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2nd pair LD options

Created by: sabertooth12
Team: 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres
Initial Creation Date: May 5, 2020
Published: May 5, 2020
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
What are the Sabres going to do with their 2nd pair LD hole?

McCabe and Pilut are essentially 3rd pairing shutdown guys, so I don't see either of them playing the role properly. This position would most likely be played beside Jokiharju for the 20-21 season.
A lot depends on Samuelsson, who I think can fill that role in 2 years. That being said, we either need a 2 year stopgap or I would assume we trade him in a package for someone who can fill the hole long-term.
I used RAPM charts from Evolving Hockey, any players under these categories not mentioned would not be worth trading for: we need players with good analytics

Long term: Brodin, Lindholm, Sergachev- all would cost a lot of assets
2 years left on contract: Kempny (Probably not a huge upgrade from McCabe), Will Butcher (think he would be good, but probably too valuable to NJ at the moment)
3 years: Orlov (probably too valuable to the Caps), Dumoulin (probably too valuable to Pens), Jake Gardiner

Summer UFA option: Brodie- estimated 3 year contract

If I'm the Sabres GM (hopefully not Botts): I would overpay to get Brodie and eventually trade him when Samuelsson/Johnson are ready. Brodie's analytics are fantastic. My backup would be Jake Gardiner and do the same thing, his analytics are decent but nowhere close to as good though. He could be cheap to get from Carolina. I would love Sergachev, but I do not think we have the assets to get him, and Brodin or Lindholm would be great, but they would be taking super long deals into their mid-30's after their current contract is up, and that doesn't align with the Sabres's current core at all. This is all if you believe that Pilut would not improve significantly or if McCabe somehow develops more offense in the offseason, both which seem unlikely at this point

Let me know what you think in comments
DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2020
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2021
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2022
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ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
25$81,500,000$77,596,667$0$7,107,500$3,903,333
Left WingCentreRight Wing
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Skinner, Jeff
$9,000,000$9,000,000
LW, RW
NMC
UFA - 8
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Eichel, Jack
$10,000,000$10,000,000
C
UFA - 7
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Okposo, Kyle
$6,000,000$6,000,000
RW
M-NTC
UFA - 4
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Frolík, Michael
$4,300,000$4,300,000
LW, RW
M-NTC
UFA - 1
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Johansson, Marcus
$4,500,000$4,500,000
LW, RW
M-NTC
UFA - 2
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Simmonds, Wayne
$2,500,000$2,500,000
RW, LW
M-NTC
UFA - 1
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Sobotka, Vladimír
$3,500,000$3,500,000
LW, C
UFA - 1
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Girgensons, Zemgus
$1,600,000$1,600,000
LW, C
UFA - 1
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Reinhart, Sam
$3,650,000$3,650,000
RW
UFA - 1
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Vesey, Jimmy
$2,275,000$2,275,000
RW, LW
UFA - 1
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Larsson, Johan
$1,550,000$1,550,000
C, LW
UFA - 1
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Kahun, Dominik
$925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$2,850,000$3M)
LW, RW, C
UFA - 1
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Thompson, Tage
$925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$425,000$425K)
C
UFA - 1
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Olofsson, Victor
$767,500$767,500 (Performance Bonus$132,500$132K)
RW, LW
UFA - 1
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Lazar, Curtis
$700,000$700,000
RW, C
UFA - 1
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
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McCabe, Jake
$2,850,000$2,850,000
LD/RD
UFA - 2
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Ristolainen, Rasmus
$5,400,000$5,400,000
RD
UFA - 3
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Hutton, Carter
$2,750,000$2,750,000
G
UFA - 2
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Hunwick, Matt
$2,250,000$2,250,000
LD
UFA - 1
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Miller, Colin
$3,875,000$3,875,000
RD
UFA - 3
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Ullmark, Linus
$1,325,000$1,325,000
G
UFA - 1
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Pilut, Lawrence
$925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$425,000$425K)
LD
UFA - 1
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Montour, Brandon
$3,387,500$3,387,500
RD
UFA - 1
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Dahlin, Rasmus
$925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$2,850,000$3M)
LD/RD
UFA - 2
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Jokiharju, Henri
$925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$425,000$425K)
RD
RFA - 2

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May 5, 2020 at 8:54 p.m.
#1
NoWah49
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Jack Johnson wink
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May 5, 2020 at 9:08 p.m.
#2
Adambuffalo
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Would rather just sign Brenden Dillon.
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May 5, 2020 at 9:08 p.m.
#3
Dan10900
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If you're just going after a pure stop gap option would Pilut really be the worst option... I mean you've survived Risto on the top pair this long, Pilut>Risto so...
May 5, 2020 at 9:21 p.m.
#4
sabres1108
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Quoting: Adambuffalo
Would rather just sign Brenden Dillon.


not great but could do worse and hes just an overall solid good ol' stay at home guy with valuable extensive playoff experience
Wouldnt be opposed at the right price/term....what you thinking? 3.75 mil x 3 year contract?
May 5, 2020 at 9:33 p.m.
#5
bhavikp27
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John Moore is available at any price
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May 5, 2020 at 9:39 p.m.
#6
sabertooth12
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Quoting: Adambuffalo
Would rather just sign Brenden Dillon.


At that point we would just use McCabe
May 5, 2020 at 9:42 p.m.
#7
sabertooth12
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Quoting: AFOX10900
If you're just going after a pure stop gap option would Pilut really be the worst option... I mean you've survived Risto on the top pair this long, Pilut>Risto so...


The hope before this past season was that Pilut would take on the 2nd pair LD role, but after this past season I am starting to have some reservations. I think he would play better with Jokiharju but that is a risky second pairing to have. He would be going from 14-16 minutes per game to 19-21 minutes per game
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May 5, 2020 at 9:46 p.m.
#8
Ragsandbluesfan
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Zadorov?
Dehaan?
Ghost?
May 5, 2020 at 9:47 p.m.
#9
Adambuffalo
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Quoting: sabres1108
not great but could do worse and hes just an overall solid good ol' stay at home guy with valuable extensive playoff experience
Wouldnt be opposed at the right price/term....what you thinking? 3.75 mil x 3 year contract?


I was thinking around that with $4m my max. We need that type of dman to compliment all the offensive (mostly undersized) dmen we have.
Plus, nearly every fight he gets into is a direct response from opposing teams taking liberties on skilled players.

I would even consider bringing Zadorov back for the right price.
May 5, 2020 at 10:01 p.m.
#10
Dan10900
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Quoting: sabertooth12
The hope before this past season was that Pilut would take on the 2nd pair LD role, but after this past season I am starting to have some reservations. I think he would play better with Jokiharju but that is a risky second pairing to have. He would be going from 14-16 minutes per game to 19-21 minutes per game


Fatigue affect is a thing, but if you're worried about him struggling bc those will usually be more challenging minutes I wouldn't be all that worried, QoT usually doesn't vary all that much, and doesn't have a huge affect
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May 5, 2020 at 10:26 p.m.
#11
SociallyHawkward
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Edited May 6, 2020 at 1:05 p.m.
De Haan or Maatta could be had pretty cheap from the hawks if you feel like bending over bowman* again after the jokiharju trade
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May 5, 2020 at 10:31 p.m.
#12
Jack_
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Realistically buffalo should be wanting to shelter Dahlin and his partner a little bit. To get the best out of him currently and to further develop him and his partner their goal should to play him against 2nd and 3rd lines defensively and give him a bunch of OZ shifts. I'm not sure who is usual partner is but imo the smart thing to do would be Dahlin-Joki on the 2nd pair in the scenario I just described and McCabe-Miller on the 3rd pair. That gives them an amazing 2nd and 3rd pair.
Dahlin will be ready for the 1st pair soon but throwing him and miller/Joki to the wolves is a horrible thing to do.

What buffalo needs is someone to go up against top competition throughout the game. Risto and Montour have been this season and it went horribly. Both are 3rd pairing defensemen who will get extremely overpaid. If I were GM jack eichel I would target Brodin and Demelo. Those are two guys who are strong defensively, solid offensively and good puck movers. They are good PK'ers and both are trusted against top competition. That would give buffalo 3 extremely strong pairs, they already have guys to play on the PP so losing risto and montour doesnt matter
May 5, 2020 at 10:55 p.m.
#13
Warrior24
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Nick Leddy should be available for picks.
May 5, 2020 at 11:22 p.m.
#14
sabres1108
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Quoting: Adambuffalo
I was thinking around that with $4m my max. We need that type of dman to compliment all the offensive (mostly undersized) dmen we have.
Plus, nearly every fight he gets into is a direct response from opposing teams taking liberties on skilled players.

I would even consider bringing Zadorov back for the right price.


too bad Jake McCabe is totally ineffective....

F*ck Zadorov he tried to kill my sweet boy
May 6, 2020 at 4:43 a.m.
#15
Sabrebluehs
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I think Erik Gustafsson or Joel Edmundson would be good options.
May 6, 2020 at 7:38 a.m.
#16
CD282
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Why are you looking for a 2nd pair LHD? I would have expected that Dahlin would be ready to move up to 2nd pair next year.
May 6, 2020 at 12:35 p.m.
#17
sabertooth12
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Quoting: Ragsandbluesfan
Zadorov?
Dehaan?
Ghost?


Not really upgrades in my opinion
May 6, 2020 at 12:35 p.m.
#18
sabertooth12
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Quoting: CD282
Why are you looking for a 2nd pair LHD? I would have expected that Dahlin would be ready to move up to 2nd pair next year.


He's already first pair...
May 6, 2020 at 12:37 p.m.
#19
sabertooth12
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Quoting: Warrior24
Nick Leddy should be available for picks.


Probably as bad defensively as Risto
May 6, 2020 at 12:38 p.m.
#20
sabertooth12
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Quoting: Jack_
Realistically buffalo should be wanting to shelter Dahlin and his partner a little bit. To get the best out of him currently and to further develop him and his partner their goal should to play him against 2nd and 3rd lines defensively and give him a bunch of OZ shifts. I'm not sure who is usual partner is but imo the smart thing to do would be Dahlin-Joki on the 2nd pair in the scenario I just described and McCabe-Miller on the 3rd pair. That gives them an amazing 2nd and 3rd pair.
Dahlin will be ready for the 1st pair soon but throwing him and miller/Joki to the wolves is a horrible thing to do.

What buffalo needs is someone to go up against top competition throughout the game. Risto and Montour have been this season and it went horribly. Both are 3rd pairing defensemen who will get extremely overpaid. If I were GM jack eichel I would target Brodin and Demelo. Those are two guys who are strong defensively, solid offensively and good puck movers. They are good PK'ers and both are trusted against top competition. That would give buffalo 3 extremely strong pairs, they already have guys to play on the PP so losing risto and montour doesnt matter


I would push really hard for Brodie, but I wouldn't mind Brodin. I'm just afraid of the package MIN would want for a guy on an expiring contract
May 6, 2020 at 1:19 p.m.
#21
Ragsandbluesfan
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Quoting: sabertooth12
Probably as bad defensively as Risto


Hes not that bad with McCabe
May 6, 2020 at 1:35 p.m.
#22
Jack_
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Quoting: sabertooth12
I would push really hard for Brodie, but I wouldn't mind Brodin. I'm just afraid of the package MIN would want for a guy on an expiring contract


Brodie would also be a very good option but at his age and the contract he would want it would be extremely tough. Brodin is one of the best defensive defensemen in the game, especially off the rush hes the best. The way the league is going with speed and skill he will be extremely valuable whereas brodie isnt getting any better
May 6, 2020 at 4:01 p.m.
#23
CD282
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Quoting: sabertooth12
He's already first pair...


He actually plays 3rd pairing comp - he is the most sheltered defenseman on the Sabres roster. I expect he'll be ready to move up to 2nd pairing next season though.
May 7, 2020 at 2:34 p.m.
#24
sabertooth12
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Quoting: Jack_
Brodie would also be a very good option but at his age and the contract he would want it would be extremely tough. Brodin is one of the best defensive defensemen in the game, especially off the rush hes the best. The way the league is going with speed and skill he will be extremely valuable whereas brodie isnt getting any better


I would overpay for Brodie if you can get him on a deal for 3 years or less, but I agree. Both are play-drivers
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May 9, 2020 at 4:37 a.m.
#25
Richard88
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How about:

Reinhart

for

Graves
Compher
Bowers
COL 2020 1st (~#28 overall)

That package includes:

- a young top 4 LHD (a clear need for Buffalo);
- a middle 6 C/RW;
- an NHL ready 3C prospect;
- a 1st in a deep draft, where you can for example pick Perreault/Guhle/Wallinder/Lappiere/O'Rourke/Peterka/Jarvis/etc. Buffalo also likely drafts a forward (eg. Perfetti/Rossi/Holtz/Raymond) at #7, thereby replacing Reinhart in the top 6.
 
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