The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[Jim Bob]

Dreger

- Buffalo Sabres sources have acknowledged “they’ve been in it” from day one and “will stay in it” until told otherwise

- Based on the number of conversations between Allvin and Kevyn Adams, both sides know where the line is drawn

- Sabres are willing to part with top pieces, names Dylan Cozens & Bowen Byram, but thinks the Sabres are asking for Pettersson and something else while the Canucks may not view it that way

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Damn, if Adams is asking for anything else there and it's the reason the deal doesn't happen, he's an even bigger idiot than I thought and overvalues his players like hell. I'd even pay a little extra with this package if that's what it took. Other teams are also talking about EP40, Columbus and Rangers have been mentioned.

If I am Vancouver, I wouldn't have a ton of interest in Cozens and Byram for Pettersson.

A struggling 2C on a bad team that makes $7M per and a 2nd pairing LHD that will likely want a fat payday this summer for a guy that is paid like an elite 1C and has a 100+ point season on his resume.

I would be asking Adams for Power + the Sabres 2025 1st with top 3OV protection. That would give the Canucks cost certainty and cap flexibility plus a nice trade chip to swing a trade to land a better C than Cozens.

 

[TageGod]

If I am Vancouver, I wouldn't have a ton of interest in Cozens and Byram for Pettersson.

A struggling 2C on a bad team that makes $7M per and a 2nd pairing LHD that will likely want a fat payday this summer for a guy that is paid like an elite 1C and has a 100+ point season on his resume.

I would be asking Adams for Power + the Sabres 2025 1st with top 3OV protection. That would give the Canucks cost certainty and cap flexibility plus a nice trade chip to swing a trade to land a better C than Cozens.

I would make the trade if it was 2026 first. If it is 2025, I am not ruling out a 4-7 I am likely sticking to top 5 protection. If it's your offer or nothing.... I still say yes.

 

[sabremike]

If I am Vancouver, I wouldn't have a ton of interest in Cozens and Byram for Pettersson.

A struggling 2C on a bad team that makes $7M per and a 2nd pairing LHD that will likely want a fat payday this summer for a guy that is paid like an elite 1C and has a 100+ point season on his resume.

I would be asking Adams for Power + the Sabres 2025 1st with top 3OV protection. That would give the Canucks cost certainty and cap flexibility plus a nice trade chip to swing a trade to land a better C than Cozens.

I think you are misreading the popular thinking around the league on Cozens which is "The Sabres are a clownshow and the second he gets out of there his production will explode just like countless others who that dumb organization has given away". In a bizarre way being such a dumpster fire may actually help us in this situation by causing teams to overvalue one of our guys.

 

[Jim Bob]

I think you are misreading the popular thinking around the league on Cozens which is "The Sabres are a clownshow and the second he gets out of there his production will explode just like countless others who that dumb organization has given away". In a bizarre way being such a dumpster fire may actually help us in this situation by causing teams to overvalue one of our guys.

Given the struggles that Mitts has had this season in Colorado, I don't know if that thought process is as prevalent as you suggest.

It will all come down to how the Canucks view Cozens and Byram as players. I know that different organizations will view the same player differently.

There is a chance that the Canucks would really like to get Cozens and Byram. But, if that is the deal, I doubt it works out well for Vancouver.

Heck, Calgary got two much more accomplished vets in the Matthew Tkachuk trade and that is not working out well for them. And taking on more cap is just one reason why.

Cozens and Byram could take up $2-4M more in cap space in 2025-26 than EP40 will. For two guys that aren't as talented and won't play front line roles for the team.

For me, the math isn't mathing unless there are a lot more issues with EP40 than the public knows about. Whether it's the knee issue or the interpersonal/makeup stuff, who knows.

 

[Fjordy]

If I am Vancouver, I wouldn't have a ton of interest in Cozens and Byram for Pettersson.

A struggling 2C on a bad team that makes $7M per and a 2nd pairing LHD that will likely want a fat payday this summer for a guy that is paid like an elite 1C and has a 100+ point season on his resume.

I would be asking Adams for Power + the Sabres 2025 1st with top 3OV protection. That would give the Canucks cost certainty and cap flexibility plus a nice trade chip to swing a trade to land a better C than Cozens.

Again, you and I can evaluate players differently. EP40 is not a 100-point 1C right now, he also has his own problems. Cozens was also good in his time and showed at 21 that he can produce, plus he really has some interesting tools, even if he can't put it all together now. I don't think we need to introduce Byram, they need a decent PMD for the second pair and backup for Hughes, plus Byram played decently for us. Although I have no problem with trading Power or our first 2025 (but with top 5 protected).

 

[Fjordy]

Heck, Calgary got two much more accomplished vets in the Matthew Tkachuk trade and that is not working out well for them. And taking on more cap is just one reason why.

Tkachuk is special and very rare in this league, also they got two vets who were UFA in a year and they needed to sign them. Byram and Cozens are much younger and already showed their potential when Byram played in the playoffs and played a lot and won a cup, and Cozens at 21 years old scored almost 70 points as a center with kids on his wings.

 

[tsujimoto74]

If I am Vancouver, I wouldn't have a ton of interest in Cozens and Byram for Pettersson.

A struggling 2C on a bad team that makes $7M per and a 2nd pairing LHD that will likely want a fat payday this summer for a guy that is paid like an elite 1C and has a 100+ point season on his resume.

I would be asking Adams for Power + the Sabres 2025 1st with top 3OV protection. That would give the Canucks cost certainty and cap flexibility plus a nice trade chip to swing a trade to land a better C than Cozens.

See that’s the rub. Pettersson is paid like an elite 1C, but he hasn’t played or produced even remotely close for about a full calendar year now. Maybe he bounces back eventually, but I doubt anyone is offering “100 point player” value for him, because why on earth would they?

 

[TehDoak]

They will easily avoid that whole hornet’s nest by simply not trading for him. Also, once again, Adams isn’t going anywhere for all of the reasons already noted a milllion times.

I don't know how Adams would be safe after missing the playoffs for 5 straight years and now 2 consecutive years of regression. I know some low sourced bloggers are saying he's safe. I'm not sure how you justify that to the fans.

 

[toddkaz]

If Cozens and Byram go the other way in an EP trade the salary is a wash pretty much so it cant be used as an excuse.

If fact Buffalo probably saves money.

 

[Beerz]

If I am Vancouver, I wouldn't have a ton of interest in Cozens and Byram for Pettersson.

A struggling 2C on a bad team that makes $7M per and a 2nd pairing LHD that will likely want a fat payday this summer for a guy that is paid like an elite 1C and has a 100+ point season on his resume.

I would be asking Adams for Power + the Sabres 2025 1st with top 3OV protection. That would give the Canucks cost certainty and cap flexibility plus a nice trade chip to swing a trade to land a better C than Cozens.

I'd like the Power + 1st trade better than the Cozens + Byram one .. so no problem.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I don't know how Adams would be safe after missing the playoffs for 5 straight years and now 2 consecutive years of regression. I know some low sourced bloggers are saying he's safe. I'm not sure how you justify that to the fans.

Since when does Pegula ever justify anything to the fans? It’s not something he ever does…he seems resentful whenever he says anything.

He will let Kevyn do the justifying.

—————
RE: Pettersson, from my least favorite NHL media person via Reddit:

 

[Fjordy]

I'd like the Power + 1st trade better than the Cozens + Byram one .. so no problem.

Why is it better? Power +1st is more valuable than Cozens + Byram.

 

[OkimLom]

I think you are misreading the popular thinking around the league on Cozens which is "The Sabres are a clownshow and the second he gets out of there his production will explode just like countless others who that dumb organization has given away". In a bizarre way being such a dumpster fire may actually help us in this situation by causing teams to overvalue one of our guys.

Now put yourself in a GM's mindset, and not a fan's mindset of what they think a GM will be thinking.

 

[Zman5778]

Why is it better? Power +1st is more valuable than Cozens + Byram.

Beerz doesn't value Power very highly.

 

[Fjordy]

Now put yourself in a GM's mindset, and not a fan's mindset of what they think a GM will be thinking.

Well, what can he think? You'll get into his head, or rather into theirs (Rutherford and Alvin).

 

[tsujimoto74]

Beerz doesn't value Power very highly.

I mean, I’d rather trade Power than Byram, too. Not because Power isn’t immensely talented, but Byram is better today, and we’ve been kicking the can down the road for miles too long already. The 1st on top is too much for me, though.

 

[toddkaz]

I think you are misreading the popular thinking around the league on Cozens which is "The Sabres are a clownshow and the second he gets out of there his production will explode just like countless others who that dumb organization has given away". In a bizarre way being such a dumpster fire may actually help us in this situation by causing teams to overvalue one of our guys.

I completely agree with this. Cozens just last May lit up the WC. Why wouldn't a GM think this. Cozens had 9 goals in 10 games for team Canada.

Whether it happens or not look at previous trades when Sabres players move on to another team they developed and flourish.

The World Cup Cozens is every coach's dream and what GM or coach wouldn't think leaving Buffalo will get him back there?

 

[sabremike]

Now put yourself in a GM's mindset, and not a fan's mindset of what they think a GM will be thinking.

That's exactly what I did. Do you think it's an accident that there is serious interest in Cozens around the league?

 

[Fjordy]

I mean, I’d rather trade Power than Byram, too. Not because Power isn’t immensely talented, but Byram is better today, and we’ve been kicking the can down the road for miles too long already. The 1st on top is too much for me, though.

Well by the way I would do that. Power + 2025 1st top 5 protected. There will no longer be Hagens and Misa outside the top 5, and after looking at various reports/highlights, I did not find a player outside the top 5 there that I liked so much that I am not ready to get 1C in Pettersson because of this.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Which defenseman would folks prefer in return as part of a theoretical Pettersson package?

Deshernais
Juulsen
Soucy

I mean, I’d rather trade Power than Byram, too.

Assuming Byram wants to re-sign with Buffalo at a reasonable number, most people seem to agree with this. But it’s extremely unlikely that Byram wants to stay, especially if we are trading his best friend on the team in Cozens. This is why Byram is the one being proposed.

If Byram told Adams he loves it in Buffalo and will sign long term, then…well, sorry, I literally can’t even imagine that scenario.

 

[Zman5778]

Which defenseman would folks prefer in return as part of a theoretical Pettersson package?

Deshernais
Juulsen
Soucy

Is none of the above an option? I choose none of the above.

Soucy's got a full NMC, so I doubt he waives to come here. Juulsen hasn't proven to be an NHLer. We've currently got our own version of Deharwhatever in Clifton.

Forced to choose, it's Dehoweveryouspellit.

 

[Jim Bob]

See that’s the rub. Pettersson is paid like an elite 1C, but he hasn’t played or produced even remotely close for about a full calendar year now. Maybe he bounces back eventually, but I doubt anyone is offering “100 point player” value for him, because why on earth would they?

And here is the rub for me, a ton of people that are saying that the Sabres have to make this trade are expecting EP40 to be an elite 1C in Buffalo.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

For those who have continued to watch games, how has Kozak looked?

From the little I've seen, the kid looks pretty solid

 

[Zman5778]

For those who have continued to watch games, how has Kozak looked?

Hasn't looked out of place as a 4th liner. Looked out of his league when he played higher in the lineup with Tuch and Cozens. Plays with pace and energy.....battles along the boards, gets to the net front, can PK.

Entirely possible he's a long-term 4th line C.

 

[Zman5778]

And here is the rub for me, a ton of people that are saying that the Sabres have to make this trade are expecting EP40 to be an elite 1C in Buffalo.

Personally, I'm not expecting "elite 1C" out of EP40. I'd expect "legitimate NHL 1st line center". Produces around PPG and plays a solid two way game.

Would he be overpaid? Well, yeah a bit. But by the end of that deal, that'll be the going rate for a legit 1st line center that's around PPG with a two-way game.