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

toddkaz said:
Probably why we missed the playoffs. Tuch had a very strong finish but also has a habit of disappearing for stretches.
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Insane.
For forwards - not just wingers

50th in points
17th in ES Goals
80th in points per 60
32nd goals per 60
16th in total goals
Led league in short handed points

He is a very solid top line forward, who also brings solid two way play.

Tuch is not a reason we missed the playoffs, there are twenty other reasons why
 
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Tuch may be a little streaky sometimes but he’s a legitimate two-way 1st line option. I’d still like another legit top 6 center to complement our high end wingers (counting Tage here) but unless they really have to break the bank for him it should be an easy call to have him as a core piece
 
toddkaz said:
Probably why we missed the playoffs. Tuch had a very strong finish but also has a habit of disappearing for stretches.
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Tuch was 16th in the league in goal scoring, and 8 of those above him were centers. In addition, he’s defensively responsible. He most certainly is a quality first line winger.

I understand the pessimism, but let’s not trash our players just to trash them.
 
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enthusiast said:
Tuch may be a little streaky sometimes but he’s a legitimate two-way 1st line option. I’d still like another legit top 6 center to complement our high end wingers (counting Tage here) but unless they really have to break the bank for him it should be an easy call to have him as a core piece
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Will be interesting if the Pettersson smoke gets started again, but I just can't see it.
 
BowieSabresFan said:
Tuch was 16th in the league in goal scoring, and 8 of those above him were centers. In addition, he’s defensively responsible. He most certainly is a quality first line winger.

I understand the pessimism, but let’s not trash our players just to trash them.
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Tuch was the first NHL forward to record 35 goals and 100 Blocks Shots in a season. How much is that worth ?
 
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CowbellConray said:
I’d happily do 6x8.5 for Tuch to stay on this team. Rising cap would handle the raise
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Wonder if he would do a hometown discount 7/50 ? Then again you might have to overpay to cover the taxes/allure of warmer climate. Cost of living is low for most of us unless you own a big house in the southtowns that is. There is also the new wife influence so who knows.

He will want to see improvements in team performance, if it's the same shi*t he is likely gone.
 
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Pay Tuch whatever is fair if he wants to stay. if it doesn’t work out after signing then we find a way to unload it.

If Tuch sucks after signing, the team likely sucks as well. So either way we will be able to move him easily or hold onto his contract cause we blew it up.

No contract is immoveable
 
ValJamesDuex said:
Wonder if he would do a hometown discount 7/50 ? Then again you might have to overpay to cover the taxes/allure of warmer climate. Cost of living is low for most of us unless you own a big house in the southtowns that is. There is also the new wife influence so who knows.

He will want to see improvements in team performance, if it's the same shi*t he is likely gone.
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I don't think the wife is anything more than contract posturing. Pretty sure she is involved with the team wives for events, the blue and gold she seemed pretty happy, they have a young baby and their area is great to raise a family in. My guess is they might have exchanged preliminary numbers and this is his way to say it needs to come up in money and term. Full stop, he will need a new deal the first week of July so hopefully that is locked in.
 
SundherDome said:
I don't think the wife is anything more than contract posturing. Pretty sure she is involved with the team wives for events, the blue and gold she seemed pretty happy, they have a young baby and their area is great to raise a family in. My guess is they might have exchanged preliminary numbers and this is his way to say it needs to come up in money and term. Full stop, he will need a new deal the first week of July so hopefully that is locked in.
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I do not see him signing a extension until he sees what shakes out this off-season and how the season starts.

As for the wife factor, I think you under-estmate that! ;):nod:
 
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ValJamesDuex said:
I do not see him signing a extension until he sees what shakes out this off-season and how the season starts.

As for the wife factor, I think you under-estmate that! ;):nod:
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My wife would make sure I secure the bag first and foremost lol.

The cap is going up at an unprecedented rate this off-season, the way the US economy is cratering will impact the cap after next season, he had a great season while being a leader, is eligible for an extension, this is probably his best chance to get paid at a premium with term. If I'm his agent, unless he said he absolutely would not consider staying, would be to sign a long term deal, use his leverage and get big money. It would be telling how he views the Sabres based on his movement clauses.
 
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Looking at UFA players who may be some good buy low options. Trying to look at who played well in smaller roles, or showed good development and may be a late bloomer:

1) Cole Koepke: Was a depth piece with Tampa until last season when he came to Boston. Buried with bad linemates and low o-zone starts, but had a pretty solid year on a bad Bruins team. Ended the year with 17 points in 73 games. A 2 year deal around 1.2M could make him a nice 4th line option

2) Mason Appleton: Buried under a very good Jets team, Mason has been given poor poor zone starts and continues to be a good bottom six option. Another winger, but if you could get him 2-3 years around 2-2.5 I could see him being a good 3rd line option. He may be willing to come to Buffalo and bring some playoff experience.

3) Yanni Gourde: Zucker type deal, if Tampa doesn't give him a deal and he hits free agency and you can free up 4M? Sign him. He is everything you want in a middle six center. Shot a poor poor 2.9% with Tampa after the deadline but showed plenty even without scoring. 30 ES points in 57 games and shot 2.9% after the deadline? He is a for sure 50 points if he plays a full season. Would be a huge add if we moved money out. Doesn't fit my group focus here, but I'm such a fan that he needs the mention

A couple of trade targets applying the same thoughts:

1) Tyler Tucker: Clifton but several years younger. A LD who only played 38 games for STL. I could see him being a good buy low DFD who could uptick to 17-18 minutes a night and secure the bottom pairing LD spot. Would be much happier with him than Bryson, that's for sure. Has always played pretty well on a deep Blues squad. Wouldn't cost much to acquire.

2) Alex Turcotte: Hampered by injuries ever since his draft, his metrics this year in a depth role were very solid. Positive corsi, good against his deployment numbers, and very solid ES scorer. He could be a very good buy low option, assuming LA wants to continue to build through Byfield and their veterans. If we were to trade someone like Byram (LA isn't super deep on LD), I'd target Turcotte as one of the pieces back. Maybe Spence and Turcotte? Clarke and Turcotte for Power? Just throwing things out there.
 
Rossi had a particularly invisible debut against the Knights. Granted, he's playing down the lineup with turnover specials Gustav Nyquist but still... not a great look. If that continues, it may sour Guerin on him more than homemade Collins mix.
 
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Chainshot said:
Rossi had a particularly invisible debut against the Knights. Granted, he's playing down the lineup with turnover specials Gustav Nyquist but still... not a great look. If that continues, it may sour Guerin on him more than homemade Collins mix.
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Unfortunately I think he'd be in high enough demand that even if guerin thinks he's worth chump change, there will be offers to drive the price up
 
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They still don't have enough quality folks in their front office. They are back to Regier-era lean and that's not the best. Granted, that implies they can figure out how to hire good assistant GM's or up and coming player personnel folks...
 
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2024-25 Roster Move Grades:

Malenstyn Trade for a 2nd Round Pick. Was a good 4th liner, Good hitter, took a lot of hard shot blocks later in the season. B

Lafferty UFA. Never found his place, not the Vancouver Lafferty we were hoping for. Played ok the last weeks with Ostlund. Was not a great Pker, average on faceoffs. Stuck here another year on contract unless he can be moved. D

Aube-Kubel UFA. Underwhelming. Never really made us harder to play against minus a couple hits. Was waived to Rochester then traded to Rangers for nothing. F

Zucker UFA. Was a revelation. Played hard, provided leadership, PP, 50pts, and worked well with young players like Kulich. B+

McLeod Trade for Savoie. Was a very good 50 pt 3C. Showed he could move up the lineup short term for injury cover. Solid on faceoffs, PK. Struggled a little near end of season. B+

Bo Byram (That's By Ram for the OCD and people who cannot let it go, or rfk types who think dyslexia is a joke), Trade for Mitts @ 23' deadline. Looked great at times with 26 and 5v5. Meh at times without 26. B-

Reimer UFA. Had quite a run at the end of the season. Was waived early then re claimed. C+

Norris, trade for Cozens/Gilbert/2nd round pick. Played a couple games, looked ok with TT. Missed 20 games with Oblique injury. TBD

Bernard-Docker. Cozens trade. Looked competent most of the time. Played Ok with Power. Projects to 3rd pair D ? C+

Kids. Kulich was very good at times. Kozak played well when healthy. Ostlund looked OK on 4th line on late callup. Was obvious Ruff did not trust Rosen much. Levi was not ready. B
 
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Gabrielor said:
Need a top 6 trade F move.
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The fact that we broke even at 5v5 despite NAK, Beck, Laff combining for -22 when any of them was one the ice, makes me want to prioritize getting a 4th line that can actually handle it. Ironically when all healthy they did ok, but I think that was just a massive drain on our season. Top 6 guys always welcome, but bottom 6 bears more of the failure imo. And I don't think it would be as simple as sliding someone like greenway or krebs down. Krebs couldnt handle that role
 
Chainshot said:
They still don't have enough quality folks in their front office. They are back to Regier-era lean and that's not the best. Granted, that implies they can figure out how to hire good assistant GM's or up and coming player personnel folks...
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I’m an optimist and this is my biggest cause for concern and pessimism. Though I don’t hate their drafting or NHLers they have acquired…but still.

It reminds me a lot of the bills in their drought years. The rot and toxicity has dug itself into every hole, including the front office. And it took a very lucky hire of someone with a strong personality and process to rid the organization of its rot.

I just don’t have any faith in this front office, and no one from within is going to fix it. They might luck into the playoffs…but the issue runs deep.

Anyways….yup
 
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Tuch with Buffalo: 106g/243pts
Eichel with Vegas; 98g/253pts

Equal production at less than half the price. And we did f*** all with it.
 
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