Confirmed with Link: Sabres re-sign Olofsson/ 2yrs 4.75mil AAV

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Best sniper on the team (until Quinn establishes himself). Really respected the way he upped his all-round play while too injured to shoot last season.

If he won't be a part of the Sabres' long-term future, let's hope he pots a ton of goals before TDL in 2024.

 

[tsujimoto74]

AAV is fine, but I was definitely hoping for more term on VO.

 

[GOALOFSSON]

AAV is fine, but I was definitely hoping for more term on VO.

Ya the deal was about 10 years less than I would have preferred.

 

[Paxon]

AAV is fine, but I was definitely hoping for more term on VO.

I think the writing has been on the wall that he isn't really in their long-term plans. They're probably more than happy to have to work out a new deal if he makes himself essential, otherwise I would expect him to move on before the deal is up.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Glad to see this happen.

 

[valet]

a lot can happen in a couple of years. he might want to stay when the time comes

 

[beerme1]

KA has not

KA has not committed to ANYONE long term. Going to be interesting to see what he does with Thompson and term.

Agreed but it will be really interesting to see if Tage can back up this past season with another one.
If so, back up the truck cause he's going to get paid large and get term. And deservedly so.

 

[jmelm]

Would have preferred 3 because even if the kids push him out he'd have better trade value but I'm good with this. Happy to have Olof back.

I think it's actually the opposite. In the flat cap world we're living in for the next 2 years, guys who are on expiring contracts may actually be more valuable (by virtue of having more suitors) because they're pure rentals.

And because he can be signed to an extension next summer or after, that actually provides additional flexibility for a team who may acquire him if we were to trade him next offseason. Because he'll hopefully have had a full year to show he's deserving of an extension, and that may be appealing to a lot of teams.

So I actually think the term is perfect. Better than 1 year or 3+ years. Good for VO too because he can sign his next contract while he's still young and largely in his prime.

 

[jmelm]

KA has not committed to ANYONE long term. Going to be interesting to see what he does with Thompson and term.

I think it's fantastic, and we don't need to look any further than OTT and DET as blueprints. Look at what they did today and since the draft. They felt they were ready to take that step and make those big trades and UFA signings.

We should be in that position in 2 years and I think Adams is keeping his powder dry until then, and keeping max flexibility for when a bunch of our guys are due for their next contracts.

We also remain in a great position to take on bad contracts, to the extent we want to do that or not.

 

[Irie]

I think the writing has been on the wall that he isn't really in their long-term plans. They're probably more than happy to have to work out a new deal if he makes himself essential, otherwise I would expect him to move on before the deal is up.

I don't see how an organization can come to this conclusion on a player that still has untapped potential like Olofsson.

He's a late bloomer with limited NHL experience for his age, and he's progressed in all areas each year he's been here.

Looking at the way he played while healthy, I feel like it is hard not to believe he is likely going to improve and outplay his current contract.

Maybe it is just me being optimistic, but I'd have zero problem giving him 3 to 4 years at 5M, knowing that even if upcoming prospects are going to create a log-jam on the roster in a few years, there is still going to be a lot of value with Olofsson if Adam's wanted to deal him and move on. (assuming there isn't a NMC)

 

[Kublakhan]

awesome deal.. love this..

 

[Diaspora]

I don't see how an organization can come to this conclusion on a player that still has untapped potential like Olofsson.

He's a late bloomer with limited NHL experience for his age, and he's progressed in all areas each year he's been here.

Looking at the way he played while healthy, I feel like it is hard not to believe he is likely going to improve and outplay his current contract.

Maybe it is just me being optimistic, but I'd have zero problem giving him 3 to 4 years at 5M, knowing that even if upcoming prospects are going to create a log-jam on the roster in a few years, there is still going to be a lot of value with Olofsson if Adam's wanted to deal him and move on. (assuming there isn't a NMC)

Agree. It looks to me like this contract is designed to be packaged for a 1st at the deadline either this year or next.

And given our current pipeline, that's fine by me.

 

[Paxon]

I don't see how an organization can come to this conclusion on a player that still has untapped potential like Olofsson.

He's a late bloomer with limited NHL experience for his age, and he's progressed in all areas each year he's been here.

Looking at the way he played while healthy, I feel like it is hard not to believe he is likely going to improve and outplay his current contract.

Maybe it is just me being optimistic, but I'd have zero problem giving him 3 to 4 years at 5M, knowing that even if upcoming prospects are going to create a log-jam on the roster in a few years, there is still going to be a lot of value with Olofsson if Adam's wanted to deal him and move on. (assuming there isn't a NMC)

This might be a semantic argument but, while I'm sure he can continue to improve in areas as vets do, I'm not sure he has "untapped potential" at this point. In other words, minor improvements defensively and the like, yes, but I don't think he is likely going to have a whole step up in his game.

That said, I am more than happy to keep him until he is supplanted by younger players who make his roster fit superfluous and cap hit undesirable. That might take more than the two years his contract runs, but I'm not overly concerned as he isn't irreplaceable. I am glad he is back for this season because they really need the help offensively on paper. His injury-induced lull last season definitely hurt the team.

 

[elchud]

Agree. It looks to me like this contract is designed to be packaged for a 1st at the deadline either this year or next.

And given our current pipeline, that's fine by me.

This coule happen several times the next decade.

I think Joker could be a candidate for this sort of thing next year

 

[DapperCam]

I think he’ll outplay this contract and probably price himself out of Buffalo. Hoping his injury is 100% healed for next year.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[BloFan4Life]

You can't use advanced stats for Olofsson.

There was a clear distinction between VO playing hurt and when he was healthy at end of year. Don't think the metrics will show when he was hampered by the injury

 

[Jim Bob]

You can't use advanced stats for Olofsson.

There was a clear distinction between VO playing hurt and when he was healthy at end of year. Don't think the metrics will show when he was hampered by the injury

Those metrics cover the last three seasons.

So, it is more than just last year.

Even if you take away last year, it doesn't change things much.

 

[Fjordy]

Those metrics cover the last three seasons.

So, it is more than just last year.

Even if you take away last year, it doesn't change things much.

Yeah, but he played when was Krueger. It is necessary to watch the exceptional with Granato and when he played without injury. I think he was good at the beginning and at the end of the season, even when the injury did not interfere with him.

 

[Jim Bob]

Yeah, but he played when was Krueger. It is necessary to watch the exceptional with Granato and when he played without injury. I think he was good at the beginning and at the end of the season, even when the injury did not interfere with him.

So, you have to only look at like a 20 game sample size?

That seems less than optimal.

 

[Fjordy]

So, you have to only look at like a 20 game sample size?

That seems less than optimal.

But you can't ignore the circumstances. Olofsson is a good player.

 

[Chainshot]

You can't use advanced stats for Olofsson.

There was a clear distinction between VO playing hurt and when he was healthy at end of year. Don't think the metrics will show when he was hampered by the injury

Eh, VO has a soft spot in my heart from watching him blossom in Frolunda, but he's still not a complete player. He's a specialist on a good contract for where both he and the team are right now. If he rips up the league this season, great, it drives his value at the deadline this year or over the summer or even into the next deadline. If he's kind of himself, he'll give them 20-ish finesse goals that don't require jam plays at the net, and that has value. I won't call them "easy" goals, but I would say that skill goals are at a premium for most teams.

I also don't see how as someone else posted earlier that he's going to be worth a first as a rental.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I mean, I like Olofsson but I don't LIKE LIKE him.

I know him, but I don't know him like that.

I just know his street name, not his gov'ment.

I just gave him a ride, but he don't stay with me.

He's my homie, but not my day one.

He can come to the wedding, but not the rehearsal.

 

[zuikan]

If he can snipe on pp2 like at the end of year he's an ok 3rd liner.

 

[GOALOFSSON]

So, you have to only look at like a 20 game sample size?

That seems less than optimal.

It seems better than using his 1st years when he has clearly improved (and not playing for the K man) or using a stretch of games where he was clearly playing through something.