Peterka to the Rangers?

[dudacek]

31 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

I counted 7 times he was off his skates in the 1st period of the Las Vegas game. You just can't play in the NHL on your knees or your ass. He is willing to go to the net but he gets tossed around a lot. I would say his lack of physicality is holding him back among other things like being slow going end to end and having one of the slowest shots in the NHL. 

There are some positives he good on his edges and can dog pucks. He plays a smart game. He can play a good half ice game. Going end to end he gets caught on break a ways or seems to trail on 2 on 1 breaks unless he has a big head start. Can he develop a harder shot? Maybe. Can he get faster? That's a lot harder to do.

One of the things that I cling to about Benson is how many people around here said Sam Reinhart was too slow, too weak, couldn't stay on his skates and couldn't shoot.

• Sam's NHL totals before he turned 20: 22 games played, 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points
• Zach's NHL totals before he turned 20: 131 games played, 21 goals, 32 assists, 53 points

And Zach has another 16 games available to add to that total.

[Pimlach]

2 minutes ago, dudacek said:

One of the things that I cling to about Benson is how many people around here said Sam Reinhart was too slow, too weak, couldn't stay on his skates and couldn't shoot.

• Sam's NHL totals before he turned 20: 22 games played, 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points
• Zach's NHL totals before he turned 20: 131 games played, 21 goals, 32 assists, 53 points

And Zach has another 16 games available to add to that total.

[jad1]

4 minutes ago, dudacek said:

One of the things that I cling to about Benson is how many people around here said Sam Reinhart was too slow, too weak, couldn't stay on his skates and couldn't shoot.

• Sam's NHL totals before he turned 20: 22 games played, 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points
• Zach's NHL totals before he turned 20: 131 games played, 21 goals, 32 assists, 53 points

And Zach has another 16 games available to add to that total.

Yeah, because they sent Reinhart back to juniors his first season, which was the right move.  If they kept him up with Sabres, he probably could have scratched out 10 goals.

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

But you said we're bad at development, so this won't have any effect. 

It's also a truly terrible idea. 

The argument that it's a bad idea since we don't develop players well in the AHL is a valid point. I would prefer the AHL methodology overhauled as well.  

[Stoner]

This thread is begging for a breakout thread or title change. I had no idea there was smoke about JJ wanting out until I saw Sneaky Joe's podcast. I didn't pop in here bc the Rangers rumor fizzled out long ago.

[Ducky]

On 3/18/2025 at 3:52 PM, shrader said:

I wouldn't say he has no leverage.  His contract is up and there's nothing out there that requires him to talk with Buffalo and sign a new one.

So what is his leverage? He can sit out but then all the Sabres have to do is let him sit.

[shrader]

13 minutes ago, Ducky said:

So what is his leverage? He can sit out but then all the Sabres have to do is let him sit.

Negotiate with other teams.  Head to Europe.  Nothing's ideal, but if he really doesn't want to be somewhere, he doesn't have to.

[Ducky]

8 hours ago, shrader said:

Negotiate with other teams.  Head to Europe.  Nothing's ideal, but if he really doesn't want to be somewhere, he doesn't have to.

Do you really think he is going to Europe?

If he negotiates a deal, the Sabres can match. Again, no leverage.

[DarthEbriate]

21 minutes ago, Ducky said:

Do you really think he is going to Europe?

If he negotiates a deal, the Sabres can match. Again, no leverage.

The leverage is the GM's "want to be here" message. 

If JJP wants to be in Buffalo, but the negotiations are stalling, he can look for an offer sheet with term like the one Montreal gifted to Carolina for 5 years. Easily matched.

But JJP wants out, find a suitor to offer $6.8M for one year --- and tell them you're willing to sign a long-term extension. All Buffalo would get is a 1st and a 3rd as payment. It sets the clock ticking on Adams to make a move and get what he can because he will only sign one-year contracts until it's UFA time.

[Ducky]

3 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

The leverage is the GM's "want to be here" message. 

If JJP wants to be in Buffalo, but the negotiations are stalling, he can look for an offer sheet with term like the one Montreal gifted to Carolina for 5 years. Easily matched.

But JJP wants out, find a suitor to offer $6.8M for one year --- and tell them you're willing to sign a long-term extension. All Buffalo would get is a 1st and a 3rd as payment. It sets the clock ticking on Adams to make a move and get what he can because he will only sign one-year contracts until it's UFA time.

You say that like finding somebody to offer him 6.8 million dollars is going to be easy. The Sabres could still match.

Edited Friday at 05:11 AM by Ducky

[shrader]

6 hours ago, Ducky said:

You say that like finding somebody to offer him 6.8 million dollars is going to be easy. The Sabres could still match.

That was never the point in anything I said. Very simply put, if he’s truly unhappy here, he does not have to come back. He has options. If he wants to continue playing NHL hockey, well the. It’s time to suck it up, buttercup. 

[Jorcus]

There are some rumors around the internet that the Penguins and the Black Hawks may be willing to go up to 8.5 Million for Peterka on an offer sheet. The return would be a 1st a 2nd and a 3rd in 2026. As I have said before even though the offer sheet has been seldom used, I think it is becoming too compelling to ignore. The return for getting someone taken is not enough and it takes too long to recoup the return. In other words it will keep the bottom teams on the bottom. Whether this happens remains to be seen but with McCloud, Byram, and Levi vulnerable as well it's might be a big problem for the Sabres.    

[DarthEbriate]

9 hours ago, Ducky said:

You say that like finding somebody to offer him 6.8 million dollars is going to be easy. The Sabres could still match.

Absolutely, they could still match, but it's only for another season. And Adams is the "I don't want to be here" GM who would panic and start looking for trades. Especially since now he has two of "his new guys" in McLeod and Byram who could also be getting sizeable extensions this summer.

The 6.8 is the top limit of the 1st and 3rd compensation on the offer sheet. Anywhere from 4.5 up to 6.871 will be a 1st and a 3rd round pick. 

This is what Kotkaniemi did to get out of Montreal and to Carolina. He signed a 1-year $6.1M offer sheet that the rebuilding Habs didn't want to match, and then he signed a long-term extension at only $4.8M.

The Jets would be good team to pull off this maneuver. Winning team, nice big Ehlers-sized hole in the top 6 this summer. Offer sheet JJP $6.5M, then sign him to a longer extension. Replace Ehlers with an up-and-coming winger who needs to learn defense, but has 30G/60P potential which is a 1-to-1 Ehlers swap. (Note: I don't think this would happen because WPG wouldn't have any 1-4 picks the following draft and JJP has to want to sign long-term.)

[kas23]

1 hour ago, Jorcus said:

There are some rumors around the internet that the Penguins and the Black Hawks may be willing to go up to 8.5 Million for Peterka on an offer sheet. The return would be a 1st a 2nd and a 3rd in 2026. As I have said before even though the offer sheet has been seldom used, I think it is becoming too compelling to ignore. The return for getting someone taken is not enough and it takes too long to recoup the return. In other words it will keep the bottom teams on the bottom. Whether this happens remains to be seen but with McCloud, Byram, and Levi vulnerable as well it's might be a big problem for the Sabres.    

If this is the offer sheet, I would let him go and sign a Zucker level vet to replace his production. I love JJP, but we have other players in the pipeline that could replace him and besides, we need to get more experienced players. Plus, JJP vs no JJP, we still suck. 

[Pimlach]

12 minutes ago, kas23 said:

If this is the offer sheet, I would let him go and sign a Zucker level vet to replace his production. I love JJP, but we have other players in the pipeline that could replace him and besides, we need to get more experienced players. Plus, JJP vs no JJP, we still suck. 

Yes, it is so easy to find a Zucker level vet to come to Buffalo and actually play hard.  We have found 1 in the last 15 years so far.  

[DarthEbriate]

8 minutes ago, kas23 said:

If this is the offer sheet, I would let him go and sign a Zucker level vet to replace his production. I love JJP, but we have other players in the pipeline that could replace him and besides, we need to get more experienced players. Plus, JJP vs no JJP, we still suck. 

If Pittsburgh were to extend a 1st-2nd-3rd level offer sheet this summer for JJP, you take the picks in a heartbeat. (Benson can play in JJP's spot next year.)

With their cap and contracts, Pitt is set up to tank for McKenna, even with a good amount of cap next summer -- they have gaping roster holes to fill and the core of Karlsson/Letang/Malkin/Crosby is locked up and sinking. (I do think JJP would be a good move for them in a trade, but not in giving up their 1st round pick.)

With Pitt's draft luck, their 2026 pick will likely be #1-2 overall for their next franchise reset to learn from Crosby for the handover.

(I strongly believe Pittsburgh moves up in the lottery this year or next: maybe a Schaefer/McKenna, or Misa/McKenna double-feature.)

[Ducky]

41 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

Absolutely, they could still match, but it's only for another season. And Adams is the "I don't want to be here" GM who would panic and start looking for trades. Especially since now he has two of "his new guys" in McLeod and Byram who could also be getting sizeable extensions this summer.

The 6.8 is the top limit of the 1st and 3rd compensation on the offer sheet. Anywhere from 4.5 up to 6.871 will be a 1st and a 3rd round pick. 

This is what Kotkaniemi did to get out of Montreal and to Carolina. He signed a 1-year $6.1M offer sheet that the rebuilding Habs didn't want to match, and then he signed a long-term extension at only $4.8M.

The Jets would be good team to pull off this maneuver. Winning team, nice big Ehlers-sized hole in the top 6 this summer. Offer sheet JJP $6.5M, then sign him to a longer extension. Replace Ehlers with an up-and-coming winger who needs to learn defense, but has 30G/60P potential which is a 1-to-1 Ehlers swap. (Note: I don't think this would happen because WPG wouldn't have any 1-4 picks the following draft and JJP has to want to sign long-term.)

I don't think Chevy has ever offer sheeted anyone and I don't expect him to.

Whether Ehlers extends or or not is yet to be seen. I think Chevy might be waiting to see how he does in the playoffs..

Edited Friday at 03:21 PM by Ducky

[kas23]

5 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Yes, it is so easy to find a Zucker level vet to come to Buffalo and actually play hard.  We have found 1 in the last 15 years so far.  

Honest question, given Adams vision of “not blocking”, do you really think they’ve tried? 
 

Edit: this may be recency bias with Adams as GM, but I still think we overvalue our players and JJP is not worth over $7M. Those picks gained (or our) could then be used to offer sheet a different player. Or traded for a player. No free agency needed. 

Edited Friday at 08:47 PM by kas23

[Pimlach]

2 hours ago, kas23 said:

Honest question, given Adams vision of “not blocking”, do you really think they’ve tried? 
 

Edit: this may be recency bias with Adams as GM, but I still think we overvalue our players and JJP is not worth over $7M. Those picks gained (or our) could then be used to offer sheet a different player. Or traded for a player. No free agency needed. 

Yes.  He tried low tier players and he tried with bigger names like Staal, Hall, and E Johnson.  Finally hit with Zucker.  His is batting 0.250, much less if you count the others.  

No doubt that Adams overvalues his drafted players and his picks.  He has done this while resisting to bring in good players in their prime years, "blockers" for his players.  

[GASabresIUFAN]

FYI: JJP has 11g + 10a in his last 19 games.