The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[MarkusKetterer]

I'd explore both but for different reasons.

I'd look at moving Byram in a deal to change the dynamic of the defensive corps. Dahlin could feasibly run PP1 and PP2 if Byram and Power are moved, so I don't see an issue. So, agree with the idea.

I'd like to move Power but for a different reason. I think he's a huge asset for the team but is being wasted. With his talent, you really want to build a defensive corps around him. Basically go get Marcus Pettersson's, Vlasic's, Weegar's, etc and have Power as the defensive cornerstone. Feed him PP1 and PP2 minutes. Run the offense through him.

With Dahlin on the team, he's not getting PP1 minutes, and there's not enough around him to support him. So Ruff moves him to the 3rd pairing and that shelters him. But if Power is basically the team's Jason Woolley, that's a huge asset mismanagement.

I'd explore moving him because the Sabres are misusing him, because of Dahlin's role as 1D. No issues with the player right now, as he's 22 years old and can fix some of his issues. But I think the Sabres could move him to a Western Conference team which doesn't have a true 1D (Anaheim, Calgary, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis) and address other areas on the team.

Honestly I had the thought of Power for Mukhmadullin + Lund.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I'd explore both but for different reasons.

I'd look at moving Byram in a deal to change the dynamic of the defensive corps. Dahlin could feasibly run PP1 and PP2 if Byram and Power are moved, so I don't see an issue. So, agree with the idea.

I'd like to move Power but for a different reason. I think he's a huge asset for the team but is being wasted. With his talent, you really want to build a defensive corps around him. Basically go get Marcus Pettersson's, Vlasic's, Weegar's, etc and have Power as the defensive cornerstone. Feed him PP1 and PP2 minutes. Run the offense through him.

With Dahlin on the team, he's not getting PP1 minutes, and there's not enough around him to support him. So Ruff moves him to the 3rd pairing and that shelters him. But if Power is basically the team's Jason Woolley, that's a huge asset mismanagement.

I'd explore moving him because the Sabres are misusing him, because of Dahlin's role as 1D. No issues with the player right now, as he's 22 years old and can fix some of his issues. But I think the Sabres could move him to a Western Conference team which doesn't have a true 1D (Anaheim, Calgary, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis) and address other areas on the team.

Your points on Power make sense - mostly agree. But I simply can’t fathom why anyone would want to trade Byram. We need to build up our defense, not start from where we were in 2019!

If trades of good defensemen happened more often, then sure - but I don’t see the team getting better by trading him away in any scenario.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

People should look at our organizational depth chart at the position so they can see what a catastrophically awful idea this would be (like Milbury on steroids bad). Moving one of them would be the logical and rational thing.

Also look at the number of trades of GOOD defensemen without trade protection that have been traded the past five years. We’ve been looking for a top 4 RHD that whole time and haven’t even got a nibble.

Trading away top 4 defensemen when we only have 3 of them to begin with is bonkers

 

[Der Jaeger]

Your points on Power make sense - mostly agree. But I simply can’t fathom why anyone would want to trade Byram. We need to build up our defense, not start from where we were in 2019!

If trades of good defensemen happened more often, then sure - but I don’t see the team getting better by trading him away in any scenario.

I'm onboard trading Byram in an idea like @Chainshot had: getting a different type of defenseman.

My idea' defensive corps for the Sabres is Dahlin with a mobile partner who can shut down rushes (Marcus Petterson, Vlasic, Weegar), a second pairing which is a matchup pairing, with two mobile defenders who can take on top lines. Physicality is a plus. The third pairing is a secondary shut down pair with mobility and physicality.

Without taking any sort of trade requirements in mind to get to this outcome, this is the type of defense I'd want:

Vlasic - Dahlin
Pettersson - Fabbro
Ryan Johnson - Clifton

 

[slip]

I again would explore moving both of Power and Byram.

Interestingly in this Reimer stretch is noting how Power is currently their 4th or 5th defenseman in TOI over the last 6 games. I wonder if he's dealing with some physical malady?

Sabres 11-7-1 in games where Power plays under 20 minutes.

Not quite the tell that our 0-9 record without Dahlin in the lineup represents, or the Bruins 9 game losing streak with Joker logging well north of 20 minutes says about him, but still somewhat informational.

With Power, less might be more.

 

[toddkaz]

Sabres 11-7-1 in games where Power plays under 20 minutes.

Not quite the tell that our 0-9 record without Dahlin in the lineup represents, or the Bruins 9 game losing streak

with Joker logging well north of 20 minutes says about him, but still somewhat informational.

With Power, less might be more.

Power might be able to get a 1C but I can see his value will start going down.

If I am the Sabres GM I am floating Power out there to see if someone bites.

Something like the Seth Jones for Johansen style trade. This team really needs a 1C. Would even add.

Thomas, Larkin, Sillinger....Thats who I would be aiming for but I don't think Power fools a GM.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

I'm onboard trading Byram in an idea like @Chainshot had: getting a different type of defenseman.

My idea' defensive corps for the Sabres is Dahlin with a mobile partner who can shut down rushes (Marcus Petterson, Vlasic, Weegar), a second pairing which is a matchup pairing, with two mobile defenders who can take on top lines. Physicality is a plus. The third pairing is a secondary shut down pair with mobility and physicality.

Without taking any sort of trade requirements in mind to get to this outcome, this is the type of defense I'd want:

Vlasic - Dahlin
Pettersson - Fabbro
Ryan Johnson - Clifton

Lets hope their D rebuild goes better than the 4th line rebuild. Hitting on 1 of 3 kind of (Malenstyn ok, NAK and Laff bad) is not good success rate. Good that they have Krebs/Kozak going forward.

Chain usually has a good feel for this so I'm hoping we can get Whitecloud or Kesselring in.

 

[Chainshot]

Lets hope their D rebuild goes better than the 4th line rebuild. Hitting on 1 of 3 kind of (Malenstyn ok, NAK and Laff bad) is not good success rate. Good that they have Krebs/Kozak going forward.

Chain usually has a good feel for this so I'm hoping we can get Whitecloud or Kesselring in.

Part of it starts with who handles coaching the defense. I don't trust Wilford farther than I could throw him.

That said, the mix on the blueline for how they play is definitely off. They don't need three high-end offensemen, particularly if one of them needs to be sheltered defensively and kept away from the PK. The playkiller that Samuelsson hinted at becoming before he threw himself into the dust bin is sorely lacking. They can afford to have an alternative offenseman as a third pairing guy, but paying someone $8M for that? Silly. Paying two guys around that? Even sillier.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Part of it starts with who handles coaching the defense. I don't trust Wilford farther than I could throw him.

That said, the mix on the blueline for how they play is definitely off. They don't need three high-end offensemen, particularly if one of them needs to be sheltered defensively and kept away from the PK. The playkiller that Samuelsson hinted at becoming before he threw himself into the dust bin is sorely lacking. They can afford to have an alternative offenseman as a third pairing guy, but paying someone $8M for that? Silly. Paying two guys around that? Even sillier.

I have no qualms with all three assistants and Ellis leaving. Will it happen ? ummm....

 

[DJN21]

We really aren't in a position to wait a few years for guys to develop while continuing to be eliminated by Christmas.

Why because waiting and being patient and doing things right hasn't worked?

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

I think trading Power would be a huge mistake, personally. I get that he hasn't gotten better since he was drafted, but he's 22 and has shown a lot of good things, albeit with some warts.

It cannot be overstated how difficult it is to acquire defensemen with that kind of high upside and high floor.

I'd be open to trading Byram for a different kind of defenseman, but I'm not moving him just because I hate having 3 good puck movers. I for one, like defenseman who can move the puck out of the d zone and contribute to the offense.

We do need better defensive D though, and we're going to probably need to overpay to get one. So that's why Byram/Peterka are on the table this summer.

If we can trade both and get back a more experienced and responsible top 6 winger, and a D that can play hard minutes and be competent defensively, I am happy.

I continue to believe we're only a couple of good moves away, roster-wise.

 

[toddkaz]

I think trading Power would be a huge mistake, personally. I get that he hasn't gotten better since he was drafted, but he's 22 and has shown a lot of good things, albeit with some warts.

It cannot be overstated how difficult it is to acquire defensemen with that kind of high upside and high floor.

I'd be open to trading Byram for a different kind of defenseman, but I'm not moving him just because I hate having 3 good puck movers. I for one, like defenseman who can move the puck out of the d zone and contribute to the offense.

We do need better defensive D though, and we're going to probably need to overpay to get one. So that's why Byram/Peterka are on the table this summer.

If we can trade both and get back a more experienced and responsible top 6 winger, and a D that can play hard minutes and be competent defensively, I am happy.

I continue to believe we're only a couple of good moves away, roster-wise.

Is it that hard to find a defenseman who cant play defense?

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Is it that hard to find a defenseman who cant play defense?

Do they all have NTC's ?

The Sabres front office seems to think they can be coached up to do so, meanwhile it's another season down the toilet.

 

[toddkaz]

Do they all have NTC's ?

The Sabres front office seems to think they can be coached up to do so, meanwhile it's another season down the toilet.

Buffalo needs two things for next year. 6 defensemen that can play defense and goaltending.

I am not getting my hopes up until that happens.

I don't mind resigning Reimer but he is 38 next year still need a 2nd goalie.

 

[toddkaz]

Do they all have NTC's ?

The Sabres front office seems to think they can be coached up to do so, meanwhile it's another season down the toilet.

With Reimer getting 3 straight starts you do you think they still see UPL as the starter next year?

I hope not.

What do people think what is management thinking with UPL?

 

[sabremike]

With Reimer getting 3 straight starts you do you think they still see UPL as the starter next year?

I hope not.

What do people think what is management thinking with UPL?

We have a coach who is absolute death to goalies. That's the main problem. Unless they magically acquire a top 3-5 goalie in the entire world we are in real trouble because only peak Ryan Miller goaltending will make things work under the current coach and staff.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Jim Bob]

How Brad Marchand is fitting in with the Florida Panthers

Brad Marchand has played three games with the Florida Panthers with one assist so far. Adam Vingan writes about which line Marchand's being used on and how he's settling in with his new team ahead of an important Wednesday night game against Toronto.

www.sportsnet.ca

Maurice has started Marchand, who recently returned from an upper-body injury that sidelined him for most of March, on Bennett’s line opposite rookie Mackie Samoskevich. They are off to a slow start, having yet to score a goal at 5-on-5 and generating 40.9 per cent of the expected goals in 22:36 of ice time. Florida has out-chanced opponents 10-9 with that line on the ice.

Benson with Bennett and Marchand would hit like crack next season.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Careful, the Harrington burner accounts will try and knock that down today

 

[ValJamesDuex]

I would think with all the emphasis on changing the culture in the room from the Embedded video your going to see moves in that regard this summer.

 

[Jim Bob]

I would think with all the emphasis on changing the culture in the room from the Embedded video your going to see moves in that regard this summer.

I am at the point where I will believe it when I see it and not beforehand.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

I am at the point where I will believe it when I see it and not beforehand.

Well, they just did "one" and we have video proof of it! It's pretty apparent that's what Lindy was pounding for.

Who are the other "culture" candidates that could be moved ? The JJP rumors suggest he is one. Quinn ? Samuelson ? Power's soft style and low hockey IQ or is he another pretender ?

Someone above suggested a complete D rebuild. They have not been able to sign any competent vet D in Adams tenure. But perhaps using chips like JJP, Byrum, Power, Quinn, etc can help ?

 

[Jim Bob]

Well, they just did "one" and we have video proof of it! It's pretty apparent that's what Lindy was pounding for.

Who are the other "culture" candidates that could be moved ? The JJP rumors suggest he is one. Quinn ? Samuelson ? Power's soft style and low hockey IQ or is he another pretender ?

Someone above suggested a complete D rebuild. They have not been able to sign any competent vet D in Adams tenure. But perhaps using chips like JJP, Byrum, Power, Quinn, etc can help ?

A) The one move they have made is still TBD with regards to the impact to the culture.

B) Adams has a long history of not getting deals over the goal line. Wanting to change the culture and actually making the moves to get the culture change you want are two very different things. I will believe that Adams can improve the culture when we see it on the ice. And it will take way more than a short hot streak of high SH% & PDO for me to believe there has been a positive culture shift.

 

[BFLO]

This run we've been on is an even more obvious mirage than the 10 game win streak from 2018-19.

We're still playing like a bottom 3 team, but 1 in 5 of our shots is going in.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

This run we've been on is an even more obvious mirage than the 10 game win streak from 2018-19.

We're still playing like a bottom 3 team, but 1 in 5 of our shots is going in.

Will the organization realize this or will it lead to more delusion going into the summer ?