Off-season roster thread #3 -- Post-draft and upcoming Free Agency

[Ace]

Kuemper scares the shit outta me.

wait until you see the other options

 

[Digable5]

I don't get how you note the forward ranks are getting crowded and then advocate for making it more crowded by adding another forward.

I get the money is of a lesser concern but it should be noted that ~18 million in cap space rarely gets moved in one deal.

I also wouldn't pencil Toews in at 2c either as I don't know if he can maintain it.

I would rather try to use that 21 million to be aggressive to get an impact player and goaltender while keeping the assets to maybe use in season or at the draft.

I get the supposed hypocrisy of the forward situation, but it’s only for one season like you said. In 23-24 something’s got to give and Mittelstadt I feel is one of the more likely to be out of chances. If that’s the case, his value will be far diminished from what it is right now.

You couldn’t get Murray to waive his no trade clause to be a cap dump. Who are you going to get to take your 21 million for just 1 season; maybe two? Especially without a move like the one made for Toews and Kane to show the team is serious about winning? And if you upgrade the forward ranks, you will just have to move out someone like a Mittelstadt anyway.

I don’t even mean to argue my case. Like I said, I’m not sure I would support the move either, but I wanted to play it out.

 

[alehman42]

I get the supposed hypocrisy of the forward situation, but it’s only for one season like you said. In 23-24 something’s got to give and Mittelstadt I feel is one of the more likely to be out of chances. If that’s the case, his value will be far diminished from what it is right now.

You couldn’t get Murray to waive his no trade clause to be a cap dump. Who are you going to get to take your 21 million for just 1 season; maybe two? Especially without a move like the one made for Toews and Kane to show the team is serious about winning? And if you upgrade the forward ranks, you will just have to move out someone like a Mittelstadt anyway.

I don’t even mean to argue my case. Like I said, I’m not sure I would support the move either, but I wanted to play it out.

Toews is not *nearly* worth his cap hit at this point. I expect he'll play out his contract and Chicago will re-sign him to be a veteran role-model through the rebuild.

Kane is still excellent, and will almost certainly be traded to a contender sometime between now and the trade deadline. If the Sabres are in it in February...sure, pull the trigger if the price is right. But barring a big step forward, the best time for a Kane acquisition is next summer via UFA.

 

[Irie]

I’d offer Kuemper 7x3

One thing to think about - say Kuemper becomes an average or slightly below average 1B goalie for the Sabres and you are paying him 7M a year.

What is Thompson going to think when he scores 37 goals and Adams offers him less than 7M?

Slighted, is what.

Free spending with UFA contracts screws up the teams internal cap structure and sets a dangerous future precedence. Something Adams hopefully is factoring in when considering where to throw money.

 

[BFLO]

One thing to think about - say Kuemper becomes an average or slightly below average 1B goalie for the Sabres and you are paying him 7M a year.

What is Thompson going to think when he scores 37 goals and Adams offers him less than 7M?

Slighted, is what.

Free spending with UFA contracts screws up the teams internal cap structure and sets a dangerous future precedence. Something Adams hopefully is factoring in when considering where to throw money.

How do you think Skinner’s team mates feel about him and his $9mil aav?

 

[Fjordy]

How do you think Skinner’s team mates feel about him and his $9mil aav?

He gives his money to his teammates and he is the life of the party.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

No idea about trade value or even if I would support the moves myself, just thought about a “Murray move“ to speed up the rebuild without really jeopardizing much of the future; IMO.

Trade Mittelstadt, R.Johnson, and two 2nds.
Receive Toews and Kane

Sign Manson and Holtby

Skinner - Thompson - Kane
Krebs - Toews - Tuch
Asplund - Cozens - Olofsson
Girgensons - Malone - Okposo
x: Ruotsalainen, Peterka

Samuelsson - Dahlin
Power - Manson
Bryson - Jokiharju
x: Pilut

UPL
Holtby
Anderson

Yeah I'm all for something like that. Won't be popular here though.

I was rewatching the 2019 draft the other day, and Jack Hughes talked for a while about how Patrick Kane was such a great mentor for him at (I think) the World Championships. I don't know him personally obviously, but Kane seems to have turned a corner from his past shortcomings. And Toews would be a great veteran addition to the room.

 

[Ace]

Yeah…captain stay silent in that Chicago sexual abuse can stay the f*** away from our kids.

 

[Chainshot]

Toews isn't nearly the same player he was. And I'd be REAL, REAL hesitant to add those two into what appears to be a very good locker room.

I pass on adding Toews OR Kane.

I appreciate the feedback. I’ve not had a lot of interest in adding either as well, but seeing the Blackhawks get dismantled I thought they need a home and what would it look like if the Sabres acquired them to put themselves more into the playoff window starting next season.

Yeah, not real keen on Toews from his on-ice erosion to the stuff around the Beach sexual abuse. Like, not keen on stepping on lava. Or not keen on rolling in kerosene and striking a match not keen.

As for Kane, I've expressed my opinion repeatedly but outside of his lack of maturity around town in his Cup years, why would they be paying the trade premium now to acquire him from the Hawks? Without the hometown ties, is there really a drive to add a potential UFA-to-be to THIS Sabre lineup that isn't a goalie?

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Yeah…captain stay silent in that Chicago sexual abuse can stay the f*** away from our kids.

Sorry but I'm not going to hold the inaction of a 22 year old against the presumably much wiser, more aware, and more mature 34 year old version of himself.

Someday maybe people will let others learn from their mistakes and forgive. Obviously that's not today.

 

[Chainshot]

Sorry but I'm not going to hold the inaction of a 22 year old against the presumably much wiser, more aware, and more mature 34 year old version of himself.

Someday maybe people will let others learn from their mistakes and forgive. Obviously that's not today.

Given his comments when it all came out in the open, it didn't sound like he's learned much.

 

[Ace]

Sorry but I'm not going to hold the inaction of a 22 year old against the presumably much wiser, more aware, and more mature 34 year old version of himself.

Someday maybe people will let others learn from their mistakes and forgive. Obviously that's not today.

he didn’t say anything for how long?

he handled it how as a full grown man when it was brought to light?

did he age at any time?

sorry my forgiveness level for that situation isn’t as quick as yours. Sorry you think that makes me the one of us who is wrong. Very very sorry.

There’s teaching how to win and there’s teaching how to be a winner. Toews may have captained a lot of winning…but he’s a f***ing loser.

 

[joshjull]

How do you think Skinner’s team mates feel about him and his $9mil aav?

It wouldn’t have any relevance to the point @Irie is making. Botts signed him not Adams. The point being made is specifically about Adams handling free agents and in house guys differently. It could lead to issues.

I don’t know if that would play out that way but its certainly possible. Botts signing to Skinner to that deal doesn’t factor into that debate.

 

[joshjull]

No idea about trade value or even if I would support the moves myself, just thought about a “Murray move“ to speed up the rebuild without really jeopardizing much of the future; IMO.

Trade Mittelstadt, R.Johnson, and two 2nds.
Receive Toews and Kane

Sign Manson and Holtby

Skinner - Thompson - Kane
Krebs - Toews - Tuch
Asplund - Cozens - Olofsson
Girgensons - Malone - Okposo
x: Ruotsalainen, Peterka

Samuelsson - Dahlin
Power - Manson
Bryson - Jokiharju
x: Pilut

UPL
Holtby
Anderson

The Toews/Kane part doesn’t work for a variety of reasons.

1) I very much doubt either would waive their NMC to come here.

2) Adding players like that with only one year left is a type of move you make when you’re loading up for a deep playoff run. We’re not close to that level and they wouldn’t put us there.

3) Mitts is viewed by several people in the organization as the guy they feel will have a break out year. Whether you agree with that or not, I don’t see them wanting to part with him at the moment.

There are other reasons mentioned by @Ace and others but I think the hockey reasons above are enough to nix the idea.

 

[Fjordy]

No interest in Toews or Kane.

 

[Gabrielor]

We need to sign at least 4 and maybe more depth dmen.

Rochester has maybe Casey Fitzergald, maybe Oksari Laaksonen, and nothing else from the NHL depth chart.

 

[Chainshot]

We need to sign at least 4 and maybe more depth dmen.

Rochester has maybe Casey Fitzergald, maybe Oksari Laaksonen, and nothing else from the NHL depth chart.

A couple of AHL contracts would work as well. If things break in their favor, they may have Pilut added to that mix.

 

[Ace]

Other than goalie the one thing I want is for a veteran RHD to be signed. Fitzgerald looked so good down in Rochester at the end of the year I kind of desperately need him to start down there. He has a chance. If they do it right and he starts dominating down there I believe he can make it as a good third pair D in the nhl. I want him to get that time and show it.

Bryson can stay up. I don’t have the same belief in him in the future.

 

[Gabrielor]

A couple of AHL contracts would work as well. If things break in their favor, they may have Pilut added to that mix.

I think Pilut's in that sensitive Ruotsalainen area where I don't know if they'll go to Roch.


We did the AHL contract thing last year, and you and I both know Rochester's runaway weakness was the defense.

I'm in no hurry to watch:

Josh Teves	Nick Boka
Peter Tischke	Mitch Eliot
Mark Alt	Oskari Laaksonen

again.

 

[Digable5]

I think Pilut's in that sensitive Ruotsalainen area where I don't know if they'll go to Roch.


We did the AHL contract thing last year, and you and I both know Rochester's runaway weakness was the defense.

I'm in no hurry to watch:

Josh Teves	Nick Boka
Peter Tischke	Mitch Eliot
Mark Alt	Oskari Laaksonen

again.

I think rumors are that Pilut is willing to sign a two-way contract. If that’s true, assuming he clears waivers, it sounds like he would accept an AHL assignment.

Hopefully we’ll be able to sign Ryan Johnson after development camp. There is two LHD for you. *fingers crossed*

I feel like if they don’t hold onto Fitz as a top 6 D or, even better, 7th D, he’ll be claimed. So many teams would love to hold a roster spot for a tough, younger, cheap RHD.

We could definitely use some Mark Jankowski style D in Rochester to fill out their depth and give Buffalo some better call-up options.

 

[UnleashRasmus]

Yeah, not real keen on Toews from his on-ice erosion to the stuff around the Beach sexual abuse. Like, not keen on stepping on lava. Or not keen on rolling in kerosene and striking a match not keen.

As for Kane, I've expressed my opinion repeatedly but outside of his lack of maturity around town in his Cup years, why would they be paying the trade premium now to acquire him from the Hawks? Without the hometown ties, is there really a drive to add a potential UFA-to-be to THIS Sabre lineup that isn't a goalie?

As usual I agree with Chains assessment, just putting my own flavor text on this

Toews has fallen off a cliff, and even if Chicago retained 50% on his deal, I still don't think he's got any value. I'd rather go after a non tendered Dylan Strome. In addition, he wants to win, so he'll end up going somewhere mid August.

I love Pat Kane, I just don't see the sense in sending rebuilding pieces to a rebuilder, when we're in a slightly more advanced place. Kane, doesn't guarantee the playoffs. If the Sabres were one piece away from making that happen, I'd happily pay the $$.

 

[UnleashRasmus]

We need to sign at least 4 and maybe more depth dmen.

Rochester has maybe Casey Fitzergald, maybe Oksari Laaksonen, and nothing else from the NHL depth chart.

I think there will be some minor trades for guys who don't fit. But, I agree, there isn't a ton of young depth in Rochester. I imagine, Pilut re-signs and starts in Rochester, so you're potentially up to Laaksonen, Fitzgerald, Pilut, _______, ________, ____________. We'll see though, there's still plenty of time. There's still the remaining buy outs, non tenders, and potential waiver claims.

 

[Digable5]

Are we two or three years away from icing the VGK line?

Krebs-Ostlund-Tuch

 

[Gabrielor]

Are we two or three years away from icing the VGK line?

Krebs-Ostlund-Tuch

Ostlund-Krebs-Tuch

but sure, why not.

 

[Ace]

i wouldn’t out your three best passers on one line while leaving all your shooters to fend for themselves on other but that might be just me?