The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[Fjordy]

I am almost at the point where I don’t care what they do… whether they trade all the youth for veterans or trade all the vets for youth. This team has no real leaders or identity.

Just an incorrectly built roster and the development of young players over the last 4-5 years. I will not take other GMs now, because you can talk about it a lot. But I do care, I think a normal GM could have fixed it, not even some great GM, just a guy who understands that there are holes in the roster, who is not afraid to trade or even little overpay if necessary. Unfortunately, everything comes from the owner, but maybe someday this will change. Although if Martone is similar to Tkachuk, it will be difficult to decide.

 

[jc17]

I'd take him over Gilbert and maybe Bryson but don't think we sacrifice Gilbert physicality

 

[Fjordy]

I'd take him over Gilbert and maybe Bryson but don't think we sacrifice Gilbert physicality

Just so that Dahlin has someone to talk to, he is the only Swede on the team. He could also be our secret agent in the Pettersson negotiations.

Seriously, I'm not sure if we need him, but for some reason I want to take Brannstrom more than Ty Smith. And I'm tired of looking at Bryson. Although we have Johnson, who is almost 24 years old and we already need to decide something with him.

 

[Chainshot]

The issue is how many non-PK defensemen does this team need? Jokiharju is terrible at it. Power is bad at it. They keep Bryson away from it. They were trying to keep Dahlin from having to do it so he was fresh. Brannstrom doesn't PK.

And I like the guy, but no, I wouldn't make that claim.

 

[Faceboner]

EP40 & Ramus Andersson would do wonders for this team is some many ways.
I mentioned this in the trade boards..... Sabres need to give the fan base and Dahlin some hope before he wants out. Fans for the most part are already gone. Andersson is the ideal RHD partner for Dahlin and Swedish. Byram and Krebs +

Then go all in with Cozens and Power + for EP40... the ideal center and Swedish.
Next, Rickard Rakell, not just because he us Swedish, but because is might be available and of what he brings. Apparently Pittsburgh is looking to move him for youth. We have that available.
Again, it's not that the Swedish matters but it can definitely be a group to move forward with.

EP40, Andersson, Rakell... sign me up. That would give me some hope or at least optimism.

If we can do all that then yeah

 

[Fjordy]

The issue is how many non-PK defensemen does this team need? Jokiharju is terrible at it. Power is bad at it. They keep Bryson away from it. They were trying to keep Dahlin from having to do it so he was fresh. Brannstrom doesn't PK.

And I like the guy, but no, I wouldn't make that claim.

Johnson PK?

 

[Chainshot]

Johnson PK?

In Rochester? Of course. In Buffalo? Didn't get used there at all.

 

[Fjordy]

In Rochester? Of course. In Buffalo? Didn't get used there at all.

Either way, it makes sense to give Johnson a chance or trade him if they don't want to use him.

 

[sabremike]

The issue is how many non-PK defensemen does this team need? Jokiharju is terrible at it. Power is bad at it. They keep Bryson away from it. They were trying to keep Dahlin from having to do it so he was fresh. Brannstrom doesn't PK.

And I like the guy, but no, I wouldn't make that claim.

Right now we have two options:

1) Take a no risk chance on a guy

2) Do nothing


Unless the goal is better draft position why should #2 even be an option? Seriously, what is the absolute worst thing that happens if we claim the guy, he sucks and we continue to be a stinking pile of dogshit?

 

[Chainshot]

Right now we have two options:

1) Take a no risk chance on a guy

2) Do nothing


Unless the goal is better draft position why should #2 even be an option? Seriously, what is the absolute worst thing that happens if we claim the guy, he sucks and we continue to be a stinking pile of dogshit?

So take a guy who can't PK rather than say, calling up RJohnson and running him as Power's partner and blanket for a time? That's my first thing - see what they have there instead of picking up someone who isn't working as a defensive stopper on a more structured team than Buffalo's has shown itself to be.

 

[K8fool]

The issue is how many non-PK defensemen does this team need? Jokiharju is terrible at it. Power is bad at it. They keep Bryson away from it. They were trying to keep Dahlin from having to do it so he was fresh. Brannstrom doesn't PK.

And I like the guy, but no, I wouldn't make that claim.

Adams. When does roster thing end. Do you trust him. And can Johnson do it roch until help ever arrives

 

[Chainshot]

Adams. When does roster thing end. Do you trust him. And can Johnson do it roch until help ever arrives

The closest I’ve ever come to trusting in general manager, was when Muckler was in charge. Outside of that, and when Punch was running things when I was a child, that’s about it.

I have a suspicion that Ryan is able to do everything Jokiharju does and probably better. I know that’s a low bar, but it’s time to see if there’s something there.

 

[Steddy33]

That's not true either. I always said look for diamonds, any player can be very good in a certain situation. Fabbro, Kakko, Kovacevic, Verhaeghe and many other players over the years have become like that. Kakko was our type of player and he had a good season actually, he's a playmaker who can also help in defense, we almost don't have any of those on the team. Of course we have a very poorly composed team, but you look for players like that, especially if you don't make any other deals and you have the cap. This doesn't mean you can't trade for EP40 (if it's available at all) or someone more established.

This team should be picking up any waiver RHD that has ever shown a flash of defensive talent in thisleague. Borgen would've been a fine cheap trade.

Kakko trade was the same time Greenway got hurt. He would've been a very good replacement. This team is an absolute joke. They have no clue how to build a roster

 

[Mattilaus]

This team should be picking up any waiver RHD that has ever shown a flash of defensive talent in thisleague. Borgen would've been a fine cheap trade.

Kakko trade was the same time Greenway got hurt. He would've been a very good replacement. This team is an absolute joke. They have no clue how to build a roster

Fabbro is still the big miss of the year for me. Went to waivers. We should have totally thrown a 3rd or 4th round pick out to snag him. That's a nothing price for a defensively responsible RHD.

 

[toddkaz]

Erik Brannstrom waived. Why does it feel like a lot of these defensemen being waived are 5'10 offensive defensemen that can't play defense?

Also they seem to be 1st round draft picks. Small offensive defensemen that dont hit and can't play defense maybe steer clear of them in the 1st round.

 

[Archie Lee]

This team should be picking up any waiver RHD that has ever shown a flash of defensive talent in thisleague. Borgen would've been a fine cheap trade.

Kakko trade was the same time Greenway got hurt. He would've been a very good replacement. This team is an absolute joke. They have no clue how to build a roster

Not disagreeing with the general sentiment, but we didn’t have a Kakko to trade for Borgen, nor a Borgen to trade for Kakko.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

When will the first nhl roster trade happen? Will it be January? Place your bets!

 

[Steddy33]

Fabbro is still the big miss of the year for me. Went to waivers. We should have totally thrown a 3rd or 4th round pick out to snag him. That's a nothing price for a defensively responsible RHD.

I was on the fabbro train

 

[Ehran]

Ignore

 

[Steddy33]

Not disagreeing with the general sentiment, but we didn’t have a Kakko to trade for Borgen, nor a Borgen to trade for Kakko.

How would we ever know? We have no clue if he made an offer on either player. Or what the asking price would've been. All we know is Kevyn is extremely incompetent.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

How would we ever know? We have no clue if he made an offer on either player. Or what the asking price would've been. All we know is Kevyn is extremely incompetent.

All reports were NY was only trading Kakko West

 

[StrompTroller]

I remember there always being expectations that Cozens would become a strong two way center but I'm not sure where those expectations came from.

He's always had bad defensive metrics despite his deployment being skewed toward the offensive zone. He's just not that guy. He was good in transition and had one season where his offense outweighed his poor defense.

I'm not saying trade him away for picks and prospects though. There's still hope he could become an effective winger here. Two way center, though? Probably not happening. If we don't want to wait for Helenius we need to acquire one.

I think a lot of expectation for both Cozen's defensive game and physicality etc came from two instances:

1. shutting down McDavid and Matthews in singular games.
2. That winter classic game where he got the boot and sat and watched from the sidelines.

Not saying right or wrong just what my recollection is. FWIW I'm a Cozens supporter and think he will turn it around at some point but concede if he helps gets EP here then he can go...

 

[Steddy33]

How would we ever know? We have no clue if he made an offer on either player. Or what the asking price would've been. All we know is Kevyn is extremely incompetent.

Not disagreeing with the general sentiment, but we didn’t have a Kakko to trade for Borgen, nor a Borgen to trade for Kakko.

All reports were NY was only trading Kakko West

And? I seen that reported on this site. This is an example of one move over the last five years that they didn't make. Maybe the report is true and they have to sweeten the pot to make it happen. Maybe the report is true and nothing would change Drury's mind. Does any of this change the fact that several of these types of moves are made every season around the NHL and the Sabres suck at making them? Or are we just gonna find an excuse for every thing sweet kevy love doesn't do?