The Roster Thread, Summer 2024

[Fjordy]

Why would they trade them? Thry are not cap strapped yet.

Jokihatjj in arb likely gets $4M. Haula is a little over $3M. Krebs can ask for around $1.5M.

Cap wise if might be $2M less cap to NJ

Well, to improve the roster, why else. I was a fan of Marino when he was still in Pittsburgh, I think he would be a good RD for the second pair to play with Power or Byram. Haula could be a good 3C for us or just a versatile top 9 forward, Ruff has worked with them before, that's why I like the idea of trading for them.

 

[Chainshot]

I don't think he's quite the type of player we need.

Well, to improve the roster, why else. I was a fan of Marino when he was still in Pittsburgh, I think he would be a good RD for the second pair to play with Power or Byram. Haula could be a good 3C for us or just a versatile top 9 forward, Ruff has worked with them before, that's why I like the idea of trading for them.

Haula was Hughes version of Hecht - handles the puck retrievals and some defensive stuff.

 

[Fjordy]

Haula was Hughes version of Hecht - handles the puck retrievals and some defensive stuff.

But overall I think he would be good as a 3C, he played in Vegas as a center I think, and his versatility is only a plus, you can put him on any line in the top 9 and he will be useful.

 

[Dingo44]

We should have at least made the playoffs with decent coaching.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

The circumstances that created the 05-06 team are so dependent on a NHL lockout and massive rule changes it would be impossible to recreate. That same owners policies led to the team being torn apart after two years.

The rules change is over blown. Vanek, Roy, Briere, Campbell, Pommer, even a guy like stafford all produced through the rest of their career. Drury and Connolly fell apart due to injury. Miller was Miller. The Defense certainly didn’t benefit from having a harder time defending. And the nhl as a whole has continued to get faster even as the calls have reverted back. That team was talented. The only real benefit is because of the rebuild they weren’t clinging on to the old slow battleships like a Philly was stuck with.

 

[HaNotsri]

We should have at least made the playoffs with decent coaching. View attachment 878863

Not with those defensemen.

 

[TehDoak]

We should have at least made the playoffs with decent coaching. View attachment 878863

Losing Kulikov in preseason was the death knell for that team. The defense was mediocre before that, losing Kulikov for half of the season did them in (and he wasn't great when he came back) And that specific game was Ullmark's only game that season. Eichel also missed 20 games. And Risto played 26 minutes a night.

The rules change is over blown. Vanek, Roy, Briere, Campbell, Pommer, even a guy like stafford all produced through the rest of their career. Drury and Connolly fell apart due to injury. Miller was Miller. The Defense certainly didn’t benefit from having a harder time defending. And the nhl as a whole has continued to get faster even as the calls have reverted back. That team was talented. The only real benefit is because of the rebuild they weren’t clinging on to the old slow battleships like a Philly was stuck with.

It wasn't just the rule changes.

The ownership demanded EVERYONE get a 1 year deal. Including Briere. They had two sesons of rookies going pro at the same time (Roy, Vanek, Pomniville, Miller) after a full year (or years) in the minors. The rule changes helped their entire defense as they were not overly physical aside from McKee. Tallinder and Campbell were both borderline NHLers pre lockout. Their vets (Drury, Dumont, Briere, Hecht) were all entering their prime.

So you had an entire roster playing for their next contract, rule changes that specifically helped their defense and skilled forwards, and two rookie classes coming in at the same time. The confluence events happening at once will never be reproduced.

 

[Ralonzo]

Just can't root for a team that is so chippy and also divey. It's like pro wrestling cowardly heel stuff, and not the likeable Eddie Guerrero/Chris Jericho type.

 

[Jacob582]

The rules change is over blown. Vanek, Roy, Briere, Campbell, Pommer, even a guy like stafford all produced through the rest of their career. Drury and Connolly fell apart due to injury. Miller was Miller. The Defense certainly didn’t benefit from having a harder time defending. And the nhl as a whole has continued to get faster even as the calls have reverted back. That team was talented. The only real benefit is because of the rebuild they weren’t clinging on to the old slow battleships like a Philly was stuck with.

That team started to look good before the lockout too. Not many media had them making the playoffs coming out of the lockout, but I was thinking, (maybe) watch out!

 

[SundherDome]

the best sabres teams of this millennia come under an owner with an internal cap and a cash in cash out policy, theres some context

Exactly. Golisano had it laid out for the world. Pegula has spent on everything

 

[TehDoak]

Exactly. Golisano had it laid out for the world. Pegula has spent on everything

Golisano owned the team for 8 years and he made the playoffs 2 (and 1 year was the lockout)

He was a mediocre owner.

Better than Pegula at this point, sure.

The Sabres scouting/drafting went downhill pretty fast under the Golisano video scouting era.

 

[StrompTroller]

Just can't root for a team that is so chippy and also divey. It's like pro wrestling cowardly heel stuff, and not the likeable Eddie Guerrero/Chris Jericho type.

Neither of those guys were likeable lol

 

[sabremike]

Golisano owned the team for 8 years and he made the playoffs 2 (and 1 year was the lockout)

He was a mediocre owner.

Better than Pegula at this point, sure.

The Sabres scouting/drafting went downhill pretty fast under the Golisano video scouting era.

I mean if he didn't step up and buy the team at the 11th hour we would've been liquidated and ceased to exist.

Also they made it 3 time under Golisano (won the division in 2010).

 

[Fjordy]

What about Jack Drury and Mason Appleton for third line?

Peterka - Thompson - Tuch
Benson - Cozens - Quinn
Skinner - Drury - Appleton
Greenway/xxxx - xxxx/Krebs - Greenway/xxxx

 

[Irie]

What about Jack Drury and Mason Appleton for third line?

Peterka - Thompson - Tuch
Benson - Cozens - Quinn
Skinner - Drury - Appleton
Greenway/xxxx - xxxx/Krebs - Greenway/xxxx

I'm not sure Drury is available.

Appleton has a limited hockey IQ and defensive awareness. He's got a great motor and compete, and will give you solid effort, but he requires a ridged system to not get lost on the defensive side of the puck. I would personally prefer they find someone who reads the ice better, but he could be useful if strictly implemented in the F1 slot.

He can forecheck and dig out pucks, and will go to the net, but don't expect him to create much of the offense on his line. I feel like his numbers playing with Lowry and Niederreiter were inflated compared to what he would generate in Buffalo.

Not a terrible option, but I would aim higher.

 

[Fjordy]

I'm not sure Drury is available.

Appleton has a limited hockey IQ and defensive awareness. He's got a great motor and compete, and will give you solid effort, but he requires a ridged system to not get lost on the defensive side of the puck. I would personally prefer they find someone who reads the ice better, but he could be useful if strictly implemented in the F1 slot.

He can forecheck and dig out pucks, and will go to the net, but don't expect him to create much of the offense on his line. I feel like his numbers playing with Lowry and Niederreiter were inflated compared to what he would generate in Buffalo.

Not a terrible option, but I would aim higher.

I have no idea if Drury will be available, but I've seen him traded by some Carolina fans for CapFriendly. Canes may have some block at center and will trade someone.

I get your point about Appleton, maybe not the best option.

 

[Irie]

I have no idea if Drury will be available, but I've seen him traded by some Carolina fans for CapFriendly. Canes may have some block at center and will trade someone.

I get your point about Appleton, maybe not the best option.

I think Drury would be a great add if available, but I sorta have been assuming the Canes get a deal done with him and they move on from Teravainen, Kotkaniemi and Necas. I don't know enough about Carolinas cap situation though. Do they have to move Drury to fit in Guentzel if they move on from those other three players?

 

[Fjordy]

I think Drury would be a great add if available, but I sorta have been assuming the Canes get a deal done with him and they move on from Teravainen, Kotkaniemi and Necas. I don't know enough about Carolinas cap situation though. Do they have to move Drury to fit in Guentzel if they move on from those other three players?

Well, I would kick the tires if I were Adams, we also previously considered the option with Kotkaniemi for 3C.

Basically, their fans are looking for 2C, they trade Necas, they often trade Drury, Kuznetsov 3C, Staal 4C. KK trade or byout.

 

[Fjordy]

Appleton has a limited hockey IQ and defensive awareness. He's got a great motor and compete, and will give you solid effort, but he requires a ridged system to not get lost on the defensive side of the puck. I would personally prefer they find someone who reads the ice better, but he could be useful if strictly implemented in the F1 slot.

He can forecheck and dig out pucks, and will go to the net, but don't expect him to create much of the offense on his line. I feel like his numbers playing with Lowry and Niederreiter were inflated compared to what he would generate in Buffalo.

Not a terrible option, but I would aim higher.

What about players like DeBrusk, Foegele, Mangiapane, Hartman and Sherwood instead Appleton?

 

[Jacob582]

What about Jack Drury and Mason Appleton for third line?

Peterka - Thompson - Tuch
Benson - Cozens - Quinn
Skinner - Drury - Appleton
Greenway/xxxx - xxxx/Krebs - Greenway/xxxx

I wonder if Skinner would work there. I feel like he needs to be bought out at that point.

 

[Fjordy]

I wonder if Skinner would work there. I feel like he needs to be bought out at that point.

I don't know, at least in Carolina he wasn't popular, but he was regularly scoring 25-30 goals playing on the third line with guys like Rask and Derek Ryan. It's not like it's the final lineup, maybe Skinner will play under Ruff in the top 6 and instead of him there will be Peterka or Benson on the third line, who knows. But if Skinner is in the lineup, we need to find him a suitable role and line so that he is useful and wouldn't be a burden.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Think about trades in terms of systems theory. Teams are systems which seek to advance and will repair themselves if damaged.

That’s why I don’t see Cirelli or Bennett getting traded. Tampa and Florida have no real reasons to trade them. Go to Capfriendly and pretend you’re the GM for each team. You can make it work pretty easily without trading them.

If either was a Sabre, would you trade them?

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Think about trades in terms of systems theory. Teams are systems which seek to advance and will repair themselves if damaged.

That’s why I don’t see Cirelli or Bennett getting traded. Tampa and Florida have no real reasons to trade them. Go to Capfriendly and pretend you’re the GM for each team. You can make it work pretty easily without trading them.

If either was a Sabre, would you trade them?

We don't really have the cap space either, without removing players that Adams clearly has no intention of moving.

This is the team -- there will be a middling bottom 6 C added, who's good at faceoffs, and one winger. That's literally what Adams said he's looking for and I believe him.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

The rules change is over blown. Vanek, Roy, Briere, Campbell, Pommer, even a guy like stafford all produced through the rest of their career. Drury and Connolly fell apart due to injury. Miller was Miller. The Defense certainly didn’t benefit from having a harder time defending. And the nhl as a whole has continued to get faster even as the calls have reverted back. That team was talented. The only real benefit is because of the rebuild they weren’t clinging on to the old slow battleships like a Philly was stuck with.

Nailed it. The ownership's failure was getting involved in Drury and Briere. Golisano had mostly stayed out of Regier's way and just said break even. The team was professionally run. Pegula is an absolute clown. He has surrounded himself with yes men. He won't have a team president. Every thing about the Pegula years are a joke and I am bracing myself for another rebuild in two years.

 

[Rowley Birkin]

We don't really have the cap space either, without removing players that Adams clearly has no intention of moving.

This is the team -- there will be a middling bottom 6 C added, who's good at faceoffs, and one winger. That's literally what Adams said he's looking for and I believe him.

Most media & fans think that this roster needs more surgery than it actually does, IMO.

I think the forward group will be fine with just two additions - assuming that they are the correct additions.

I'd also argue that a more physical presence on the back end is needed in place of Jokiharju & even if the plan is to play Levi in the NHL - another goalie is needed. My preference would be to play Levi in the AHL & sign an actual NHL #1B/backup - Adams could go either way.