What will be the Sabres approach at the trade deadline?

[CallawaySabres]

The only chance this team has of making the playoffs over the next five years is landing a superstar like the Bills landed Josh Allen.
 

That player is not coming through the draft or free agency and I truly believe that it has to be Levi. He IS the only path to success if he becomes the next star goalie.

[bob_sauve28]

2 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

I'm going to use the collapse against Colorado in Early December, part way into the 13 game losing streak, as the time when it should have been obvious that this team needed a move/trade to help the main roster. At that moment, you were a .500 team and still in the midst of the playoff race.

Since then:

31 games and no trades

19 losses and no trades

83 days and no trades

I'm not, and never have been a person who wants trades made for the sake of trades. It has to make sense...but c'mon already, there had to have been SOMETHING out there they could have done. Trouba, Blackwood, Cam Fowler, Kakko, Rantanen, Farabee, J.T. Miller, Marcus Pettersson, Granlund, Ceci, and many lesser players have all been moved/acquired since then...yet the team in most need of a move (Buffalo).....Well, I guess the solution was "in the room".

Maybe they believe in the talent here and want the young players to improve. Young team, I'm hoping they put it all together. Of course you add a few in trades and free agents, but our young core is what it is..young and getting better 

[DarthEbriate]

45 minutes ago, CallawaySabres said:

The only chance this team has of making the playoffs over the next five years is landing a superstar like the Bills landed Josh Allen.
 

That player is not coming through the draft or free agency and I truly believe that it has to be Levi. He IS the only path to success if he becomes the next star goalie.

[Slack_in_MA]

41 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Maybe they believe in the talent here and want the young players to improve. Young team, I'm hoping they put it all together. Of course you add a few in trades and free agents, but our young core is what it is..young and getting better 

This could have been posted every year for the past (fill in the blank) years. Mercy.

[thewookie1]

Analytics gurus; how is Zach Whitecloud?

[bob_sauve28]

12 hours ago, Slack_in_MA said:

This could have been posted every year for the past (fill in the blank) years. Mercy.

Sure, but they actually do have a lot of good young talent bubbling up now. In past years we traded Samson and Jack to improve the culture because it was "time to move on." Should we repeat that mistake?

[Doohicksie]

13 hours ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Maybe they believe in the talent here and want the young players to improve. Young team, I'm hoping they put it all together. Of course you add a few in trades and free agents, but our young core is what it is..young and getting better 

You're so pitifully optimistic.

[bob_sauve28]

2 minutes ago, Doohicksie said:

You're so pitifully optimistic.

Isn't there a lot to be optimistic about? This is a talented roster. We have Dahlin and Thompson, any team in the league would love to have those players

There is a fine line between winning and losing. All those blown leads show that they are just on the wrong side of that line. They did play well enough to get those leads after all. They look like the young team they are at times. Deer in the headlights look.  If they hate losing they will learn from that.

 

Patience is hard, but these guys will get better.

[LGR4GM]

What about trading with someone like LA? We could probably get Jordan Spence from them without too much pain or suffering and that would help give us a legit 2/3 pairing RW who isn't crowding 30.

[Archie Lee]

I think we will trade Joker, Greenway, and Zucker. The one barrier may be that Adams overplays his hand, asks for too much and gets left holding them because teams move on to more affordable options (I’m not advocating that he trade all 3, I just think it is what he will try to do). 

I think it is highly unlikely that we acquire a player who helps us win games now. We won’t be actively tanking post-deadline, but I don’t think Adams will prioritize adding anyone who makes us better now. We may acquire a lesser player or two, to fill out the roster.

I don’t think we trade any of our young roster players or prospects at the deadline. I think the plan will be to wait for the off-season and use our Rochester prospects and draft picks to acquire 2-3 veterans ton augment the roster.  I think Adams still believes in all his young guys and will keep them and will double-down (or is this now a triple-down?) on internal development. He will add vets to replace those he moves out at the deadline, though.  I think he will try to make another McLeod-like trade, another Zucker-like signing, and maybe try to add a partner for Power, though I think the current plan is for that to be Samuelsson. 

[Sidc3000]

2 hours ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Isn't there a lot to be optimistic about? This is a talented roster. We have Dahlin and Thompson, any team in the league would love to have those players

There is a fine line between winning and losing. All those blown leads show that they are just on the wrong side of that line. They did play well enough to get those leads after all. They look like the young team they are at times. Deer in the headlights look.  If they hate losing they will learn from that.

 

Patience is hard, but these guys will get better.

How long does everyone have to wait 3,4,5 more seasons? We’ve waiting for, soon to be 14 seasons. Remember this was the season everyone expected them to take that step, instead they’re in 29th place and staring down a top 5 draft pick AGAIN!  That makes it, what, 10 season being in the botttom 10 of the league. 
 

Just because the team has talent doesn’t mean the team as a whole will get better. They had a much more talented young roster that eventually walk away because of front office mismanagement.  They saw that things were not improving and nothing has changed since those trades except they are winners and the Sabres are losers. 

 

1 hour ago, Archie Lee said:

He will add vets to replace those he moves out at the deadline,

What vets? Who wants to come to the Sabres? 

 

Edited Tuesday at 04:04 PM by Sidc3000

[inkman]

41 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

I think we will trade Joker, Greenway, and Zucker. The one barrier may be that Adams overplays his hand, asks for too much and gets left holding them because teams move on to more affordable options (I’m not advocating that he trade all 3, I just think it is what he will try to do). 

I think it is highly unlikely that we acquire a player who helps us win games now. We won’t be actively tanking post-deadline, but I don’t think Adams will prioritize adding anyone who makes us better now. We may acquire a lesser player or two, to fill out the roster.

I don’t think we trade any of our young roster players or prospects at the deadline. I think the plan will be to wait for the off-season and use our Rochester prospects and draft picks to acquire 2-3 veterans ton augment the roster.  I think Adams still believes in all his young guys and will keep them and will double-down (or is this now a triple-down?) on internal development. He will add vets to replace those he moves out at the deadline, though.  I think he will try to make another McLeod-like trade, another Zucker-like signing, and maybe try to add a partner for Power, though I think the current plan is for that to be Samuelsson. 

With the deadline just over a week away, I think they are somewhat delusional but will in the end be buyers.  I think they bring in a couple vets because they legitimately think they can go on a run.  I’m not counting them out but winning > 70% of your games is daunting.  

[Archie Lee]

11 minutes ago, Sidc3000 said:

What vets? Who wants to come to the Sabres? 

There are many, many players who have no choice or few other options. How do you think we got McLeod and Zucker and Greenway?

[Sidc3000]

40 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

There are many, many players who have no choice or few other options. How do you think we got McLeod and Zucker and Greenway?

Most of, if not all of them, will not be on this roster at the of the season.  Either they will be traded or go to better teams when their contracts expire. The only way to get vets long term is to over pay them because of the incompetence of the front office and ownership. Obviously Adams won’t overpay. He’ll let them walk away and  sign a couple more vets to one year deals because he wants to stay young. 

 

[bob_sauve28]

1 hour ago, Sidc3000 said:

How long does everyone have to wait 3,4,5 more seasons? We’ve waiting for, soon to be 14 seasons. Remember this was the season everyone expected them to take that step, instead they’re in 29th place and staring down a top 5 draft pick AGAIN!  That makes it, what, 10 season being in the botttom 10 of the league. 
 

 

 

What do you want to do? Trade all our talent to watch them win the cup on another team? Be patient or don't, I don't care. i hope we just stay the course. I believe in the young talent we have. They do need to add vets, but I don't know if anyone will trade us a Mike Ramsey, but I would sure like that. 

[mjd1001]

21 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

What do you want to do? Trade all our talent to watch them win the cup on another team? Be patient or don't, I don't care. i hope we just stay the course. I believe in the young talent we have. They do need to add vets, but I don't know if anyone will trade us a Mike Ramsey, but I would sure like that. 

I'm good with them not trading Power, not trading Bryrum, not trading anyone really.  I'd like them to trade Cozens if they won't move him to wing. But if they moved him to wing, I'm fine with them not even trading him.

I'm not in a rush to get rid of any ONE individual player (except Cozens) but I would like to see SOME movement though. Bring in someone that can help this team going forward.  It doesn't have to be a blockbuster, doesn't have to involve several major pieces...just something, because, you know, I'm a fan and this is entertainment.

Now, winning 5 of the last 6, if they go out and win 5 of the next 6 or 7 also I might be thinking....'lets see where this goes'.  But lets see that first, in the next 2-3 weeks, they have games against Carolina, Florida, Tampa, and Vegas.  

Edited Tuesday at 04:40 PM by mjd1001

[bob_sauve28]

7 minutes ago, Sidc3000 said:

OMG when will people realize it’s not about the young talent!! They could have all the young talent in the world but if it’s mismanaged then you get what the Sabres are. Revolving door of vets on short term contracts and young talent leaving for greener pastures 

Trading young talent before it matures is, imo, mismanaging talent

 

Of course if you get good stuff back in return, it makes sense

[Sidc3000]

16 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Trading young talent before it matures is, imo, mismanaging talent

 

Of course if you get good stuff back in return, it makes sense

You just put words in my mouth since I said nothing about trading anyone. Keep watching through your rose colored glasses and hoping that talent is going to fix the incompetence of the front office. 

[Flashsabre]

 

[bob_sauve28]

31 minutes ago, Sidc3000 said:

You just put words in my mouth since I said nothing about trading anyone. Keep watching through your rose colored glasses and hoping that talent is going to fix the incompetence of the front office. 

Sack a few people and things will turn around, just like last time 🙃

[Sidc3000]

6 hours ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Sack a few people and things will turn around, just like last time 🙃

It’s going on 5 years and they’re basically in the same spot

[Brawndo]

21 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

Analytics gurus; how is Zach Whitecloud?

That would be a hell yes 

[GASabresIUFAN]

9 days until the trade deadline.  So far nothing.  Greenway & Zucker haven't been extended or traded.  Cozens, Quinn, Power and Byram are all still Sabres.  

The team has been better of late.  The team is 7-3 in their last 10 games and 4-1 in February.  Their only Feb loss, was an incredibly terrible game against a beatable opponent in Nashville.  Despite their better play, the Sabres remain in last place in the Eastern Conference with 53 points in 56 games.  They also remain nominally in the 4th draft position although Sea and Pitt have worse winning %.  The Sabres have 3 games in hand on both teams.  

Who is hot? Dahlin - 14 pts in the last 10, TNT 13, Zucker and JJP 11 points each.  TNT has 8 goals in the last 10, with JJP adding 6, plus Zucker, McLeod and Kulich have 4 goals each.  

Given this backdrop what should Adams do?  I was hoping for blockbuster earlier, but now I think we'll see next to nothing done at the deadline.  He'll probably trade Joki and maybe Quinn.  I suspect he holds on to Zucker for the rest of the season and tries (but fails) to re-sign him.  Cozens, who is showing some small signs of life also remains.  

 

[Broken Ankles]

22 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

9 days until the trade deadline.  So far nothing.  Greenway & Zucker haven't been extended or traded.  Cozens, Quinn, Power and Byram are all still Sabres.  

The team has been better of late.  The team is 7-3 in their last 10 games and 4-1 in February.  Their only Feb loss, was an incredibly terrible game against a beatable opponent in Nashville.  Despite their better play, the Sabres remain in last place in the Eastern Conference with 53 points in 56 games.  They also remain nominally in the 4th draft position although Sea and Pitt have worse winning %.  The Sabres have 3 games in hand on both teams.  

Who is hot? Dahlin - 14 pts in the last 10, TNT 13, Zucker and JJP 11 points each.  TNT has 8 goals in the last 10, with JJP adding 6, plus Zucker, McLeod and Kulich have 4 goals each.  

Given this backdrop what should Adams do?  I was hoping for blockbuster earlier, but now I think we'll see next to nothing done at the deadline.  He'll probably trade Joki and maybe Quinn.  I suspect he holds on to Zucker for the rest of the season and tries (but fails) to re-sign him.  Cozens, who is showing some small signs of life also remains.  

 

Quinn?  If Adams is still around there is no chance Quinn is moved.  Quinn was his first #1 selection. GMs are always linked to their draft picks, and famously trade those players who were drafted before their reign.  Plus his stock is at an all time low.  If the narrative about Kevvy is true about over valuing his players, then no GM could put an offer together acceptable by Adams expectations. 
 

 I find it interesting that the Sabres are not only winning, but playing well at a time when we thought three weeks ago it would be a complete fire sale on March 7th.  What if (big if) they split the Carolina and Tampa games, sweep Montreal and beat SJ at home as expected? Winning 11 of 15 would make dumping Greenway, Zucker and Joki at least a questionable move.  I think the hockey gods will allow this to happen and force Adams to make the wrong decision.  By the way, I’m not claiming I know what they should do if they win 4 of their next 5.  I just know that it will be the wrong decision.  Because Adams.  

[Doohicksie]

Interesting remarks from The Hockey Guy in his Panic Index video.  I have it cued up to his discussion of Pittsburgh which leads into his remarks about the Sabres; he pivots off Pittsburgh into Buffalo.

 At 7:48:  "The one thing I always think when I see a team winning games when they're nowhere near playoff contention is:  Please don't let the general manager watch this and go, 'You know what?  We're actually not that bad, guys.  This team's actually pretty good.  Why don't we just keep things as they are, and maybe next season...'  Because if the GM comes out and says, 'We think next season this group can win,' Umm... yeah Buffalo fans won't accept that."

He knows us!  It's like he's in our heads!