Author: Chris Ostrander

GM Mode Recap – A Breakdown of Both Offseason Gameplans

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Over the past week on the podcast, Tyler and Chris each shared their respective views on how they would approach the offseason if they were sitting in Kevyn Adams’ chair. For anyone who doesn’t subscribe to the podcast, missed the episode or simply needed to see a more detailed breakdown of the moves we made, this post will cover both episodes of the podcast. 

Each breakdown will highlight some of the key talking points we hit on the episode, list the transactions and display each respective lineup. Both episodes were recorded before the report that the Sabres are exploring the potential to buy out Jeff Skinner’s contract, so neither lineup reflects that move as we operated under the impression that the Sabres wouldn’t take on the dead cap. 

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The Instigator Podcast 12.43 – GM Mode (Chris’ Version)

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We’re back for another mock offseason. This time, Chris takes over the controls and navigates through the summer, picking the trades and signings he’d like to see the Sabres make. This comes after last week’s episode when Tyler offered up his approach to the Sabres offseason gameplan. 

You can find The Instigator Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts:

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Sabres Trade Tiers – Pre-Draft Edition

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The Buffalo Sabres are open for business. 

Kevyn Adams hasn’t been shy expressing his desire to inject talent into Buffalo’s roster and in addition to the 11th overall pick, it appears that he is prepared to include either players or prospects into an offer that brings back significant talent. Last fall, there was some expectation that Adams would take a stab at a significant trade, and in anticipation of that, we put together this list of trade tiers for Buffalo’s players and prospects. With it seeming nearly inevitable that Adams will pull the trigger on a deal in the next week, it was high time to revisit those trade tiers.

This list will differ a bit from the version in the fall as the Sabres still have several unsigned restricted and unrestricted free agents. Most of the team’s UFAs are of little consequence in trade discussions, so they wouldn’t have made this list anyway. But the RFAs remained, with some exceptions, as they still have value in a trade. I have also left draft picks off this list since, theoretically, they’re all readily available to be dealt at any moment. So this list will focus solely on Buffalo’s prospects and roster players. 

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Weighing the Pros and Cons of a Jeff Skinner Buyout

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Debate over using a buyout on Jeff Skinner has simmered for a few months. Skinner’s usage declined as the season wrapped up as did his production. As a result, some consideration over parting ways has been a topic of conversation going back to early spring.

Things changed on Tuesday, June 18 when a clip of Elliotte Friedman on The Jeff Marek Show was shared online in which Friedman reported that a buyout is a possibility. 

Friedman’s report will significantly increase the heat around Skinner’s situation. It’s no secret the Sabres are desperate to break their playoff drought. Kevyn Adams has hung a for sale sign on the 11th overall pick and there is an expectation that he will be aggressive this summer. Skinner is a complicating factor to any attempts to make significant changes to the Buffalo lineup. Not only does his $9 million cap hit account for over 10% of Buffalo’s cap, but his decline in production came, in part, with his move down the lineup this past spring. It’s a very difficult proposition to manage a $9 million cap hit if the player is only going to be effective in a top six role. 

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The Instigator Podcast 12.42 – GM Mode (Tyler’s Version)

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The days of trades and free agency are almost upon us so Tyler and Chris decided to try their hands at some GM work. In this episode, Tyler offers up his approach to Buffalo’s offseason and the way he’d reshape the roster if he occupied Kevyn Adams’ office. Next week, Chris tries his hand at the practice. 

You can find The Instigator Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts:

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The Instigator Podcast 12.41 – Goodbye to CapFriendly and Cup Final Hotstove

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One of the best fan resources in hockey, CapFriendly, has been purchased by the Washington Capitals and will close down in July. We talk about the best aspects of CapFriendly and why it’s such a huge loss in the world of hockey as the Capitals prepare to take it over. We also discuss how the NHL is missing a golden opportunity to remain engaged with their most passionate fans by developing their own version of the cap management tool. 

Along the way we offer up a roundup of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, the Sabres promotion of Jerry Forton and the report that some consideration could be given to shortening the NHL Draft. 

You can find The Instigator Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts:

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The Instigator Podcast 12.40 – Weighing Brady Tkachuk’s Value

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There’s been a lot of smoke surrounding Brady Tkachuk over the last few weeks. We dig into Tkachuk as a trade target and compare the public’s percieved value of Tkachuk versus what he should probably be traded for, if he’s traded at all. We also touch on the Sabres decision to not tender entry level contracts to three prospects, including Mats Lindgren and offer up a preview of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between Florida and Edmonton. 

You can find The Instigator Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts:
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Pinpointing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s Contract

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Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen needs a new contract this offseason and after an impressive campaign in which he solidified himself as Buffalo’s starting goaltender, he’s on track to receive a healthy raise and more term than the two-year deal he just completed. 

Luukkonen and Jeremy Swayman will be the two most notable RFA goaltenders to track this offseason. Swayman will be coming off a one-year, $3.475 million deal and will be in line for a substantial raise as he too has taken over the starting duties. Swayman could garner a contract north of $6 million a year, especially after his playoff heroics. Luukkonen doesn’t have the same track record as Swayman and won’t be flirting with the upper echelon of goaltender salaries. But he is still set to see a substantial pay increase. 

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The Instigator Podcast 12.39 – What is Jeff Skinner’s Future in Buffalo?

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Jeff Skinner’s contract makes him a popular target for roster speculation. We use this episode to discuss what Skinner’s future in Buffalo entails. We talk about where he fits on the roster, what the outlook is for a buyout and just what the best solution for the Sabres is when it comes to Skinner and the 2024-25 NHL season. 

Two in the Mailbox: An Abrasive Attitude

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It’s another edition of the mailbag and this time we’re tackling what the Sabres would need to change to adapt to the physical nature of the playoffs, how many new faces might be on the roster and Kyle Okposo’s recent comments on this year’s Sabres.

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