The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[Fjordy]

I dont care if you play with your middle arm anymore if it means winning lol

I agree, but no one has it like that, all lefties in the top 4 and I think for a reason. Also Ruff doesn't like it. I don't care LD/RD, but I don't understand the intricacies of hockey very well. Maybe it's inconvenient for a coach or for playing defense or for playing at PK, I just don't know.

 

[toddkaz]

I'm not committed to Tuch either and I'll have to evaluate his potential new contract, but he's still a good top 6 player. But my logic is, try to keep all the best players, trade the ones that don't look so good and futures to fill the gaps in the roster. I bet some Verbeek would be so fired up about getting Cozens that he'd be willing to trade him for a good price, and I don't think it's just Verbeek. I don't think our roster is that bad, but we are missing 2-3 key players, and it's not even necessary that all of them will cost a ton. Expensive doesn't always mean quality.

I'm not fixated on a vet top 4 D for Power specifically because that's harder to come by and it could take years to get there. Just the right player, maybe a complimentary one, like Fabbro for Werenski.

I think you got to give to get back. I don't mind trading Tuch if it gets us what we need. This team needs to be tougher to play against without giving up offense.

When it comes to a top 4 defender its more about getting Byson off this team and Joker into the 5-6 spot than finding Power a partner. We are never going to win with Joker and Bryson in the top 6. Bryson wouldn't even be in the NHL on any other team.

Our goaltending isn't the best so we need to be better defensively. Replacing Joker and Bryson would go a long way.

In the end I don't think Adams does much. If he was going to get this team help he would have done it already.

 

[Fjordy]

I think you got to give to get back. I don't mind trading Tuch if it gets us what we need. This team needs to be tougher to play against without giving up offense.

When it comes to a top 4 defender its more about getting Byson off this team and Joker into the 5-6 spot than finding Power a partner. We are never going to win with Joker and Bryson in the top 6. Bryson wouldn't even be in the NHL on any other team.

Our goaltending isn't the best so we need to be better defensively. Replacing Joker and Bryson would go a long way.

In the end I don't think Adams does much. If he was going to get this team help he would have done it already.

You have to give something, but it depends on who you're getting, sometimes you can get a top 4 RD for a few 2nd or just a 4th. Like I said before, I don't want to trade Benson and Dahlin, everyone else is available to me, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go and trade our 1C and our 1RW right away, if there's an attractive deal, we can think about it. I think you have to think very diversified and creatively. What does the other team need? What's their mode? What players do you want to add?

Well, I think it's the same thing, you need a partner for Power and you don't want to see Jokiharju and Bryson in the top 4. I don't see the point of Joki being on the team at all, and I'm not a fan of Bryson, but at least he's cheap and can play both sides, #7 - #8 defenseman.

Adams is just not that guy, he's like Granato, but only as a GM. But at least Don developed our players, had a very good season with a questionable roster, and Kevyn didn't help him much in that regard. It's just time for him to go and make way for an experienced guy who knows how to build a playoff team.

 

[Zman5778]

Time for a double up

 

[toddkaz]

Too bad Caleb Jones is a lefty. I would still take him over Bryson.

Pick him up and waive Bryson.

 

[StrompTroller]

I agree, but no one has it like that, all lefties in the top 4 and I think for a reason. Also Ruff doesn't like it. I don't care LD/RD, but I don't understand the intricacies of hockey very well. Maybe it's inconvenient for a coach or for playing defense or for playing at PK, I just don't know.

Its just awkward in the showers after the game explaining your curve...

 

[WolfOfBroadStreet14]

What has happened to Cozens? Is the player who dominated the WJC still in there?

 

[Fjordy]

What has happened to Cozens? Is the player who dominated the WJC still in there?

It's unclear. Whether some think he fell because of the fight with Hathaway, or because he signed a 7 million contract. Overall, he just looks like a player with a low IQ, and there were concerns about that even before the draft. Right now, Cozens is just a bad 2C, maybe he'd be better off playing on the wing.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

What has happened to Cozens? Is the player who dominated the WJC still in there?

Tried to be a tough guy last year and got scrambled. Does not play aggressive now

Mentally fragile player

Not great hands

Was given long term extension

 

[Chainshot]

What has happened to Cozens? Is the player who dominated the WJC still in there?

Granato encouraged him to be a scorer and he came into last year with comments about wanting to score 40. That isn't the focus of his game, feels like they messed him up wanting him to be a goal scorer, even prior to the fight with Hathaway.

 

[toddkaz]

Wonder if Caleb Jones clears waivers today. Hopefully he replaces Bryson. I think its an upgrade.

 

[Sabreality]

Wonder if Caleb Jones clears waivers today. Hopefully he replaces Bryson. I think its an upgrade.

That's most likely just shuffling deck chairs, not sure he'd make much a of a difference.

 

[Zman5778]

That's most likely just shuffling deck chairs, not sure he'd make much a of a difference.

Yeah. Caleb Jones isn't much of an upgrade over Bryson or Gilbert......if he's any sort of upgrade at all.

 

[toddkaz]

That's most likely just shuffling deck chairs, not sure he'd make much a of a difference.

ya, a 6'2 physical defenseman as number 6 vs 5'9 non physical defenseman is shuffling deck chairs.

You probably would have said the same thing about Fabbro.

 

[Sabreality]

ya, a 6'2 physical defenseman as number 6 vs 5'9 non physical defenseman is shuffling deck chairs.

You probably would have said the same thing about Fabbro.

Ok

 

[Fjordy]

ya, a 6'2 physical defenseman as number 6 vs 5'9 non physical defenseman is shuffling deck chairs.

You probably would have said the same thing about Fabbro.

Adams screwed up with Fabbro. But do we really need Jones? We have Gilbert, Samuelsson will be back soon, Johnson.

 

[toddkaz]

Adams screwed up with Fabbro. But do we really need Jones? We have Gilbert, Samuelsson will be back soon, Johnson.

I have no faith in Samuelsson and in fact I would move on from him. He can't stay healthy and I don't see how that changes in the future.

As for Jones, I am waiving Bryson so yeah, Jones over Bryson is an easy choice.

 

[zenthusiast]

If Jones is an upgrade to someone getting regular minutes, sure. If he’s a better stylistic complement to someone we need a partner for, sure. If not, no thanks

 

[Fjordy]

I have no faith in Samuelsson and in fact I would move on from him. He can't stay healthy and I don't see how that changes in the future.

As for Jones, I am waiving Bryson so yeah, Jones over Bryson is an easy choice.

Well, what are we going to do with him? Adams signed him for many years, he's on the team, he even got an A, they're going to have to play with him.

 

[TageGod]

I do think Eichel's situation cratered this organizations reputation (separate from being bad). Adams complains way too much about maneuvering as a GM. Cant get an A grade player? Give up a little bit more than you expected to ensure you get B. They want money, overpay. No Palm trees in Canada and they have taxes.

Life lesson for hockey. Young players who grow up relying on talent and skill, don't need to play good defense. The main reason young teams never win is it takes years to develop consistency in your offensive and defensive game. Often, they have to change the way they play to succeed. It is painfully obvious Cozens, Quinn, Peterka and many others still are trying to find that. This is why they disappear offensively, and are turnstiles defensively, a lot of times at the same time. You NEED trades and free agents to lead your team, not give the above-mentioned players top 6 roles permanently on their talent and skill alone.

 

[toddkaz]

Well, what are we going to do with him? Adams signed him for many years, he's on the team, he even got an A, they're going to have to play with him.

You need capable players. Again Adams handed out a contract to Sammy without making him prove himself just like he did with Power

Either way my priority is to get Joker and Bryson off this team. Buffalo needs to be tougher to play against and these guys are the opposite.

 

[Fjordy]

You need capable players. Again Adams handed out a contract to Sammy without making him prove himself just like he did with Power

Either way my priority is to get Joker and Bryson off this team. Buffalo needs to be tougher to play against and these guys are the opposite.

I completely agree, but Sammy has done a pretty good job of it in the past, although we definitely shouldn't count on him to be the savior, even for the third pair, until he proves it again.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Chainshot]

Kozak about to become the new Matt Ellis?

 

[Zman5778]

Looking forward to seeing RJ paired with Byram.

It's telling that Cozens is going to Kulich's wing -- certainly seems like Ruff believes that Kulich is a center.
It's also quite telling that Quinn can't crack this lineup right now.

We'll see how Krebs does. It appears as if he'll be taking faceoffs for the line while Tage plays center during play.