Trade Deadline Thread (March 3)

[BuffaloSabresSword]

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

You have a cap to think about you dont trade for meir and then in 3 seasons you need to let quinn peterka Kulich Savoie Ostlund go because you didnt afford them. This is why adams doing 1 year contract because then he sign these drafted players like Thompson cozens to 7 years deal instead of having Kevin hayes players

It Will take some more time bit better having a team that will Winn the cup instead of a team that cant winn and just makes the playoffs every season

 

[Sabre Dance]

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.

Im not saying do nothing. I’m saying do it in the offseason. I think we’ll learn a lot about what we have currently during this wildcard chase. We’re still definitely evaluating this roster top to bottom.

They aren’t at the win now stage. I think that begins next year.

 

[DustyZ]

4th place in the division with 50% chance to make playoffs

And everyone harping on Adams

 

[Irie]

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

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

I think the team has the players to make the playoffs currently(but theyare not built for the playoffs, so it may be a quick exit).

However, I do not think they are playing a good enough defensive team game to make the playoffs. The current coaching strategy is falling short in that category, imo.

Adding a couple of better players won't change much if they are just as inept on the D side without any defensive chemsitry of working together as a team.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

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

If you build a team entirely through the draft, you may as well continue the endless rebuild. The holes in the roster aren't going to be fixed by kids you draft this summer, and many of those holes don't have prospects able to fill them.

You can have your core, build primarily through the draft and still add pieces through trades to make your roster better. Look at the Devils. They filled the holes they saw on their roster over the summer, then added another player to fill a hole in their top 6 at the TDL. Did they set their rebuild back in doing so? Are they now going to fall off a cliff 2 years sooner because of all the draft capitol and prospects they traded away? Not likely.

Most people here aren't saying go spend all your first round picks. But when you see Buffalo trade a recent 3rd round pick (Bloom) for Stillman, when they could have gotten Schenn for essentially the same cost it's a little annoying. I'm not even that high on Schenn, but he's better than Stillman.

 

[Sabre Dance]

Defensemen with term are rarely available. With multiple teams rebuilding this was probably our best shot.
My guess is that we go into next season with UPL-Comrie in net and the same shitty defensemen. We've had extreme injury luck this year except for the short stretch with multiple injuries on d. If we get injuries to key guys early next season it will be over quick.

Who’s the shitty defenseman? I would like to add a top 4 defensive defenseman and improve the bottom pair.

Is Chychrun considered a defensive defenseman?

 

[Chainshot]

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.

So we can agree to stop talking about the Bills in regards to a completely different league with completely different revenue structures? Yes? Good.

You have also gone to the assumption that they are being cheap. My point is that Adams has very little evidence that he can make roster building moves that would make this at least a regular playoff team - not even worrying about being a Cup contender but firmly in playoff consideration as a means of establishing post-season revenue. It looks like how Regier operated in the time after they fumbled away Drury and Briere in that there are no additions to the roster being made to fill the holes they have. It was more than just who spent on what, when. It had very much to do with not being able to identify and acquire talent.

That's my point with Adams - he still has shown almost no ability to identify and acquire talent in positions of need. With a drastically lopsided prospect base leaning heavily toward skilled wingers, he has to find these types somewhere or they will be wasting more time of the very good players they currently have.

 

[LetsGoBuffalo1126]

I try to be as even-keeled as possible as there is so much context that fans can't possibly be a part-of. There's no way to know what, if anything, Adams offered in a potential deal. There are all types of conversations we'll never know about, so to judge the GM based on things we don't know is a bit silly.

However, I can't help being a bit frustrated not really understanding what they're doing. If you take KA at his word, he essentially preaches patience, which is what they seem to be following-through with. I just don't understand how you can "get better everyday" without at some point, actually getting better with the on-ice product as it stands today. Maybe now isn't the time, but it's harder to have faith in the plan as the days pass and the inactivity rises.

 

[OkimLom]

You can have your core, build primarily through the draft and still add pieces through trades to make your roster better. Look at the Devils. They filled the holes they saw on their roster over the summer, then added another player to fill a hole in their top 6 at the TDL. Did they set their rebuild back in doing so? Are they now going to fall off a cliff 2 years sooner because of all the draft capitol and prospects they traded away? Not likely.

But, people expected New Jersey to be good. Buffalo can't be making moves to improve the team ahead of schedule. They need to stick with their cost-controlled timeline of when Adams THINKS they are ready to compete. Not when they are actually showing signs of competing. It throws the whole organization out of whack if they have to micromanage the unexpected success of the team.

And what happens if it doesn't work out...

But in all seriousness, I agree.

 

[Bendium]

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

I don't agree with this, but for one second lets say I do and our plan is going to make our draft picks and develop them, and not make any real trades until we are somehow "in the window."

Then the way to support that strategy is trading out any players on this roster that will not be a part of the future that can help you add high quality picks this year and next. So, that means Olofsson, Joker and Mitts should be gone by Friday. They should have been on the block for weeks, even if they were trade like Oloffson or Mitts 50% retained and a 4th for a 1st. Joker straight up for a genuine 3rd pair dman prospect. Maybe even Girgs for a 2nd. Anything you can get for Aspland, Hino, Clague, Bryson.

We're not doing that either! Our pipeline is not setup to fix the current lineup by waiting. The rebuild is starting to look listless.

 

[Jim Bob]

I think the team has the players to make the playoffs currently(but theyare not built for the playoffs, so it may be a quick exit).

However, I do not think they are playing a good enough defensive team game to make the playoffs. The current coaching strategy is falling short in that category, imo.

Adding a couple of better players won't change much if they are just as inept on the D side without any defensive chemsitry of working together as a team.

They have gotten to this point by outscoring their shortcoming defensively and in goal.

I felt like this season was one where they needed to take and step forward and at least be in the hunt for the playoffs. The fact that they are 4 points out of a Wild Card spot with 5 games in hand on March 2nd qualifies as that step forward and being in the hunt for the playoffs for me.

I get why plenty of fans see this team being this close and wanting Adams to make a sizeable move to try and improve their odds of getting in this season and ending the playoff drought.

I also am not surprised that Adams is taking the approach to the deadline that he has so far. He has stated over and over and over again that this was likely to be his approach. It is fair to disagree with the approach and to think that it is a mistake.

But, acting surprised that Adams is taking this approach is weird to me and makes me wonder if people have been paying attention.

 

[start winnin]

Who’s the shitty defenseman? I would like to add a top 4 defensive defenseman and improve the bottom pair.

Is Chychrun considered a defensive defenseman?

You're kidding right, do you think Jokiharu, Bryson, Clague or any other defenseman other than Power or Dahlin is more impactful than Chychrun? For a mid tier 1st and other lesser picks that is a price that I am more than comfortable paying. We are not even giving up one of our top prospects.

 

[Jim Bob]

I don't agree with this, but for one second lets say I do and our plan is going to make our draft picks and develop them, and not make any real trades until we are somehow "in the window."

Then the way to support that strategy is trading out any players on this roster that will not be a part of the future that can help you add high quality picks this year and next. So, that means Olofsson, Joker and Mitts should be gone by Friday. They should have been on the block for weeks, even if they were trade like Oloffson or Mitts 50% retained and a 4th for a 1st. Joker straight up for a genuine 3rd pair dman prospect. Maybe even Girgs for a 2nd. Anything you can get for Aspland, Hino, Clague, Bryson.

We're not doing that either! Our pipeline is not setup to fix the current lineup by waiting. The rebuild is starting to look listless.

This team is 4 points out of a playoff spot with 5 games in hand.

This is a season after they finished 25 points outside of the playoffs last year.

That is not what a listless rebuild looks like to me. If they were 15 points out of a playoff spot right now, I would agree.

 

[BuffaloSabresSword]

If you build a team entirely through the draft, you may as well continue the endless rebuild. The holes in the roster aren't going to be fixed by kids you draft this summer, and many of those holes don't have prospects able to fill them.

You can have your core, build primarily through the draft and still add pieces through trades to make your roster better. Look at the Devils. They filled the holes they saw on their roster over the summer, then added another player to fill a hole in their top 6 at the TDL. Did they set their rebuild back in doing so? Are they now going to fall off a cliff 2 years sooner because of all the draft capitol and prospects they traded away? Not likely.

Most people here aren't saying go spend all your first round picks. But when you see Buffalo trade a recent 3rd round pick (Bloom) for Stillman, when they could have gotten Schenn for essentially the same cost it's a little annoying. I'm not even that high on Schenn, but he's better than Stillman.

I agree but we arent ready for this, not this season . Adams is thinking like that also so trades will come i promise But this trade deadline is not just the right time. Next season we must make the playoffs and after the draft or at the draft without trading our first we can make trades. Then the players drafted Will come into the team not all at once so no need for a meir player for example when quinn peterka Will develope and Savoie Kulich rosen Ostlund need a place. For example kulich and Johnson would play next season. Savoie Will need a place . Then this summer we can look for a goalie, a veteran D and depth forward without give up all the player we drafted.

For example chychrun we didnt need him we had Dahlin power Samuelson and Johnson Will be good so basically we need someone at 4 d for shorter time that also can slot to 3 pair without givning up everything we drafted for

 

[toomuchsauce]

given how little chychrun cost, maybe st. louis views parayko as a cap dump and the sabres can get him for nothing. I don't care that he's bad now and costs $8m per for the rest of his life or w/e. Do. Not. Care. He's a RHD.

 

[MOGlLNY]

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.

This is where I'm at. I'm frustrated as hell and want at least something to be done as an attempt to end the drought. But I see the long term plan, patience is hard when you're cheering for the organization with the longest playoff drought in sports though. I get it.

 

[Jim Bob]

You're kidding right, do you think Jokiharu, Bryson, Clague or any other defenseman other than Power or Dahlin is more impactful than Chychrun? For a mid tier 1st and other lesser picks that is a price that I am more than comfortable paying. We are not even giving up one of our top prospects.

I wonder if Adams did not really like Chychrun as a fit given that they have Power and Dahlin.

Chychrun wouldn't get the PP time he has been used to and is not a defensive D like Samuelsson.

So, while in a vacuum, Chychrun is better than their 3rd pairing guys and even Jokiharju and Boosh, I can also see the Sabres interest in him being overblown due to the fit not exactly being there.

 

[Sabre the Win]

This team is a contender with a goalie and some better depth defense. I'm sick and tired of the narrative that this team couldn't hold up. We are 3rd in scoring, give this team some comfort on the back end and watch us propel into the playoffs.

This deadline has told me that Adams thought he could bottom out this year for an early pick but the growth of the players surprised him.

This team could easily fall back next year and we could be out before January. Remember when Eichel came in and we put up an 82 point season only to never surpass that.

If Adams really wants to give something back to the fans and players he should trade UPL in a package for a legit goaltender who has 2 or 3 years left. Just adding to that position would be the boost this team needs to make the playoffs.

 

[Chainshot]

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. )

The only deal Adams has made that has improved his long-term supporting cast or core was when the face of the franchise wanted out. He's made no other deals that have found a way to fix what is clearly missing from the roster.

Maybe he actually is a savant and Stillman isn't just a 6/7, turns out to be more than the sum of his history thus far and it gives them a viable 4/5 on the cheap. Yet nothing Stillman and by extension Adams has done point me to that in anything other than unfounded hopes.

Said another way, while there may be teams tight this summer, that by no means indicates Adams will perform any more vigorously than he has thus far. I would love to be pleasantly surprised. But his acquisition history gives no indication that he'll be any better in June or July than he has been so far.

 

[Chainshot]

I wonder if Adams did not really like Chychrun as a fit given that they have Power and Dahlin.

Chychrun wouldn't get the PP time he has been used to and is not a defensive D like Samuelsson.

So, while in a vacuum, Chychrun is better than their 3rd pairing guys and even Jokiharju and Boosh, I can also see the Sabres interest in him being overblown due to the fit not exactly being there.

I know you like the PDOCast - go back and listen to their episode on Chychrun and his defensive impacts.

 

[BuffaloSabresSword]

Just think the mindset is wrong because i think Savoie Kulich can be like cozens so no big need bringing in overpaid players. Quinn and Peterka Will just be better also. We could end up in a situation That quinn peterka have a season like cozens next season . Then we need to pay them and then Kulich Savoie comes in and need big contract

 

[Irie]

You can have your core, build primarily through the draft and still add pieces through trades to make your roster better. Look at the Devils. They filled the holes they saw on their roster over the summer, then added another player to fill a hole in their top 6 at the TDL. Did they set their rebuild back in doing so? Are they now going to fall off a cliff 2 years sooner because of all the draft capitol and prospects they traded away? Not likely.

The Devil's are a bit like the 2000-2005 penguins.

5 of the last 6 years they drafted 1st overall, 4th overall, 1st overall, 7th overall, and 2nd overall.

That kind of draft luck will put a team into a different category in terms of trying to compare or emulate.

 

[Jim Bob]

The only deal Adams has made that has improved his long-term supporting cast or core was when the face of the franchise wanted out. He's made no other deals that have found a way to fix what is clearly missing from the roster.

Maybe he actually is a savant and Stillman isn't just a 6/7, turns out to be more than the sum of his history thus far and it gives them a viable 4/5 on the cheap. Yet nothing Stillman and by extension Adams has done point me to that in anything other than unfounded hopes.

Said another way, while there may be teams tight this summer, that by no means indicates Adams will perform any more vigorously than he has thus far. I would love to be pleasantly surprised. But his acquisition history gives no indication that he'll be any better in June or July than he has been so far.

I expect Adams to continue to be more patient than most of the fanbase will want him to be.

I won't be shocked if the two most impactful signings he makes this summer are Johnson and Levi.

 

[DustyZ]

We are in 4th place in division. You mean to tell me that suddenly we are worried about Ottawa, Detroit. Plus games in hand? And we are much tougher with Stillman who comes from good pedigree

 

[BFLO]

A friendly reminder that the Pegula's fired Botterill not for his poor performance(which gave them ample cause) , but for his loyalty to his employees who the Pegula's wanted gone so that they could afford more yacht fuel at the onset of a global pandemic. $75million (and counting) in unspent cap space buys a lot of yacht fuel.