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Speculation: Sabres Roster Speculation - Pre-season 2023 Edition

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Looks like somebody really put the work in to make a roster push.
 
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theathletic.com

Pronman: The most interesting NHL 2023-24 training camp prospects from each team

As training camps prepare to open, Corey Pronman highlights the prospects whose progress will be the most fascinating to follow this fall.
theathletic.com theathletic.com

Buffalo Sabres: Ryan Johnson, LHD​

Buffalo has a ton of scoring options both on the big club and in the system who will be constantly battling each other for opportunities. The Sabres’ blue-line depth is good but less exciting. That’s why I’m eager to see how Ryan Johnson, the No. 31 pick in 2019, does after four years at college. His skating is great and he has the ability to help an NHL team in transition even if his game lacks offense.
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theathletic.com

NHL’s 10 most intriguing roster battles: Connor Bedard’s line, goalie controversies, more

Here are some of the top storylines to follow around the NHL as the start of training camps get closer.
theathletic.com theathletic.com

Buffalo Sabres: Will one of the top prospects win a top-nine job because of Jack Quinn’s injury?​

Jack Quinn had a really promising rookie campaign but will miss a decent chunk of the 2023-24 first half because of an Achilles injury. That creates an open top-six opportunity and a ripple effect of questions further down the lineup.

Buffalo’s top line with Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner and Alex Tuch should stay intact. Dylan Cozens and JJ Peterka are locked for the second line as well, which leaves one vacancy on the right wing to round out that trio. Is filling it as simple as sliding Victor Olofsson up? Olofsson is a one-dimensional goal scorer with major defensive warts and was a trade candidate before Quinn’s injury.

Jiri Kulich and Matt Savoie are a pair of excellent blue-chip forward prospects. Kulich, 19, scored 46 points in 64 AHL games last season, while Savoie was the club’s pick at No. 9 in 2022. Could either one be ready to slot into a second-line spot, or even a third-line role, if somebody else on the roster gets promoted into the top six? Both are still exceptionally young so it would take a heck of a training camp and preseason.

Could a center like Casey Mittelstadt or Peyton Krebs shift to the wing and into a top-six role with Cozens?

Buffalo has a lot of different top-nine combinations it could experiment with.
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Irie said:
I honestly do not know what "Crap peddled by the team" you are referring to. As far as I am aware, no team is saying anything of the sort.

This isn't even a Buffalo discussion, but a league wide situation. I have been following the NHL for 40+ years, and in all those years, it is just a fact that the "high end", highly sought after UFAs are not signing one year deals, and the discussion doesn't even need to address the small market factor.

To pretend that the reality is something entirely different and that the top UFAs would have likely been willing to sign one year deals in Buffalo is delusional.
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You are conflating high-end guys with the Maxi Domi-type contracts. Dumba one year (didn't want him.) Tarasenko one year. Bertuzzi, one year. Gotisbehere, one year. Klngberg, one year. Jason Zucker, one year. Duchene, one year. The list goes on and on. Broissoit one year, Orlov went two years.

I honestly don't know what NHL you have followed for 40 years. A different one than me. There are silly contracts long-term every year in the beginning, and then one-year or two-year contracts leak out for decent guys looking at a prove it years.

I never advocated for any long-term deals with guys 28+. Total pass. But the one-year deals do happen. The Sabres did an overpay on Erik Johnson at $3.25 m, the only risk here is Pegula's money. It doesn't work, who cares? It's not Leino deal. People talk about Taylor Hall at $8 (yes an overpay by a lot) but the downside? They took a swing, and it didn't cost them players, and they got a 2nd rounder,

You are delusional if you think the Sabres could not add depth to this lineup via a couple more one-year deals. The why? They claim to be blocking young players, but i see some unwillingness to spend. Last tread at deadline with people trading cap room for picks, Sabres were silent.
 
HogtownSabresfan said:
You are conflating high-end guys with the Maxi Domi-type contracts. Dumba one year (didn't want him.) Tarasenko one year. Bertuzzi, one year. Gotisbehere, one year. Klngberg, one year. Jason Zucker, one year. Duchene, one year. The list goes on and on. Broissoit one year, Orlov went two years.

I honestly don't know what NHL you have followed for 40 years. A different one than me. There are silly contracts long-term every year in the beginning, and then one-year or two-year contracts leak out for decent guys looking at a prove it years.

I never advocated for any long-term deals with guys 28+. Total pass. But the one-year deals do happen. The Sabres did an overpay on Erik Johnson at $3.25 m, the only risk here is Pegula's money. It doesn't work, who cares? It's not Leino deal. People talk about Taylor Hall at $8 (yes an overpay by a lot) but the downside? They took a swing, and it didn't cost them players, and they got a 2nd rounder,

You are delusional if you think the Sabres could not add depth to this lineup via a couple more one-year deals. The why? They claim to be blocking young players, but i see some unwillingness to spend. Last tread at deadline with people trading cap room for picks, Sabres were silent.
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The article literally said:

" If you're going to overpay on a one-year deal in free agency, do it for a high-end player"

My post quoted that, and that was the discussion you replied and quoted me in.

Domi, Dumba, Tarasenko were not top tier UFAs, and not what I was referring to when I quoted the article and not really what the argument was generalized around.

My post and position is that the author is confused if he thinks a premium UFA is going to sign for a one year deal, especially with a smaller market team.

No clue why you started berating me as an Adams apologist over my position since it had absolutely nothing to do with Adams. We weren't talking about depth signings, and I was not referring to multiple concepts. I think the only conflating that occured was in your head where you projected a position that was not presented in my post.

Please go back and read post #s 6634 and 6639 on page 266 of this thread. I think that might clear up some of the confusion.
 
Irie said:
The article literally said:

" If you're going to overpay on a one-year deal in free agency, do it for a high-end player"

My post quoted that, and that was the discussion you replied and quoted me in.

Domi, Dumba, Tarasenko were not top tier UFAs, and not what I was referring to when I quoted the article and not really what the argument was generalized around.

My post and position is that the author is confused if he thinks a premium UFA is going to sign for a one year deal, especially with a smaller market team.

No clue why you started berating me as an Adams apologist over my position since it had absolutely nothing to do with Adams. We weren't talking about depth signings, and I was not referring to multiple concepts. I think the only conflating that occured was in your head where you projected a position that was not presented in my post.

Please go back and read post #s 6634 and 6639 on page 266 of this thread. I think that might clear up some of the confusion.
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There is always going to be a debate on what constitutes a high-end player. The first-day deals are almost always a joke. Are those the high-end players? If so, I agree. Avoid. What does happen every year is some very good players (whatever they are labelled by the media) miss the gravy train for a long-term deal. The reasons always vary. Bad year. Overvalue themselves. That's where the opportunity lies. And historically, you overpay on those deals but for a short term. That does happen every year. As for Kevyn Adams. Too many people think the Sabres not spending is synonymous with GMKA not spending. (and I'm not suggesting that is you). Buffalo is mostly served by subpar local media (Athletic and some bloggers, the exception) who just cannot get the story of where Pegula's decisions influence the team and where GMKA is handcuffed. All we can do is make some educated guesses based on publicly available facts. Personally, I would really have loved Max Domi & Bertuzzi on one-year deals and let Jost walk. I don't see those two as 4th liners but easy third-liners and maybe second over a long season with injuries.
Just to be clear, as I have said in these forums, I'm not doom and gloom on this team. The organizational depth is phenomenal, but we had the luxury of adding a stronger lineup and keeping some rookies at bay spending another year in the AHL. (There will be injuries. I've rarely seen a year where there wasn't, and guys like Kulich/Rosen/Johnson would still get a callup even if we had signed two more guys.)
The organization continues to hit the line of staying the course with the team we have and not blocking guys. My opinion, and you don't have to like it, is that it's partially, PARTIALLY nonsense. There are plenty of spots to play because of said injuries. Blocking Lukas Rousek is not some worry for me. If the Sabres believe that 100% Kulich needs to be in the NHL, I guess that changes everything. He had a crazy good year for someone 18 in the A, but it wasn't like 35 goals and 80 points where it would be outright stupid to get him more time in minors. Same is true for Savoie and Benson. Pushing back their UFA years to 27 would also just make Buffalo so much scarier long-term
 
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HogtownSabresfan said:
There is always going to be a debate on what constitutes a high-end player. The first-day deals are almost always a joke. Are those the high-end players? If so, I agree. Avoid. What does happen every year is some very good players (whatever they are labelled by the media) miss the gravy train for a long-term deal. The reasons always vary. Bad year. Overvalue themselves. That's where the opportunity lies. And historically, you overpay on those deals but for a short term. That does happen every year. As for Kevyn Adams. Too many people think the Sabres not spending is synonymous with GMKA not spending. (and I'm not suggesting that is you). Buffalo is mostly served by subpar local media (Athletic and some bloggers, the exception) who just cannot get the story of where Pegula's decisions influence the team and where GMKA is handcuffed. All we can do is make some educated guesses based on publicly available facts. Personally, I would really have loved Max Domi & Bertuzzi on one-year deals and let Jost walk. I don't see those two as 4th liners but easy third-liners and maybe second over a long season with injuries.
Just to be clear, as I have said in these forums, I'm not doom and gloom on this team. The organizational depth is phenomenal, but we had the luxury of adding a stronger lineup and keeping some rookies at bay spending another year in the AHL. (There will be injuries. I've rarely seen a year where there wasn't, and guys like Kulich/Rosen/Johnson would still get a callup even if we had signed two more guys.)
The organization continues to hit the line of staying the course with the team we have and not blocking guys. My opinion, and you don't have to like it, is that it's partially, PARTIALLY nonsense. There are plenty of spots to play because of said injuries. Blocking Lukas Rousek is not some worry for me. If the Sabres believe that 100% Kulich needs to be in the NHL, I guess that changes everything. He had a crazy good year for someone 18 in the A, but it wasn't like 35 goals and 80 points where it would be outright stupid to get him more time in minors. Same is true for Savoie and Benson. Pushing back their UFA years to 27 would also just make Buffalo so much scarier long-term
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The thing is, I agree with most of your takes in this post and I never said any of them were bad ideas.

I never implied that signing quality depth would be the wrong move.

I only said, "high end UFAs are not signing one year deals".

You seem to be trying to refute my premise with unrelated concepts, and at the same time, labelling my post as a "stamp of approval" for Adams moves, when my post really was just about a broad idea on NHL free agency.

In the context of this discussion, "high end" are players a lot of teams have on their UFA shopping list.

Players with perceived flaws around the league are not "high end", (Klingberg, Domi, etc.).

Aging players coming off statistically poor campaigns (Tarasenko) or star players coming back from major injuries that have not shown they can play at a star level yet(Hall) are not "high end" UFAs - they carry too much risk for teams to throw long-term, big money deals at, allowing teams like Buffalo or Ottawa to sign them for an overpay on one year "prove it" deals.
 
(4 years after Skinner contract ends)
Rosen-Thompson-Tuch
Peterka-Cozens-Quinn
Mittelstadt-Benson-Savoie
Greenway-Krebs-Ostlund

Dahlin-Samuelsson
Power-Strbak
Johnson-Clifton

Levi
UPL

We can keep most the kids with this lineup.
 
NotABadPeriod said:
But what did you do with Kulich?
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Good question. At least one of our young guns is gonna have to get shipped. Ty for the reminder. Or will we trade Mittelstadt? Greenway? I guess only time will tell who performs the best and who'll be the odd man out. A good problem to have. Internal competition and even if a top 3 prospect busts we're still loaded with prospects.
 
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I know many might not agree, but I believe there’s a real chance (maybe 30% to out a number on it), that Mittelstadt goes between Skinner & Tuch.

Thompson Cozens & Greenway become L2.

Peterka- Krebs start with some combo of Olofsson/Rousek/Savoie. Quinn comes here when he returns from injury.

Then Girgensons-Okposo play with a combo of Jost/Savoie (Krebs if he really falters).

Granato spoke during the off season to the affect of Tuch & Thompson being the top two forwards on the team that dictate play. I believe if Mittelstadt is healthy.

The only thing becomes who plays center v. wing on the Thompson/Cozens line? That could be an issue.
 
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dkollidas said:
I know many might not agree, but I believe there’s a real chance (maybe 30% to out a number on it), that Mittelstadt goes between Skinner & Tuch.

Thompson Cozens & Greenway become L2.

Peterka- Krebs start with some combo of Olofsson/Rousek/Savoie. Quinn comes here when he returns from injury.

Then Girgensons-Okposo play with a combo of Jost/Savoie (Krebs if he really falters).

Granato spoke during the off season to the affect of Tuch & Thompson being the top two forwards on the team that dictate play. I believe if Mittelstadt is healthy.

The only thing becomes who plays center v. wing on the Thompson/Cozens line? That could be an issue.
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I don't think that's a crazy thought at all while Quinn is out.
 
Breaking up Skinner Thompson Tuch makes no sense to me and moving Thompson to wing is a total non-starter.

This isn't a one line team. We have talent up and down the lineup and capable centers behind Thompson. We're looking for combos that work, and the top line has worked as good as just about any line in the league for the last 2 years. There's no reason to break it up. Granato tried that to start last season and then quickly went back to it when those players weren't as effective apart.
 
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NotABadPeriod said:
But what did you do with Kulich?
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Washed Up 29YearOld said:
Good question. At least one of our young guns is gonna have to get shipped. Ty for the reminder. Or will we trade Mittelstadt? Greenway? I guess only time will tell who performs the best and who'll be the odd man out. A good problem to have. Internal competition and even if a top 3 prospect busts we're still loaded with prospects.
Click to expand...
Greenway won't stay after his deal expires. There's an argument to be bigger but the pure talent and entry-level cap hits of the many prospect FWs will force him out. Kulich will end up a middle-six FW, and as others have said, hopefully a better Olofsson.
 
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Opening night:

Skinner Thompson Tuch
Peterka Cozens Mitts
Greenway Krebs Savoie/Rosen
Girgs Kulich Okposo

I liked Kulich at C way more than I thought I would last night. Wasn't at his best with the puck, but was rock solid defensively and stronger in battles. Even won some draws. Playing him with Girgs and Okposo could help lock in his d chops and then you move him up the lineup next year.

Don't think this will happen, but it'd be fun.
 
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Sabresfansince1980 said:
Greenway won't stay after his deal expires. There's an argument to be bigger but the pure talent and entry-level cap hits of the many prospect FWs will force him out. Kulich will end up a middle-six FW, and as others have said, hopefully a better Olofsson.
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Greenway will be an interesting one to watch this season and the next. I know Donny thinks highly of him and feels he can get more out him. How that plays out will determine if he sticks around.
 
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TheBarnIsElectric said:
Breaking up Skinner Thompson Tuch makes no sense to me and moving Thompson to wing is a total non-starter.

This isn't a one line team. We have talent up and down the lineup and capable centers behind Thompson. We're looking for combos that work, and the top line has worked as good as just about any line in the league for the last 2 years. There's no reason to break it up. Granato tried that to start last season and then quickly went back to it when those players weren't as effective apart.
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It's been mentioned because of how well Mitts played in that role at the end of the season. Personally I would have Tage and Cozens both center their own lines as well because I think neither are wings. With that, the wing depth isn't great.

After the top 2 you have JJ, Greenway, VO and a rookie and here's hoping Quinn comes back strong and healthy. If it is effective to string out that strong center depth, you can really solidify the lineup. We'll have good wingers coming out of our ears soon but they're not quite here yet.
 
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