Vladislav Gavrikov leads a host of Owen Power partner options for the Buffalo Sabres

Vladislav Gavrikov leads a host of Owen Power partner options for the Buffalo Sabres

we continue to talk free agency here on the Lockdown Sabres podcast Today defenseman Gabricov Prover Dumalin Grizzlick Orof Burns There’s a lot to get to coming up on Locked on Sabres [Music] You’re Locked on Sabres your daily podcast on the Buffalo Sabres part of the Locked On podcast network your team every day What is up everybody and welcome in to this Friday edition of the Locked on Sabers podcast and thanks for making us your first listen every day We are free and available wherever you get your podcast Today’s episode is presented by Game Time Download the Game Time app create an account and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase Sticky Joe Debbiosi here on a Friday As always be sure to check us out on our YouTube channel If you would like to watch the show hit that like button hit that subscribe button and locked on text club That’s there for you over at joinsubttext.com/lockedons We are a week away from the NHL draft We are 11 days away from NHL free agency We are starting to see some trades be made in the National Hockey League We had Eric Holla traded for felt likely the ninth time in his career in a deal involving Nashville from a couple of days ago Dallas trading Mason Marchman 20 goal scorer big winger to Seattle Basically just to free up cap room that you’d expect makes it easier for them to retain Jason Robertson and Thomas Harley We’ll see if they’re able to do that So you’re starting to see some deals come in and a lot of JJ Purka smoke Looks like the Alex Tuck worries have died down a little bit and really the next two three weeks are going to shape the 2025 26 Buffalo Sabres in a massive way more than the last six months more than the next six months The next two weeks are going to be what decides whether this team takes a step forward or not in addition to all the work that the players and coaches are doing during the offseason How does Kevin Adams shape this roster we are going to find out And there are a lot of different trade conversations that we have had and can have today We’ll continue on free agency We’ve talked a lot about some of the forwards Not a lot of big name defenseman So today Owen Power partners will be the subject of today’s episode Looking at different options and one idea that I think stands above the rest as the perfect Owen Power partner uh almost perfect for what you’d be looking for in Vladim Vladislov Gaov who we will talk about at the beginning of today’s show but there are some big names like Ivan Prover and Brent Burns and uh plenty of others that I want to talk touch on today as well and then next week we’ll get back into some draft stuff We’ll get into some draft stuff and we’ll get back into some free agent stuff trade stuff Um very quickly on the trade front every day that passes it appears as though JJ Purka’s agent would be my guess Alan Walsh is his agent very active on social media is putting it out there more and more this team is interested in Purka and this team is interested in PURA It was the Rangers and then it was the Calgary Flames and it was the Tampa Bay Lightning and on and on and on When you get that many teams mentioned it makes me think that the agent is the one that is pressing for that And if it’s Purka’s agent that’s doing that then that would be some solid defense some solid evidence I should say that he does indeed want out So every day that’s passing I’m feeling like it’s more and more likely that Purka will be dealt Also we haven’t really talked about it in a couple of weeks because I haven’t seen any reporting on it But I got one text question about Bo Byum and whether like all’s kind of quiet on the Bo Byum front Do we still expect him to be dealt and I very much do I would be floored if he ever played another game for the Buffalo Sabres I think he is definitely getting traded It is a little interesting that we’re not hearing anything about it but I do believe that we’ll see a trade And then the Jason Robertson idea did it die yesterday with the trade of Mason Marchment to the Dallas Stars and the simple answer to that question is no it didn’t die but it certainly didn’t help If you’re hoping that Robertson does get dealt the Dallas Stars with a $95 million cap this year are already at $90.5 million and they only have 16 players under contract So they got to sign seven more deals and they only have $4.9 million to spend And Robertson’s not the only big ticket item I mean Thomas Harley who has one year left on his deal at 4 million bucks then he’s an RFA that is somebody that will get an extension Um and again those other six players that they’ll have to sign seven players they’ll have to sign will fill that in So no they still have to make some moves if they’re going to keep Robertson or they’re going to trade Robertson So um no you shouldn’t assume that it’s over but of course we already were thinking the Sabres were not a likely destination anyway So don’t lose all hope but you should have had all the hope in the world to begin with So that’s kind of the update on the trade front but let’s dive back into free agency I’m excited to talk about today’s episode because I think that this is actually a very interesting free agency for this position I think we’ve talked about how goalender is really not much It’s Jake Allen and then a bunch of guys that are fringe NHL goalies We’ve talked about a lot of the forward ideas There are big forward ideas like Mitch Mner Sam Bennett is going back to Florida He announced that at their party Um we’ve talked we talked about Nikolai Eers on our last show Be sure to check that out Brock Besser is a free agent Like there are there are big free agent ideas at forward On defense we’ve talked about Aaron Ecklad who is the biggest name but there are a lot of other ideas some really good and some as bad as humanly possible Well let’s dive in to some of those as we continue to kind of look for the right Owen Power partner And I think that is still the way to frame the Sabres defenseman hunt They do not need a Dene partner I don’t believe they need anything for their third pair They need to focus on a guy to play with power So when you think of Power and his strengths what I would like to see the Sabres do and I think many would is get somebody that is stable and responsible defensively so that Power has the ability and the freedom to roam and to be to kind of grow into his offensive part of his game So that leads us off with what to me is the best idea in free agency for the Buffalo Sabres on defense and that is Vladislav Gaov 29-year-old left shot defenseman of the Los Angeles Kings formerly also of the Columbus Blue Jackets where he spent four years and then the last three in LA Gabricov has been an ascending player since the early days in Columbus where he was a second third pair guy to where he really developed into a top pair defenseman last season and in the previous two also for the LA Kings Last year Gaverov was only behind Drew Dowy for average minutes per night He was a full minute behind Dowy Gabricov at 2305 per night average He also though played 82 games while Dowy played 30 So by a good margin Gabricov played more minutes than anybody on the LA Kings did that last season That is a playoff team That was a good possession team That was a very good defensive team and he was a top pair defenseman for them And then in the playoffs in that series against the Edmonton Oilers and Conor McDavid it did come down a little bit to 21 minutes but we did see him get matched up with McDavid sometimes There’s a clip you can find on YouTube of him mauling McDavid Um so you are getting a bit of a a bit of a physical player 6’3″ 220 pounds is Gabricov last year Not a lot of hits on the stat sheet So more can be physical Not going to be I think you’re going to get more out of him than you will out of like a Matias Samuelson and others but um you’re not having him come in and expecting him to be Scott Stevens What you are bringing Gabricov in to do is to be one of the best defensive defenseman’s on your team And for the Buffalo Sabres I think you would definitively say he would be your second best defenseman defensively behind Rasmus Dalene Gabricov and how he fits with Power That’s the right fit for me Even though he’s a left shot defenseman again we have some numbers that point to power is better when he plays on his off hand on his right side Anyway I envision Gabricov and Power playing together at evolving hockey When you go to their hockey cards and look at goals above replacement and where Gabricov lands amongst defenseman he lands defensively in the 98th percentile That’s last season If you do the last three seasons combined then you have Gabricov in the 96th percentile The Kings always had the puck and Gabricov when he’s out there the Kings always have the puck He shuts plays down along the wall out in open ice He’s a decent skater I think you’re getting a lot of good attributes out of Gabricov that really fit well with power And I think if the Sabres are trying to get better defensively which I think undoubtedly they are and they don’t want to be 29th in the league and goals given up anymore there’s not really a goalie to sign this this free agent period And there I wouldn’t say there’s another defenseman on the market even Aaron Ecklad that is as good defensively as Gabricov is I think he might be the best idea for the Sabres in free agency What kind of contract you’d be looking at he is Russian I don’t know what his preference is on where to play He’s played in Columbus He’s played in LA So I don’t know what you’d be looking at Now the other thing to point to here and you’ve may heard me mention Columbus a couple of times the thing the connection point that could get Gavricov to Buffalo is Yarmok Kekalinan Yarmokinan the current Saber senior adviser drafted Gabricov in the sixth round of 2015 and he was the GM through his first three seasons in Columbus There’s a relationship here I don’t want to just assume it’s a positive one but that’s a connection point that maybe the Sabres can utilize to get what I think is one of the best ideas for them maybe the best idea for them in free is to go get a shutdown defenseman who’s still only 29 years old and go throw him with Owen Power I would sign Gabricov I would offer him a big contract too Go offer him five six years at 6 million bucks per year and I think you could maybe you could maybe get him to come when we come back Couple other free agent ideas bigger names that Gabricov maybe not as good but Ivan Prov Brian Dumalin uh Brent Burns there are plenty of others We’ll get to him coming up on Lockdown Sabers Today’s episode of the Lockdown Savers podcast is presented by Game Time There is nothing like the playoffs and sadly it has come to an end But hey listen I know it’s a far trip but maybe you want to go check out Oklahoma City a game seven NBA finals I know I know it’s pretty far from here in 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tickets with Game Time Download the Game Time app create an account use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase Terms apply Again create an account and redeem code locked on NHL for $20 off Download the Game Time app today Last minute tickets lowest price guaranteed Back here on the Locked On Sabres podcast we’re talking about the blue line today and what is available to the Sabres in free agency Gabricov to me is idea number one Well let’s go through some of the other ideas And to me the guy I might expect gets the biggest contract in free agency is going to be Ivan Proarov Could could be There are a couple of names that this could be Um sorry of this the guys we’re talking about in this episode I think Eklad is going to get the most money but Prover might come in right after him Provate eater for his entire career This guy has played on top pairs really since he showed up in the NHL He was a seventh overall pick first round in 2015 He goes one pick before Alex Knander in that draft So drafted here in Buffalo Um no sorry that’s one year before Who am I thinking of i’m thinking of Sergeev Uh Provov drafted in the Eel McDavid draft 2015 seventh overall And his rookie year he played 22 minutes a night for Philadelphia And he’s averaged at least 22 minutes a night every year of his career including some seasons where he got above 25 Now a lot of that was in Philadelphia and he got Columbus and he kind of played in the same role He has never been a big point producer He did have a career year in 2018 where he scored 17 goals put up 41 points but more often you’re getting him in the 30 to 35 point range as a defenseman You’re not really getting much of him on the power play anymore Not much production on the power play there was a time in his career where he was getting a few more minutes on the power play If a team like Buffalo that already has two power play defenseman you’d have no need to put him out there Now Prover is a left shot defenseman He is 6’1 213 a little bit smaller than Gavricov Uh same age realistically 28 for Prover 29 for Gricov Prover though what I think is the reputation of Prov I think is of a you know guy that could play a lot of minutes and could really be a key contributor for you on that back end But I don’t like what I see from Ivan Prov I see a lot of turnovers I see a guy that reminds me maybe not as dramatically not dramatically as bad as this player but reminds me a little bit of Rasmus Rristtoinan Now maybe not as physical as Rasmus Ralinan was but when it comes to getting the puck out of your own end making the simple play making the right reads as a defenseman kind of quarterbacking your zone exits and setting up your zone entries I am not impressed by Ivan Prov in any capacity He is to me kind of a terrifying idea that there are teams out there that will fall for him as a top pair guy and I just I don’t see it The numbers reflect that as well He’s not a great possession player You’re never the better team when he’s out there on the ice To me he’s a defenseman that is going to command a big asking price that I don’t necessarily think is worth it I think that’s one of those contracts where if he signs a big one in free agency you’re going to see Twitter hockey Twitter smart hockey Twitter especially go “Oo that’s a bad deal for blank.” Because they signed Prov to a six-year contract for $8 million per year Just no thanks I don’t want any part of it if I am the if I am the Buffalo Sabres He is absolutely on my do not sign list Um he’s a guy that can play the penalty kill but uh not someone that I think is so good at it that that is going to o give you enough worth for whatever that contract is going to look like So I’m out now Columbus wants to sign him anyway but again not an idea for me um for the Sabres is Ivan Proarov I like Gabriov more and there are a couple of other ideas that I like more Although I will say there’s one idea in free that I like even less on the blue line that more less than prover Get to that coming back here on lockdown sabers Today’s episode of the locked on savers podcast is presented by Wonderful Pistachios If you’re looking for a snack that’s both delicious and nutritious crack into a good source of protein with Wonderful Pistachios Wonderful Pistachios is the highest protein nut and each 1 oz serving has six grams of protein giving you over 10% of your daily value Plus they are packed with fiber and better for you unsaturated fats to help keeping you feeling fuller longer I like the no shells That’s me I I just go for the handful of them But if you like the shells if you like that satisfying crack of opening each one it’s like snack meditation then you can get that too Whether you’re running between meetings or you’re dropping off the kids Wonderful Pistachios are the snack that works as hard as you do So get snacking and get cracking with the snack that packs a protein bunt punch Visit wonderfulpistachios.com to learn more Sneaky Jody Biosi here We’re talking defenseman on today’s show on the blue line What should the Sabres look for and what should they look for for an Owen Power partner i like Gabricov I don’t like Prover Well some other ideas How about let’s start here Brian Dumalan Brian Dumalan is scheduled to become a free agent 6’4 214 lbs He is a longtime player in the league 12 years in the NHL over 700 games played Also 86 playoff games played two time Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins He played over 21 minutes a night in both of those cup runs for the Penguins Um had some playoff experiences past year with the New Jersey Devils And he is a guy that interestingly has played more in the postseason than he has in the regular season because of his physical nature and the shot blocking And like last year or really good for his career 2007 20 minutes 7 seconds That’s his average ice time for his regular season career 2205 in the playoffs You get almost two more minutes a night for Brian Dumal I think that is representative of the type of player that you’re getting You’re getting a responsible defender You’re getting a shot blocker You’re getting a physical player You’re getting a veteran And when we talk about power there are different types of things that I think are of value to him I think a stay-at-home defenseman a good defender is of course number one and that’s why I like Gabriov for this but also a mentor a guy that can sit with him with the iPad on the bench kind of you know roommates even I don’t know just you guys are tied at the hip for the entire season This is someone that is going to help mold you as a player now that you should start you should start entering the prime of your career and what kind of player do you want to be in the prime of your career The molding of Owen Power that’s where a guy like a Brian Dumlain maybe comes in as making some sense And I do think you have had Dumlain being a solid defensive defenseman pretty much every year Although I was reading about his season last year in New Jersey and maybe that wasn’t happening so much with the Devils that maybe last year was a little bit of a down year for him and he is 33 years old soon He’ll be 34 at the start of the 2425 season but 25 26 season excuse me Um but I do think I do think that there is some left in the tank It was only two years ago that he was putting up some really solid numbers defensively He’s not going to give you anything offensively Career high is 23 points He’s 25 points Never going to play the power play But Dumalin to me is a solid idea and kind of an idea you could see for the Sabres right like 34 year old player kind of past the prime of his career Maybe he’s looking for one more big contract and the Sabres could be a team that would overpay a 34 year old like that and be able to land him So Dumalain might be a realistic idea for the Sabres um as a lot of these guys are he is also a left shot defenseman so need power on the right side The the idea that I hate the most more than anybody we’ve talked about today It because it just it feels too much like Connor Clifton to me I don’t want any part of the Saber signing Matt Grizzlick formerly of the Boston Bruins and then this past year with the Pittsburgh Penguins He had a career year He had 40 points Very odd stat line by the way Matt Grizzlick 31-year-old season 510 180 Not a big player but a physical player He is a guy that is like near the top of the list in shot blocks all the time Um his stat line was one goal and 39 assists Very very strange season Playing over 20 minutes a night for the first time in his career on a bad Penguins team Grizzlick Terrible advance numbers Smalish defenseman Tough competitor Shot blocker Hits Boston Years and years in Boston Does it Does this sound like somebody familiar does it sound like somebody familiar i think this is your Connor Clifton clone Matt Grizzlick is to me he’s Clifton 2.0 I know And he’s not a player I have any appetite for them going after at all I think you’re just hitting the reset button on a free agent signing that hasn’t really worked at all in Connor Clifton I mean I hell I’m ready to get Clifton off the team right now with a buyout So to add another guy that’s similar in a lot of different ways that’s the worst idea to me and that 40 point season that he just had I think you’re going to see that come back down Um he’s never had more than 26 in eight years before that I think that was an anomaly So I mean the year prior he had 11 points in 63 games for Boston Grizzlick to me that’s the worst idea imaginable It’s not like he’s young either He’s going to be 32 years old during this upcoming season Brent Burns is another name I wanted to mention here Now he might fit the profile for power as a mentor and as a lead a leader a a longtime veteran that’s been to the Stanley Cup final Like he knows what it takes Um Burns is 40 and he is and he always has been a very good offensive defenseman That’s that’s not really to me what the Sabres need though They need a guy for their their own end And Burns never has given you that and the numbers offensively have started to dry up Only 29 points last year for Carolina If he does continue to play in the NHL I think it might be over for him So Brent Burns to me big name big idea That’s the type of signing where Saber fans would it would move the meter because it’d be “Oh I know him Big bearded guy.” Like all right I like that But I think I think there are a lot of reasons to not do it if you’re the Sabres Not to call him not to even get in on it Plus I’m not sure he’d want to spend his last year on a team that’s tough to convince that is going to be give him a shot at the Stanley Cup Um so that’s where I stand on Burns Any other names really are a little further down the list dmitri Orof is the one other that I wanted to mention Or down here in Carolina teammate of Brent Burns last year He has he has been very up and down throughout his career but he has had some fantastic seasons He’s been a very good defensive defenseman especially going back to his days in Washington Um you could say not this past year but the year before in Carolina was a pretty good year for him as well But in Carolina the role decreased He was not a top pair guy like he was in Washington It really did go down Um 33 years old going to be 34 by the start of the year I’m not sure how much is left in the tank A down year last season kind of like Dumlain I think you kind of got to bet on all right was that a fluke does he still have anything left in the tank um and for Orv it’s it’s a little bit risky The difference with Orav is I think you’re going to have to spend more to get him than you’re going to have to spend for Brian Dumalan So between those two I might lean Dumlain but I think they’re both pretty close Those are those are good defensive players When they’re good they’re defensive players Um that aren’t going to give you a ton offensively Or used to a little bit earlier in his career And um I think power as their partner not it’s not a bad idea I think you could do better though And I still think Gabricov is the idea of doing better Notice something and this has just become more of a trend in the NHL Every player we talked about was a left shot defenseman They’re all leftot defenseman But again that’s okay because Power is uh very capable of playing on the right There’s really nobody worth mentioning that’s a right shot defenseman in my opinion for this So will the Saber sign one of the guys we talked about i bet they probably do I bet one of the names that we’ve talked about today Gabricov Prover Dumalin I don’t think it’s probably Brent Burns um Dmitri Oralov Matt Grizzlick I fingers crossed it’s not him Uh one of those names I think I would bet the Saber sign One of those names I think they’re going to be aggressive and they know what they need and they need an O power partner All right that’s going to do it for us today Do it for the week Next week is draft week So we’ll talk some prospects We’ll talk the ninth overall pick what the Savers could get for it if they trade it and also if they stay there options And we’ll continue to talk free agency and trades as we are expecting some movement Hey maybe by the time we talk on Monday there is movement for the Buffalo Sabres and there’s a move that’s been made We’ll see So be sure to check it out or stay tuned for next week and we’ll talk to you then Check out Locked on NHL for all things offseason in the National Hockey League They’re available on the Lockdown HL uh feed wherever you get your podcast and on YouTube as well Talk to you Monday here on Lockdown Sabers part of the Lockdown Podcast Network your team every day

Owen Power needs a partner, and there a bunch of defenseman in free agency that fit for what the Buffalo Sabres need, maybe no one better than Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. Sneaky Joe talks Gavrikov and also breaks down the likes of Ivan Provorov, Brent Burns, Brian Dumoulin, Dmitry Orlov, and others for how they’d fit on the Sabres second pair.

Could Jarmo Kekalainen use his connection to Gavrikov from Columbus to help facilitate a contract?
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