Roster Building with the New Cap Increases

[Flashsabre]

I think with the increased increases in the Cap coming the Sabres should be looking at signing Byram long term. Him and Dahlin give the Sabres a very good top pairing. The focus (as it has always been) is finding a quality vet RHD to play with Power and help him out.

Muel and Joker can go. Clifton is a solid third pairing guy.

Get a solid vet LHD for the 3rd pairing that plays well defensively and is physical.

Guys like Novikov, Komarov, Strabek, Kleber have promise but are all 2 years+ out.

Up front I would move out Cozens if possible. Sabres need a centre with hockey sense and playmaking skill to compliment all the shooters. 
 

I would keep Benson and Kulich.  JJ and Quinn both needs deals. I might move one to bring in a different type of forward. 
 

Id try to extend Zucker and Greenway for reasonable deals. Guys like Kozak, McLeod, Malenstyn  are good bottom 6 guys.

Rosen is a guy that is going to need a look next season or be moved for a good piece. He has great chemistry with Kulich.

I don’t trust Adams to get any of this done and the cap space means nothing if Pegula continues to go cheap.

Edited February 1 by Flashsabre

[PerreaultForever]

Reality would seem to indicate that:

"get" isn't going to happen. 

"get rid of" might happen

waiting for prospects to develop is probably all that will happen. 

Kulich is providing new options for roster construction that are promising and might allow for more focus on getting tougher but I don't know if they will actually do that. 

Kozak can stay. He's better than Lafferty, but his emergence might give KA the illusion that all he has to do is wait for more of these guys. 

To quote you above though "Kodak" should be in Rochester 🙂

 

[LabattBlue]

8 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

…but his emergence might give KA the illusion that all he has to do is wait for more of these guys. 

I think this is a huge problem with KA and his puppet master.  Every time one of the kids gets hot, makes them say “see, we were right”.
 

In the meantime, the fanbase continues to dwindle. 

Edited February 1 by LabattBlue

[Flashsabre]

6 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Reality would seem to indicate that:

"get" isn't going to happen. 

"get rid of" might happen

waiting for prospects to develop is probably all that will happen. 

Kulich is providing new options for roster construction that are promising and might allow for more focus on getting tougher but I don't know if they will actually do that. 

Kozak can stay. He's better than Lafferty, but his emergence might give KA the illusion that all he has to do is wait for more of these guys. 

To quote you above though "Kodak" should be in Rochester 🙂

 

Touché😁 I corrected the spelling error for you😝

[mjd1001]

In many ways this team seems so far away.

In others they seem so close.

As a team this year where are their shortfalls? We have discussed that almost endlessly, but I came across a few stats:

-As a team this year, the Sabres 5 on 5 are actually a positive 3 (+3)

-When either Dylan Cozens, or Jack Quinn, or both of them are on the ice, the team is -11.  (38% of all even strength ice time 1 or both of them have been on ice)

-When neither of them is on the ice (basically the rest of the team), the Sabres are a +14 (62% of the time this is the case)

That even extends to the Powerplay and penalty kill.

When either, or both of Cozens and Quinn have been on the ice, the team scores a PP goal once of every 9.4 minutes. When neither of them is on the ice, the team scores a PP goal every 7.7 minutes.

Penalty Kill? When either or both of Quinn or Cozens are on the ice, they allow a goal once every 5.4 minutes. When neither is on the ice the PK is much better, allowing a goal once very 7.4 minutes.

I know it doesn't always look like it when you watch the games, but the team as a whole is actually average-to-above average when those 2 aren't on the ice this year. Every aspect of their game is better with the other 16 guys than with either, or both of those 2.

Edited February 1 by mjd1001

[EM88]

If the cap increase is larger than many in the league expected, then it should make teams up against the cap now more able to sign free agents than they expected, or not allow as many guys to go as they may have needed to.

For the Sabres, that should slightly make the pickings a bit leaner at the trade deadline. At least in theory, but in all honesty I do not think it will impact them all that much.  

It does make the Power, Dahlin, Thompson, and Cozens contracts look a little less bad, but will likely make Byram and Peterka more costly. It will balance, providing Pegula is willing to spend close to the cap.

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

I think this is a huge problem with KA and his puppet master.  Every time one of the kids gets hot, makes them say “see, we were right”.
 

In the meantime, the fanbase continues to dwindle. 

Absolutely, and it takes too long and in that time somebody else might want out. I'm still not convinced Cozens isn't playing crap on purpose to try to get traded out. 

4 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

Touché😁 I corrected the spelling error for you😝

ahhh, it was way funnier as "kodak" given Rochester's history. 

[JP51]

On 2/1/2025 at 7:55 PM, EM88 said:

If the cap increase is larger than many in the league expected, then it should make teams up against the cap now more able to sign free agents than they expected, or not allow as many guys to go as they may have needed to.

For the Sabres, that should slightly make the pickings a bit leaner at the trade deadline. At least in theory, but in all honesty I do not think it will impact them all that much.  

It does make the Power, Dahlin, Thompson, and Cozens contracts look a little less bad, but will likely make Byram and Peterka more costly. It will balance, providing Pegula is willing to spend close to the cap.

I agree I think the cap increase hurts the Sabres... supply goes down cause teams can sign more players to higher contracts. We I believe self impose a cap that may or may not go up if the leagues does... may help us sign our players long term or some.. but with our recent record I am not sure if that is good thing. 

[inkman]

On 2/1/2025 at 2:55 PM, Flashsabre said:

I think with the increased increases in the Cap coming the Sabres should be looking at signing Byram long term. Him and Dahlin give the Sabres a very good top pairing. The focus (as it has always been) is finding a quality vet RHD to play with Power and help him out.

Byram has stated he wants to be a number 1 Dman.  Well that ain’t happening in Buffalo with king Rasmus in the building so….

Also, knowing the salary cap could double and not affect the Sabres plans is about as deflating as not responding when your best center is laying prone on the ice and no one doing anything about it. 

[mjd1001]

12 minutes ago, inkman said:

Byram has stated he wants to be a number 1 Dman.  Well that ain’t happening in Buffalo with king Rasmus in the building so….

Also, knowing the salary cap could double and not affect the Sabres plans is about as deflating as not responding when your best center is laying prone on the ice and no one doing anything about it. 

What is his definition of a #1 D-man?

If he gets the money he wants...and if he gets the ice time (he's over 23 minutes per game now) He's right around 30th in the league in ice time.  2nd on the Sabres in overall ice time, and he gets used both PK and PP.

Yeah, in the media he will be #2 to Dahlin, but if he gets used as much as a #1 guy, and gets paid what he wants...isn't that good enough?  I don't know, just wondering...

[Porous Five Hole]

1 minute ago, mjd1001 said:

What is his definition of a #1 D-man?

If he gets the money he wants...and if he gets the ice time (he's over 23 minutes per game now) He's right around 30th in the league in ice time.  2nd on the Sabres in overall ice time, and he gets used both PK and PP.

Yeah, in the media he will be #2 to Dahlin, but if he gets used as much as a #1 guy, and gets paid what he wants...isn't that good enough?  I don't know, just wondering...

Bo is getting very, very little PP ice time. Stat muse is saying 1:20 per game. For reference, Dahlin is getting 3:18 per game. 
 

I agree with the rest though. If the money is right and he gets to have a good partner, why not extend in Buff?

[inkman]

6 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

Bo is getting very, very little PP ice time. Stat muse is saying 1:20 per game. For reference, Dahlin is getting 3:18 per game. 
 

I agree with the rest though. If the money is right and he gets to have a good partner, why not extend in Buff?

For starters, the Sabres are the Washington Generals of the NHL.  Why would any self respecting athlete want to even sniff the Sabres.  Clown show, poverty franchise that repeatedly has demonstrated they have no idea or even worse they aren’t even trying to ice a competitive lineup.  If I was a player on this roster I’d be snorting my way right outta town and find any team besides this joke of a franchise. 
 

Or as some would put it, pull an Eichel.  

Edited February 4 by inkman

[Porous Five Hole]

20 minutes ago, inkman said:

For starters, the Sabres are the Washington Generals of the NHL.  Why would any self respecting athlete want to even sniff the Sabres.  Clown show, poverty franchise that repeatedly has demonstrated they have no idea or even worse they aren’t even trying to ice a competitive lineup.  If I was a player on this roster I’d be snorting my way right outta town and find any team besides this joke of a franchise. 
 

Or as some would put it, pull an Eichel.  

Wegmans and Tim Hortons are more important than palm trees and taxes  

[Flashsabre]

 

[steveoath]

Are they even above the floor with the contracts on the books for next year?

[kas23]

1 hour ago, Flashsabre said:

 

Oooh. Love the innuendo. Wonder if this means anything.  

[Flashsabre]

18 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

 

If we really want to go conspiracy theory: the building in the back is Delaware North, the company owned by the Jacob’s family. There was that rumor earlier that the Jacobs family was looking for a way to buy the Sabres😝

Edited February 5 by Flashsabre

[mjd1001]

17 hours ago, steveoath said:

Are they even above the floor with the contracts on the books for next year?

I THINK they have $58m+ already committed for next year. But that is with 11 or 12 guys not signed on the current roster, so they would need to fill those positions.

Zucker, Greenway, McLeod, Peterka, Quinn, Kozak (if they are going to bring him back), Byrum, Jokiharju, Gilbert, Bryson.

If they bring back all those forwards and just Byrum on D, that may cost them $30m+ right there.  And then you would still need to fill 3 more defensive spots and a goalie (do you re-sign Reimer again or is it Levi?)

[dudacek]

21 hours ago, inkman said:

Byram has stated he wants to be a number 1 Dman.  Well that ain’t happening in Buffalo with king Rasmus in the building so….

 

 

For a guy who frequently complains about the internet making things up, I'm surprised to see you leaning into this.

I've never seen or heard Byram saying anything like this and I'd be surprised if anyone on here has.

I believe it's a byproduct of Colorado's GM saying that he became available because he was never going to get that opportunity there.

There's not a team in the league acquiring Byram with the goal of installing him as their #1D. It's going to be pretty hard for a player of his calibre to find a better spot than playing 23 minutes a night on a 1st pair with Rasmus Dahlin.

Will he pull a Reinhart come contract time and basically let them know he's not going to commit to this franchise for the long haul because he wants to win? It's entirely possible and few would blame him.

And once again in a few years we would be mourning another one that got away.

Because the kid is is a good hockey player — probably Buffalo's 3rd or 4th best right now along with Tuch, and easily the best partner Dahlin has ever had.

Edited February 5 by dudacek

[LGR4GM]

11 minutes ago, dudacek said:

 

For a guy who frequently complains about the internet making things up, I'm surprised to see you leaning into this.

I've never seen or heard Byram saying anything like this and I'd be surprised if anyone on here has.

I believe it's a byproduct of Colorado's GM saying that he became available because he was never going to get that opportunity there.

There's not a team in the league acquiring Byram with the goal of installing him as their #1D. It's going to be pretty hard for a player if his calibre to find a better spot than playing 23 minutes a night on a 1st pair with Rasmus Dahlin.

Will he pull a Reinhart come contract time and basically let them know he's not going to commit to this franchise for the long haul because he wants to win? It's entirely possible and few would blame him.

And once again in a few years we would be mourning another one that got away.

Because the kid is is a good hockey player — probably Buffalo's 3rd or 4th best right now along with Tuch, and easily the best partner Dahlin has ever had.

Umm, Reinhart wanted a long term deal when Adams first got here but Adams gave him a short deal and then Reinhart was like, okay you are going to rebuild so you can trade me. Kevyn Adams incompetence cost the Sabres Reinhart and Ullmark. Considering Adams gave Mattias Samuelsson, veteran of 56ish games a 7 year deal, it is obvious that Adams is a gullible fool who falls in loves with certain players and doesn't understand what he is doing. 

[inkman]

20 minutes ago, dudacek said:

 

For a guy who frequently complains about the internet making things up, I'm surprised to see you leaning into this.

I've never seen or heard Byram saying anything like this and I'd be surprised if anyone on here has.

I believe it's a byproduct of Colorado's GM saying that he became available because he was never going to get that opportunity there.

There's not a team in the league acquiring Byram with the goal of installing him as their #1D. It's going to be pretty hard for a player of his calibre to find a better spot than playing 23 minutes a night on a 1st pair with Rasmus Dahlin.

Will he pull a Reinhart come contract time and basically let them know he's not going to commit to this franchise for the long haul because he wants to win? It's entirely possible and few would blame him.

And once again in a few years we would be mourning another one that got away.

Because the kid is is a good hockey player — probably Buffalo's 3rd or 4th best right now along with Tuch, and easily the best partner Dahlin has ever had.

Boom

https://thehockeywriters.com/sabres-need-to-extend-bowen-byram-before-july-1st/#:~:text=Byram Wants to Be a Number One Defenseman&text=Byram would eventually like to,the team's number two defenseman.

There happens to be one issue with the Sabres signing him to a long-term contract. Byram would eventually like to become a team’s number one defenseman. With the Sabres already having Dahlin and Owen Power on the blue line, that is tough. With Dahlin being the team’s number one defenseman, right now Byram is the team’s number two defenseman. Who knows, maybe if Byram signs a long-term contract in Buffalo, Power will surpass Byram and become the team’s number two defenseman and Byram gets stuck as the number three defenseman.

Edited February 5 by inkman

[dudacek]

12 minutes ago, inkman said:

Boom

https://thehockeywriters.com/sabres-need-to-extend-bowen-byram-before-july-1st/#:~:text=Byram Wants to Be a Number One Defenseman&text=Byram would eventually like to,the team's number two defenseman.

 

"There's a belief that..."

OK. Now find me one with Byram saying those things.

Edited February 5 by dudacek

[dudacek]

If you want to know what Byram has actually said, you'll find things like this:

“(The contract) can be stressful,” Byram said. “People that don’t admit to that or don’t say that are probably lying in my opinion. It’s a big part of your life. It really is our entire lives. Wherever you’re signed, it’s where you’re living, it’s where you’re playing, it’s where your family is coming to visit, it’s where your spouse is living most of the time. I just try to stay present in the moment and enjoy what I’m doing and enjoy the people you’re doing it with.”

“I feel like you have that here,” Byram said. “Good blue-collar, hardworking people. On top of that, it’s just really easy living. You go to some places on the road and you’re in traffic all day. I’m lucky to not have to deal with that here. It’s pretty low-key. I really like that about Buffalo. I feel like it fits my lifestyle. I have a lot of good things to say. You never really know what you’re getting into when you go somewhere new, but I’ve loved it here so far to be honest with you.”

“At the end of the day, (the contract)’s not really up to me in a lot of circumstances. I’m more so focused on playing hockey and playing at my best. Things will take care of themselves. I’m just mostly focused on playing. But at the same, it’s always kind of in your head when you’re on an expiring deal. I love it here and don’t have anything negative to say. We’ll see how things shake out.”

[dudacek]

17 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Umm, Reinhart wanted a long term deal when Adams first got here but Adams gave him a short deal and then Reinhart was like, okay you are going to rebuild so you can trade me. Kevyn Adams incompetence cost the Sabres Reinhart and Ullmark. Considering Adams gave Mattias Samuelsson, veteran of 56ish games a 7 year deal, it is obvious that Adams is a gullible fool who falls in loves with certain players and doesn't understand what he is doing. 

Yes, exactly my point when it comes to Byram.

[LGR4GM]

4 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Yes, exactly my point when it comes to Byram.

Ship out Samuelsson, give his 4mil to Byram for 6yrs and that gives Byram about 8mil in salary. Actually, I would do 5yrs. Sabres are currently the #1 team in the NHL for defender points I think. 

5yrs, 7.85mil for Byram, boom done. Give him a 10team NTC.