Eleven

The Sabres draft picks are 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. There are several tradeable players as well. The situation: The Sabres need defensive depth NOW. Not in three years, when draft picks might materialize, but now. They also need stability in net. PART I: BACKFILLING. I know at a minimum, the Sabres organization needs: G2 (from outside), G3 (UPL or Comrie and pray that one clears waivers or else they have to carry 3G), and possibly G4 (I haven't paid enough attention, but I suspect that Subban couldn't handle NHL duties in a pinch). D6, D7, D8, D9 (for callups). Vet checking F (to replace Okposo). Scoring F appears to be okay for now, but they've got to look three or four years ahead there, too. I would try to acquire G2 via UFA; if not, via trade. D6-D9 can be lower-tier free agency signings or trades, as long as they are improvements on Bryson/Clague. I would NOT count on any draft pick--including a hypothetical 2024 compensatory pick for Johnson--for these positions. If a guy in Rochester is ready to fill these roles, fine. The vet checking F is easily obtainable in free agency. PART II: TRADES The Sabres have three returning goaltenders. It should be obvious that Levi will make the team out of camp unless he's hurt; if it isn't, stop reading here, because that's the team's plan whether you like it or not. One of those other two goaltenders, who are not quite solid enough to be the G2, can be traded. Whichever of UPL/Comrie should be shipped off for a live player who is AAAA or NHL--if this needs to be part of a package, so be it. The Sabres also have a surfeit of young scoring forwards; a banquet of riches that we have not seen in years. There isn't room enough for all of them to make the roster over the next three years, and there likely isn't money to cover some of the older (but still young) ones when they become free agents. Trade one or two, again in a package if necessary, and maybe get a D3 or D4 who can shift the other D down to D5 and D6. (I'd trade Mittlestadt, but there are plenty of other options.) PART III: THE DRAFT I would spend draft capital on forwards who are going to have to take the place of existing talent in three years, on one defenseman, maybe two (same reason), and of course I would spend one pick, somewhere, at G. I might trade picks for proven talent, even a 1st. This is a team that should break 100 points next year if the right moves are made, and it can find a way to build on that success later on. PART IV: COACHING I'm sorry, but I really am not convinced about Granato. There is no doubt that he's a good development coach, but is a development coach what the team needs to take the next step? He really needs advice on how to manage personnel and tactics in the NHL, especially when the team gets behind in one game or hits a skid in several. Even things that should be menial to an NHL coach--changing goalies in a blowout, taking a timeout when needed, etc.--seem to escape him. If he is to remain HC, and I am not calling for his head here, he desperately needs an experienced assistant to whisper advice to him.

You're drunk *right now,* aren't you...

Here's a fun thought experiment: The Sabres can keep either Comrie or UPL as a number 3 (if they keep 3, and I think they should, at least for the first few months of the season). I might lean toward Comrie; I think UPL brings back more in a trade and I see them as roughly equivalent--and maybe Comrie even has the edge.

Varmalov is the best idea. The Sabres wouldn't have to trade for him (unlike Saros, who I would love to see here, but who will cost assets). I don't like his murky history but I also recognize that (1) it is unlikely that the accusations were true as reported and (2) it was ten years ago.

Yes he should, and then there should remain the open question of who gets the bulk of starts. 2 questions.

These are two separate questions. The Sabres undoubtedly need Levi AND another goaltender who is better than UPL. Which of those two should be anointed the starter in September depends on who that other goalie is and how each of them is playing.

I'm not doing my full autopsy yet, but I'll say this: The suggestion Adams, or this season, should be judged according to the standards of the parade of inept GMs and failed seasons that preceded this one is not a solid defense of Adams.

Good.

Yep. And if Levi needs rest on Friday after the back-to-back, I'm ok with it. (And if he doesn't, give him the development opportunity!)

I won't be. This was the year I would have been happy with just "being there." This was the Tyrod Taylor playoffs for me. Next year, I want to see "damage," as you say.

It's one of the reasons I didn't want 28 out there in the third other than to give rest to other forwards. He's a great heavy forward. He's great at opening space. He has hands of stone. I do think there's a place for him next season though.

Start with the first two pages. We were all having fun being puerile and penile.

We need a cuddles emoji. AGAIN the Johnson thread is there for a reason. Geez. You people.

It is true. It also is true that they could have become an actual hockey team a lot earlier in the year. I need to take a break and leave the off-season analysis for a time when I am not as angry with GM and coach as I am at the moment. But this season could have and should have been something, in retrospect. That's great, Chad.

I can mostly agree with this--no reason to single out Thompson, for sure. And all of those injuries affected scoring and defense. The two big losing streaks, which I think ARE attributable to D and G, are the real cause, and now that one of those problems appears to have been solved, it's on to the other. 100% here.

That is a curious genealogy.

I think this game would have been out of hand early in the second with UPL or Comrie. I agree with the missed opportunities part. I do not agree w/ Granato's lineup nor do I agree w/ his late-game decision making (as usual).

He plays for the Rangers now.

He was going to score at will like usual. The loss of him definitely hurt.

Happy? No. I'd be happier if Granato understood how and when to pull a goalie and with 3 ENGs. ENGs in a game like this do not matter. You and I are a little older than some of the posters here, so do you remember when all the statistical literature came out about when NOT to punt in the NFL? And how coaches ignored it for 15 years? And how now, the well-coached teams follow those protocols? Similar statistical analyses are now available for pulling a goalie in the NHL, and those analytics say "early and often." The only coach whom I have noticed actually following those recommendations was on the winning bench tonight. Granato is a ***** *****.

No. And actually, I've got to say, I've been wanting to compliment the refs all game. They did a great job. I know, it will shock @nfreeman and such, but I really do think they called this game as well as I've ever seen an NHL crew call one.

And I think Thompson is out of gas, judging from how he "chased" Bratt. Shut him down.

OK. NOW you can leave a goalie in for the remainder.

Get Levi out of there again. Who cares if you lose by 6. Get him out of there. Get a skater on.

Why is Levi in the net with 4 minutes left, 2 down, on a power play? What is Granato? A young cat?