The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

I'd agree...we need the right type of veteran on the top two lines especially. Let Zucker McLeod and Greenway continue to be a dominant third line. They need some saavy playmaking veterans for the top 6. The Zucker and Greenway signings were key, as you can now focus on adding veterans elsewhere in the lineup. They're great middle 6/bottom 6 guys to have around though. If they had traded one or both, we're back where we started needing veterans throughout the forward ranks.

I'd be pretty happy if Adams (or insert GM here) could sign two more veteran forwards and find one veteran d-man for this lineup. My guess is they need to trade one or both of Peterka and Quinn to enable to roster spots and to allow for the change in mentality that is needed.
If they can move wingers (I would be fine with moving Peterka, Quinn, Benson, and Rosen in the right trades) to add adults to the room in the right spots, I think that is the best path forward.

If he would be happy here, I wouldn't hate trading for Tkachuk. And even if he is a winger, I think his makeup is way more of what the Sabres need than EP40 in that blockbuster trade bucket.

And in the hopium FA blockbuster bucket, I am a fan of what Marner would bring as an elite top line point producer who is also a 200 foot player.



And I know a lot of people will hate the idea, but Brad Marchand is the kind of vet that could help push the culture forward, as well.
 


And I know a lot of people will hate the idea, but Brad Marchand is the kind of vet that could help push the culture forward, as well.

Don't hate the idea at all. I'm all for guys that were brought up in successful organizations, became main components of said standards, and then became the leader of the room to push those standards. It also helps when they have the right hockey "DNA" personality traits.
 
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Watching Tkachuck in the 4 nations tournament makes me believe he's about that life. I'd love to add him, but seems like a pipe dream. We'd need more moves, though. Including choosing one of Byram/Power going forward and completely revamping the defense + adding another top-6 assuming Peterka would be going the other way in a trade.

I don't think Adams has it in him to make the number of changes needed to get this team back on track.
 
If they can move wingers (I would be fine with moving Peterka, Quinn, Benson, and Rosen in the right trades) to add adults to the room in the right spots, I think that is the best path forward.

If he would be happy here, I wouldn't hate trading for Tkachuk. And even if he is a winger, I think his makeup is way more of what the Sabres need than EP40 in that blockbuster trade bucket.

And in the hopium FA blockbuster bucket, I am a fan of what Marner would bring as an elite top line point producer who is also a 200 foot player.



And I know a lot of people will hate the idea, but Brad Marchand is the kind of vet that could help push the culture forward, as well.

Marchand will likely sign a sweetheart deal to stay in Florida and win a cup or two before he's done. Of course, I'd love that not to be true but there's a reason he was traded there.
 
Marchand will likely sign a sweetheart deal to stay in Florida and win a cup or two before he's done. Of course, I'd love that not to be true but there's a reason he was traded there.

This is who i want chirping in players ears not Seth Appert ... Id make him highest paid assistant coach in league as soon as he retires.
 
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That is vastly understating the impact that Daniel Briere had on the Sabres.

2003-04 was also Briere's first full season in Buffalo.

Then you had Ryan Miller taking over as the #1 goalie coming out of the lockout season, along with the Roch boys like Vanek, Roy, etc.

It wasn't just one guy that changed things for those 2 or 3 seasons.
Briere was three-four seasons into his career with five total playoff games when he arrived in Buffalo. The playoff experience was part of your criteria. He wasn't in any position to lead anyone. He was trying to figure himself out.

All those Rochester kids were rookies. They aren't changing culture. They're like every rookie, just trying to figure things out and make it at the NHL level. Drury was the one who challenged Miller to step up and be the #1 goalie over Biron.

Drury walked in the door and everything changed. Granted, he was a Cup winner with 80 playoff games under his belt when he joined the Sabres. But he was the driving force behind the culture change. He wanted the Cup picture hung up. He led the after-game workouts, he recommended moving on from players who didn't fit the culture that was being built. Briere learned to be a leader as well along that process, but things don't change dramatically without Drury.

Right now, the culture could use a Drury. I don't see one on the market. The culture could also use an emotional leader who is willing to skate into battle.

If I could do the "I dream of Genie" hand bob and have two players right now who fill those rolls (outside of Crosby) it'd be Cirelli as the leader and Tkachuk as the emotional lead for the team. But I'd be on the lookout for those types of players. If I were Dahlin, that's the type of leadership help I'd be looking for.
 
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Agree, that black hole is real. But I'm willing to take changes at this point.
I am all for doing everything we can to make the playoffs but I think Buffalo is better off signing free agents and getting a 1C than trading for Tkachuk.

I think there are too many holes to fill and trading for Tkachuk would take something like Power, Peterka + 2025 1st and even then its probably not getting it done and thats if he waives.

On top of that it just creates more holes.

Bring in a center(Which isn't easy either), get a top 4RHD improve 5-6 defensemen and take a run that way.

If we were a Tkachuk away from the playoffs go for it but I don't think Buffalo is(Thats including the hole left behind trading for him)

If Buffalo is picking top 4 I would not trade away the chance to get Misa or Hagens.
 
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I am all for doing everything we can to make the playoffs but I think Buffalo is better off signing free agents and getting a 1C than trading for Tkachuk.

I think there are too many holes to fill and trading for Tkachuk would take something like Power, Peterka + 2025 1st and even then its probably not getting it done and thats if he waives.

On top of that it just creates more holes.

Bring in a center(Which isn't easy either), get a top 4RHD improve 5-6 defensemen and take a run that way.

If we were a Tkachuk away from the playoffs go for it but I don't think Buffalo is(Thats including the hole left behind trading for him)

If Buffalo is picking top 4 I would not trade away the chance to get Misa or Hagens.

What 1C that's a UFA and not say, 35+ is eager to sign or even listen to Buffalo? Even if there were a few of them about to be a UFA, why would they even listen to Adams?

Assuming the article I pulled up isn't outdated there is, to name a few forwards:
Marner
Ehlers
Tavares
Bennett
Boeser
Marchand
Duchene
Benn

Of that list alone, I'd be calling Bennett, but why would he leave Florida to come here? He can take less there and still net the same amount and compete for a up for the next 5 years.
 
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What 1C that's a UFA and not say, 35+ is eager to sign or even listen to Buffalo? Even if there were a few of them about to be a UFA, why would they even listen to Adams?

Assuming the article I pulled up isn't outdated there is, to name a few forwards:
Marner
Ehlers
Tavares
Bennett
Boeser
Marchand
Duchene
Benn

Of that list alone, I'd be calling Bennett, but why would he leave Florida to come here? He can take less there and still net the same amount and compete for a up for the next 5 years.
When did I say sign a 1C UFA? :dunno:

Then you go on to make a list to prove me wrong over a statement I never made. lol.
 
When did I say sign a 1C UFA? :dunno:

Then you go on to make a list to prove me wrong over a statement I never made. lol.

I must have misinterpretted your first line. What did you mean by this?

I am all for doing everything we can to make the playoffs but I think Buffalo is better off signing free agents and getting a 1C than trading for Tkachuk.
 
I must have misinterpretted your first line. What did you mean by this?

I am all for doing everything we can to make the playoffs but I think Buffalo is better off signing free agents and getting a 1C than trading for Tkachuk.
See how I wrote AND getting a 1C.

I didn't write through free agency . If I meant through free agency I would have wrote through free agency and I would not have wrote AND yet you just try to prove me wrong over a statement I never made.

There is a very good possibility Buffalo will have to elevate a 2C to the 1C spot but it doesn't mean you don't still try to get a 1C.

To answer your question....By any means possible. Why pigeon hole yourself into only one path to get a 1C? Thats why I wasn't specific about it.
 
I am all for doing everything we can to make the playoffs but I think Buffalo is better off signing free agents and getting a 1C than trading for Tkachuk.

I think there are too many holes to fill and trading for Tkachuk would take something like Power, Peterka + 2025 1st and even then its probably not getting it done and thats if he waives.

On top of that it just creates more holes.

Bring in a center(Which isn't easy either), get a top 4RHD improve 5-6 defensemen and take a run that way.

If we were a Tkachuk away from the playoffs go for it but I don't think Buffalo is(Thats including the hole left behind trading for him)

If Buffalo is picking top 4 I would not trade away the chance to get Misa or Hagens.
If Buffalo ends up with a top 4 pick, I'm not advocated trading it at all. Make the pick and deal with the day 2 and 2026 picks in any trade.
 
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If Buffalo ends up with a top 4 pick, I'm not advocated trading it at all. Make the pick and deal with the day 2 and 2026 picks in any trade.
I think trading the 2026 pick maybe top 5 protected is smart If they want to make the playoffs trade an asset that plays no role in the on ice product for at least 3-4 years to improve the team now.

Especially if you get someone who is 23-25 then who cares about the pick because in the end you get a good player now that can play for 7-8 years.

I just don't have faith in Adams to put together a playoff team.
 
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Watching Tkachuck in the 4 nations tournament makes me believe he's about that life. I'd love to add him, but seems like a pipe dream. We'd need more moves, though. Including choosing one of Byram/Power going forward and completely revamping the defense + adding another top-6 assuming Peterka would be going the other way in a trade.

I don't think Adams has it in him to make the number of changes needed to get this team back on track.
If one must be made, Byram is the easy choice for me. Power can leave; won't miss him.

Perhaps a poor analogy... Brandon Montour has played 8 full seasons in the NHL and is basically a 0.5ppg player (higher ppg when playing with the stacked Panther squads). Power has played 3 full seasons in NHL and is basically a 0.5 ppg player. Even with Power's potential offensive upside elsewhere, I'd still prefer some better defensive play from a replacement. If there was a Montour-like available of similar age to Power, I'd do a straight 1-for-1 deal.

McLeod is our most consistent forward on the team, by far.
Zucker? Both have brought it all season.

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If I understand streaks and woefullness correctly, last night's St. Pat's win in Boston was the Sabres 1st road win since Jan 21. Eight straight losses. Even with the "break" (were the Sabres truly in need of a break?), that span is nearly two months.
 
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See how I wrote AND getting a 1C.

I didn't write through free agency . If I meant through free agency I would have wrote through free agency and I would not have wrote AND yet you just try to prove me wrong over a statement I never made.

There is a very good possibility Buffalo will have to elevate a 2C to the 1C spot but it doesn't mean you don't still try to get a 1C.

To answer your question....By any means possible. Why pigeon hole yourself into only one path to get a 1C? Thats why I wasn't specific about it.

Still quite confusing phrasing. But it's all good brother! I re-read it again and it still sounds as if you want to "get" a 1C through FA. How else are you alluding we "just get a 1C" lol
 
If one must be made, Byram is the easy choice for me. Power can leave; won't miss him.

Zucker? Both have brought it all season.

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If I understand streaks and woefullness correctly, last night's St. Pat's win in Boston was the Sabres 1st road win since Jan 21. Eight straight losses. Even with the "break" (were the Sabres truly in need of a break?), that span is nearly two months.
Zucker's right there, and I'd say Zucker's had bigger impacts sprinkled out through the season at times, but from a standard of consistency, I'd say McLeod has not seen much decline, where Zucker has dipped at times.
 
Zucker's right there, and I'd say Zucker's had bigger impacts sprinkled out through the season at times, but from a standard of consistency, I'd say McLeod has not seen much decline, where Zucker has dipped at times.

McLeod had like a 15 to 20 game stretch after his hot start where he just disappeared.
 

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