This is a FanPost written by Matt in Cleveland.
This is not going to be your traditional GM For a Day/ Armchair GM post where an entire offseason gets mocked. But, heading into the offseason, once the Sabres find a new Head Coach, there are plenty of players who should be out the door, along with players who the team should bring in to help make this team tougher to play against. While we are waiting for a new head coach, whether it be Craig Berube, or Lindy Ruff, one thing is for sure, no matter who becomes head coach, the makeup of the bottom-six must change, and the team must get tougher to play against.
The Jeff Skinner Conversation
First and foremost, before we get into the moves the team should make, let’s talk about Jeff Skinner, who could be a consideration to be moved off the roster. He has three years left at nine million per season. I know there are many Skinner supporters out there who find value in his game and what he brings to the team. I’ll be honest, i’m not a fan of keeping him on the roster.
We have to be real here about one thing: while Skinner can certainly still score goals, one has to question how much longer he will be able to do so as he turns 32 in May. At this point, i’d love to move him off the roster if I can at 50% retention for a mere future considerations just to start fresh, go in a different direction, and only have a cap hit on the book for three years.
A buyout would be tough as he would cost 1.4, 4.4, and 6.4 million for the first three years, and 2.4 million for three more years until 2029-2030. If you can make it one more year, then a buyout looks like 4 million in 2025-26, 6 million in 2026-27, and two more years through 2028-29 which is doable.
Why so gung-ho about getting rid of Skinner someday? Because As I said before, he’s only getting older, and more importantly, he’s likely standing in the way of a player like Jiri Kulich or Matthew Savoie from having a substantial role on the roster within the next couple years. But, while Skinner can produce offense, he can still help buy time for the prospects within the system so they don’t have to be rushed.
While it’s possible that Jiri Kulich, Matthew Savoie, and Isak Rosen can challenge for roster spots next season, I don’t think all three make the team, and if the team is serious about making the playoffs next season, they need to bring in some NHL caliber players.
As for Skinner, logically speaking, I think the best thing to do is to stand-pat one more year. I’ll be curious to see if they do anything with him at all, and if he’s one of the guys Adams recognizes as a guy he needs to move.
Now let’s discuss the players the Sabres should consider moving on from in the offseason.
Subtraction: Jordan Greenway
This won’t be a popular move among fans, and I do like the player and his strong defensive game. The problem here for me is one a lot of Minnesota Wild fans tried to warn as about when we acquired him. Greenway stands 6’6, 230 pounds, and he was acquired to bring in a physical presence to the lineup, and because of his connection to Don Granato. Now Granato is gone. However, there’s no point to being that big if you’re not going to use it on a consistent basis.
When Greenway does show that side of his game, not an easy player to play against, and is stout defensively, but he simply doesn’t do it enough, and doesn’t use his huge frame enough.
There is no point to being that big if you’re not going to use it. I also kind of wonder based on the track record if Greenway is one of the guys some players referenced in terms of practice habits, and he’s not alone, but he may be one of them based on the history with Minnesota.
Having said all that, Greenway has value because he will still intrigue some teams. I think he can return a second round pick easily. Vancouver was an interested party at the deadline, and I think they’ll retain interest in the offseason as Dakota Joshua heads for free agency. San Jose and a reunion with former coach David Quinn could also be an option if Quinn remains in San Jose.
Subtraction: Peyton Krebs
Krebs is a player who I had such high hopes for, and wanted to see him get a larger role, especially with Casey Mittelstadt off the roster. A big issue I have with Krebs is not that he can’t be a high quality player in the NHL, but in terms of what this team needs, i’m not sure he’s going to do it here in Buffalo.
Late bloomers do happen, but i’m not sure the team can wait any longer for Krebs to come around when they need help now.
We need a veteran third line center, and we also may need a fourth line center who can kill penalties and help at the faceoff dot, and Krebs does neither of those. Moving to wing is also not an appealing option here as he’s not as good on the wing as he is at center.
Krebs might have some value, I believe as a sweetener in a larger deal, or to another team as a change of scenery candidate. I don’t see a spot in Buffalo right now, and quite honestly, i’m more intrigued by a prospect like Savoie, Kulich, or Rosen before him.
Subtraction: Henri Jokiharju
Let me just start out and say, Jokiharju is a player on this list I would want to move the least, and wouldn’t do so unless I had someone else coming in to fill his void, and there will be one. Jokiharju is one of two right shot defenseman on the roster, along with Connor Clifton, but the Sabres don’t care as much about righty-lefty.
However, Jokiharju does serve a purpose on the team. You can point to the fact that the top four is set with Byram, Dahlin, Power, and Samuelsson, but lets not forget, Samuelsson has issues staying healthy, and having a guy who pairs well with Owen Power on the roster, could be beneficial from a depth standpoint.
Jokiharju can occupy a top four role if needed. If Jokiharju is not here next year with no replacement, then Ryan Johnson could be a candidate to take some of his minutes, but i’m not sure he’s ready for that yet, and in Ryan Johnson’s case, the minutes and playing time could be there as injuries do happen. It’s not a bad idea to have depth defense.
If Jokiharju is not here next season, then it should be because the team brought in a different type of player to the roster. Which brings me to my first target.
Addition: Will Borgen, RHD, Seattle Kraken
I would love to have Will Borgen back in Buffalo. He is currently in Seattle and entering a contract year before he’s a UFA next summer.
If the goal is to become tougher to play against, Borgen certainly adds to the mix. He’s big, physical, will drop the gloves, and is not an easy player to play against by any means. He hits like a truck, and is a quality shot blocker.
The Sabres don’t have a player like him on the roster who brings that type of game to the blue line. One of the biggest mistakes Kevyn Adams has made as GM so far has been losing Will Borgen, but what can you do with those expansion draft rules. Still, I wish the team would have done more to keep him.
Borgen played 17 minutes of ice time last year, and saw plenty of looks in Seattle’s top four last year. If I am moving out Henri Jokiharju, it’s to acquire a defenseman like Borgen.
Another option could be Jake Middleton from the Minnesota Wild, but he may be more costly to acquire.
Borgen could be had for a second and third round pick.
Addition: Nicolas Roy, C, Vegas Golden Knights
Third Line center will be a top priority for the Sabres in the offseason. There’s of course been a lot of mention for Scott Laughton from the Flyers, who has a couple more years of term left at three million per season, but the cost may be too high as Philly will likely want a first round pick.
Noah Cates is another option as well, but can he provide enough offense in that role?
Nicholas Roy should be a prime target in the offseason for that role third line center next season. He’s just 27-years old, has a Stanley Cup Ring, and has a bargain contract at three million per season, and doesn’t have a no trade clause.
He also plays a heavy gritty game that this team could be looking for more of. To top it off, he has solid offensive skill, and very underrated defensive metrics. Oh, did I mention when he got the opportunity to fill in for Jack Eichel this year, he posted 19 points in 19 games.
The cost to acquire Roy will likely be high. I don’t think he’s a second round pick and prospect type of acquisition.
The estimated cost to acquire Nicolas Roy for the Sabres could be centered around one of Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosen, Noah Ostlund, or the Sabres first rounder from this year.
Vegas may not need to trade him, but he’s a perfect candidate for what this team needs in a third line center, and in my opinion, is a much better option than Scott Laughton. Also, if Gerard Gallant is named the next Sabres Coach, this is another player who has the familiarity with him.
Addition: Dakota Joshua, F, Vancouver Canucks
If the Sabres spend any money in free agency, Joshua would be at the top of the list of players to target, and at 27-years old, he’s the right age to pay a good sized contract to.
He’s essentially a guy I would target to replace Jordan Greenway in the lineup. Joshua is having a breakout year on the Canucks third line with 18 goals in 63 games and 14 minutes of ice time. He is also a very physical player, and does use his size consistently. He chipped in 245 hits this season. He’s also one of Vancouver’s leading penalty killers.
Ironically, if Vancouver loses Joshua to free agency which they likely will, I believe they will look hard at Jordan Greenway to replace him. Th
He’s also a guy who played for Craig Berube in St. Louis, his couple years in the league as a young player, so there is some familiarity with him if he is named coach.
I would not be stunned if Joshua got a four to five year deal at around 4 million per season. It may seem like a lot, but someone will give it to him.
Addition: Teddy Blueger, C, Vancouver Canucks
Blueger is Joshua’s linemate, and also has some familiarity with Sabres front office members: Jason Karmanos and Sam Ventura.
Bleuger is one of the most underappreciated centers in the league, and was a guy who helped transform their bottom six in Vancouver from a disaster, to a strength and driving force of the team with his linemates: Dakota Joshua and Connor Garland.
The Sabres need something similar here, and Bleuger could be a guy for the job. He is also one of the better defensive forwards in the game, a strong penalty killer, and excels on draws winning 53% this year.
Addition: Brandon Duhaime, Colorado Avalanche
Duhaime, aka “Dewey” is a Minnesota Wild alum, who plays a heavy game in a bottom-six role. He can play an enforcer role, and is capable of adding from speed, forechecking, and grit to a third or fourth line. He is also a decent penalty killer.
Duhaime should be very high on the Sabres free agent wish list this offseason, and is a guy who can help hold opposing teams players accountable.
Thoughts on the Next Head Coach
As the Sabres coaching search is underway, one thing I have to say is: I love Lindy Ruff. If Lindy Ruff is the guy, I would have zero problems with it. Having said that, a Lindy reunion, while it would be cool and sentimental, I can’t help but think it would it just feel like the easy thing to do, and it would almost feel like they didn’t even try in a way.
The move says, we’re selling the past, and sentiment, over what’s best for the organization which might be a fresh direction away from former Sabres, and first time NHL Head Coaches.
The Sabres need credibility, and while Lindy Ruff will bring that, it’s still feels like if the team goes in that direction, that it will simply just be business as usual, almost like they didn’t even try, and knew it would be him all along.
I can’t help but think that if we land on Lindy.
Lindy Ruff is a great coach, but for those reasons, i’d have to say my top pick right now is the Chief, Craig Berube, as it would be incredibly refreshing to have him here. I’d also be most curious to see how he would handle Tage Thompson, as this is a player who knows Berube, and played for him. People often talk about the connection with Alex Tuch and Gerard Gallant, Thompson and Berube do have a connection.
But as we know, it was Don Granato that helped him reach the next level, as he did for several players on this team.