Brawndo

Bob’s Final Rankings come out Thursday

From Matthew Fairburn 1. Owen Power’s contract situation is going to be a tricky one for the Sabres. Adams met with Power’s representatives at the NHL Scouting Combine this week to continue the dialogue on an extension, but Power’s next contract isn’t as straightforward as Rasmus Dahlin’s, which should come in around $10 million per season for eight years. Because Dahlin has a longer NHL track record and already signed a bridge contract, he’s established his worth and is ready to sign a long-term deal. Power has only played one NHL season but already looks like a future star. He’s a finalist for the Calder Trophy and logged huge minutes playing on Buffalo’s second pairing. The team trusted him with tough matchups, and he held up to the workload in his first full NHL season. The Sabres have enough conviction in the player to want to sign him to a long-term deal. Power, however, could go a few different directions. He could play out the season and boost his value even more. He could also sign a bridge contract for a shorter term and less money so that he can get another contract when the salary cap goes up in a few years. Even though Dahlin is the Sabres’ No. 1 defenseman, Power’s reps will still value him as a No. 1 defenseman because of the type of player he is. While Power stands to gain by being patient with his contract, it wouldn’t be easy to pass up a contract that pays him $8 million annually. With the cap potentially going up, that could end up as a bargain for the team if Power keeps improving.

From Matthew Fairburn 4. Adams and his staff were busy this week interviewing draft prospects during the NHL Scouting Combine. It’s always best to not draw too many conclusions from the specific player meets, but the Sabres did draft a few players they met with this time last year. So here’s an incomplete list of players the Sabres met with this week and their rankings on Scott Wheeler’s latest board. 10. Matthew Wood, RW 12. David Reinbacher, RHD 14. Eduard Sale, LW 16. Axel Sandin Pellikka, LHD 17. Colby Barlow, LW 18. Quentin Musty, LW 32. Etienne Morin, LHD 41. Oliver Bonk, RHD 77. Gavin McCarthy, RHD 85. Jakub Dvorak, RHD Unranked: Sawyer Mynio, LHD

From the Athletic Matt Fairburn. This is the time of year when players entering the final season of their contract might be looking to be traded if their team isn’t willing to offer a contract extension. Typically, the Sabres are a common team on no-trade lists for players. But as one agent said this week, “Buffalo is starting to come off a lot of lists.” That’s concrete evidence of the Sabres’ progress. Buffalo isn’t a strong geographical draw the way Vegas, Florida and the California teams are, but the attitude about the team is changing. There are a few reasons. One is the trajectory the team is on with so many young players and a promising future. Another is head coach Don Granato, who has coached players like Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin and Alex Tuch to career-best seasons. Kevyn Adams has also played a big part in improving the Sabres’ reputation around the league. Agents have enjoyed dealing with him because he’s straightforward and humble. Adams noticed the tone of his conversations with agents starting to change last offseason when he was working on contract extensions for Tage Thompson and Mattias Samuelsson. Since taking over as general manager, Adams has put a priority on players who want to be in Buffalo and are proud to wear a Sabres jersey. He spent 2021 trading away players like Rasmus Ristolainen, Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel, who didn’t fit that description for various reasons. Since, the focus has shifted to a more patient approach of drafting and developing. Adams has made a few minor free-agent additions but has tried not to block the path of young prospects who are ready for NHL roles. Now that the Sabres are entering a window in which they can contend for the postseason, adding talent from outside the organization could become more common. That’s what makes the work Adams and Granato have done the last few seasons so valuable. No, Buffalo isn’t the flashiest market in the NHL. Players want to win, though, and the Sabres look like a team that could do plenty of that in years to come. It helps, too, to have captain Kyle Okposo back in the fold. He’s well respected around the NHL for his work with the NHLPA, and his word carries a lot of weight. His presence in the locker room is another aspect of what makes the Sabres a more attractive landing spot for veteran NHLers.

He’s good offensively but a little weak on the defensive side of the puck. I would pass

I’m surprised there has been zero coaching changes especially with how bad the PK was last year.

He doesn’t have greatest defensive metrics and that’s concerning considering he plays in Carolina Defensive System.

Oliver Bonk also interviewed with Buffalo

Reinbacher interviewed with Buffalo

There was an Athletic Article on how Bob Essensa the Bruins Goaltending Coach made a small tweak in Ullmark’s Style and how much he improved as a result.

Really hope he drops to the Sabres

ASP did interview with Buffalo

He’s too short to succeed in the league. That should drop him into the teens on draft day

From The Athletic Sabres in the market for a top-4 D, goaltending The Sabres would like to upgrade in goal, but our understanding is that GM Kevyn Adams’ top priority is landing a top-four defenseman. On goaltending, assuming they don’t want to rush the development of Devon Levi, the Sabres need to get an experienced NHL starter onto the roster before training camp begins. Hellebuyck has to top the list, but he’ll be pricey. The Jets will be looking for young team-controlled assets in exchange. The Sabres do have plenty of those — from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to Peyton Krebs to even Casey Mittelstadt. If the Sabres balk at the Hellebuyck asking price, they could also get into the market for John Gibson, who will also be pricey and would likely prefer to play for his hometown team, the Penguins, but might see the upside in the Sabres’ lineup and consider that a better long-term fit. Of course, surrendering zero assets and shopping on the UFA market for a goalie might be a better option. Even if the Sabres do extend Rasmus Dahlin on a monster contract after July 1 — probably eight years in the $10 million range — they will have cap flexibility. Gibson headlines Ducks’ loaded trade class The feeling is that the 29-year-old Gibson (No. 7 on the trade board) would be amenable to a move to a contender because the Ducks are not going to be a playoff team for years. His contract is reasonable — $6.4 million for four more years — especially if you believe he can still be a top-10 NHL goalie playing behind better defense. Gibson has a 10-team no-trade list. The suspicion, though, is his preference would be one of three: Pittsburgh, Vegas or Los Angeles. He probably would be OK with New Jersey or Buffalo, as well, given their upward trajectories.

Both interviewed with Buffalo

That may from the latest Expected Buffalo Podcast released this AM. A 6 year 5.6 million dollar extension was part of the deal. The thought was to use both Power and Bouchard on PP2. Bouchard would have had the second best defensive metrics of the Sabres Defenseman behind Dahlin. It would give the Sabres a dominant Top 4 all under the age of 24 for the next six seasons with approximate cap hits of Dahlin (10 million), Power (7-8 million), Bouchard (5.6 million) and Samuelson (4.2 million)

8 years 6.25 Million AAV

No he would be an UFA at that point

Evolving Hockey has Power most likely deal at 6 years 6.6 Million AAV and predicts an 8 year 7.6 Million AAV as the second most likely deal. Mittelstadt has a two year extension at 3.76 million AAV as most likely and six year 5.55 million AAV as the second most likely option