The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[Jim Bob]

You are right, I am wrong. If a player went to Pegula and said he wanted out, Pegula would say suck it up you are going nowhere.

Also you right, its not Pegula that sets the tone. Its all on Adams. Adams has complete free rein. Pegula has nothing to do with it.

You should now go correct all the people that say Adams is Pegula's puppet and there are a lot in the Adams thread.

What was my eyes and ears thinking.

I didn't say any of those things. But, OK...

Jokiharju asked out at the end of last season. He did not get moved.

Adams definitely keeps Pegula in the loop and "heard." But, you still have not shown a single scrap of evidence of a player going to Pegula, demanding a trade, and then that player getting traded immediately.

Even Eichel wasn't traded immediately after his initial trade request and "Neck-gate" went on for a lot longer than many felt was appropriate.

 

[Jim Bob]

I in general agree, but tell me when I’m getting back first before I say no… If you’re telling me, I can get Brady thachuk for JJ + I’m listening

I'm pretty sure any trade for Brady Tkachuk is a pipedream.

 

[CowbellConray]

I in general agree, but tell me when I’m getting back first before I say no… If you’re telling me, I can get Brady thachuk for JJ + I’m listening

The only players I'm considering trading JJ for aren't available. It would need to be a bonafide star, I'm not trading JJ for any risks

 

[toddkaz]

I didn't say any of those things. But, OK...

Jokiharju asked out at the end of last season. He did not get moved.

Adams definitely keeps Pegula in the loop and "heard." But, you still have not shown a single scrap of evidence of a player going to Pegula, demanding a trade, and then that player getting traded immediately.

Even Eichel wasn't traded immediately after his initial trade request and "Neck-gate" went on for a lot longer than many felt was appropriate.

You win, Pegula is lying to us, Adams is lying to us.

Anyone that asked for a trade is still here and they never got traded.

You win this one again!

 

[Der Jaeger]

I'm pretty sure any trade for Brady Tkachuk is a pipedream.

If we keep putting that type of negativity into the universe, it will be. Think happy thoughts!

 

[Jim Bob]

View attachment 1003204

He asked for a trade after last season and wasn't traded until the last possible 30 minutes.

So, he was not moved immediately.

But, go on....

 

[toddkaz]

He asked for a trade after last season and wasn't traded until the last possible 30 minutes.

So, he was not moved immediately.

But, go on....

I said you win. Adams isn't a puppet, Pegula wants people who don't want to be here.

People who don't want to be here are still here. You win this one again.

It was just a coincidence that all the players that asked for a trade or didn't want to be here got traded.

I am sure glad we took 5 pages to get to where we now no longer believe our own eyes and ears about what management has said and that players don't get traded that don't want to be here.

 

[Tatanka]

There's no way id trade JJ. Kid improves every year..he'll be a 70 pt scorer next season.

Tage
JJ
Benson
Levi
Dahlin
Power

would be my only untouchables

My list stops at Dahlin. But you need the right piece coming back for any of them.

 

[Jim Bob]

If we keep putting that type of negativity into the universe, it will be. Think happy thoughts!
View attachment 1003208

I am happy to think more realistic thoughts.

If we are going to dream about unrealistic trades, let's put Byram for McAvoy out there and Peterka+ for McDavid.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I am happy to think more realistic thoughts.

If we are going to dream about unrealistic trades, let's put Byram for McAvoy out there and Peterka+ for McDavid.

Way to deflate the balloon.....

 

[Jim Bob]

I said you win. Adams isn't a puppet, Pegula doesn't want people who want to be here and no one who ever asked for a trade got traded.

People who don't want to be here are still here. You win this one again.

I am sure glad we took 5 pages to get to where we now no longer believe our own eyes and ears about what management has said.

My eyes and ears have never read any reporting that Adams got the "guys that want to be here" stuff from Pegula.

If your eyes have read it or your ears have heard it, please share it. I would be interested in reading it.

You can make plenty of anti-Adams and anti-Pegula arguments without making stuff up.

 

[toddkaz]

My eyes and ears have never read any reporting that Adams got the "guys that want to be here" stuff from Pegula.

If your eyes have read it or your ears have heard it, please share it. I would be interested in reading it.

You can make plenty of anti-Adams and anti-Pegula arguments without making stuff up.

I mean I literally watched video of Adams talking to Pegula about it but ya, you do you.

If you haven't seen it though it means it isn't true.

 

[Zman5778]

If we are going to dream about unrealistic trades, let's put Byram for McAvoy out there and Peterka+ for McDavid.

If we're talking about unrealistic deals......I'd MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH rather put our assets into getting a not-available McAvoy than getting a not-available B. Tkachuk.

 

[GrierIsGod123]

I'd trade Peterka if the value was right. Definitely not for futures.

I'd 100% trade Peterka straight up for Rossi ... this teams needs a playmaking C in the worst way.

 

[Jim Bob]

I mean I literally watched video of Adams talking to Pegula about it but ya, you do you.

If you haven't seen it though it means it isn't true.

So, you have video of Pegula telling Adams to trade a guy who was under team control for a while because he didn't want to be here?

Where is that video? I missed it.

 

[toddkaz]

So, you have video of Pegula telling Adams to trade a guy who was under team control for a while because he didn't want to be here?

Where is that video? I missed it.

Its clear you believe that Adams is his own ,man and Terry Pegula is not calling the shots according to your own words.

Instead of just arguing with me I expect you to argue with everyone who says otherwise.

Don't just single out me for your arguments...be consistent.

Any time anyone says Adams is just a mouth piece for Pegula I expect you to single them out and point out your stance that its Adams setting policy not Pegula thus he is not just a mouth piece.

 

[toddkaz]

So, you have video of Pegula telling Adams to trade a guy who was under team control for a while because he didn't want to be here?

Where is that video? I missed it.

Oh you want the video, go watch Sabres embedded. Multiple times Adams says he has to check back with the owner just for a simple trade. The owner is also in on trade calls but yeah, Adams is the one setting policy without any input from Terry.

 

[CowbellConray]

Couple of buy low players I could live with:

Isac Lundestrom - buried in d-zone starts, has some skill. Could be a decent bottom six option with minor upside

Yanni Gourde - this year's Zucker option. Maybe a 2 year deal would be needed

Big free agent grab... Neal Pionk - RHD and would slot in VERY well in the top 4.

Lundestrom is getting Krebs money, Gourde you offer a 2 year deal at 5 million and Pionk is your big push - move Clifton out and sign Pionk for 5 years 8 million

$23M in cap going into the draft
Quinn Traded (maybe for another RFA? York?)
Clifton Traded (Frees up 3.3M)

Cap now at 26.3:
JJP resigned 6X7M
Mcleod 4X4.5
Kozak 2X1
Byram resigned 5X7
JBD resigned 2X1.25

That leaves roughly 5.5M left entering FA. I could see them bringing in a defenseman and a forward:

Benson - Norris - Thompson
Peterka - Mcleod - Rosen
Zucker - Kulich - Tuch
Malenstyn - Krebs - Greenway
x: Kozak, Lafferty

Dahlin - Sammy
Power - JBD
Byram - XXXX

Do they try to move Lafferty to free up another $2M? Do they deal Power for cap savings (he is only player 18 minutes a game right now) and try to get some proven talent on the backend? I think they need another top 6 forward badly. They also need more on defense. Just not much cash to work with...

 

[GrierIsGod123]

Couple of buy low players I could live with:

Isac Lundestrom - buried in d-zone starts, has some skill. Could be a decent bottom six option with minor upside

Yanni Gourde - this year's Zucker option. Maybe a 2 year deal would be needed

Big free agent grab... Neal Pionk - RHD and would slot in VERY well in the top 4.

Lundestrom is getting Krebs money, Gourde you offer a 2 year deal at 5 million and Pionk is your big push - move Clifton out and sign Pionk for 5 years 8 million

$23M in cap going into the draft
Quinn Traded (maybe for another RFA? York?)
Clifton Traded (Frees up 3.3M)

Cap now at 26.3:
JJP resigned 6X7M
Mcleod 4X4.5
Kozak 2X1
Byram resigned 5X7
JBD resigned 2X1.25

That leaves roughly 5.5M left entering FA. I could see them bringing in a defenseman and a forward:

Benson - Norris - Thompson
Peterka - Mcleod - Rosen
Zucker - Kulich - Tuch
Malenstyn - Krebs - Greenway
x: Kozak, Lafferty

Dahlin - Sammy
Power - JBD
Byram - XXXX

Do they try to move Lafferty to free up another $2M? Do they deal Power for cap savings (he is only player 18 minutes a game right now) and try to get some proven talent on the backend? I think they need another top 6 forward badly. They also need more on defense. Just not much cash to work with...

I personally have no interest in trading Quinn, even before his little hot streak. I've been steadfast that they need to give him a good offseason to get himself right. I think his injuries finally caught up with him this season and his offseason training clearly didn't have him ready to skate like we know he can. While he's never been a burner, there's no doubt that his skating has been subpar this season.

I still think he has top line potential and skill to burn. He's made some plays lately that not many guys on the team are remotely capable of, including in the shootout. That breakaway shot yesterday was such a good snipe. I just don't think we should flush away all his development after one bad year.

That said, I'm not holding top 6 spots for him next year. They need to improve their depth to a point where he has to earn that spot back. Not an easy task for the GM but he needs to force Benson and Quinn to earn the top 6 minutes by adding some pieces. Adding at least one top line player will help this roster immensely in terms of slotting guys better. If you can turn Peterka into a better player somehow, that might be the move that shakes the core up.

 

[Jim Bob]

Its clear you believe that Adams is his own ,man and Terry Pegula is not calling the shots according to your own words.

Instead of just arguing with me I expect you to argue with everyone who says otherwise.

Don't just single out me for your arguments...be consistent.

Any time anyone says Adams is just a mouth piece for Pegula I expect you to single them out and point out your stance that its Adams setting policy not Pegula thus he is not just a mouth piece.

I feel that Pegula has more input into hockey decisions than I am comfortable with.

I have been consistent with takes about that.

I think people have been hyperbolic on the Pegula-Adams relationship. Some defend Pegula and act like he has no influence over hockey decisions. Others feel like Adams is a puppet and Pegula is making a sizable amount of hockey decisions.

I do not believe either extreme.

My biggest issue with the Pegula-Adams dynamic is that Adams was unqualified to be an NHL GM when he was hired and Pegula has been ultra patient with Adams slow rebuild approach that has allowed the drought to drag on for another 5 seasons under his stewardship as GM.

And it is a huge red flag for me that "being heard" was a huge need for Pegula when he hired Adams as GM.

 

[Selanne00008]

There's no way id trade JJ. Kid improves every year..he'll be a 70 pt scorer next season.

Tage
JJ
Benson
Levi
Dahlin
Power

would be my only untouchables

I like the list minus Power. I just don't know if there is more to bloom there. Maybe, but how much patience should an organization like Buffalo have?

IF JJ is willing to stay and resign here then I am signing him. if he doesn't, I'm doing my best in a hockey trade.

 

[Jim Bob]

Oh you want the video, go watch Sabres embedded. Multiple times Adams says he has to check back with the owner just for a simple trade. The owner is also in on trade calls but yeah, Adams is the one setting policy without any input from Terry.

Pegula has stressed "being heard" since the day Adams was hired.

That doesn't mean that Adams is a puppet and Pegula is the real GM. Nor is that a video of a player telling Terry trade me right now and Pegula telling Adams to move the guy immediately like you purported earlier in this thread.

 

[brian_griffin]

A lot of people trash on Power on these boards but I don't see many giving him credit. He has come a long way especially shooting. He had 1G 2A last night.

I agree he has to get tougher but he is incredibly talented and only 22. He is going to be a 1-2 defenseman in this league.

I changed my mind from 30 games to now and don't think I would trade him. Maybe for a 1C but thats it.

I feel a lot of Power's defensive issues come more from the team's awful play as a whole and not just on Power.

His shooting, whether improved or not, is completely divorced from his abysmal defensive positional awareness.
I don't need him to get tougher, I need him to engage / tie-up an opponent, whether that is before or after the whistle stopping play.
The defensive issues of Power and the rest of the team are not mutually exclusive.

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.

Wholly agree.

Bryson not good, yeah, Johnson doesn't get chances, but it's not just that, what is Bryson doing? He's small, not good at almost anything, not physical, not great on PK. I don't see the point of continuing to ride him.

Bryson is a depth signing. Sabres aren't riding him. BUF routinely plays ~10-11 d-men per season. They are at 10 this season, 9 if you consider Joker-out, JBD-in as an effective "replacement-in-kind". Re-signing / extending Bryson is not a lack of endorsement of Ryan Johnson.

 

[toddkaz]

Pegula has stressed "being heard" since the day Adams was hired.

That doesn't mean that Adams is a puppet and Pegula is the real GM. Nor is that a video of a player telling Terry trade me right now and Pegula telling Adams to move the guy immediately like you purported earlier in this thread.

So you didn't watch the video. That much is clear. If you did watch the video you would see Adams isn't just keeping Pegula in the loop. Perhaps you aren't able to see whats going on and thats ok.

But according to all your posts I can come to the conclusion you think Pegula has no control over Adams, Adams not Pegula refused to spend to the cap ceiling. Adams sets team policy and Pegula is only being kept in the loop.

So be sure to argue with everyone in the Adams thread who says Adams is a mouth piece dont just argue with many.

Many many posters claim Pegula is the GM or Pegula controls Adams but you never disagree with them. Weird that you will send 50 posts to me in a day but not argue with others over the same point.

 

[TageGod]

Tage and JJ have a negative +/-. Tuch is by far our best 5v5 player all around. We need to improve the forwards defensive coverage. If that means we lose JJ for an impact forward in both zones, so be it.