Rationale on roster:
COACHING:
1. Krueger recruits Brad Shaw (Assistant Coach in Columbus) to be his Associate Coach, having worked with Shaw during 2016 World Cup tournament. Shaw brings 20 years of NHL experience as an assistant at NHL level with strong tactical expertise, use of analytics and specialty-teams success with various teams.
2. Krueger recruits Todd Nelson (Assistant Coach in Dallas) to be one of his Assistant Coaches, having worked with Nelson when Krueger coached the Oilers in 2013-14 and Nelson coached Edmonton’s AHL team in Oklahoma City. Nelson brings experience as head coach at AHL and NHL levels with a reputation for developing young players and earning a strong loyalty from his players for communication skills and proactive thinking. Nelson would run the forwards and PP.
3. Krueger retains Steve Smith as his other Assistant Coach, having worked with Smith for 3 years in Edmonton. Smith would continue to work with the defensemen and PK.
4. Krueger recruits Martin Biron to leave media role and coaching position in Academy of Hockey to be the Goalie Coach.

FREE AGENCY:
1. Sabres re-sign RFAs Dougherty, Elie and Malone for Rochester.
2. Sabres re-sign RFAs McCabe, Rodrigues, Smith and Ullmark for Buffalo.
3. Sabres qualify RFAs Larsson and Girgensons to retain their rights. Both players accept their QOs.
4. Sabres re-sign UFAs Leier, O’Regan, Porter and Wilcox for Rochester.
5. Sabres also sign UFAs Matteau and Barber for added depth in Rochester.
6. Sabres re-sign UFA Skinner for Buffalo at 8 year term to a value ($69.2M) that any other team would have to pay $9.8M/Yr. to match.
7. Sabres also sign UFA Hagelin for Buffalo to add a veteran presence known for his skating, penalty-killing acumen and locker room leadership as well as a Cup winner Botterill knows first-hand.

TRADES:
BUF-PHA (Before Draft): With his role reduced, Sabres trade Scandella’s cap hit for draft picks. Flyers GM Fletcher, who had Scandella in Minnesota and said he didn’t want to trade him if the Wild weren’t up against the cap, brings him to Philadelphia as improved veteran depth for Vigneault.

BUF-CGY (Before Draft): In a swap of overpaid 32-year old wingers with 4 years of term, Sabres add a better goal scoring winger with playoff experience in Pittsburgh (with Botterill), Nashville and Vegas while Flames add a more physical winger willing to waive his M-NTC to go to a Cup contender. The Sabres retain $1M in salary to garner a draft pick being added from Calgary.

BUF-FLA (At Draft): With Panthers seeking to shed cap dollars for free agency pursuits, Sabres send a more affordable RHD and late draft pick to Florida for a mobile, puck-possession veteran. Pysyk’s 1 year of remaining term provides Buffalo flexibility for when Borgen (RHD) may be ready for NHL duty in 2020-21.

BUF-VGK (At Draft): With no cap space and needing to re-sign Karlsson and Gusev, Knights trade Haula and Miller for prospect defenseman and two high draft picks. With Bryson slated for Rochester and Samuelsson and Laaksonen 1 year away from coming to North America, Hickey is expendable.

BUF-EDM (At Draft): Sabres acquire the 2C and a shutdown RHD while Oilers acquire a 2C/3C to replace RNH’s spot; a RHD for the top 4 who can provide the point shot Edmonton wants for their PP; and two speedy wingers to bolster their lack of depth at RW. Sabres deal the 30th OA pick in exchange for the 38th OA pick.

BUF-LA (July 1st): Sabres add a RW with 2-way skills and Cup experience and a young, speedy 3C/4C; Kings add a younger top 4 defenseman to improve offensive contributions and physicality behind Doughty and 2-way winger for the bottom 6. Sabres swap what will likely be a later 4th round pick to Kings for earlier 4th round pick.

BUF-AZ (After Draft): Coyotes forfeit a 4th rounder to add a 25-year bottom 6 forward with work ethic fitting Tocchet’s style of play.

BUF-VAN (After Draft): Canucks trade a 3rd rounder to add a 26-year center for their bottom 6 and specialty teams.

BUF-OTT (After Draft): Senators add a 3rd pairing defenseman to get to help to get to cap floor and add a 4th round pick in exchange for a 6th rounder to Buffalo. Sabres get cap space without relinquishing

ROSTER:
1st Line: Skinner and Eichel re-team while Toffoli adds a finisher on right side with some defensive awareness.
2nd Line: Olofsson and Reinhart flank Nugent-Hopkins to balance a sniper, playmaker and 2-way center.
3rd Line: Smith’s and Mittelstadt’s speed, youth and playmaking are balanced by Neal’s experience and finishing ability as well as a willingness to play in high-traffic areas.
4th Line: Line blends 3 dynamic skaters with 2-way abilities to act as checking line that can contribute some offense on the counterattack and cycles in the offensive zone.

1st Defense Pairing: Dahlin teams with a veteran countryman, who can cover defensively while also serving as a mentor in a shutdown role.
2nd Defense Pairing: Montour’s offensive flair is balanced by the defensive-minded, physical McCabe.
3rd Defense Pairing: Pilut is given more offensive freedom with a defensively-responsible partner in Pysyk.
Healthy extras: Ruotsalainen acts as the 13th forward to interchange with Smith and/or the 4th line as he learns the North American game while Bogosian, with 1 year of term remaining, returns as 7th D for depth and his veteran leadership qualities inside the locker room.

CAP SPACE:
Sabres have $5.9M of cap space to work with during 2019-20 season.

INTANGIBLES:
Cup-winning experience (which Botterill places high value on) that is dealt in Sheary and Wilson trades is replaced by the signing of Hagelin and trade for Toffoli.

FUTURES:
Sabres work with existing and acquired draft picks to balance out the next 3 drafts.

That is, by far, the most detailed explanation I have ever come across.

I am not totally sold on the Edmonton deal, but I see the logic.

Overall, I kinda like it.

Wow, you've done a great job, respect.

Wow. I’m not even sure what just happened. This is crazy complex. Nice work.

Nice description
Iam all in on nugent Hopkins

I would like to see little more toughness

I am quoting every one who commented on this post:
Very interesting you did a lot of research to develop this team and proposed trades.
1) I sure hope Buffalo could get a 4th for Scandella, but a 3rd as well?
2) I like this trade very much
3) Really, Nelson for Pysyk? Not even close. You know Pysyk had the 2nd best +/- of Panthers who played over 40 games.
4) I seriously doubt that Vegas would trade either Haula or Miller for a 2nd, 3rd and Hickey. I am sure Vegas could do better elsewhere.
5) Well once you have Haula and Hickey, I can see EDM making this trade.
6) Ristolainen for Toffoli and Kempe, IMO the Kings say yes.
7) & 8) I would love to get a 4th for Girgensons and a 3rd for Larsson
8) I can see OTT making this trade.
I