NHL trade deadline 2024: Should Sabres, Kevyn Adams buy, sell or hold?

[mjd1001]

You listen to offers for your current players, but you don't force a move just to make one.

You listen to who is out there and available, if a fit exists make a move, but again, don't overplay just to make a move.

Some people want to hold onto everyone just because they over-value what they know/are used to.....others want to make moves for the sake of moves because "something needs to change" or "you need to put fear into these guys".  I think both of those are extreme reactions. Every move, every non-move, every potential move, should be made on a case-by-case basis analysis.

Edited February 3 by mjd1001

[inkman]

1 hour ago, seer775 said:

A Mitts signing would mark the end of the core building.

- i.e Dahlin, Power, UPL, Levi, TT, Mitts, Cozens, Tuch, Quinn, JJP, Greenway, and Samuelsson.

^ average age: 23.5 years.

They must be frustrated after missing last year and sucking this year. A wild card finish is needed to get them team believing again. That will require the roster to be augmented significantly in the coming off-season.

I don’t sense any frustration or emotion at all. These guys don’t care. At all.  I’m tired of dedicating my time to this love look in day care center.  It’s professional sports. Act like someone who cares about their job.  Okposo might but he’s a fossil and can’t really do anything to change matters.  

40 minutes ago, seer775 said:

This team lacks checking, grit, and presence. We need guys who can take hits, and more importantly, dish out punishment night after night.

I like Xhejak, Zadorov, Clutterbuck, Jeannot, Aciarri, (dare I say) Lucic/Wilson type players. Some real mean m-fers.

We have the offensive talent. What we need is to make other teams fear playing in our end and on the backcheck.

Well you mentioned two actually good players.  Overpaid, but good. The rest might hit and fight but they aren’t too good at the hockey.  

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, seer775 said:

A Mitts signing would mark the end of the core building.

- i.e Dahlin, Power, UPL, Levi, TT, Mitts, Cozens, Tuch, Quinn, JJP, Greenway, and Samuelsson.

^ average age: 23.5 years.

They must be frustrated after missing last year and sucking this year. A wild card finish is needed to get them team believing again. That will require the roster to be augmented significantly in the coming off-season.

imo that's too many names to be a "core" (whatever a core actually is, just a buzz word really).

The team has no VETERAN core. A bunch of young guys with talent doesn't come together into anything unless it has leadership. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

2 hours ago, seer775 said:

IMO, our best team next year would be:

Cozens - TT - Tuch (C)

Quinn - Mitts - JJP

Greenway - Monahan (A) - Benson/Rosen/Biro

JVR - Krebs/Savoie/Kulich - Girgensons

Dahlin (A) - Gustafsson

Power - OEL (A)

RJ - Mule

UPL - Samsonov

---

I am a fan of moving Skinner, but his NMC and contract makes that possibility near-zero. Have to be bold to be victorious.

Clifton ?

[Sabres73]

I'm holding and waiting for free agency in the off-season. Some small sells like Okposo

[ska-T Chitown]

On 2/2/2024 at 2:41 PM, TheAud said:

So after Thompson, Tuch, Dahlin, and Power who else would you suggest Adams unloads next?

Trading for Patrick Kane and giving him a contract extension is really brilliant, btw. 

 

 I can't even read that single paragraph word vomit / AI non-sense. The whole time I picture a small child in front of an audience reading a loud and monotone book report or some other thing. Ick.

[Flashsabre]

It doesn’t matter. None of it does.

The organization isn’t serious about winning. 
 

There isn’t a winning structure in place. From the front office to the coaching staff to the development staff. 
 

Until that is addressed and people are put in positions that have a plan to compete and win then nothing they do matters. Who they trade for, sign or draft just all get thrown into this losing blender and it comes out the same year after year after year after year.

[Believer]

On 2/2/2024 at 2:28 PM, inkman said:

I’m very touchable 

You should start a topic for dumb off-topic posts like this one.

[Ducky]

Laurent Brossoit will be an UFA and he is an excellent goalie.

[Archie Lee]

11 hours ago, Ducky said:

Laurent Brossoit will be an UFA and he is an excellent goalie.

I agree and think he would be a great pairing with Luukkonen, particularly in a solid defensive system like exists in Vegas and Winnipeg (and maybe now in Buffalo).  The Sabres certainly will have the cap space to sign a goalie like Brossoit.  

The problem, as a Sabre fan, with any roster building exercise, is that there are certain players on the team who have not shown they are ready for the NHL roles they have been given but who the GM/organization appears wholly committed to.  Signing a UFA goalie like Brossoit, and assuming UPL is back, means that the organization would be committing to Levi being in Rochester next year.  I can imagine a scenario unfolding where Levi's performance drives him to Rochester, but I can't imagine a scenario where Adams makes an off-season move that makes it a certainty.  

 

 

[dudacek]

The Canuck blueprint to go from 27th at last year's all-star break to 1st t this year's all-star break:

• Replace Boudreau with Tocchet, along with switching most of the rest of the coaching staff.
• (Effectively) trade Horvat for Hronek
• Swap a handful of depth guys (Bear, Schenn, Ekman-Larsson, LAzar, Dries) for a different handful of depth guys (Cole, Suter, Lafferty, Blueger, Soucy)
• Have your core (Petterson, Miller, Demko, Hughes, Boeser) all have fantastic years at the same time.

I can tell you guys first-hand from living in the market that one year ago the Canucks fan base was a frustrated and out of hope as you seem to be, and fan expectations in training camp were very low for this season.

[GoPuckYourself]

I agree with Adams being a buyer and seller. The fact that not 1 move has been made other than adding a 4th liner just shows the level of incompetence is still running strong in the building.

At this point I don’t expect anything will happen and if it does I expect another low level player that doesn’t threaten anyone’s job. 

We still have the same position needs we’ve needed for some time. A top 4 D, a face off specialist, some grit, and a veteran goalie who can win some games and until they’re addressed it will be same ole same ole unfortunately.

[JohnC]

16 minutes ago, dudacek said:

The Canuck blueprint to go from 27th at last year's all-star break to 1st t this year's all-star break:

• Replace Boudreau with Tocchet, along with switching most of the rest of the coaching staff.
• (Effectively) trade Horvat for Hronek
• Swap a handful of depth guys (Bear, Schenn, Ekman-Larsson, LAzar, Dries) for a different handful of depth guys (Cole, Suter, Lafferty, Blueger, Soucy)
• Have your core (Petterson, Miller, Demko, Hughes, Boeser) all have fantastic years at the same time.

I can tell you guys first-hand from living in the market that one year ago the Canucks fan base was a frustrated and out of hope as you seem to be, and fan expectations in training camp were very low for this season.

The main reason why there was such a high expectation entering this season was that a number of our core, including Tage, Cozens, Tuch, Skinner etc.  had exceptional scoring seasons last year. And on top of that, our PP was productive. Neither of these two elements have happened this year, at least so far. What is the reason for this decline? I believe that injuries and other teams adjusting to our strengths resulted in a noticeable decline. 

I am on the side of the table that argues to stay the course and don't overreact to what has happened this year. It should be remembered that the Sabres earned 91 points last year compared to the previous year's 75 points. The trajectory was clearly pointing in an upward direction. 

Although the Sabres are in a tough position entering the second half of the season, I haven't given up hope for a playoff run. In my opinion the last thing this franchise needs is to lose its nerve on the course it has set. If the front office panics to the point of changing course and significantly altering the roster, it would in my opinion set this franchise back, again! Just because I'm mostly arguing to "stay the course" doesn't mean that it should stand pat and not make some tweaks to the roster this offseason.

I realize I'm more upbeat than most about this team and that I'm very much in the minority here. 

[Pimlach]

36 minutes ago, dudacek said:

The Canuck blueprint to go from 27th at last year's all-star break to 1st t this year's all-star break:

• Replace Boudreau with Tocchet, along with switching most of the rest of the coaching staff.
• (Effectively) trade Horvat for Hronek
• Swap a handful of depth guys (Bear, Schenn, Ekman-Larsson, LAzar, Dries) for a different handful of depth guys (Cole, Suter, Lafferty, Blueger, Soucy)
• Have your core (Petterson, Miller, Demko, Hughes, Boeser) all have fantastic years at the same time.

I can tell you guys first-hand from living in the market that one year ago the Canucks fan base was a frustrated and out of hope as you seem to be, and fan expectations in training camp were very low for this season.

The coaching change was huge.  

The 2nd bullet, moving out an old star was needed to change the room dynamics and shake things up.  

The 3rd bullet was to bring the kind of depth guys that the coach wanted/trusts.  

4th bullet point is good luck. 
 

Pegula and Adams should really be talking to an NHL Veteran coaches about the HC job, and about helping to reshape the roster.   I would love to know what Berube or Gallant would offer up to help make this roster better.  

However, I just don’t see Adams moving on from DG or making big roster moves.  He thinks his draft picks will all evolve together into a dynasty.   

 

 

[Pimlach]

14 minutes ago, JohnC said:

The main reason why there was such a high expectation entering this season was that a number of our core, including Tage, Cozens, Tuch, Skinner etc.  had exceptional scoring seasons last year. And on top of that, our PP was productive. Neither of these two elements have happened this year, at least so far. What is the reason for this decline? I believe that injuries and other teams adjusting to our strengths resulted in a noticeable decline. 

I am on the side of the table that argues to stay the course and don't overreact to what has happened this year. It should be remembered that the Sabres earned 91 points last year compared to the previous year's 75 points. The trajectory was clearly pointing in an upward direction. 

Although the Sabres are in a tough position entering the second half of the season, I haven't given up hope for a playoff run. In my opinion the last thing this franchise needs is to lose its nerve on the course it has set. If the front office panics to the point of changing course and significantly altering the roster, it would in my opinion set this franchise back, again! Just because I'm mostly arguing to "stay the course" doesn't mean that it should stand pat and not make some tweaks to the roster this offseason.

I realize I'm more upbeat than most about this team and that I'm very much in the minority here. 

John, I agree with quite a bit of this.   Blowing it up again is drastic and making huge changes is risky.  

My one big issue is the coaching staff.   I dont see any indication that this coaching  staff is up to the NHL level.   The team is almost always not ready to play at game time.   First period stats tell the story.   Adjustments are lacking, the power play being the biggest example of a huge failure with no answers.   
 

Another abysmal home record haunts the team and its relationship with the fans.  The roster is still way too young and lacks the leadership and accountability to even string 3 good games together.  

I think DG has reached his max level, and if I owned this team I would ask Adam’s to start looking at everyone and everything to finally take the next to step.   
 

 

[Taro T]

43 minutes ago, JohnC said:

The main reason why there was such a high expectation entering this season was that a number of our core, including Tage, Cozens, Tuch, Skinner etc.  had exceptional scoring seasons last year. And on top of that, our PP was productive. Neither of these two elements have happened this year, at least so far. What is the reason for this decline? I believe that injuries and other teams adjusting to our strengths resulted in a noticeable decline. 

I am on the side of the table that argues to stay the course and don't overreact to what has happened this year. It should be remembered that the Sabres earned 91 points last year compared to the previous year's 75 points. The trajectory was clearly pointing in an upward direction. 

Although the Sabres are in a tough position entering the second half of the season, I haven't given up hope for a playoff run. In my opinion the last thing this franchise needs is to lose its nerve on the course it has set. If the front office panics to the point of changing course and significantly altering the roster, it would in my opinion set this franchise back, again! Just because I'm mostly arguing to "stay the course" doesn't mean that it should stand pat and not make some tweaks to the roster this offseason.

I realize I'm more upbeat than most about this team and that I'm very much in the minority here. 

To the bolded, the PP WAS effective, for ALL OF 6-7 WEEKS.  End of October through mid-December it was hitting at 34%, the absolute best in the league.  It was below 15% on either side of that BRIEF span when it was all-world.

And IF a PP can hit at 34% for a month and a half, it shouldn't be absolute trash the rest of the year.  But yet, here we are.  Replace that coach.  He doesn't know what he's doing.

[Cityo'Rasmii]

I'd love to see them prove me wrong, but this week things will NOT change as far as the PP, as far as how they play the 1st period, and continued absence of net front presence.

[Doohicksie]

On 2/1/2024 at 11:26 PM, Porous Five Hole said:

Or should they take players with value (Mitts for example)

Trading Reino tells me we don't want to let Mitts go.

[Flashsabre]

2 hours ago, Pimlach said:

The coaching change was huge.  

The 2nd bullet, moving out an old star was needed to change the room dynamics and shake things up.  

The 3rd bullet was to bring the kind of depth guys that the coach wanted/trusts.  

4th bullet point is good luck. 
 

Pegula and Adams should really be talking to an NHL Veteran coaches about the HC job, and about helping to reshape the roster.   I would love to know what Berube or Gallant would offer up to help make this roster better.  

However, I just don’t see Adams moving on from DG or making big roster moves.  He thinks his draft picks will all evolve together into a dynasty.   

 

 

Right after Tocchet should be Demko returning to health and returning to form. He is a huge reason they are where they are but a part of it is Tocchet’s accountability of the roster to play consistent structured defence in front of him.

[Doohicksie]

16 hours ago, Believer said:

You should start a topic for dumb off-topic posts like this one.

But then they wouldn't be off-topic, would they?

[Porous Five Hole]

15 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

Trading Reino tells me we don't want to let Mitts go.

My initial reaction to that is the Reino trade worked.
If the Sabres were going to roll with Jack, they would have held onto Reino.  But that wasn’t going to happen. Reino would have been miserable here after the Eichel reset.

The return of Kulich & Levi appears to be a nice deal for us. I think Levi is going to be a stud one day. 

The Mitts deal just cannot be for futures.   Mitts and a future for a top 4D.
 

 

[Doohicksie]

2 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

My initial reaction to that is the Reino trade worked.
If the Sabres were going to roll with Jack, they would have held onto Reino.  But that wasn’t going to happen. Reino would have been miserable here after the Eichel reset.

The return of Kulich & Levi appears to be a nice deal for us. I think Levi is going to be a stud one day. 

The Mitts deal just cannot be for futures.   Mitts and a future for a top 4D.

All the reasons you say Reino wanted to go are reasons Mitts wants to stay.  If they trade Mitts it'll go down as one of the worst trades ever.

[ska-T Chitown]

2 hours ago, Pimlach said:

John, I agree with quite a bit of this.   Blowing it up again is drastic and making huge changes is risky.  

My one big issue is the coaching staff.   I dont see any indication that this coaching  staff is up to the NHL level.   The team is almost always not ready to play at game time.   First period stats tell the story.   Adjustments are lacking, the power play being the biggest example of a huge failure with no answers.   
 

Another abysmal home record haunts the team and its relationship with the fans.  The roster is still way too young and lacks the leadership and accountability to even string 3 good games together.  

I think DG has reached his max level, and if I owned this team I would ask Adam’s to start looking at everyone and everything to finally take the next to step.   
 

 

Not directed at you, but I saw the bold and got 'triggered' as the kids say ... I agree we are too young, and it seems like a lot of folks 'round these parts do, too. BUT, if you lurk in pretty much any thread there are far too many "let Girgs/EJ/KO* walk and replace them with [insert 21 yr old barely cutting it ROC guy]" ... which is not going to move the age/experience needle in the correct direction. 

*Disclaimer: Those three might be the "swap depth for the correct depth" that @dudacek pointed out Van did. But, letting the three oldest guys walk without quality veteran replacements is not going to make anything better.

[Pimlach]

11 minutes ago, ska-T Chitown said:

Not directed at you, but I saw the bold and got 'triggered' as the kids say ... I agree we are too young, and it seems like a lot of folks 'round these parts do, too. BUT, if you lurk in pretty much any thread there are far too many "let Girgs/EJ/KO* walk and replace them with [insert 21 yr old barely cutting it ROC guy]" ... which is not going to move the age/experience needle in the correct direction. 

*Disclaimer: Those three might be the "swap depth for the correct depth" that @dudacek pointed out Van did. But, letting the three oldest guys walk without quality veteran replacements is not going to make anything better.

Agree.  We are younger on average this year than we were last year.  It could happen again next year as well.  
 

[JohnC]

3 hours ago, Taro T said:

To the bolded, the PP WAS effective, for ALL OF 6-7 WEEKS.  End of October through mid-December it was hitting at 34%, the absolute best in the league.  It was below 15% on either side of that BRIEF span when it was all-world.

And IF a PP can hit at 34% for a month and a half, it shouldn't be absolute trash the rest of the year.  But yet, here we are.  Replace that coach.  He doesn't know what he's doing.

We are in agreement that our PP can be better. In this season, our paltry production has been the difference between being in the middle of a genuine playoff pursuit as opposed to being in a deep hole that needs extra effort just to get out of. I agree with you that it's unreasonable to expect to match the sterling PP percentage that we had in our end of season run. However, if we could have gotten it to an average plus level this year, our perception of the season would be dramatically different. 

Is coaching the underpinning problem for this PP unit? I'm not sure? The players need to make the adjustment to get this unit back on track. I hold them mostly responsible for the struggles.