The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[sabresnyper]

This is the second time in the last week or so that Chad D has thrown Helenius out there as the trade bait to land Rakell.

I would not be a huge fan of that one. I would prefer that they try other offers to land Rakell.

Agree but I dont think Rakell moves the needle here.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Watching the 4 Nations has me all in on a race to the bottom for the rest of the season. Get me one of those top 3 forwards in the draft.

 

[Jim Bob]

Agree but I dont think Rakell moves the needle here.

I don't mind the idea of trading for Rakell. I just wouldn't give up Helenius to get him.

 

[debaser66]

This is the second time in the last week or so that Chad D has thrown Helenius out there as the trade bait to land Rakell.

I would not be a huge fan of that one. I would prefer that they try other offers to land Rakell.

yeah I wouldnt trade Helenius for Rackell. Or center depth is questionable at best, trade one of the smallish wingers

 

[Der Jaeger]

This is the second time in the last week or so that Chad D has thrown Helenius out there as the trade bait to land Rakell.

I would not be a huge fan of that one. I would prefer that they try other offers to land Rakell.

Rakell does nothing for the team in my opinion.

There are players in the system I’m not giving up unless the Sabres are getting back a Pettersson quality player. Those players are Helenius, Ostlund, and Wahlberg.

A team which needs centers shouldn’t be trading their best center prospects for wingers. And Wahlberg is the net front power forward the team doesn’t have.

 

[jc17]

A team which needs centers shouldn’t be trading their best center prospects for wingers. And Wahlberg is the net front power forward the team doesn’t have.

A team which needs any NHL help shouldn't make their top 3 prospects at any position untouchable

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Rakell does nothing for the team in my opinion.

There are players in the system I’m not giving up unless the Sabres are getting back a Pettersson quality player. Those players are Helenius, Ostlund, and Wahlberg.

A team which needs centers shouldn’t be trading their best center prospects for wingers. And Wahlberg is the net front power forward the team doesn’t have.

Ostlund has done nothing since his draft year to make him that unavailable.

 

[Der Jaeger]

A team which needs any NHL help shouldn't make their top 3 prospects at any position untouchable

The Sabres are a bottom 5 team. So they need NHL help for sure. Those prospects should be available when we start talking about Pettersson. Not Rakell. That’s the Erat for Forster trade mentality.

Ostlund has done nothing since his draft year to make him that unavailable.

Should we talk about the bucket load of Sabres players that took time to develop? Thompson? Mittelstadt? Even Dahlin?

Ostlund plays center and is a playmaker. And he’s played 26 AHL games after putting up 23 points in 38 SHL games as a 19 year old. He’s been hurt as well. Way way too early to make that kind of statement.

 

[Fjordsen]

Rakell is not top 6 C, not very interesting.

 

[joshjull]

Because apart from Pettersson there probably isn't a better more or less realistic top 6 C than Rossi, that's the problem. And Pettersson is not on the table right now.

I get that. My exchange with you and @jc17 on this topic is just depressing. Not because of either of you but due to the situation the team is in. We’re debating whether or not a different young center (Rossi) can help us more than another one that hasn’t been able to (Cozens). We all acknowledge how difficult adding experience would be.

Its just so damn frustrating our team is boxed into this corner due to the idiots running the team.

 

[jc17]

The Sabres are a bottom 5 team. So they need NHL help for sure. Those prospects should be available when we start talking about Pettersson. Not Rakell. That’s the Erat for Forster trade mentality.

Should we talk about the bucket load of Sabres players that took time to develop? Thompson? Mittelstadt? Even Dahlin?

Ostlund plays center and is a playmaker. And he’s played 26 AHL games after putting up 23 points in 38 SHL games as a 19 year old. He’s been hurt as well. Way way too early to make that kind of statement.

There's not anything between Rakell and Pettersson you would include Wahlberg in a trade for?

 

[Der Jaeger]

There's not anything between Rakell and Pettersson you would include Wahlberg in a trade for?

I’d include any of those three in a trade. But not for Rakell. That’s a dumb move to trade a good prospect for a skilled winger.

The Sabres need centers, defensive defenseman, and net front gritty forwards. Not players like Rakell.

 

[TehDoak]

I certainly don't understand Rackell as being a target. He's a wildly inconsistent winger on the wrong age of 30.

But then again, considering the source, I doubt it's going to amount to much.

 

[Gosabres08]

Not every "prospect for NHL player" deal has to be compared to Erat/Forsberg

 

[Jim Bob]

Rakell does nothing for the team in my opinion.

There are players in the system I’m not giving up unless the Sabres are getting back a Pettersson quality player. Those players are Helenius, Ostlund, and Wahlberg.

A team which needs centers shouldn’t be trading their best center prospects for wingers. And Wahlberg is the net front power forward the team doesn’t have.

Rakell gives them another adult that is fully developed.

They have had too many kids on the roster for a loooong time. Zucker has been a good add. Rakell would be another guy in that mold. And the replacement for Zucker if he doesn't re-sign with the Sabres.

There is a reason to add him. I just do not like the cost if it is Helenius.

 

[Fjordsen]

Rakell gives them another adult that is fully developed.

They have had too many kids on the roster for a loooong time. Zucker has been a good add. Rakell would be another guy in that mold. And the replacement for Zucker if he doesn't re-sign with the Sabres.

There is a reason to add him. I just do not like the cost if it is Helenius.

I would have preferred McCann or Bjorkstrand then. I'm not sure Rakell will be as productive for us as he was in the Pens with the best centers, he's inconsistent. Moreover, trading Helenius or Ostlund for such a winger does not make sense, adding a top 6/9 winger is not as difficult as finding a legit top 6 C, who also suits for us.

 

[Djp]

I could see it. Pittsburgh reportedly interested in Buffalo’s “NHL ready prospects”, some scouting back and forth by each.

Rackell for Rosen perhaps? Still puts some risk on Buffalo since he is going to be 32. I wouldn’t hate it.

Rzkell st his age and term fors not deservive one of our top prospects

Looking at his non-power play scoring, he would be second only to Tage on Buffalo with 20 goals to Tage’s 22.

Who is his center? That's a big factor

If I'm giving up a top 15 pick it's for a mid 20s player with term/control

 

[toddkaz]

Ostlund has done nothing since his draft year to make him that unavailable.

I disagree. This is his first year in the AHL and since coming back from injury he has 11 points in 14 games. I would say pretty good for a prospect in his first year AHL. If he progresses he is a point per game player next year in the AHL and could turn out to be a very good two way 2C-3C player. Something we need. Not that I wouldn't trade him but I think saying "has done nothing" isn't accurate.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

This is the second time in the last week or so that Chad D has thrown Helenius out there as the trade bait to land Rakell.

I would not be a huge fan of that one. I would prefer that they try other offers to land Rakell.

It’s insane and also not very likely …Savoie got traded but he was on the outs it seems AND McLeod is in his prime/ mid 20s. It’s idiotic to trade helenius for this player and then add his age. I think Chad has lost his mind a bit…

 

[toddkaz]

It’s insane and also not very likely …Savoie got traded but he was on the outs it seems AND McLeod is in his prime/ mid 20s. It’s idiotic to trade helenius for this player and then add his age. I think Chad has lost his mind a bit…

Agree, if we are trading away Helenius then its a package like 1st + Helanius + Quinn to land a 1st line player.

This team needs difference makers not more middle 6ers.

 

[Chainshot]

Rzkell st his age and term fors not deservive one of our top prospects


Who is his center? That's a big factor

If I'm giving up a top 15 pick it's for a mid 20s player with term/control

No one is shocked that any sort of proposed trade for any player is something you don't like.

 

[Djp]

Rakell gives them another adult that is fully developed.

They have had too many kids on the roster for a loooong time. Zucker has been a good add. Rakell would be another guy in that mold. And the replacement for Zucker if he doesn't re-sign with the Sabres.

There is a reason to add him. I just do not like the cost if it is Helenius.

It's one thing to acquire him.

It's another to use those prospects.

Send them Krebs and kisakov....

 

[Chainshot]

I would have preferred McCann or Bjorkstrand then. I'm not sure Rakell will be as productive for us as he was in the Pens with the best centers, he's inconsistent. Moreover, trading Helenius or Ostlund for such a winger does not make sense, adding a top 6/9 winger is not as difficult as finding a legit top 6 C, who also suits for us.

I'd rather they try to land McCann or Bjorkstrand as well, but that doesn't seem to be where there is any smoke around this team making any changes.

 

[Irie]

This is the second time in the last week or so that Chad D has thrown Helenius out there as the trade bait to land Rakell.

I would not be a huge fan of that one. I would prefer that they try other offers to land Rakell.

This dude's takes are some of the worst around the league.

I get that the Sabres lack media coverage, and so anyone willing to put in the time to post content will likely have a platform, but holy hell, his content is total garbage more often than not.

Rakell is a product of his situation, and he is not going to be nearly the same player if brought to Buffalo. Connor Sheary had a fairly similar season to Rakell's current season playing with Crosby , except Sheary shared way less of his overall icetime with Crosby than Rakell, for reference. (53 points in 61 games with 53% of icetime with Crosby compared to 48 points in 56 games with 79% of icetime with Crosby for RR).

Sure, Rakell is a decent two way player, but he is 32. You don't trade a top prospect for for a guy like Rakell, especially if you aren't going to make the playoffs.

 

[MagnumForce2]

Watching the 4 Nations has me all in on a race to the bottom for the rest of the season. Get me one of those top 3 forwards in the draft.

We need to be in the bottom 3 to get Hagens or Misa… I am assuming Schaefer goes 1st overall possibly pick 2.