The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[Chainshot]

I want Larkin. I know they have been supposedly talking to Detroit but not sure about who.

It isn't going to be Larkin.

 

[Fjordy]

Byram trade is such a bad investment unless we give him pp1 time.

And we won't give it to him when we already have Dahlin and Power. This trade didn't make much sense in the first place.

It isn't going to be Larkin.

Kasper?

 

[Chainshot]

And we won't give it to him when we already have Dahlin and Power. This trade didn't make much sense in the first place.


Kasper?

No idea, but the captain of the Wings isn't going to be the player the Wings offer in trade.

 

[HaNotsri]

And we won't give it to him when we already have Dahlin and Power. This trade didn't make much sense in the first place.


Kasper?

Kasper is a good prospect but that is an investment 2-3 years down the road in a middle six center.

We need 1st liners more than anything. I would stack our "premium" assetts and go fir 1 or 2 players that make a difference.

Cozens+Byram+unprotected first (and more if that is what it takes) for EP will give us a better return than a bunch of small trades.

If Murray could pull off blockbusters with less resources Adams shouldn't have a problem.

 

[Fjordy]

Kasper is a good prospect but that is an investment 2-3 years down the road in a middle six center.

We need 1st liners more than anything. I would stack our "premium" assetts and go fir 1 or 2 players that make a difference.

Cozens+Byram+unprotected first (and more if that is what it takes) for EP will give us a better return than a bunch of small trades.

If Murray could pull off blockbusters with less resources Adams shouldn't have a problem.

I agree, although I think Kasper is ready to play in the top 9 and he is responsible in defense, which Cozens does not have. I read the Wings board and Kasper seems to play well, but somewhere he is unlucky, plus marginal partners on the fourth line. I would be interested in such a player.

The problem with trade premium assets is that you have no one to trade these assets for, look at my list without trade protection, except for Pettersson there is no one there, or you are trading for a top 6 winger like Konecny/Terry/Kyrou (that is, if they are still available for trade at all), but that also does not solve our center problem.

 

[HaNotsri]

I agree, although I think Kasper is ready to play in the top 9 and he is responsible in defense, which Cozens does not have. I read the Wings board and Kasper seems to play well, but somewhere he is unlucky, plus marginal partners on the fourth line. I would be interested in such a player.

The problem with trade premium assets is that you have no one to trade these assets for, look at my list without trade protection, except for Pettersson there is no one there, or you are trading for a top 6 winger like Konecny/Terry/Kyrou (that is, if they are still available for trade at all), but that also does not solve our center problem.

This season is over so I think we should go for the big deals when they become available.
When it comes to Kasper i struggle to see a good match. Who are we trading for him? Byram for Kasper could work I guess.

 

[Fjordy]

This season is over so I think we should go for the big deals when they become available.
When it comes to Kasper i struggle to see a good match. Who are we trading for him? Byram for Kasper could work I guess.

We can now make any deals, including finding diamond players. Find your Verhaeghe and Kovacevic for not so much.

On the Red Wings board, I saw interest in Cozens, Byram, Samuelsson. Maybe Quinn/Peterka could be of some interest, Idk.

 

[Chainshot]

This season is over so I think we should go for the big deals when they become available.
When it comes to Kasper i struggle to see a good match. Who are we trading for him? Byram for Kasper could work I guess.

Kasper's not worth Byram.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Ideas:
Byrum to Vancouver for ? Dregs sort of mentioned that idea Friday.

Cozens for Rossi or Zegras (IR) ? Not seeing any return in Nashville that interests me.

 

[Beerz]

Vancouver really has nothing of interest in a Byram trade outside of Petterson and Petterson makes me very very nervous ... but we are almost at the point where we HAVE to take that gamble if the opportunity arose.

 

[Fjordy]

Ideas:
Byrum to Vancouver for ? Dregs sort of mentioned that idea Friday.

Cozens for Rossi or Zegras (IR) ? Not seeing any return in Nashville that interests me.

I don't see any attractive figures in Vancouver for Byram. He is from British Columbia, but only Pettersson is of global interest to me for Byram+.

It makes no sense for Wild to trade Rossi for Cozens, and they don't have the cap space right now to do so, although it could be some deal with more players, but probably now is not the time.

Zegras would still be interesting, although his injuries might reduce his value a bit, maybe something like Quinn for Zegras would be more realistic.

 

[Bobby Bottle Service]

EP is the only target that makes sense. His NMC doesn't kick in until next season, he's signed long-term and the Sabres have cap space.

The question in my mind is... Will he report to the Sabres? If he balks, not many people will blame him.

 

[Fjordy]

The question in my mind is... Will he report to the Sabres? If he balks, not many people will blame him.

He and Dahlin are good friends, so I hope everything will be okay.

 

[Chainshot]

Ideas:
Byrum to Vancouver for ? Dregs sort of mentioned that idea Friday.

Cozens for Rossi or Zegras (IR) ? Not seeing any return in Nashville that interests me.

I felt consistently that the Canadian Talking Heads are trying to make that trade for the Canucks. The logical choice is to send them Power. But I’ve seen this movie before where people like Dreger babble on about what they should do and then they do it and then those same members of the press lampoon the move.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

I felt consistently that the Canadian Talking Heads are trying to make that trade for the Canucks. The logical choice is to send them Power. But I’ve seen this movie before where people like Dreger babble on about what they should do and then they do it and then those same members of the press lampoon the move.

Could be the players agent asking Dregs to float that as well to try and help get him home.
A 26 year old JT Miller with term/no ntc without any issues would be nice, not the current 31 y/o complicated version though and that would not be fair to him.

 

[Chainshot]

Could be the players agent asking Dregs to float that as well to try and help get him home.
A 26 year old JT Miller with term/no ntc without any issues would be nice, not the current 31 y/o complicated version though and that would not be fair to him.

Dreger does often carry water for the agents.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Looking at some realistic trade options that I like:

- Mason McTavish (RFA, 4 more years of team control)
- Trevor Zegras ($5.875M thru 2026, then RFA)
- Joel Farabee ($5M thru 2028, then UFA)
- Lawson Crouse ($4.3M thru 2027, then UFA)

- Connor Murphy ($4.4M thru 2026, then UFA)
- Mackenzie Weegar ($6.25M thru 2031, then UFA)
- Zach Whitecloud ($2.75M thru 2028, then UFA)


This team obviously needs a major shakeup. My thoughts:

[BUF/ANA] Dylan Cozens for Mason McTavish
[BUF/PHI] Jack Quinn for Joel Farabee
[BUF/UTA] Isak Rosen for Lawson Crouse
[BUF/CHI] Mattias Samuelsson, Viktor Neuchev, and a 2025 3rd for Connor Murphy
[BUF/CGY] Bowen Byram and a 2025 2nd for Mackenzie Weegar

2025-26
Farabee-Thompson-Tuch
Kulich-McTavish-Peterka
Crouse-McLeod-Benson
Malenstyn-Krebs-Lafferty/NAK if re-signed
x Kozak

Dahlin-Weegar
Power-Murphy
Johnson-Clifton
x Gilbert (re-signed)

Luukkonen/Levi

Total team payroll would be roughly $88 million, including the Skinner buyout.

Is there some rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic vibe to this? Absolutely. But we can't be worse than where we are now so I think several change-of-scenery deals are in order.

I appreciate what you did here, but I’m to the point where I’d rather reboot with high IQ players. I’d like to see Power and Thompson off the team.

We’ve seen loads of low IQ high talent players go nowhere: Kane, Bogosian, Ristolainen, Nylander, etc. Too many players in key roles with low IQ.

Adopt the Bruins philosophy: high IQ, high character, high effort, and focus on centers. Make trades to get after the philosophy and success will follow.

Vancouver really has nothing of interest in a Byram trade outside of Petterson and Petterson makes me very very nervous ... but we are almost at the point where we HAVE to take that gamble if the opportunity arose.

I’m pretty good with Petterson. His defensive work as a center is way overlooked.

I don't see any attractive figures in Vancouver for Byram. He is from British Columbia, but only Pettersson is of global interest to me for Byram+.

It makes no sense for Wild to trade Rossi for Cozens, and they don't have the cap space right now to do so, although it could be some deal with more players, but probably now is not the time.

Zegras would still be interesting, although his injuries might reduce his value a bit, maybe something like Quinn for Zegras would be more realistic.

I’ve been throwing out the Quinn for Zegras trade for a while.

EP is the only target that makes sense. His NMC doesn't kick in until next season, he's signed long-term and the Sabres have cap space.

The question in my mind is... Will he report to the Sabres? If he balks, not many people will blame him.

Dahlin is captain and his friend. He’ll come.

 

[Fjordy]

I’ve been throwing out the Quinn for Zegras trade for a while.

You think Quinn doesn't have a high IQ? I thought they used to think he did. But I'm so tired of all this that I'm ready for some pretty radical measures.

 

[jc17]

I appreciate what you did here, but I’m to the point where I’d rather reboot with high IQ players. I’d like to see Power and Thompson off the team.

We’ve see. Loads of low IQ high talent players go nowhere: Kane, Bogosian, Ristolainen, Nylander, etc. Too many players in key roles with low IQ.

Adopt the Bruins philosophy: high IQ, high character, high effort, and focus on centers. Make trades to get after the philosophy and success will follow.

I’m pretty good with Petterson. His defensive work as a center is way overlooked.

I’ve been throwing out the Quinn for Zegras trade for a while.

Dahlin is captain and his friend. He’ll come.

Tage is decent value at 7M and he with works hard. Don't think he's dumb enough to warrant actively wanting to offload

 

[Der Jaeger]

Jimmy Johnson on dumb players

 

[Der Jaeger]

You think Quinn doesn't have a high IQ? I thought they used to think he did. But I'm so tired of all this that I'm ready for some pretty radical measures.

I think Quinn is smart but the Sabres need centers.

Tage is decent value at 7M and he with works hard. Don't think he's dumb enough to warrant actively wanting to offload

Watch his puck decisions. He short circuits 3-5 scoring chances each game with stupid puck decisions. Also, his puck support in the defensive zone is average at best.

Here’s a neat game: next game, just watch the 4 centers. Count how many times they were each in poor puck support position in the D zone, or made a bad decision in the D zone on the zone exit, which led to the Sabres either getting pinned in their own zone or messed up a chance to transition fast.

Hint: you’ll really appreciate McLeod.

 

[Fjordy]

Maybe Tage should just play on the wing?

 

[slip]

Jimmy Johnson on dumb players

I’d like his perspective on dumb owners.

 

[jc17]

I think Quinn is smart but the Sabres need centers.

Watch his puck decisions. He short circuits 3-5 scoring chances each game with stupid puck decisions. Also, his puck support in the defensive zone is average at best.

Here’s a neat game: next game, just watch the 4 centers. Count how many times they were each in poor puck support position in the D zone, or made a bad decision in the D zone on the zone exit, which led to the Sabres either getting pinned in their own zone or messed up a chance to transition fast.

Hint: you’ll really appreciate McLeod.

Hes one of the few guys that consistently has a positive goal and expected goal differential. Playing mostly with other guys who have their iq questioned as well.

I won't disagree with what you're seeing but I think he does enough well, particularly given what hes paid, that he has a positive impact overall

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

Hes one of the few guys that consistently has a positive goal and expected goal differential. Playing mostly with other guys who have their iq questioned as well.

I won't disagree with what you're seeing but I think he does enough well, particularly given what hes paid, that he has a positive impact overall

Yeah, he's not ideal but Tage at least has enough talent to somewhat mitigate his low IQ, unlike some of our other sub-optimal IQ forwards (see Cozens). Put him with some wingers with a few brain cells to rub together and he could be a passable 1C or a very good 2C.