The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[TheBarnIsElectric]

I've read the Wild may have Yurov as the offer. That's probably better than anything Buffalo can put up.

Yeah, as much as I'm into acquiring Jiricek, I'm not putting Helenius or Kulich on the table because at this point we may need them at C. Value wise, those types of prospects are reasonable for CBJ to ask for, but having already sent Mitts out and with Cozens struggles, C is too big of a need for us to deplete the ranks further unless we're getting a sure thing back.

Quinn, 1st, or any other prospect would be on the table.

 

[RWatson29]

As much as Jiricek is a young RHD he doesn’t really fill any need we currently have. He’s a young PMD who wouldn’t even get any PP time, it’s just completely redundant. He’s been below average defensivley as well.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

f***ing shit.

He's young and adjusting to the North American game. There's no reason for the Sabres to rush his development (they've done this plenty of times).

I'd expect as of now he'd compete for a spot in 2026-27. But Noah Ostlund is in his D+3 season and hasn't seen an NHL game. Jiri Kulich is D+3 and he's just now getting in the lineup. So even 2027-28 isn't crazy for Helenius to debut in the NHL.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Where do you see those? I went some pages back and but only see the one on this page where it didn't even work with a cap of 95.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5799368/2024/09/28/buffalo-sabres-salary-cap-peterka-contract/

Lance did a podcast on this as well which I’m not going to dig for

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

No it isn’t. Why do you keep peddling this? Multiple writers have done the math on this for what their projected contracts citing AFP who are usually on the money.

Sabres have enough space with the extensions they’ll be doing, the Skinner buyout and cap rising to fit a 7 million dollar player long term and still keep everyone. This is also before Quinn completely shit down his leg this season.

You either are choosing to ignore evidence in your face or you don’t understand what you’re looking at. But this narrative you say repeatedly that Sabres don’t have space after their upcoming extensions needs to end.

I literally posted the math with a 95 million dollar cap above in the thread and discounts for RD/Quinn/Zucker. We were over the cap by 4 mill just by adding Kreider at 6.5. It is tight for next year. We do not have that much wiggle room, cap wise, or roster space-wise.

If you have evidence from writers or elsewhere that shows something different, please share.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

I literally posted the math with a 95 million dollar cap above in the thread and discounts for RD/Quinn/Zucker. We were over the cap by 4 mill just by adding Kreider at 6.5. It is tight for next year. We do not have that much wiggle room, cap wise, or roster space-wise.

If you have evidence from writers or elsewhere that shows something different, please share.

I don't see us singing both Zucker AND Greenway. I think they ultimately pick one.

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

Well I agree in part there are concerns, but his contract is not that long, he is still pretty fast, even if his wheels fall off a little he will still be average in NHL speed, not to mention his experience and play front of the net. He also hardly misses games due to injuries at all.

Baker and Fairburn both said he was their #1 forward target at this stage. And I basically agree with them.

I disagree. Kreider would be a good add, but our dire need is a puck distributing 2C.

 

[Fjordy]

I disagree. Kreider would be a good add, but our dire need is a puck distributing 2C.

There's probably only Zegras, and Fairburn mentioned him and he likes him, but we also have Kulich. In principle, I'm all for it. But they need to figure out what to do with Cozens and what to do with the roster spots.

 

[Finnen]

He's young and adjusting to the North American game. There's no reason for the Sabres to rush his development (they've done this plenty of times).

I'd expect as of now he'd compete for a spot in 2026-27. But Noah Ostlund is in his D+3 season and hasn't seen an NHL game. Jiri Kulich is D+3 and he's just now getting in the lineup. So even 2027-28 isn't crazy for Helenius to debut in the NHL.

Give Helenius place as early as 2025-26 or as you say 2026-27.

 

[DapperCam]

I’m not sure how the roster would shake out, but I think McLeod should get bumped up to 2C, and Cozens should be moved to the wing.

Peterka - Thompson - Tuch
Benson - McLeod - Cozens
Zucker - Kulich - Quinn
Greenway - Krebs - NAK

Extras: Lafferty, Malenstyn

 

[Fjordy]

I’m not sure how the roster would shake out, but I think McLeod should get bumped up to 2C, and Cozens should be moved to the wing.

Peterka - Thompson - Tuch
Benson - McLeod - Cozens
Zucker - Kulich - Quinn
Greenway - Krebs - NAK

Extras: Lafferty, Malenstyn

Why NAK and not Malenstyn?

 

[MOGlLNY]

I literally posted the math with a 95 million dollar cap above in the thread and discounts for RD/Quinn/Zucker. We were over the cap by 4 mill just by adding Kreider at 6.5. It is tight for next year. We do not have that much wiggle room, cap wise, or roster space-wise.

If you have evidence from writers or elsewhere that shows something different, please share.

literally the post above yours

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

There's probably only Zegras, and Fairburn mentioned him and he likes him, but we also have Kulich. In principle, I'm all for it. But they need to figure out what to do with Cozens and what to do with the roster spots.

Wondering if a Zegras/Quinn swap could work.

 

[Fjordy]

Wondering if a Zegras/Quinn swap could work.

Idk, but Quinn is starting to find his game, he just needs to finish. I'm much more concerned about Cozens with his inconsistency and his contract.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Idk, but Quinn is starting to find his game, he just needs to finish. I'm much more concerned about Cozens with his inconsistency and his contract.

I think Cozens would be far more successful if you could move him to wing. You might be stuck with the contract so you have to do whatever maximizes his output.

 

[Weltschmerz]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5799368/2024/09/28/buffalo-sabres-salary-cap-peterka-contract/

Lance did a podcast on this as well which I’m not going to dig for

Thx for this, when you said writers, I thought you talk about writers on this forum.

But the link has them with 7 millions left with only the RFAs signed and 6 roster spots to fill, and none of the UFAs signed, so it's not "and still keep everyone" like you wrote.

 

[Fjordy]

I think Cozens would be far more successful if you could move him to wing. You might be stuck with the contract so you have to do whatever maximizes his output.

Then I don't understand why Ruff hasn't done it yet, and I don't think we're stuck with his contract, but until he produces and is inconsistent, it's a problem.

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

literally the post above yours

Saw that right after I posted, appreciated it, looked at it, and found that it does not say what you said it did.

First of all, he uses projections from before the season that we're based on a 92 mill cap, so even if we assume these numbers are correct for 92, we should expect higher figures for a 95 mill cap.

Also, he lets several players go (Zucker, Greenway, Joki for example) and makes no mention of adding another big contract like Kreider. Sure, you could look to replace Greenway et al with cheaper, suckier options, but you still end up close to the cap with a likely worse team.

Look, I'm not saying we can't add a contract like Kreider's, I'm just saying we need to be realistic that doing so would require potentially painful decisions elsewhere.

"We can't do anything because of the cap" and "we don't need to worry about the cap" are both false statements when you look at the math for next year.

 

[Djp]

No it isn’t. Why do you keep peddling this? Multiple writers have done the math on this for what their projected contracts citing AFP who are usually on the money.

Sabres have enough space with the extensions they’ll be doing, the Skinner buyout and cap rising to fit a 7 million dollar player long term and still keep everyone. This is also before Quinn completely shit down his leg this season.

You either are choosing to ignore evidence in your face or you don’t understand what you’re looking at. But this narrative you say repeatedly that Sabres don’t have space after their upcoming extensions needs to end.

I'm operating on a 92 cap. Anything with more is BS. Bettman has said as much already on cap speculation for next year.

 

[Fjordy]

Canucks could be another contender in the hunt for top 4 RD.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Depends on how CBJ would value Ostlund relative to Yurov, perhaps. And of course if Adams was putting Ostlund on the table.


Very, very low chance he's on the team next year.

Offering Ostlund on this board is like the rules of the Continental Hotel.

Wondering if a Zegras/Quinn swap could work.

Been advocating that for a while now.

 

[Fjordy]

Been advocating that for a while now.

What line do you see with Zegras? I think it's possible to juggle.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Last night I liked Quinn in a matchup I’d have guessed he’d struggle in.

 

[Fjordy]

Last night I liked Quinn in a matchup I’d have guessed he’d struggle in.

I think in terms of the quality of his game, he has clearly improved in last games, he just needs to improve his shot.

 

[Der Jaeger]

What line do you see with Zegras? I think it's possible to juggle.

I’d love to see him with Cozens and Benson. Zegras is creative, and Benson and Cozens do a lot of the dirty work. Benson’s IQ with Zegras would be pretty ridiculous.