> Byram has made an immediate impact through two games with Buffalo, averaging 25:22 of ice time while skating next to Rasmus Dahlin on the top defense pair. But for the Sabres to finally clear the playoff hurdle next season, Adams must rebuild the position that he depleted by trading Mittelstadt, who had produced a team-leading 87 points since Jan. 1, 2023.
> A ready-made replacement isn’t on the roster or prospect pipeline, raising prominent questions about management’s plan for an offseason that must position Buffalo to snap its playoff drought next spring.
> “I think Peyton Krebs, his foundation of his game, take away – we know he has offensive ability,” Adams explained Friday after the NHL’s trade deadline passed. “We knew when we (acquired) him, he’s a highly skilled player, he’s a good playmaker. But the foundation of his game is better, and I think you’ll start to see more of the offensive side come out as that base is there, and I think he’s taken some big steps, which gave us some comfort that he’s elevating and prepared for more.
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> By acquiring Byram in the trade, the Sabres won’t have to use their draft picks or prospects to add help for their blue line this summer. He, Dahlin, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson, Connor Clifton and Ryan Johnson are under contract next season. Buffalo can re-sign Henri Jokiharju and Jacob Bryson as restricted free agents, or use the surplus to trade for a forward.
> Byram will count only $3.85 million against the cap until he is a restricted free agent in July 2025, a fraction of what it could have cost per season to add a more experienced, older defenseman. Injuries prevented him from earning a long-term role with the Avalanche, but he has the talent to thrive next to Dahlin or Power.
> However, it is fair to question whether he is the type of defenseman that Buffalo needed when its roster has lacked the grit and tenacity that were hallmarks of recent Stanley Cup champions and contenders, especially when the trade cost the Sabres a proven center who wanted to sign long-term in Buffalo. Mittelstadt was their best trade chip, more valuable than any prospect or draft pick.
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> The Sabres plan to use Krebs in a third-line role over the final weeks of the season, but will that be enough time to evaluate whether he can replace Mittelstadt? Krebs has shown flashes of brilliance with the puck since the trade that brought him and Tuch to Buffalo in exchange for Jack Eichel. Most of Krebs’ ice time has been on the fourth line, and building a stronger defensive game has yet to lead to production.
> Krebs, 22, has produced only 19 goals and 61 points with a minus-24 rating in 185 games with Buffalo. In 63 games this season, he has three goals and 13 points. Over his last 23 games, he has zero goals and six assists. Granato hasn’t shown patience with Krebs, electing recently to pull him off a line with Benson and Peterka, despite the trio having strong possession metrics at 5-on-5.
> Krebs has averaged only 11:31 of ice time in three games since Mittelstadt’s departure, receiving just five offensive-zone starts at 5-on-5 during that span. While Granato has repeatedly told reporters that Krebs isn’t a fourth-line player, the 2019 first-round pick continues to be deployed in that role.
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> Buffalo’s prospect pipeline is considered one of the strongest in the NHL, but it won’t provide a short-term answer at center.
> Matt Savoie, the Sabres’ top pick in 2022, is projected to skate on the wing in the NHL; Jiri Kulich, regarded as their top prospect, has one goal in 18 games with the Rochester Americans dating to mid-December and must learn how to cope with physical opponents; and while Noah Ostlund’s skill has tantalized in the Swedish Hockey League this season, he’s listed at 5-foot-9, 163 pounds, and will need time to physically mature into an NHL player.
> The situation isn’t as dire as it was in 2018 after the Sabres traded Ryan O’Reilly to the St. Louis Blues with a teenage prospect, Mittelstadt, and Patrik Berglund as the middle-six centers behind Eichel. Thompson and Cozens haven’t produced as expected this season, combining for only 36 goals and 74 points through 65 games. But they were remarkable in 2022-23 with 78 goals and 162 points, showcasing the talent and intangibles that convinced Adams to sign them as franchise pillars.
> Stanley Cup champions are typically deep at center, though, and Adams can’t commit the same mistake that he made last summer when he chose to rely on prospects and unproven young players to fill an important spot in the Sabres’ lineup.
> “The centerman position is so critical,” Adams said. “Obviously, the goaltending, key. Your defense, in my opinion, is the next most important as you build out your roster. And then the center position. So, one, you can never have enough centermen and enough depth, and then we do need to figure out the mix. … That is definitely something we’ll look at. We’ll see how the development over the next handful of games with ‘Krebsy’ goes, but we do see an upside there, and then we’ll make a decision going into the summer.”
PrinciplesRK
I would love to get Yakov Trenin if he does not re-sign with the Avalanche. He’d be the perfect 4C.
Impossibills
What’s wrong with Tage, Cozens, Krebs down the middle. Getting Jack Quinn back for the top 6 will be huge for us. And I would like us to address depth issues on the bottom 6
tmfitz7
Mitts was proven.
Barmacist
We uhhhh, just traded one away?
ProfessionalTeach719
Absolutely agree. I think on D and G, Buffalo is set. Adding 1 top 6 forward, and 1 bottom 6 forward will put this team over the top.
7 Comments
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> Byram has made an immediate impact through two games with Buffalo, averaging 25:22 of ice time while skating next to Rasmus Dahlin on the top defense pair. But for the Sabres to finally clear the playoff hurdle next season, Adams must rebuild the position that he depleted by trading Mittelstadt, who had produced a team-leading 87 points since Jan. 1, 2023.
> A ready-made replacement isn’t on the roster or prospect pipeline, raising prominent questions about management’s plan for an offseason that must position Buffalo to snap its playoff drought next spring.
> “I think Peyton Krebs, his foundation of his game, take away – we know he has offensive ability,” Adams explained Friday after the NHL’s trade deadline passed. “We knew when we (acquired) him, he’s a highly skilled player, he’s a good playmaker. But the foundation of his game is better, and I think you’ll start to see more of the offensive side come out as that base is there, and I think he’s taken some big steps, which gave us some comfort that he’s elevating and prepared for more.
—-
> By acquiring Byram in the trade, the Sabres won’t have to use their draft picks or prospects to add help for their blue line this summer. He, Dahlin, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson, Connor Clifton and Ryan Johnson are under contract next season. Buffalo can re-sign Henri Jokiharju and Jacob Bryson as restricted free agents, or use the surplus to trade for a forward.
> Byram will count only $3.85 million against the cap until he is a restricted free agent in July 2025, a fraction of what it could have cost per season to add a more experienced, older defenseman. Injuries prevented him from earning a long-term role with the Avalanche, but he has the talent to thrive next to Dahlin or Power.
> However, it is fair to question whether he is the type of defenseman that Buffalo needed when its roster has lacked the grit and tenacity that were hallmarks of recent Stanley Cup champions and contenders, especially when the trade cost the Sabres a proven center who wanted to sign long-term in Buffalo. Mittelstadt was their best trade chip, more valuable than any prospect or draft pick.
—-
> The Sabres plan to use Krebs in a third-line role over the final weeks of the season, but will that be enough time to evaluate whether he can replace Mittelstadt? Krebs has shown flashes of brilliance with the puck since the trade that brought him and Tuch to Buffalo in exchange for Jack Eichel. Most of Krebs’ ice time has been on the fourth line, and building a stronger defensive game has yet to lead to production.
> Krebs, 22, has produced only 19 goals and 61 points with a minus-24 rating in 185 games with Buffalo. In 63 games this season, he has three goals and 13 points. Over his last 23 games, he has zero goals and six assists. Granato hasn’t shown patience with Krebs, electing recently to pull him off a line with Benson and Peterka, despite the trio having strong possession metrics at 5-on-5.
> Krebs has averaged only 11:31 of ice time in three games since Mittelstadt’s departure, receiving just five offensive-zone starts at 5-on-5 during that span. While Granato has repeatedly told reporters that Krebs isn’t a fourth-line player, the 2019 first-round pick continues to be deployed in that role.
—-
> Buffalo’s prospect pipeline is considered one of the strongest in the NHL, but it won’t provide a short-term answer at center.
> Matt Savoie, the Sabres’ top pick in 2022, is projected to skate on the wing in the NHL; Jiri Kulich, regarded as their top prospect, has one goal in 18 games with the Rochester Americans dating to mid-December and must learn how to cope with physical opponents; and while Noah Ostlund’s skill has tantalized in the Swedish Hockey League this season, he’s listed at 5-foot-9, 163 pounds, and will need time to physically mature into an NHL player.
> The situation isn’t as dire as it was in 2018 after the Sabres traded Ryan O’Reilly to the St. Louis Blues with a teenage prospect, Mittelstadt, and Patrik Berglund as the middle-six centers behind Eichel. Thompson and Cozens haven’t produced as expected this season, combining for only 36 goals and 74 points through 65 games. But they were remarkable in 2022-23 with 78 goals and 162 points, showcasing the talent and intangibles that convinced Adams to sign them as franchise pillars.
> Stanley Cup champions are typically deep at center, though, and Adams can’t commit the same mistake that he made last summer when he chose to rely on prospects and unproven young players to fill an important spot in the Sabres’ lineup.
> “The centerman position is so critical,” Adams said. “Obviously, the goaltending, key. Your defense, in my opinion, is the next most important as you build out your roster. And then the center position. So, one, you can never have enough centermen and enough depth, and then we do need to figure out the mix. … That is definitely something we’ll look at. We’ll see how the development over the next handful of games with ‘Krebsy’ goes, but we do see an upside there, and then we’ll make a decision going into the summer.”
I would love to get Yakov Trenin if he does not re-sign with the Avalanche. He’d be the perfect 4C.
What’s wrong with Tage, Cozens, Krebs down the middle. Getting Jack Quinn back for the top 6 will be huge for us. And I would like us to address depth issues on the bottom 6
Mitts was proven.
We uhhhh, just traded one away?
Absolutely agree. I think on D and G, Buffalo is set. Adding 1 top 6 forward, and 1 bottom 6 forward will put this team over the top.
Stamkos to Buffalo confirmed