Work out your own salvation - Siddhartha Gautama
We're all waiting to see what the team does for the vacancy behind Jack Eichel as the Sabres 2C. Mittelstadt could one day be that player, but he's still probably a few years out from owning that roster spot fully. Johan Larsson was buried in a ridiculous defensive use and while he's a 3C type, there might be a feeling they need to change that up more than give him a whirl with say Olofsson and Reinhart behind Jack. Asplund doesn't seem like he projects out as a 2C, more so as a checking role player and while his final 20 game stretch with the Amerks was solid development, he seems more like someone who should get the start of the year in Rochester before coming up. Ruotsalainen was signed as a center and is likely more of a wing option, even if he were to surprisingly make the team out of his first camp.
Depth is an issue here right now. So too is finding a guy who can allow Mitts to shuffle down to a sheltered role (so someone who isn't a suck at his own end of the rink) and also one who could generate some offense.
Others have gone over Reinhart as an option, and if they want to go that way, the conversation about who should be his wingers certainly would be vital and shifts the focus. Having had two dufus HC's who only used him sparingly there, including a 20-game stretch with the likes of Jordan Nolan and Seth Griffith. With Skinner-Eichel as a probable "thing", the options are Olofsson or Sheary on LW with a missing on RW for both the top line and line 2. But that's a discussion for a different thread, and even a different medium.
So let's look at the usual and unusual suspects that might be fits for a 2/3. I was thinking a proven 2 would be nice but someone who can perform as a high-end 3C to back up Mittelstadt when he finally arrives is probably a fit given their commitment to Casey thus far.
I'm not putting some silliness in here about Malkin or Horvat or even William Karlsson since those don't seem like options for Buffalo. I'm also leaving out Rask because bleh. I didn't put Kadri in since I don't think Buffalo and Toronto swing that deal since neither is going to want to see the pieces moved facing them in the future. And JT Miller is a winger even more so than Marcus Johansson.
So...
Erik Haula - 28, $2.75M for next season, then UFA; Cheap, but coming of an injury and his metrics are all over the place based on role. He's played as a checker in Minny and offensively in Vegas. Usually his injury is a fully-recoverable one, since his best feature is his speed.
Cody Eakins - 28, signed for 1 season at $3.85M AAV and then UFA; Productive scoring stats, but his metrics aren't great for his career so it may be a matter of ice time. Also like Haula and Pirri, that Vegas team is a machine where everyone is onboard with the system and how to play. Of the options from Vegas, his contract is probably more desired to be moved rom the Knights' perspective knowing that they can plug Haula back in at an even lower rate.
JP Pageau -26, signed for one year; Coming off an injury and playing in Ottawa, Pageau is really under-rated, and is the guy I think they should target as a low-end 2C who can be an excellent 3C with playoff chops. He's 1-year to UFA, so this would be the time extend him if they could for less than Nelson got and who I think he's better than. Sens fans don't seem particularly attached and that he might be available for some sort of non-first round pick pack. I look back at the Hecht deal and wonder if they could do a 2nd next year and some sort of contingent pick if he re-signs (say a 4th) to move the needle.
Chris Tierney - 24, signed for on year until RFA; He might be doable, but not a great metric year in Ottawa. He looked very solid in a 3-role in San Jose and could grow into a solid 2 on a competitive team. I like Pageau more at this point.
Alexander Wennberg - 24, signed for 4 more years at $4.9M AAV; PP guy, long-term deal and might be available but with the possible departures and arrivals in C'bus I could see his moving or not being determined by a lot of other moving pieces. He's sort of in the "plan c" list if the Sabres are unable to make a trade (my prefered option for this right now) or sign a UFA, as well as what happens with the Jackets themselves with Duchene and Dzingel. He might get more play due to the thought of how William Karlsson popped with the Knights, but William is more of a shoot-first possession player. I've tried to make it hotter in here than out there.
Kevin Hayes - 27, UFA; Philly is putting on a press to sign him before the opening of UFA. I'm curious if his agent is gauging the market and he'll go from a Nelson-sized deal as was rumored to be on the table in Philly to something more since there are so few good pivots available as usual (duh). He seems like a guy who could be an excellent 3C long-term, and the UFA signing would probably make people's
heads melt if it is upwards of $7M AAV which wouldn't surprise if that's closer to the number.
Matt Duchene - UFA, 29, This probably means he's "the" guy they want, but I'm not interested honestly. I know he seems to be the biggest fish in a relatively small bowl, but I have concerns that the deal is going to age badly quickly. If they make it happen, outbidding Columbus, Montreal, and anyone else looking for center depth, I'd be impressed and probably dread the term and AAV on the contract.
Kyle Turris - 29, signed for 5 years at $6M AAV; That contract seems like it'll be part of need to purge even after one season for the Preds. When the Sens dug him out of his situation with the Coyotes, great, but I'm not sure this is a guy to look at as a viable 2C at this point. Could they leverage something else out Nashville to take him on? Maybe. What version of the player are they getting and at his age what is left in the tank for a resurgence? I'm more worried about a $9M offer on Duchene than I am for what Turris has left, but I'm also more worried that this is the beginning of a bad time in Turris production for that cost.
Nick Bonino - 31, signed for 2 seasons at $4.1M; Might be a fit as a 3C who plays up the lineup for a time and has some times to Botterill from the Pens days. The two remaining years aren't bad but this is a 3C to even 4C option.
Andrew Copp - 24, RFA, shows he can make a line go on his own with the Jets who might be in a tight cap situation depending on their other roster parts. I would expect they want to keep him around on an affordable deal and I am leery of yet another Buffalo noob GM making a deal with Chevy. Definitely a more 3 than a 2.
Jack Roslovic - 22, RFA, may want out of Winnipeg, did good work at the AHL level and there are rumblings he's dis-satisfied with role/ToI in the 'Peg. Can he be a 2C? That's risky but he's got some skills and might just need the ice time and opportunity.
Stop gaps?
Marcus Johansson - 28, UFA; A guy who plays any forward position and has had an inflationary playoff with the Bruins. On the Devils who are probably closer to the Sabres in terms of construction and ability, he wasn't the same player he is in Boston. This seems like it would be a decent 2/3 option but LW is a little crowded with Skinner/Sheary/Olofsson already in the mix. He's not my favorite option since I don't think he's good in the middle and I don't think he'll be as good as he's been for the B's in their playoff run.
Depth guys? Let's not forget that behind Asplund and the diminutive possible LW in Ruotsalainen, there is very little to speak of in the Sabres pro cupboard.
Andrew Poturalski - 26, Group VI UFA, AHL Playoff MVP, local. Like Pirri, seems like a good bet as a tweener who could be in contention for a pro gig coming out of camp. The hometown stuff is a nice sideline story but might be a way to sell him on coming to the Sabres vs. anywhere else. This is a depth guy who might be a diamond in the rough.
Brandon Pirri - 28, UFA; Probably more of a wing at the NHL level and we have all waited a long time to see if he ever gets a shot. He looked good on the machine that is Vegas in a replacement/recall role, mostly on wing. Seems like he's always been a tweener, but in the Porter-role as first vet recall or even competing for a spot right out of camp, I'm very, very interested interested.
Ryan Carpenter - 28, UFA; Versatile cheap depth PKer who has some quality defensive metrics with both San Jose and Vegas. I'd like him as part of a new 4th line.
We're all waiting to see what the team does for the vacancy behind Jack Eichel as the Sabres 2C. Mittelstadt could one day be that player, but he's still probably a few years out from owning that roster spot fully. Johan Larsson was buried in a ridiculous defensive use and while he's a 3C type, there might be a feeling they need to change that up more than give him a whirl with say Olofsson and Reinhart behind Jack. Asplund doesn't seem like he projects out as a 2C, more so as a checking role player and while his final 20 game stretch with the Amerks was solid development, he seems more like someone who should get the start of the year in Rochester before coming up. Ruotsalainen was signed as a center and is likely more of a wing option, even if he were to surprisingly make the team out of his first camp.
Depth is an issue here right now. So too is finding a guy who can allow Mitts to shuffle down to a sheltered role (so someone who isn't a suck at his own end of the rink) and also one who could generate some offense.
Others have gone over Reinhart as an option, and if they want to go that way, the conversation about who should be his wingers certainly would be vital and shifts the focus. Having had two dufus HC's who only used him sparingly there, including a 20-game stretch with the likes of Jordan Nolan and Seth Griffith. With Skinner-Eichel as a probable "thing", the options are Olofsson or Sheary on LW with a missing on RW for both the top line and line 2. But that's a discussion for a different thread, and even a different medium.
So let's look at the usual and unusual suspects that might be fits for a 2/3. I was thinking a proven 2 would be nice but someone who can perform as a high-end 3C to back up Mittelstadt when he finally arrives is probably a fit given their commitment to Casey thus far.
I'm not putting some silliness in here about Malkin or Horvat or even William Karlsson since those don't seem like options for Buffalo. I'm also leaving out Rask because bleh. I didn't put Kadri in since I don't think Buffalo and Toronto swing that deal since neither is going to want to see the pieces moved facing them in the future. And JT Miller is a winger even more so than Marcus Johansson.
So...
Erik Haula - 28, $2.75M for next season, then UFA; Cheap, but coming of an injury and his metrics are all over the place based on role. He's played as a checker in Minny and offensively in Vegas. Usually his injury is a fully-recoverable one, since his best feature is his speed.
Cody Eakins - 28, signed for 1 season at $3.85M AAV and then UFA; Productive scoring stats, but his metrics aren't great for his career so it may be a matter of ice time. Also like Haula and Pirri, that Vegas team is a machine where everyone is onboard with the system and how to play. Of the options from Vegas, his contract is probably more desired to be moved rom the Knights' perspective knowing that they can plug Haula back in at an even lower rate.
JP Pageau -26, signed for one year; Coming off an injury and playing in Ottawa, Pageau is really under-rated, and is the guy I think they should target as a low-end 2C who can be an excellent 3C with playoff chops. He's 1-year to UFA, so this would be the time extend him if they could for less than Nelson got and who I think he's better than. Sens fans don't seem particularly attached and that he might be available for some sort of non-first round pick pack. I look back at the Hecht deal and wonder if they could do a 2nd next year and some sort of contingent pick if he re-signs (say a 4th) to move the needle.
Chris Tierney - 24, signed for on year until RFA; He might be doable, but not a great metric year in Ottawa. He looked very solid in a 3-role in San Jose and could grow into a solid 2 on a competitive team. I like Pageau more at this point.
Alexander Wennberg - 24, signed for 4 more years at $4.9M AAV; PP guy, long-term deal and might be available but with the possible departures and arrivals in C'bus I could see his moving or not being determined by a lot of other moving pieces. He's sort of in the "plan c" list if the Sabres are unable to make a trade (my prefered option for this right now) or sign a UFA, as well as what happens with the Jackets themselves with Duchene and Dzingel. He might get more play due to the thought of how William Karlsson popped with the Knights, but William is more of a shoot-first possession player. I've tried to make it hotter in here than out there.
Kevin Hayes - 27, UFA; Philly is putting on a press to sign him before the opening of UFA. I'm curious if his agent is gauging the market and he'll go from a Nelson-sized deal as was rumored to be on the table in Philly to something more since there are so few good pivots available as usual (duh). He seems like a guy who could be an excellent 3C long-term, and the UFA signing would probably make people's
heads melt if it is upwards of $7M AAV which wouldn't surprise if that's closer to the number.
Matt Duchene - UFA, 29, This probably means he's "the" guy they want, but I'm not interested honestly. I know he seems to be the biggest fish in a relatively small bowl, but I have concerns that the deal is going to age badly quickly. If they make it happen, outbidding Columbus, Montreal, and anyone else looking for center depth, I'd be impressed and probably dread the term and AAV on the contract.
Kyle Turris - 29, signed for 5 years at $6M AAV; That contract seems like it'll be part of need to purge even after one season for the Preds. When the Sens dug him out of his situation with the Coyotes, great, but I'm not sure this is a guy to look at as a viable 2C at this point. Could they leverage something else out Nashville to take him on? Maybe. What version of the player are they getting and at his age what is left in the tank for a resurgence? I'm more worried about a $9M offer on Duchene than I am for what Turris has left, but I'm also more worried that this is the beginning of a bad time in Turris production for that cost.
Nick Bonino - 31, signed for 2 seasons at $4.1M; Might be a fit as a 3C who plays up the lineup for a time and has some times to Botterill from the Pens days. The two remaining years aren't bad but this is a 3C to even 4C option.
Andrew Copp - 24, RFA, shows he can make a line go on his own with the Jets who might be in a tight cap situation depending on their other roster parts. I would expect they want to keep him around on an affordable deal and I am leery of yet another Buffalo noob GM making a deal with Chevy. Definitely a more 3 than a 2.
Jack Roslovic - 22, RFA, may want out of Winnipeg, did good work at the AHL level and there are rumblings he's dis-satisfied with role/ToI in the 'Peg. Can he be a 2C? That's risky but he's got some skills and might just need the ice time and opportunity.
Stop gaps?
Marcus Johansson - 28, UFA; A guy who plays any forward position and has had an inflationary playoff with the Bruins. On the Devils who are probably closer to the Sabres in terms of construction and ability, he wasn't the same player he is in Boston. This seems like it would be a decent 2/3 option but LW is a little crowded with Skinner/Sheary/Olofsson already in the mix. He's not my favorite option since I don't think he's good in the middle and I don't think he'll be as good as he's been for the B's in their playoff run.
Depth guys? Let's not forget that behind Asplund and the diminutive possible LW in Ruotsalainen, there is very little to speak of in the Sabres pro cupboard.
Andrew Poturalski - 26, Group VI UFA, AHL Playoff MVP, local. Like Pirri, seems like a good bet as a tweener who could be in contention for a pro gig coming out of camp. The hometown stuff is a nice sideline story but might be a way to sell him on coming to the Sabres vs. anywhere else. This is a depth guy who might be a diamond in the rough.
Brandon Pirri - 28, UFA; Probably more of a wing at the NHL level and we have all waited a long time to see if he ever gets a shot. He looked good on the machine that is Vegas in a replacement/recall role, mostly on wing. Seems like he's always been a tweener, but in the Porter-role as first vet recall or even competing for a spot right out of camp, I'm very, very interested interested.
Ryan Carpenter - 28, UFA; Versatile cheap depth PKer who has some quality defensive metrics with both San Jose and Vegas. I'd like him as part of a new 4th line.
