with Tage).

Flyers have a guy named Rasmus Ristolainen who might fit the bill.

 

[L4br3cqu3]

Samuelsson & Cozens/Tage ---> Vancouver for EP & Hoglander

Not a Buffalo fan, but I like how you casually inserted Thompson as an 'or' with Cozens.

I'm pretty sure Thompson is worth a heap more than Cozens right now, and as a Habs fan, I'd take Thompson before Pettersson as well.

 

[CowbellConray]

Quinn is having a bad stretch. Zegras is bad. No chance.

Zegras can be an offensive player. He is getting back ozone usage and has no confidence. Quinn can potentially be a good top 6 option, but he has either been hurt or bad enough that he hasn't achieved that status.

 

[RedHawkDown]

Ba-dum-tisch.

You laugh (and I was mostly kidding), but they did trade Eichel for essentially the same package (just change the 2nd to a 1st)…

 

[Chainshot]

You laugh (and I was mostly kidding), but they did trade Eichel for essentially the same package (just change the 2nd to a 1st)…

With a very different contract, injury situation, and previous private requests from Eichel to be dealt.

The more you know...

 

[MNRube]

Deal around Benson or Kulich ++ for Parayko? Blues are also going nowhere and could use some more youth.

 

[VaporTrail]

Is Power untouchable ? I'm obviously thinking a Dobson angle .

then , Sabres can extend Byram

No one on the roster in untouchable.

I don't see the Sabres winning a trade to be honest. Whoever they trade with will end up being stronger IMO.

It's confusing because I see some very good forwards, some very good D and good goalies. This roster isn't bad at all.

My Oiler offer is Savoie for Kulich!

Nurse for Dahlin/Power

These are the shitty offers I think the Sabres will get.

There's still there but the problem is they are stuck in a losing culture/mentality...Adams never fully changed the culture...Now the organization is stuck again near the bottom of the league....They need an overhaul.

 

[sandwichbird2023]

They need toughness,.leadership, and grit...Really no one on the roster should be untouchable...As a fan, I'd like to see Tuch, Power, and Cozens shipped out for starters.

Doesn't Tuch provide much of those? Odd that you are looking for those qualities and yet shipping one of the few forwards that provide that? Tuch would be an awesome add for a lot of the playoff teams, I would love to add him to the Canucks but we have nothing that the Sabres want (nothing that helps the Sabres that is available anyways).

What are some of the Sabres targets? Buffalo has so many great pieces, you should have no problem getting the players you want/need. I'm curious what you think will help the Sabres turn it around. If ROR (who also provided leadership and grit and some toughness), can't do it, I'm not sure who will.

 

[Czechboy]

They need an overhaul.

I agree something isn't clicking. When you look at the roster though.. that is a lot of talent. Could be the coach. I do think Sabres 'should' be a playoff team this year. It's strange as an outsider to be honest.