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Well they aren't going to make the playoffs but for me, to improve, the 3 would be: 1) Power developing into what he's paid to be 2) Norris being healthy and playing most of the season (and contributing at his healthy NHL rate) 3) Lindy Ruff actually getting this team to play a hard to play against defensive structure. I do not expect any of these 3 things to happen.

Exactly. It's not that we "don't want Benson" in the top 6, we just don't think we should keep playing kids in top 6 roles. Benson may very well become a true top 6 player but he really is just a kid.

How is there internal competition? We already know the 6 D, and the only real question is where Doan fits in. I guess we also have Tage as wing or center but almost everything is already set. I see very little competition for spots at all.

Well solid is arguable but he is a veteran. Anyway, I'm laughing a fair bit at how Sabres fans here have turned on him so quickly. I still remember the conversations of "how are we going to pay him in a few years" from way way back. Now watch him and Cozens have career years lol.

We want the team to be better defensively and harder to play against, right? Here are some statistical comparisons (all #s 5-on-5, green=Sabres got better, red=Sabres got worse) Cozens/Norris TOI: 17:04/18:21 DZone starts 10.8% /15.4% Shot attempts against per 60: 60.56/60.94 xGA per 60: 2.89/2.63 Hits: 187/124 Blocked shots: 35/34 Takeaways 12/9 Faceoffs 52.1%/54.6% Peterka/Doan TOI: 18:11/13:31 DZone starts: 10%/8.7% Shot attempts against per 60: 61.53/47.66 xGA per 60: 3.0/2.0 Hits: 27/45 Blocked shots: 14/14 Takeaways: 18/10 Lafferty/Danforth TOI: 9:53/14:23 DZone starts 11.4%/13.8% Shot attempts against per 60: 57.82/60.44 xGA per 60: 2.55/2.64 Hits 84/125 Blocked shots: 16/31 Takeaways 5/7 Faceoffs 50.4%/50.5% Jokiharju/Kesselring TOI: 17:50/17:41 DZone starts 10.7/9.06 Shot attempts against per 60: 54.79/55:07 xGA per 60: 2.54/2.35 Hits 44/82 Blocked shots: 44/65 Takeaways 12/20 Clifton/Timmins TOI: 16:03/16:55 DZone starts: 11.9%/9.2% Shot attempts against per 60: 63.39/56.56 xGA per 60: 2.79/2.5 Hits: 180/55 Blocked shots: 81/79 Takeaways: 23/11

Albany FireWolves are relocating to Ontario for upcoming season https://share.google/IVRO1Yigvutm765cQ That's a shame but it's not like Albany showed up in big numbers. I drove from NH two years ago when the Bandits had a playoff game there and they barely had 4,500, and maybe 1,000 were Bandits fans.

I haven't played fantasy football in years. Might be interested if you need another.

I'm very much in favour of adding a reliable veteran top six forward. I was just replying to @Archie Lee's hypothetical. That said, like @Weave I'm not sure Mittelstadt fits that profile. And I think you are missing out on the reality that there is internal competition. Of course I'd rather have another Norris-level player in that 4th forward spot and push somebody into the press box with Malenstyn. But look at what they do have. Everyone acknowledges Norris, Tuch and Thompson as top 6 forwards, but they forget that Jason Zucker and Ryan McLeod were both reliable plus players who each played 16 minutes a game and topped 20 goals and 50 points. I know you disagree, but by objective statistical measures, they were legitimate 2nd liners. There is one spot up for grabs in the top six and at least three high-pedigree young players — Kulich, Benson, Quinn — competing for it. Maybe Doan makes four. You do only "need" one of the group to break out. If two of them bust out, you are pushing a legitimate 2nd-liner on to your 3rd line. And McLeod and Zucker aren't just going to hand over their ice time. To me, that looks like the definition of internal competition. Taking it a step further: Danforth, Krebs, Greenway and Doan are 2-way players who all played 3rd line minutes last year. Add in two of Kulich, Quinn and Benson and you get 6 players fighting for 3rd-line minutes and three guys capable of 3rd line minutes on your 4th line. Again, that looks to me like more internal competition. And it also looks like depth. I'm not saying this group is good, or even good enough. I am saying there is enough depth and internal competition to give the coach options. The fact of the matter is, you don't even need any of these players to break out statistically. Their production from last year adds up to a playoff-calibre offence. You need them to take care of their own zone. Let's hope the coaching staff gives the ice time to the ones that do.

I’d play if you need a replacement.

I don’t value Casey Mittlestadt. I don’t see him as a “solid” veteran. Very unsolid in my eyes.

Do you honestly think this roster will stay healthy all year? Your playoff reliance is all on 3 youngsters stepping up all at once (Benson, Kulich, Quinn). If they don't, or only one does, it's nowhere near enough. Do you not value depth and internal competition? If you don't add one more solid veteran (be it Mitts or whoever) how do you sit underperformers without depleting the line up? Isn't that an ongoing issue with this team?

There’s little doubt Mitts is the most proven player, but it would be very hard for me to predict which one would help the Sabres most this year. As bad as Jack Quinn was last year, he probably had a better season than Casey and I think he’s got a higher ceiling. What’s more likely: Kulich taking a step offensively or Casey defensively? Because there is no doubt the Sabres need the more reliable player. Not sure what happened to Casey this year because he’s better than what he showed. But how does a player go from +12 in 60ish games in Buffalo to -12 in 60ish games in Denver to -17 in 18 games in Boston? I mean he’s certain to bounce back with a career year with the Bruins because Boston, but in Buffalo?

Reporting is that Trump will host a sit down with Putin and Zelenskyy, hopefully a peace treaty will soon follow.

There’s little doubt Mitts is the most proven player, but it would be very hard for me to predict which one would help the Sabres most this year. As bad as Jack Quinn was last year, he probably had a better season than Casey and I think he’s got a higher ceiling. What’s more likely: Kulich taking a step offensively or Casey defensively? Because there is no doubt the Sabres need the more reliable player.

We have one open spot. I tried looking back at the waiting list. I believe @Taro T has been waiting. I also see @ExWNYer. My poor memory says Taro has been waiting for a couple years. Is this correct or did I forget someone?

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Let’s assume the following: - a team’s goal is to win now; and - salaries aren’t an issue . Given those parameters, if you polled every NHL GM and HC in the NHL and told them they could have only one of Quinn, Kulich, or Mittelstadt, I believe the vast majority would take Mittelstadt.

This I will agree with.

Colorado bailed on him quickly after paying him. His D is horrid. Ack ! No !

Then fork it, let him take Malenstyn's spot as the 13th F. Or put him in Danforth's spot in the top 12 (not necessarily on the 4th line, but in the top 12 bumping somebody else to there) and bring Danforth back in as soon as somebody inevitably breaks. How often are ALL 12 guys Ruff wants to have in the lineup going to actually be IN the lineup. Really want them to have 12 NHLers available when even 2 or 3 guys break. They haven't had that in, oh, about 14 years at least. Again, am only willing to give up a 4th for him, so if he doesn't force his way into the top 12, no great loss. AND, he's not the 1st choice. But would rather have him in the lineup than Rosen and he's close to the next man up right now.

I don’t care if specifically Mitts is added to this roster. As I have stated on a number of posts is that I wished that the GM would have added another second-line forward to the mix. @Taro T mentioned a couple of players that would be appealing. So far, that hasn’t happened. I find that disappointing.

Im not convinced Mitts is going to be much of an upgrade over Quinn anymore. Danforth, he’s your grit and forecheck upgrade, right? So much for that. He’s a roster spot, and one with a 3rd contract cap hit. He needs to displace someone.

How about players competing for positions and roles? If he is outplayed then his role is diminished. If he outplays players then he earns his spot. Who he displaces or doesn’t displace should be predicated on his play. I’m not bothered by internal competition because I see it as a good thing.

Not to speak for John and not asked, but will answer anyhow. Quinn or Danforth initially. The guy that's inevitably injured 2 - 5 games in, after that (unless of course, he's the inevitiably injured guy, but he's been pretty resilient since that injury sustained vs Moe-ray-all in the opener a few years back). And would rather have Rust for the experience or Roslovic for the someone different factor to take the place of Quinn or Danforth iniitally. But really want them to have 1 or 2 more bodies that can move into the top 6 in a pinch and not look completely out of place and also to create additional competition for the young guys. Again, he isn't the 1st choice, but he'd be better than no additional F adds.

What “the board” wants is someone who goes to the net that has proven they can be effective in a top 6 role on a good team doing it, not a couple of kids that are still finding their way towards it.