The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

After diving into the metrics, I'm very open to the idea of trading for EP. The metrics support that this is a serious outlier year for him as a player. His linemate quality is not very high (playing with Kiefer Sherwood isn't going to help anyone), he is shooting way below career average (11% this year compared to 4 straight years at 16-17% prior). He is at 46% o-zone ES starts, where in the past seasons he was closer to 54% o-zone starts at ES. He is also lower on ice time, below 19 minutes for the first time in 3-4 seasons.

Coming into the year off an injury, high end pressure, and locker room issues with Miller (a known headcase).

If you take him and put him in Cozens role (playing with Peterka/Quinn or Zucker/Tuch) with PP time and 55% zone start (what Cozens gets), I'd fully expect him to be at a minimum a 70 point player. With the cap going up, and the potential to offload Cozens deal, I dont think it's that much of a risk to being EP in.

If you have Thompson and EP as your top 2 centers (I know Kulich has been getting Center duties with Thompson, with Mcleod at third line with Tuch, that's a very strong center spine to work with. And they are all locked down.

11M is going to be the new 8M in 2-3 years. I'd try Cozens + cond. 1st + Lafferty and see if Vancouver would bite.

I don't know if you need to add a plus. Watching Daily Faceoff today it sounds like teams league-wide are a little spooked with the idea of trading for EP. I think Buffalo is at the point where they need to roll the dice, but given EP's season I don't believe there's a need to overpay.

 

[Fjordsen]

This is a large bet that EP40 is going to return to form, essentially.

Assuming Kulich can go to 2C successfully, you are probably starting to see the makings of a decent forward group by swapping Cozens + for EP.

I'm less sure about the fixes on defense, though.

Buffalo is probably the best team right now to take a risk. The top 6 C options are minimal, especially without trade protection. The best UFAs aren't coming to us. The only thing that worries me is whether there is a real knee problem with EP or not. Either way, we'll need to look for a top 6 C, even if it's not EP.

I don't think we need a ton of fixes on defense, but adding 1-2 players is necessary. Kesselring and Whitecloud are the two RDs that are the best fits for us and don't have trade protection and could hypothetically be available for a trade. I think we are quite capable of getting one of them.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Buffalo is probably the best team right now to take a risk. The top 6 C options are minimal, especially without trade protection. The best UFAs aren't coming to us. The only thing that worries me is whether there is a real knee problem with EP or not. Either way, we'll need to look for a top 6 C, even if it's not EP.

I don't think we need a ton of fixes on defense, but adding 1-2 players is necessary. Kesselring and Whitecloud are the two RDs that are the best fits for us and don't have trade protection and could hypothetically be available for a trade. I think we are quite capable of getting one of them.

Priority #1 this offseason, IMO, should be completely gutting and redoing the blue line. I'd bring back Dahlin and either Byram or Power, and really would prefer to ship out everyone else (Clifton can probably stay as a #6).

Kesselring and Whitecloud are great targets.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Priority #1 this offseason, IMO, should be completely gutting and redoing the blue line. I'd bring back Dahlin and either Byram or Power, and really would prefer to ship out everyone else (Clifton can probably stay as a #6).

Kesselring and Whitecloud are great targets.

add figure out what Johnson is and either play him (3rd pair) or move him in a deal.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Per Heather Engel, Tuch and Zucker are maintenance to heal up after last game's knocks, Reimer is attending a family matter so they EBUG'd for him.

I expect a full detailed practice report from @Der Jaeger about who shot how and where.

I’ll let everyone know once I get my hips back into place…..

 

[Jim Bob]

Priority #1 this offseason, IMO, should be completely gutting and redoing the blue line. I'd bring back Dahlin and either Byram or Power, and really would prefer to ship out everyone else (Clifton can probably stay as a #6).

Kesselring and Whitecloud are great targets.

It took 4 years for Adams to add one quality Top 4 D.

Asking him to acquire two in the same offseason...

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

It took 4 years for Adams to add one quality Top 4 D.

Asking him to acquire two in the same offseason...

Heck, I have no issue bringing Byram AND Power back if we added a defensive partner for Power. I think Dahlin-Byram is fine. I just know that you have to give to get and Byram is likely our best trade piece.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Heck, I have no issue bringing Byram AND Power back if we added a defensive partner for Power. I think Dahlin-Byram is fine. I just know that you have to give to get and Byram is likely our best trade piece.

and Byram's desire for PP minutes somewhere.

 

[TehDoak]

Buffalo is probably the best team right now to take a risk. The top 6 C options are minimal, especially without trade protection. The best UFAs aren't coming to us. The only thing that worries me is whether there is a real knee problem with EP or not. Either way, we'll need to look for a top 6 C, even if it's not EP.

I don't think we need a ton of fixes on defense, but adding 1-2 players is necessary. Kesselring and Whitecloud are the two RDs that are the best fits for us and don't have trade protection and could hypothetically be available for a trade. I think we are quite capable of getting one of them.

I'm fine with going after EP40.....assuming we can talk with him before the trade.

I've mentioned this many times, but if you recall the jeff carter situation in Columbus where Philly traded him to Columbus right before his NMC kicked in and he was miserable and whined until he got traded to LA.

You have to be sure he is OK with coming here or your risk having to pay the premium to get him and immediately sell him at a discount.

 

[Sabreality]

and Byram's desire for PP minutes somewhere.

This has been repeated here a bunch, but is there really an actual source where Byram has stated this or just 'speculation' by twitterazi's?

 

[Fjordsen]

I'm fine with going after EP40.....assuming we can talk with him before the trade.

I've mentioned this many times, but if you recall the jeff carter situation in Columbus where Philly traded him to Columbus right before his NMC kicked in and he was miserable and whined until he got traded to LA.

You have to be sure he is OK with coming here or your risk having to pay the premium to get him and immediately sell him at a discount.

I think there will be no problem talking to him.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

I think there will be no problem talking to him.

He's buds with Dahlin as well.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

This has been repeated here a bunch, but is there really an actual source where Byram has stated this or just 'speculation' by twitterazi's?

Friedman said (paraphrased) "Byram wants to be the #1 guy". That's the only mention I've seen.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

I'm fine with going after EP40.....assuming we can talk with him before the trade.

I've mentioned this many times, but if you recall the jeff carter situation in Columbus where Philly traded him to Columbus right before his NMC kicked in and he was miserable and whined until he got traded to LA.

You have to be sure he is OK with coming here or your risk having to pay the premium to get him and immediately sell him at a discount.

One factor that COULD weigh in our favor - we have one of the weakest sets of beat writers in the league. Coming in with the perception of being a "star" player in the league (whether or not he still is is irrelevant), he would be a fan favorite from day #1 and I really don't think he could have a softer media environment than here.

He's really struggling with the pressure in Vancouver and Dahlin could sell him on that here as a relief, too.