2025 NHL Trade Deadline (March 7) Thread

[PerreaultForever]

16 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

Not quite. Vesey never had a contract and wasn’t obligated to report to the Sabres. Any pending UFA that the Sabres trade for now, is ours until July 1st. At some point the organization has to have some belief in itself and in the notion that if they can get a player here then they can keep him.  Or maybe not, and we just keep on with the defeatist attitude that because Jimmy Vesey had dreams of being a Manhattan Socialite that means there are no NHL players who would decide to re-sign with the Sabres. 

Ya ya I know the difference but the idea that you could convince UFAs to sign here rather than test free agency seems like folly and a waste of whatever you trade. 

I mean put yourself in a player's mind. You are entering free agency and you will have options to go anywhere you want so you're going to not see what's out there and sign with a perennial bottom feeder instead? I can't imagine anyone thinking that way unless maybe they were born in Buffalo and want o play in front of their parents every night and even then. 

Edited February 8 by PerreaultForever

[Archie Lee]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

Ya ya I know the difference but the idea that you could convince UFAs to sign here rather than test free agency seems like folly and a waste of whatever you trade. 

I mean put yourself in a player's mind. You are entering free agency and you will have options to go anywhere you want so you're going to not see what's out there and sign with a perennial bottom feeder instead? I can't imagine anyone thinking that way unless maybe they were born in Buffalo and want o play in front of their parents every night and even then. 

Maybe. But by that logic, we have no chance of extending Zucker or Greenway or any player with any value. Granlund and Ceci, the players I referenced as examples, are, not unlike Zucker, 2nd and 3rd level free agents who are at a point in their careers where they might be enticed by term. 

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, Archie Lee said:

Maybe. But by that logic, we have no chance of extending Zucker or Greenway or any player with any value. Granlund and Ceci, the players I referenced as examples, are, not unlike Zucker, 2nd and 3rd level free agents who are at a point in their careers where they might be enticed by term. 

If you want Zucker and/or Greenway you make them an offer now at the break and if you sign them fine and if they don't sign your offer you move them at or before the deadline simple as that. Cold hard business and you get what you can get. Then you make offers to free agents in free agency and if they come great and if they don't, well then there's nothing you can with that except plant palm trees. 

A trade and sign deal sure. Trade for an RFA maybe. Trade for the end of this season and hope no way. 

[ska-T Palmtown]

On 2/8/2025 at 6:32 PM, PerreaultForever said:

If you want Zucker and/or Greenway you make them an offer now at the break and if you sign them fine and if they don't sign your offer you move them at or before the deadline simple as that. Cold hard business and you get what you can get. Then you make offers to free agents in free agency and if they come great and if they don't, well then there's nothing you can with that except plant palm trees. 

A trade and sign deal sure. Trade for an RFA maybe. Trade for the end of this season and hope no way. 

I think there is some logic to Archie's argument. A decent veteran could see what Zucks did this year (pacing for his 2nd highest point total of his career - already with his 5th best season out of 14) and think they could replicate it. A solid steady vet is going to get 2nd line or higher minutes in Buffalo, they'd be lucky to sniff 3rd on most other teams. Meh, who knows?

[PerreaultForever]

7 minutes ago, ska-T Palmtown said:

I think there is some logic to Archie's argument. A decent veteran could see what Zucks did this year (pacing for his 2nd highest point total of his career - already with his 5th best season out of 14) and think they could replicate it. A solid steady vet is going to get 2nd line or higher minutes in Buffalo, they'd be lucky to sniff 3rd on most other teams. Meh, who knows?

If that was the case we'd already have veterans and there'd have been no palm tree talk. We are only going to get local boys (maybe), players in desperate need of a reset or rejuvenation that nobody else wants or mercenaries with big overpays. A losing team like this is NOT a preferred destination. 

[Rasmus_]

At this point, any of the players who have signed contract extensions who show no fight, can be shipped out.  I'm again disappointed, disgruntled and unimpressed with this talent roster.  Keep the players like JJP, Benson, Dahlin, etc who scrap and play hard.  

[GASabresIUFAN]

Daily Faceoff added JJP to their trade board.

If Adams trades JJP he should be fired on the spot and if not I done with this team.

 

[LGR4GM]

2 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Daily Faceoff added JJP to their trade board.

If Adams trades JJP he should be fired on the spot and if not I done with this team.

 

Depends what he trades him for. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

10 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Depends what he trades him for. 

No, unless the player’s name is McDavid.

[Weave]

52 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

No, unless the player’s name is McDavid.

This is…….. well, i won’t type out what reflexively came to mind but there is a whole spectrum of players between JJ Peterka and Connor McDavid ffs.  Like, a Gulf of Murica sized spectrum.

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

No, unless the player’s name is McDavid.

What a load of crap.

[GASabresIUFAN]

29 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

What a load of crap.

Not really.  This is a player who has improved on ice and statistically every season since joining the Sabres.   He set records in the AHL at 19.  He just turned 23 and he is on pace for 64+ pts after 50 and 32 pts seasons.  He has also shown marked improvement in his playmaking for linemates with 27 assists in 55 games vs 22 all of last season.   Right now is arguably the Sabres 3rd best forward and the only one with more upside.  At the rate he is improving you are looking at a pt a game player who can score 30+ goals as early as next season with his entire prime ahead of him.

Unlike Cozens, Samuelsson, Power, this guy has earned his new deal and is vital for the longterm success of the franchise.  I don’t see him as being easily replaced by any prospect in the pipeline or young player on the roster.  

So who are you trading him for that would improve the roster enough to send away your best young forward?   The player you bring in has to be at a young proven top pairing D or a young top line center under contract or control to even begin to justify the trade (aka someone significant better than Byram).

Edited February 28 by GASabresIUFAN

[LGR4GM]

42 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Not really.  This is a player who has improved on ice and statistically every season since joining the Sabres.   He set records in the AHL at 19.  He just turned 23 and he is on pace for 64+ pts after 50 and 32 pts seasons.  He has also shown marked improvement in his playmaking for linemates with 27 assists in 55 games vs 22 all of last season.   Right now is arguably the Sabres 3rd best forward and the only one with more upside.  At the rate he is improving you are looking at a pt a game player who can score 30+ goals as early as next season with his entire prime ahead of him.

Unlike Cozens, Samuelsson, Power, this guy has earned his new deal and is vital for the longterm success of the franchise.  I don’t see him as being easily replaced by any prospect in the pipeline or young player on the roster.  

So who are you trading him for that would improve the roster enough to send away your best young forward?   The player you bring in has to be at a young proven top pairing D or a young top line center under contract or control to even begin to justify the trade (aka someone significant better than Byram).

Oh I will argue that all day long. 

JJ Peterka has seen a decrease in his goal scoring since last year. He went from 1.2gp60 to 1.0gp60. At even he went from 1.3 to 1.0. His assists went up but I bet my assists would go up as well if I played with tage and tuch. The idea he is about to be some 30+ goal scorer for the foreseeable future is highly questionable. He is hemorrhaging pucks in the form of giveaways, about 1 a game and his possession metrics went down, probably because he gets so many top line minutes. I like JJ Peterka, a lot actually. I think he is a solid 2nd line player with some 1st line potential but the idea the only thing he is worth trading for is McDavid is ludicrous. If Ottawa called and was like "Yo Tkachuk for Peterka and Samuelsson" I don't think anyone here would be like "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

[GASabresIUFAN]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Oh I will argue that all day long. 

JJ Peterka has seen a decrease in his goal scoring since last year. He went from 1.2gp60 to 1.0gp60. At even he went from 1.3 to 1.0. His assists went up but I bet my assists would go up as well if I played with tage and tuch. The idea he is about to be some 30+ goal scorer for the foreseeable future is highly questionable. He is hemorrhaging pucks in the form of giveaways, about 1 a game and his possession metrics went down, probably because he gets so many top line minutes. I like JJ Peterka, a lot actually. I think he is a solid 2nd line player with some 1st line potential but the idea the only thing he is worth trading for is McDavid is ludicrous. If Ottawa called and was like "Yo Tkachuk for Peterka and Samuelsson" I don't think anyone here would be like "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

McDavid was of course hyperbole, but as I said, you'd need to get a proven young top line/pair player.  Tkachuk fits that description and I certainly would listen to that deal.  However my point still stands and thank you for proving it.  For the Sabres to trade JJP they'd need to receive an significant upgrade to the roster.  There is no way the Sabres are trading their best young forward with upside for a prospects, picks, or even a group of middle of the roster players.

As to where JJP stands on this roster; he is tied for 3rd in points by forwards (1 pt from 2nd).  He is 2nd in assists, he is 4th in goals, but 3rd 5 on 5.  He is also tied for 1st in 5 on 5 total assists and 3rd in primary assists 5 on 5 by forwards.  

By the way, I'm not putting much stock in the NHL.COM's giveaway stats.  Across the board for the entire Sabres roster they are 2-3 times what they were last year.  For example they have Dahlin at 1.28 GvA/60 in 2023/24 and 3.57 this year, Tuch at 1.27 last year and 2.61 this year.  As much as I bitch about the poor state of our defense, the HDCA is about the same as last season.  Admittedly its not good, but it's not 2-3 times worse.  If we were giving the puck away at the level described on NHL.com those HDCA would be significantly worse and they aren't.  

 

1 hour ago, CallawaySabres said:

I don't see how anyone can be attached to any player on this team (other than Dahlin and Tage). Buffalo will most likely end up the 3rd worst in the NHL and there is no improvement in sight. Any change is good change from what I can see.

While I'm an advocate for change, there are some good players on this team to build around besides Tage and Dahlin. I think JJP is one of those players. I'm not saying he is untouchable, but it's going to have to be a move that seriously moves the needle. 

In general I'm listening to offers for everyone not named TNT, Dahlin.  However JPP, Tuch and Benson would have to be extremely good offers (like Tkachuk for JPP as mentioned above), and I'm not willing to trade both Byram and Power, but I am willing to trade one.  I also want Zucker and Greenway re-signed.  

 

1 hour ago, CallawaySabres said:

All I know is that Adams can be nowhere near this organization when those decisions are made.

Unfortunately, I don't think we get a choice.  He is obviously going to be making the deadline decisions and I honestly but sadly believe TP will give him next season as well.  Sorry.

 

47 minutes ago, North Buffalo said:

Boeser and Rantanen crack Top 4 on TSN Trade Bait board a week out from TradeCentre... try to figure out link from app so far no bueno

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/brock-boeser-mikko-rantanen-crack-top-4-on-tsn-trade-bait-board-a-week-out-from-nhl-trade-deadline-1.2261038

Edited Friday at 09:37 PM by GASabresIUFAN

[mjd1001]

2 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

McDavid was of course hyperbole, but as I said, you'd need to get a proven young top line/pair player.  Tkachuk fits that description and I certainly would listen to that deal.  However my point still stands and thank you for proving it.  For the Sabres to trade JJP they'd need to receive an significant upgrade to the roster.  There is no way the Sabres are trading their best young forward with upside for a prospects, picks, or even a great of mid of the roster players.

By the way, I'm not putting much stock in the NHL.COM's giveaway stats.  Across the board for the entire Sabres roster they are 2-3 times what they were last year.  As much as I bitch about the poor state of our defense, the HDCA is about the same as last season.  Admittedly its not good, but it's not 2-3 worse.  If we were giving the puck away at the level described on NHL.com those HDCA would be significantly worse and they aren't.  

In terms of who JJP plays with as his center.....I'm going to look at actual goals for vs goals allowed and high danger chances for vs high danger chances allowed. Personally if I have to pick 2 of the many analytics, I think that covers the most bases (actual goals for and against and actual quality chances for vs against)

Overall play  (offense and defense combined, 50% is neutral):

With Thompson (336 minutes together): Goalsfor% 61.7  Highdangerchance% 54.3

With Cozens: (212 minutes together): Goalsfor% 41.9  Highdangerchance% 43.3

What about the other 200 minutes played even strength?  Its hard to break it down by player because there are a few guys with very few minutes, but if you add them all up, at least in terms of goals for vs goals against, from what I can tell that number is 58.3%

So this year, the key with Peterka is keep him away from Cozens. Yeah, he does best with Tage, but he is a net positive player with everyone else combined..even if its not Thompson...just not Cozens.

And that isn't just this year. If you look for the last 3 years combined....goals for vs goals allowed (again, 50 being neutral) JJP with Thompson is 63.89. With Cozens only 45.11. With everyone and anyone else other than those two 51.61.

Again, I can easily turn anything into a 'lets bash Dylan Cozens thread', but the eye test, the top line numbers, even the underlying analytics....show JJP is a good to very good player when he plays with anyone other than sharing the ice with Dylan Cozens.

 

[CallawaySabres]

I don't see how anyone can be attached to any player on this team (other than Dahlin and Tage). Buffalo will most likely end up the 3rd worst in the NHL and there is no improvement in sight. Any change is good change from what I can see.

[CallawaySabres]

10 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

While I'm an advocate for change, there are some good players on this team around besides Tage and Dahlin. I think JJP is one of those players. I'm not saying he is untouchable, but it's going to have to be a move that seriously moves the needle. 

In general I'm listening to offers for everyone not named TNT, Dahlin.  However JPP, Tuch and Benson would have to be extremely good offers (like Tkachuk for JPP as mentioned above), and I'm not willing to trade both Byram and Power, but I am willing to trade one.  I also want Zucker and Greenway re-signed.  

I agree with pretty much all of this. You mentioned every single player that I DON"T have issues with (for the most part.) I think the main issue for me is that I can't tell if they are a couple Dmen & elite goalie away, or if they need a ton more. Can Levi and 2 more sold dmen ripple-effect the rest of the team? All I know is that Adams can be nowhere near this organization when those decisions are made.

[mjd1001]

57 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

In terms of who JJP plays with as his center.....I'm going to look at actual goals for vs goals allowed and high danger chances for vs high danger chances allowed. Personally if I have to pick 2 of the many analytics, I think that covers the most bases (actual goals for and against and actual quality chances for vs against)

Overall play  (offense and defense combined, 50% is neutral):

With Thompson (336 minutes together): Goalsfor% 61.7  Highdangerchance% 54.3

With Cozens: (212 minutes together): Goalsfor% 41.9  Highdangerchance% 43.3

What about the other 200 minutes played even strength?  Its hard to break it down by player because there are a few guys with very few minutes, but if you add them all up, at least in terms of goals for vs goals against, from what I can tell that number is 58.3%

So this year, the key with Peterka is keep him away from Cozens. Yeah, he does best with Tage, but he is a net positive player with everyone else combined..even if its not Thompson...just not Cozens.

And that isn't just this year. If you look for the last 3 years combined....goals for vs goals allowed (again, 50 being neutral) JJP with Thompson is 63.89. With Cozens only 45.11. With everyone and anyone else other than those two 51.61.

Again, I can easily turn anything into a 'lets bash Dylan Cozens thread', but the eye test, the top line numbers, even the underlying analytics....show JJP is a good to very good player when he plays with anyone other than sharing the ice with Dylan Cozens.

 

Sorry quoting my own post but some more numbers this year:

Even strength, JJP has not played the majority of the time with Tage as his center, actually only about 35%

His centers by ice time even strength:

Tage 35%

Cozens 26%

Kulich 19%

McLeod 14%

Krebs 6%

To further my point about getting him away from Cozens...he has played 18 games where Cozens has been his primary, or only center by ice time.  

In those 18 games with Cozens, JJP has:  4 goals, 7 assists, -6 (82 game projects to 18 goals, 31 assists, -27)

In the 37 games with anyone else:  13 goals, 20 assists, +7 (82 game:  29 goals, 44 assists, +15)

and as a reminder of those 'other 37 games without Cozens, almost 55% of that ice time was with Kulich, McLeod, or Krebs at center, NOT just Thompson.

So even this year, he functions as a positive player, a near 30 goal pace guy, a close to 80 point player when you pair him with ANYONE on the team not named Cozens.  Even when the majority of that time is not Tage as his center.

Edited Friday at 09:41 PM by mjd1001

[North Buffalo]

Boeser and Rantanen crack Top 4 on TSN Trade Bait board a week out from TradeCentre... try to figure out link from app so far no bueno

Edited Friday at 09:37 PM by North Buffalo

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 hour ago, North Buffalo said:

Boeser and Rantanen crack Top 4 on TSN Trade Bait board a week out from TradeCentre... try to figure out link from app so far no bueno

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/brock-boeser-mikko-rantanen-crack-top-4-on-tsn-trade-bait-board-a-week-out-from-nhl-trade-deadline-1.2261038

[inkman]

More lies 

 

[mjd1001]

14 minutes ago, inkman said:

More lies 

 

And dumb.  There is absolutely no reason for the Sabres to move him.  They would really need to be fleecing another team with what they get back for this team to be better without him long term.

[Carmel Corn]

11 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

And dumb.  There is absolutely no reason for the Sabres to move him.  They would really need to be fleecing another team with what they get back for this team to be better without him long term.

Perhaps, but what do you propose they do in their SHORT term to get better?  They lack certain types of players in their top 6 and I think it’s a mistake to walk back next season without major changes to their top 6.  The answer is not in Rochester, so how do they get better without trading someone like JJP?

Are people willing to sacrifice another season of no playoffs for the sake of keeping our youth?

Edited Friday at 11:19 PM by Carmel Corn

[mjd1001]

10 minutes ago, Carmel Corn said:

Perhaps, but what do you propose they do in their SHORT term to get better?  They lack certain types of players in their top 6 and I think it’s a mistake to walk back next season without major changes to their top 6.  The answer is not in Rochester, so how do they get better without trading someone like JJP?

Short answer: Move Cozens.  Instantly the team gets better. Either he plays much better here (not likely, and if it does happen likely means a move to wing) and the team is better overall......or the team is better without him and with ANYTHING you get back for him.  I really, REALLY do think it can be that simple, and a lot more desirable than trading Peterka. (See my above 2-3 posts on this very page. I firmly beleive this to be true via my own personal "Eye test" and the numbers dramatically back it up.)

Longer answer...Pegula opens up the checkbook and overpays, dramatically if needed, for a good, 2-way, veteran middle 6 guy and a good, top 4 quality RH d-man.

Longer answer 2:  You trade some prospects, either at the deadline, or in the offseason to a team tighter to the cap that might be willing to move that vet center or RHD for a young, 1st round drafted prospect.

All of those options for me are better than trading Peterka, if you do that you may fill a hole but are creating another.

Edited Friday at 11:25 PM by mjd1001

[Carmel Corn]

4 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

Short answer: Move Cozens.  Instantly the team gets better. Either he plays much better and the team is better overall, or the team is better without him and with ANYTHING you get back for him.  I really, REALLY do think it can be that simple, and a lot more desirable than trading Peterka. (See my above 2-3 posts on this very page. I firmly beleive this to be true via my own personal "Eye test" and the numbers dramatically back it up.)

Longer answer...Pegula opens up the checkbook and overpays, dramatically if needed, for a good, 2-way, veteran middle 6 guy and a good, top 4 quality RH d-man.

Longer answer 2:  You trade some prospects, either at the deadline, or in the offseason to a team tighter to the cap that might be willing to move that vet center or RHD for a young, 1st round drafted prospect.

I forgot to mention that I don’t think JJP is a deadline move, but rather an off-season trade.  I agree that moving Cozens is addition by subtraction, but the reason I don’t think it will happen is that his salary prevents it.  I agree it would take overpayment to get a free agent, but once again will UFA’s still come (I am not optimistic because of ownership and management reputations).