No reason for Sabres NOT to accept that.
- good spot for VO himself
- western conference team
- decent return

Accept

I dont think this team makes the playoffs though

Sabres Killorn signing = Jersey Palat signing. Sabres = 3rd in the League in 2023-24

Hmmm...curious as to why? There's a top-nine upgrade at forward (Killorn) and a top-four upgrade on defense (Cole,) plus a very competent backup goalie in Brossoit.

For starters, Savoie wont be here. Bet the farm on him going back to the WHL.

Killorn shot 20% this season, thats double his career average. He'll be 34 years old next season and we are not the puck possession team that tampa is. Most of our offense is derived from rush based chances. Hes not the guy for that.

Second, Cole's career sample size isnt great. hes having an exceptional year with TB this year, just this year. Any other 3-year sample for him looks very mediocre. Additionally, while he has spent SOME time at RHD, he is primarily an LHD and far better at it than the right side. He too has the same make up Killorn does in the sense that, Tampa's system is juicing his numbers, whereas playing for the Sabres would hurt them.

Finally, even if you arent willing to accept the two points above, Laurent Brossoit is constantly on the injured reserve list. Its a lot to bet on him being the consistent 1a/1b that Levi needs. Fwiw, I dont believe any part of your ACGM was bad or unrealistic, I just dont think it outpaces enough teams to comfortably say they make the playoffs. This is including the idea that no amount of individual regression next year from this year's players would hurt their chances.

--I'll take that bet on Savoie.

--Killorn's shooting percentage is 18.9 while his career is 12.5%, which isn't close to double. He's consistent and he's also on the ice having missed only 2 games in the last six full seasons since 2015-16. Not sure how one can debate an average of 20 goals and 47 points per 82 games for the entirety of his career? Five-big is a large dollar amount for a top-nine winger, but he has two Cups to his resume' and I can think of nothing better than having a scoring winger on Savoie's right side his rookie campaign.

--Cole is considered one of the better defensive-defenseman in the league. It's something he's earned. He can play both sides equally as well and he rock-solid on the kill.

--Brossoit? Meh. I don't think it will really matter as it looks like KAGM is leaning towards a Levi/UPL tandem.

You overlooked all the suff about system fit and cole is not considered one of the best defensive defensemen in the league, nor is it something he's earned.

Also i should have been more specific, i was referencing 5v5 shooting percentage. Levi/UPL? Yeah okay everything we said is moot. they could sign crosby and this team will miss lol.

Hockey's hockey. Sure, there's a huge difference in a CAR or TBL system vs. a NYI system but Buffalo isn't that far removed from either of those teams. There's no reason to think that Killorn won't produce very similar numbers in Buffalo to his career numbers. In addition, he has played in 135 playoff games scoring goals at the exact same pace as the regular season. And he has two Cup rings.

As for Cole, the operative word was "better," not best and it was chosen very carefully. The dude is solid in his own zone getting tough matchups with a career d-zone start of 58.7%, can play either side and has played the same brand of hockey whether in STL, PIT, CBJ, MIN, CAR, COL or TBL. Cole has played in 111 playoff games and is just as solid. Plus he also boasts two Cup rings. For what Buffalo needs right now, he brings good value at $3.3M and would make a great d-partner for Power as well as anchor the PK.

Theyre not far removed from those teams in terms of production, but in terms of playing style? They are very far removed

All of this is moot though. These guys didnt play for granato at any point and Levi/UPL tandem will sink the team.

I am inclined to agree that Brossoit is not the right guy to back up or split time with Levi. I would also rather spend the money on Mayfield instead of Cole. Wow, I like the idea of adding a veteran like Killorn, I would prefer it were a guy who wasn’t quite so old. He’s a nice player, but he does play sheltered minutes on a line where no one‘s really concerned about him. Savoie may get his nine game try out to start the year, but I don’t think unless he blows the doors off everyone that he is going to stick around. I like the idea of adding Acciari to this team, but I doubt you would see both Okposo and Girgensons not brought back. I would lean toward the Girgensons coming back from the two of them.

Not Bad at all, only thing is still think you could do better for Olofsson especially with retention. Not bad

Idk that Brossoit is an upgrade over Comrie
He’s looked horrible at times as well in his career

Kilorn is the only move you’ve made that gets me even a little excited
The rest is just “meh”

They were a combined 22-13-4. We have different definitions of the word sink.

Plenty of reasons. You're just getting 2 lottery tickets back and paying millions of dollars for those lottery tickets.

Point taken.

Or you can look at it this way, they can keep that $4.75M on the books for a player that will probably spend ample time in the press box. It's a hefty price to retain but it creates a roster spot for an upgrade or a young player and those lottery picks are important because Buffalo will need players on entry-level/cheap deals into the future beginning in 2024-25.

I think Cole could be a solid addition, and as we have seen sides don't matter with the Sabres. Even adding Cole doesn't stop you from adding Mayfield if desired.

Sabres need to start Drafting D so they don't have to worry about having to make as many moves. Plus Good young RD are like gold right now. Not having a legit D prospect in the system has hurt them in trades.

Yup. However, BPA is always the way they go. I get that many were ticked at the Leinonen pick because there were a couple (few?) d-men on the board that looked good. But, I also get that their goaltending pipeline was thin as well. Methinks they believed that Leinonen was BPA and I'd also wager that they had question marks with Portillo and Levi signing with the club and wanted to shore up an already thin position in the pipeline.

True, drafting best player available, but if that was true about BPA for the Sabres then Luneau or Casey would have been BPA at 41 if your going by Prospect rank.

I hear ya. Then again, teams have their own ranking system so who knows. And you have to admit, the Sabres have been deft in their amateur scouting the past four years or so. That said, it looks as if Leinonen was by far the best goalie prospect and it's highly doubtful he'd have lasted until the third round, so yeah, there probably was a reach there.