Off-season Game Plan 2024

[French Collection]

1 hour ago, Brawndo said:

He’ll get a close up look at Cozens, Power and Byram in Prague.

[thewookie1]

I'd take Tavares at 50% for a most a 3rd; stick it to the Leafs

[Flashsabre]

I doubt Tavares and Marner waive for any move. 

[Flashsabre]

 

[thewookie1]

14 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

I doubt Tavares and Marner waive for any move. 

I'd guess something has to happen however

[Brawndo]

13 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

I doubt Tavares and Marner waive for any move. 

Marner moving to another team would allow him to sign an eight year extension, that’s the only way I could see him waiving. 
 

Tavares who knows 

[GASabresIUFAN]

On 4/22/2024 at 10:01 PM, dudacek said:

I find the "Bring back the same roster" thing usually comes with arbitrary rules around what that means.

Knowing what those ground rules helps me understand the conversation.

It looks like you want to frame it around how many new players will we add this summer who aren't here today.

Which is fine, but it doesn't reflect "bring back the entire failed roster" because that roster included Mittelstadt, Okposo, Johnson, Girgensons, Jost, Olofsson, Robinson and Comrie, who all spent at least half the season on that roster.

Byram — who was not a significant part of the failed roster — effectively replaced Johnson, but the rest of them still need to be replaced.

Rousek and other prospects may take some of their slots, but there are clearly more spots open to add bodies from outside the organization than your ??? would lead one to believe.

By the way, I re-read our discussion and I did some math regarding the possible returning roster.  I calculated the numbers based on the players who have already moved on (Johnson, Okposo and Mitts plus all the UFAs)  The Sabres are potentially bringing back 75% of the man games played, 79% of the goals scored, 83% of the assists and 81% of the points.  They are also bringing back 88% of the starts in goal and 90% of the games plays by a defenseman.  The forward turnover is primarily all the bottom of the roster players (KO, Z, Robinson, Jost, Murray, Biro and VO).  The only exception is Mitts.  Those 7 players accounted for 17% of the games played last season, but only 11% of the teams points.  To say they won't be missed is an understatement.

[dudacek]

2 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

 

Thanks for posting.

Seravalli with a lot of the right questions and Adams not really dodging with his answers.

Our GM says no more waiting; he plans to be good now. Likes his D and his goalies, wants to get harder to play against, may add to his top 6, will be upgrading his bottom 6. Likes his core, expects to be aggressive rounding the team out.

Whatever moves he makes or does not make, he made his intentions and expectations pretty clear and we can hold him accountable for the results, or lack thereof.

 

 

Edited May 10 by dudacek

[French Collection]

19 minutes ago, seer775 said:

JJP - TT - Tuch

Quinn - Stephenson - Cozens

Benson - Jost - Greenway

Clutterbuck - Krebs - Maroon

Dahlin - Byram

Power - OEL

Joker - Clifton

UPL - Samsonov

Stephenson would be an excellent pick up but I leave Cozens at C and have them compete for 2C.

Clutterbuck has some of what they need.
 

Sorry but Jost is 13F on a weak team.
Maroon has grit but is slower than Okposo.

OEL has none of the Panther grit and is a LHD.

Samsonov has the Leafs scent on him.

Joshua as a UFA would bump Greenway down to the 4th line. Benson, Cozens and Joshua. He can also play C to help Cozens on draws.

Tanev is a veteran RHD that is a UFA. He would provide the toughness in a pairing with Clark Kent.

 

[thewookie1]

1 hour ago, seer775 said:

Cozens doesn't think like a Centre imo. He likes corners, rushes, and playing the front of the net. Playing wing will allow him to focus on scoring.

Samsonov is a highly underrated playoff borne goalie. Leafs waived him, then started him in the playoffs.

Joshua and Tanev are solid. I'd take either over Maroon/OEL/Greenway.

Jost is an upgrade on Krebs / Girgs.

Cap is the issue here so its a mute point.

[French Collection]

3 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

Cap is the issue here so it’s a moot point.

I think there is cap space this year for a few UFAs like Stephenson, Joshua and a gritty F and D.

When Peterka, Quinn and Byram are due a raise, decisions need to be made who stays or goes.

[thewookie1]

30 minutes ago, French Collection said:

I think there is cap space this year for a few UFAs like Stephenson, Joshua and a gritty F and D.

When Peterka, Quinn and Byram are due a raise, decisions need to be made who stays or goes.

For a guy or two sure; he’s magically signed

5, Muel is missing and Skinner somehow ceased to be. 

[French Collection]

1 minute ago, thewookie1 said:

For a guy or two sure; he’s magically signed

5, Muel is missing and Skinner somehow ceased to be. 

Muel can be our Mark Stone.

[PerreaultForever]

3 hours ago, seer775 said:

Cozens doesn't think like a Centre imo. He likes corners, rushes, and playing the front of the net. Playing wing will allow him to focus on scoring.

Samsonov is a highly underrated playoff borne goalie. Leafs waived him, then started him in the playoffs.

Joshua and Tanev are solid. I'd take either over Maroon/OEL/Greenway.

Jost is an upgrade on Krebs / Girgs.

I totally agree and have said this all year. I think he's better on the wing and I don't think his ice vision is great at center. He seems to see and favour one side and hence only one of his wingers. I don't know if it's a bad habit or he thinks too slow for the pace or it's just lazy but it's what he does. There is hope Ruff can correct it though. 

[thewookie1]

3 hours ago, seer775 said:

Jeff gone for future considerations. Mule on IR or waivers.

11 players signed at $60M. $87M - $60M = $27M remaining.

UPL, Monahan, and Stephenson get $4M.

Tanev and Joshua get $3M.

Joker, Samsonov, and Clutterbuck get $2M.

Jost gets $1M.

2 Amerks × $1M reserve.

Total = $27M.

---

Samsonov, Joker, and Jost get a bridge. Everyone else gets a raise plus term. We have a team.

 

I doubt Skinner has any intention on leaving and Muel isn't just getting waived.

Joker will get 4 mil approximately regardless based on his previous contract.

Stephenson won't take 4mil year for sure

Tanev won't take 3 mil for sure

 

I do apologize for bursting your bubble.

[steveoath]

Skinner isn’t going anywhere. If he’s as bad as some make out who’s taking him? 
 

Buyout for him is not viable this year. 

Skinner will start the season as a top 6 forward. 

[LGR4GM]

Just now, seer775 said:

Highest paid 3rd liner in history who can't produce.

Say goodbye to the playoffs.

Jeff Skinner is something like 5th in the NHL since 2020 in 5v5 goals. 

Also, saying we should waive Mattias Samuelsson basically makes you lose all credibility. 

[LGR4GM]

1 minute ago, seer775 said:

There are teams he would play for. Or, buy out his contract. Mule waiver is a no brainer.

Joker gets to walk. Replace with Bryson @ 2M.

Bump Stephenson and Tanev a mil and drop Clutterbuck and Jost. Replace with Amerks. 

The GMs job is to find solutions.

Jeff Skinner is a liability anywhere on the ice except directly in front of the net.

Explain why we can't waive Mule.

Cuz it's a stupid waste of assets. 

[LGR4GM]

Oh God you're doubling down on waiving Samuelsson. This just is an unserious post. You don't waive top 4 defenders on good contracts, it's just dumb.

[LGR4GM]

Just now, seer775 said:

His contract is exactly that. Get rid of him.

Yea, you're just wrong. You don't waive an easily tradable and valuable asset. It's just dumb to suggest we should. 

[LGR4GM]

1 minute ago, seer775 said:

He's played 40 games a year since he started. How does that merit term and salary?

Plus, he doesn't seem to know what he's doing on the ice. Joker and Bryson are much better.

Just now, seer775 said:

Then trade him. However you need to make him leave the team, do it.

Not rocket science.

It clearly is rocket science to you. You're advocating waiving a top 4 defender. He'd have what? 28 teams put in waiver claims. 

[LGR4GM]

Just now, seer775 said:

All the better.

He is a liability.

How's he a liability?

[LGR4GM]

I'd love to get out from Skinners contract because they need someone more dynamic. But Pegula and Botterill f-d us there. He can decline any trade. I think text summer you buy him out. 

[Taro T]

On 5/3/2024 at 8:31 PM, Brawndo said:

Ehlers has a 10 Team M-NTC, the Kings need a retool as well. 
 

Could the most famous Sabre Player in History convince another Victoriaville Native to waive His 10 Team M-NTC to come to Buffalo 

3 seasons of Phillip Danault at 5.5 million AAV as the the third line center would be perfect 

 

Danault's the guy they should've brought in to take another kick at the can with the LAST group that they jettisoned for another reset.

Still absolutely would love to see him as a Sabre.

[Taro T]

On 5/3/2024 at 10:34 PM, LGR4GM said:

I don't believe the Sabres under Kevyn Adams will make any move to improve the top 6. In fact I think they will assume their top 6 is actually in better shape this offseason with jjp and Quinn both growing and Benson emerging. I also believe they think both Skinner and Cozens will rebound. I also think they'll give Krebs ample opportunity to be 3 C.

They may add 2 or 3 bottom 6 types but that's it. Adams doesn't seem to understand when and how to ruthlessly improve the team and shows far too much loyalty to his favorite players. We need leaders though and I don't see anyone with enough heart, maybe Dahlin. 

Back in March, after the trade deadline, Adams said the 2 things he wanted to bring in was a veteran top 9 winger (which, reading between the lines is actually a top 6 winger but he didn't want to say that publicly because realistically bringing in a top 6 W forces Skinner to the 3rd (or even 4th) line) and a 4C that can win faceoffs and kill penalties (and, again, reading between the lines, Krebs was in a tryout to see if he could lock down the 3C role; considering he didn't, could easily see that "4C" that Adams wants be a legit 3C).

Can't believe that Adams is going to pencil Benson into the top 2 lines at 19 yo.  See the top 6 as Peterka - Thompson - Tuch and New Guy - Cozens - Quinn.  With Benson and Greenway flanking a new 3C.  Leaving Skinner (and very likely Girgensons) flanking Krebs in a very weird 4th line.  Ruff will likely give Skinner a chance to be on the 3rd line, but can't see him seizing that opportunity. 

Ruff won't be coming to the team with the same history that Granato had with Skinner so he won't be nearly as gun shy as Don was to demote Skinner to where he should've been based on his play.  He doesn't play well with others but can create on his own pretty well.  Let him be an overachiever on a bottom 6 line and MAYBE the 2nd PP unit rather than the guy killing the 1st line and the top PP should they actually get the puck into the zone.  Have faith that Ruff will see what Skinner is.

 

Personally, expect a LOT of the lack of leadership was due to the coaches not really coaching and then guys like Tuch, Dahlin, and Cozens deferring to Okposo and Girgensons as they were officially the leaders.  Am fine with Girgensons coming back, but if he has a letter again, something is wrong in the state of Denmark.  That and the fact that the team was REALLY young.  There were a lot of guys that had been leaders at lower levels, but they haven't been around a winning organization at this level and can't really be expected to know what it takes to win at this level when the coaching never fully really left development mode.

Am expecting the captain to be either Dahlin or Tuch (and am fine with either, though do have a preference) with Cozens wearing the other A.  Really am looking forward to seeing what moves do get made this off-season both on the ice and on the bench.  Am hoping Ruff brings in a really experienced guy (maybe Bob Woods for the PP?) and 1 young guy that seems really sharp and can relate well to the younger guys (Peca would fit the bill).  Bringing in a guy that's been a HC would be good too and might finally get Ellis off the bench.