What will be the Sabres approach at the trade deadline?

[FrenchConnection44]

9 hours ago, Doohicksie said:

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!

Such a good point. And we’ve already been down this road multiple times in the past few seasons. 

On the other hand, if a couple of players, like Cozens, play well before the deadline we might be able to get some assets if the GM would pull the trigger. 

Really, the two things I wanted was 1) to trade a Cozens and even Power or Samuelsson for a stronger, more physical and more defensive defensemen. Who still has some tread left. And 2) make it to the top 4 in the draft (who knows with this team?). I think any of the top 4 could start for this team next year. 

I would rather trade away some soft players who are young than some of the guys that are constantly mentioned. We need grit and we are talking about trading some who have added some of that. 

 I just don’t think the team culture is going to change with the way any of those 3 play. 

Maybe Power needs to be sent out in the ice in a tense situation to be forced into a fight - let Lindy tell him, “go kick that guy’s butt and stop asking ppl half your size, like Krebs here, to do your dirty work!” And get his ass kicked and it would light a fire under him to become physically tougher in the off season. 😉

Of course it won’t happen. 

 

[_Q_]

1 hour ago, FrenchConnection44 said:

Such a good point. And we’ve already been down this road multiple times in the past few seasons. 

On the other hand, if a couple of players, like Cozens, play well before the deadline we might be able to get some assets if the GM would pull the trigger. 

Really, the two things I wanted was 1) to trade a Cozens and even Power or Samuelsson for a stronger, more physical and more defensive defensemen. Who still has some tread left. And 2) make it to the top 4 in the draft (who knows with this team?). I think any of the top 4 could start for this team next year. 

I would rather trade away some soft players who are young than some of the guys that are constantly mentioned. We need grit and we are talking about trading some who have added some of that. 

 I just don’t think the team culture is going to change with the way any of those 3 play. 

Maybe Power needs to be sent out in the ice in a tense situation to be forced into a fight - let Lindy tell him, “go kick that guy’s butt and stop asking ppl half your size, like Krebs here, to do your dirty work!” And get his ass kicked and it would light a fire under him to become physically tougher in the off season. 😉

Of course it won’t happen. 

 

Tank again with the same front office?

Hard pass.

[Brawndo]

Friedman mentioned Peterka in passing when talking about this 

[Pimlach]

19 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

Friedman mentioned Peterka in passing when talking about this 

Players burnt out from losing - means more want out. 

Sabres overly cautious - means FO has no answers. 
 

Edited Monday at 01:23 PM by Pimlach

[mjd1001]

On 2/27/2025 at 9:10 AM, FrenchConnection44 said:

Such a good point. And we’ve already been down this road multiple times in the past few seasons. 

On the other hand, if a couple of players, like Cozens, play well before the deadline we might be able to get some assets if the GM would pull the trigger. 

Really, the two things I wanted was 1) to trade a Cozens and even Power or Samuelsson for a stronger, more physical and more defensive defensemen. Who still has some tread left. And 2) make it to the top 4 in the draft (who knows with this team?). I think any of the top 4 could start for this team next year. 

I would rather trade away some soft players who are young than some of the guys that are constantly mentioned. We need grit and we are talking about trading some who have added some of that. 

 I just don’t think the team culture is going to change with the way any of those 3 play. 

Maybe Power needs to be sent out in the ice in a tense situation to be forced into a fight - let Lindy tell him, “go kick that guy’s butt and stop asking ppl half your size, like Krebs here, to do your dirty work!” And get his ass kicked and it would light a fire under him to become physically tougher in the off season. 😉

Of course it won’t happen. 

 

Top 4 in the draft would be nice, but I don't want them to get down to that level intentionally or even semi-intentionally.

[JohnC]

32 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

Friedman mentioned Peterka in passing when talking about this 

The fans are also getting burned out to the point of apathy. The interest for many local hockey fans has already been extinguished. It's sad and pathetic!

[Thorner]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

Players burnt out from losing - means more want out. 

Sabres overly cautious - means FO has no answers. 
 

If only the culture that arises around a franchise that willingly ingrains the idea of winning not being the priority was imminently predictable years ago..

[JP51]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

Players burnt out from losing - means more want out. 

Sabres overly cautious - means FO has no answers. 
 

Amen...! 

I would add... 

Sabres being overly cautious means... they have no answers, no will and no competence to do what is right...  the GM in its existing form simply cannot withstand a complete tear down of the cesspool that he has built and another 3 years of last place finishes while he is entrusted to rebuilt what he demonstrated so clearly his is incapable of building...   and will be gone... or that he has gotten word from Pegula that he is not to trade assets combined with the above....  this is what would happen with a functional organization... but... we have the Sabres... so...

We like our team and GM and we are sticking with the plan just need a little more time and have full confidence in KA and are going to run him back with the same team with the exception of trading "to be" Free agents for picks and prospects is also a very legitimate and likely scenario... 

[Brawndo]

 

[Pimlach]

12 minutes ago, Thorner said:

If only the culture that arises around a franchise that willingly ingrains the idea of winning not being the priority was imminently predictable years ago..

It was to some.  

If you are not continuously improving then you are not improving. 

The Sabres under Adams refused to bring in better players while they waited for their prospects - no blockers, right?  Some of the prospects looked good in comparison to the JAGs they had to beat out.  Then they all hit a wall.  Wonder why?  

Edited Monday at 02:52 PM by Pimlach

[Archie Lee]

12 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

 

It is incredible. We have positioned ourselves as a last place team, that can’t sell in a seller’s market. We can’t sell because we are supposed to be in win now mode, yet we are one of the league’s worst teams. We can’t sell because player after player leaves here and excels, so we can’t  even trust our own evaluations of our own players.

And, simultaneously we are loaded with young players and prospects and picks, but are paralyzed and can’t or won’t buy. 

It is impossible to imagine a circumstance that more obviously screams for a change at the top of the hockey management team.

[7+6=13]

2 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

It is incredible. We have positioned ourselves as a last place team, that can’t sell in a seller’s market. We can’t sell because we are supposed to be in win now mode, yet we are one of the league’s worst teams. We can’t sell because player after player leaves here and excels, so we can’t  even trust our own evaluations of our own players.

And, simultaneously we are loaded with young players and prospects and picks, but are paralyzed and can’t or won’t buy. 

It is impossible to imagine a circumstance that more obviously screams for a change at the top of the hockey management team.

I remember when it screamed needing a change at the top of the hockey management team before. Then we got this group.

[SabreFinn]

4 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

It is incredible. We have positioned ourselves as a last place team, that can’t sell in a seller’s market. We can’t sell because we are supposed to be in win now mode, yet we are one of the league’s worst teams. We can’t sell because player after player leaves here and excels, so we can’t  even trust our own evaluations of our own players.

And, simultaneously we are loaded with young players and prospects and picks, but are paralyzed and can’t or won’t buy. 

It is impossible to imagine a circumstance that more obviously screams for a change at the top of the hockey management team.

They just need to stay the course.

[Carmel Corn]

As Dreger says....no need for anybody here to hit the F5 key or refresh.

[Sidc3000]

41 minutes ago, SabreFinn said:

They just need to stay the course.

Sounds like that is the plan. What the plan next season when they’re out of it in March? 
 

Honestly I don’t disagree with Adams on this. We all know he needs league roster players. The problem is, he has a very hard getting these players who “want to be a Buffalo Sabre” and willing to buy in on whatever his plan is. This is a requirement for Adams.

 

Edited Monday at 03:57 PM by Sidc3000

[Kristian]

I hate KA.

I hate TP.

[Brawndo]

 

[Thorner]

13 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

 

Adams heard he was getting some praise for the Greenway acquisition at that one deadline so he’s running it back 

[inkman]

This is what happens when you don’t make the right offseason moves and you don’t immediately recognize the free fall your team was in (13 game losing streak).  

So they want to make a hockey trade with contenders that are only looking to add players for their playoff run.  Well, no one is signing up for that.  

[mjd1001]

1 hour ago, Archie Lee said:

It is incredible. We have positioned ourselves as a last place team, that can’t sell in a seller’s market. We can’t sell because we are supposed to be in win now mode, yet we are one of the league’s worst teams. We can’t sell because player after player leaves here and excels, so we can’t  even trust our own evaluations of our own players.

And, simultaneously we are loaded with young players and prospects and picks, but are paralyzed and can’t or won’t buy. 

It is impossible to imagine a circumstance that more obviously screams for a change at the top of the hockey management team.

I'd take futures for Cozens, as it might just be addition by subtraction removing him.  They aren't going anywhere this year and maybe those 'futures' can be flipped in the offseason for legit help to start next season.

For anybody else, nope. Not unless you have a current roster play who is a free agent, begging you to get out, and has made it clear he is not going to be interested in this team next year.

[Weave]

2 hours ago, SabreFinn said:

They just need to stay the course.

[Dreams Burn Down]

4 hours ago, Brawndo said:

Friedman mentioned Peterka in passing when talking about this 

Seeing the phrase hockey trade in quotes can't help but instill more confidence in me for this franchise.

[SabreFinn]

1 hour ago, Sidc3000 said:

Sounds like that is the plan. What the plan next season when they’re out of it in March? 
 

Honestly I don’t disagree with Adams on this. We all know he needs league roster players. The problem is, he has a very hard getting these players who “want to be a Buffalo Sabre” and willing to buy in on whatever his plan is. This is a requirement for Adams.

 

It was a joke, I think a retool is needed. But making the right trades are difficult, unfortunately that is a position they have put themselves into. And trade deadline is usually not right time to do that for a team in Sabres position. Unless they want draftpicks in return. It sounds like they want hockeytrades though.

[thewookie1]

As per always, the Sabres are screwed by both themselves and the league as a whole. We all know their shortcomings but the league itself changed thus dooming us.

When the Sabres first went into the tank in 2012,  we weren't alone in the strategy being used. While we took it far further than most, it was common practice for teams to trade pending UFAs for prospects and picks when they were bad and then in the offseason you could take those prospects and picks and either use them straight up or potentially spin them to another team looking to retool. Effectively you could trade $1 for 4 Quarters at the deadline and then use those 4 Quarters for a different $1 in the offseason if you so desired. Nowadays that no longer works for us at the very least.

We can acquire all the money in the world (in assets) but when we go to buy everyone inflates their prices absurdly and/or closes up shop on useful pieces. As such we are trapped in a hold and wait pattern trying to make Hockey Trades because we can't exchange 4 Quarters for $1 any more and are stuck offering $1 for $1 type trades.

[HILLsabre]

5 hours ago, Brawndo said:

Friedman mentioned Peterka in passing when talking about this 

Yeah, I've stated this over and over that the Sabres are working backwards. They continually are a #1 forward line short and continue to play 2nd and 3rd liners as top liners. THEN, they move those "top liners" on to have success else where because they have plenty of support. THEN the Sabres again repeat the process over again replacing the departed with sub #1 line young prospect players from within or acquiring vets cast off thinking they can regain their former performance from the past. It's a depressing formula for those players caught in the cycle.