I actually don't think the Sabres would be interested in Karlsson. That contract is going to be tough when they are paying Dahlin and Power in the near future.

Canucks probably arent trading for another winger. Need to move a few just to fit in Hogs and Podz

Jesus that’s a lot of retention

Rather pay less for a defensive right shot d (although I'm bracing myself for some sticker shock). What would it take to get Mayfield as a ufa? 6mx3?

I could see them doing that or going after Soucy who's a lefty but can play right.

It's a big return, though.



That's fair. Let's say hypothetically the Sabres were interested in Karlsson. Would 2 A-level prospects and a middle 1st be worth Karlsson at $4m+ retained?

Yeah, I think the value is fine, I just don't see them wanting to commit to his contract. It would put the Sabres in the Same spot the Sharks were a couple of years ago with too many high paid D who are all offensive minded.

Even if one puts aside the huge aspect of the cap hit, age and that Karlsson has never been strong defensively in his own end, how could he possibly fit role-wise when Dahlin and Power are their clear # 1 & # 2 and will quarterback the two power plays? Karlsson is accustomed to being the "top dog" on every team he's been on - bringing him in creates imbalance in the role he'd fill vs. what they want Dahlin and Power to fill.



And it's not even enough - I'm not sure the Sabres (or a lot of other teams) would consider anything that didn't involve 50% retention.



I think there are better options that have the size and physicality but are much more mobile skaters that fit into the transition game Granato wants all of his players to contribute to and who won't cost a ransom relative to their role. If it's the trade route, Murphy is a better fit at a reasonable $4.4M AAV for 3 more years; if it's free agency, Soucy isn't likely to command in the $5-6M range given his current AAV ($2.75M).
Severson would be the ideal but his likely target range of $6M+ doesn't make sense for Buffalo if they will have around $21M invested in their current top 3 by the end of the summer. Who knows if Hanifin becomes available via trade but if he does, his next deal will also push into that $6-7M range that I can see Adams being nervous about.

Mayfield is a physical force and wins a lot of battles around his own net and along the boards but he's pretty mediocre on making the first pass or helping the transition game.......and, while many would say, "That's what Power and/Dahlin are for", we heard Adams say that he's not looking at any defender he may add as being cemented as a partner of either player. Granato keeps saying how everyone needs to be able to play with different partners, which is why each has to be capable skaters for the transition game. Mayfield isn't IMO.

As noted above, Severson is # 1 on my list of free agents but I'm ruling him out as a viable option because he's going to get a lot of bidders willing to give him $6M or more at probably the maximum 8 year term and that makes no sense for where the Sabres are and what they have already in their top 3. Soucy makes a lot more sense as a backup plan because he's got the size (6'-5", 208); can play either side as you noted; can play the physical style but also is a strong enough skater and showed a lot of offensive ability during his earlier years in Minnesota where he played both specialty teams. Some of the media reports from Minnesota and Seattle have also described how he's a strong locker room leader and character teammate - which are traits Adams seems to look at first above all else. I'm not sure if the Kraken want to let him walk but they'll have cap issues and will no doubt prioritize re-signing Dunn and Borgen first before deciding if they can afford Soucy.

That’s just foolish to think a team won’t take a 100 point defenseman unless his aav is less that $6 mil

Think I would just try to sign Gavrikov if he hits FA

No, the greater foolishness is thinking that a team in the top 5 all season in offensive production, with two future franchise defensemen already on the roster under the age of 22, but was in the bottom 5 of goals allowed would think that a one-way defenseman would solve their needs, regardless of how many points he scored.

Not sure that Gavrikov can play both sides. I am pretty sure he’s just a left side guy.

Could be right, but Power can

I never said Buffalo was the team, you said a lot of teams which I think is far off.

Buffalo pass, we don't need EK 65.

The trade proposal was for Karlsson to Buffalo - my response was on point for why that made no sense for that team. As for the cap hit, yes, it was widely acknowledged by every report linking Karlsson to a possible trade partner this past season (and not hard to figure when you look around the league at how many teams have cap issues) that a lot of teams would back off unless 50% was held by Sharks.