2025 NHL Trade Deadline: March 7th, at 3pm Eastern

[mjd1001]

6 minutes ago, EM88 said:

Is it possible Dylan Cozens is on the verge of turning his entire game around and becoming a complete player that helps the team?  I guess that is possible, and if that did happen it would be a great help for this team.

I do not think that is likely.

If we pass the trade deadline this week and he is still on the team however, I will be so let down as a Sabres fan. 

My thoughts will turn to him being here at least another year, maybe indefinitely. The thought of him being a  minus player for another year, of him making dumb mistakes that single-handedly cost goals and cause losses.  Thoughts of another wasted season with him being a 25 year old that is potential blocking a a better player from being in his position that at least won't hurt his team.  Of how pretty much every single player in this team plays worse when sharing the ice with him.

  All those thoughts, I do not think I could take facing at least another year of that in the face without having to walk away from this team for a bit.

Other fans are close to that same point with Adams. Some are with Pegula. I can understand that, and maybe the dysfunction with this team is signified by a representation of all 3 of those men.  Myself, I am, without a doubt, at that point with Dylan Cozens and how I view how serious this entire organization is.

I haven't really watched much of the last 2 games maybe 5-10 minutes of each.  I have gotten to the 2nd point of this season where the team has worn me down.

I'm there with you with Cozens of course.....the team has 3 games yet between now and the trade deadline.  Either They win 2 or all 3 and Cozens is one of the main reasons why in every game.....or he gets moved before Friday for me.

He's had 5 years with this team and what....350 games of experience now and he hurts this team and contributes to losses probably more than any player in the NHL who gets significant ice time.  Unless he turns his game around into a star in the next 3 games....which will give me some fleeting thing to hold on to.....or he needs to move.   If neither of those things happen, I'm going to be so depressed about the direction of this team...and how bad the decisions makers are...I'll likely need to just walk away from it for a few games. (not as if that is any kind of a threat to the sabres...."Do what I want or else...", they don't care about what I think....its just going to be for my mental sanity regarding following sports.)

[Pimlach]

11 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I haven't really watched much of the last 2 games maybe 5-10 minutes of each.  I have gotten to the 2nd point of this season where the team has worn me down.

I'm there with you with Cozens of course.....the team has 3 games yet between now and the trade deadline.  Either They win 2 or all 3 and Cozens is one of the main reasons why in every game.....or he gets moved before Friday for me.

He's had 5 years with this team and what....350 games of experience now and he hurts this team and contributes to losses probably more than any player in the NHL who gets significant ice time.  Unless he turns his game around into a star in the next 3 games....which will give me some fleeting thing to hold on to.....or he needs to move.   If neither of those things happen, I'm going to be so depressed about the direction of this team...and how bad the decisions makers are...I'll likely need to just walk away from it for a few games. (not as if that is any kind of a threat to the sabres...."Do what I want or else...", they don't care about what I think....its just going to be for my mental sanity regarding following sports.)

I don’t understand what Cozens can do in the next 3 games to change his impression from the first 350.  You know what he is right now.  The question is what is his real ceiling and will he get there in the current situation.  

[Archie Lee]

12 minutes ago, EM88 said:

Is it possible Dylan Cozens is on the verge of turning his entire game around and becoming a complete player that helps the team?  I guess that is possible, and if that did happen it would be a great help for this team.

I do not think that is likely.

If we pass the trade deadline this week and he is still on the team however, I will be so let down as a Sabres fan. 

My thoughts will turn to him being here at least another year, maybe indefinitely. The thought of him being a  minus player for another year, of him making dumb mistakes that single-handedly cost goals and cause losses.  Thoughts of another wasted season with him being a 25 year old that is potential blocking a a better player from being in his position that at least won't hurt his team.  Of how pretty much every single player in this team plays worse when sharing the ice with him.

  All those thoughts, I do not think I could take facing at least another year of that in the face without having to walk away from this team for a bit.

Other fans are close to that same point with Adams. Some are with Pegula. I can understand that, and maybe the dysfunction with this team is signified by a representation of all 3 of those men.  Myself, I am, without a doubt, at that point with Dylan Cozens and how I view how serious this entire organization is.

Cozens can’t trade or bench himself. He can’t move himself to the wing. I’m not letting him off the hook for his failure to improve his game, but he has not been put in a position to succeed. If he is as bad as you have concluded (and at this point, I am not keen to disagree), then we will be fortunate if we can dump his contract. I doubt Adams would have the courage to do this.

[PerreaultForever]

6 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

Cozens can’t trade or bench himself. He can’t move himself to the wing. I’m not letting him off the hook for his failure to improve his game, but he has not been put in a position to succeed. If he is as bad as you have concluded (and at this point, I am not keen to disagree), then we will be fortunate if we can dump his contract. I doubt Adams would have the courage to do this.

I can't disagree that Cozens has been disappointing but is Power getting a pass because he's a little younger? You want to talk about not living up to contracts Power is often the guy who costs us hockey games. He's weak, he's lazy and at times looks like his head is in the clouds and not in the game. Sure, he loves getting in the offense zone and he can play on the PP and he might even score a goal but he can't defend worth a crap and his game is NOT improving. Ruff seems to have had zero effect on his game at all. 

I know he's still young and there is upside but I just don't see the progression, even a slow progression. So my point really is what is the common denominator here and it's Kevyn Adams handing them both huge contracts so who should get the blame, them or Adams? imo it's Adams. 

ADAMS HAS TO GO!

[shrader]

It should be interesting to sit and watch the other Florida team pull the LTIR game this year.

[EM88]

7 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

Cozens can’t trade or bench himself. He can’t move himself to the wing. I’m not letting him off the hook for his failure to improve his game, but he has not been put in a position to succeed. If he is as bad as you have concluded (and at this point, I am not keen to disagree), then we will be fortunate if we can dump his contract. I doubt Adams would have the courage to do this.

I think it is both Adams and Pegula.  Adams might hold onto a bad player because he would be terrified that he might do even a little bit better with another team and that will make him look even worse. So I agree with the use of the word courage there.

As far as Terry Pegula, I am starting to come around to the fact that he has his favorites on this team in terms of players, and Cozens is one of them. 

Adams may not have the courage to move a player like Cozens, but I do think that is compounded by Terry Pegula not wanting to trade someone that he is very much a fan of personally.

[HumanSlinky39]

14 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

I can't disagree that Cozens has been disappointing but is Power getting a pass because he's a little younger? You want to talk about not living up to contracts Power is often the guy who costs us hockey games. He's weak, he's lazy and at times looks like his head is in the clouds and not in the game. Sure, he loves getting in the offense zone and he can play on the PP and he might even score a goal but he can't defend worth a crap and his game is NOT improving. Ruff seems to have had zero effect on his game at all. 

I know he's still young and there is upside but I just don't see the progression, even a slow progression. So my point really is what is the common denominator here and it's Kevyn Adams handing them both huge contracts so who should get the blame, them or Adams? imo it's Adams. 

ADAMS HAS TO GO!

I think Power gets more of a pass because in a lot of cases, defensemen take longer to develop & reach their potential. I'm inclined to be more patient because the raw potential with him is tantalizing, but I'm sure we all agree he will not reach it with this team as currently constructed. His ceiling is very high, we're probably watching his floor most nights right now. The only hope to unlock that potential is significant changes to not just this roster but also the structure and overarching organization philosophy.

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

I think Power gets more of a pass because in a lot of cases, defensemen take longer to develop & reach their potential. I'm inclined to be more patient because the raw potential with him is tantalizing, but I'm sure we all agree he will not reach it with this team as currently constructed. His ceiling is very high, we're probably watching his floor most nights right now. The only hope to unlock that potential is significant changes to not just this roster but also the structure and overarching organization philosophy.

Well the question would be will his ceiling justify his contract? Will he reach it? Right now he's grossly overpaid. That can affect the dynamics of the rest of the roster as well. I think for example, they likely have a problem with Peterka and that's why his name is now coming up in trade rumours. I suspect he's getting sick of losing and has a pretty big ask for any kind of longer term commitment. I mean wouldn't you if you were him? His number might be far above the Sabres number and his ask is likely influenced by how they rewarded Cozens and Power. This is the problem Adams has created for himself by building the way he has. 

[HumanSlinky39]

1 minute ago, PerreaultForever said:

Well the question would be will his ceiling justify his contract? Will he reach it? Right now he's grossly overpaid. That can affect the dynamics of the rest of the roster as well. I think for example, they likely have a problem with Peterka and that's why his name is now coming up in trade rumours. I suspect he's getting sick of losing and has a pretty big ask for any kind of longer term commitment. I mean wouldn't you if you were him? His number might be far above the Sabres number and his ask is likely influenced by how they rewarded Cozens and Power. This is the problem Adams has created for himself by building the way he has. 

I agree they jumped the gun paying him. The contract could turn into a bargain down the road, but I don't trust his development with this organization as currently constructed.

[gilbert11]

I hope they don’t trade Tuch.  He’s my current favorite player and is playing so well.

[Flashsabre]

1 hour ago, gilbert11 said:

I hope they don’t trade Tuch.  He’s my current favorite player and is playing so well.

I don’t think they will. I think teams are calling so they are listening but they are setting the price so high that other teams will move on to different players.

[thewookie1]

Anyone have knowledge on Kris Letang’s downfall? Could we get him cheaply to be a vet RHD for Power to learn from?

[GASabresIUFAN]

3 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

Anyone have knowledge on Kris Letang’s downfall? Could we get him cheaply to be a vet RHD for Power to learn from?

He’s 37.  Didn’t we try that already with Eric Johnson?  How about someone in their prime that actually plays defense?  

[LGR4GM]

23 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

Anyone have knowledge on Kris Letang’s downfall? Could we get him cheaply to be a vet RHD for Power to learn from?

Learn what from him? Owen Power is already on the team with one of the top 5 LHD in the league in Rasmus Dahlin. If he can't learn from that, maybe we should consider what his role on the team is. 

[shrader]

26 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

He’s 37.  Didn’t we try that already with Eric Johnson?  How about someone in their prime that actually plays defense?  

And Johnson is just turning 37 this month. So if it fails once, just try someone even older. 

[DarthEbriate]

42 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

He’s 37.  Didn’t we try that already with Eric Johnson?  How about someone in their prime that actually plays defense?  

He's 37, is losing his game, and has three more seasons at $6.1M cap hit.

[mjd1001]

2 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

Anyone have knowledge on Kris Letang’s downfall? Could we get him cheaply to be a vet RHD for Power to learn from?

The couple times I saw him play, he doesn't look good.

No thanks, not even for free if they waived him.

[thewookie1]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Learn what from him? Owen Power is already on the team with one of the top 5 LHD in the league in Rasmus Dahlin. If he can't learn from that, maybe we should consider what his role on the team is. 

I'm just trying to find a savvy vet to help Power and relieve Dahlin of some of the many jobs he's tasked to do. HIs contract is a bit steep though so that may not be a great idea.

 

[GASabresIUFAN]

34 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

I'm just trying to find a savvy vet to help Power and relieve Dahlin of some of the many jobs he's tasked to do. HIs contract is a bit steep though so that may not be a great idea.

 

I agree with the idea of finding the right partner for any of our young D, but that D must have a complimentary skill set (read play defense) to maximize Byram/Power offensive skill set while mentoring the defensive side of the game.

[Brawndo]

The Devils are getting a prospect back in the deal 

 

[Brawndo]

This is fun 

 

 

[GASabresIUFAN]

I don’t think Pegula would let Adams participate in such a deal.

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, Brawndo said:

This is fun 

 

 

Curious to see how Edmonton does in the playoffs this year

[mjd1001]

1 hour ago, Brawndo said:

This is fun 

 

 

is this going to be a game changer for a team like Boston? Probably not. But other teams around the league are looking at creative ways to make moves, even if it makes them better in the future incrementally.

The Sabres for years and years have had cap room, and have had the ability to take on salary, retain salary, take on bad contracts for their own (eventual) advantage, yet they hardly ever do that, at least not recently.  Its like Pegula will not part with an extra dollar to allow the team to do something creative like this.

[Taro T]

8 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

is this going to be a game changer for a team like Boston? Probably not. But other teams around the league are looking at creative ways to make moves, even if it makes them better in the future incrementally.

The Sabres for years and years have had cap room, and have had the ability to take on salary, retain salary, take on bad contracts for their own (eventual) advantage, yet they hardly ever do that, at least not recently.  Its like Pegula will not part with an extra dollar to allow the team to do something creative like this.

Which is so maddeningly frustrating.

He let the Bills players earn about $12MM worth of bonuses in the last RS game of the year.  And he sat on Skinner's $6MM the entire year.  Were he to have been willing to weaponize some of the crazy amounts of cap space he's thrown away every year of the Adams era the Sabres could be sitting on easily the deepest prospect / pick pool and they'd be in a spot to make about 4 McLeod for a reasonably highly rated prospect deals which would improve the current team (read next year's club, this season is done) and they'd still have a deep prospect pool.

It's beyond time to give the team more than a lottery ticket's chance of coming through into the playoffs and relevancy.  The Bills are a team NFL players want to be a part of; the Bandits are a team NLLers want to play for; the Sabres are the J-E-S-T jest Jest JEST of the NHL.