Roster Off-Season Gameplan

[jad1]

2 hours ago, Curt said:

It’s fine if you don’t want to trade Eichel/Reinhart/Risto, but even next year Schmidt, Brown, Gibson, Zegras and maybe Byfield are good NHL players.  Certainly not “basically nothing”.

The difference makers involved in that trade are closer to Cozens and Mittelstadt than Eichel in their development, which means they're  two years away from being top line producers.

The next two years will look the same as the last five.  And after two more years of losing, the team will invent excuses to trade Dahlin and Mittelstadt for more prospects, bringing a never-ending groundhog's day of suckitude.

 

[Marvin]

9 hours ago, jad1 said:

The difference makers involved in that trade are closer to Cozens and Mittelstadt than Eichel in their development, which means they're  two years away from being top line producers.

The next two years will look the same as the last five.  And after two more years of losing, the team will invent excuses to trade Dahlin and Mittelstadt for more prospects, bringing a never-ending groundhog's day of suckitude.

This will be a fine line which GMKA and everyone else in management needs to balance.  Everyone here is targetting top youth who are, as you say, at least a year away.  Yes, they are top youth.  But we could wind up in a vicious circle.  I personally would prefer a bunch of 2nd liners who are here now and might elevate their games with 4 second-third lines.  Say we trade with a team -- let us try to get some established players.  Target their 2C who would be demoted when Eichel arrives.  Look for the younger 3C being covered by veterans who can take the next step in return for Reinhart.  Find that day-at-home D whom they are trying to replace with a puck mover like Ristolainen.

[GASabresIUFAN]

Jack has a contract folks.  He isn't playing anywhere else unless the Sabres agree to it.  It would have to be an Eric Lindros type offer.  That isn't happening.  Next!

Sam is a RFA.  His leverage is arbitration and a 1 year deal.  Welcome back Sam.  Hopefully someone makes an offer sheet.  

The depth we want is already here.  Granato's young forward groups was scoring over 3 goals a game without Jack.  Scoring 250 goals plus puts a team in or very near a playoff spot with even reasonable defense and goaltending.  In fact with Ullmark in net they played at a 102 pt pace during his games under Granato (and a 96 pt pace under RK).  

Fix the front office, decide on a coach and then get a physical top 6 winger, a couple of good defensive defensemen and 2 decent to good goalies and we'll have a playoff contending team next season.  

 

[Flashsabre]

1 minute ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Jack has a contract folks.  He isn't playing anywhere else unless the Sabres agree to it.  It would have to be an Eric Lindros type offer.  That isn't happening.  Next!

Sam is a RFA.  His leverage is arbitration and a 1 year deal.  Welcome back Sam.  Hopefully someone makes an offer sheet.  

The depth we want is already here.  Granato's young forward groups was scoring over 3 goals a game without Jack.  Scoring 250 goals plus puts a team in or very near a playoff spot with even reasonable defense and goaltending.  In fact with Ullmark in net they played at a 102 pt pace during his games under Granato (and a 96 pt pace under RK).  

Fix the front office, decide on a coach and then get a physical top 6 winger, a couple of good defensive defensemen and 2 decent to good goalies and we'll have a playoff contending team next season.  

 

So then Eichel sits out the year citing his neck. Once his NTC kicks in, he demands he is only going to Boston. Hall return 2.0. Reinhart phones it in for a year and leaves as a UFA next off-season.  Sounds great.

[GASabresIUFAN]

Just now, Flashsabre said:

So then Eichel sits out the year citing his neck. Once his NTC kicks in, he demands he is only going to Boston. Hall return 2.0. Reinhart phones it in for a year and leaves as a UFA next off-season.  Sounds great.

Or the Sabres say forget it and play out your contract.  

[Thorner]

5 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Jack has a contract folks.  He isn't playing anywhere else unless the Sabres agree to it.  It would have to be an Eric Lindros type offer.  That isn't happening.  Next!

Sam is a RFA.  His leverage is arbitration and a 1 year deal.  Welcome back Sam.  Hopefully someone makes an offer sheet.  

The depth we want is already here.  Granato's young forward groups was scoring over 3 goals a game without Jack.  Scoring 250 goals plus puts a team in or very near a playoff spot with even reasonable defense and goaltending.  In fact with Ullmark in net they played at a 102 pt pace during his games under Granato (and a 96 pt pace under RK).  

Fix the front office, decide on a coach and then get a physical top 6 winger, a couple of good defensive defensemen and 2 decent to good goalies and we'll have a playoff contending team next season.  

 

[spndnchz]

5 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Jack has a contract folks.  He isn't playing anywhere else unless the Sabres agree to it.  It would have to be an Eric Lindros type offer.  That isn't happening.  Next!

Sam is a RFA.  His leverage is arbitration and a 1 year deal.  Welcome back Sam.  Hopefully someone makes an offer sheet.  

The depth we want is already here.  Granato's young forward groups was scoring over 3 goals a game without Jack.  Scoring 250 goals plus puts a team in or very near a playoff spot with even reasonable defense and goaltending.  In fact with Ullmark in net they played at a 102 pt pace during his games under Granato (and a 96 pt pace under RK).  

Fix the front office, decide on a coach and then get a physical top 6 winger, a couple of good defensive defensemen and 2 decent to good goalies and we'll have a playoff contending team next season.  

 

It’s just that easy aye?

[JohnC]

21 minutes ago, spndnchz said:

It’s just that easy aye?

Nothing is easy in this situation. But as our recent history with ROR illustrates is that making a precipitous unbalanced deal in order to get rid of a player not only doesn't help the situation it sets the franchise back. 

If the Rangers wanted to trade for Jack I would be agreeable to it if we got back Kakko and LaFreniere. If that type of deal doesn't materialize with them or any other trade proposal then the organization should bide its time and wait for a fair offer. 

[Zamboni]

Would anyone do Eichel for Fox straight up?

[LGR4GM]

2 minutes ago, Zamboni said:

Would anyone do Eichel for Fox straight up?

no

[Norcal]

I am of the opinion that IF Chris Drury were to deal with the Sabres in any trades it would be simply to screw them over. He has zero incentive to act like the franchise even exists. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

2 hours ago, spndnchz said:

It’s just that easy aye?

Who said it was easy.  What we need is readily apparent.  Whether KA and Karmanos can pull it off is another question.  

It can become easier with by re-signing of McCabe and Ullmark.   Acquiring a backup goalie who can play 30-35 and start for a few weeks when Ullmark gets banged up could be difficult, but getting the top 6 physical wingers is going to be costly and who that is I have no idea.

 

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

no

How about Jack for Kakko and LaFreniere? I would go for it. 

[Curt]

6 hours ago, Zamboni said:

Would anyone do Eichel for Fox straight up?

I feel like Rangers would say no.

He is literally, no doubt one of the top 5 D in the league.  Maybe the best.  Overall hockey fan opinion hasn’t caught up to that yet, but I feel confident that it’s true.

[Hoss]

6 hours ago, Norcal said:

I am of the opinion that IF Chris Drury were to deal with the Sabres in any trades it would be simply to screw them over. He has zero incentive to act like the franchise even exists. 

He also has zero incentive to screw his own franchise by refusing to deal with another team, particularly one that has a prime asset that could be a franchise-changer for them. This whole line about Drury vs the Sabres falls short of reality.

1 minute ago, Curt said:

I feel like Rangers would say no.

He is literally, no doubt one of the top 5 D in the league.  Maybe the best.  Overall hockey fan opinion hasn’t caught up to that yet, but I feel confident that it’s true.

Still wouldn’t take him straight up.

[Curt]

7 minutes ago, Hoss said:

He also has zero incentive to screw his own franchise by refusing to deal with another team, particularly one that has a prime asset that could be a franchise-changer for them. This whole line about Drury vs the Sabres falls short of reality.

Still wouldn’t take him straight up.

Well, I think Fox would die of a broken heart if he was traded to Buffalo, so maybe I wouldn’t either.  💔

[triumph_communes]

Ghost bear was top 5 d in the league and a couple years later passed waivers 

[Curt]

10 minutes ago, triumph_communes said:

Ghost bear was top 5 d in the league and a couple years later passed waivers 

No he wasn’t.  He just put up a lot of points for a couple seasons and people think his name sounds cool.

[triumph_communes]

1 hour ago, Curt said:

No he wasn’t.  He just put up a lot of points for a couple seasons and people think his name sounds cool.

And Fox is on a non playoff team 

[Trettioåtta]

5 minutes ago, triumph_communes said:

And Fox is on a non playoff team 

That's a good point. Thankfully Eichel's status has been cemented due to his stellar play on a record breaking Sabres team

[jad1]

17 hours ago, JohnC said:

How about Jack for Kakko and LaFreniere? I would go for it. 

Reinhart this season: 40 points.  LaFreniere and Kakko combined: 38 points.

Neither are near the point-a-game player that Eichel is (yet).

Will they ever be as good as Eichel and Reinhart?   Maybe, it's a gamble.  Question is do you really want to trade a player like Eichel on a gamble.

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, jad1 said:

Reinhart this season: 40 points.  LaFreniere and Kakko combined: 38 points.

Neither are near the point-a-game player that Eichel is (yet).

Will they ever be as good as Eichel and Reinhart?   Maybe, it's a gamble.  Question is do you really want to trade a player like Eichel on a gamble.

LaFreniere and Kakko, individually, will never be as good as Eichel. That's understood. What has to be considered is whether Jack wants to be with the Sabres and is all in. If the answer is probably not or not sure then the next best course of action is to get as much in return as possible. It's my belief that in the not too distant future both LaFreniere and Kakko will be first line caliber of players. And with those additions it will thicken the talent pool on the roster and provide a greater reserve of talent to absorb the inevitable depletion due to injuries. When the situation is not what you want it to be you have to respond to it as the best you can. 

[Randall Flagg]

Eichs Risto for Zegras, Rakell (whatever makes this work, pieces can be added)

Re-sign Samson "I want to be a Sabre  centre for life" Reinhart and Linus "Vezina" Ullmark

Sign Danault & Coleman
Sign a GOOD backup
Sign Savard

Trade Olofsson, maybe a Dman for solid defenseman (idk who, pretend NYI wants more goals and gives up Mayfield or something)

Skinner - Reinhart - Rakell 
Zegras - Danault - Cozens -> They all play center/shift to center/move around when injuries happen etc. 
Asplund - Mitts - Coleman
Girgensons - Ruotsalainen - Okposo/Thompson

Dahlin - Joki
Bryson - Savard
Mayfield - Borgen

Ullmark
Mrazek or something

Probably 10 mil over the cap and forgetting important names but who careeeees
 

[WhenWillItEnd66]

I may be in the Minority, but I think next season if we go back to normal gameplay we are (As we stand now) not in as bad of shape as most would think. Our kids were playing against mostly a division of playoff teams and held their own and played pretty well again the teams that were not. With normal year scheduling, we would not be stuck playing 80% of our games against possibly top 10 teams. Our net minding will be a bit more solidified, hopefully, and whether we have Jack, Sam and Risto, we will have pieces that should be able to used next year. Quite a few of our kids have shown they can play against top competition and fair well and even score against it. I am 100% not saying we are a playoff team, but as set, they will be competitive and fun to watch. As long as management does NOT mismanage this offseason, we do have some hope for a fun year next year. 

[Thorner]

12 hours ago, Randall Flagg said:

Eichs Risto for Zegras, Rakell (whatever makes this work, pieces can be added)

Re-sign Samson "I want to be a Sabre  centre for life" Reinhart and Linus "Vezina" Ullmark

Sign Danault & Coleman
Sign a GOOD backup
Sign Savard

Trade Olofsson, maybe a Dman for solid defenseman (idk who, pretend NYI wants more goals and gives up Mayfield or something)

Skinner - Reinhart - Rakell 
Zegras - Danault - Cozens -> They all play center/shift to center/move around when injuries happen etc. 
Asplund - Mitts - Coleman
Girgensons - Ruotsalainen - Okposo/Thompson

Dahlin - Joki
Bryson - Savard
Mayfield - Borgen

Ullmark
Mrazek or something

Probably 10 mil over the cap and forgetting important names but who careeeees
 

This is absolutely something like how it SHOULD look, if we deal Eichel. 

But it's not what they'll do 

It's less easy to get willing buy-in on lower expectations if you have veteran players potentially capable of more like Danualt, etc