The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

I made an edit above. If I'm Vancouver, I would want the Sabres firsts this year and next more than any other piece in a possible move.
I thought about that from Vancouver's standpoint. I'm not sure it makes sense to go after draft picks. They seem to be in more of a contend-now mode. They're going to move on from Boeser, but the rest of their roster is ready now.

That said, it makes no sense to trade Pettersson unless the situation there has become unworkable beyond the Miller-Pettersson drama.......
I don't see Peterka holding the sort of center-based value they seem to need in Vancouver. Trading away Cozens and the Miller trade seems to have closed the window on EP being available.

And yeah, Aquilini is likely much more focused on squeezing some playoff revenue out of the Canucks though at this point, with how they are constructed, I'm not sure Hughes isn't already feeling the urge to leave.
.... and if it is, then they'd need a complete center remake. When they are healthy, they have Pettersson-Chytil-Suter (pending UFA) - Blueger down the middle. If they trade Pettersson, even getting back someone like Norris still makes that position weak.

If I were the GM, with some high end guys like Quinn in his prime, I'd take some swings at free agents. Tavares? Brock Nelson? Duchene? Bennett? If they have to move Pettersson, I think I'd try to work the free agent market before looking at players like Norris.
In other words: A very bad fit for the youngest team in the league. Zero chance it happens but they'd be wise to just pull the plug because next season is just going to be more of the same.
I think they got caught between development and a real coach.

Two years ago, Granato just said play. Andit worked. Lots of goals both ways.

Last season, Granato tried a basic defensive system, and the players couldn't make it work.

This season, Ruff installed a difficult defensive system (with makes Tuch's comment that they are light years ahead of where they were two season ago make sense), and the players can't make it work yet.

Do they go back to simple? Or do they stick to the system until the players get it? Tough choice for a young team.
 
While he frustrates me to no end and will never be the player most thought he would be, I would keep Power and trade Byram. Too many games recently where Byram has shown why Col was willing to move him. Power can be camouflaged with the right partner. If not he will still have trade value for a few more years. Byram seems to only excel playing with Dahlin, and Ras can carry just about anyone. It will take a conscious effort to find a stay at home vet, but it should be feasible even if takes overpaying in ufa.
 
While he frustrates me to no end and will never be the player most thought he would be, I would keep Power and trade Byram. Too many games recently where Byram has shown why Col was willing to move him. Power can be camouflaged with the right partner. If not he will still have trade value for a few more years. Byram seems to only excel playing with Dahlin, and Ras can carry just about anyone. It will take a conscious effort to find a stay at home vet, but it should be feasible even if takes overpaying in ufa.

Power’s issues are not something one player can cover for.
 
While he frustrates me to no end and will never be the player most thought he would be, I would keep Power and trade Byram. Too many games recently where Byram has shown why Col was willing to move him. Power can be camouflaged with the right partner. If not he will still have trade value for a few more years. Byram seems to only excel playing with Dahlin, and Ras can carry just about anyone. It will take a conscious effort to find a stay at home vet, but it should be feasible even if takes overpaying in ufa.

I honestly think Bo gave himself another concussion when he skated directly into the glass at full speed in Montreal. Looks like he's been seeing ghosts when trying to handle the puck recently.
 
In the event Peterka wants to leave like a wimp

Peterka for Weegar
Byram for McCann
Samuelsson for Hathaway
Quinn for Spence

UFAs/RFAs

Jake Allen 1x4.5mil
McLeod 4x4.25mil
BD 2x1.25mil
Johnson 2x1.25mil
Brannstrom 1x1mil


Kulich-Thompson-Tuch
McCann-Norris-Zucker
Benson-McLeod-Greenway
Malynstn-Krebs-Hathaway

Dahlin-Bernard_Docker
Power-Weegar
Johnson-Spence

UPL
Allen

Clifton
Lafferty
Brannstrom
 
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I honestly think Bo gave himself another concussion when he skated directly into the glass at full speed in Montreal. Looks like he's been seeing ghosts when trying to handle the puck recently.
Players don't play with concussions anymore, its not the 70's and long term life is more important.
 
I want to see commitment from him physically in the offseason of becoming a man, not just a married one on a honeymoon. Training, gym, muscle, bulk, etc. You might not be able to fix other things though.

His issues are between the ears and his inability to get to where he needs to be in the defensive zone. Dude watches, dude drifts, dude does not engage to get his stick on pucks or tie up anyone's ability to be free around the net. That's not a muscle issue.
 
Power’s issues are not something one player can cover for.
While I agree to a point, Byram and Power bring most of the same thing. I think Power will still have value in a year or two. Byram I am not so sure. And I think you know I have been critical of Power since his Steel days. Byram seems to be bi-polar in a hockey sense. I can’t see investing that much in the position for erratic output and essentially to ride shotgun with Rasmus. I do not think Byram will take a team friendly deal and he hasn’t shown he can carry a line either. Tough situation.
 
His issues are between the ears and his inability to get to where he needs to be in the defensive zone. Dude watches, dude drifts, dude does not engage to get his stick on pucks or tie up anyone's ability to be free around the net. That's not a muscle issue.
I'll say this, Power was the most physical and defensively well positioned I've seen him all season the other night against the Bruins. I had to do a couple of double takes because the eyes can deceive, but he was actually using his body to rub guys out along the boards and won a couple puck battle too.

He looked, dare I say, like a complete NHL defenseman. At least for a night.
 
I'll say this, Power was the most physical and defensively well positioned I've seen him all season the other night against the Bruins. I had to do a couple of double takes because the eyes can deceive, but he was actually using his body to rub guys out along the boards and won a couple puck battle too.

He looked, dare I say, like a complete NHL defenseman. At least for a night.

It's because I wasn't watching.
 
If I was rebuilding the D, it obviously starts with Dahlin. And I’d look for a partner like Weegar, who can cover and excels in odd man rush defense.

For the second pair, I’d look for mobile defenders who can make a good outlet pass. Fabbro, Forsling, Marcus Pettersson types. Being physical is a plus but really looking for solid positioning and stick work. Ryan Johnson projects as this type of player. Samuelsson could be that type of player if he stayed healthy and toughened up.

For the third pair, I’m looking for mobile physical defenders who are good positionally and can add physicality to the back end. Clifton can do this. Looking for Brendan Smith types here.
 
A bigger, stronger Power not in the right position or getting to his man is just a bigger, stronger Power getting it wrong.
Its strange you are already writing off Power knowing full well many defensemen don't mature until 23,24 or even 25 years old. Guys only 22, you would think after watching Buffalo trade away young players only to mature even more on other teams you would have a little more patience.
 
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I'll say this, Power was the most physical and defensively well positioned I've seen him all season the other night against the Bruins. I had to do a couple of double takes because the eyes can deceive, but he was actually using his body to rub guys out along the boards and won a couple puck battle too.

He looked, dare I say, like a complete NHL defenseman. At least for a night.
Yeah its strange how some people are already writing him off like he has reached his ceiling. Dahlin also had his struggles the first 2-3 years on this team. Not to mention it takes a few years for defensemen to mature. It always takes defense longer than forwards.

Fans who watch the team know Power was thrown to the wolves, was never sheltered and never given a veteran partner to help him improve. He Basically stepped on the ice and was handed the everything to him, told he was the number 2 defenceman on the team and then given 8 million dollars.

He was handled very poorly.
 
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As far as Power/Byram...you shop both and trade which ever guy gets the best player and overall value - which should be a top line (Power) or top-six (Byram) FW with some grit and toughness and actual hockey IQ. Of course, that means KA has to go get TWO legit top-four defenders...so really we just go back to having pipe dreams for a proper roster.
 
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Its strange you are already writing off Power knowing full well many defensemen don't mature until 23,24 or even 25 years old. Guys only 22, you would think after watching Buffalo trade away young players only to mature even more on other teams you would have a little more patience.

He's not improved this aspect of his game since he was with the Steel. When does the penny drop that some urgency is required in his own zone? There is no singular player other than Power himself who is going to improve what Power does poorly. This quest for the ideal partner for him is a fool's errand.
 
He's not improved this aspect of his game since he was with the Steel. When does the penny drop that some urgency is required in his own zone? There is no singular player other than Power himself who is going to improve what Power does poorly. This quest for the ideal partner for him is a fool's errand.
read my last post. I think he has improved but he was left on his own to just figure things out,

Power's development was handled very poorly but I do believe he has gotten better and will figure things out. I dont think he is a dumb guy or low hockey IQ . His development has been slowed by Buffalo just handing everything to him and not developing his game.
 
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He's not improved this aspect of his game since he was with the Steel. When does the penny drop that some urgency is required in his own zone? There is no singular player other than Power himself who is going to improve what Power does poorly. This quest for the ideal partner for him is a fool's errand.
He doesn’t need a better partner, he needs to be far from Marty Wilford.
 
He doesn’t need a better partner, he needs to be far from Marty Wilford.
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adding hide avatars option

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