Team: 2024-25 Buffalo Sabres

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 17, 2024

Published: Apr. 18, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Vegas trade: Vegas needs to dump some salary and they clear up nearly $5m and trade a defender they may not have room for with this deal. They replenish some picks that they can move for more proven talent and get a solid winger prospect who can be a cheap top-nine player.

Philadelphia trade: Konecny gives the Sabres a top-six winger with some grit, but can score goals as well. Cates is a good bottom-six piece who has a good two-way game and can play center or wing. Not sure if the package is enough, but the Sabres would also give Konecny an extension (not sure on value).

New Jersey trade: seems like Devils and Sabres fans are on the same page with this one. Both players fill needs for the other team and the contracts are similar enough to make it pretty fair.

Seattle trade: clears cap space, could be any team looking for a RD.

Bottom six: the bottom six are really interchangeable. Kulich looks like he is ready to step up to the NHL and I would like to keep him as center, especially if Cozens can't bounce back. Him and Cates and rotate at center if needed, but Cates gives him some defensive help. Quinn and Kulich can slide up the lineup as needed, plus Quinn is a good two-way player so the line actually has two-way upside.
The guys on the fourth line can slide up to the third line as well, or they can be the third line. Roy and Howden have playoff/Stanley Cup experience and are bigger, physical wingers. They can be checking-line players or play jump up on the third line. Greenway the same thing.

Skinner: wasn't sure what to do with him. He will most likely be a third-line player, but adding Konecny, Cates, Howden, and Roy for their two-way/grit and promoting Kulich leaves little room for a one-dimensional player. I don't think he will be a scratch, but in this scenario, I ran out of room and he goes there.

Let the roasting commence.

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