1 year, $2.85m
- Hank Balling

I like this, maybe 3mill

The young, dumb, whack job conspiracy theorist who managed the macroeconomic landscape nearly flawlessly the last few years while he was “the shill waiting for his father and law to die” apparently.

Meanwhile, retired his old username once the tank commander left his perch only for the Sabres to be mathematically eliminated the last two seasons with less than a handful of games remaining.

I have nothing left to prove, proof is in the pudding.

Even tried the Dale Carnegie approach to posting for the better part of the last 12 months to no avail. Got me no further than being the pompous ass I was in my late teens to mid twenties.

The Athletic is basicallly free, Sabres Twitter is robust with good opinions. The username switch doesn’t appear to have brought the Sabres good fortunes so I’m going to be retiring from this site all together by the time puck drops next October in the hopes to break the curse.

Demeaning my intelligence is one thing, but consistently joking about very real things that are happening in this world is another thing all together. Brings me great shame.

This place has been a tire fire for years, but man this really takes the cake.

Pray to the lotto gods, I’ll do my last Hockeybuzz mock right before the draft.

Ciao
- Swedish_Jesus

You need help, serious delusions of grandeur

4.75x3
- ImThatGuy

I mean sure, the $3m is spot on, but why would he sign for 4.75 years? Seems odd to me.

I mean sure, the $3m is spot on, but why would he sign for 4.75 years? Seems odd to me.
- IonSabres

Be interesting to see how Adams handles this.

Our total on defense is about 25m. which is middle of the road. Teams like Carolina, Vancouver, Boston, Vegas and Winnipeg all pay more at the position and are near the top of that stat. Do you think these teams are built poorly or are too back heavy?

Edit: I'll add. I wouldn't mind trading Joker+Clifton this summer, bringing in a better top4 guy and promoting RyJo, but that will simply stack more into the top4 and lessen the 3rd pairing. The totals will still be similar.
- QuinnFan

They're at almost $31M for next season, and that's for five defenseman (Dahlin, Power, Byram, Clifton, Samuelsson).

Adding any kind of meaningful defenseman, or even extending Jokiharju, puts them at closer to $40M.

Not good.

They're at almost $31M for next season, and that's for five defenseman (Dahlin, Power, Byram, Clifton, Samuelsson).

Adding any kind of meaningful defenseman, or even extending Jokiharju, puts them at closer to $40M.

Not good.
- kingcong39

Gonna have to move someone, it would be a bad decision to have a 3rd pair making 7.5mill or so.

Gonna have to move someone, it would be a bad decision to have a 3rd pair making 7.5mill or so.
- Buff36

I think they end up going with :
Byram - Dahlin
Power - Samuelsson
Johnson - Cliffy
Bryson
That's roughly $31.7m for 6 and Bryson at say $1.7-$2.0m... so call it $33.7
The issue could well be the '25-'26 season when Byran and Johnson earn new contracts and Cliffy is on the last year.

Joker is out, maybe used for a 3C?

I think they end up going with :
Byram - Dahlin
Power - Samuelsson
Johnson - Cliffy
Bryson
That's roughly $31.7m for 6 and Bryson at say $1.7-$2.0m... so call it $33.7
The issue could well be the '25-'26 season when Byran and Johnson earn new contracts and Cliffy is on the last year.

Joker is out, maybe used for a 3C?
- IonSabres

Depending on what Joker wants I would trade Samuelsson. I think Novikov is gonna be a better version of Samuelsson.

I think they end up going with :
Byram - Dahlin
Power - Samuelsson
Johnson - Cliffy
Bryson
That's roughly $31.7m for 6 and Bryson at say $1.7-$2.0m... so call it $33.7
The issue could well be the '25-'26 season when Byran and Johnson earn new contracts and Cliffy is on the last year.

Joker is out, maybe used for a 3C?
- IonSabres

Zero toughness on D and Zero backup plan when the antique porcelain doll Samuelsson goes down with injury. We need to hire a real top 4 partner for one of Power, Dahlin, Byram.
Also a bottom 2 tough, miserable to play against D man. I’d move on from Joker too

Depending on what Joker wants I would trade Samuelsson. I think Novikov is gonna be a better version of Samuelsson.
- Buff36

I would think Joker is going to want $4m-ish. Is he worth that? Not to me.. but..

Zero toughness on D and Zero backup plan when the antique porcelain doll Samuelsson goes down with injury. We need to hire a real top 4 partner for one of Power, Dahlin, Byram.
Also a bottom 2 tough, miserable to play against D man. I’d move on from Joker too
- lulags

So there is always the debate of what they will do vs what we think they should do.

For clarity,
My post was what do I think they will do.
Yours is what you think they should do.

I don't disagree that I would like to see a very solid partner for Power, one with experience that can teach Power the Pro game...Including how physicality on the back-end can be a very positive attribute when used effectively (i.e. don't take oneself out of position to make a hit for the same of making a hit). I just don't see them doing it with Samuelsson on the roster as it appears they love him.
I also think having another tougher to play against defender on the 3rd Pair would be great...but Cliffy can be that guy to a degree when he wants to.

I am not sure where their head is with Johnson...he is going to be solid but needs to play to get there. Eventually, I see him moving up into the top 4 as he plays the style the current regime prefers. The questtion to me is where.

Zero toughness on D and Zero backup plan when the antique porcelain doll Samuelsson goes down with injury. We need to hire a real top 4 partner for one of Power, Dahlin, Byram.
Also a bottom 2 tough, miserable to play against D man. I’d move on from Joker too
- lulags

By Christmas 2024 Terry is going to own the biggest laughing stock franchise in professional sports.

This summer we will reeeeeed from corporate peasants who are eyeball deep in debt write aboot Top5 GM and all the potential he has in the system this year, along with the players learning from this season...the new spin will be how Granato spent the summer overhauling his system to revert back to offense.

He brings everything, good offensively and he's Nasty.
- Buff36

Definitely wouldn't mind adding some snarl.

Depending on what Joker wants I would trade Samuelsson. I think Novikov is gonna be a better version of Samuelsson.
- Buff36

Jokiharu is projected to get $4M per on a 3 to 4 year deal.

No interest in offering him that personally.

For '24-25, 1-6Dmen
-Buffalo will likely be at ~$35/36m, if it is Cliffy & Sammy on 3RD Pair and they get/resign another D for ~$4m for top 4
-Carolina if they retain their 6 would likely be in that range as well, maybe a bit less ($33m)
-VGK in the $31m range if they walk away from Martinez and sign Hannifan to $8 or $9m
-Vancouver is harder given the number of expiring contracts, but maybe ~$32/33m

Those contain a lot of projections, who knows what really happens.

But if that is close, based on play this season as the baseline I'd pick Buffalo's D 4th...maybe 3rd of that group. Vancouver's is up in the air for me until it is solidified.

Buffalo's issue is that they have $19m wrapped up in 2 guys and Byrams deal lurking...if he gets $7m that Top 4 becomes super expensive and the balance needs to come from somewhere.
'25-26
Dahlin $11m
Power $8m
Byram $7m
Top 4 TBD $5m
Sammy $4.4m
Cliffy $3.3m
~$39m total

I don't see it...and if Sammy is the Top 4 and RyJo is 6th...that helps alot
- IonSabres

Those projections aren't bad, but I think goes to show that teams can spend 30M+ on D and be competitive, if not SC contenders.

I don't think Byram can justify 7M, I'm expecting a 1-2yr bridge around 4.5M. But if we're at 32-33M, is that such a bad thing with the cap going up?

https://x.com/AJFeldmanTV...tatus/1778530154140332321

Don Granato on pressure and expectations-

"Expectations I look at as a privilege... I'm happy for that... this is something we have to go through... I'm happy we're here. This is great. This means we did some really good work. Look at where we were two years ago."

What's the O/U Meatball starts using the term synergy next season? Krueger reincarnated.

I would think Joker is going to want $4m-ish. Is he worth that? Not to me.. but..
- IonSabres

I wouldn't pay that either, still wouldn't stop me from trading Samuelsson if it got me a needed piece somewhere else. There's some decent options in FA this offseason at D. Kevin needs to get a couple in my opinion or get a Better F@cking D Coach.

Depending on what Joker wants I would trade Samuelsson. I think Novikov is gonna be a better version of Samuelsson.
- Buff36

Could very well be, and honestly I am a propronent of a continuous stream of young guys on ELC's being worked into the line-up displacing older and costlier players.

In that regard, Adams didn't do him a favor by signing him to that deal at such a young age while he is still developing his game... Should have been a bridge deal IMO... But the fan base was clamoring for Adams to prove he can lock guys up long-term.

To me this roster building is as much fun to watch and discuss as the games are.

Could very well be, and honestly I am a propronent of a continuous stream of young guys on ELC's being worked into the line-up displacing older and costlier players.

In that regard, Adams didn't do him a favor by signing him to that deal at such a young age while he is still developing his game... Should have been a bridge deal IMO... But the fan base was clamoring for Adams to prove he can lock guys up long-term.

To me this roster building is as much fun to watch and discuss as the games are.
- IonSabres

That's actually my thought process to be honest. Sabres have 3 or 4 D prospects that have really progressed Nicely so far with Johnson, Novikov, Komarov, Strbak. Wouldn't mind going after Hakanpaa for a few years and see where we stand. I would be surprised if Adams tried to trade for another Dman and some FA aren't gonna come here.

Jokiharu is projected to get $4M per on a 3 to 4 year deal.

No interest in offering him that personally.
- kingcong39

Yeah, he's replaceable at that price and would fetch a decent return as a RHD.

Those projections aren't bad, but I think goes to show that teams can spend 30M+ on D and be competitive, if not SC contenders.

I don't think Byram can justify 7M, I'm expecting a 1-2yr bridge around 4.5M. But if we're at 32-33M, is that such a bad thing with the cap going up?
- QuinnFan

Can't resign Zemgus. A rookie at a rook salary can do his job. His 2-3 million killing us.

That's actually my thought process to be honest. Sabres have 3 or 4 D prospects that have really progressed Nicely so far with Johnson, Novikov, Komarov, Strbak. Wouldn't mind going after Hakanpaa for a few years and see where we stand. I would be surprised if Adams tried to trade for another Dman and some FA aren't gonna come here.
- Buff36

McCarthy could be interesting one day as well. Didn't put up the points you'd want this year but it is his first year of NCAA. It'd be nice to luck out on a 3rd round righty, especially one that's born and raised in the area.

McCarthy could be interesting one day as well. Didn't put up the points you'd want this year but it is his first year of NCAA. It'd be nice to luck out on a 3rd round righty, especially one that's born and raised in the area.
- QuinnFan

Yeah, see how he progresses. Got that nasty side you like in a player.

That's actually my thought process to be honest. Sabres have 3 or 4 D prospects that have really progressed Nicely so far with Johnson, Novikov, Komarov, Strbak. Wouldn't mind going after Hakanpaa for a few years and see where we stand. I would be surprised if Adams tried to trade for another Dman and some FA aren't gonna come here.
- Buff36

Other then Ryan Johnson, aren't all the rest likely 2 to 3 seasons away, if not more, from being good NHL players?

Can't resign Zemgus. A rookie at a rook salary can do his job. His 2-3 million killing us.
- Fattony1187

Small peanuts, it's the cumulative that is killing us. Him, Okposo, Olo, Jost, EJ, Comrie and Robinson just aren't NHL players. Infuse the lineup with a couple ELCs (probably Rosen and Kulich) then sign a couple good bottom 6 guys and we're in MUCH better shape.