How would you retool this team this summer?

[GASabresIUFAN]

10 minutes ago, Huckleberry said:

Don't think Adams is even allowed to call him already, and also how would you know ? 🙂

Certainly no GM and agent talk before free agency happens.  That would be tampering and we all know that’s not allowed.  😛

On a serious note, Marner’s agent is Darren Ferris, who is known for putting his clients into the open market.  

Edited Friday at 01:09 PM by GASabresIUFAN

[Pimlach]

From a top level we need (in order) : 

1 - goaltending

2 - Defensively steady RHD (NHL vet in prime), maybe two if we can move two current players (like Byram/Power and Mule) 

3  - At least on more two-way forward (NHL vet in prime) 

4 - A true fourth line beast/protector that can play regularly

 

What do we have to give up? 

1 - our first round pick,  our second round pick 

2 - Either Byram or Power  -  I am talking a big hockey trade boys

3 - from the roster (in order) - Quinn, Samuelsson, Krebs, Norris, UPL, and possibly Greenway.  

4 - From the farm - just about any of them (prefer to protect Östlund, Helenius,  and Levi)  

[DarthEbriate]

24 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Certainly no GM and agent talk before free agency happens.  That would be tampering and we all know that’s not allowed.  😛

On a serious note, Marner’s agent is Darren Ferris, who is known for putting his clients into the open market.

Hey Mr. Ferris. We're just talking. Just spitballin'. Let's talk broadstrokes and hypotheticals. Let's say there's a player... I dunno... let's call him... Arnie Mitchener.

Now, watch the Sabres have to forfeit a 1st-round pick in the 2026 draft, only to win the lottery for McKenna. And the Penguins draw #2.

[LGR4GM]

24 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

From a top level we need (in order) : 

1 - goaltending

2 - Defensively steady RHD (NHL vet in prime), maybe two if we can move two current players (like Byram/Power and Mule) 

3  - At least on more two-way forward (NHL vet in prime) 

4 - A true fourth line beast/protector that can play regularly

 

What do we have to give up? 

1 - our first round pick,  our second round pick 

2 - Either Byram or Power  -  I am talking a big hockey trade boys

3 - from the roster (in order) - Quinn, Samuelsson, Krebs, Norris, UPL, and possibly Greenway.  

4 - From the farm - just about any of them (prefer to protect Östlund, Helenius,  and Levi)  

1. A first round pick for a goalie is a rare trade. I am not opposed but that level of goalie rarely gets moved, so I think a 2nd rounder and a prospect is the more likely scenario.

2. Yup

3. We could debate order but yup. 

4. You don't trade for a 4th forward, unless you're an idiot like Kevyn. You just sign one of the many guys that fits that profile and will be around in UFA. 

[Archie Lee]

Adding Marner would be incredible. Not to poo-poo any ideas, but to do so would require a level of off-season maneuvering that Adams is simply incapable of.  To sign Marner at say $14,000,000 per season, the minimum it would take I think, would require the Sabres to move out 3-4 existing or projected contracts that add up to the same.  Doing this exercise, I dumped UPL, Samuelsson, Greenway and Quinn for nothing (we either get a pick back or we need to attach a pick).  I extended Peterka, Byram, and McLeod on conservative shorter-term deals. If you do these two things, you can add Marner and stay just under the cap.  But you need to go with a 22 man roster.  And your D from 4-7 is Bernard-Docker, Clifton, Bryson and Ryan Johnson (or similar types). And your goalies are Levi and Reimer (or similarly paid goalies).  To add Marner and make other significant upgrades, would mean trading Peterka or Norris or Byram or Power.  All possible to do, but hard to imagine a GM who two off-seasons ago thought adding E. Johnson, Clifton, and Comrie, was all that was needed to get to the next level, could master-mind anything close to what would need to be done to pull-off an acquisition at the Marner-level.

   

Edited Friday at 02:05 PM by Archie Lee

[DarthEbriate]

3 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

Adding Marner would be incredible. Not to poo-poo any ideas, but to do so would require a level of off-season maneuvering that Adams is simply incapable of.  To sign Marner at say $14,000,000 per season, the minimum it would take I think, would require the Sabres to move out 3-4 existing or projected contracts that add up to the same.  Doing this exercise, I dumped UPL, Samuelsson, Greenway and Quinn for nothing (we either get a pick back or we need to attach a pick).  I extended Peterka, Byram, and McLeod on conservative shorter-term deals. If you do these two things, you can add Marner and stay just under the cap.  But you need to go with a 22 man roster.  And your D from 4-7 is Bernard-Docker, Clifton, Bryson and Ryan Johnson (or similar types). And your goalies are Levi and Reimer (or similarly paid goalies).  To add Marner and make other alter significant upgrades, would also mean trading Peterka or Norris or Byram or Power.  All possible to do, but hard to imagine a GM who two off-seasons ago thought adding E. Johnson, Clifton, and Comrie, was all that was needed to get to the next level, could master-mind anything close to what would need to be done to pull-off an acquisition at the Marner-level.

You'd also have to factor in re-signing Tuch the following season (2026-27), if he wants to be here, while Skinner's cap hit goes from 4.4 up to $6.4M for that season. And... any secret internal cap that Pegula supposedly hasn't imposed on the team.

[thewookie1]

16 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

Adding Marner would be incredible. Not to poo-poo any ideas, but to do so would require a level of off-season maneuvering that Adams is simply incapable of.  To sign Marner at say $14,000,000 per season, the minimum it would take I think, would require the Sabres to move out 3-4 existing or projected contracts that add up to the same.  Doing this exercise, I dumped UPL, Samuelsson, Greenway and Quinn for nothing (we either get a pick back or we need to attach a pick).  I extended Peterka, Byram, and McLeod on conservative shorter-term deals. If you do these two things, you can add Marner and stay just under the cap.  But you need to go with a 22 man roster.  And your D from 4-7 is Bernard-Docker, Clifton, Bryson and Ryan Johnson (or similar types). And your goalies are Levi and Reimer (or similarly paid goalies).  To add Marner and make other significant upgrades, would mean trading Peterka or Norris or Byram or Power.  All possible to do, but hard to imagine a GM who two off-seasons ago thought adding E. Johnson, Clifton, and Comrie, was all that was needed to get to the next level, could master-mind anything close to what would need to be done to pull-off an acquisition at the Marner-level.

   

 

I've tried similar things.

Gave Marner 7x14mil with 2.5mil deferred every year to be paid in years 8 to 14. Cap hit ended up at $13,228,349 

From there I went 

UPL + Muel to PHI for Zamula, Hathaway and CBJ's 2nd 

Quinn to VAN for Demko

Clifton to ANA for Detroit's 4th

Signed most lesser RFA + Levi near 2x1mil to 1.5mil each

Brought back Reimer at 1x1mil

Gave Tuch 5x7.75 as an extension

 

The issue is how does one trade Byram and Peterka and get a defensive LHD within the remain 4.2mil in cap I have. I can dump Lafferty and recoup 1mil since his replacement needs 1 mil. But I'm still left cap strapped

[Huckleberry]

1 hour ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Certainly no GM and agent talk before free agency happens.  That would be tampering and we all know that’s not allowed.  😛

On a serious note, Marner’s agent is Darren Ferris, who is known for putting his clients into the open market.  

I think more the issue is , Marner wanted to stay in Toronto had a full NMC then the leafs want him to waive that to trade him for Rantanan.  

The leafs basically made it a lot harder to resign him.

[GASabresIUFAN]

7 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

The issue is how does one trade Byram and Peterka and get a defensive LHD within the remain 4.2mil in cap I have. I can dump Lafferty and recoup 1mil since his replacement needs 1 mil. But I'm still left cap strapped

That’s the issue with signing Marner even if he’d come here.  It’s nearly impossible to make the money work when also trying to fix holes in the rest of the roster.

[Huckleberry]

9 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

 

I've tried similar things.

Gave Marner 7x14mil with 2.5mil deferred every year to be paid in years 8 to 14. Cap hit ended up at $13,228,349 

From there I went 

UPL + Muel to PHI for Zamula, Hathaway and CBJ's 2nd 

Quinn to VAN for Demko

Clifton to ANA for Detroit's 4th

Signed most lesser RFA + Levi near 2x1mil to 1.5mil each

Brought back Reimer at 1x1mil

Gave Tuch 5x7.75 as an extension

 

The issue is how does one trade Byram and Peterka and get a defensive LHD within the remain 4.2mil in cap I have. I can dump Lafferty and recoup 1mil since his replacement needs 1 mil. But I'm still left cap strapped

Im not sure where Marner would deserve 14 milion though, I would not go over 10 million for him tbh.

[GASabresIUFAN]

5 minutes ago, Huckleberry said:

Im not sure where Marner would deserve 14 milion though, I would not go over 10 million for him tbh.

Rantanan signed with Dallas for $12 per season.  Factor in taxes and palm trees and I think the deal will be about 12 (no income tax states TN, TX, & FL) to 13.5 for a NY, NJ, California or Canadian team).

[thewookie1]

 

23 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

 

I've tried similar things.

Gave Marner 7x14mil with 2.5mil deferred every year to be paid in years 8 to 14. Cap hit ended up at $13,228,349 

From there I went 

UPL + Muel to PHI for Zamula, Hathaway(50%) and CBJ's 2nd 

Quinn to VAN for Demko

Clifton to ANA for Detroit's 4th

Signed most lesser RFA + Levi near 2x1mil to 1.5mil each

Brought back Reimer at 1x1mil

Gave Tuch 5x7.75 as an extension

 

The issue is how does one trade Byram and Peterka and get a defensive LHD within the remain 4.2mil in cap I have. I can dump Lafferty and recoup 1mil since his replacement needs 1 mil. But I'm still left cap strapped

 

Small edit, with that retention

Then trade Lafferty, Byram and Peterka to CGY for Weegar and their 2026 2nd and 3rd

We slide just under the cap at $147,684 with the following roster

FORWARDS

Benson - Thompson - Marner

Kulich - Norris - Tuch

Zucker - McLeod (4x4.5mil) - Greenway

Malenstyn - Krebs - Hathaway (2x1.2mil after retention)

DEFENSE

Dahlin - Bernard-Docker

Power - Weegar

Zamula - Ryan Johnson (2x1.1mil)

GOALIES

Demko

Reimer (1x1mil)

PRESS BOX

Bryson

Kozak (2x1mil)

Rousek (2x1mil)

[Archie Lee]

23 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

That’s the issue with signing Marner even if he’d come here.  It’s nearly impossible to make the money work when also trying to fix holes in the rest of the roster.

It would require the Sabres to be willing to do things they have showed no willingness to do. Toronto has 3 players on their current roster, McCabe, Carlo, Laughton, who they overpaid for in trade in order to get salary retention. They got Tanev at a lower AAV by giving him a 6 year deal, when nobody thinks he can squeeze more than 3 years out of his body; the last 2-3 years of his contract he will be on LTIR and being paid to stay home. And the Leafs always have a  Max Domi willing to play for less or a Giordano or Pacioretty willing to extend their career a year or two at league minimum. 

[Drag0nDan]

14 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Rantanan signed with Dallas for $12 per season.  Factor in taxes and palm trees and I think the deal will be about 12 (no income tax states TN, TX, & FL) to 13.5 for a NY, NJ, California or Canadian team).

Rantanen and Johnston signing makes me want to figure out how to get Robertson.  I just don't see Marner coming here, and Buffalo should have the ammo potentially. 

I assume it'd be the traditional player, prospect, pick type of move - and if dallas were looking to create extra space they could probably throw in dumba.  

JJP or Tuch - I assume they'd prefer a younger player, but tuch would probably be cheaper in 2025.  

Rosen Kulich or Östlund - Probably looking for a prospect whos closer to ready

1st round pick 

[Ogelthorpe]

-Fire Adams

-Fire all assistant coaches

-Move Ruff upto Senior advisory roll

-Hire real NHL coaching staff, that if they were fired another NHL team would actually want to hire them. 

- trade power

- trade 23

-trade quinn

-jettison UPL into the sun

- bring in a Tanner Jeannot/Tom Wilson type player

- bring in a solid physical defensive  d man to play with 26

- find another McLeod type player

 

Edited Friday at 03:33 PM by Ogelthorpe

[Mr Peabody]

I’m thinking if Marner goes anywhere it’ll be to a team he thinks can be a cup contender not merely a contender to get into the playoffs.  Sabres drastically need to build credibility. 

 

Edited Friday at 03:37 PM by Mr Peabody

[dudacek]

To those people who want to promote Ruff: why?

He obviously has a ton of experience, but none of it in a management role.

The team has regressed under him as coach. He has one winning season and on playoff appearance in the past 6 years.

Why do you think he's the solution?

[Doohickie]

How will I retool this summer?  Maybe I need to start learning the Dallas Stars roster and go with the home team.

 

 

If there was any logic involved in sports fandom I would have done that years ago.

Edited Friday at 04:17 PM by Doohickie

[GASabresIUFAN]

For all those here who believe Marner would consider joining the Sabres, here is a possible (but unlikely) go for it roster that is cap compliant

1) Sign Marner 7 years @ 13.5

2) Trade UPL, Norris and other assets for Demko and Pettersson.  Re-sign Demko for 5 x 5

3) Trade Power for Marino (M-NTC) and other assets

4) Trade Zucker, Quinn, Lafferty and Clifton for assets. (It’s possible assets acquired in these deals would replace Orlov and/or Brannstrom)

5) Sign Dimitry Orlov for 3x 3.3

6) re-sign McLeod 3x 4.5, JJP 5 x 6.5, Levi 2 x 1.25, JBD 2 x 1.25, Brannstrom  1 x 1, and Kozak 1 x 900K

7) sign a depth forward (or acquire one in a step 4 trade @900k). 

8.) Buyout Samuelsson if we can’t trade him.

9.) lastly to make this work we need to trade Greenway for a forward @ around 2.5 mill a season or less. The issue is Greenway was given a M-NTC. 
 

Roster

Marner TNT Benson

JJP Pettersson Tuch

Kulich McLeod Greenway replacement

Krebs Kozak Malenstyn (depth FA)

Dahlin Marino

Byram Orlov

Brannstrom JCB (Bryson)

Demko Levi

The cap cost with Skinner’s and Samuelsson buyouts would be 95.6 million.  The defense after the top 2 pairs is suspect, but with Novikov and Komarov in the minors I’m ok with risking it.  Also Östlund is a prospect I’m not including in any deals because I need him for depth.

 

 

Edited Friday at 05:48 PM by GASabresIUFAN

[ska-T Palmtown]

26 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Here is a possible (but unlikely) go for it roster that is cap compliant

1) Sign Marner 7 years @ 13.5

2) Trade UPL, Norris and other assets for Demko and Pettersson.  Re-sign Demko for 5 x 5

3) Trade Power for Marino (M-NTC) and other assets

4) Trade Zucker, Quinn, Lafferty and Clifton for assets. (It’s possible assets acquired in these deals would replace Orlov and/or Brannstrom)

5) Sign Dimitry Orlov for 3x 3.3

6) re-sign McLeod 3x 4.5, JJP 5 x 6.5, Levi 2 x 1.25, JBD 2 x 1.25, Brannstrom  1 x 1, and Kozak 1 x 900K

7) sign a depth forward (or acquire one in a step 4 trade @900k). 

8.) lastly to make this work we need to trade Greenway for a forward @ around 2.5 mill a season or less. The issue is Greenway was given a M-NTC. 

9) Buyout Samuelsson if we can’t trade him.

Roster

Marner TNT Benson

JJP Pettersson Tuch

Kulich McLeod Greenway replacement

Krebs Kozak Malenstyn (depth FA)

Dahlin Marino

Byram Orlov

Brannstrom JCB (Bryson)

Demko Levi

The cap cost with Skinner’s and Samuelsson buyouts would be 95.6 million.  The defense after the top 2 pairs is suspect, but with Novikov and Komarov in the minors I’m ok with risking it.  Also Östlund is a prospect I’m not including in any deals because I need him for depth.

 

 

It is scary, but I have really come around the opinion that the Sabres have too many "OK" guys. I think that forward group is better than what they had this year and although it might be younger (with the subtraction of Zucks?) - it feels more ... mature?

That third d pairing is a little scary and I would like the Sabres to make the playoffs next year, but dice are meant for rolling, I guess.

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

1. A first round pick for a goalie is a rare trade. I am not opposed but that level of goalie rarely gets moved, so I think a 2nd rounder and a prospect is the more likely scenario.

2. Yup

3. We could debate order but yup. 

4. You don't trade for a 4th forward, unless you're an idiot like Kevyn. You just sign one of the many guys that fits that profile and will be around in UFA. 

True.  I wasn’t matching the top and bottom exactly one to one.  Just listing needs and assets available to acquire.  

I think this team can get to the playoffs next year with a few good moves.  
 

Coaching the special teams is another issue to address.  Seems like the performance of PP and PK is not commensurate with the talent on the ice.  

[DarthEbriate]

3 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

5) Sign Dimitry Orlov for 3x 3.3

I like the idea of Orlov, who is LH but can play RD.

But...  I really doubt you're going to be able to convince a guy who will only be 34 next season and currently makes $2x7.75M and previously was on a 6x$5.1M to take less than 50% of his current deal and sign in Buffalo. Like... you're going to pay him less than they were paying Samuelsson? C'mon.... 😇

[SabreFinn]

The goalie situation is difficult, in many ways. Are we keeping Luukkonen, keeping Reimer as back-up, or bringing in a Jake Allen or Husso or perhaps Lyon as help? Or are we trading or bying out Luukkonen and bringing in a Demko or Gibson and going with Levi as back-up? I think those two scenarios take pretty much the same cap space (depending on who back up Luukkonen). And Peterkas next contract will put us close to maximum cap. 

I am really hoping they bring in Tanner Jeannot, or a similar, to bring toughness and competition to the bottom six.

I would like to see the real retooling on defense. Dahlin is the only player I like there. I guess it is impossible to trade everyone else, but I would at least move some big pieces. I think a Power for Dobson trade would not raise the cap much. I would send Byram to Sharks for Ferraro and pick(s). Samuelsson is tricky, maybe I still keep him...

I wait and see how that works. There are lots of draft picks left to use if there is a need to half way in to next season. Unfortunately there would need some creativity to stay cap complient.

I would re-sign McLeod, JBD, Kozak and Quinn, Quinn on a one year bridge deal.

In the Power for Dobson trade I would also try to get Eisermans rights. And I hope we can draft O'Brien. Those two together with Benson might give the team some edge in the future that I think could bring fans back. If it comes with wins ofcourse.

Last but not least, I think it is important both Adams and the coaching stuff gets fired, together with some important players moving on. That is what needs to happen when a professional sports team not can live up to expectations. However, it is just as important who the replacements are.

[GASabresIUFAN]

21 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

I like the idea of Orlov, who is LH but can play RD.

But...  I really doubt you're going to be able to convince a guy who will only be 34 next season and currently makes $2x7.75M and previously was on a 6x$5.1M to take less than 50% of his current deal and sign in Buffalo. Like... you're going to pay him less than they were paying Samuelsson? C'mon.... 😇

You are probably right, but Cody Ceci would probably work as well for an amount around what I suggested.

[Bangarang]

Here's what I suspect will ultimately happen:

Adams stays as GM and says he believes in the guys in the room. Talks about how UPL didn't have the year he wanted but the team still believes in him and he's proven he can be a good goalie. Then he talks about how talented Norris is and how much he brings to the team. He'll go on about how getting him back is going to feel like adding a major piece to the team blah blah blah. He'll point to this recent win streak as proof that the team he assembled can be a playoff team if they play the right way blah blah blah. There won't be any major deals or signings. We're going to bring back Reimer and will into next season with him backing up UPL. The team will look exactly the same on opening night.