The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[StrompTroller]

Not quite there, but not far off. You certainly risk tanking his return the longer you wait.

His offense will continue to improve, I have no doubts about that. His transition game is great too. None of that will matter if'when we ever make the playoffs because he will fold instantly. Theres no fight in this dog at all. I'm over it. I'd sooner bet on keeping Cozens and him bouncing back than bet on Power ever learning defense. Power is my best trade chip....let the league offer away....

 

[TehDoak]

Power to whatever team needs defense before the league catches on. Never gonna win shit with him. Hit that sell button now.

I honestly think the worst thing we did for his development is hand him that 8M a year well before he earned it.

We took the natural motivational tool for most players (the big payday beyond the bridge deal) and killed it. But...we need to find him a complementary partner and go from there.

I'm not opposed to moving Power if we can get a true top line forward back in the same age range (with multiple years of team control left) but I think trying to sell him off would be a mistake. He's 22.

 

[StrompTroller]

I honestly think the worst thing we did for his development is hand him that 8M a year well before he earned it.

We took the natural motivational tool for most players (the big payday beyond the bridge deal) and killed it. But...we need to find him a complementary partner and go from there.

I'm not opposed to moving Power if we can get a true top line forward back in the same age range (with multiple years of team control left) but I think trying to sell him off would be a mistake. He's 22.

Not trying to be malicious when I say this or anything but...so what we wait until he's 26 and grown/coachable to win? This organization by and large needs to shit or get off the pot (we did years ago really). I have no patience left for excuses or waiting and especially not on a former 1st overall pick. If Power needs a babysitter on his pair that badly then he shouldn't have been taken with that pick and as you said definitely shouldn't have been gifted that contract.

 

[TehDoak]

Not trying to be malicious when I say this or anything but...so what we wait until he's 26 and grown/coachable to win? This organization by and large needs to shit or get off the pot (we did years ago really). I have no patience left for excuses or waiting and especially not on a former 1st overall pick. If Power needs a babysitter on his pair that badly then he shouldn't have been taken with that pick and as you said definitely shouldn't have been gifted that contract.

The cutoff will be in 3 years after his 25 year season where the buyout shifts from 1/3 to 2/3rds.

But....given he's had a rotation of different partners, none of which have really been a good complement to his playing style.

And the fact our coaching staff, frankly, has not been good teaching defense.

Get the coaching staff right, find an actual partner to help Power.

The thing we don't want to do is ship out another top draft pick and watch them blossom elsewhere.

 

[Chainshot]

Paywalled and mostly just "they have decisions to make" sort of stuff.

-------------------------------------

Unrelated - as of today, only four teams in playoff position that aren't in the wildcard are in possession of a first round pick this year. Reporters speculating on values are really not doing their homework if they think a bunch of 1st round picks are moving.

 

[StrompTroller]

The cutoff will be in 3 years after his 25 year season where the buyout shifts from 1/3 to 2/3rds.

But....given he's had a rotation of different partners, none of which have really been a good complement to his playing style.

And the fact our coaching staff, frankly, has not been good teaching defense.

Get the coaching staff right, find an actual partner to help Power.

The thing we don't want to do is ship out another top draft pick and watch them blossom elsewhere.

Thats another problem entirely lol. Can we throw in new owner and GM and just buy a lotto ticket together?

 

[Der Jaeger]

Two thoughts:

Anaheim doesn't have a #1 D at all. Power would be a good fit there if Adams is looking to move him. I'd start with McTavish and Helleson.

Then Cozens and Byram for Pettersson (assuming the research is done into him medically and mentally).

I think those two moves would go a long way to fixing the roster.

 

[Chainshot]

Since the end of the 13-game losing streak, Cozens' metrics have been great, all while playing center:

View attachment 983181

He's been elite over the past month as well. The individual scoring isn't quite where it needs to be, but he's been good at 5v5 - tied for 60th in the league over that span. The slow start was a thing, but he's starting to figure his game out and been very good for a while now. I mentioned this earlier in the year - I think deploying him with some vets instead of letting him flounder with with a bunch of kids has really helped him a great deal.

I think it's time to pivot from "we need a better player" to "what needs to change with his offseason program/preparation".

Add Quinn to that list as well.



I was "there" before we drafted him, and barring several small glimpses of greatness, nothing since has deterred me. He has Karlsson-like on-ice impacts, but his d-zone play and engagement level is horrific, and likely always will be.

However, I don't think his value will ever "tank". Hell, in the last game all I can remember is him abandoning the front of the net and leaving a wide open Duck in the slot THREE times in a row in the last two minutes of a 1-goal game. But he was solely responsible for our first goal with his hard work in the O-zone along with his vision and passing. And at the end of the day, his metrics from the game were elite:

View attachment 983187

I'd bet that there would be a long list of teams that would jump at the chance to maximize his strengths while mitigating his weaknesses with the right partner and/or deployment.

Just wanted to take a moment to commend you for diving into those numbers for Cozens. That is some encouraging stuff for sure.

As for Power, the EK comp is probably pretty close in that EK is not a very good defender in his own right. His d-zone play is often pretty squishy, but he makes up for it by how much offense he creates. In a way, there is the Montour mode of him being a high-event player, shots for everyone friend and foe alike.

It's just... chasing behind the net for a 200+ NHL game defenseman is some mite level stuff. As you mentioned, he did it in that sequence near the end of the game and it could have been disasterous... again. I don't see improvement, I see regression. And I don't understand how or why he is seemingly unable or unwilling to grasp basic tasks for a defenseman at this or any other level.

 

[Jim Bob]

Two thoughts:

Anaheim doesn't have a #1 D at all. Power would be a good fit there if Adams is looking to move him. I'd start with McTavish and Helleson.

Then Cozens and Byram for Pettersson (assuming the research is done into him medically and mentally).

I think those two moves would go a long way to fixing the roster.

Then they need to get back to work on the top 4 D because those moves subtract two top 4 D and only bring back 1 D who is a potential top 4 guy.

So, they would go from 3 top 4 D to 1.

They seem like Whack-A-Mole and while addressing the C position decimates their D corps.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

Two thoughts:

Anaheim doesn't have a #1 D at all. Power would be a good fit there if Adams is looking to move him. I'd start with McTavish and Helleson.

Then Cozens and Byram for Pettersson (assuming the research is done into him medically and mentally).

I think those two moves would go a long way to fixing the roster.

Except who is left to play defense!

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Two thoughts:

Anaheim doesn't have a #1 D at all. Power would be a good fit there if Adams is looking to move him. I'd start with McTavish and Helleson.

Then Cozens and Byram for Pettersson (assuming the research is done into him medically and mentally).

I think those two moves would go a long way to fixing the roster.

So we go from too many top-4 offensive LHDs to not enough? No thanks.

Also - go look at the main board. Anaheim fans have no interest in another LHD.

 

[Chainshot]

Two thoughts:

Anaheim doesn't have a #1 D at all. Power would be a good fit there if Adams is looking to move him. I'd start with McTavish and Helleson.

Then Cozens and Byram for Pettersson (assuming the research is done into him medically and mentally).

I think those two moves would go a long way to fixing the roster.

Anaheim is awash in quality young LHD that they are trying to sort out and build on - Mintyukov, Lacombe, Zellweger all playing regular minutes and Lacombe is the oldest having just turned 24. I don't think they would be keen on a LD swap at this point, especially if as guys like Friedman have indicated Verbeek has a preference for more physically engaged players. OP is about the most opposite of a Verbeek player I can think of on the Sabres.

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

Two thoughts:

Anaheim doesn't have a #1 D at all. Power would be a good fit there if Adams is looking to move him. I'd start with McTavish and Helleson.

Then Cozens and Byram for Pettersson (assuming the research is done into him medically and mentally).

I think those two moves would go a long way to fixing the roster.

I don't think you need to add Byram in that EP deal and honestly, at this point, I wouldn't.

 

[SabresFanNorthPortFL]

So where are we going to get a 1/2C? EP is a malcontent and will probably not be traded anyway. I don’t look at our roster and think we really need a “McDavid/Matthews.” They’d be great but not necessary. I think our team construction would be fine with a guy like Monahan….not sexy but can just play center, as we’re winger heavy….which is why the Mika Z idea wouldn’t be horrible.

JJ - Cozens - Tage
Xxx - Mika - Tuch
Xxx - McLeod - Quinn

Really kinda balances out the team, not ideal but balanced.

This really kind of sucks because we are ready to ship guys out who should be now being worked into the lineup surrounded by vets.

What a surprise a 24 year old Cozens looks better playing with Canadian vets, or Tage here.

What a surprise a 25 year old Joki looks better playing with Finnish vets, and probably has the best D numbers on the Sabres, as he and Clifton on our vets.

My off-season would be to get a partner for Power, and my trade chip is Byram.


I still don’t think we’re far off, just growing up time, learning how to win, etc….the Sabres are #1 in first period goal differential…..we’re not THAT far off.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Then they need to get back to work on the top 4 D because those moves subtract two top 4 D and only bring back 1 D who is a potential top 4 guy.

So, they would go from 3 top 4 D to 1.

They seem like Whack-A-Mole and while addressing the C position decimates their D corps.

I don't know why this argument keeps coming up. It's way easier to fill the D than find competent centers. Yes, it's trading one problem for another, but the problem is easier to solve.

I looked at UFAs available. Fabbro, Gavrikov, Chychren are all available. This obviously doesn't include any trades. D corps can be build around one really good offensive defenseman and a group of players who are filling roles.

Except who is left to play defense!

See above.

So we go from too many top-4 offensive LHDs to not enough? No thanks.

Also - go look at the main board. Anaheim fans have no interest in another LHD.

Power has played RD, and Anaheim fans may not want Power, but that doesn't mean Verbeek doesn't.

Anaheim is awash in quality young LHD that they are trying to sort out and build on - Mintyukov, Lacombe, Zellweger all playing regular minutes and Lacombe is the oldest having just turned 24. I don't think they would be keen on a LD swap at this point, especially if as guys like Friedman have indicated Verbeek has a preference for more physically engaged players. OP is about the most opposite of a Verbeek player I can think of on the Sabres.

I get that. Power can play RD, and while he doesn't meet what Verbeek is looking for in players, Anaheim has no one on their roster or pipeline anywhere close to what Power can do or become. There's no one that Anaheim has who would prevent an upgrade to Power.

If Verbeek says no it'd be because Power isn't physically engaged, which is possible.

I don't think you need to add Byram in that EP deal and honestly, at this point, I wouldn't.

I'd offer up Power straight up for Pettersson, but I was thinking of more than one deal.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Probably a summer move, but how would you guys feel about Sammy for Kotkaniemi? Gets us some secondary scoring with playoff experience, and gets us out of paying a 3rd pairing D over $4M.

 

[Fezzy126]

Just wanted to take a moment to commend you for diving into those numbers for Cozens. That is some encouraging stuff for sure.

I'll add this (despite the fact I usually don't like their takes):



It seems that Cozens is really starting to concentrate on playing the game the right way. He's simplified things; going north/south, Playing with physicality, getting shots on net, improving at the dot. It's all the things we thought he would build on from his career year.

Maybe he's finally unf***ed himself from the dreams of dangling his way to 40 goals.

 

[Zman5778]

Probably a summer move, but how would you guys feel about Sammy for Kotkaniemi? Gets us some secondary scoring with playoff experience, and gets us out of paying a 3rd pairing D over $4M.

A 3rd pairing D is going to be worth $4M plus very, very, very soon.

Sammy's contract is not an issue for a 3rd pairing D. At all.

PLUS

We know JK isn't a 2nd line center, he's a 3rd line center. I'd rather give McLeod JK's contract than actually get JK.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

A 3rd pairing D is going to be worth $4M plus very, very, very soon.

Sammy's contract is not an issue for a 3rd pairing D. At all.

PLUS

We know JK isn't a 2nd line center, he's a 3rd line center. I'd rather give McLeod JK's contract than actually get JK.

Agree to disagree on that. I think that money is far better spent elsewhere, especially assuming we are a budget team.

However, as a bigger point, I want Sammy off the roster yesterday. I'd buy him out tomorrow if we could. So I guess I'm looking for options there.

 

[Chainshot]

I'll add this (despite the fact I usually don't like their takes):



It seems that Cozens is really starting to concentrate on playing the game the right way. He's simplified things; going north/south, Playing with physicality, getting shots on net, improving at the dot. It's all the things we thought he would build on from his career year.

Maybe he's finally unf***ed himself from the dreams of dangling his way to 40 goals.

The unf***ing will continue until fan morale improves.

Granted, a bunch may be ready to move on due to the lull between his best year and now.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

The unf***ing will continue until fan morale improves.

Granted, a bunch may be ready to move on due to the lull between his best year and now.

It really goes to the biggest question facing the front office - how much longer will fans hang around waiting?

 

[Fjordsen]

How many strange ideas are there.

 

[SabresFanNorthPortFL]

How many strange ideas are there.

After reading all your posts over the years, I’m even coming up with ideas in Russian!!!

 

[Fjordsen]

After reading all your posts over the years, I’m even coming up with ideas in Russian!!!

This is commendable.

 

[Fezzy126]

It really goes to the biggest question facing the front office - how much longer will fans hang around waiting?

No one goes to the games anymore and our GDT's are only a few pages long with the same 10 sickos, er posters, complaining about them. So I guess I would ask - what fans?