They were also so high on Joker + Bryson + Fitz that they didn't feel the need to draft D. That hasn't aged well.
- Lunaion

They used 2 #1 overall picks on d-men in the last 5 years

They used 2 #1 overall picks on d-men in the last 5 years
- Swedish_Jesus

What does that have to do with balancing out your D. Doesn't mean you stop adding. There is really nothing coming up the pipeline if Johnson walks. It was a mistake not to use that 2nd on a Dman instead of that Goalie. Especially with who was still there.

Well for starters, he went against the grain with the Jack Quinn selection and so far so good.

Peterka probably goes top 15 in a redraft today as well.

He then got Levi and a first for Reinhart when Buchnevich went for a second and a sold top 6 fwd like Bjorkstrand went for a 4th.

He then turned the late first into Kulich which looks like a home-run so far.

The Eichel trade is respectable so far, no matter what you are going to lose a trade of that magnitude but to turn a player coming off injury with a cap hit many can’t stomach into Tuch, Krebs, Ostlund isn’t terrible.

Oh, and that Tage Thompson guy has the best contract in the league.

We are in a playoff race this year and have the most cap space and best prospect pipeline (or close to it) in the league.
- Swedish_Jesus

And we aren’t in a playoff spot because of the things he didn’t do.

Sorry, but there’s absolutely nothing impressive about selling off your best players to the highest bidders. Levi is not a sure thing at all.

Krebs looks like a bottom 6’er at best right now, and if we wanna keep playing this rebuild card, Tuch will be exiting his prime by the time we’re contending for a cup.

I will give him credit for a few things. The Thompson contract is great. The Kulich pick looks great, so does Peterka.

If this team misses the postseason by 4-6 points while riding Bryson, Clague, and Lyubushkin as their most common bottom 3 d men and if his big goalie acquisition Comrie ends the year as their third best goalie, missing the payoffs can be squarely put on the GM’s shoulders

They were also so high on Joker + Bryson + Fitz that they didn't feel the need to draft D. That hasn't aged well.
- Lunaion

Yes and they missed opportunities to add cheap options that probably would have helped.

They were also so high on Joker + Bryson + Fitz that they didn't feel the need to draft D. That hasn't aged well.
- Lunaion

No doubt they worked themselves into a corner with the D, can't argue it. They were wrong with Lyubushkin as a 3RhD, Bryson as the 3LhD and Pilut and Fitz for serviceable 7th. Joker has failed to improve and is a liability in his own end in the D side so hnot suitable as 2RhD IMO . I'm not sure I even want him for 3rd pairing

To think a 2nd round 2022 Draft choice is going to resolve the issue immediately is misguided, you know that. Further, in the Draft they went BPA...which they should.
Lastly, to acquire a 2RhD they would have needed to trade a prospect...but which prospect?
This wasn't the season they marked to go for it. It is what it is

No doubt they worked themselves into a corner with the D, can't argue it. They were wrong with Lyubushkin as a 3RhD, Bryson as the 3LhD and Pilut and Fitz for serviceable 7th. Joker has failed to improve and is a liability in his own end in the D side so hnot suitable as 2RhD IMO . I'm not sure I even want him for 3rd pairing

To think a 2nd round 2022 Draft choice is going to resolve the issue immediately is misguided, you know that. Further, in the Draft they went BPA...which they should.
Lastly, to acquire a 2RhD they would have needed to trade a prospect...but which prospect?
This wasn't the season they marked to go for it. It is what it is
- IonSabres

No, but it could have in a couple years, especially if we are building through drafting and development. Which seems to be the case.

Risk of a trade far outweighs the benefits from his perspective. He rides to the deadline and we we just attempt to dump our UFA, safe no one really complains.
He makes a splash, gives up assets to acquire some pieces we need, we don’t make the playoffs and they don’t pan out, big risk. We are still in a missive rebuild. We have a ton of first and second year players, Dahlin and Tage really just breaking out this year, UPL first signs of potential, Cozens break out year.
Our entire D corps has got to be the youngest in the league by a mile, we have huge signing question marks around salary for Dahlin and Cozens.
I guess my main point is after all this to consider, what can KA do in terms of a trade that would not blow up in his face?

The ask for any serviceable D out there is a first round pick to start the conversion.
- lulags

Good post. I bet KA's happy with the offseason and how this team progressed so far. Boosh kinda blows.

Obviously there's an internal salary cap that prohibits any serious signings. And the buffalo thing....

How soon people forget that we were dead last 120 games ago.

What does that have to do with balancing out your D. Doesn't mean you stop adding. There is really nothing coming up the pipeline if Johnson walks. It was a mistake not to use that 2nd on a Dman instead of that Goalie. Especially with who was still there.
- Buff36

How soon are you expecting the 2nd round defenseman to make it to the NHL? Then be productive?

Dahlin, the connor McDavid of defenseman is finally playing incredible. Isnt this year 5?

Wouldnt a normal 1st rounder take 4 years, and a 2nd rounder 5 years before being a important part of the team?

Also, 3 guys are gonna play 85 of the 120 minutes on d.
Per game. Why waste capital on a position that's filled?

I get depth, but you really think a 2nd rounder is gonna make of difference before 2027? Especially defenseman

And we aren’t in a playoff spot because of the things he didn’t do.

Sorry, but there’s absolutely nothing impressive about selling off your best players to the highest bidders. Levi is not a sure thing at all.

Krebs looks like a bottom 6’er at best right now, and if we wanna keep playing this rebuild card, Tuch will be exiting his prime by the time we’re contending for a cup.

I will give him credit for a few things. The Thompson contract is great. The Kulich pick looks great, so does Peterka.

If this team misses the postseason by 4-6 points while riding Bryson, Clague, and Lyubushkin as their most common bottom 3 d men and if his big goalie acquisition Comrie ends the year as their third best goalie, missing the payoffs can be squarely put on the GM’s shoulders
- sbroads24

How many teams go from dead last to the playoffs in 2 years? Serious question.

I bet its extremely rare in the nhl. The nfl is a completely different place. The jags for example... last to winning the division in 2 years

True or false: Owen Power's rookie season at the halfway mark is not quite as good as Tyler Myers'.

How soon are you expecting the 2nd round defenseman to make it to the NHL? Then be productive?

Dahlin, the connor McDavid of defenseman is finally playing incredible. Isnt this year 5?

Wouldnt a normal 1st rounder take 4 years, and a 2nd rounder 5 years before being a important part of the team?

Also, 3 guys are gonna play 85 of the 120 minutes on d.
Per game. Why waste capital on a position that's filled?

I get depth, but you really think a 2nd rounder is gonna make of difference before 2027? Especially defenseman
- Boss34

All the reasons you take a defenseman with the 2nd round pick last season.

- Multiple talented defenseman were available when they picked, including multiple RHD
- in 2 to 3 seasons, when that defenseman is beginning to contribute, you have a quality bottom pairing, or even better, top 4 D on a 3 year ELC when you are spending much more and going for it
- If the young defenseman really plays well, you have 2 more ELC seasons of big value production

Everything Adams has said is about the long term plan. Not taking an RHD at the 2nd round pick makes little sense considering the long term outlook of the team.

Now they're going to have to possibly overpay a UFA and trade a forward for a higher perceived league value position, which also means overpaying.

How soon are you expecting the 2nd round defenseman to make it to the NHL? Then be productive?

Dahlin, the connor McDavid of defenseman is finally playing incredible. Isnt this year 5?

Wouldnt a normal 1st rounder take 4 years, and a 2nd rounder 5 years before being a important part of the team?

Also, 3 guys are gonna play 85 of the 120 minutes on d.
Per game. Why waste capital on a position that's filled?

I get depth, but you really think a 2nd rounder is gonna make of difference before 2027? Especially defenseman
- Boss34

See you didn't read more of it, said in a couple years, especially if they are just drafting and developing. Be here a lot quicker than that Goalie will. And Tristan Luneau is looking very good, and actually might be there by the trade deadline this year. So yes there was a possibility that 2nd rnd pick was here a lot sooner than 7yrs as you put it. And are D core is not filled.

Good post. I bet KA's happy with the offseason and how this team progressed so far. Boosh kinda blows.

Obviously there's an internal salary cap that prohibits any serious signings. And the buffalo thing....

How soon people forget that we were dead last 120 games ago.
- Boss34

Adams is likely happy with the overall progress of the team and the key players, while also being disappointed with his two big offseason signings (Lyubushkin and Comrie), and what Hinostroza has done so far.

See you didn't read more of it, said in a couple years, especially if they are just drafting and developing. Be here a lot quicker than that Goalie will. And Tristan Luneau is looking very good, and actually might be there by the trade deadline this year. So yes there was a possibility that 2nd rnd pick was here a lot sooner than 7yrs as you put it. And are D core is not filled.
- Buff36

Seamus Casey and Christian Kyrou are also doing well. There were lots of viable options at a position of need.

Check out what the Ducks did: Mintyukov, Warren, Luneau

That's a very nice haul.

All the reasons you take a defenseman with the 2nd round pick last season.

- Multiple talented defenseman were available when they picked, including multiple RHD
- in 2 to 3 seasons, when that defenseman is beginning to contribute, you have a quality bottom pairing, or even better, top 4 D on a 3 year ELC when you are spending much more and going for it
- If the young defenseman really plays well, you have 2 more ELC seasons of big value production

Everything Adams has said is about the long term plan. Not taking an RHD at the 2nd round pick makes little sense considering the long term outlook of the team.

Now they're going to have to possibly overpay a UFA and trade a forward for a higher perceived league value position, which also means overpaying.
- kingcong39

Can always trade a forward prospect for a defense prospect

True or false: Owen Power's rookie season at the halfway mark is not quite as good as Tyler Myers'.
- lacaprup

True.

Can always trade a forward prospect for a defense prospect
- Anderdog

Yes, but which position is considered more valuable?

Cheaper to draft defense then trading for it.

Seamus Casey and Christian Kyrou are also doing well. There were lots of viable options at a position of need.

Check out what the Ducks did: Mintyukov, Warren, Luneau

That's a very nice haul.
- kingcong39

Agree, it was a missed opportunity

Yes, but which position is considered more valuable?

Cheaper to draft defense then trading for it.
- kingcong39

and how often does it actually happen?

Bills home playoff game ticket prices are going really cheap. I wonder why?


If we had a dome. I bet you they are higher. More appealing game to attend rather than freezing

All the reasons you take a defenseman with the 2nd round pick last season.

- Multiple talented defenseman were available when they picked, including multiple RHD
- in 2 to 3 seasons, when that defenseman is beginning to contribute, you have a quality bottom pairing, or even better, top 4 D on a 3 year ELC when you are spending much more and going for it
- If the young defenseman really plays well, you have 2 more ELC seasons of big value production

Everything Adams has said is about the long term plan. Not taking an RHD at the 2nd round pick makes little sense considering the long term outlook of the team.

Now they're going to have to possibly overpay a UFA and trade a forward for a higher perceived league value position, which also means overpaying.
- kingcong39

I think you're being kinda optimistic at 2-3 years for a defenseman.

Samuelsson a 2018 draft pick is finally playing well.
Although even he's stagnant lately.

Dahlin is finally a top pro.

It takes time, better buying a 4th guy. IMO

Good post. I bet KA's happy with the offseason and how this team progressed so far. Boosh kinda blows.

Obviously there's an internal salary cap that prohibits any serious signings. And the buffalo thing....

How soon people forget that we were dead last 120 games ago.
- Boss34

It’s not an internal cap ….. it’s letting the kids play. This year is a prove it year for the kids to set up

This summer go get kane +++

And we aren’t in a playoff spot because of the things he didn’t do.

Sorry, but there’s absolutely nothing impressive about selling off your best players to the highest bidders. Levi is not a sure thing at all.

Krebs looks like a bottom 6’er at best right now, and if we wanna keep playing this rebuild card, Tuch will be exiting his prime by the time we’re contending for a cup.

I will give him credit for a few things. The Thompson contract is great. The Kulich pick looks great, so does Peterka.

If this team misses the postseason by 4-6 points while riding Bryson, Clague, and Lyubushkin as their most common bottom 3 d men and if his big goalie acquisition Comrie ends the year as their third best goalie, missing the payoffs can be squarely put on the GM’s shoulders
- sbroads24

What makes you think this season was playoff or bust ?

They took Ben Bishop’s contract just to hit the floor.

And as much as I’d love to end the drought this year, the fact of that matter is they wouldn’t stand a chance against Boston or Carolina in a first round playoff matchup.

The Sabres are focused on the intermediate term and I’ve seen nothing this year to suggest that we aren’t on the right path

See you didn't read more of it, said in a couple years, especially if they are just drafting and developing. Be here a lot quicker than that Goalie will. And Tristan Luneau is looking very good, and actually might be there by the trade deadline this year. So yes there was a possibility that 2nd rnd pick was here a lot sooner than 7yrs as you put it. And are D core is not filled.
- Buff36

You said a few years, which is 2 or 3.

I said 5 years, which is not the 7 years.

Samuelsson is a good defender in year 5, this season right? 2018 draft 🤔

It’s not an internal cap ….. it’s letting the kids play. This year is a prove it year for the kids to set up

This summer go get kane +++
- Sabretooth9

So it's a prove it year and now they have to do paper shuffles because they weren't prepared to make decisions at the appropriate times.