What will be the Sabres approach at the trade deadline?

[GASabresIUFAN]

25 minutes ago, French Collection said:

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

Maybe we'll trade him and then re-sign him this summer.  

[French Collection]

35 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Maybe we'll trade him and then re-sign him this summer.  

That would be the ideal scenario, the Keith Tkachuk deal.
If he leaves, I doubt he comes back to this dysfunctional team. 

[Flashsabre]

Funny to see Mittestadt on trade boards. Guess it’s not working in Colorado. Many didn’t want him moved.  Would you want him back? We do need a centreman, one with playmaking ability.

[GASabresIUFAN]

4 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Funny to see Mittestadt on trade boards. Guess it’s not working in Colorado. Many didn’t want him moved.  Would you want him back? We do need a centreman, one with playmaking ability.

Yes, especially for the contract he's on.   He's on pace for about 50 points this season.  However don't expect him back.  

[Carmel Corn]

25 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Funny to see Mittestadt on trade boards. Guess it’s not working in Colorado. Many didn’t want him moved.  Would you want him back? We do need a centreman, one with playmaking ability.

Send Cozens for Mitts???

[kas23]

16 minutes ago, Carmel Corn said:

Send Cozens for Mitts???

Would love to trade Cozens for Mitts. We should’ve picked Mitts over Cozens in the first place. He played up and down our lines. 

[Second Line Center]

1 hour ago, kas23 said:

Would love to trade Cozens for Mitts. We should’ve picked Mitts over Cozens in the first place. He played up and down our lines. 

Mitts has 3 - THREE goals since OCTOBER. 

 

We absolutely fleeced them.

[GASabresIUFAN]

Adams better have Zucker and Greenway signed to extensions before the deadline.  If he doesn’t they aren’t re-signing here and therefore need to be traded.

Adams says he wants to keep both, then stop f-ing around and get it done if that is really your intention.  

Adams also says he won’t be a seller at the deadline.  What he didn’t say is that he’ll be a buyer.  
 

 

[mjd1001]

On 2/3/2025 at 9:40 PM, kas23 said:

Would love to trade Cozens for Mitts. We should’ve picked Mitts over Cozens in the first place. He played up and down our lines. 

That is a tough one I probably agree with you, but Mitts is not playing well at all there, production or defensively, he's not fitting in.

I think Cozens at wing is better than Mitts at center, which is better than Cozens at center. So long term, my thinking is comparing them, the best player is Cozens playing wing. But as we have gone over and over that isn't happening.

Fantasy world here, but if the trade were on the table I'd make it.  We do know Mitts was fitting in fairly well at Center on this team in the past, and his contract is less than Cozens, so that would sway me to making the deal.

Both players though, not good this year.

[mjd1001]

On 2/3/2025 at 8:56 PM, Flashsabre said:

Funny to see Mittestadt on trade boards. Guess it’s not working in Colorado. Many didn’t want him moved.  Would you want him back? We do need a centreman, one with playmaking ability.

Mitts seemed like a laid-back kinda guy, personality wise.  It might not mesh well with McKinnon.  Lots of stories over the years about McKinnon being so intense and direct with some teammates, that it can cause certain guys to shut down.  He doesn't let up, and he rips into teammates at practice even, and some guys just don't like that.

https://coloradohockeynow.com/2021/08/03/former-avalanche-reveals-intense-details-about-what-its-like-being-teammates-with-nathan-mackinnon/

Zadorov said in a recent interview with a Russian publication. “He can be a jerk to his teammates. You need to accept that and it would improve you as a hockey player as a result.

“If you miss a pass in practice, he would skate over and literally scream at you,” he told the Russian reporter. “If the puck ends up in his skates—not even his skates—if it misses his stick by a tiny bit, like 15 centimeters in front of the blade of his stick, he doesn’t move his stick to catch the puck. He stops everything, turns around and slaps the puck back at you. He is not going to try and catch any puck he doesn’t like during practice—just to show you that you made a ***** pass.”

Two years ago, MacKinnon apparently got rid of all soda and desserts from the dressing room, and kiboshed “white sauce” and replaced regular pasta with chickpea pasta, because it’s higher in protein.

“He says, ‘Guys, if you want to eat that crap, you have the offseason for that.

“If you can’t accept it, well, you’re off the team.”

 

That might work for some guys, but I can see others, maybe some pretty good players, not wanting to be part of that.  I get the sense that Mitts may not function well in that environment long term...just a guess.

Edited February 5 by mjd1001

[Jorcus]

Reading some of the Avalanche board comments one kind of stuck out. Mitts is an East West player on a North South team. For better or worse we are a North South team right now. Unless we change the systems back to Granato days I don't see what he is going to do here. The other issue is the toughness factor. We are still a soft team and he does nothing to improve that. Players don't return so shortly after trades so I would not expect him to return. We need another tough right winger to replace Quinn. We need a solid Right handed D man to take Sammy's place. If you have to trade Cuz to get one of those things I am open to ideas. I don't see how Mitts moves this team forward. 

[inkman]

52 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

Mitts seemed like a laid-back kinda guy, personality wise.  It might not mesh well with McKinnon.  Lots of stories over the years about McKinnon being so intense and direct with some teammates, that it can cause certain guys to shut down.  He doesn't let up, and he rips into teammates at practice even, and some guys just don't like that.

https://coloradohockeynow.com/2021/08/03/former-avalanche-reveals-intense-details-about-what-its-like-being-teammates-with-nathan-mackinnon/

Zadorov said in a recent interview with a Russian publication. “He can be a jerk to his teammates. You need to accept that and it would improve you as a hockey player as a result.

“If you miss a pass in practice, he would skate over and literally scream at you,” he told the Russian reporter. “If the puck ends up in his skates—not even his skates—if it misses his stick by a tiny bit, like 15 centimeters in front of the blade of his stick, he doesn’t move his stick to catch the puck. He stops everything, turns around and slaps the puck back at you. He is not going to try and catch any puck he doesn’t like during practice—just to show you that you made a ***** pass.”

Two years ago, MacKinnon apparently got rid of all soda and desserts from the dressing room, and kiboshed “white sauce” and replaced regular pasta with chickpea pasta, because it’s higher in protein.

“He says, ‘Guys, if you want to eat that crap, you have the offseason for that.

“If you can’t accept it, well, you’re off the team.”

 

That might work for some guys, but I can see others, maybe some pretty good players, not wanting to be part of that.  I get the sense that Mitts may not function well in that environment long term...just a guess.

McKinnon’s disposition has me slightly aroused.  My lord what I would give for someone like that on the Sabres.  

[Stoner]

I saw Chickpea Pasta at GrapeFest in Westfield, NY, in 2011. It's too bad about Noelle. They were never the same after that.

[JohnC]

On 2/3/2025 at 8:56 PM, Flashsabre said:

Funny to see Mittestadt on trade boards. Guess it’s not working in Colorado. Many didn’t want him moved.  Would you want him back? We do need a centreman, one with playmaking ability.

I would take him back but what would the exchange entail? If we did get him back I would make him our 2 or 3C and put Cozens on the wing where I think he is more suited. 

I am getting to like Byram more and more. But what happens if, as the cap goes up, he decides to play out his contract and seek a better situation for himself? Then the Mitts trade would turn out to be another boondoggle for our GM.

[In The Buff]

31 minutes ago, inkman said:

McKinnon’s disposition has me slightly aroused.  My lord what I would give for someone like that on the Sabres.  

100%. Having a player who holds others accountable for their mistakes? And passionately attempts to correct them? Someone who has a high standard & expectations for themself & his teammates & won't compromise on them? Sounds great compared to the Sabres who don't display 1 ounce of that.

What do we have that's similar? We schedule a team meeting to discuss why you should stick up for your teammates? Its like night & day

[inkman]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

I would take him back but what would the exchange entail? If we did get him back I would make him our 2 or 3C and put Cozens on the wing where I think he is more suited. 

I am getting to like Byram more and more. But what happens if, as the cap goes up, he decides to play out his contract and seek a better situation for himself? Then the Mitts trade would turn out to be another boondoggle for our GM.

Casey isn’t a part of the solution. They need more engaged, intense players. I know Zucker has rubbed some the wrong way with the Tage hit but Jason is more of what we need than what we don’t need.  We need more professional men on the team as opposed to the kiddie lineup we keep icing year after year. 

[Brawndo]

On 2/2/2025 at 2:16 PM, GASabresIUFAN said:

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

Moving him for future considerations is a big win for this team 

[JohnC]

3 minutes ago, inkman said:

Casey isn’t a part of the solution. They need more engaged, intense players. I know Zucker has rubbed some the wrong way with the Tage hit but Jason is more of what we need than what we don’t need.  We need more professional men on the team as opposed to the kiddie lineup we keep icing year after year. 

I'm a Zucker advocate. He's been our GM's best value pickups during his tenure. We need more Zucker's added to this roster. As far as the Mitts issue, I brought it up regarding how his trade would be assessed if Byram decides to pursue free agency. And regarding to Mitts. although it took some time for him to develop, lest not forget that at the end of his tenure here he became one of our best wall players. 

[PerreaultForever]

On 2/3/2025 at 5:56 PM, Flashsabre said:

Funny to see Mittestadt on trade boards. Guess it’s not working in Colorado. Many didn’t want him moved.  Would you want him back? We do need a centreman, one with playmaking ability.

He's on trade boards because he's been inconsequential there and is not an integral part of their team but they think he still has value. I would not want to go backwards.

[PerreaultForever]

23 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I'm a Zucker advocate. He's been our GM's best value pickups during his tenure. We need more Zucker's added to this roster. As far as the Mitts issue, I brought it up regarding how his trade would be assessed if Byram decides to pursue free agency. And regarding to Mitts. although it took some time for him to develop, lest not forget that at the end of his tenure here he became one of our best wall players. 

Sure, Zucker's had a good year and we need veterans but we are a near bottom team and so you move EVERY UFA and you consider moving RFAs you don't want or aren't likely to sign for what you think they are worth. You do not stay the course when the course is failing. 

Obviously if you can't get anything for them you don't bother but hanging on to people for some sort of late season statement run is stupid and pointless. It does not carry over to the next season.

[GASabresIUFAN]

29 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Sure, Zucker's had a good year and we need veterans but we are a near bottom team and so you move EVERY UFA and you consider moving RFAs you don't want or aren't likely to sign for what you think they are worth. You do not stay the course when the course is failing. 

Obviously if you can't get anything for them you don't bother but hanging on to people for some sort of late season statement run is stupid and pointless. It does not carry over to the next season.

As I've pointed out the offense is not the problem.  We are 12th in the NHL in goals.  Keeping our forwards, especially a productive vet like Zucker makes sense especially for a tema devoid of veteran leadership.  I do agree that if he won't sign an extension before the deadline, then Adams has no choice but to trade him.  He is probably worth a 2nd rd pick plus a prospect.  You maybe able to up the compensation if Adams is willing to take a contract back to help the new team take Zucker's cap hit.  

The key to this deadline and this next off-season is fixing the defense.  The Sabres are currently tied for4th most goal against.  Byrson, Clifton, Jokiharju, Gilbert and even Power are expendable.  Yes even Power.  Adams should no longer be patient with anyone in this 3rd NHL season who hasn't improved at all defensively.

[Flashsabre]

Leafs want to move Knies for Cozens I’d do that deal but otherwise no thanks. Detroit would probably be Kasper. Flames maybe Zary. They won’t move Anderson or Weegar with them being in a playoff spot. Habs, don’t know.

[mjd1001]

2 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Leafs want to move Knies for Cozens I’d do that deal but otherwise no thanks. Detroit would probably be Kasper. Flames maybe Zary. They won’t move Anderson or Weegar with them being in a playoff spot. Habs, don’t know.

This is why these rumor are usually a bunch of B.S.

3 times in the past 1-2 months on 590, their 'insiders' brought up Cozens and the Maple leafs and every single time I heard the Leafs had ZERO interest in him at all.

So, its either Weekes or the 'insiders' on 590 out of Toronto, but someone is either outright lying or just throwing **** against the wall. Could be both.

[mjd1001]

43 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

As I've pointed out the offense is not the problem.  We are 12th in the NHL in goals.  Keeping our forwards, especially a productive vet like Zucker makes sense especially for a tema devoid of veteran leadership.  I do agree that if he won't sign an extension before the deadline, then Adams has no choice but to trade him.  He is probably worth a 2nd rd pick plus a prospect.  You maybe able to up the compensation if Adams is willing to take a contract back to help the new team take Zucker's cap hit.  

The key to this deadline and this next off-season is fixing the defense.  The Sabres are currently tied for4th most goal against.  Byrson, Clifton, Jokiharju, Gilbert and even Power are expendable.  Yes even Power.  Adams should no longer be patient with anyone in this 3rd NHL season who hasn't improved at all defensively.

I personally think how the forwards play/backcheck/help out the 2 guys on defense is just as much of an issue as the defensemen themselves.  Now I'm not saying the D-men are perfect, yeah, they could use a good vet back there, but...

I haven't said this in a while but I'll do it now...when I look at goals allowed, it seems the D-men often look worse than they should..because they are in a bad situation where they have to decide whether to cover 'their guy' or stay in 'their position' or to move away to cover for a forward who is leaving guys wide open. Often times, they have to play things 1/2 way....and a quick watch of the replay makes the D-man look bad when the breakdown started with the Sabres forwards awful coverage.

[thewookie1]

7 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Leafs want to move Knies for Cozens I’d do that deal but otherwise no thanks. Detroit would probably be Kasper. Flames maybe Zary. They won’t move Anderson or Weegar with them being in a playoff spot. Habs, don’t know.

Unless we get Weegar from Calgary I have zero interest in trading him as I have no interest in trading in the division