Let’s See How They Play and Who is Shipped Away?
The Buffalo Sabres will hopefully be back at full strength when the season resumes for them on Saturday, February 22nd. We will need to wait for confirmation from head coach Lindy Ruff for some players later this week. But it is expected that Jordan Greenway will make his long awaited return as well as Beck Malenstyn. That should really bolster the bottom 6 for Buffalo. Mattias Samuelsson will also be eligible to return from injured reserve. It remains to be seen if he is slotted back into the lineup though. Sammy seems to have drawn some Lindy and fan ire after the Tage Thompson injury. This two week break should also be a real helper to those playing through injuries too, most notable TNT. Hopefully with some healing time, we see the best efforts from him and all our players right to the end. With a good amount of victories as well.
Meanwhile, the trade deadline in looming closer. With nothing from GM Kevyn Adams all year, I have to think at least one move is coming soon. We will all be left shaking our heads if a deal of some sorts is not made. But will it be a tinkering move, a mid level trade or a blockbuster? We shall see. One thing is for certain, there will be opinions on the matter around here.
Team Mindset and Team Evaluation
This Buffalo team finds themselves in a familiar place. They are virtually out of the playoff race with nothing but pride to play for. Pride and for some, continued employment with the Sabres. (if you can consider that motivation) It’s a place many of us thought we would finally escape this year. As usual, it was not meant to be. It’s more dumpster diving for us while the curse perpetuates on for at least one more season. As Red from the prison walls of Shawshank told us, “Hope is a dangerous thing.” Well Red, that’s all we got. That and a big damn poster.
Buffalo bolstered the bottom 6 this past summer with McLeod and Malenstyn, a step up in most fans eyes. (more so after seeing them in action) But management was relying on continued development from within for the top lines. They surely didn’t get it. Nobody planned on Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn taking monster steps backwards this year. Regression happens with almost all young players but their falloff was a giant gut punch to the team. One third of the top 6 had a huge drop off in production. This directly contributed to less player success and less team success too. Meanwhile, the goaltending took a hit this season as well. UPL’s great performance in the second half of last season did not carry over. And Devon Levi’s play took some ugly pills this year, despite his success with the Amerks. A turnover happy defense did no favors for either goalie but we all would like to see more stability there. And less question marks.
So, where are we at right now? The mindset of the team should be to win as many games as possible in these last two months. We all know it is too little, too late. We all know winning when the pressure is off isn’t as meaningful. But quite frankly, this roster needs better team performances and more victories to gain some confidence. They need to show what they are capable of and not end this year on a whimper. All aspects of their game needs improvement. Especially playing with a lead and closing games out. Buffalo’s poise took a major hit this season and they can’t let panic seep in like this again. Our struggling players need to find their game as well, if they are not traded away before the deadline.
These last 2 months should go a long way towards roster evaluation. Have the key core players become expendable? Are two or three or more no longer considered vital to the team’s future? The trade deadline should answer some of that soon. But more answers await after the Sabres cease playing games in April. I feel that a few players have showcased enough this year to remain in Buffalo’s plans. Rasmus Dahlin goes without saying, even with his injuries this season and lighter than normal stats. He is a fixture back on D. Alex Tuch is another, the solid veteran the team needs. I know he disappears for a few games sometimes but even the best players in the world do that too. Overall, Tuch has been a gamer, with big goals and amazing puck thievery. I feel that Ryan McLeod has been a versatile revelation playing up and down the lineup as well. On pace for 40 points, the team’s fastest player words hard, chips in and plays solid D. He is a keeper. And lesser so with Beck Malenstyn. His fancy stats are nowhere near his great performance with the Caps last year. However, he still brings some needed physicality along with solid defensive play on the bottom line. I like what he offers. As for the rest? There are BIG BIG names still on this team to discuss. Some of these players I want to keep, most of them actually. But some change needs to happen, the key is bringing in stronger talent and needed grit at a reasonable cost.
Movers and Shakers
I think most of us feel this team definitely needs a shake up. For now, I will confine the discussion to the players only. The big four names tossed around lately for potential movement have been as follows: Dylan Cozens, Jack Quinn, Owen Power and Bo Byram. That is some talented draft investments and trade acquisitions right there. Moving any of those players better bring back a sizable return. No draft picks or prospects please and no well over 30 players either. I’d like some veterans in that 26-28 age range. Players that can help right now but also have a lot of hockey still to play in their careers. Moving any of those four risks a chance of that player becoming the next Sam Reinhart or ROR. So the Sabres best find at least an equal return in any deal. Personally, I would like to keep all of them. But If I am sacrificing one, I suppose it would be Quinn. I just feel the other three have a higher ceiling and will be more valuable overall.
Most of the players on this team should be available considering how this year has gone. I seriously doubt it would happen but that includes Tage Thompson if there is a great deal to be had. Peterka, Greenway, Jokiharju and Krebs are all possibilities as well even if a few of those are my personal favorites. This team can’t sit on their hands much longer though. Some restructuring of this roster has to happen. If it’s up to me, I suppose I’m keeping the players who show the top tenacity down the stretch. Those that contribute the most to winning hockey games, no matter what that means within their role. I would hope management pays attention to that too as a factor.
My wish list for the Sabres is fairly straightforward. I’m looking for two veteran right shot defenders who play a physical game and play sound defense. I’m also looking for one more bottom 6 forward in the Greenway/Malenstyn mold. But this player is a top notch fighter as well, who can handle business if needed. Finally, I’m after one more top 6 player to elevate the top two lines. Preferably a player who has not quite broken out yet so his cost isn’t astronomical. I realize this is no small feat to accomplish. But I am utilizing the many assets Buffalo has to do this. I hope Cozens and Byram and Power do not need to be a part of any deals but it may come to that. Jiri Kulich and Zach Benson as well, I like what I see in this young talent. So my official trading arsenal for Buffalo includes: Quinn, Jokiharju, Clifton, Zucker, (as much as it pains me) Samuelsson, Isak Rosen and Ryan Johnson. Plus all of Buffalo’s 2025-27 1st and 2nd round picks. Greenway and Krebs are possibles too should they become absolutely needed to get a deal done. If the Sabres can obtain the 2RD, 1B6 and 1T6 players I mentioned while staying mainly within that list they should do well. I know it will be difficult and will probably require a new GM for it to happen. It will also require dealings with the right teams under the right circumstances… but it can be done. I listed 13 pieces as potential trade assets to acquire 4 new and upgraded players. 15 if you count Greenway and Krebs. I am willing to part with 8 to 10 of those pieces to get the type of upgraded players we need. Added scoring, more toughness, better physical defense. I hope the Sabres have a similar wish list as well and plan to use a comparable pathway to obtain it.
Are there any “safe” Sabres for you? Do you have an informal list of parts you are willing to deal with? And do you look at the rest of this season as an audition for the players you wish to retain? There will no doubt be a move or two by deadline day, so some shake up is about to happen. But I expect the majority of change to happen this summer. Under what management team remains to be seen. From my chair, I hope it is something close to what I laid out above. You might have a different formula. But one thing we can agree on, the Buffalo Sabres have more work to do.