The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[Fjordsen]

Samuelsson-xxx(Joki)
Johnson-Clifton
Gilbert, Bryson

That team is better than what we have now imo. With center depth to boot. We have the assets to go get a guy and not look back.

Very questionable defense, hard to count on Samuelsson as a consistent top 4 defenseman due to his constant injuries, not to mention the re-signing of Jokiharju. I was okay with them in the third pairing, but not in the second.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

My idea Power + Quinn for Byfield + Spence.

I like this a lot.

 

[Chainshot]

Again, the player Buffalo needs most from the Kings is Mikey Anderson. When Spence or Clark actually learn how to defend, they will be too expensive to acquire but Buffalo again does not need more OJT on their blueline.

And yes, I am fully aware that Anderson is a left shot and has a 10-team no-trade clause and that there is little to no chance that the Kings move him ever because he is actually a defenseman who is very, very good at actually defending.

 

[HOOats]

I wouldn't add anything for Byfield. I would actually ask for something else back from the Kings.

Based on what? Hopefully the Kings scouts don't share our game threads' opinions of Power's defensive reads and willingness.

 

[Fjordsen]

Again, the player Buffalo needs most from the Kings is Mikey Anderson. When Spence or Clark actually learn how to defend, they will be too expensive to acquire but Buffalo again does not need more OJT on their blueline.

And yes, I am fully aware that Anderson is a left shot and has a 10-team no-trade clause and that there is little to no chance that the Kings move him ever because he is actually a defenseman who is very, very good at actually defending.

We'll also need a guy on the second pair who can move the puck, so I'd look at Spence. Sure Anderson would be a great addition, but I don't understand why they're even trading him and we're probably overvaluing Power here, I don't think he's worth more than Byfield.

 

[SabresFanNorthPortFL]

I don’t think they’d have the guts to trade Power, and I think Byram was not brought in to be a long term core piece but rather to kick the Mitts contract down the road.

Boston needs a somewhat retool, their #1 dman is a righty so how about….

Byram for Carlo.

23 year old vs 28
Lefty vs righty
Puck mover vs more defensive
1 year left then RFA vs 2 years left

Dahlin can pretty much play with anyone. Carlo is Power’s experienced partner.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

I don’t think they’d have the guts to trade Power, and I think Byram was not brought in to be a long term core piece but rather to kick the Mitts contract down the road.

Boston needs a somewhat retool, their #1 dman is a righty so how about….

Byram for Carlo.

23 year old vs 28
Lefty vs righty
Puck mover vs more defensive
1 year left then RFA vs 2 years left

Dahlin can pretty much play with anyone. Carlo is Power’s experienced partner.

This is ROUGH for us. No way.

Carlo is a fine trade option but I'm doing a futures package if anything.

 

[Fjordsen]

Kulich has been pretty quiet the last 5-6 games, 0+1. That's why we can't just go into next season with centers like Cozens and Kulich in our top 6 and hope they thrive. We definitely need at least one legit top 6 C.

 

[Irie]

Kulich has been pretty quiet the last 5-6 games, 0+1. That's why we can't just go into next season with centers like Cozens and Kulich in our top 6 and hope they thrive. We definitely need at least one legit top 6 C.

There is pretty much no guarantee that any player coming from a different system with different linemates will thrive once they get to Buffalo. Unless they are a all-star center, they may end up being a PLD in LA situation,. The centers everyone knows will succeed anywhere are rarely ever traded, so that may not be a realistic expectation. (Doesn't mean that they don't have to try to find that player just that the chances of landing him are fairly slim).

If Terry and Adams can find a true top 6 center, then sure, they can move Cozens and pencil Kulich in as a backup plan, but until they have someone that can play center in house, I'm holding on to Cozens. Give him a legitimate defensive winger to free him up a bit offensively and allow his brain to stop overthinking his defensive assignments and my money is on him returning to 25+ goals and 60+ points.

 

[Fjordsen]

There is pretty much no guarantee that any player coming from a different system with different linemates will thrive once they get to Buffalo. Unless they are a all-star center, they may end up being a PLD in LA situation,. The centers everyone knows will succeed anywhere are rarely ever traded, so that may not be a realistic expectation. (Doesn't mean that they don't have to try to find that player just that the chances of landing him are fairly slim).

If Terry and Adams can find a true top 6 center, then sure, they can move Cozens and pencil Kulich in as a backup plan, but until they have someone that can play center in house, I'm holding on to Cozens. Give him a legitimate defensive winger to free him up a bit offensively and allow his brain to stop overthinking his defensive assignments and my money is on him returning to 25+ goals and 60+ points.

Well they have no choice, they have to find a top 6 C or something. You (Kevyn/Terry) can't be stupid and make the same mistakes again with this roster. I didn't even say trade Cozens, but he could play wing. This team is not going to make the playoffs, not this season or next, if things stay the same.

Adams can't always make excuses for not doing anything and be afraid like a coward, "What if this player isn't good in Buffalo" and stuff like that. Go and do things.

 

[Chainshot]

Kulich has been pretty quiet the last 5-6 games, 0+1. That's why we can't just go into next season with centers like Cozens and Kulich in our top 6 and hope they thrive. We definitely need at least one legit top 6 C.

In that span, only Thompson, Kulich and Malenstyn have been outscored at 5-on-5 (and Beck is just 1 GA). Seems like the line.

 

[TageGod]

End the Kulich experiment at 1C put Tage back on C.

 

[Jim Bob]

Which NHL top lines have been the best and worst of the 2024-25 season?

Great NHL teams are often driven by a powerful first line. How does your team's top trio stack up against the league this season?

www.nytimes.com

Buffalo Sabres​

It is almost hard to believe the Sabres rank this high and are still nowhere close to the playoff race.

Buffalo’s first line has piled up 3.91 goals for per 60, which is the second-highest rate among all top lines. Tage Thompson’s huge bounce-back has been the main driver — he leads the NHL with 22 five-on-five goals despite having played several fewer games than the players right behind him.

Thompson’s linemates have fluctuated — Alex Tuch, JJ Peterka, Jason Zucker and Jiri Kulich have all gotten looks — but most have supported him well.

The Sabres’ underwhelming second line (Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn have had miserable years), woeful 27th-ranked power play, poor defensive play, subpar goaltending and below-average penalty kill are some of the reasons the club is so far out of the playoff conversation despite its top line clicking at a strong level.

 

[kinghock]

Add to this that Marino, Kovacevic, Jensen, Borgen and Carrier have also been traded since the summer.

My idea Power + Quinn for Byfield + Spence.

NHL Rumor Mill – February 27, 2025 | Spectors Hockey

I received the following response from John Hoven of the influential LA Kings blog Mayor’s Manor: “There are three people that are not being traded… Byfield, (Brandt) Clarke, Laffy (Alex Laferriere). That’s from the best sources I have…LA certainly can’t control outside teams calling and asking about players. However, that does not mean a player is available. As you know, two totally different things. The Kings have zero interest in trading the three I mentioned. They view them as three of the core they’re building around.”

 

[jc17]

Not sure if this made the gdt, but I'll take some small improvements

 

[Chainshot]

Not sure if this made the gdt, but I'll take some small improvements

He's so poor at it that when he does do something, it's a matter to be held up for praise.

 

[Gosabres08]

 

[Sabreality]

He's so poor at it that when he does do something, it's a matter to be held up for praise.

and if he had a pulse, instead of watching the passes, that puck doesn't even get to the Cane for a scoring chance.