How would you retool this team this summer?

[Porous Five Hole]

2 hours ago, Broken Ankles said:

I think that’s a plot line on White Lotus. 

[Mr. Allen]

Anyone know more about Isaac Howard?  
Just won the Hobey Baker.  I guess there’s concern Tampa might not be able to sign him.  
I read he plays with grit.  Could he be a possible target? 

[GASabresIUFAN]

7 minutes ago, Mr. Allen said:

Anyone know more about Isaac Howard?  
Just won the Hobey Baker.  I guess there’s concern Tampa might not be able to sign him.  
I read he plays with grit.  Could he be a possible target? 

He is going to control where he signs.  The story is he wanted to sign and play with the Lightning for the playoffs.  They said no as they had no cap space to put him on the roster.  
 

Think of the Vesey situation.  He refused to sign here and I don’t see why Howard would be different.  From a Sabres perspective, do we really want or need another young forward?

 

 

[SabreFinn]

17 minutes ago, Mr. Allen said:

Anyone know more about Isaac Howard?  
Just won the Hobey Baker.  I guess there’s concern Tampa might not be able to sign him.  
I read he plays with grit.  Could he be a possible target? 

I read that Philly is the most likely destination for him. Can't understand why he doesn't want to sign with Tampa, a winning culture and the best coach in the league. It is ridiculous if he refused when they didn't want him in the playoffs.

Edited Tuesday at 01:41 PM by SabreFinn

[Crusader1969]

On 4/8/2025 at 8:12 AM, mjd1001 said:

I'll focus on the 'on ice' product and direct coaching of it:

-Pay whatever it takes to get Mitch Marner (if possible).

-Overpay (via trade, give up some prospects or in free agency offer more money) for one legit, veteran, very good top 4 D-man.

-Fix the goalie situation. I have no idea how to do it.  Maybe UPL was playing hurt, maybe you need a free agent guy, maybe Levi is ready. Who know...I don't. But goalie needs to be a lot better.

-The young guys need to show they are ready/earn it.  Benson, Kulich, Quinn, anyone from Rochester...they can be on this team but they have to show they are ready, ready to work, and show they are better through camp.  If not, they don't just 'go in the lineup'.  They either go back to Rochester or they sit in the pressbox.

 

There are a ton of things that can be done, I'm sure other people have much more lengthy lists than me...but my first 2 above are very heavy lifts.  I'd just focus on the 3 things above.

Oh, maybe a 4th one.  PowerPlay. Find the best coach in the league, the guy who schematically does the best with the PP, have Pegula pick him up on his private jet, offer his family a vacation, make him the highest paid assistant in the league...WHATEVER you need to do, just get him here (along with letting Lindy have full control over his other assistants if he is back as coach)

Forget paying $15 million or whatever to get Marner. 
figure out the salary it would take for the leafs to have to walk away from Knies and offer him that.  
You would have to hope that they resign Marner at a significant number  and Tavares doesn't take a huge hometown discount.    
 

 

[mjd1001]

42 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

Forget paying $15 million or whatever to get Marner. 
figure out the salary it would take for the leafs to have to walk away from Knies and offer him that.  
You would have to hope that they resign Marner at a significant number  and Tavares doesn't take a huge hometown discount.    
 

 

I don't like Knies as much.  I really think his production is a result of being on a top line...he doesn't make a top line.  Meaning I think Marner can elevate other lesser players you put with him, I think Knies is the one elevated by those around him.

[SABRES 0311]

The bare minimum is getting a top four dman. If that is the best KA can do then so be it but this team needs to get tougher to play against.

[Crusader1969]

1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:

I don't like Knies as much.  I really think his production is a result of being on a top line...he doesn't make a top line.  Meaning I think Marner can elevate other lesser players you put with him, I think Knies is the one elevated by those around him.

Of course you're not going to like Knies as much as Marner  The real question is.  Do you like Marner at $14 / $15 million or  Knies at $7 or $8   (Whatever it is that Toronto can't pay) 

[dudacek]

I see the name Ryan Pulock being tossed around as potentially available RHD.

The analytics say he had a bad season last year with the Islanders and he has 5 years left on a $6M cap hit.

The concept of him is "30-year-old 220-pound 2nd-pairing vet who skates well, kills penalties, can move the puck and is responsible in his own zone".

Can't say I'd be confident in providing a current scouting report, but he certainly fits the profile of what we need and would be available for cap space and futures.

Potential target?

Wonder if they'd take Mule?

Edited 12 hours ago by dudacek

[dudacek]

My ideal somewhat possible D next year would be:

Byram Dahlin

Power (someone like Brett Pesce)

Ryan Johnson (someone like an older Will Borgen)

Spare: Bernard-Docker

Prospect call-up: Novikov

Edited 11 hours ago by dudacek

[mjd1001]

52 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

Of course you're not going to like Knies as much as Marner  The real question is.  Do you like Marner at $14 / $15 million or  Knies at $7 or $8   (Whatever it is that Toronto can't pay) 

I'm still going Marner (although I'd droppint out of the cost is $15m per year).  At this point in his career, I don't think Knies is a 'game changer' unless he is slotted perfectly with other players. I don't want to pay someone that much money unless they can carry a line (even if its a 2nd line, I don't think he 'carries' it)

[Weave]

50 minutes ago, dudacek said:

My ideal somewhat possible D next year would be:

Byram Dahlin

Power (someone like Brett Pesce)

Ryan Johnson (someone like an older Will Borgen)

Spare: Bernard-Docker

Prospect call-up: Novikov

You lost me at Ryan Johnson.  I just don’t think he is going to amount to much.

[Jorcus]

54 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I see the name Ryan Pulock being tossed around as potentially available RHD.

The analytics say he had a bad season last year with the Islanders and he has 5 years left on a $6M cap hit.

The concept of him is "30-year-old 220-pound 2nd-pairing vet who skates well, kills penalties, can move the puck and is responsible in his own zone".

Can't say I'd be confident in providing a current scouting report, but he certainly fits the profile of what we need and would be available for cap space and futures.

Potential target?

Wonder if they'd take Mule?

 

I brought him up about a month ago because Lou Lamoriello stated he wanted the team to get younger. Hey were a team that wants to get older so it seems like a deal could be worked out. Now Lou is gone and Pulock has a no trade clause so that would be a heavy lift. You probably would have to move Byram or Power because of the cost. If Pulock agreed it would probably be him plus something for either Byram or Power. Certainly an interesting target. 

[DarthEbriate]

5 minutes ago, Weave said:

You lost me at Ryan Johnson.  I just don’t think he is going to amount to much.

Swap him with someone already signed...  Jacob Bryson! 😇

[thewookie1]

1 minute ago, Jorcus said:

 

I brought him up about a month ago because Lou Lamoriello stated he wanted the team to get younger. Hey were a team that wants to get older so it seems like a deal could be worked out. Now Lou is gone and Pulock has a no trade clause so that would be a heavy lift. You probably would have to move Byram or Power because of the cost. If Pulock agreed it would probably be him plus something for either Byram or Power. Certainly an interesting target. 

Well I wouldn’t trade Power for a 30year old Dman coming off a bad year. It doesn’t fix anything besides general defensive player skill while subtracting offense. Seeing as Pulock would be useful for Power as a partner whereas without Power and Byram having to stay with Dahlin makes the acquisition far less valuable 

[dudacek]

16 minutes ago, Weave said:

You lost me at Ryan Johnson.  I just don’t think he is going to amount to much.

Maybe. That is based on his pedigree, availability, Leone IDing him as his go-to shutdown defender this year, and an assumption a full year in the minors including a playoff run this spring has advanced his game.

Im expecting him to be able to contribute a similar “safe” game to what we’ve seen from Bernard-Docker and am comfortable with Bernard-Docker as my D6 if Johnson falters.

Leaning in to what @PerreaultForever has been preaching, giving Johnson a shot at this age and point of his career is what a normal team would,do.

10 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

 

I brought him up about a month ago because Lou Lamoriello stated he wanted the team to get younger. Hey were a team that wants to get older so it seems like a deal could be worked out. Now Lou is gone and Pulock has a no trade clause so that would be a heavy lift. You probably would have to move Byram or Power because of the cost. If Pulock agreed it would probably be him plus something for either Byram or Power. Certainly an interesting target. 

I would have a meltdown a young @LGR4GM would be proud of if they traded Power in a deal where the key piece coming back was Ryan Pulock.

He strikes me as the type of guy who usually gets traded at the deadline for a late first and my interest in him does not go beyond that price point.

What do you mean by “because of the cost”, did you mean cap space?

And why do you think his value is so high when his stat line and contract this year look a lot like Mattias Samuelsson’s?

[Jorcus]

3 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Maybe. That is based on his pedigree, availability, Leone IDing him as his go-to shutdown defender this year, and an assumption a full year in the minors including a playoff run this spring has advanced his game.

Im expecting him to be able to contribute a similar “safe” game to what we’ve seen from Bernard-Docker and am comfortable with Bernard-Docker as my D6 if Johnson falters.

Leaning in to what @PerreaultForever has been preaching, giving Johnson a shot at this age and point of his career is what a normal team would,do.

I would have a meltdown a young @LGR4GM would be proud of if they traded Power in a deal where the key piece coming back was Ryan Pulock.

He strikes me as the type of guy who usually gets traded at the deadline for a late first and my interest in him does not go beyond that price point.

What do you mean by “because of the cost”, did you mean cap space?

And why do you think his value is so high when his stat line and contract this year look a lot like Mattias Samuelsson’s?

 

Yes it would be about Salary cap and I agree that straight up not an even trade. Can't carry a long term 6.1 million guy and keep all our own I don't think.  

[dudacek]

3 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

 

Yes it would be about Salary cap and I agree that straight up not an even trade. Can't carry a long term 6.1 million guy and keep all our own I don't think.  

The contract I would be dumping to make room for him is Samuelsson’s, and it’s Samuelsson’s role he’s be taking.

[GASabresIUFAN]

2 hours ago, Weave said:

You lost me at Ryan Johnson.  I just don’t think he is going to amount to much.

He lost me by bringing back both Power and Byram.  Re-signing Byram will likely cost 6.5 to 7 per season.  Do we really wants to lock up over 15 mill in two LHD offensive D who can't play a lick of defense and then have both in our top 4 D?  

[dudacek]

17 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

He lost me by bringing back both Power and Byram.  Re-signing Byram will likely cost 6.5 to 7 per season.  Do we really wants to lock up over 15 mill in two LHD offensive D who can't play a lick of defense and then have both in our top 4 D?  

I was kinda interested in keeping together the most effective defence pair in the NHL, but I know somehow your eyes will keep skipping over that part 😉

Constantly repeating "can't play a lick of defence" still hasn't changed that fact.

Edited 8 hours ago by dudacek

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

I was kinda interested in keeping together the most effective defence pair in the NHL, but I know somehow your eyes will keep skipping over that part 😉

Constantly repeating "can't play a lick of defence" still hasn't changed that fact.

Constantly repeating that they were the "most effective" doesn't change the fact that Byram is a defensive liability just like Power.  Remember I want to keep Byram over Power.  

Byram with Dahlin had a solid expected goals of 54.58%.  Byram with every other defender on the Sabres his XGF was 44.58% or worse.  

Samuelsson with Dahlin had an expected goals of 51.49%.  Mattias with every other defender except Joki was 41% or worse.

Power with Dahlin had an expected goals of 69.92%.  Unfortunately with his 3 most common pairings he had an expected GF of 40.93 with Samuelsson, 44.44% with Byram and 46.09% with Joki.  The good news is when he played with the defensively aware JBD at the end of the season he had a xGF of 53.51%

For additional context Dahlin had an XGF% with Clifton of 53.57%, and 52.99% with Joki.

The common denominator is Dahlin. He is a superstar and can carry anyone and make them look good.  Unfortunately, when you put the rest of the D group with anyone else they stink and the stats clearly show that to be true.  In fact, of the 10 most common pairings last season, the only 4 with a 50% or better XGF% were the 4 pairings involving Dahlin.  

The rest of our returning D (except maybe JBD) all stink defensively and most need to go.  Spending $15 mill to keep both Byram and Power is a flat out waste of resources.  

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/pairings.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=BUF&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410

Edited 6 hours ago by GASabresIUFAN

[Thorny]

You only sign Byram if it’s for his actual worth. Paying him based on the increase in metrics he sees because of Dahlin is shooting the value you gained by drafting Dahlin in the first place in the foot. You don’t pay a cent for the value he’ll give you for free, it’s poor utilization of assets  : that’s the two-fold benefit of a true elite impact player like Dahlin, it’s not just his ability it’s the free value in another player. Key is “free”

Edited 6 hours ago by Thorny

[dudacek]

25 minutes ago, Thorny said:

You only sign Byram if it’s for his actual worth.

Absolutely.

I’ve always thought it weird that everyone who wants to trade Byram says “you’ll have to pay him as a 1st pairing defenceman and he’s not!”

He’s coming off a career-high 38 points and has never before hit 30. He’s got middling metrics. He’s 2 years away from unrestricted free agency.

Why would you have to pay him like a first-pairing defenceman?

[dudacek]

Here’s the other thing about Byram: he’s 23 years old and hasnt even played 250 games yet. 

He’s got elite feet, quick hands and he competes. I will be stunned if he does not get much better in his own zone as he grows from 22 to 26. Virtually all defencemen of his pedigree do.

He’s going to play in the top 4 of whatever NHL team he’s on for the next 10 or 12 years and people are handwaving that away because his xG% is below 50% away from Rasmus Dahlin on the fricking Buffalo Sabres? While ignoring the fact that his actual gF% is well over 50%? Playing 23 minutes a night? At 23? On the fricking Buffalo Sabres?

Do people even look at the numbers of guys like Jake Sanderson and Moritz Seider, considered untouchable studs by their teams? There’s not many NHL defencemen of his age and experience doing the kind of hard minutes Byram did this year, but these are two of them.

I don’t think Byram is some untouchable star in waiting, but I do think he is a talent, who played better two-way hockey this year, and was more important to the Sabres, than some people are willing to recognize. He’s not a spare part. And he still has more to give.

You only trade him for what he’s actually worth.

Edited 4 hours ago by dudacek

[dudacek]

2 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Constantly repeating that they were the "most effective" doesn't change the fact that Byram is a defensive liability.  
 

What does “defensively liability” mean and does it matter if Byram is a plus player, or (checks notes) outscoring the opposition’s best players at a more than 2-1 ratio when part of the most effective defence pairing in the league?

 

The rest of our returning D (except maybe JBD) all stink defensively and most need to go.  Spending $15 mill to keep both Byram and Power is a flat out waste of resources.  
 

I think the last sentence is absolutely fair comment as long as they, and especially Power continue to play the way they did last season. Personally I think both will get better. But that’s just me projecting their ages and skill sets against typical development paths. Unlike Clifton, Jokiharju and Samuelsson, Byram was a net positive player. Used properly, exceptionally so. There’s a price point on his contract and on the return, where it will make sense to move him. I hope he stays.

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by dudacek