The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[Ace]

Those cap projections make me more worried about the direction of the team. I think we are sinking or swimming with pretty much this current roster, sans Byram, as I think he’ll be flipped for low cost magic beans.

So as of now, love them or hate them, our two centers make about $14 mil, EP40 will make that alone (including cash bonus money). As much as I’d like to hate on Adams, there is way too much evidence that almost all moves are cost related. He’s a hockey guy, he knows he needs a RD. It’s like Mitts/Byram, he kicked the can down the road one more season.

Sucks being a Sabres fan

There’s no proof he knows he needs a RD.

There’s been plenty available and he hasn’t given a solitary f***

Now we have underperforming RFAs he “saved money” for who know the cap is skyrocketing and will demand overpayment to sign.

We need a real GM more than ever to navigate this shitstorm

 

[Fezzy126]

I get that EP has risk, and admittedly I've watched this team a lot less recently while kulich has played C so I haven't witnessed as much of the good as everyone else.

With that said, there was a time when Quinn, Peterka, cozens were untouchable. I distinctly remember a post from someone saying they weren't sure they'd include cozens in a package for mcDavid.

We have to accept that we might have to trade someone we legitimately don't want to part with, who's playing well, if we want a player like pettersson.

My hesitation with EP40 is not with what we might have to give up (f***, with this group I'll give up anything) or the locker room nonsense, it's with his knee. Supposedly he's been dealing with knee tendonitis since last year, and the impact has been very noticeable in his skating (Not sure if these clips have been posted yet):





If I'm sure about his his longterm health, I give up whatever it takes. If it's a degenerative issue or we don't know about the medicals, I'm trying to buy for pennies on the dollar, assuming that I'll never get the elite version of EP40.

 

[Fjordy]

I have a feeling this team is not going anywhere and Dahlin, Thompson and Tuch leave after next season and the cycle repeats itself all over again.

 

[Gabrielor]

I have a feeling this team is not going anywhere and Dahlin, Thompson and Tuch leave after next season and the cycle repeats itself all over again.

Dahlin won't; he's built different.

Tuch and Thompson might.

 

[Ace]

Anyone who makes money cant be moved because the cap floor is going up too.

There’s the saddest sentence I’ve ever written

 

[Fjordy]

My hesitation with EP40 is not with what we might have to give up (f***, with this group I'll give up anything) or the locker room nonsense, it's with his knee. Supposedly he's been dealing with knee tendonitis since last year, and the impact has been very noticeable in his skating (Not sure if these clips have been posted yet):





If I'm sure about his his longterm health, I give up whatever it takes. If it's a degenerative issue or we don't know about the medicals, I'm trying to buy for pennies on the dollar, assuming that I'll never get the elite version of EP40.

Well, they should have information about his health, teams shouldn't hide it. On the other hand, his production is good order when there is no other jerk in the locker room next to him.

Dahlin won't; he's built different.

Tuch and Thompson might.

Why not, losing can make you unhappy, especially since Rasmus is a vet of this team and he will be 25 years old.

 

[Ace]

Cap floor will be nearing 85 million in year three of that projection.

I genuinely don’t know what they’re going to do. Sell a portion of the team for the cash just to keep it sinking for a few more years?

 

[Ace]

The salary cap increase in the NHL is the death knell in any hope the Terry Pegula Sabres will ever amount to anything under his ownership.

They’re going to hit 17 years and counting and they won’t get close.

 

[Chainshot]

My hesitation with EP40 is not with what we might have to give up (f***, with this group I'll give up anything) or the locker room nonsense, it's with his knee. Supposedly he's been dealing with knee tendonitis since last year, and the impact has been very noticeable in his skating (Not sure if these clips have been posted yet):





If I'm sure about his his longterm health, I give up whatever it takes. If it's a degenerative issue or we don't know about the medicals, I'm trying to buy for pennies on the dollar, assuming that I'll never get the elite version of EP40.

Yep, mentioned the other day that the knee's the thing. For 11 million, need to know what the medical prognosis is since it's hurt his skating burst and top speeds are down which is what is hurting his production, not just a snit in the room.

 

[zenthusiast]

If Pettersson didn’t have warts he wouldn’t be available. I guess it’s on the buyer to assess their own risk but I think even in a diminished capacity bro is still a good 1C

 

[Chainshot]

So if the cap is going up, why is there a conversation that Byram will be due a big payday off *checks notes* ONE good playoff series and ONE productive regular season? Even if he's making Power money, what is the issue with that sort of cap boom?

 

[Selanne00008]

Anyone who makes money cant be moved because the cap floor is going up too.

There’s the saddest sentence I’ve ever written

We will find a way. Such as, paying Zucker 9M per year. What I can say it wont be is getting creative with obtaining draft compensation for taking LTIR or bloated contracts that don't have NMCs on them.

There's the saddest sentence(s) I've ever written.

 

[Fjordy]

So if the cap is going up, why is there a conversation that Byram will be due a big payday off *checks notes* ONE good playoff series and ONE productive regular season? Even if he's making Power money, what is the issue with that sort of cap boom?

For me it's not a problem, for me the problem is that our defense is built incorrectly, imo. There are not enough guys like Zub and Jensen for example in the top 4. Well, or Slavin and Pesce, well, I think you get the idea. There were also rumors that Byram wants to be 1D role, play on PP1 and it is uncomfortable for him to play on RD (he said it himself). What's strange is why Rasmus doesn't play RD all the time, if Ruff should know this.

 

[Beerz]

Ok Kevyn Adams

This is why the Sabres will never be good. Mindsets like this.

2 years ago I was offering Kulich for Meier. It's not like I have sacred cows. I just take into the consideration of EP40s struggles to go a long with his caphit.. I will take some risk... I don't think i should have to take on all the risk. I don't want Tage playing Center.. I don't want Cozens playing Center.. so Kulich is needed. I will throw in any other prospect available.. I will throw in unprotected 1sts... I will throw in Quinn and Peterkas. .. My mindset is right where it should be.

 

[zenthusiast]

2 years ago I was offering Kulich for Meier. It's not like I have sacred cows. I just take into the consideration of EP40s struggles to go a long with his caphit.. I will take some risk... I don't think i should have to take on all the risk. I don't want Tage playing Center.. I don't want Cozens playing Center.. so Kulich is needed. I will throw in any other prospect available.. I will throw in unprotected 1sts... I will throw in Quinn and Peterkas. .. My mindset is right where it should be.

I get the concern but with any luck they’ll soon have a top-3 draft pick center to plug in for cheap

 

[Fjordy]

2 years ago I was offering Kulich for Meier. It's not like I have sacred cows. I just take into the consideration of EP40s struggles to go a long with his caphit.. I will take some risk... I don't think i should have to take on all the risk. I don't want Tage playing Center.. I don't want Cozens playing Center.. so Kulich is needed. I will throw in any other prospect available.. I will throw in unprotected 1sts... I will throw in Quinn and Peterkas. .. My mindset is right where it should be.

I don't think Alvin is insisting on Kulich or no deal, you can always find a compromise and sweeten the deal, we have a lot of interesting things. I'd rather believe that Terry doesn't want to pay money or that Adams is too greedy and doesn't care whether the team wins or not, the main thing is the draft and its prospects.

Although even if we trade Kulich we probably still have EP40, Tage and McLeod in NHL, plus Helenius, Ostlund and one of Hagens/Misa/Desnoyers (for me), that's not bad, it's damn good.

 

[Beerz]

I get the concern but with any luck they’ll soon have a top-3 draft pick center to plug in for cheap

Will we? Sounds like we will be getting a Berniers type Center not a Celebrini type Center.

I'm not paying 100 point Pettersson price.. if that is the case than they can value Cozens at 30 goal 70 point value.

 

[zenthusiast]

Will we? Sounds like we will be getting a Berniers type Center not a Celebrini type Center.

I couldn’t say, but I wouldn’t mind EP/Beniers-level-player/Mcleod as the top 3 centers. Kulich might very well have a better career than the draftee but I don’t know that he’ll have a better one than EP.

 

[Beerz]

The salary cap increase in the NHL is the death knell in any hope the Terry Pegula Sabres will ever amount to anything under his ownership.

They’re going to hit 17 years and counting and they won’t get close.

To be fair.. with these numbers I'm not sure any owner would want to soak in 113 mill into this franchise year after year. They will have to bump seat prices sky high and will drive your everyday fan in Buffalo out.
This franchise may be out the door no matter who owns it.

 

[Selanne00008]

Will we? Sounds like we will be getting a Berniers type Center not a Celebrini type Center.

I'm not paying 100 point Pettersson price.. if that is the case than they can value Cozens at 30 goal 70 point value.

And what is soon exactly? 2027-2028?

 

[Beerz]

And what is soon exactly? 2027-2028?

I don't understand question

 

[Selanne00008]

I don't understand question

Zen, who you quoted said they will hopefully soon have a plug in center for cheap. I'm really asking "define soon"

I don't see an Eichel in this draft where we draft 4th and they start playing meaningful minutes right away. There's still going to be 2 years development on said player we draft this year.

I should have quoted Zen as well.

 

[Beerz]

I couldn’t say, but I wouldn’t mind EP/Beniers-level-player/Mcleod as the top 3 centers. Kulich might very well have a better career than the draftee but I don’t know that he’ll have a better one than EP.

You probably have a 3 year wait for this draft pick to do anything

 

[jc17]

2 years ago I was offering Kulich for Meier. It's not like I have sacred cows. I just take into the consideration of EP40s struggles to go a long with his caphit.. I will take some risk... I don't think i should have to take on all the risk. I don't want Tage playing Center.. I don't want Cozens playing Center.. so Kulich is needed. I will throw in any other prospect available.. I will throw in unprotected 1sts... I will throw in Quinn and Peterkas. .. My mindset is right where it should be.

I still don't get the resistance to tage at center.

He's been more than capable and if we got a "true 1C" I think its crazy to be unhappy with him as a 2C

 

[Beerz]

Zen, who you quoted said they will hopefully soon have a plug in center for cheap. I'm really asking "define soon"

I don't see an Eichel in this draft where we draft 4th and they start playing meaningful minutes right away. There's still going to be 2 years development on said player we draft this year.

I should have quoted Zen as well.

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