Re-sign, trade or keep? Which players on the Sabres would you put in the trade market and when?

[GASabresIUFAN]

Forwards - 

Thompson C - 5 years left at 7,142,857

Cozens RW/C - 5 years left at 7,100,000

Zucker W - UFA ($5 mill current deal)

Tuch RW - 1 year left at 4.75 (UFA)

Greenway W - UFA ($3 mill current deal)

McLeod C/W - RFA ($2.1 mil current deal)

Lafferty C/W - 1 year left at 2 (UFA)

Aube-Kubel - UFA (1.5 on current deal)

Krebs C/W - 1 year left at 1.45 (RFA)

Malenstyn LW - 1 year left at 1.35 (UFA)

Benson W - 1 year left at 950K (RFA)

Kulich  W - 2 years left at $886,667 (RFA)

Quinn RW - RFA

Peterka W - RFA

Defense

Dahlin LHD - 7 years left at 11 mill

Power LHD - 6 years left at 8.35

Samuelsson LHD - 5 years left at 4.286

Byram LHD - RFA (3.85 on current deal)

Clifton LHD - 1 year left at 3.333 (UFA)

Jokiharju RHD - RFA (3.1 on current deal)

Bryson LHD - UFA (900k)

Gilbert LHD - UFA (825K)

Goalies

UPL - 4 years left at 4.75

Reimer - UFA ($1 mill on current deal)

 

Who stays and who goes?  

 

[Warriorspikes51]

Trade market

Cozens

Power

Samuelsson

Krebs

Maybe Peterka

[K-9]

The only untouchable is Benson. Screw the rest of these sorry losers. 

[Porous Five Hole]

One note, Henri is an UFA at the end of this season. 

All of this is impossible without knowing A) the return, and B) who is a problem regarding effort/attitude.  
 

I am not interested in selling low like we did with Reino.
I am not interested in prospects for NHL players. 
I am not interested in trading from the youngest team in the league.  I’m interested in adding to it. 
 

But to answer your question, I offer 1-2 year extensions to Zucker and Greenway. If they decline, I move them at the deadline. Anyone else who is a pending UFA is available.

[LGR4GM]

1 minute ago, Porous Five Hole said:

One note, Henri is an UFA at the end of this season. 

All of this is impossible without knowing A) the return, and B) who is a problem regarding effort/attitude.  
 

I am not interested in selling low like we did with Reino.
I am not interested in prospects for NHL players. 
I am not interested in trading from the youngest team in the league.  I’m interested in adding to it. 
 

But to answer your question, I offer 1-2 year extensions to Zucker and Greenway. If they decline, I move them at the deadline. Anyone else who is a pending UFA is available.

I dont move Greenway or Zucker at the deadline even if they decline unless the return is stupid. This team needs vets in that room all year who will continue to push the young lazy kids to be actual professionals. 

I would ditch Jokiharju and something else in a package for something decent like a Greenway or McLeod. I'd consider moving on from krebs and one of Tage, Tuch, Cozens. I pick either Power or Byram and move the other. I'd look to move Samulesson. Idc about the 4th line guys because come or go they arent the main issue here. I would keep Quinn and Peterka for another year and make a decision on them, we shouldn't panic on either and I think both present the opportunity to have top 6 forwards as soon as next season. I move on from Bryson and Gilbert. 

So, Jokiharju, Krebs, 1 of (Tage, Tuch, Cozens), 1 of (Power/Byram), and Samuelsson. That takes 5 starters out of the lineup and another 3 depth pieces. Depending if Greenway or Zucker is back, that is 2 more for a total of 4 of your top 9 potentially. 

[mjd1001]

As usual, it all depends on the return.

 

Keep:

  Dahlin, Thompson, Tuch, Kulich, Benson (I wasn't a huge fan of Benson, but I'm starting to see what others have seen for a long time). 

Samuelsson and Clifton I'm close to putting on this list. Samuelsson has been playing a lot better, and if that is who he is, he is a screaming bargain at his deal. Clifton isn't great, but he's good enough for the 3rd pair and one of the only guys who plays physical.

 

Trade/Move:

Cozens, Quinn. Not to GIVE them away, but if you get a 'good' veteran back, pull the trigger.  I think Cozens play away from the puck has gone from 'negative' to 'neutral', and he is now scoring like a 20 goal guy.  But as long as he is here it appears he is a fixture on the 2nd line and on the PP, and that is a negative.

 

The rest of the guys I don't really care too much either way (again, of course depending on the return.  I think Power will be good eventually, but its going to take a couple years.  Byram Ilke a lot, but what will it take to re-sign him vs what can you get for him? Zucker, looks good now, but if someone offers a LOT at trade deadline (first and prospect OR an already-in-the-NHL younger guy), I think about it.

Edited Friday at 03:50 PM by mjd1001

[SwampD]

Why do we have to trade a player. I would trade our first round pick. We have cap space and none of the players that Kevyn is saving that for are playing well enough to have earned it, anyway.

Stoner is right. Think outside the box and get a player mid season (maybe even at the trade deadline) that will help us even after this season.

This sucks.

Edited Friday at 03:49 PM by SwampD

[Dreams Burn Down]

28 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Thompson C - 5 years left at 7,142,857

Cozens RW/C - 5 years left at 7,100,000

 

28 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Power LHD - 6 years left at 8.35

Samuelsson LHD - 5 years left at 4.286

What a ******* mess this organization has made for themselves.

Ideally, I'd keep Dahlin, Benson, Kulich, and Zucker.  The rest are expendable.  Unfortunately, some of these contracts would need a seasoned GM to properly unload.

[thewookie1]

Just now, SwampD said:

Why do we have to trade a player. I would trade our first round pick. We have cap space and none of the players that Kevyn is saving that for are playing well enough to earned it, anyway.

Stoner is right. Think outside the box and get a player mid season (maybe even at the trade deadline) that will help us even after this season.

This sucks.

You don't trade the potential 1st Overall for a player

The other part is we have to subtract a player for the roster spot more or less.

[LGR4GM]

2 minutes ago, SwampD said:

Why do we have to trade a player. I would trade our first round pick. We have cap space and none of the players that Kevyn is saving that for are playing well enough to have earned it, anyway.

Stoner is right. Think outside the box and get a player mid season (maybe even at the trade deadline) that will help us even after this season.

This sucks.

Because trading top 5 picks is A. not done in the league, and B. shouldn't be done because of how talent gets allocated and how the cap functions.

[SwampD]

Just now, thewookie1 said:

You don't trade the potential 1st Overall for a player

The other part is we have to subtract a player for the roster spot more or less.

Why? How have our actual 1st Overalls helped us?

[Porous Five Hole]

5 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I dont move Greenway or Zucker at the deadline even if they decline unless the return is stupid. This team needs vets in that room all year who will continue to push the young lazy kids to be actual professionals. 

So, Jokiharju, Krebs, 1 of (Tage, Tuch, Cozens),

I understand your angle, but the trade deadline is March 7th and the season ends five weeks later. You go out and get what you can get for UFA’s.  I understand you don’t want any inexpensive lottery tickets back, but I think nothing versus something is smart asset management.  
 

I also would take Tage from the list of available guys. To me, he’s too dynamic to cast off. His 47 goal season wasn’t that long ago.  

[SwampD]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

Because trading top 5 picks is A. not done in the league, and B. shouldn't be done because of how talent gets allocated and how the cap functions.

Sure. And the beat goes on…

Always trade potential talent for actual talent. Always.

[Porous Five Hole]

1 minute ago, SwampD said:

Sure. And the beat goes on…

Always trade potential talent for actual talent. Always.

Check out my Pettersson posts from this morning. I’m doing what you’re suggesting. 

Edited Friday at 03:54 PM by Porous Five Hole

[mjd1001]

1 minute ago, SwampD said:

Why? How have our actual 1st Overalls helped us?

I'll throw something out there....

If the team doesn't value the 1st overall pick that much, that doesn't mean it still doesn't have value.

What you can get NOW for a first round pick might be a fraction of what you can get in the offseason if you WIN the first overall pick (or 2nd or 3rd) and elect to trade it in the offseason.

[thewookie1]

Just now, SwampD said:

Why? How have our actual 1st Overalls helped us?

Well Dahlin is playing very well

Power is more of a shrug

The last thing Buffalo needs is another blunder in the eyes of the media at large. And trading a high lottery pick for a player is very rare; I can't even think of an example of it happening.

[SwampD]

Someday,… we will care about the actual season we are in and not care more about next season,… 

 

…someday…

 

…probably not.

[mjd1001]

1 minute ago, Porous Five Hole said:

I understand your angle, but the trade deadline is March 7th and the season ends five weeks later. You go out and get what you can get for UFA’s.  I understand you don’t want any inexpensive lottery tickets back, but I think nothing versus something is smart asset management.  
 

I also would take Tage from the list of available guys. To me, he’s too dynamic to cast off. His 47 goal season wasn’t that long ago.  

I don't get trading Tage at all.  For how many goals he scores, you are getting a bargain at what you are paying him. Even this year, he is 12th in the league in goals per game played.  Over the past 3 years he is 12. Over the plas 4 years he is 12th. And although he gets picked on for his defensive play, I personally don't think he is bad (he makes less costly mistakes than Cozens, for example) and hes actually a good penalty killer.

[DarthEbriate]

Zucker should be extended with a 2-year deal, but that money is already allocated for Quinn and Peterka. Therefore, trade Zucker now. His value will never be higher because he's not yet given into the Sabres malaise.

[LGR4GM]

4 minutes ago, SwampD said:

Sure. And the beat goes on…

Always trade potential talent for actual talent. Always.

You aren't trading potential talent for actual, you are trading actual talent for lesser talent. Let's say you trade the Sabres first and they win the lottery. Instead of James Hagens you get what? Tuch? Zucker level? Greenway level? 

[JP51]

Everyone is fair game depending on the price except maybe Benson or Dahlin, but depending on the package I could be enticed. I would put them on the market right after the FO is cleared out and a competent GM and POHO are hired. 

[thewookie1]

Just now, SwampD said:

Someday,… we will care about the actual season we are in and not care more about next season,… 

 

…someday…

 

…probably not.

Well with where we are in the Standings few really want to chase down negative results with further negative future impacts

[SwampD]

1 minute ago, thewookie1 said:

Well with where we are in the Standings few really want to chase down negative results with further negative future impacts

If we had another Zucker, we wouldn’t have negative results this year. And that’s only a “Zucker.” Imagine if it was a good player.

[thewookie1]

3 minutes ago, SwampD said:

If we had another Zucker, we wouldn’t have negative results this year. And that’s only a “Zucker.” Imagine if it was a good player.

I firmly agree, I'd love another Zucker; but at this point of the season you don't move your 1st. The past offseason was when you could; now you would just look shortsighted and dumb. 

[Stoner]

11 minutes ago, SwampD said:

Someday,… we will care about the actual season we are in and not care more about next season,… 

 

…someday…

 

…probably not.

...those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

Trade them all. Right now.

Would anyone be mad if they did that and still missed the playoffs next year. Would anyone pine for the glory days of Dahlin and Thompson?