Speculation: Sabres Roster Speculation - Pre-season 2023 Edition

[Djp]

I know this comes off as doom posting but the trade today was a disaster for us because realistically there was one potential playoff slot open and it was in all likelihood just locked up baring a catastrophic injury to Crosby or EK. The only other playoff team you can make any kind of case for falling off is Tampa and that's really stretching it.

boston lost Bergeron and Kreci
Toronto if Nylander and Matthews aren’t settled will have locker room distractions. See them falling back
new jersey got an early hot streak of18-1-1. Confidence matters in young teams. I see next years teams playing them hard and they fallback.

Pittsburgh and Washington doesn’t impress me.
tampa bay is older.

In terms of eastern conference improvements

Boston is going to take a significant step back. They still have an elite d and elite goal tending though. The scoring is going to take a big hit. Still a 100+ pt team though

Toronto is probably about at the same level, though they still have to get under the cap.

Tampa still has enough to contend.

Florida....those D injuries will be though. In the hunt for a wild card. Could sneak up on Boston

Ottawa: Improved goaltending, slight downgrade on the forward group.

Detroit: should be better.

In the Atlastic, top 3 are NJ/Carolina/NYR....after that:

Pitt: Retooled bottom 6, added Karlsson, status quo on goalies. Their age makes them seem like an injury bomb waiting to happen. If they stay healthy could contend for a top 3 spot in their division.

NYI: I a full season of Barzal/Horvat 1/2 should keep them well in the playoff hunt.


Columbus is going to make a significant jump this season. Babcock + retooled defense + healthy Werenski = a .500 team at least.

Washington: Still has a talented core. Not sure they are a playoff team though.

Honestly, in the east, I think the only two 'locks' for non playoff teams are Montreal and Philadelphia.

I feel 6 teams are close to locked (Boston/Toronto/Tampa/Carolina/NJ/NYR) but after that there isn't much that separates 7-14

7 teams fighting for 2 playoff spots.. It's gonna be a cluster

Edit: Forgot Buffalo:

Better D, inconsistent goaltending, and a likely regression in scoring from the top 2 lines. upside in the youth on forward.

I only see Carolina being locks for the playoffs.

i guess the Sabres plan for getting into the playoffs involves hoping and praying that others teams get injured a lot? Because on paper, we ain’t making the playoffs - especially now that Pittsburg has improved.

I’m not sure Adams had the opportunity to improve enough to get us into the playoffs, but I think he might be too attached to his own prospects…he has so far been unwilling to trade anyone he’s drafted, which isn’t a good sign imo.

they have how many players 23 and younger to start next season? Young players can and do improve.

Not to start an Adams pile on here, but, this is the problem of having a guy with no experience with no one with significant experience for him to lean on.

this is utter BS.

His 'true north' is to default to internal development/draft and develop...but, it doesn't appear that he has another gear to build a roster. There appears to be a real disconnect with reality in terms of how much internal development will be on the roster this year and a misunderstanding on the market as he's been caught holding the bag with players like Joker/Bryson/Lybushkin/Comrie and even Olofsson (though, with Quinn being injured that takes the urgency away to move him). We probably will have one of the most expensive benches in the league most nights.

he inherited the team under an existing coach. They failed so they went into rebuilding mode. He rebuilt.

yet you complain of no moves made. It’s not time to do what you want.

I think this board underestimates the impact that will come from the development of the kids on other teams like Jersey, Ottawa, Detroit, Montreal, Columbus, Carolina, et al.

We aren't the only team whose players improve as they play more games. Even the likes of Lundell and Perbix have development room to grow, so the playoff teams aren't stagnating either.

I don’t see other teams having that much of an impact. Remember NJ lost a few vet Dmen. That's going to impact thrm.

I want to address the goaltending but you cannot get me to be mad that we didn't facilitate a big trade for a competitor just so we could get Casey DeSmith (I think that's what the outrage is about right now? it's hard to tell when nobody actually specifies what they want Adams to be doing)

casey de smith is a noypthing burger of a goalie.

it’s basically the grass appears is greener on the other side of the street.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

boston lost Bergeron and Kreci
Toronto if Nylander and Matthews aren’t settled will have locker room distractions. See them falling back
new jersey got an early hot streak of18-1-1. Confidence matters in young teams. I see next years teams playing them hard and they fallback.

Pittsburgh and Washington doesn’t impress me.
tampa bay is older.


I only see Carolina being locks for the playoffs.


they have how many players 23 and younger to start next season? Young players can and do improve.


this is utter BS.


he inherited the team under an existing coach. They failed so they went into rebuilding mode. He rebuilt.

yet you complain of no moves made. It’s not time to do what you want.

I don’t see other teams having that much of an impact. Remember NJ lost a few vet Dmen. That's going to impact thrm.


casey de smith is a noypthing burger of a goalie.

it’s basically the grass appears is greener on the other side of the street.

You’re ignoring a key piece of the discussion. You can think the grass is greener in the short term, while recognizing that it’s not in the long term. Personally, I might not feel like Buffalo has much of a shot at the playoffs, but I still prefer Buffalo’s situation over all the others in the medium and long term.

 

[MOGlLNY]

they have how many players 23 and younger to start next season? Young players can and do improve.

that's fine and you're right, but development is not linear and it shouldn't come as a shock if some of those young guys stagnate too.

It's completely in the realm of possibility that OP has a sophomore slump. Or that Levi or Krebs don't take the step we want, or Quinn is hindered by his injury and a loss season of development. It all can happen, just expecting every young guy to naturally take a step so we can make the playoffs isn't always going to be true.

I hope it is and I have a lot of faith in our future, but some of these guys are naturally not going to be what we want or expect. It's the nature of the beast and always happens to every rebuilding team. Which is why we see Adams stocking the cupboard because we have guys developing waiting in the wings to take their jobs when it inevitably happens.

 

[Matt Ress]

I'm curious to see how much quickly moving the puck in transition helps their older legs. I don't have the stat packages to dig into controlled exits and controlled entries for the Pens and specifically for EK, but I expect it is going to make Sid and Geno's lives much, much easier. How that impacts the East will be interesting - some of the teams Buffalo is competing with are going to get pinched by the Pens in head to head too, so it's not just about the Pens improving or failing in a vacuum.

The duo never really had that level of defenseman although Letang was a good two way guy. They didn't really need it I suppose. It will be fun to watch for sure.

 

[Matt Ress]

that's fine and you're right, but development is not linear and it shouldn't come as a shock if some of those young guys stagnate too.

It's completely in the realm of possibility that OP has a sophomore slump. Or that Levi or Krebs don't take the step we want, or Quinn is hindered by his injury and a loss season of development. It all can happen, just expecting every young guy to naturally take a step so we can make the playoffs isn't always going to be true.

I hope it is and I have a lot of faith in our future, but some of these guys are naturally not going to be what we want or expect. It's the nature of the beast and always happens to every rebuilding team. Which is why we see Adams stocking the cupboard because we have guys developing waiting in the wings to take their jobs when it inevitably happens.

We've been lucky (not really luck) in how a lot of the kids have progressed. There's vets that have regressed but for the most part, the youngsters have moved forward. I think we will continue to see a net gain in that regard even if it's not every kid taking two steps forward.

 

[MOGlLNY]

C

We've been lucky (not really luck) in how a lot of the kids have progressed. There's vets that have regressed but for the most part, the youngsters have moved forward. I think we will continue to see a net gain in that regard even if it's not every kid taking two steps forward.

Completely agree, though I don’t know if it’ll be enough to snap the streak

 

[Matt Ress]

C

Completely agree, though I don’t know if it’ll be enough to snap the streak

That's fair. And it's not just as simple as getting bigger and stronger and developing their frontal lobes in a vacuum. There's off-season development of specific skills, system coaching, nutrition and a million other factors. So the biggest factor imo is the ability of the team staff to guide these players down the most successful path and I think they've proven to be relatively effective at that on an individual level. What they haven't proven yet of course is to get the team as a whole to another level. It's going to be another exciting season.

 

[markpenske]

Not even a single Sabre's rumor out there?

 

[Jim Bob]

Not even a single Sabre's rumor out there?

My guess is that Adams is done for now.

 

[Matt Ress]

Not even a single Sabre's rumor out there?

It depends on what you take seriously. I've seen VO to the Isles, Pesce or Skjei to the Sabres...

 

[brian_griffin]

Well, a team you are chasing adding the reigning Norris winner will never help.

I think we are going to see less than 10 points separate spots 7-12/13. Injuries will most likely be the differentiator when its that close.

Wholly agree. Which is why depth will be important for those clubs, and therefore to a lesser extent cap space may matter..

 

[Djp]

You’re ignoring a key piece of the discussion. You can think the grass is greener in the short term, while recognizing that it’s not in the long term. Personally, I might not feel like Buffalo has much of a shot at the playoffs, but I still prefer Buffalo’s situation over all the others in the medium and long term.

what am I ignoring?

im not expecting the playoffs but they have a chance. Injuries factor into it.

I think many look at others roster and name reckognition On the roster.

I don’t want KA giving up top prospects on rental players

that's fine and you're right, but development is not linear and it shouldn't come as a shock if some of those young guys stagnate too.

It's completely in the realm of possibility that OP has a sophomore slump. Or that Levi or Krebs don't take the step we want, or Quinn is hindered by his injury and a loss season of development. It all can happen, just expecting every young guy to naturally take a step so we can make the playoffs isn't always going to be true.

I hope it is and I have a lot of faith in our future, but some of these guys are naturally not going to be what we want or expect. It's the nature of the beast and always happens to every rebuilding team. Which is why we see Adams stocking the cupboard because we have guys developing waiting in the wings to take their jobs when it inevitably happens.

Sure development can have ups and downs. it’s hard to forecast. Usually. The higher picks don’t go thru this than lower picks who had good chemistry with others and now it’s not there.

at the same time you have Savoie, Kulich, Rosen, and other Rochester who gets a chance and perform great.

im more of a realist on platers drafted after top 50. Buffalo drafted in 20-23 8 F iirc in the top 50. Not all of thrm are going to be busts.

 

[Vachon23]

I want to address the goaltending but you cannot get me to be mad that we didn't facilitate a big trade for a competitor just so we could get Casey DeSmith (I think that's what the outrage is about right now? it's hard to tell when nobody actually specifies what they want Adams to be doing)

You can still get Casey DeSmith, where not keeping him and I don't think we will ask for that much

Would you guys be interested in Petry too if we take Lyubushkin contract ?

 

[Der Jaeger]

You can still get Casey DeSmith, where not keeping him and I don't think we will ask for that much

Would you guys be interested in Petry too if we take Lyubushkin contract ?

I’m down for that type of trade. How about this:

Petry (no retention by Montreal), DeSmith, and Luke Tuch for 2024 2nd, UPL, and Lyubushkin?

 

[Vachon23]

I’m down for that type of trade. How about this:

Petry (no retention by Montreal), DeSmith, and Luke Tuch for 2024 2nd, UPL, and Lyubushkin?

What about

Petry
DeSmith

for

Lyubushkin
2nd round pick

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

What about

Petry
DeSmith

for

Lyubushkin
2nd round pick

We don't really need anymore defenseman right now but I don't think your far off.

Also one of Comrie or UPL would need to go the other way but Adams seems content going with UPL and Levi next year and I don't know how much of an upgrade DeSmith would be over UPL. I also don't want 3 goalies again next season.

Value seems close but I don't see a deal happening.

 

[Der Jaeger]

What about

Petry
DeSmith

for

Lyubushkin
2nd round pick

I’d make that trade. I really want to get Tuch’s brother as well, though. He plays the type of game the Sabres need.

 

[Vachon23]

I’d make that trade. I really want to get Tuch’s brother as well, though. He plays the type of game the Sabres need.

He's our only prospect that play that type of game in our prospect pool, that's why I want to keep him

 

[brian_griffin]

I’m down for that type of trade. How about this:

Petry (no retention by Montreal), DeSmith, and Luke Tuch for 2024 2nd, UPL, and Lyubushkin?

MTL just traded for them, so why would they get rid of them? I like the trade. Helps MTL with cap, gives them cheaper Sabre replacement players at the same positions, and gets little Tuch (though he's not small).

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

I’d make that trade. I really want to get Tuch’s brother as well, though. He plays the type of game the Sabres need.

May I ask why you want Luke? With how deep our prospect pool already is, I don't see him getting more opportunity here over Montreal.

 

[Jim Bob]

I’d make that trade. I really want to get Tuch’s brother as well, though. He plays the type of game the Sabres need.

He's a UFA in 371 days...

 

[Der Jaeger]

MTL just traded for them, so why would they get rid of them? I like the trade. Helps MTL with cap, gives them cheaper Sabre replacement players at the same positions, and gets little Tuch (though he's not small).

I don’t think Petry stays long.

May I ask why you want Luke? With how deep our prospect pool already is, I don't see him getting more opportunity here over Montreal.

Because he plays a heavy game and the Sabres need that.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

I don’t think Petry stays long.

Because he plays a heavy game and the Sabres need that.

The Sabres already have Alex Tuch and Greenway on the roster, plus Nadeau, Cederqvist, Kozak and now Meidema in the pipeline that play a heavy style in my opinion.

 

[Vachon23]

MTL just traded for them, so why would they get rid of them? I like the trade. Helps MTL with cap, gives them cheaper Sabre replacement players at the same positions, and gets little Tuch (though he's not small).

To get ride of Hoffman

 

[Fjordsen]

We don't really need anymore defenseman right now but I don't think your far off.

Also one of Comrie or UPL would need to go the other way but Adams seems content going with UPL and Levi next year and I don't know how much of an upgrade DeSmith would be over UPL. I also don't want 3 goalies again next season.

Value seems close but I don't see a deal happening.

DeSmith is more experienced than UPL and Comrie combined, and he has decent numbers in the NHL. He could probably be a good cheap pickup to play 30-35 games.