Trade Deadline Thread (March 3)

[Rowley Birkin]

Look back at Regier's trade moves from immediately after the co-caps left until the Pegula acquisition and it's a great deal of minimalism.

But the Pegula's have done the exact opposite of this for most of their tenure, and are still doing the opposite for the Bills.

 

[Matt Ress]

#sufferin

This could be the peak of it. We've moved our expectations forward where Adams may not have. Adams looked at this as a development year and is not faultering.

GMs around the league see that the cap will finally creep up and are more comfortable adding costly termed players while the top of the draft looks very enticing for sellers, whereas Adams doesn't see the Sabres timeline there yet. Recent injuries add more current pressure. With a lot of guys signed through next season, we can see Adams' timeline a little clearer.

Do I love it? No it's frustrating as hell but there's spots this summer that will need to be addressed so hopefully we'll work in some long term solutions. We already know there will be some big rosters falling flat on their faces and the summer is when you get reasonably priced RFAs and restructuring teams.

 

[Sabre Dance]

That's the thing... no guarantee we are in this position next year. Florida went from President Trophy winner to out of playoffs in one year. All it takes is a separated shoulder on Tage or blown out knee by Dahlin and we keep pushing the can down the road.
My biggest fear is KA doing something dumb.. so I'm in fear of a dumb trade and pissed off inaction at same time. KA has lost a lot of trust with me

I don’t even know how to respond. So you want KA to make a move because injuries might happen?

The team is ascending perfectly in my opinion. I don’t understand. They aren’t going to fade away. They’re young and growing.

 

[Irie]

It seems pretty clear he's not going to improve the team in free agency and if one removes trading the face of the franchise, he has not had anything but bottom of the barrel trade acquisitions. He can claim he doesn't want to pay all he wants, the results remain sub-optimal. "Vibes" will only carry the team so far when talent gaps exist.

Or, hear me out - he is actually taking the timing into account? I have never been a huge Adams fan, but I will defend his patient build approach whenever it is questioned. It's a good strategy.

Good GMs don't make a lot of big moves early in rebuilds. Build the farm, build the depth, develop your young talent to the point where they can hang in the playoffs without actively hurting the team, then go big and bring in the pieces to seriously upgrade your biggest needs.

I felt like it was pretty clear that Adams was not trading his '23 1st, and unless the team is playing like a contender and not just a bubble team, he won't move his '24 first next year either.

I also think his generic GM talks have emphasized that he is not giving up major assets for any players that can go UFA in one or two years.

It's not sexy. It is killing the impatient fans, but it is a fairly common and sound rebuild strategy.

This team is not competing until Cozens, Peterka, Quinn and Power are mucb better, more consistent contributors. The team also needs a coaching adjustment in a major way, but that is a discussion for another thread.

 

[Jim Bob]

Adams' body of work as a GM:

Trade -
Riley Stillman
Alex Tuch
Peyton Krebs
Will Butcher
Malcolm Subban
Robert Hagg
Anders Bjork
Eric Staal

UFA-
Craig Anderson
Dustin Tokarski
Aaron Dell
Vinnie Hinostroza
Mark Pysyk
Cody Eakin
John Hayden
Mark Jankowski
Ryan MacInnis
Matt Irwin
Steven Fogarty
Riley Sheahan - twice
Tobias Rieder
Brandon Davidson
Michael Houser - thrice
Lawrence Pilut

Waivers-
Tyson Jost
Drake Caggiula

Draftees-
Owen Power
Jack Quinn
JJ Peterka

It seems pretty clear he's not going to improve the team in free agency and if one removes trading the face of the franchise, he has not had anything but bottom of the barrel trade acquisitions. He can claim he doesn't want to pay all he wants, the results remain sub-optimal. "Vibes" will only carry the team so far when talent gaps exist.

Adams would likely point to the team's record since the RK firing and Granato taking over as head coach and the strides they have made in on-ice results as evidence that their approach is the correct one.

If they make the playoffs this year without giving up any top tier prospects or any future 1st or 2nd round picks, Adams will be more than happy with the way things are going.

It is frustrating.

I want to go to the playoffs.

Adams likely believes that they can make the playoffs with what they have in the locker room today.

 

[Dubi Doo]

It's been ages since the board was this lively. At bare minimum we're heading in the right direction.

Yeah. I was going to say last night 'for the first time in what feels like forever- Im actually really invested in this TDL'


That's a nice change of pace!

 

[Jim Bob]

2023 at the very top (1-5) is very good. Where Buffalo is selecting now may not be any better than any other draft year. If he is this fixated on a mid-first round pick as a key to the future, that's a problem.

Maybe it is that. Maybe he does not feel that Chychrun is the right fit as a top 4 D that this team needs and he wants a more Samuelsson-esque defensive D to play next to Power.

We are all just spitballing due to a lack of Adams actually talking openly about why he didn't top the Ottawa offer. And that is something that I doubt he ever does. He will likely just give us the same cliche answers that he has been giving us since taking over as GM.

 

[Tatanka]

If he doesn't see participation in the playoffs as beneficial to his players and fans of the team, let alone in the ticket sale gate for 2 home games, vs. the position of 2 or 3 spots in this draft, then he's lost the narrative. And he will lose the team.

I agree it is not an optimal approach. But simply looking at risk reward, it appears he values strengthening the asset pool over the further investment in this group. He punted on goalie in the offseason, and your transaction history illustrates a reluctance to make significant changes unless forced to. Perhaps this group isn’t “it” and we will wait a few seasons until his group is in a similar position before he starts making moves with the playoffs in mind. Who knows.

 

[Chainshot]

But the Pegula's have done the exact opposite of this for most of their tenure, and are still doing the opposite for the Bills.

Can we stop with the comparison of the two sports since the earnings and fiscal side of things for the two leagues are not the same. Payroll is covered by the owners shares of the broadcast rights. Talking about the two isn't apples to oranges, it's apples to capybaras: fundamentally very different.

And it's not about spending. It's about acquisition of roster players.

 

[K8fool]

That's an incredibly naiive belief for such a young roster. Even if it works.

naiive? well hopefully he's not just throwing dice but actually basing it on what we here don't see..

like.. if they don't get in this way. they'd get murdered in the first round etc

 

[Gabrielor]

Most teams have added a NHL player in the last 3 weeks via trade.

A few did that in the summer.

Several times sold NHL Players for 1st round picks, because they're rebuilding.

That 3 leaves on the bench. PHI and ANA are both in the seller category, and will likely make sales before Friday.

Which leaves Buffalo. The land of missed opportunity.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Hard being positive right now for sure, but it feels like a lot of our competition for adding players this offseason are taking themselves out of the game. Which I suppose is a good sign, hope that's the case.

 

[K8fool]

Adams would likely point to the team's record since the RK firing and Granato taking over as head coach and the strides they have made in on-ice results as evidence that their approach is the correct one.

If they make the playoffs this year without giving up any top tier prospects or any future 1st or 2nd round picks, Adams will be more than happy with the way things are going.


Adams likely believes that they can make the playoffs with what they have in the locker room today.

that's the hope.

View attachment 660988

Most teams have added a NHL player in the last 3 weeks via trade.

A few did that in the summer.

Several times sold NHL Players for 1st round picks, because they're rebuilding.

That 3 leaves on the bench. PHI and ANA are both in the seller category, and will likely make sales before Friday.

Which leaves Buffalo. The land of missed opportunity.

i get no feelings of envy at all.

 

[BuffaloSabresSword]

Super happy with the sabres approach. Adams doing a superb job.

 

[Chainshot]

Or, hear me out - he is actually taking the timing into account? I have never been a huge Adams fan, but I will defend his patient build approach whenever it is questioned. It's a good strategy.

Good GMs don't make a lot of big moves early in rebuilds. Build the farm, build the depth, develop your young talent to the point where they can hang in the playoffs without actively hurting the team, then go big and bring in the pieces to seriously upgrade your biggest needs.

I felt like it was pretty clear that Adams was not trading his '23 1st, and unless the team is playing like a contender and not just a bubble team, he won't move his '24 first next year either.

I also think his generic GM talks have emphasized that he is not giving up major assets for any players that can go UFA in one or two years.

It's not sexy. It is killing the impatient fans, but it is a fairly common and sound rebuild strategy.

This team is not competing until Cozens, Peterka, Quinn and Power are mucb better, more consistent contributors. The team also needs a coaching adjustment in a major way, but that is a discussion for another thread.

While awaiting those improvements, there are still holes to fill on the team for now and into the future that opportunity cost is very much in play. Linear roster construction - that of "don't make a move until we have X" sacrifices the opportunity to have the positional need already in the fold if those improvements manifest. It also supports the development of those players in terms of wins and ultimately filling the arena - aka. long-term success financially.

 

[old kummelweck]

Because OF COURSE Vegas would be interested in a big name. I know Thompson is hurt........but I still think Hill and Brossoit are better than Quick right now.

Quick is done. Hall of Famer for sure.

 

[sabremike]

People seem to be overlooking the fact that Chychrun wasn't the only option. There were multiple guys available for reasonable cost who could've aided in getting us into the playoffs. KA did nothing except get a guy who is somehow even worse than the godawful 3-7 defensemen already on the roster.

 

[Bendium]

I don’t even know how to respond. So you want KA to make a move because injuries might happen?

The team is ascending perfectly in my opinion. I don’t understand. They aren’t going to fade away. They’re young and growing.

I don't get this thought process. About half the Sabres are ascending nicely. The other half are at their ceiling, perfoming below replacement, or aging out. That half of the roster should be very actively worked on. Having more points this year is not an excuse for doing nothing.

Its sad.

 

[BuffaloSabresSword]

Reason for no big trades is because adams building a team through draft if we would have our team like tampa etc then he Will make the trades But we arent in That situationen . Next season we are in a better position to make trades. You cant make any trades now because you dont trade rosen Kulich Ostlund Johnson Savoie and you dont trade first round picksBecause they are the players that adams is bringing into our lineup. So people here on forum have the wrong approach while adams have the correct mindset and when people here say he dont do anything he does so much and following the gameplan without doing stupid trades like for evander Kane and bogosian or trading 1 round picks for lehner just because we need a goalie. That is very stupid gm trades that set you back

 

[Rowley Birkin]

Can we stop with the comparison of the two sports since the earnings and fiscal side of things for the two leagues are not the same. Payroll is covered by the owners shares of the broadcast rights. Talking about the two isn't apples to oranges, it's apples to capybaras: fundamentally very different.

And it's not about spending. It's about acquisition of roster players.

But the Pegula's have had no problems giving previous GMs whatever they needed to acquire roster players. Even Adams in the early part of his tenure.

Obviously there has been large economic changes since then - but i find it hard to believe that running a cap floor team is Adams' biggest priority from above.

 

[Chainshot]

Reason for no big trades is because adams building a team through draft if we would have our team like tampa etc then he Will make the trades But we arent in That situationen . Next season we are in a better position to make trades. You cant make any trades now because you dont trade rosen Kulich Ostlund Johnson Savoie and you dont trade first round picksBecause they are the players that adams is bringing into our lineup. So people here on forum have the wrong approach while adams have the correct mindset and when people here say he dont do anything he does so much and following the gameplan without doing stupid trades like for evander Kane and bogosian or trading 1 round picks for lehner just because we need a goalie. That is very stupid gm trades that set you back

Might also be time to step away from thinking every trade is going to be some highly damaged individuals.

 

[DustyZ]

Portillo deal fantastic

Stillman adds toughness. Who knows what else happens. Feeling good about playoffs!

 

[Jim Bob]

I don't get this thought process. About half the Sabres are a ascending nicely. The other half are at their ceiling, perfoming below replacement, or aging out. That half of the roster should be very actively worked on. Having more points this year is not an excuse for doing nothing.

Its sad.

I think half the roster needing to be replaced is an overstatement.

And they are not replacing guys like Girgensons and Okposo right now.

 

[Irie]

While awaiting those improvements, there are still holes to fill on the team for now and into the future that opportunity cost is very much in play. Linear roster construction - that of "don't make a move until we have X" sacrifices the opportunity to have the positional need already in the fold if those improvements manifest. It also supports the development of those players in terms of wins and ultimately filling the arena - aka. long-term success financially.

I agree, but the degree of the additions is important.

Adding some solid supporting cast that doesn't break the farm in cost would be a huge welcome addition. But looking at the graph above of what has moved, I can honestly say that I don't think any of the pieces this TDL are worth the acquisition costs for Buffalo without a guarantee that they would re-sign here. Jeannot had the term and is of the age group, but giving up an entire draft class for him is insane.

It is too early to move out 1st round picks and multiple high end assets for help that may or may not be around when the contending window actually opens. If Adams can grab slightly overpayed guys from cap strapped teams like Bjorkstrand in the offseason, at a good price, that is a solid approach for a team in the current stage of the rebuild imo.

Overpaying slightly for second tier UFA's that fill holes would also be welcomed - just don't go nuts with that approach.

This offseason will be tight around the league capwise and Adams should target a player or two. If the cap rises substantially in 24, Buffalo won't be able to win any bidding wars, (even getting into a UFA bidding war is bad business. )

 

[old kummelweck]

I wonder why Adams is sitting on his picks.