The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[joshjull]

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.

Thats exactly what he’s doing. Keeping Pegula in the loop. Adams initiated every move that was made, did the work to make it happen and then told Pegula what he was doing and why.

Do you even understand the difference between an owner being involved and an owner being in control or a puppet master? The funny thing is Pegula is just involved with the Bills. No one in their right mind would claim he is the reason for the moves made by Beane/McD.

 

[CowbellConray]

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.

Yea but who is the two way impact forward JJ is traded for? I dont know that there is a large list. That player cant be over 8 million a season, and has to be available from another team. The one I was thinking is Gabe Vilardi. The Jets are losing Ehlers, they may give up some two way center play for that offensive potential on the wing...

With that said, I just dont see much out there that doesn't come with quite the question mark associated (injuries, production, contract)

 

[BFLO]

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...

Pinok $8mil aav?

This would be a disaster. Pionk is most comparable to Joki or Clifton, a #5 d-man that people have been trying to convince themselves is actually a #3/4 if you squint hard enough. He's not in the same universe as a $8mil aav defensmen.

 

[Zman5778]

This would be a disaster. Pionk is most comparable to Joki or Clifton, a #5 d-man that people have been trying to convince themselves is actually a #3/4 if you squint hard enough. He's not in the same universe as a $8mil aav defensmen.

A defenseman playing 22 minutes for the team with the most points in the NHL is akin to Joki or Clifton?

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Yea but who is the two way impact forward JJ is traded for? I dont know that there is a large list. That player cant be over 8 million a season, and has to be available from another team. The one I was thinking is Gabe Vilardi. The Jets are losing Ehlers, they may give up some two way center play for that offensive potential on the wing...

With that said, I just dont see much out there that doesn't come with quite the question mark associated (injuries, production, contract)

Rossi is the only realistic one I can think of.

There are so few trades in this league, probably a pipe dream.

 

[brian_griffin]

On a different topic, don't know whether to put this here, or yesterday's Caps GDT or the prior Flyers GDT, neither of which I've read..

This has probably been discussed, but I've been intermittent on these boards this season, so apologies if re-hashing.

Rasmus Dahlin should be on all the ballots (note: I'm not saying 1st-place votes) for the Hart Memorial trophy.

His missing the @Flyers game (Sabres game #72) and all the odd-man rushes and uncovered goalmouth Flyer scorers made me look up his stats.

We all know Dahlin was out injured during the Sabres season-killing losing streak. We remember he left the 12/3/24 home game vs. Colorado with back spasms early in the 3rd period, after logging 17:16 in ice time, essentially on-pace to meet, if not exceed, his 24:16 season-average TOI. . The Sabres, up 4-1 at that point (albeit with Dahlin pointless), gave up four 3rd-period goals to lose 5-4. Then the skid continued.

He missed Sabres games #26-32 (all losses), returned for game #33 (a loss), missed #34 (a loss), and then recently missed game #72 (illness). Nine games missed total. All losses.

Sabres record with & without Dahlin:
0-7-2 for 2 points (11% points percentage) in 9 games without him.

31-29-4 for 66 points (52% points percentage) in 66 games with him.

The 52% points percentage would have BUF right on the cusp of the 2nd WC slot in the East. (and two of the December losing streak losses were to MTL and NYR who are two of the three bubble candidates for the Eastern WC2 slot. So there's a plausible argument to be made the Sabres may have been able to pick up a point or two in one of those games (more likely the 2-3 home loss to NYR, and not the blowout 1-6 loss to MTL in Centre Bell).

With Dahlin: 3.34 GF and 3.42 GA avg. per game.
Without Dahlin: 2.44 GF and 4.67 GA avg. per game.

Aside from missing the 3rd period of the Avs game noted above, all remaining games were 20:30 or more in ice time.

He's 15th in NHL TOI, within an incremental </=1 shift per game of being in the top 10 TOI.

He's 6th in Defenseman scoring, 4th in PPG for Defensemen.

Obviously I'm not asserting Dahlin's presence / absence is perfectly correlated to the overall Sabres team performance, but is there another player - at any position - with as large an apparent impact on his team's points percentage and goal differential this season?

What say you?

 

[CowbellConray]

A defenseman playing 22 minutes for the team with the most points in the NHL is akin to Joki or Clifton?

I had your same reaction. Pionk has been a very solid top 4 D for the Jets for over 5 years who plays all situations. He would fit in VERY nicely with Byram to make a rock solid second pair.

 

[Uberpecker]

Not sure what this has to do with my post, which was about trade cost. Do you have anything to say about that topic?

I don’t think the trade would/should ever happen, I was just commenting on the cost - which your response doesn’t even address.

My post implied that you overvalued the return/undervalued JJP.

 

[Club]

Because UPL who has the worst stats in the league is the key to winning? You havent watched Buffalo this year have you?

Who said he was the key to winning? You're suggesting we keep around a guy who's going to be 38 this time next year & a prospect who, yes, has looked good in the minors. But trusting a prospect who's struggled at times up here & a guy pushing 40 with the majority of the workload?

UPL hasn't looked the greatest recently. But I do fondly remember quite a few of his 1-2 GA games where the guy has literally stood on his head.

I'm not against re-signing Reimer. But trading Ukka wouldn't be ideal in a market that already has goaltending issues & mismanagement the past 8+ seasons I have a feeling would come back to bite us in the ass.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

My post implied that you overvalued the return/undervalued JJP.

I was just looking at the history with Drury, and the hole it would leave on the rangers roster.

You’re taking away their top penalty killer and replacing him with nothing - Schneider is a plus player who plays 18 minutes per night. Along with their best defensive forward. You’re replacing both with a young scoring winger who is bad at defense.

This is a move they’d do if NYR were rebuilding, and you’d still have to add a good amount to JJP. You’re literally taking their best 2 all-around players (I believe they have the best plus minus on the team) and giving them something at the position they need the least.

 

[toddkaz]

Who said he was the key to winning? You're suggesting we keep around a guy who's going to be 38 this time next year & a prospect who, yes, has looked good in the minors. But trusting a prospect who's struggled at times up here & a guy pushing 40 with the majority of the workload?

UPL hasn't looked the greatest recently. But I do fondly remember quite a few of his 1-2 G3.2

I'm not against re-signing Reimer. But trading Ukka wouldn't be ideal in a market that already has goaltending issues & mismanagement the past 8+ seasons I have a feeling would come back to bite us in the ass.

You did, you imply that somehow we need UPL and even though Reimer has played better UPL is a better solution than Reimer and another goalie. Even with Reimer at 38 I will take him and another goalie over UPL as the starter.

UPL hasn't looked the greatest recently? or all season? I posted his stats on my original post and they are awful.

UPL's save percentage is like .885 and his GAA is 3.23

No goalie should be starting in the NHL with those stats.

UPL is ranked 53rd out of 57 in GAA and 51st out of 57th in save percentage. Reimer ranks 28th for Goals Saved Above expected. UPL ranks 50th.

Move on if we can get a sucker to take him

You can see all the stats here. UPL is at the bottom 10% of every stat.

NHL Goalie Advanced Stats 2024-2025

NHL Goalie Analytics, Goals Saved Above Expected

moneypuck.com

 

[Zman5778]

Who said he was the key to winning? You're suggesting we keep around a guy who's going to be 38 this time next year & a prospect who, yes, has looked good in the minors. But trusting a prospect who's struggled at times up here & a guy pushing 40 with the majority of the workload?

UPL hasn't looked the greatest recently. But I do fondly remember quite a few of his 1-2 GA games where the guy has literally stood on his head.

I'm not against re-signing Reimer. But trading Ukka wouldn't be ideal in a market that already has goaltending issues & mismanagement the past 8+ seasons I have a feeling would come back to bite us in the ass.

We saw him look quite solid last year. Like, legit starting-caliber. He showed signs of being back to that form most of November and then half of December....and then Lindy rode him into the ground.

Combine that with a BADLY needed change in goalie coach.........

Yeah, I'm very willing to bring UPL back next year.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

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

Likely it is but we do have his literal best friend now on our team…

 

[jc17]

With Dahlin: 3.34 GF and 3.42 GA avg. per game.
Without Dahlin: 2.44 GF and 4.67 GA avg. per game.

I wonder if this could highlight the lack of confidence/trust that guys have in their teammates not named Dahlin

Only 11 games but it's a huge swing. This roster should absolutely not be getting doubled up in goals even without him.

In games he plays the team's numbers obviously aren't nearly that bad when he's on the bench. Of course there's a trickle down effect of usage, but don't think that describes it all. I think he's a great player, but I think those stats point to more than his ability alone

 

[Jim Bob]

Likely it is but we do have his literal best friend now on our team…

So?

Boston has Dahlin's BFF. Does that mean the Sabres are trading Ras to the Bruins?

 

[MarkusKetterer]

So?

Boston has Dahlin's BFF. Does that mean the Sabres are trading Ras to the Bruins?

I mean probably.

 

[SundherDome]

Thats exactly what he’s doing. Keeping Pegula in the loop. Adams initiated every move that was made, did the work to make it happen and then told Pegula what he was doing and why.

Do you even understand the difference between an owner being involved and an owner being in control or a puppet master? The funny thing is Pegula is just involved with the Bills. No one in their right mind would claim he is the reason for the moves made by Beane/McD.

This times a million. Pegula isn't the GM.. of either team.

 

[Mattilaus]

So?

Boston has Dahlin's BFF. Does that mean the Sabres are trading Ras to the Bruins?

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

How about Power+ for Pulock? I feel like that fixes a shit load of problems for us, with very little negative impact overall.

Islanders get younger as they go through their soft rebuild…we have plenty of prospects to add to Power. We finally get our average age up a tad, in a key position.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

How about Power+ for Pulock? I feel like that fixes a shit load of problems for us, with very little negative impact overall.

Islanders get younger as they go through their soft rebuild…we have plenty of prospects to add to Power. We finally get our average age up a tad, in a key position.

Isles would have to add. I like Pulock, but he’s slow as hell.

 

[Ace]

This times a million. Pegula isn't the GM.. of either team.

He told his puppet to gut the hockey department and wont let him wipe his own ass without calling to discuss how many squares he can use.

If you honestly think that every f***ing problem with how this team is run doesn’t come directly from the person who made the call for it to run this way…I don’t know what to tell you.

But I would say…seeing the one person left who agrees with you should be proof enough of what side of logic you live on

The only side left who genuinely deserves the team they get

 

[sabremike]

Isles would have to add. I like Pulock, but he’s slow as hell.

He'd end up the single most hated player on the roster within 10 games.

 

[Gras]

So is this a roster thread or a GMKA/TPegs thread

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

He'd end up the single most hated player on the roster within 10 games.

Pulock would literally be the most competent RHD on the team in like 15+ years.

Let’s see your list of RHD that we’d be able to add. There basically aren’t any options, which is why we’re on year 100 of not having a decent top 4 RHD.

 

[Zman5778]

Pulock would literally be the most competent RHD on the team in like 15+ years.

Let’s see your list of RHD that we’d be able to add. There basically aren’t any options, which is why we’re on year 100 of not having a decent top 4 RHD.

Let's assume for a second that Pulock waives his NTC. Maybe he would if the Isles actually commit to a rebuild.

It's funny you say "15+ years"......because I don't see Pulock any differently than Rivet or Regehr when we got them -- damned good defensemen in their 20s who quickly became pylons and then abject liabilities once age 30 hit. Pulock is 30.

That contract isn't bad -- but Pulock ain't going to age well at all.

The RHD I'd put a ginormous target on is Kesselring out of Utah. He's stuck behind Marino and Durzi and has Lamoureux coming up REAL fast behind him. He'd be worth the price, likely.

Pionk might be a solid option if he doesn't cost too much on the market. Same with Fabbro.