The Roster Thread, Summer 2024

[Fjordsen]

And if they are desperate, I would prefer a 2 year deal for PKane to trading for Buch or Ehlers if they use trade assets to get Cirelli or Roy at C and Marino on D.

Marchessault? DeBrusk? Toffoli? Foegele?

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

I’m really sick of the teeth gnashing about future contracts when we haven’t made the playoffs in 14 years. Build one roster of a competitive team. Then worry about the next roster.

It's been about saving money for the last two years. We have been well under the cap. We could have acquired some little extras on one or two-year deals. We could have used cap space for picks in two consecutive deadlines. We could have retained salary to improve returns on deadline deals. None of this is happening. Let me know how close we get to the $88 M cap. My bet is 10% under or more.

 

[Fjordsen]

He's the GM. Is this now going to be that he's subverted his own position?

No, I mean he seems to listen to guys like Karmanos, Ventura, now Lindy. I think they're working together.

 

[Jim Bob]

All I've essentially heard all week is either 'no on wants to come to Buffalo' or 'x player you like isn't unavailable'.

Cirelli. Karlsson. Couturier. Coleman. Hartman.

It's all the same apparently.

I do think that Adams could struggle to get certain guys to waive NTC/NMCs to come to Buffalo.

I won't be shocked if they focus on guys without trade protection (like Cirelli or Roy) or guys that have played for Ruff before and may like playing for him again (Marino, Faksa, Buch, etc.).

Marchessault? DeBrusk? Toffoli? Foegele?

It all depends on if they would sign deals in the 2-3 year range. I expect Kane would. I would expect those guys to want 5+ year deals and I would be wary of giving those guys deal with that much term.

UFA is for 1-2 year deals focused largely on depth guys.

Trade for younger players with team control.

 

[Fjordsen]

I do think that Adams could struggle to get certain guys to waive NTC/NMCs to come to Buffalo.

I won't be shocked if they focus on guys without trade protection (like Cirelli or Roy) or guys that have played for Ruff before and may like playing for him again (Marino, Faksa, Buch, etc.).


It all depends on if they would sign deals in the 2-3 year range. I expect Kane would. I would expect those guys to want 5+ year deals and I would be wary of giving those guys deal with that much term.

UFA is for 1-2 year deals focused largely on depth guys.

Trade for younger players with team control.

I'm not sure Marchessault or Toffoli will get five-year deals. DeBrusk is 27, no problem giving him a five-year deal. Foegele just turned 28.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I’m really sick of the teeth gnashing about future contracts when we haven’t made the playoffs in 14 years. Build one roster of a competitive team. Then worry about the next roster.

Same. IMO every team should have Vegas’s mentality - the salary cap is a one-year problem.

It’s possible to do both at the same time.

Just a side note: last two Stanley Cups were won by teams with owners who have military backgrounds.

Military mentality: you are never allowed to lose. But you have to win right now and in the future.

That’s actually what Florida and Vegas are doing. It’s not a damn-the-cap approach.

 

[Jim Bob]

I'm not sure Marchessault or Toffoli will get five-year deals. DeBrusk is 27, no problem giving him a five-year deal. Foegele just turned 28.

AFP has Marchessault getting 3x$6.3M and Toffoli getting 4x$6M. They have DeBrusk getting 5x$5.8M and Foegele getting 3x$3.9M.

I wonder what the Sabres analytics team thinks about those guys.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

It’s possible to do both at the same time.

Just a side note: last two Stanley Cups were won by teams with owners who have military backgrounds.

Military mentality: you are never allowed to lose. But you have to win right now and in the future.

That’s actually what Florida and Vegas are doing. It’s not a damn-the-cap approach.

The point is that so many posters are wanting to paralyze KA because of cap implications 5 years from now, which is insane when we haven’t made the playoffs in 13 years.

 

[Fjordsen]

AFP has Marchessault getting 3x$6.3M and Toffoli getting 4x$6M. They have DeBrusk getting 5x$5.8M and Foegele getting 3x$3.9M.

I wonder what the Sabres analytics team thinks about those guys.

Well it looks normal.

 

[Mattilaus]

If we limit ourselves to only good players, aged 25-27, with cup experience, and only on multi year deals, we will end up with nobody.

Get some proven players. If they are 1 year deals, fine, but good players that can help our young guys learn to play to win. When they leave our youth will be a little better and maybe we have a playoff berth. Now the team looks better and next year you have more options in free agency and when trying to trade for players with NTCs. Refill next year, repeat. Eventually the team will have a good enough reputation to get better players on long term deals. Right now we need to just get good players where we can.

 

[Jim Bob]

With UPL, Devon Levi in Buffalo, Sabres plan to add goalie depth for minors - Buffalo Hockey Beat

The Sabres seemed intent months ago on utilizing goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi next season.

www.buffalohockeybeat.com

 

[Jim Bob]

The point is that so many posters are wanting to paralyze KA because of cap implications 5 years from now, which is insane when we haven’t made the playoffs in 13 years.

And so many posters are wanting KA to make knee jerk moves because of the drought.

Preferring smart moves with the medium term in view should not be paralyzing.

 

[Chainshot]

With UPL, Devon Levi in Buffalo, Sabres plan to add goalie depth for minors - Buffalo Hockey Beat

The Sabres seemed intent months ago on utilizing goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi next season.

www.buffalohockeybeat.com

Welcome back Malcolm Subban?

 

[Gabrielor]

And so many posters are wanting KA to make knee jerk moves because of the drought.

Preferring smart moves with the medium term in view should not be paralyzing.

He can make aggressive moves that are also good moves. They need not be terrible.

Otherwise, we're hoping Dahlin and co. are still here when all these prospects are ready in 2028.

 

[Chainshot]

If we limit ourselves to only good players, aged 25-27, with cup experience, and only on multi year deals, we will end up with nobody.

Get some proven players. If they are 1 year deals, fine, but good players that can help our young guys learn to play to win. When they leave our youth will be a little better and maybe we have a playoff berth. Now the team looks better and next year you have more options in free agency and when trying to trade for players with NTCs. Refill next year, repeat. Eventually the team will have a good enough reputation to get better players on long term deals. Right now we need to just get good players where we can.

There are also guys who might be hungry for an opportunity, not yet established guys. It need not just be guys with a track record in the bigs.

 

[Fjordsen]

With UPL, Devon Levi in Buffalo, Sabres plan to add goalie depth for minors - Buffalo Hockey Beat

The Sabres seemed intent months ago on utilizing goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi next season.

www.buffalohockeybeat.com

I expect Adams to sign one of these goalies.

Wedgwood
Driedger
Jones
DeSmith
Pickard

 

[Dubi Doo]

If we limit ourselves to only good players, aged 25-27, with cup experience, and only on multi year deals, we will end up with nobody.

I dont think anyone is narrowing it down that much.

 

[Ehran]

Welcome back Malcolm Subban?

I'd be more than okay with this. Absolutely could be worse paths for the org to take.

 

[truthbluth]

It’s possible to do both at the same time.

Just a side note: last two Stanley Cups were won by teams with owners who have military backgrounds.

Military mentality: you are never allowed to lose. But you have to win right now and in the future.

That’s actually what Florida and Vegas are doing. It’s not a damn-the-cap approach.

I didn’t say damn the cap. I said get the players. I didn’t say, “hand Ehlers a blank check,” I said, “I don’t care about future contracts.” Florida’s leading point getter and goal scorer played the entire season on an expiring contract and is now UFA. We’re twisting about sending a trade package for a top 6 forward because we’re afraid of his next contract. Always building for some imaginary future that never arrives.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Faksa is my choice. I don't think he would cost much.

He's a great mix of realistic and not-too-expensive. Kind of hoping he's being looked at hard by Adams.

 

[elchud]

Would love to add Sherwood. He's my number one bottom-6 FA guy to target.

If we aren't spending big money on forwards...I wouldn't burn down the city if they sign DeMelo for 4x6. It's an overpay but...yeah...

A couple guys who haven't been named yet are Tatar and Boyd. Boyd is coming off a major injury and would be a good buy low 13th forward on a one year deal. Tatar is a good veteran 4th line glue guy who played for Lindy last year

 

[Chainshot]

I'd be more than okay with this. Absolutely could be worse paths for the org to take.

Seems like they need a #3, he was well liked and went somewhere in search of playing time. As an AHL tender, he is solid. *shrug* It's an idea.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I didn’t say damn the cap. I said get the players. I didn’t say, “hand Ehlers a blank check,” I said, “I don’t care about future contracts.” Florida’s leading point getter and goal scorer played the entire season on an expiring contract and is now UFA. We’re twisting about sending a trade package for a top 6 forward because we’re afraid of his next contract. Always building for some imaginary future that never arrives.

Florida has the luxury to do that, being an attractive destination, perennial cup contender, and tax-free state.

 

[Jim Bob]

He can make aggressive moves that are also good moves. They need not be terrible.

Otherwise, we're hoping Dahlin and co. are still here when all these prospects are ready in 2028.

And agressive moves can be smart moves or dumb moves. I would prefer the former over the latter.

Florida has the luxury to do that, being an attractive destination, perennial cup contender, and tax-free state.

Ditto for Vegas.

 

[Chainshot]

Florida has the luxury to do that, being an attractive destination, perennial cup contender, and tax-free state.

They leveraged teams looking to move good players and made trades. Reinhart and Bennett, hell, they dealt the leading LW scorer for two years in the whole NHL AND a good RD for Tkachuk. It isn't really this tax-free thing, it's that they have management that gets it done.