What will be the Sabres approach at the trade deadline?

[Archie Lee]

23 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

No mixed messaging.  I think he is a terrible GM.  Incompetent.  I think he has built a terrible roster.  I think he has mismanaged the cap by handing out big contracts to players who haven’t earned them.  Failed at every turn to make the obvious move to enhance the roster and because he’s Terry’s yes man he remains the GM through this season and likely beyond.  I hope that’s clear enough.

In fact, other than adding Greenway, I’m not sure any trade or FA signing made by Adams actually enhanced the team.  Even Zucker was a downgrade on paper from Skinner.  McLeod is a downgrade from Mitts.  Guys like Jost, Lafferty, Robinson, Malenstyn, Kubel, Reimer, Comrie, Stillman, Lyubushkin, Eric Johnson, even Clifton, are just bottom of the roster filler and none have improved the team.  Byram may someday help the team, but right now he is just a redundant 3rd offensive LHD who has made our in zone defense worse.  

As to anything Adams says, take it with a grain of salt.  His actions have always prove his words weren’t true.  His lasted pronouncement is that he wants to keep Zucker and Greenway.  Great if true, but don’t count on it happening.  

I am also a Sabres fan that despite everything that happened with this team still hopes for the future.  There are players I like on this team that could be part of a solution.  I like JJP, Kulich, Benson and Dahlin.  I have grown to respect TNT.  I think UPL plays his tail off for this team like last night.  I like what Zucker brings every night.  

I honestly believe that finding 2 defensive D to partner with Dahlin and Byram will go along way toward fixing this roster as will the acquisition of a top 6 center.  Since I’m stuck with Adams as GM, I have no choice but to hope that he has an epiphany and for once makes the right decisions fixing the roster mess he created.  This deadline is another opportunity for hope and help.  

What did Andy say in Shawshank? Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies.  I hope Adams re-signs Greenway and Zucker.  I hope Adams acquires partners for Dahlin and Byram.  I hope Adams trades for a play making center.  I hope that playoff hockey will return to Buffalo.  I hope. 

 

I think we are in splitting hair territory. You think he is incompetent and terrible, but not so incompetent and terrible that he could have thought he had assembled a playoff team.  

[Archie Lee]

8 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

@Archie Lee

I have no idea how the forwards will shake out.  I believe we still need a top 6 playmaking center as well.  

Some of the forward logjam will clear itself up if Adams gets serious about fixing the defense and his cap situation.  Those excess forwards should be utilized to get partners for Dahlin and Byram (or Power) to solidify and improve the top 4 D.  Either Power or Byram also needs to be traded.  
 

If I were in charge Power, Cozens and Rosen are all trade pieces.  I’m also waiving Lafferty.   I’m also looking to trade or buyout Samuelsson.  Getting out from under Cozens, Power and Samuelson’s contracts is a huge offseason goal.  

The forward group I see for next year looks something like thing this 

JJP New Player TNT

Benson Kulich Tuch

Zucker McLeod Quinn

Greenway Krebs Malenstyn (Kozak)

The defense 

Dahlin new player

Byram new player 

Novikov Clifton (Johnson?)

Benson/Kulich/Tuch in 2025-26, is not the 2nd line of an NHL team that expects to be in the playoffs.  Could happen, but it would require 2 young players to take giant leaps forward.

[GASabresIUFAN]

12 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

I think we are in splitting hair territory. You think he is incompetent and terrible, but not so incompetent and terrible that he could have thought he had assembled a playoff team.  

I’m not sure what you mean here but I was pretty clear that Adams playoff mandate was a lie.  

[Cascade Youth]

So anyways…

[GASabresIUFAN]

4 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

Benson/Kulich/Tuch in 2025-26, is not the 2nd line of an NHL team that expects to be in the playoffs.  Could happen, but it would require 2 young players to take giant leaps forward.

This is the situation Adams created where kids are going to step up and those are the assets we have.  Kulich is the No 1 center right now and is doing pretty well.  Kulich is no. 2 in my scenario only because I have pencilled in an acquisition.  If Adams fails to acquire someone and TNT remains at RW, the top 2 centers entering next season could be Kulich and McLeod.  

However real improvement next season will only come by retooling the defense to actually play defense.  

 

[Thorner]

3 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

I am flummoxed by your mixed messages on Adams.

It’s difficult to make heads or tails of tbh 

59 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

This is the situation Adams created where kids are going to step up and those are the assets we have.  Kulich is the No 1 center right now and is doing pretty well.  Kulich is no. 2 in my scenario only because I have pencilled in an acquisition.  If Adams fails to acquire someone and TNT remains at RW, the top 2 centers entering next season could be Kulich and McLeod.  

However real improvement next season will only come by retooling the defense to actually play defense.  

 

If we enter into camp with Kulich as a top 6 C we are already screwed 

It’s literally the definition of insanity 

- - - 

@thewookie1care to follow up or are you good with leveling your cowardly X and retreating to the shadows? What say you? Please, explain to me why the Reinhart trade wasn’t a disaster, why that’s worked out reasonably for our squad 

ftr: if you are going to say “we had to trade him”…I’ll just get ahead of it and say, honestly…that’s genius. I never thought of that, it’s totally true, we can’t really blame Kevyn Adams, I agree we need to have patience, and we need to see this out till at least 2030 

Fans will NEVER be happy with this team, no matter what they do. It’s sort of unfair to the team. What can they even do? No matter what they try, the fans complain. I think the fans just want to be unhappy 

Edited Saturday at 03:49 PM by Thorner

[thewookie1]

1 hour ago, Thorner said:

It’s difficult to make heads or tails of tbh 

If we enter into camp with Kulich as a top 6 C we are already screwed 

It’s literally the definition of insanity 

- - - 

@thewookie1care to follow up or are you good with leveling your cowardly X and retreating to the shadows? What say you? Please, explain to me why the Reinhart trade wasn’t a disaster, why that’s worked out reasonably for our squad 

ftr: if you are going to say “we had to trade him”…I’ll just get ahead of it and say, honestly…that’s genius. I never thought of that, it’s totally true, we can’t really blame Kevyn Adams, I agree we need to have patience, and we need to see this out till at least 2030 

Fans will NEVER be happy with this team, no matter what they do. It’s sort of unfair to the team. What can they even do? No matter what they try, the fans complain. I think the fans just want to be unhappy 

Actually I was busy doing something else with no time to give an actual response.

The Reinhart deal wasn't a disaster; Florida definitely got exactly what they wanted but we also got pieces back that have high potential. A disaster would be the ROR trade to St. L had Tage not suddenly blew up into a great player. A trade doesn't have to have an immediate benefit to not be considered terrible.

The situation that led to Reinhart being traded was what required him to be traded. Adams gave him a 1 year deal, in part due to COVID, and Reinhart refused to sign long term that following year. We could of kept him for 1 year and ran the high risk of him walking in the ensuing offseason. If without COVID the Sabres still chose a 1 year contract; I'd be far harder on them but none of us have any way of knowing that. Adams could of very well desired to sign him long term but with COVID issues arising was told to keep contracts at 1 year. 

 

I'm also sick of waiting year after year for the newest crop of rookies to "save us" but I have no willingness to play Russian Roulette with 4 bullets in order to try and risk everything for 1 run. 

[Thorner]

4 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

Actually I was busy doing something else with no time to give an actual response.

The Reinhart deal wasn't a disaster; Florida definitely got exactly what they wanted but we also got pieces back that have high potential. A disaster would be the ROR trade to St. L had Tage not suddenly blew up into a great player. A trade doesn't have to have an immediate benefit to not be considered terrible.

The situation that led to Reinhart being traded was what required him to be traded. Adams gave him a 1 year deal, in part due to COVID, and Reinhart refused to sign long term that following year. We could of kept him for 1 year and ran the high risk of him walking in the ensuing offseason. If without COVID the Sabres still chose a 1 year contract; I'd be far harder on them but none of us have any way of knowing that. Adams could of very well desired to sign him long term but with COVID issues arising was told to keep contracts at 1 year. 

 

I'm also sick of waiting year after year for the newest crop of rookies to "save us" but I have no willingness to play Russian Roulette with 4 bullets in order to try and risk everything for 1 run. 

It doesn’t HAVE to be: but the team building aspects of this trade are up for debate as much as any, and we aren’t talking in general here we are talking about this deal specifically - the trade fails utterly on both sides of the equation 

-the actual production that has resulted since 2021 is heavily one-sided in their favour 

-MORE importantly, the actual strategy informing the trade (rebuild) was incredibly misguided. Adams electing for a long form build on the heels of missing 9 years has proven to be disastrous, already. We’ve missed the playoffs 5 years. His plan failed 

[thewookie1]

2 minutes ago, Thorner said:

It doesn’t HAVE to be: but the team building aspects of this trade are up for debate as much as any, and we aren’t talking in general here we are talking about this deal specifically - the trade fails utterly on both sides of the equation 

-the actual production that has resulted since 2021 is heavily one-sided in their favour 

-MORE importantly, the actual strategy informing the trade (rebuild) was incredibly misguided. Adams electing for a long form build on the heels of missing 9 years has proven to be disastrous, already. We’ve missed the playoffs 5 years. His plan failed 

I can most certainly agree there at this point; I gave him multiple mulligans and it never panned out. He will make an occasional good move and drafts pretty well but has seemingly no ability to form a consistent playoff team and has had plenty of time to do so.

[Thorner]

To weave or not to weave 

[Stoner]

5 minutes ago, Thorner said:

To weave or not to weave 

I'll @Weave every time.

[Thorner]

What weave got here, is a failure to communicate 

[Weave]

Why have I been summoned?

[Taro T]

For whatever it's worth, the guy that usually sits next to us at the games said he heard an Adams interview yesterday or the day before where he said that the Sabres will not be sellers at the deadline.  Personally, am expecting he'd like to re-sign Zucker and Greenway and those are about the only 2 guys that he'd be able to sell anyhow with any reasonable return.  

Maybe Jokiharju goes at the deadline as personally can't see him in their LT plans.

Would like to see a true hockey trade, but that's not the time those are typically done.  Maybe he can make something happen in February as it seems some true hockey trades are currently happening.

[Thorner]

1 hour ago, Weave said:

Why have I been summoned?

Weave forgotten why 

[Weave]

2 hours ago, Thorner said:

Weave forgotten why 

[GASabresIUFAN]

4 hours ago, Taro T said:

For whatever it's worth, the guy that usually sits next to us at the games said he heard an Adams interview yesterday or the day before where he said that the Sabres will not be sellers at the deadline.  Personally, am expecting he'd like to re-sign Zucker and Greenway and those are about the only 2 guys that he'd be able to sell anyhow with any reasonable return.  

Maybe Jokiharju goes at the deadline as personally can't see him in their LT plans.

Would like to see a true hockey trade, but that's not the time those are typically done.  Maybe he can make something happen in February as it seems some true hockey trades are currently happening.

Adams stated he wants to retain both Zucker and Greenway.  I'll believe it when I see it.

[JohnC]

4 hours ago, Taro T said:

For whatever it's worth, the guy that usually sits next to us at the games said he heard an Adams interview yesterday or the day before where he said that the Sabres will not be sellers at the deadline.  Personally, am expecting he'd like to re-sign Zucker and Greenway and those are about the only 2 guys that he'd be able to sell anyhow with any reasonable return.  

Maybe Jokiharju goes at the deadline as personally can't see him in their LT plans.

Would like to see a true hockey trade, but that's not the time those are typically done.  Maybe he can make something happen in February as it seems some true hockey trades are currently happening.

If the information you received is true, then that is a good sign. (My opinion.) Both of these players add an element of ruggedness that this roster definitely needs.  If the GM can re-sign Zucker and Greenway, then there are fewer issues to address in the offseason. Wouldn't it be terrific to acquire another Zucker like player and add a veteran defenseman to the blueline unit? 

[LTS]

14 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Adams stated he wants to retain both Zucker and Greenway.  I'll believe it when I see it.

Wanting to retain players and being able to are two different things. Don't get hung up on the "public speak" of sports.

Zucker has also said he's interested in staying here, it doesn't mean he will.

Both are statements of possibilities, not probabilities.

[Broken Ankles]

The type of player the Sabres NEED is one who will be overvalued at the deadline.  If moves are made, it’s likely b/c Greenway/Zucker are not signed and the offers are too much to pass up.  If I’m Zucker agent the price is close to unreasonable.  Why not.  
Doe’s Clifton hold value?  He’s been a healthy scratch.  He has another year and would be good to move him off the books if they are going in a different direction on D next year.  Seems like you could eke out some value now.  

[Archie Lee]

20 minutes ago, LTS said:

Wanting to retain players and being able to are two different things. Don't get hung up on the "public speak" of sports.

Zucker has also said he's interested in staying here, it doesn't mean he will.

Both are statements of possibilities, not probabilities.

I suspect the barrier with Zucker will be $$$ and term.  If Zucker wanted to play for a contender he could have signed for much less with a contending team each of the last two years. If the Sabres offer something similar in AAV for 2 years, I would be surprised if Zucker leaves. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

What is Joki worth in trade at the deadline?  A 3rd or a 4th? Less?

[JP51]

I think Adams saying we will not be sellers is a bit of a play on words... because in the next breath he will be saying that we weren't selling, we are just getting assets for players that we were not going to retain...  Now, He may try and make a big trade to improve the team with those assets... but getting someone to ditch NMC is going to prove difficult and will likely result in an over pay in and of its self... so I feel like we will see the same thing we do every year trade away pieces that other teams need for the playoffs... for hope... (save the Mitts trade...)

Zucker may stay he said he wants too... but I can see teams looking for players like him and making an offer and Zucker wanting to stay IF we pay him big and off he goes.... same thing with Greenway, although I have not heard specifically he wants to stay...  those are the two players of value to me that are the most likely to go as they will be valued for playoff type hockey which we again will not be playing and are simply not built for...  (fair note on Greenway, that dude always seems hurt... not even sure he is built dexterity wise for the playoffs.. beginning to remind me a Muel) 

So  i feel like again rinse wash repeat performance coming in... team is pilfered for the few players it has that are built for the playoffs.. and sold hope or prospects...  In the end I really don't want Adams making trades... the rationale has obviously been well documented... However, if he is still the GM and Terry hasn't said no trades... then GM gonna GM... like he always GM'd and we become the leagues farm team starting in a few weeks...  JMO

Edited 13 hours ago by JP51

[MISabresFan]

On 2/1/2025 at 9:37 AM, Archie Lee said:

Benson/Kulich/Tuch in 2025-26, is not the 2nd line of an NHL team that expects to be in the playoffs.  Could happen, but it would require 2 young players to take giant leaps forward.

Doing some research (wikipedia) the average age of Lindy's 79/80 playoff team was 26.32.  This years team 26.59.  I guess age does matter.

 

[French Collection]

After yesterday’s display of standing up for teammates, Zucker may want to be moved at the deadline.