Speculation: Sabres Roster Speculation - Pre-season 2023 Edition

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Forgetting about guys i think are completely out of reach :

Potential available due to a defensive logjam:
LA (any number of guys)

Potential rebuild:
Calgary (Andersson, Weegar, Hanifin)
St Louis (Parayko)
Winnipeg (Pionk)

Potential cap crunch:
Boston (Carlo)
Carolina (Pesce)
NY Rangers (Miller, Lindgren Schneider)
Vegas (Theodore/Whitecloud/Hague)
I'm not even going to list Tampa.

Plus there may be other guys that we don't yet know are available...

How many of those guys do you actually think are available?

The Rangers for example could just as easily trade someone like Goodrow to free up some cap space.
Vegas I would think would be much more likely to trade Martinez versus 3 value contracts they have in Theodore, Whitecloud and Hague.
Carolina has a ton of cap space, don't know that they have any major cap concerns.
Boston I would expect to look at moving Grzelcyk, Forbort or Reilly before Carlo.

 

[Jim Bob]

I don't think he's overrated. I think he's one of the few options that meets the requirement for a defensive defenseman in the age range of the group. I'm not parting with Kulich for him, however.

I think he's really overrated as a defensive defenseman and I do not see any of the comps to Samuelsson. At all.

 

[Ace]

Is this going to be the new one now? No one is available?

 

[Rowley Birkin]

How many of those guys do you actually think are available?

The Rangers for example could just as easily trade someone like Goodrow to free up some cap space.
Vegas I would think would be much more likely to trade Martinez versus 3 value contracts they have in Theodore, Whitecloud and Hague.
Carolina has a ton of cap space, don't know that they have any major cap concerns.
Boston I would expect to look at moving Grzelcyk, Forbort or Reilly before Carlo.

I don't know that any of them are available with absolute certainty. But if that was a prerequisite then threads on this forum related to roster improvements would be pointless.

 

[Rowley Birkin]

I don't think he's overrated. I think he's one of the few options that meets the requirement for a defensive defenseman in the age range of the group. I'm not parting with Kulich for him, however.

I made this point in another thread - but you either think he's the guy & are willing to move Kulich for him - or he's not the guy.

 

[CowbellConray]

Is this going to be the new one now? No one is available?

I think it would help to understand who you think is available and the cost to get them. I absolutely think there are people that are available for sure, and we should actively approach those players.

Ex: Pesce, Ryan Suter, Edmunson, Parayko

 

[Djp]

Short List:

Roy
Pesce
Weegar
Schneider
Tanev

Schneider is in a very different category than the others. Weager is in another category.

Forgetting about guys i think are completely out of reach :

Potential available due to a defensive logjam:
LA (any number of guys)

Potential rebuild:
Calgary (Andersson, Weegar, Hanifin)
St Louis (Parayko)
Winnipeg (Pionk)

Potential cap crunch:
Boston (Carlo)
Carolina (Pesce)
NY Rangers (Miller, Lindgren Schneider)
Vegas (Theodore/Whitecloud/Hague)
I'm not even going to list Tampa.

Plus there may be other guys that we don't yet know are available...

There are many more due to tight cap space teams.

I don't think he's overrated. I think he's one of the few options that meets the requirement for a defensive defenseman in the age range of the group. I'm not parting with Kulich for him, however.

Schneider is the only one I’d even think about moving buffalo pick in top 20 for.

but 13OA > Schneider.. It might be more Rangers 1st ( if thry have one) and him for 13.

 

[Rowley Birkin]

Schneider is in a very different category than the others. Weager is in another category.

There are many more due to tight cap space teams.

Schneider is the only one I’d even think about moving buffalo pick in top 20 for.

but 13OA > Schneider.. It might be more Rangers 1st ( if thry have one) and him for 13.

Your evaluation of trade value is just as inaccurate as your evaluation of contract value.

You don't even need to be a full Schneider truther to appreciate that you would do well to draft a guy like him at 13. The only reason i can think why the Rangers would move him would be for more ELC contribution.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Is this going to be the new one now? No one is available?

It has nothing to do with saying "no one is available". Personally I'm just trying to look at things from the other teams perspective as well. Most of the guys who get traded you hear rumblings about them being available ahead of time.

Guys like Ekholm, Lundqvist, Chychrun, Orlov, DeAngelo, McCabe, and others there was a lot of speculation about. We've heard rumblings about Murphy, Parayko, Walker, Durzi, and a few others already. So it just seems unrealistic to look at someone like Whitecloud for example when that deal won't be the one hampering the team, and is more likely the one they want to keep because of the value they get from it. Where the Martinez contract from that perspective seems like the obvious one for them to jettison.

 

[Ace]

If we go with this…that only those who there are rumblings about get moved…gee…Adams really should have made a move on one of those people last year.

 

[Chainshot]

If we're making lists and checking them twice:

Specifically guys who play on the right side -

Brandon Carlo - With a possible cap crunch in Boston they may need to make moves though I doubt he's available in trade within the division but he's a fine RD.
Kyle Clifton - UFA who plays with the snarl they've wanted out of some of their depth guys but a slice above all of Stillman/Lyubushkin/Fitzgerald
Damon Severson - UFA who has been a very solid 2-way guy for the Devils for a long time, seemingly about to be squeezed out of Jersey's lineup.
Will Borgen - My desire, not indicative of his ability to play 2nd pairing minutes or even if he's available from Seattle. I want Spud back.
Mackenzie Weegar - The new contract is a doozy and flies in the face of what Adams has said, but his rush defense and in-zone defense are better than anything the Sabres have had in almost 15 years in that regard.
Matt Roy - Would have to be in trade, LA trying to make room for their influx of talented prospects.
Connor Murphy - The Hawks are in the throws of the tank, and this guy has been on the acquire list now for so long it feels like a Regier trade in the making.
Dante Fabbro - History as Josi's partner, potentially on the outs in Nashville who are shuffling things around.
Matt Dumba - UFA who probably gets more money than I would be comfortable with.
Chris Tanev - Trade protection aside, he did play at RIT and he's from Ontario. Then there is his age and that he will be hurt/miss at least 20 games a season.
Scott Mayfield - UFA who probably gets too much in term/AAV and plays in a highly structured team on the Island.
Jordan Spence - Also a trade and one of the few non-roster guys who intrigues me.
Braden Schneider - Very young and while more proven than Spence, I like Spence more at the moment.

Now for the alternate idea of finding a partner for Dahlin and shifting Samuelsson to Power's pair:

Nikita Zadorov - Yes, I'm sober. Yes, he has struggled on less structured teams. Yes, there is only one season until he hits UFA. Yes, he is physically dominant and a bit of a dumbass at times. Yes, he says he enjoyed his time in Buffalo and felt the organization and the owners treated him top notch when he was here the first time. No, this isn't only because he might put the snarl into the blueline that is clearly missing, but it would be entertaining as f***.
Erik Brannstrom - Dahlin's old U20 partner who is nothing like a face smashing baby eater, but he's actually been good at defense in a depth role for the Sens... This? This would be a gamble but man, I would be interested in making that bet.
Samuel Girard - Cup winning, signed for $5M for a while yet, long-standing possible move from the Avs has been floated around... and they already have a uniform that would fit if they cut Bryson loose.

 

[Chainshot]

It has nothing to do with saying "no one is available". Personally I'm just trying to look at things from the other teams perspective as well. Most of the guys who get traded you hear rumblings about them being available ahead of time.

Guys like Ekholm, Lundqvist, Chychrun, Orlov, DeAngelo, McCabe, and others there was a lot of speculation about. We've heard rumblings about Murphy, Parayko, Walker, Durzi, and a few others already. So it just seems unrealistic to look at someone like Whitecloud for example when that deal won't be the one hampering the team, and is more likely the one they want to keep because of the value they get from it. Where the Martinez contract from that perspective seems like the obvious one for them to jettison.

And not for nothing but Ekholm went from "there is no way" to "hey, look at that return" this year.

 

[Jim Bob]

And not for nothing but Ekholm went from "there is no way" to "hey, look at that return" this year.

So you are saying that Adams should call on Josi?

 

[Onslow]

If we're making lists and checking them twice:

Specifically guys who play on the right side -

Brandon Carlo - With a possible cap crunch in Boston they may need to make moves though I doubt he's available in trade within the division but he's a fine RD.
Kyle Clifton - UFA who plays with the snarl they've wanted out of some of their depth guys but a slice above all of Stillman/Lyubushkin/Fitzgerald
Damon Severson - UFA who has been a very solid 2-way guy for the Devils for a long time, seemingly about to be squeezed out of Jersey's lineup.
Will Borgen - My desire, not indicative of his ability to play 2nd pairing minutes or even if he's available from Seattle. I want Spud back.
Mackenzie Weegar - The new contract is a doozy and flies in the face of what Adams has said, but his rush defense and in-zone defense are better than anything the Sabres have had in almost 15 years in that regard.
Matt Roy - Would have to be in trade, LA trying to make room for their influx of talented prospects.
Connor Murphy - The Hawks are in the throws of the tank, and this guy has been on the acquire list now for so long it feels like a Regier trade in the making.
Dante Fabbro - History as Josi's partner, potentially on the outs in Nashville who are shuffling things around.
Matt Dumba - UFA who probably gets more money than I would be comfortable with.
Chris Tanev - Trade protection aside, he did play at RIT and he's from Ontario. Then there is his age and that he will be hurt/miss at least 20 games a season.
Scott Mayfield - UFA who probably gets too much in term/AAV and plays in a highly structured team on the Island.
Jordan Spence - Also a trade and one of the few non-roster guys who intrigues me.
Braden Schneider - Very young and while more proven than Spence, I like Spence more at the moment.

Now for the alternate idea of finding a partner for Dahlin and shifting Samuelsson to Power's pair:

Nikita Zadorov - Yes, I'm sober. Yes, he has struggled on less structured teams. Yes, there is only one season until he hits UFA. Yes, he is physically dominant and a bit of a dumbass at times. Yes, he says he enjoyed his time in Buffalo and felt the organization and the owners treated him top notch when he was here the first time. No, this isn't only because he might put the snarl into the blueline that is clearly missing, but it would be entertaining as f***.
Erik Brannstrom - Dahlin's old U20 partner who is nothing like a face smashing baby eater, but he's actually been good at defense in a depth role for the Sens... This? This would be a gamble but man, I would be interested in making that bet.
Samuel Girard - Cup winning, signed for $5M for a while yet, long-standing possible move from the Avs has been floated around... and they already have a uniform that would fit if they cut Bryson loose.

Count me in on Carlo, Clifton, Severson, and definitely Weegar, he’s one of my fave’s.

And Zadorov too because why the f*** not.

 

[Chainshot]

So you are saying that Adams should call on Josi?

No, I'm saying that guys go from no f***ing way to traded.

 

[Chainshot]

Count me in on Carlo, Clifton, Severson, and definitely Weegar, he’s one of my fave’s.

And Zadorov too because why the f*** not.

I don't mind if they find a LD and keep Dahlin on the right side, I think he plays better there offensively. That makes the possible solutions way more interesting.

 

[Fezzy126]

If we're making lists and checking them twice:

Specifically guys who play on the right side -

Brandon Carlo - With a possible cap crunch in Boston they may need to make moves though I doubt he's available in trade within the division but he's a fine RD.
Kyle Clifton - UFA who plays with the snarl they've wanted out of some of their depth guys but a slice above all of Stillman/Lyubushkin/Fitzgerald
Damon Severson - UFA who has been a very solid 2-way guy for the Devils for a long time, seemingly about to be squeezed out of Jersey's lineup.
Will Borgen - My desire, not indicative of his ability to play 2nd pairing minutes or even if he's available from Seattle. I want Spud back.
Mackenzie Weegar - The new contract is a doozy and flies in the face of what Adams has said, but his rush defense and in-zone defense are better than anything the Sabres have had in almost 15 years in that regard.
Matt Roy - Would have to be in trade, LA trying to make room for their influx of talented prospects.
Connor Murphy - The Hawks are in the throws of the tank, and this guy has been on the acquire list now for so long it feels like a Regier trade in the making.
Dante Fabbro - History as Josi's partner, potentially on the outs in Nashville who are shuffling things around.
Matt Dumba - UFA who probably gets more money than I would be comfortable with.
Chris Tanev - Trade protection aside, he did play at RIT and he's from Ontario. Then there is his age and that he will be hurt/miss at least 20 games a season.
Scott Mayfield - UFA who probably gets too much in term/AAV and plays in a highly structured team on the Island.
Jordan Spence - Also a trade and one of the few non-roster guys who intrigues me.
Braden Schneider - Very young and while more proven than Spence, I like Spence more at the moment.

Now for the alternate idea of finding a partner for Dahlin and shifting Samuelsson to Power's pair:

Nikita Zadorov - Yes, I'm sober. Yes, he has struggled on less structured teams. Yes, there is only one season until he hits UFA. Yes, he is physically dominant and a bit of a dumbass at times. Yes, he says he enjoyed his time in Buffalo and felt the organization and the owners treated him top notch when he was here the first time. No, this isn't only because he might put the snarl into the blueline that is clearly missing, but it would be entertaining as f***.
Erik Brannstrom - Dahlin's old U20 partner who is nothing like a face smashing baby eater, but he's actually been good at defense in a depth role for the Sens... This? This would be a gamble but man, I would be interested in making that bet.
Samuel Girard - Cup winning, signed for $5M for a while yet, long-standing possible move from the Avs has been floated around... and they already have a uniform that would fit if they cut Bryson loose.

Great summary!

What are your thoughts on Graves?

He seems to be in the same squeezed out boat as Severson

 

[Chainshot]

Great summary!

What are your thoughts on Graves?

He seems to be in the same squeezed out boat as Severson

I like him a bit but not as much as Severson. He'd go lower in the LD list which I admit I was coming up with while cooking dinner. The RD I've had in mind for some time.

 

[Fezzy126]

I like him a bit but not as much as Severson. He'd go lower in the LD list which I admit I was coming up with while cooking dinner. The RD I've had in mind for some time.

I didn't pay too much attention to him out west, and I've only caught a few games this year - but he seems to be tough bastard to play against and I was impressed with his stick detail in front of the net.

Haven't watched enough to know if he's completely useless in the offensive zone a la Bryson.

He would be in my list of "play with Dahlin and let Sammy run with OP" ideas.

 

[Chainshot]

I didn't pay too much attention to him out west, and I've only caught a few games this year - but he seems to be tough bastard to play against and I was impressed with his stick detail in front of the net.

Haven't watched enough to know if he's completely useless in the offensive zone a la Bryson.

He would be in my list of "play with Dahlin and let Sammy run with OP" ideas.

I think Bryson has proved that even an epileptic in full seizure probably produces more offense.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Will Borgen - My desire, not indicative of his ability to play 2nd pairing minutes or even if he's available from Seattle. I want Spud back.



Nikita Zadorov - Yes, I'm sober. Yes, he has struggled on less structured teams. Yes, there is only one season until he hits UFA. Yes, he is physically dominant and a bit of a dumbass at times. Yes, he says he enjoyed his time in Buffalo and felt the organization and the owners treated him top notch when he was here the first time. No, this isn't only because he might put the snarl into the blueline that is clearly missing, but it would be entertaining as f***.

If not UPL for Borgen, which is my top choice, Zads is my silver medalist.

 

[Gabrielor]

Post-presser:

If they want to re-sign Z and Okposo (and I understand the reasons why)...

...Greenway is not the replacement for Olofsson. Gotta do better than that.

 

[Ace]

Post-presser:

If they want to re-sign Z and Okposo (and I understand the reasons why)...

...Greenway is not the replacement for Olofsson. Gotta do better than that.

Savoie is going to be the replacement.

 

[Asymmetric Solution]

Bertuzzi-Mitts-Greenway will be a nice 3rd line next year.

 

[Ace]

I wouldn’t bet on them adding anything at Forward if they bring back both Okposo and Girgensons. When Adams talks about not blocking young players…he can actually mean it at forward.

I wouldn’t bring back Okposo but they don’t ask me. Clearly.

Id replace his spot with a new face who can PK well and defend with speed. If they bring them both back…there’s no spot for the things we need at forward. You’ll get Rousek as the new Hinostroza and Savoie will cycle in to some games and that is the forward group.