2020 Off-season gameplan

[nfreeman]

2 hours ago, Brawndo said:

This may or may not have been discussed at last years trade deadline. 

Interesting (assuming you are referring to weightier discussions than those taking place here). 

Marchie would round out the Sabres' new and improved top 6 pretty nicely:

Skinner-Eichel-Reino

VO-Staal-Marchie

Kahun-Cozens-TT

XXX-Lazar-KO

 

There are going to be a number of good forwards in this caliber who become available for cap/cash reasons, and I don't think the price will be much more than a 2nd-rounder and/or a Borgen-level prospect.  I sure hope the Sabres scoop one up.

[Brawndo]

10 hours ago, nfreeman said:

Interesting (assuming you are referring to weightier discussions than those taking place here). 

Marchie would round out the Sabres' new and improved top 6 pretty nicely:

Skinner-Eichel-Reino

VO-Staal-Marchie

Kahun-Cozens-TT

XXX-Lazar-KO

 

There are going to be a number of good forwards in this caliber who become available for cap/cash reasons, and I don't think the price will be much more than a 2nd-rounder and/or a Borgen-level prospect.  I sure hope the Sabres scoop one up.

If Vegas lands Pietroangelo, the chances of him moving increase, the convo was centered around Risto at the deadline. 

[Shootica]

Do any of you guys know which side Kahun primarily played in Pittsburgh?

I've noticed that Vogl has him penciled in at RW in every roster projection he does.  I find it kinda weird seeing that he's a lefty.

[Flashsabre]

Lehner signs 5 year deal with Vegas.  No one is touching Fleury at $7 million.  They might have to buy him out.  The goalie market is absolutely flooded this offseason.  Definitely a good year to upgrade in net.

[GASabresIUFAN]

19 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Lehner signs 5 year deal with Vegas.  No one is touching Fleury at $7 million.  They might have to buy him out.  The goalie market is absolutely flooded this offseason.  Definitely a good year to upgrade in net.

Yep.  Time to buy out Hutton and get real competition for Ullmark.

[spndnchz]

49 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Lehner signs 5 year deal with Vegas.  No one is touching Fleury at $7 million.  They might have to buy him out.  The goalie market is absolutely flooded this offseason.  Definitely a good year to upgrade in net.

 

[thewookie1]

I'd be interested in Grabner for his speed and PKing and even Wennberg if he's bought out by Columbus. 

 

Grabner would likely know Krueger already and played with Okposo back in the Isles organization so he might be interested. Think of it, a 4th line with Grabner and Okposo could be pretty solid. Vets, and both former 30 goal scorers in their youth.

[thewookie1]

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/1974775

 

This is what I came up with off the top of my head

[sabresparaavida]

6 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/1974775

 

This is what I came up with off the top of my head

Definitely a grittier team than last year’s, I don’t really think it will be good though, that second line likely gets crushed, and the rest of the lineup won’t add enough scoring to make up for it.

[Thorner]

6 hours ago, Shootica said:

Do any of you guys know which side Kahun primarily played in Pittsburgh?

I've noticed that Vogl has him penciled in at RW in every roster projection he does.  I find it kinda weird seeing that he's a lefty.

I'm sure he can play the left side if he's a left shot. Must be able to play both wings. 

18 hours ago, nfreeman said:

Interesting (assuming you are referring to weightier discussions than those taking place here). 

Marchie would round out the Sabres' new and improved top 6 pretty nicely:

Skinner-Eichel-Reino

VO-Staal-Marchie

Kahun-Cozens-TT

XXX-Lazar-KO

 

There are going to be a number of good forwards in this caliber who become available for cap/cash reasons, and I don't think the price will be much more than a 2nd-rounder and/or a Borgen-level prospect.  I sure hope the Sabres scoop one up.

Still have work to do on the bottom 6 but the players in the top 6 look much improved. I don't see Staal at his age saddled with VO, though, I'd guess he stays with Jack. 

[Thorner]

This is fun:

Getting this guy back to scoring goals is just so important. Hopefully Staal is the answer for this coming year. Interestingly, he seems pretty well utilized on the PP on some of these goals. 8 pp goals that season, 0 this year. 

That needs to be addressed. 

[JohnC]

25 minutes ago, Thorny said:

This is fun:

Getting this guy back to scoring goals is just so important. Hopefully Staal is the answer for this coming year. Interestingly, he seems pretty well utilized on the PP on some of these goals. 8 pp goals that season, 0 this year. 

That needs to be addressed. 

Simple solution: Assemble a Skinner/Jack/Reinhart line. And play Skinner more on the PP. 

[Shootica]

48 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Simple solution: Assemble a Skinner/Jack/Reinhart line. And play Skinner more on the PP. 

I like this.

Skinner - Jack - Reinhart

Olofsson - Staal - XXX

I'd prefer XXX to be an addition, but it could be Cozens or Thompson.

[DarthEbriate]

All that season (and most of his career) Skinner was able to tap in rebounds because he was that guy who was around the net with the quick hands who was seemingly always in the right place. Part of being in the right place is having teammates who can cause rebounds and make goalies flop. Eichel and Reino (and in these highlights Pominville) are guys who make those rebounds happen. The question is... can Staal also create those rebound chances? (History probably shows yes, but also I'd like to see Skinner with Eichel again for the entertainment value. Then, get Staal two top-6 wingers and attack. (I think ideally Olofsson is a 3W PP specialist, but I do believe this upcoming season he's still in our top 6.)

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, Shootica said:

I like this.

Skinner - Jack - Reinhart

Olofsson - Staal - XXX

I'd prefer XXX to be an addition, but it could be Cozens or Thompson.

The Jack line as you listed would be one of the top tier (upper third)  first lines in the league. If you want to maximize Skinner like was done in his first year in Buffalo then it makes sense to put him in a position to maximize his talents. I didn't like how Krueger handled Skinner last year. It seemed like he was too concerned about his limitations instead of emphasizing his strengths.  

[thewookie1]

Some Islander fan proposed our ‘21 4th for Komorov and Bellows.

Komorov is 3mil in cap but not salary and could be a solid 4th line role player and we’d get a solid prospect in Bellows

[sabresparaavida]

I would not be opposed to signing Turris for a cheap deal to be our 4th C, or 3C in a pinch.

[Thorner]

4 minutes ago, sabresparaavida said:

I would not be opposed to signing Turris for a cheap deal to be our 4th C, or 3C in a pinch.

If we have confidence in Staal to be the stop-gap 2C, I'd lean to a more defensively sound C for the potential Larsson replacement. Unless we are adding 2 more Cs. 

[USMCSnyper]

12 minutes ago, sabresparaavida said:

I would not be opposed to signing Turris for a cheap deal to be our 4th C, or 3C in a pinch.

Is this a hint..or.... 😉

Anyone hear more info about Qual Offers?

[nfreeman]

Geez.  So no trades at the draft?

I sure hope they don't sit on their hands tomorrow and Friday.

[Gabrielor]

I’m preparing for:

mccabe Risto top pair, again.

lazar or ruotsalainen to be thrust into the Larsson role

Quinn to get 9 games.

 

All the hope I had from the rumor mills died a swift death.

 

We went from Rossi being the guy and targeting top 6 wingers and centers, to picking up Staal, drafting not Rossi, and any good news outgoing completely ceasing.

I hope Adams makes me eat my words Friday, because right now, it looks like we’ll be the same broken structured team as always in the Eichel era, and with no star prospect in Rossi to excited for.

 

Edited October 8, 2020 by Gabrielor

[sweetlou]

So is the game plan to start Cozens at 3c and surround him with vet wingers or to start Cozens at RW and go after another 3rd line center like Turris, Haula, or Brassard to fill in for a year.

[Flashsabre]

1 hour ago, Gabrielor said:

I’m preparing for:

mccabe Risto top pair, again.

lazar or ruotsalainen to be thrust into the Larsson role

Quinn to get 9 games.

 

All the hope I had from the rumor mills died a swift death.

 

We went from Rossi being the guy and targeting top 6 wingers and centers, to picking up Staal, drafting not Rossi, and any good news outgoing completely ceasing.

I hope Adams makes me eat my words Friday, because right now, it looks like we’ll be the same broken structured team as always in the Eichel era, and with no star prospect in Rossi to excited for.

 

I wanted Rossi too but Quinn is a star prospect as well.  52 goals in junior driving his own line.  If the guy can be a 40 goal scorer who is strong defensively then that is a star player.

[sabresparaavida]

With how the last couple days went, I’m really hoping there’s a greater plan behind this. I’m really hoping not qualifying Kahun was for saving money for the deal I was told about. I’m really doubting it at this point but it would be amazing if it were to happen. Maybe, just maybe they picked Quinn because they expected a crowded center room in the near future, one where Rossi wouldn’t fit well, and an empty RW room, where maybe Thompson, Quinn, and JJP can compete in the future. This is all a bizarre hope at this point, but I desperately want it to come true.

[dudacek]

28 minutes ago, sabresparaavida said:

With how the last couple days went, I’m really hoping there’s a greater plan behind this. I’m really hoping not qualifying Kahun was for saving money for the deal I was told about. I’m really doubting it at this point but it would be amazing if it were to happen. Maybe, just maybe they picked Quinn because they expected a crowded center room in the near future, one where Rossi wouldn’t fit well, and an empty RW room, where maybe Thompson, Quinn, and JJP can compete in the future. This is all a bizarre hope at this point, but I desperately want it to come true.

It would be nice, but after watching what Adams had to say I think all of this stuff is more about player evaluation:

I think they picked Quinn and JJ because they thought they were the best players available.

I think they signed Tage to the deal they did because they thought he was good value for the contract.

And I think they didn't qualify Kahun because they don't want to pay him what they think he will get in arbitration and they are betting they can get either him, or a reasonable replacement, for a figure they like better.

Doesn't really matter if you or I is right on this though, it only matters that he is.

Edited October 8, 2020 by dudacek