Sabres catch a break

Équipe: 2020-21 Sabres de Buffalo

Date de création initiale: 19 juin 2020

Publié: 19 juin 2020

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

I made a mock draft by the same name... Sabres win the lottery! But then, instead of making the pick, they send it to LA in exchange for the #2 pick and Gabriel Vilardi. Fair trade? Comment below!

Since the CHL is talking about starting in October and the NHL likely won't start until December (and the fact that Byfield is one of the youngest players in the 2020 draft), I have Byfield playing the entire season in the OHL and then joining the Sabres once his junior playoff run is over. Let him dominate against his peers rather than playing against adults on a squad that is still finding its footing.

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Russell is a veteran shutdown defenseman who can help on the PK. He costs just $1.5M next year and brings veteran leadership, work ethic and intensity to the team.

Anaheim needs RHD and could use some help on their 30th place PP, so I figured Miller might be a good fit. Backes is a steady veteran with experience who should help stabilize this young roster through the ups and downs of the season.

St Louis is desperate for cap space and Allen has lost the starter job, so they might go for this. I guess it depends on if they feel Hutton can be a capable backup as he has so many times in his career. In any case, they won't find a UFA backup for less. I tried to get Lundqvist from the Rangers but he wouldn't waive his NMC.

Notice I signed and acquired guys on 1 year deals who can be traded for mid-round picks at the deadline if the Sabres are out of contention by then. Although I like this roster better than the current one, I am a "hope for the best but plan for the worst" kind of person.

I wasn't sure how to arrange the lines, but I tried to optimize the 1st line and also create a shutdown 4th line. Although Eichel played a lot with Olofsson this year, all of his metrics are better with Skinner so I opted for this setup. I wanted to have at least 1 veteran on each of the middle six lines, all these players cam be mixed and matched as needed and I couldn't care less.

McCabe and Ristolainen were a serviceable 1st pairing this year - not great but they didn't get caved - so I would continue with that. Dahlin and Jokiharu are the 1st pairing of the future but I don't think they're ready now, so I have them on the 2nd pair.

Allen and Ullmark can split the starts, that should keep them both fresh and give the Sabres a better chance of winning on any given night than riding either guy hard.

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