Taro T

Normally am all for 4 or fewer preseason games (though they have fallen into 6 games being the norm the past several years) but with all the potential line combinations Granato can play around with am ok with 7 games this year. (We were going to be on the hook for 3 of the regardless. THAT's the real tragedy of the exhibition season.)

There are a lot of combos that Granato can try. It is likely that Greenway and Mittelstadt will be a thing and could see any of Quinn, Peterka, Krebs, or Savoie, or even Rousek rounding it out. But could also see Mittelstadt getting to play with either Cozens or Tuch (doubt the 3 of them would become a line but who knows) in which case Greenway becomes redundant and he might find himself on another line. But this is so much more entertaining trying to come up with lines that maximize a good forward unit rather than trying to come up with lines that hide 2 or so lines worth of dreck to maximize the unit.

Thing is, there are options via UFA (Varlamov, Andersen (yuck)), trade (Ullmark, Hellebucyk, Saros (?)), or offer sheet (Swayman). And that's just ottomh. For once, the areas the Sabres need to shore up (goalie, 4D, and ideally 5/6D & PKing 4C) actually seem to be available in reasonable abundance. (Not sure there's abundance at the 4C spot, but there almost always are 10th F's available as FAs, so that one should be available as well should Adams want to address it.)

Girgensons may have hands of stone, but he is NOT slow by NHL standards. He's no Peterka but he isn't a slug eithre. Would be shocked if Miles Wood even allows his agent to answer the phone from Adams. His dad hated the Sabres for the way he was dispatched and pretty sure that the hatred is shared by the son. Stepan is a guy that makes a lot of sense as a possible 4C for this team. Good leadership, good on FOs, good on PK, veteran w/ playoff experience - checks a lot of boxes. Greenway is definitely going to be in the top 9. Am not convinced that the Thompson nor the Cozens lines are set in stone (though they may be when all is said and done) so am not convinced that Greenway and Mittelstadt are definitely a thing. If Olofsson gets traded (and he likely will), there's still an outside shot they bring in that 4C they need. Still expect they'd be looking at a Stepan rather than a banger for that role.

There is too much smoke and it makes far too much sense for that NOT to be the case. The question becomes does a goalie become available that Adams believes makes sense to bring in to pair with Levi over the 2 guys they currently have. Hoping the answer is the same as for the D, but it is less of a certainty. And there are guys that make sense to bring in via UFA, trade, or offer sheet. Just pick one and make it happen Mr. Adams.

One is written in permanent ink, 1 in pencil, and 1 to 2 more may be able to get written in. Would only have money on the 1 in permanent ink.

Was pretty sure he would until his 2 game stint in the AHL. He'll need to play much better in camp to earn those 9 games. He could very well do so, but the way he played in Ra-cha-cha indicated he has a long way to go to get there.

Can't see any scenario in which Okposo is back again after this season; so there is one logical option.

Was saying earlier today that this signing likely meant they wouldn't be on the market for a 4C but as long as Olofsson ends up traded (and really don't see how he doesn't end up traded at this point), they very easily could still bring in a 4C. (Though do not expect to see a 4C brought it from the outside now.) Jost gets brought back as the pencilled in 13th F and Rousek has an opportunity to supplant him if he can break into the top 12. (Savoie, Kulich, Murray, and Cedarqvist would all also have that same opportunity; but expect Rousek would have the best shot of getting there.) Really curious if they go for just 1 NHL caliber D addition or 2. If they only add 1, they might run 14-7-2 but it just make so much more sense to run 13-8-2. Personally expect Clague would clear waivers like he did at the beginning of last year and can't see Bryson getting waiver claimed either. But they might have concerns about Stillman getting through if he's the 8D, so if he is the 8 expect they will keep 8 up. Personally believe they should keep 8 up anyhow as D have a greater likelihood of getting dinged in-game and also because it makes practice so much easier to run having 4 D pairs and only needing to rotate 1 F through the lines rather than 3-1/2 pairs and needing to rotate 2 guys through.

Aflac Aflac Aflac Aflac AAAFFFLLAACC. Unlike with Dunleavy, you'd at least know when somebody scored. 😉

Not surprising, but good to see. Expect he'll get some time with the big club this year. Wonder what the AHL salary will be? Hoping he got a healthy bump while he continues to earn an opportunity to get a good chunk of that $775k.

Certainly does appear that way. But even if 1 of the 2 gray beards weren't brought back, they were going to go with close to what they had up front next year anyway.

He knew he wanted to be a Sabre. And really hope that they find a role for him long enough that he can retire as a Sabre. VERY few cradle to grave Sabres over the past 53 years. Perreault and Ramsay are 2 but there aren't many others when guys that only had a cup of coffee in the NHL like Morris Titanic aren't included on the list. Can't believe Hajt wasn't included on the original list. D'oh!

Interesting. Was sure it was Larkin he was trying to nab. Wonder what Adams would've gotten for Eichel with Tuch already in the fold. 😉

2 issues with that IMHO. 1 - they aren't going to be pulling a kid up from Ra-cha-cha to play while Okposo is getting a "veteran rest night" in the press box and that is likely an opportunity lost for growth / development. 2 - he's a proud and well respected professional athlete; there is no guarantee that he'll get that pressbox time (especially if he continues to wear the C) and that COULD leave points on the board that they'll want back at the end of the year.

Disagree about HIM not being good on the PK. Look where the goals come from against on the PK. It's rare for the goal to come because Z missed an assignment. The PK had/has lots of issues; don't believe that Girgensons is one of them.

We'll see if it's an overpay. Personally expect he could've gotten more on the open market (both in $'s and term).

That sounds like Victor Olofsson and 13 OA will get you 6 OA if you want it. 😉

You have to have SOME guys that are solid in their own end and are good on the PK. See it as both - a hockey move and a culture move. Personally believe the purely culture move was the one that happened about a month ago when the Captain was re-signed. Hoping he doesn't run out of gas in mid-November but the KO signing could look a lot like bringing Pominville back for 1 last season did - awesome in October, spent before (US) Thanksgiving.

Which "youth" are you referring to? There is a LOT of youth already in the top 23 at ALL positions. Those kids aren't eating sandwiches watching the older guys make things happen. If it's the kids in Ra-cha-cha and the CHL, well, perhaps that's it. Or perhaps, they're perfectly fine with keeping those guys on ELCs for 3 years beyond this one if they don't flat out beat out somebody already pencilled into a roster spot and they also are pleased with their F's overall and believe that with an upgrade in net and on the blue line they're good enough to challenge for the SC. Personally, was hoping to see a PK stud 4C brought in this off-season to upgrade 1 of the 4th line W's (sliding Jost or Krebs or a new rookie into the opened W slot with one of their departures), but it looks like that ship has now officially sailed.

Really like Z and he deserves to be a part of the 1st Sabres team to make the playoffs in over a dozen years. Not overly thrilled that both he and the captain are back; but it is what it is. And could definitely see them making shipping Olofsson out the door the only "move" of this off-season. (No Schlitz, Sherlock.) Expecting they re-sign Jost. And if they do and they keep 8 D up on the big roster, then all the handwringing over whether Rousek, Kulich, or Savoie makes the team out of the gate was for naught as there won't be room for any of the 3 on the season opening roster.

If he were about 3 years older he could qualify for a bonus-laden contract, but he isn't so he doesn't so hard pass.

Expect we'll see a lot of "interesting" combos this September as Granato sees if he can come up with some new permutations that are greater than the whole of STT, QCP, MKG, 4th line. Will be really interesting to see if any of them stick. They could stack lines or they could set up with at least the top 3 lines (and possibly all 4) having a forechecker, playmaker, and finisher on it. With several guys like Tuch and Cozens being able to double into more than just one of those roles. Am in no rush for it to be October, it'll be here soon enough, but am very interested in seeing what gets put together come October.

If Dahlin comes in at $10MM/ and Power comes in at $8+/, the Sabres will have about $23MM locked up into their top 3 D. The Sabres have about $23MM locked up in 2/3 of their top line and their #2C. Not seeing where the D is out of kilter with the F's. But would agree it's something to watch for, especially with the likelihood of bringing in a legit top 4 D-man to round out that unit.

One thing Taylor seems very good at (among other items) is he seems to run a quality PP. The Sabres DESPERATELY need a coach that can do that. (And, no, don't expect to see him coming back.)