Funksoljah
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 1,222
Buffalo is going to sink or swim with their young core and Samuelsson is a part of that core. Given that Buffalo isn't a highly attractive destination for most top end UFA's and even trade targets if they have NTC's (Murray for example). In that aspect this was a smart signing by Adams to lock up the guy they see as Dahlins partner for the next 8 seasons. This also incentivizes Dahlin to extend next off-season knowing he now has his D partner and Coach both extended.
They are barely above the cap floor, and shouldn't be approaching the cap ceiling for at least a few years. If they do start approaching the cap ceiling it would be due to a whole bunch of young players breaking out, and that would be a hell of a good problem to have. If he continues at his level of play they expect it's a great deal, and if he falters to a 3rd pairing level Dman that extra 1.5 million isn't going to be the difference between keeping one of their top players or not.