I think I would change your “requirements to win a cup” to playing at an elite level, rather than an elite player. Take the Blues the year they won the cup for example: Binnington is not an elite goalie, but he played elite that year. ROR is not an elite 1C (average 1C at best), but that playoffs, he played at an elite level. The majority of the Sabres players that will be a factor in any possible cup runs in the next 5-10 years are not fully developed yet. Quinn, JJP, Cozens, Thompson, Savoie, Power and a few others could become elite, or they could play at an elite level long enough to win a cup, or they could sputter out and be depth players. No one knows yet.
I think the Sabres are building a team that will be somewhere between that blues team and the Preds team that made the finals a few years ago. Elite defense, but also can run 4 strong lines, even if their first line is only average. I also think Devon Levi will become an elite goaltender, but we’re a couple years out on that.

BuFfaLOFaN
I guess all Sabre fans forget that Power has played exactly one more NHL game than Baron.
Owen is as much of a prospect as either Guhle or Justin.
I guess none of the Sabre fans watched any of the playoffs as all four of the finalist played with 3 RHD and 3 LHD, but Buffalo after missing the play offs the last 11 years think they are smarter then the cup final four teams and are certain Dahlin will line up on the right side.
Apparently the Sabre fans do not understand, two LHD on the ice together are vulnerable to aggressive fore checking when the puck is dumped in to the right of the GK.

With Levi and Guhle both at least two years away, I would need to strongly consider this trade.
Dahlin Barron
Guhle Lyubushkin
Samuelsson Jokiharju
Has the makings of a really good defensive core that could be around for the next 8 years.

On the other hand, Power looked very comfortable in his 8 NHL games.
While I never thought he would or could be better than Dahlin, he may have proven me wrong.
I think Karmanos would lose a lot of sleep mulling over this offer, but in the end, he would keep the devil he knows instead of the devils he does not.
Then lose more sleep wishing he made the trade.

sabresparaavida
Tarasenko (winger) and Pietrangelo (defenseman) are elite.
You are correct that Binnington played way over his head the second half of the season and playoffs.
The Blues had unbelievable depth with 13 players netting at least 10 goals while 19 yo Robert Thomas had 9 (yup the same Thomas who centered for Tarasenko and Buchnevich this past year) and Zach Sanford had 8.
So one may say they proved there is quality in quantity.
The Sabres could easily have the same depth next year and maybe have 14 players with 10 or more goals.
The nine they had this year plus, Asplund, Krebs, Mittelstadt, Power and Quinn

Well that is my lengthy tome, I have not written one in about a month.

I don't disagree with you at all, I would say this in agreement with you. I do think the sabres should think about a RD, but let's also remember, the most dominant team in the last 3 years, Tampa, had 3 LD that are better than there best RD and Sergachev played 30% of his even strength ice time with another LD. Power was great and I think him and Dahlin should be playing 20-25 each next year and another LD plays 10-20. But to your point IF Dahlin is not comfortable in the right side we should definitely consider trading a LD, my odd man out would be Samuelsson although I love the kid, think we could definitely get a very solid RD.

I think that next year if we find Dahlin is uncomfortable at RD but still dominates and Samuelsson continues his upward trend then there is a market for trading Power, which would be CRAZY to think about. Personally I think that the sabres could get even more than that package above if we where to wait a year and Power has a Calder level rookie year. Maybe Target someone like Brandt Clarke, or Nemec +.

Thanks for your lengthy tome! They are always very informative, Do you think the sabres improve next year to 95-105 points? Like the pace they where on at the end of the year last.