What a disaster Sabres offseason looks like

Sneaky Joe explores what the worst case scenario for the Sabres is this summer, including too big of a Peyton Krebs role, a massive UPL extension, and too many rookies in the lineup.
Plus, a Jeff Skinner trade idea, and what the hell is happening to CapFriendly?!?
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[@grumpyscott17]

Worst off-season? You mean like re-signing Jost, Girgs, and Okposo for 7M dollars. Signing the corpse of Eric Johnson and overpaying for another 3rd pair defensemen. Deciding to hold onto the likes of Olofsson and Comrie. And my favorite was choosing not to find a replacement for Quinn. At least Adams may have aced the draft. Benson and Wahlberg are promising.

[@joellachance7335]

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

[@danevertt3210]

Benson is way more than promising.

[@grumpyscott17]

@@danevertt3210Yeah. I love Benson. He played well with Quinn the last few games of the season.

[@bjarczyk]

It’s easy for people to armchair quarterback this in hindsight. The bottom line is all the top players didn’t perform, the team as a whole didn’t perform. The problem was NOT the roster. Adams needed to see what would still work.

[@grumpyscott17]

@@bjarczyk It’s not hindsight. I questioned his moves before the season started (the E.Johnson-Clifton 3rd pairing idea made zero sense) and was even more worried after I watched them coast through the preseason (watching the Sabres turtle after Crosby fought Krebs). Look, Adams has done a good job stocking the system and changing the culture. He was put in a bad situation when he was given the GM job. But he has not, as of yet, shown he knows how to construct a roster, the most important thing a GM is responsible for. The parts don’t fit. It’s a big off-season for him and I’m rooting for him. But another off-season like 2023 and I would change his title to director of scouting and bring in a more experienced GM with greater ties around the league.

[@jasonbyrns8890]

Why the hell would skinner waive his no movement clause to go to last place team. He gains nothing in this scenario. Worst case off-season: 1. Relying on 4 rookies from Rochester to fill all the opening forward spots. Not making trades/signing FAs to improve grit and talent. Or 2. Bringing 2 or more of these players back: okie, girgs, jost, Robinson, or Krebs. Or 3. Quinn gets injured and nothing gets done.

[@neilkennington2397]

He would be on the 1st line and 1st PP in San Jose. In Buffalo he will be on the 3rd line and Ruff will be barking at him to back check harder.

[@jasonbyrns8890]

Longest active playoff draught for an individual player at over 1000 games. Next player is more than 300 games away. No way he wants to go to a team on the west coast that almost has no shot of making the playoffs.

[@jamesmiller6217]

Great point about Skinner and his NTC.

[@jf13579]

@@jasonbyrns8890or - maybe he doesn’t care about the playoffs. Thats what I suspect.

[@eciura1]

Plays on the first line, won't have to work as hard, weather in San Jose is slightly better than Buffalo.

[@jammerz04]

Also that capfriendly thing is just awful news. So dumb.

[@ravensshadow2179]

Skinner doesn't waive to goes to the Sharks.

[@Teegee9209]

He waived NMTC for the expansion draft

[@ravensshadow2179]

@@Teegee9209 expansion draft is one thing going to the worst team in the league is a different story.

[@TheDarthmalstrom]

Going to? He's already here

[@philipgibson9091]

​@@TheDarthmalstromnot even close. id bet Toronto would trade rosters with the Sabres. The 4 players at 10mill+ per year will never work.

[@frankfarklesberry]

Payton Krebs is ONLY 23 YEARS OLD. We already know how players can come around later with Tage and Casey. Look at Florida with Samson, Bennett, Evan Rodriguez. Vancouver went far with Zadorov and Myers.

[@ojsglove6221]

He’s had chance after chance he’s a bust get rid of him while you can

[@frankfarklesberry]

@@ojsglove6221 Nice grammar.

[@houstonrefinery719]

Casey was a victim of the injury bug early on. Can't say that for Krebs.

[@frankfarklesberry]

@@houstonrefinery719 Both spent YEARS being messed up in development by their draft selectors. Krebs just needs to get stronger.

[@ojsglove6221]

@@frankfarklesberry Krebs had 1 goal and 4 assists in 20 games after taking over for Mittelstadt. I say get what you can for him.

[@bjarczyk]

It doesn't make sense to me why our fans look for endless reasons to be negative.

[@brianjones7660]

reams of recent failure to reference perhaps? By the way, Mr Regier , nice to hear from you.

[@aegis7843]

On your Krebs rant... do you think coaching may have had something to do with his performance?

[@itsrickus3582]

Worst offseason: -Not addressing the bottom six and starting 3+ rookies next year -Signing another goaltender to create a carousel situation like they've had. -Keeping Krebs at 3C -Keeping Skinner Also PuckPedia ftw.

[@aarongriffin4901]

Skinner isn't waiving him no movement clause unless it's to a contender. You just talk out your but. If we are giving him away, retaining 4.5 mil a year for the next 3 years, and not getting anything in return for it... That move makes no sense when we got over 20 mil in cap space and it will only cost us 2 million a year for 4 years if we wait until next year to buy him out. And why is it so important to move him this year when we have a new coach that holds players accountable? Why not see what he looks like under ruff?

[@mikehartl8665]

DiBiase is all about the takes and the click bait. Sabres need goal scoring. Skinner is going nowhere unless Adams is a total idiot!

[@aarongriffin4901]

@@mikehartl8665 this guy clearly has no clue about what is smart and what isn't. Let's pay Skinner 4.5 mil to go play somewhere else while getting nothing for him... If we pay him his 9 this year and see what happens, then if it doesn't work out we can buy him out for 2 mil a year until only for 2 years after his contract expires. So we can pay 13.5 to watch him play elsewhere, or 9 to play one more year here and then 8 after over 4 years. I just don't get it

[@TheDarthmalstrom]

@@mikehartl8665 Adams is a total idiot

[@mortal_gaming89]

My best guess on why the Capitals are acquiring Capfriendly is for the name alone. It makes more sense that they could not use the name themselves and have no interest in any other aspect other than to own the web domain.

[@comicbookcountdown9252]

Skinner to the Sharks is something that popped into my head about a month ago, but I don't know if he would waive to go there. But due to recent events, another one could be Skinner for Laine straight up (Sabres might have to add a mid-round pick or so-so prospect). It would strictly be a change of scenery trade for both, and the salaries are close. No idea if CBJ would be interested but Skinner might be the best they can get for Laine given the situation. As for a "disaster offseason", it will be a battle to make the playoffs even with a good offseason - 8 teams made the playoffs in the EC, but another 4-5 were in the mix, as well. Next season won't be any different.

[@jeremytaft8247]

The only disaster I keep seeing is former Sabres playing in the Finals the last several years. Meaning the players weren’t really the problem it’s been the coaching.

[@Liv4epicness11]

You’d be lucky if anybody even considers taking Skinner. Unfortunately, I expect a buyout on his contract. Sorry, Joe. I don’t think he’s moving.

[@aarongriffin4901]

Yes but we won't do that until next season. This dude wants us to pay him 4.5 mil for the next three years and get nothing for it. Buyout this year pays him until like 2030 and he gets like 2 next year, 4.5 next, 6.2 next then like 2 mil for the rest. Next year's buyout is only 2 mil a year until 2028

[@mjboshko]

again skinner has a full no movement clause. He isn't going anywhere unless its to the Leafs. Not happening. they will have to by him out.

[@daniellowe8074]

Can Skinner just be waved. Then, if no one claims him. Bury him in Rochester. Then maybe he'd waive his no move

[@danevertt3210]

No……he has a one way contract

[@Teegee9209]

@@danevertt3210and you’d just eat the $9M as he hung in ROC. Better than a buyout

[@danevertt3210]

@@Teegee9209 what I’m saying is you can’t send him to Rochester. His contract won’t allow it

[@neilkennington2397]

Worst off season....resign Olofsson, Girgenson and Jost . Jost as your 4th line centre and Krebs 3rd line centre! Best off season ....trade 11th overall pick in a package for Boone Jenner CBJ, Sam Bennett FLA, Cole Perfetti Win, OR Morgan Frost Philadelphia 2. Sign either UFA Dakota Joshua Van or Ryan Lomberg FLA as winger to join Greenway & Krebs on the 4th line. 3. Sign UFA D man Brett Pesce Carolina to partner Owen Power. Samuelsson moves to 3rd pair with Cifton and Ryan Johnson is 7th D . Jokiharju is traded.

[@dxrknus]

Perfect!

[@danevertt3210]

Byrum will have a big new contract soon…….have you looked at how much of the salary will be spent on the defense Corp if we resign Byrum and sign another top 4 defenseman??? It’s way way way way way too much

[@jamesmiller6217]

I like the Pesce idea, but Longborg can’t even see the ice for the Panthers over Okposo, and you need to get more than a short term 3rd line center for the #11 overall.

[@sabref4i290]

Washington buying that site makes me almost as mad as trying to watch a podcast with annoying advertisements in it😎

[@wayne387]

Skinny stays one more year. You trade him to SJ would be shitty. Playing a long career and never seeing the playoffs would be sad.

[@MB-xq9hu]

As a Florida Panthers South Florida resident, this is our way of getting you guys back for the Bills..... Oh, and those Jerseys you guys have are #1 in my book in the NHL. Home and Away, I love them, and Go Panthers/Dolphins!!!!

[@comicbookcountdown9252]

Sabres jerseys might be the most blah uniforms in the league. Blue and gold isn't a great color combo, for a hockey jersey, at least. Yes, it has been their colors for most of their history, but that just means the nostalgia factor is high. I'd like to see the team adopt the Bills' colors and create a jersey along the lines of the Saginaw Spirit (OHL) as their jerseys are pretty sharp (different logo, though).

[@MB-xq9hu]

@@comicbookcountdown9252 I guess I like basic, you like splashy, probably the Houston Astros 1980s Jerseys rock your world! Hey it's a matter of taste, I am a traditionalist, I actually LOVE the Raiders Jerseys because they are the most basic of Jerseys and have never changed.

[@comicbookcountdown9252]

@@MB-xq9hu Take a look at the Saginaw jerseys - nothing splashy, just a standard hockey jersey design, but they look good and work with the Bills colors (more or less). It isn't about the design, it's about the colors - blue and gold works for company logos or other design work, but the blue and gold the Sabres use does not work for a hockey uni. And of course, there is very little good associated with those uniforms since they've never won a cup, so maybe create some better mojo with a change.

[@houstonrefinery719]

The only disaster scenario I can see is if Kevyn Adams fails to sign free agents and they refuse to play in Buffalo. Summer of 2023 was a disaster off-season, in retrospect. They kept Granato, failed to get a veteran goalie, signed Erik Johnson, didn't trade Olofsson, didn't get any tougher to play against.

[@TheDarthmalstrom]

That's what's going to happen. No one will waive their NMC to come here and FA's will refuse to sign here.

[@comicbookcountdown9252]

@@TheDarthmalstrom I think the hiring of Ruff was made in part to give the team a little more credibility in the coaching staff. Ruff is one of the winningest coaches in the NHL (although no Stanley Cup) and hasn't destroyed his reputation like Babcock or a couple others. I'm sure Adams will make use of Ruff in trade and FA negotiations.

[@TheDarthmalstrom]

@comicbookcountdown9252 the hiring of Ruff was nothing more than a ploy to get fans back into the arena to spend money. Relying on the past to build the future. The game has passed Ruff by and this will fail too. If only we didn't have a clueless fanboy owner making all the wrong decisions SMH

[@comicbookcountdown9252]

@@TheDarthmalstrom It hadn't passed him by in 22-23. The Devils' goaltending was bad last season which ultimately led to Ruff's canning. Ruff has more gravitas than Granato - it may not help them sign the absolute best FA's, but they are mostly looking to fill bottom-6 roles.

[@kevinkoszuta5425]

I think the Caps are using area denile. If the other teams don't have the tech it will impact them.

[@Bowman1999]

Really only half a year with UPL

[@redriverwave]

Where’s Melody Martin???

[@markbatcho60]

Sabres seem to have young promising centers….any thought on Lindy moving Tate back to wing…. he only went to center because they had no centers on roster….

[@dxrknus]

Caps Friendly 😂😂

[@michaelandrew8493]

Trafing levi would ve the worst

[@heartoftexas8092]

What ever Trafing is I'm sure Levi wouldn't like it.

[@TheDarthmalstrom]

Disaster off-season? Stay tuned you're gonna witness it with this gm

[@bjarczyk]

Adams literally built this team we have. The lack of foresight and gratitude from our fans is astounding.

[@TheDarthmalstrom]

@@bjarczyk will you still feel that way when Girgensons is brought back again?

[@philipscharmach3242]

Disaster off-season 1. Skinner still on team opening night 2. Greenway being asked to play in Top 9 3. Krebs as 3rd line center 4. UPL signed to 7 year deal 5. Failing to get a Top 9 Center and Top 6 winger

[@ronpeacock9939]

Laughable.. that the sharks would even be able to stop laughing at a skinner deal... Offseason Disaster: They resign ANY of their UFA's (well, can keep Robinson).. They need to let ALL of the rest walk. RFA's are fine.. our UFA's are our worst parts. 1 or 2 star signings won't get this team over the hump.. If they do go UFA shopping, they have to choose wisely.. Levi is a year at the most away from being our #1 UPL should get nothing more than a bridge. Levi will push him out before the end of next year (if he's not run out before) Resigning our UFA is worse than all rookies at this point... as far as Cap Friendly.. May the washington capitals NEVER SEE second worst until they undo their damage.. I wish nothing but the basement and failed draft picks...

[@daniellowe8074]

Send UPL to arbitration looking for a 2 yrs. Then, if he stays consistent. Longterm deal or move him out for Levi to take over

[@Michael-d2r4o]

owen power and Andrew "flopp" these guys are in the league for police man's over sensitivities #nhl

[@nfa80]

Washington Salary Caps

[@robc1961]

Samuelson should have went last year when he had more value. Skinner needs to go for sure and gurgs needs to go too. Been there way too long. Krebs isnt that great but could be on another team.

[@NicholasChudy]

No matter what UPL does Levi is the future so if i was his agent seek a trade where he could flourish & not be encumbered by a supposed all star goalie (so I hear)

[@tomhull1276]

Still trying to finger out how Stinky Joe got this gig. Most of the responders to this podcast seem much more knowledgeable about the NHL in general and the Sabres in particular than Jo-Jo the Monkey. This is the kind of podcast you get when it's early June, the draft isn't for another 3 weeks, training camp doesn't start for another 3+ months and you have to talk about something/anything. Sorry Jo-Jo...you need to find someone else to "write" your material cuz what you put out today is just junk.

[@jamesmiller6217]

Tits ok, Hopefully he will ‘finger it out’.

[@aarongriffin4901]

He got it by posting it. We are all the fools for even watching his crap

[@jammerz04]

Playing with benson means nothing tbh. He had what 30 points so to say he didn’t score with Bendon honestly means nil

[@heartoftexas8092]

I think if we sign a couple of good middle six guys and add 2 prospects and Levi, we can be much improved.