The Savoie thread had some good thoughts about player development, thought I'd continue them over here.
I think the absolute dumbest thing Adams could do this summer is default to young players for important positions.
If, for example, the Sabres are going to use Cozens as a matchup center, then not going out and finding a secondary offensive center but instead defaulting to Krebs/one of Savoie/Kulich/Ostlund is a clear mistake. Its fine if we have injuries there, but assuming any of them can carry consistent offense at a NHL level is a mistake at this point.
how--explain?
irrelevant of lines
Skinner-Tage-Tuch
Peterka-Cozens-Quinn
Greenway-xxx-Benson
xxx-xxx-Rousek
youth Krebs, Kulich, Rosen, and others
likely in Rochester first half of next year Savoie, Ostlund,
The same goes with goaltending. There is no problem with letting Levi go back to the AHL. Go get a veteran backup. Someone who can work with UPL and give him good rest. Let Levi carry the load in rochester, and bring him up for tough stretches so he gets a taste. We can wait until next year for Tadem time.
There is no reason this has to be the youngest team in the NHL this year, even though it could easily be if Adams defaults to his 'leaving spots for kids to take' method.
I mean, we've got several years before Power's NMC kicks in. And there is nothing saying we can't move Byram. We have the ability to be flexible there if needed.
That would require a GM who isn't in love with his players though.
You want Levi to get alot of game action which he would playing in Rochester with an occational call up for injuries or playing a game during a 3 in 4 or 4 in 6 stretch.
As ive said before ...its possible Byram was part 1 of a multipart trade that had to wait till the offseason.
Im not brining in people to force them to keep younger players in the AHL when these players are likely more skilled than who they bring in.
If they make trades its more in the short term variety
my concenr is the salkry cap structure.
The ideal format is do it as 4/7 for 14F 3/7 for the 7D/2G
or bottom 8 players on the roster 4F, 2D, 1G, 1 F/D/G make up about $11-$12MM of cap and the top 9F/5D/1G make up the rest of the roster with 50% for 9F and 5D/SG get 40%
Samulesson, Power, Dhalin, Clifton, Byram, signed UPL make up around $35M
If next years cap is 87.7
11.7M for bottom 8 that leaves $76M for 9/5/1 so 40% is 30.4 which Buffalo exceeds
7D/2G= 3/7 of 87.7 is 37.6M Buffalo fills out there roster on D/G with RyJo, a $1M back u G, and a $1M vet that put them at around 37.9M which is slightly above.
You can be slightly above that level for a few seasons do to youth elsewhere or expiring contacts., Buffalo doesn't look to have much in terms of expiring contracts with Byram getting a raise in 2025 and Johnson getting a bridge. in 26 Clifton ends and is replaced with an ELC.
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Ive seen enough people say in acquiring say Cirelli that the cap will go up making the contract not a big deal---thats not how it works.
Look at other sports. With a rising cap, the money is going to your star players and you go with youth and it squezes out the salariess of your middle of the road. You used to see some no name player have a 15+ yr career in baseball. not anymore. those players are forced out for the younger players who have higher potentuial return on salary.
Buffalo cant afford a high priced long term F making $6M or more--especially a 3C. They need something cheaper on the short term or they need to trade something with salary ir a player like Peterka who will be getting a raise in 25/26
