Is that something similar to what it will take to get Gibson? - probably. Idk bout moving a top prospect for Buffalo though. They need more than just a goalie to be a contender. & I doubt Anaheim is retaining $2.5m for that long

My line of thought trading Savoie is that I don’t see any room for him in Buffalo. He’s a center with great offensive upside but that center core is already loaded and I can’t see a fit. Regarding the salary retention I agree that it’s a bit much but I genuinely don’t think Buffalo would want him with his original salary.

Gibson is a bad goalie, this would be a mistake

That tiny prospect may be challenged to make the NHL and Comrie could not make it as a backup in most NHL teams and you're asking Anaheim to retain $10M over 4 years?
Maybe without retention there might be a chance.

Brutal for buffalo


Obviously

Savoie could be moved to the wing - he’s played it before and his speed is much more useful there. He’d be a very good second liner there. Definitely not worth giving up on him yet

You are right. Buffalo refused to trade him for meier or chychrun so they could trade him for John freaking gibson

He was drafted 13 months ago. What is there to give up on?

I'm not giving up it's just that he's tiny and making the jump to the NHL for guys that size is a bigger challenge so there is a higher risk taking him in a trade. Hopefully he has a long and fruitful NHL career, I'm just saying there is risk.

He was a top 10 pick, not some random 5th rounder

There have been 1st overall picks that couldn't stick in the NHL. He's 5'9". Match him up against the big Defense that just won the cup. He's going to have a challenge no question.

Which is exactly why Anaheim wouldn't want him. Verbeek been drafting and signing nothing but size.

And Anaheim wouldnt be retaining salary on Gibson.

why not wait until next year and sign Saros and if he isn't available, then trade for a goalie

How tall was the conn Smythe winner on that team?

Small but on average guys who are 5'9" have a much harder time of making the jump from junior to the NHL. If you don't believe that I don't know what else to tell you

Do you think the Sabres front office was unaware of his height when they took him 9th overall?

The Ducks counter by seeking Comrie and Oloffson from the Sabres for Gibson.

He’s playing behind one of the most inept defences in NHL history, in any other situation he’d be seen as a top 10 goaltender in the league

It doesn't change the point that a smaller guy will have a harder time jumping from Junior to the NHL. Whether he was taken 1st overall or 201st, it's a bigger challenge hence more risk. I really hope he makes it I'm just saying that giving up a starting goalie with $10M retained for the package you offered is too risky and I don't see the Ducks doing it.

Adams has gushed over Savoie, even saying "he defines the kind of player we want as Buffalo Sabres". With his age status this year, if he doesn't win a job outright in camp, they don't need to find a spot in the NHL roster for him this season but you can bet that they'll trade Mittelstadt before they consider trading Savoie. Even if their top 3 center spots in 2024-25 are filled by Thompson-Cozens-Krebs, Savoie has shown the ability to play the wing as well.

Yeah, Debrincat, Point and several others really had a hard time succeeding in the NHL.

Advanced stats say otherwise. Last season he was the third best goaltender on the Ducks and was 60th by GSAx/60