The Sabres are doing better at free agency than the teams handing out big money 7 year contracts to older players
July 1, 2024
The Sabres are doing better at free agency than the teams handing out big money 7 year contracts to older players
27 comments
You’re probably right, I think a lot of us just want a top 6 guy so we don’t feel like we bought Skinner out for nothing.
Get Ehlers and that wouldn’t be a bad off season for the Forward group.
We’re filling out the kind of tough to play against players we’ve been lacking, but I still feel like there’s something missing. Can’t put my finger on what though.
Ya, both the Debrusk and Stephenson contracts would be not ideal for us
Try telling that to Sabre gen x/boomer twitter
This is no time to be reasonable sir
Not wrong. But they also need to add another top 6 forward somehow.
These bottom six depth signings are fine. Even good. They just need to add a top 6 winger (not easy) and maybe someone to replace henri since I assume he’s moving on
ideally, our young core is going to be one year older and more mature. we have some new coaches who should be able to provide a better structure for taking that next step as well as improving special teams play. add improved bottom six talent to that and im not upset.
I can’t see Buffalo with Rosen/Kulich/Savoie/Ostlund/Benson/Helenius all in lineup (and they soon should by in nhl within next 1-3 years). Some have to go and play elsewhere, just wondering on interest from other franchises on these players and who Buffalo can get in return.
Best I can do is Lindy Ruff as head coach
Sure, but Buffalo still blows, and I simply don’t see a path to the playoffs unless UPL posts a .935 SV%.
Personally, I think we’re ok without adding a big name via trade/FA. Having a 19 year old benson in the T6 or one of the other kids might not be ideal, but I feel like some are cooked enough in the minors that it isn’t crazy to slide them up into a middle six scoring role.
Appert being on the staff now gives me a little more confidence in trusting some of the kids if they do make the jump
This has actually been a very good FA from the Sabres. A 4th line of Malenstyn – Lafferty – NAK is fine. Super fast line. I’m not super sold on Lafferty but whatever. As 4th lines go that is more than good enough to get it done.
Zucker on the 3rd line is also fine. 6 time 20 goal scorer who is not terrible on defense. Can play up the lineup if needed with injuries.
Getting Bryson for 900k is also solid. Great depth guy with solid numbers.
Agreed. Of course part of me wants us to splurge on a big, fancy forward or two but I’m glad we avoided most of these contracts.
Just because we didn’t make a splash doesn’t mean we aren’t going to make another move.
I mean, the Sabres did what they had to do today and revamped their 4th line and added a middle 6 winger. They didn’t screw up by signing a horrible deal but they also didn’t do anything to exceed expectations or move the needle forward very much, it’s been a perfectly cromulent free agency thus far.
But with that being said, all this depth has made their prospects even more expendable and they still have a big hole in the top 6 at wing and a big question mark at 3C with some questionable C depth. Adams still has a lot of work to do
Adams must be trying to create a “bottom 12” 😂
Perfectly fine with what they did today and even more happy with what they didn’t do.
Have to add a top line winger and ideally a 2C in case Cozens doesn’t bounce back, but at least a 3C. Way too much is riding on Peterka improving on a breakout season (never fails) and Benson taking a big step. Doesn’t have to go wrong but we literally just did that
Still wouldn’t mind a middle pairing right shot D either
Chandler Stephenson AAV is wacky.
I’ve got a feeling we’re going to go for zegras later in the week
Yall trying to be positive but this is a disaster for Buffalo. Today tells me KA tried to sign someone and struck out miserably. This is nowhere near being a playoff team
Can’t wait to finally make the “Free Agency Cup Playoffs”!
This reminds me a lot of the 2016 free agent class where a ton of teams (Sabres included) overpaid a bunch of guys in their 30s and basically all of the contracts looked terrible within 3-4 years, if not sooner.
Agreed. Think they are waiting on Wennberg and or Henrique to say no before reaching out their trade feelers. Adams is a prospect hoarder. If he can get a 3C without moving anything he would be all over one of those two to make up a lineup of- Peterka-Thompson-Tuch Benson-Cozens-Quinn Zucker- _____- Greenway Malenstyn-Lafferty-NAK Krebs
Having a Ryan O’Reilly type on this roster would’ve really moved the needle. Really exposed at center right now, though.
One thing is clear: we are going to throw a lot more hits next season. This should protect our young guys a lot more than they were protected last season.
We will also be much faster.
Jeff Skinner, Kyle Okposo, Matt Moulson, Christian Ehrhoff, Ville Leino.
I like what Kevyn did for our bottom lines a lot today. I, like every other Sabres fan, would love to see someone get brought in for the top 2. There’s still a long time before the season starts up so maybe he’ll surprise us..it’s just given his track record I’m not holding my breath.
I’m honestly mostly worried about injuries to guys like Thompson and Tuch next season. Right now if Thompson gets injured that would slot Krebs in at 2c. People aren’t even sure if he’s cut out to be 3c (I think he’ll do fine) so him at 2 would be a giant speed bump on the season. They could call up one of the prospects, but that’s not exactly ideal either when I think they still need to marinate in minors.
27 comments
You’re probably right, I think a lot of us just want a top 6 guy so we don’t feel like we bought Skinner out for nothing.
Get Ehlers and that wouldn’t be a bad off season for the Forward group.
We’re filling out the kind of tough to play against players we’ve been lacking, but I still feel like there’s something missing. Can’t put my finger on what though.
Ya, both the Debrusk and Stephenson contracts would be not ideal for us
Try telling that to Sabre gen x/boomer twitter
This is no time to be reasonable sir
Not wrong. But they also need to add another top 6 forward somehow.
These bottom six depth signings are fine. Even good. They just need to add a top 6 winger (not easy) and maybe someone to replace henri since I assume he’s moving on
ideally, our young core is going to be one year older and more mature. we have some new coaches who should be able to provide a better structure for taking that next step as well as improving special teams play. add improved bottom six talent to that and im not upset.
I can’t see Buffalo with Rosen/Kulich/Savoie/Ostlund/Benson/Helenius all in lineup (and they soon should by in nhl within next 1-3 years). Some have to go and play elsewhere, just wondering on interest from other franchises on these players and who Buffalo can get in return.
Best I can do is Lindy Ruff as head coach
Sure, but Buffalo still blows, and I simply don’t see a path to the playoffs unless UPL posts a .935 SV%.
Personally, I think we’re ok without adding a big name via trade/FA. Having a 19 year old benson in the T6 or one of the other kids might not be ideal, but I feel like some are cooked enough in the minors that it isn’t crazy to slide them up into a middle six scoring role.
Appert being on the staff now gives me a little more confidence in trusting some of the kids if they do make the jump
This has actually been a very good FA from the Sabres. A 4th line of Malenstyn – Lafferty – NAK is fine. Super fast line. I’m not super sold on Lafferty but whatever. As 4th lines go that is more than good enough to get it done.
Zucker on the 3rd line is also fine. 6 time 20 goal scorer who is not terrible on defense. Can play up the lineup if needed with injuries.
Getting Bryson for 900k is also solid. Great depth guy with solid numbers.
Agreed. Of course part of me wants us to splurge on a big, fancy forward or two but I’m glad we avoided most of these contracts.
Just because we didn’t make a splash doesn’t mean we aren’t going to make another move.
I mean, the Sabres did what they had to do today and revamped their 4th line and added a middle 6 winger. They didn’t screw up by signing a horrible deal but they also didn’t do anything to exceed expectations or move the needle forward very much, it’s been a perfectly cromulent free agency thus far.
But with that being said, all this depth has made their prospects even more expendable and they still have a big hole in the top 6 at wing and a big question mark at 3C with some questionable C depth. Adams still has a lot of work to do
Adams must be trying to create a “bottom 12” 😂
Perfectly fine with what they did today and even more happy with what they didn’t do.
Have to add a top line winger and ideally a 2C in case Cozens doesn’t bounce back, but at least a 3C. Way too much is riding on Peterka improving on a breakout season (never fails) and Benson taking a big step. Doesn’t have to go wrong but we literally just did that
Still wouldn’t mind a middle pairing right shot D either
Chandler Stephenson AAV is wacky.
I’ve got a feeling we’re going to go for zegras later in the week
Yall trying to be positive but this is a disaster for Buffalo. Today tells me KA tried to sign someone and struck out miserably. This is nowhere near being a playoff team
Can’t wait to finally make the “Free Agency Cup Playoffs”!
This reminds me a lot of the 2016 free agent class where a ton of teams (Sabres included) overpaid a bunch of guys in their 30s and basically all of the contracts looked terrible within 3-4 years, if not sooner.
Agreed. Think they are waiting on Wennberg and or Henrique to say no before reaching out their trade feelers. Adams is a prospect hoarder. If he can get a 3C without moving anything he would be all over one of those two to make up a lineup of-
Peterka-Thompson-Tuch
Benson-Cozens-Quinn
Zucker- _____- Greenway
Malenstyn-Lafferty-NAK
Krebs
Having a Ryan O’Reilly type on this roster would’ve really moved the needle. Really exposed at center right now, though.
One thing is clear: we are going to throw a lot more hits next season. This should protect our young guys a lot more than they were protected last season.
We will also be much faster.
Jeff Skinner, Kyle Okposo, Matt Moulson, Christian Ehrhoff, Ville Leino.
I like what Kevyn did for our bottom lines a lot today. I, like every other Sabres fan, would love to see someone get brought in for the top 2. There’s still a long time before the season starts up so maybe he’ll surprise us..it’s just given his track record I’m not holding my breath.
I’m honestly mostly worried about injuries to guys like Thompson and Tuch next season. Right now if Thompson gets injured that would slot Krebs in at 2c. People aren’t even sure if he’s cut out to be 3c (I think he’ll do fine) so him at 2 would be a giant speed bump on the season. They could call up one of the prospects, but that’s not exactly ideal either when I think they still need to marinate in minors.