Team: 2024-25 Buffalo Sabres

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 9, 2024

Published: Jan. 9, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Use the rest of this season to evaluate if Granato is the right coach to turn Buffalo into a constant playoff contender (Woodcroft, Gallant, Nelson would be options to replace him in the offseason)
Olofsson to Washington- he is having a down year, influenced by the fact that he is seeing just 11 minutes of ice time/night. Change of scenery is needed, Capitals could use him to improve their low goalscoring and their weak PP
Johnson to New Jersey - Devils can use an experienced defenseman in their young team
I dont think it makes sense for Buffalo to go after big offensive UFAs with their cap space. Their top 2 centers are locked up, Tuch and Skinner are good top 6 wingers. In the middle six they have a lot of talent, signing an UFA would block their development (i expect Kulich to be a regular NHler, Rosen and Savoie to get call ups). Resigning Mittelstadt is the big move here, i used the Strome contract in Washington as a comparison as Mittelstadt is on pace to play basically the same statistical season as Strome in his contract year (CM on pace for 23-45-68, DS 23-42-65 in 81 games) and both had a similiar development to this point.
I decided to bring back Girgensons and Okposo as they are well respected long term Sabres in the team and the fanbase and still bring good bottom 6 value to this young team.
Signing Pesce to improve their defense. He will have a big market as a right shot defensive d-man, maybe the fact that he is from NY can help the Sabres to get him signed long term.
Jokiharju returning on a similiar contract as a solid defenseman.
I decided to bring in an experienced goalie to help the two young guys out. You really saw the positive influence in having Andersson in the past, with an experienced Goalie giving them a solid base level and being a good role model for the young guys. Talbot would be a good fit, going close to his home, still being able to play decent numbvers in a reduced role. Bringing in a long term/ high paid doesnt make sense to me as Levi and UPL still have the potential to be the goaltending future in Buffalo.

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