Player Discussion Victor Olofsson (2014, 181st) - Part II (Heading to UFA, Playing at the WCs)

[jmelm]

It's "the grass is always greener" mentality.

His 5-on-5 game has improved so much, even while obviously hampered much of the season with injury. I'll be extremely disappointed if Oly's not back. Discarding a home-grown 7th-rounder with his talent, who's taken a long time to develop, just when he's starting to blossom, would be incredibly stupid.

The grass isn't always greener, but there are some players who are better than Victor Olosson. I've mentioned Bryan Rust and Nick Paul as examples I would rather target with the money and term we would commit to VO on a long term deal.

And while his 5 on 5 game has improved, it's still not as good as certain other players out there, Rust in particular. Or if there's any chance we could pry him out of COL, Nichushkin who plays at a Selke caliber level.

I'm excited to see what they can achieve next season, but you don't discard a guy who's probably hitting his peak starting next season because he *might* be made redundant by players who haven't yet proven themselves.

That's not "team building". It's "gambling".

It's not "gambling" if you're letting VO go and replacing him with a superior player via UFA or trade. It's a gamble if you let VO walk and don't replace him and just "hope" that youngsters will take his spot. That's a key difference.

I'm not a proponent of letting him go if we're not bringing in someone else of equal or better quality at the F position who we think is a better fit (brings a different element, is a more multi-dimensional player, etc.).

 

[jmelm]

You are pushing the narrative that Adams is going to trade him or as tried to trade him because some supposed experts said so. Except teams inquired on his availability. Afams said no ir the ask was too high.

sure Adams could trade him if VO diesnt want an extension. I feel buffalo gives him one.

sure nobody is untouchable….but be realistic here. He’s not getting moved fir spare parts if he does get traded.

No, you are not getting it. I'm not pusing a narrative. I am saying "there was some smoke out there". So if it's true that the Sabres don't want to commit to VO long term and may want to sell him this summer when his value at his peak, what would a VO trade look like, and who might we look to replace him with?

And yes, the ask should be high, and if that's why he wasn't moved that's great. As I've said repeatedly, VO should NOT be given away for anything less than a good trade package, and VO should not be moved unless we're getting a comparable or better player to replace him in our lineup.

Not sure how anyone can look at the above 2 sentences and say that's not a reasonable possibility (not certainty) to consider.

 

[SharkInABoloTie]

I say give him the arvidsson deal, so like 4.75x7 or 8

 

[jmelm]

I say give him the arvidsson deal, so like 4.75x7 or 8

Under no circumstance would I sign him to a 7-8 year deal. Arvidsson was 3 years younger than VO would be when he signed that deal with Nashville, and had just come off a 30 goal season.

 

[itwasaforwardpass]

I say give him the arvidsson deal, so like 4.75x7 or 8

At this stage I don't think there is any need to lock him up all the way to age 35. That sort of thing is what teams should avoid in UFA, and Viktor isn't even an UFA.

 

[Dingo44]

The grass isn't always greener, but there are some players who are better than Victor Olosson. I've mentioned Bryan Rust and Nick Paul as examples I would rather target with the money and term we would commit to VO on a long term deal.

 

[jmelm]

Well if you mean both, I would love to have Rust AND Paul over VO

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Well if you mean both, I would love to have Rust AND Paul over VO

Rust, Paul and VO would be one hell of a third line.

The model the Sabres should be looking at is Carolina. Like when you watch them, do you think that them having Domi and Kotkaniemi on the 4th line is a bad thing? Hell, their scratched players are still legit NHL players

 

[jmelm]

Rust, Paul and VO would be one hell of a third line.

The model the Sabres should be looking at is Carolina. Like when you watch them, do you think that them having Domi and Kotkaniemi on the 4th line is a bad thing? Hell, their scratched players are still legit NHL players

Sure, I wouldn't mind that at all, but I'd prefer Rust--Paul--Burakovsky

Or, Rust--Paul--Mason Marchment

 

[MarkusKetterer]

If VO signs for the same area, I can live with it

 

[Chainshot]

If VO signs for the same area, I can live with it

If VO signs that same deal, that'd be a loss for Buffalo.

 

[Sabreality]

If VO signs that same deal, that'd be a loss for Buffalo.

yeah I'm a VO believer and that'd be a tad rich in term and dollar. $4.25-4.75 is the sweet spot for 3-5y.

 

[jmelm]

If VO signs that same deal, that'd be a loss for Buffalo.

Bingo!

Too bad Rust is gone, but I’ll be perfectly fine with Filip Forsberg as a consolation

But seriously, Nick Paul and Andre Burakovsky, come on down!

 

[Sabreality]

Bingo!

Too bad Rust is gone, but I’ll be perfectly fine with Filip Forsberg as a consolation

But seriously, Nick Paul and Andre Burakovsky, come on down!

Sorry, but I'll hang on to VO all day over Burakovsky.

 

[Chainshot]

Bingo!

Too bad Rust is gone, but I’ll be perfectly fine with Filip Forsberg as a consolation

But seriously, Nick Paul and Andre Burakovsky, come on down!

Not a fan of Rust in UFA.

Sorry, but I'll hang on to VO all day over Burakovsky.

Yeah, that seems like shiny new toy syndrome.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

yeah I'm a VO believer and that'd be a tad rich in term and dollar. $4.25-4.75 is the sweet spot for 3-5y.

This would be the way. If he stays healthy it’s a good deal, but he’s a smaller skilled guy- anything over 5 potentially becomes a bit of a burden, at 4.5 he could end up being a steal. It’s a toss-up, but a risk I think you take.

 

[jmelm]

Not a fan of Rust in UFA.

Rust would undoubtedly be an upgrade on VO, or in additition to him. He's an extremely underrated player because of who he plays with. He'll age well because his conditioning & skating is among the best.

But if Rust is too old for some, can't complain about the age range of Nick Paul, Burakovsky, and Nichushkin should he hit the market (doubtful).

Not a lot of good UFAs this year (and even worse next year by the looks of things as it stands now), so I'd be thrilled to get any one of those guys.

 

[Sabreality]

Not a fan of Rust in UFA.



Yeah, that seems like shiny new toy syndrome.

ha yeah and not even that shiny, its one thing playing behind a stacked COL F unit, he's likely more to look like his Caps days here, I'll keep the VO howitzer vs hoping for some secondary scoring from a 8/9 F.,

 

[jmelm]

Yeah, that seems like shiny new toy syndrome.

Or you could argue the inverse, that thinking VO is better than Rust or Burakovsky is homerism syndrome.

But as I've said for a while, Nick Paul is still my first choice.

 

[Reddawg]

Bingo!

Too bad Rust is gone, but I’ll be perfectly fine with Filip Forsberg as a consolation

But seriously, Nick Paul and Andre Burakovsky, come on down!

If we end up signing Forsberg to the deal he's going to get, I'll be the one in need of consolation.

 

[jmelm]

If we end up signing Forsberg to the deal he's going to get, I'll be the one in need of consolation.

That's what the was for. We have our one big contract in Skinner, for better or worse. Not interested in signing another contract for anywhere near that money unless it's one of our own budding young stars when they're in their early/mid 20's if they're deserving.

 

[Chainshot]

Or you could argue the inverse, that thinking VO is better than Rust or Burakovsky is homerism syndrome.

But as I've said for a while, Nick Paul is still my first choice.

I don't think signing smallish offensive wingers like Rust makes the most sense compared to using that cap allotment in areas like goalie, 2nd pair defense. The variation in going up to sign someone like Rust just to make Olofsson expendable at this point doesn't seem like it is worth the effort to me. It's making the path more challenging.

 

[jmelm]

I don't think signing smallish offensive wingers like Rust makes the most sense compared to using that cap allotment in areas like goalie, 2nd pair defense. The variation in going up to sign someone like Rust just to make Olofsson expendable at this point doesn't seem like it is worth the effort to me. It's making the path more challenging.

It would only make the path more challening if the path was to sign neither guy long term, which may well be their plan. Perhaps that may be the rationale if they don't want to commit to VO long term.

If they're saving that money to allocate to other areas, then I agree, and therefore wouldn't expect to see VO get the 4-5 year deal that a lot of people are saying they would like to see.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

I don't think signing smallish offensive wingers like Rust makes the most sense compared to using that cap allotment in areas like goalie, 2nd pair defense. The variation in going up to sign someone like Rust just to make Olofsson expendable at this point doesn't seem like it is worth the effort to me. It's making the path more challenging.

Here me out here, but it would be awesome if Asplund and Girgensons were the 12th and 13th worst offensive forwards on the team. Assuming Skinner doesn’t have his 12-15 goal season after a big year like he seems to do.

Without doing lines, what’s the issue with being able to choose from (new possible guys last): Skinner, Tage, Tuch, Cozens, Okposo, Quinn, Olofsson, Peterka, Mitts, Asplund, Girgensons, Krebs, Ruotsalainen, Hinostroza, Burakovsky, Paul, Sturm, Nichuskin (assume 2/6 are signed)? That’s fantastic depth especially because of the inevitable injuries. That means two options before you have to call up a Biro, Weissbach, Rousek or whomever.

 

[Chainshot]

It would only make the path more challening if the path was to sign neither guy long term, which may well be their plan. Perhaps that may be the rationale if they don't want to commit to VO long term.

If they're saving that money to allocate to other areas, then I agree, and therefore wouldn't expect to see VO get the 4-5 year deal that a lot of people are saying they would like to see.

It's possible that they don't and he banks on himself going into next year. I don't think Vic is as good as Arvidsson so I'd rather they don't pay more than his cap percentage on more than just this upcoming season. Arvidsson had better totals and a more well-rounded game when he gave up multiple UFA seasons in that deal - that's why I'm harping on something less than 5.67% of next season's total.

Here me out here, but it would be awesome if Asplund and Girgensons were the 12th and 13th worst offensive forwards on the team. Assuming Skinner doesn’t have his 12-15 goal season after a big year like he seems to do.

Without doing lines, what’s the issue with being able to choose from (new possible guys last): Skinner, Tage, Tuch, Cozens, Okposo, Quinn, Olofsson, Peterka, Mitts, Asplund, Girgensons, Krebs, Ruotsalainen, Hinostroza, Burakovsky, Paul, Sturm, Nichuskin (assume 2/6 are signed)? That’s fantastic depth especially because of the inevitable injuries. That means two options before you have to call up a Biro, Weissbach, Rousek or whomever.

How are they sporting 18 forwards (by my count of your list)?