Gotta give to get, and it really depends on how big Adams wants to go Trade wise. It would suck losing one, but isn't are prospect pool as good as it supposedly is to help with that lose.
- Buff36

That's fair, there is help coming. I just want to keep good players right now, I'd only let them go for upgrades and I'm not sure Bennett is THAT good.

Best way to do it is in the Armchair GM on CapFriendly. It does the math for you, and is kinda fun too.
- IonSabres

Yeah, I really should play around one day. I do enjoy the money side.

Where are you at on the offseason acquisitions? Should we go pedal to the metal now and just do some finagling next summer? Or should we just be trying to add one strong middle 6er + some grinders to the mix and standing pat?

Anthony Mantha is probably the exact player the Sabres shouldn't overpay to bring in. Big ole passenger.

Anthony Mantha is probably the exact player the Sabres shouldn't overpay to bring in. Big ole passenger.
- Mahewman

Foolish of you to underestimate Superruff:

UPL gets a 1 year, so you're good with Levi and a cheap backup being the goalie plan in 2 years?

And that's all fine, but if so you aren't saving any more than my projection outside UPL. 11 spots then, for 22M still is a rough average to have to deal with. Have to promote 3 ELCs outside Wahlberg most likely, leaving you with about 17M for 7 spots.
- QuinnFan

UPL-1 year bridge contract for a Prove It deal. If he shows well for a full season, vs 1/2, then you re-sign him on a longer deal. If he proves it, I'd be good paying him say 5x $5m. If he proves inconsistent, then you have a decision to make, but at least the GM didn't screw himself for the long-term.
Krebs 1 or 2 year Bridge Deal for a Prove it basis as well. 1 or 2 @ $1.75m. He has alot, and I mean alot of work to do. I would be open to outright trading his rights as well. Either way it is good with me.
JJP - 7 x $5.5 -$6.0m...could hold out for a bit more
Quinn - Bridge Deal, 2 x $4.0-$4.5. Availability is the most important ability.
Byram - I think they may wait until next offseason. Again, alot of uncertainty about what he is and therefore his worth. Personally, I like him and think he will grow into a very good top 4.

Can't remember the rest off the top of my head

Well I guess, isn't the Coach telling players to turn away from a hit to retrieve a puck or not finish a hit.
- Buff36

Yes, I believe it is 100% the coaches instructing forwards not to initiate a check when on the forecheck.. they so more drive-bys than I have ever seen a team do.
Defense is all about taking away lanes using their stick, rather than eliminating a player and separating them from the puck. Furthermore, they refuse to be physical in front of their net.. every single one if them.

The above are instructed by the coaching staff

UPL-1 year bridge contract for a Prove It deal. If he shows well for a full season, vs 1/2, then you re-sign him on a longer deal. If he proves it, I'd be good paying him say 5x $5m. If he proves inconsistent, then you have a decision to make, but at least the GM didn't screw himself for the long-term.
Krebs 1 or 2 year Bridge Deal for a Prove it basis as well. 1 or 2 @ $1.75m. He has alot, and I mean alot of work to do. I would be open to outright trading his rights as well. Either way it is good with me.
JJP - 7 x $5.5 -$6.0m...could hold out for a bit more
Quinn - Bridge Deal, 2 x $4.0-$4.5. Availability is the most important ability.
Byram - I think they may wait until next offseason. Again, alot of uncertainty about what he is and therefore his worth. Personally, I like him and think he will grow into a very good top 4.

Can't remember the rest off the top of my head
- IonSabres

Good Post! Byram is a confusing one to me, was fantastic when he got here. Don't understand why Wilford is still here. Hate to wait on him cause the price could sky rocket, but there's still that ? Mark Aura

Yes, I believe it is 100% the coaches instructing forwards not to initiate a check when on the forecheck.. they so more drive-bys than I have ever seen a team do.
Defense is all about taking away lanes using their stick, rather than eliminating a player and separating them from the puck. Furthermore, they refuse to be physical in front of their net.. every single one if them.

The above are instructed by the coaching staff
- IonSabres

Played a lot of Hockey in my Life lon! Never have I been told by a Coach to turn away or not finish if it's clean. Not saying anything towards you and what you said, but I just don't believe that.
Edit: Other than killing time or PK

Welcome to my point from 2023.
- sbroads24

Honestly, what is their identity?
Run and Gun, Defense be damned
Or
Below average Offense and Average (below average) Defense?

Honestly, what is their identity?
Run and Gun, Defense be damned
Or
Below average Offense and Average (below average) Defense?
- IonSabres

Good question

How long do you expect this to take to be implemented, how long do you need to assess if a player can adapt to it?
- washedup20

You should see the difference immediately. However, full implementation and executing it successfully will take the better part of a Sean.. 3/4's? The difference is the 5 guys need to all be in the same page mentally, know what the others are going to do. That takes time, but signs of it emerge earlier.

Evaluations should take the same amount of time as full execution.. 3/4 of a season.

The day Jeff Skinner is 5’11” and 195 lbs is the day Derek Roy writes an exposé on his homosexual escapades

Not a chance
- Jet Jaguar BD

You should see the difference immediately. However, full implementation and executing it successfully will take the better part of a Sean.. 3/4's? The difference is the 5 guys need to all be in the same page mentally, know what the others are going to do. That takes time, but signs of it emerge earlier.

Evaluations should take the same amount of time as full execution.. 3/4 of a season.
- IonSabres

Touché, well said.

That's fair, there is help coming. I just want to keep good players right now, I'd only let them go for upgrades and I'm not sure Bennett is THAT good.
- QuinnFan

Bennett imwould be a perfect 3C IMO if his FOW% was in the 50's. He isn't very good there, so now they would need to acquire another C who has better results there.
Just get the capability in the first place

First Pineapple Pizza and know Vegan Burgers! No wonder we are rolling a bunch of purse swingers out there! F@cking Rainbow Warriors
- Buff36

What if I told you Sam Bennett likes fresh pineapple on his pizza?

You don’t want this guy! Don’t even try!


Someone before mentioned “trade for Lundell, instead”. Zito would get a real kick out of that phone call from KA (imo)

- homiedclown

If only Derek Roy knew how to write....

What if I told you Sam Bennett likes fresh pineapple on his pizza?

You don’t want this guy! Don’t even try!


Someone before mentioned “trade for Lundell, instead”. Zito would get a real kick out of that phone call from KA (imo)
- Ratsreign

Well As long as Bennett brings up his own Pineapple from Florida, cause it worked. Maybe it's infectious.

The Panthers are going to win the cup because Kevyn has OCD about not having at least one pick per round.
- TheSabresTaco

I probably shouldn’t say it,...
but it’s great fortune for FL that pegula interviewed, but passed on hiring Zito before FL fired Tallon and brought him in as GM.

Well As long as Bennett brings up his own Pineapple from Florida, cause it worked. Maybe it's infectious.
- Buff36

Infectious
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVb6kq_94dU

https://thehockeynews.com...itor-for-penguins-forward

Good Post! Byram is a confusing one to me, was fantastic when he got here. Don't understand why Wilford is still here. Hate to wait on him cause the price could sky rocket, but there's still that ? Mark Aura
- Buff36

Exactly how I see it for him too.

First question from Lindy to Wilford should be to bring up video footage of Bryan's 1st 3 games vs the rest.. and ask him, WTF happened, you had an All-star in the making and turned him into a 7th Dman.

I probably shouldn’t say it,...
but it’s great fortune for FL that pegula interviewed, but passed on hiring Zito before FL fired Tallon and brought him in as GM.
- Ratsreign

Well based on this comment, you cannot keep all the players on the roster, so we'll take Lundell AND Bennett.

Also, (frank) off, respectively of course 😉😁🤣

Yeah, I really should play around one day. I do enjoy the money side.

Where are you at on the offseason acquisitions? Should we go pedal to the metal now and just do some finagling next summer? Or should we just be trying to add one strong middle 6er + some grinders to the mix and standing pat?
- QuinnFan

The biggest question is what to do with Skinner's contract.
I don't think he is as bad defensively as the popular opinions are on him, yet he doesn't perform to the expectations of his contract. That is $9m tied up for about $5m of play. His best fit for his play is to maximize his scoring on L1 and try to get 30-35 goals.
They can't buy him out this nor next season.. so they have 2 years to go before it is reasonable to do a Buyout. Trades are very limited by the market for him at his contract, and by his full NMC (Botterils biggest blunder is that NMC).
The only other realistic option is to find a 3C who can mesh with him to maintain his scoring, while also having amthat C and RW cover for his unwillingness to play defense.
So, as far as what to do this offseason:
- Leave the D alone and see what happens there with Bryan, Power, Samuelsson and Johnson. Get Hise guys all straight or take appropriate action next offseason.
- acquire a very solid 3C... Good 200 ft game, can be a playmaker for Skinner and is good on the dot. That is alot, but there are options out there... Spend the damn assets to get it right as it is THE critical acquisition for this year and next at least.
- upgrade L4 - more specifically at C and LW. Greenway is your RW for the upcoming season as I don't see Adams being able to trade him out.

JJP Tage Tuch
Benson Cozens Quinn
Skinner Trade - Rosen/Kulich
FA FA Greenway

Now, if they wanted to sign Patrick Kane for 2 years and push that whole RW down 1 line while keeping the kids in Rochester or using them to get that 3C, that would be solid

Played a lot of Hockey in my Life lon! Never have I been told by a Coach to turn away or not finish if it's clean. Not saying anything towards you and what you said, but I just don't believe that.
Edit: Other than killing time or PK
- Buff36

I doubt it is 100% coincident that every one if them does it. Only time they get somewhat dirty is board battles . They participate, but don't initiate the hits.

Oh well .. moving along

https://dobberprospects.c...6/02/2024-nhl-mock-draft/

Spoiler: I'd be surprised if the player they're predicted to take drops to 11.