Player Discussion Summer Roster Talk, 2025-2026 Off-season

[Chainshot]

Here is the season thread - The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

This again.

 

[CowbellConray]

Are we planning to do a player grading as its own thread? If not, I'll start working on my list to share here

 

[Chainshot]

Are we planning to do a player grading as its own thread? If not, I'll start working on my list to share here

Final grades should probably be in their own thread. This is more just kvetching about who wants what and daily scuttlebutt.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Because to win the Cup, players need to learn how to succeed at the NHL level, something that the Sabres have failed miserably at.

If one season of an aging vet can help the young players develop a winning attitude, it's worth it. They tried it with Hall but that failed miserably because he's a scuzzball.

Id be pretty happy if they came away with Drury and Tavares this offseason on offense. We just need to hope Tavares would buy in the way Zucker has.

A center spine of...

Tavares
Norris
McLeod (maybe Kulich)
Drury

...is actually pretty solid. You have three centers just coming into their prime (two of which have come from contendering teams) + a veteran who has been slow as hell his entire career but still produces. The difference between this center spine and Thompson/Cozens/McLeod/Krebs is night and day. We'd actually have 4 centers who are at the very least competent in their own zone.

Seems possible too if Tavares decides to chase the bag but also stay close to home, which convinces it will never happen, haha.

 

[CowbellConray]

Id be pretty happy if they came away with Drury and Tavares this offseason on offense. We just need to hope Tavares would buy in the way Zucker has.

A center spine of...

Tavares
Norris
McLeod (maybe Kulich)
Drury

...is actually pretty solid. You have three centers just coming into their prime (two of which have come from contendering teams) + a veteran who has been slow as hell his entire career but still produces. The difference between this center spine and Thompson/Cozens/McLeod/Krebs is night and day. We'd actually have 4 centers who are at the very least competent in their own zone.

Seems possible too if Tavares decides to chase the bag but also stay close to home, which convinces it will never happen, haha.

I will say, Krebs actually had a pretty good year this year. With 40% o-zone deployment he had 28 points (27ES) and was pretty solid defensively.

I think he is a perfectly capable bottom six center. 49% at the dot as well.

 

[nickdawg95]

Trades for the Culture

7OA + Quinn + UPL For Sorokin + Lee

Byram For Kesselring

Clifton + 3rd For Lundvist

Samuelson + 2nd for hathaway

Peterka-Norris-Tuch
Lee-TT-Benson
Zucker-Mcleod-Greenway
Beck-Krebs-Hathaway


Dahlin-Lundkvist
Power-Kesselring
Johnson-JBD

Sorokin
Levi

 

[MOGlLNY]

Trades for the Culture

7OA + Quinn + UPL For Sorokin + Lee

Byram For Kesselring

Clifton + 3rd For Lundvist

Samuelson + 2nd for hathaway

Peterka-Norris-Tuch
Lee-TT-Benson
Zucker-Mcleod-Greenway
Beck-Krebs-Hathaway


Dahlin-Lundkvist
Power-Kesselring
Johnson-JBD

Sorokin
Levi

Negative chance this trade would be accepted by the Islanders

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

Negative chance this trade would be accepted by the Islanders

Yep. If trade protection is involved, it's not happening. The idea of grouping assets together is sound, just need to find the right target. Cough *Beniers* Cough.

 

[Dubi Doo]

I will say, Krebs actually had a pretty good year this year. With 40% o-zone deployment he had 28 points (27ES) and was pretty solid defensively.

I think he is a perfectly capable bottom six center. 49% at the dot as well.

I was actually thinking to keep him and just move him to wing. We need more of that ratty attitude on this team not less!

Maybe something like this:

Tage-Tavares-Benson:
Tavares and Benson around the net could be nasty.

Peterka-Norris-Tuch
Peterka and Tuch worked as wingers for stretches, right? Lots of speed on that line.

Kulich-McLeod-Zucker
Good mentors for Kulich to learn from.

Greenway-Drury-Krebs
Could be a really good 4th line.

The main goal should be to get a top-6C by any means possible. I dont mind Krebs being the 4th line C at all. Though, Drury brings a more well-rounded game and playoff experience. I'd like to add those qualities to the center spine. Center do so much of the work in the D zone, so having two very good defensive center who are also productive relative to their roles entices me quite a bit.

 

[Dirty Dog]

obviously anyone but Dahlin and Thompson are more than tradeable, but trying to keep it realistic.

Forwards You Build Around (8): Thompson, Peterka, Tuch, Benson, Kulich, McLeod, Zucker, Greenway

Forwards Probably remaining (3): Quinn, Malenstyn, Norris

Defensemen You Build Around (2): Dahlin, Power

Defensemen Probably Keeping (1) Bernard-Docker

I think Byram is the one roster player that you can use to bring back a good roster player, any other bigger trades will have to be with picks/prospects…which should of course be on the table.

I don’t think any of our Rochester forwards are kicking down the door, so I’m keeping all down in the AHL. Plus, I think we have to use the breaking in an NHler spot on Quinn.

Krebs, Samuelsson, Lafferty, and Clifton should all be going.

So I think we can bring in one forward and three defensemen on to the starting 18. I don’t think you see much done with our top 9 forwards. I think the center spine remains Kulich/Norris/McLeod and the wingers come from Tuch, Thompson, Benson, Peterka, Zucker, Greenway, and Quinn. I think the addition is a bottom 6 center.

I also think UPL goes into the season as the planned backup.

—————

So I have something like this:


Benson - Kulich - Thompson
Peterka - Norris - Tuch
Quinn - McLeod - Zucker
Malenstyn - XXX - Greenway

XX - Dahlin
Power - XX
XX - Bernard Docker

XX
UPL

Trade - Byram, Krebs, Clifton, Samuelsson, Lafferty

 

[Kaners PPGs]

After reading about your RFAs and Buffalo only having 22 M in cap space, are you guys resigned to the fate of trading off salary? I can't imagine that Pegula is going to allow Buffalo to spend close to the cap. Byram seems like an easy choice to trade. Peterka would be highly in demand. If trades aren't made I can see offer sheets. I know you guys probably have discussed this but I'm not a frequent visitor of this forum just a curious fan. Thanks for any insight.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

After reading about your RFAs and Buffalo only having 22 M in cap space, are you guys resigned to the fate of trading off salary? I can't imagine that Pegula is going to allow Buffalo to spend close to the cap. Byram seems like an easy choice to trade. Peterka would be highly in demand. If trades aren't made I can see offer sheets. I know you guys probably have discussed this but I'm not a frequent visitor of this forum just a curious fan. Thanks for any insight.

I think 22m is more than enough to get RFAs re-signed. I'm expecting one of Byram or Power to get moved, though.

 

[Kaners PPGs]

I think 22m is more than enough to get RFAs re-signed. I'm expecting one of Byram or Power to get moved, though.

I agree but do you think Pegula will spend to the cap?

 

[Dirty Dog]

I really don’t think they see UPL as a starting option for next year. And if they really want Levi up with the big club, I think UPL is gone

 

[CrazyWayne]

I agree but do you think Pegula will spend to the cap?

Personally yes, I think a lot of pegula is cheap won't spend to the cap is just talk

Dude spends money when it's a good investment or is needed to spend money. Guy has been paying multiple head coaches and gms not to work for him for years. He has no problem spending. The past few years has been about getting the spending under control and more purposeful (not sure it's working but fully believe that was the plan)

 

[Ace]

Personally yes, I think a lot of pegula is cheap won't spend to the cap is just talk

Dude spends money when it's a good investment or is needed to spend money. Guy has been paying multiple head coaches and gms not to work for him for years. He has no problem spending. The past few years has been about getting the spending under control and more purposeful (not sure it's working but fully believe that was the plan)

Dude hasn’t even allowed them to retain on the last three weeks of a players prorated season salary since 2021.

Guy hired a head coach who makes more from New Jersey than Buffalo and used his hiring to sell tickets.

Bro wouldn’t even let that coach hire his own assistants because they all had contracts. MATT ELLIS IS STILL HERE.

You’re stuck in a distant past when the owner was invested in the team. Hasn’t been true since Covid.

 

[joshjull]

I really don’t think they see UPL as a starting option for next year. And if they really want Levi up with the big club, I think UPL is gone

Adams already viewed Levi as an answer the previous two seasons and tried to force him into the lineup. It failed spectacularly both times. Adams is definitely going to want him on the NHL roster next season. It shouldn’t force us to trade UPL. But I have little faith Adams will make an intelligent choice with the goalies this offseason.

 

[DJN21]

I agree but do you think Pegula will spend to the cap?

We are gonna be tight against the cap just with RFA salaries let alone adding meaningfully unless major trades happen most notably with Sammy. And then one of Power/Byram.

 

[DJN21]

obviously anyone but Dahlin and Thompson are more than tradeable, but trying to keep it realistic.

Forwards You Build Around (8): Thompson, Peterka, Tuch, Benson, Kulich, McLeod, Zucker, Greenway

Forwards Probably remaining (3): Quinn, Malenstyn, Norris

Defensemen You Build Around (2): Dahlin, Power

Defensemen Probably Keeping (1) Bernard-Docker

I think Byram is the one roster player that you can use to bring back a good roster player, any other bigger trades will have to be with picks/prospects…which should of course be on the table.

I don’t think any of our Rochester forwards are kicking down the door, so I’m keeping all down in the AHL. Plus, I think we have to use the breaking in an NHler spot on Quinn.

Krebs, Samuelsson, Lafferty, and Clifton should all be going.

So I think we can bring in one forward and three defensemen on to the starting 18. I don’t think you see much done with our top 9 forwards. I think the center spine remains Kulich/Norris/McLeod and the wingers come from Tuch, Thompson, Benson, Peterka, Zucker, Greenway, and Quinn. I think the addition is a bottom 6 center.

I also think UPL goes into the season as the planned backup.

—————

So I have something like this:


Benson - Kulich - Thompson
Peterka - Norris - Tuch
Quinn - McLeod - Zucker
Malenstyn - XXX - Greenway

XX - Dahlin
Power - XX
XX - Bernard Docker

XX
UPL

Trade - Byram, Krebs, Clifton, Samuelsson, Lafferty

The Krebs hate here is getting out of hand. He's not what we traded Eichel for for sure but he had a solid year. He's willing to lose a fight( he will never win one) when needed. He improved in almost every metric this year.....I don't get the hate.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Interesting note here on Cozens

 

[MarkusKetterer]

The Krebs hate here is getting out of hand. He's not what we traded Eichel for for sure but he had a solid year. He's willing to lose a fight( he will never win one) when needed. He improved in almost every metric this year.....I don't get the hate.

Plus you know, while he’s a Sabre we can look at Madisyn.

 

[MagnumForce2]

The Krebs hate here is getting out of hand. He's not what we traded Eichel for for sure but he had a solid year. He's willing to lose a fight( he will never win one) when needed. He improved in almost every metric this year.....I don't get the hate.

I agree, I like Krebs

 

[Beerz]

The Krebs hate here is getting out of hand. He's not what we traded Eichel for for sure but he had a solid year. He's willing to lose a fight( he will never win one) when needed. He improved in almost every metric this year.....I don't get the hate.

"Krebs hate" is wanting to move on and upgrade? That isn't hate..that is common sense.

My posts are Krebs hate.

Any redeeming quality that Peyton Krebs offers on the ice...

1) Energy
2) Rattiness
3) Toughness"

It is all a mirage ... it is not effective ..it is not helpful.

He is a number 13 forward given way too much opportunity.

He doesn't have the talent for top 6 and he doesn't have the size or heavy game to play 4th line. Doesn't have the talent to be patient with him.

 

[toddkaz]

It sounds like Norris and Power will be ready to go open night.

So the centers look like this

Norris
McLeod
Kulich
Krebs
Ostlund

There is a lot resting on Kulich to be ready to play and no high end center. I also don't see Adams making changes at center.

I didn't mind the Benson Kulich Tage line.

 

[Chainshot]

I suppose we wait to see if any team falls down and decides to make drastic changes to see if someone interesting springs free this summer.

So tired of waiting.