nfreeman

I've always liked McCabe and think he adds a bit more offense than he's generally credited with. I generally agree that he can handle 2nd-pairing ES minutes with a good partner plus PK. Every good D group needs a few guys who can lay people out from time to time.

Good stuff here boys.

I'm a believer in patience. And JB hasn't been extreme in this regard either. Howie only got 2 seasons, and his goalie out of the gate was a very troubled and erratic Lehner behind a shaky D group. Similarly, this will be Ullmark's 2nd NHL season. He's shown enough to get another real look, hopefully behind a better D group and with better coaching. Your point is fair regarding TT and probably Mitts too. I would've preferred a good amount of AHL time for both of them last year. Larsson is a respectable PK/4th liner who has an edge. I'm fine with bringing him back, although I also would've been fine if his spot had gone to Asplund. Probably one more year for that to happen.

All this, plus IIRC he crushed it for Finland at the World Juniors, innit?

There are a lot of Sabres with room to make a leap next year. The Sabres need a number of them to do so if they are going to sniff the playoffs.

@bob_sauve28 -- seems like a good topic for a poll!

I wanted another credible #1 goalie possibility brought in this summer, and at this point I assume it's not going to happen. This is another factor that it will be fair to evaluate JB on.

Oh yeah @North Buffalo. Break out the fancy booze tonight!!

@Randall Flaggis 100% right that while GMTM's tenure was a failure, there is exactly zero evidence thus far that JB's will be any better. The GM is accountable for the results of the team he puts together. So far, JB's teams have stunk, including a DFL finish that was absolutely not intended and in which pretty much all of his acquisitions pooped the bed. I'm glad the Sabres appear to be a more methodical and professionally-run organization than they used to be, but it won't matter a-tall unless they start winning.

I generally agree, but no one is going to take Bogo or Hunwick without being paid to do so, and I suspect the cost will be higher than JB is willing to pay.

Welcome Chevy and both of you should post often!

Jeez, it feels like a lifetime ago. I loved that team. It ended too soon, but at least we had that incredible, thrilling ride.

I saw "Yesterday" over the weekend. I wasn't expecting much but I really enjoyed it. It's pretty funny and the lead actor is a terrific musician and just crushes a bunch of great Beatles songs. Also, if you're so inclined, Ed Sheeran has a surprisingly big role. Solid B-plus.

Risto, Mitts and Joker for Laine and Ehlers? Who says no? (I think Winnipeg says no.)

I suppose I'd be happier if your statement didn't so broadly and with such certitude state that a guy who stunk for the Sabres last year was "across the board" better than a guy who is bigger, plays a tougher game and scored more goals -- especially if the difference is defensive play, and both guys played for terrible defensive teams, and Sheary's performance in your most important stat was kinda lousy, albeit less lousy than Vesey's.

And this is what we call "assuming away the problem."

I know these videos are just collections of snippets that can be put together to make pretty much any point that anyone wants to make -- but dear me I love them. And these really do encapsulate Sheary's "move feet quickly, get possession and then weakly lose the puck" game to a T. And yet some people are sure that Sheary is better than Vesey.

This makes it less likely that Asplund make the NHL roster, right? I'm fine with Zemgus-Larsson-KO as the 4th line, but I was kinda hoping for some new blood. We know what those 3 guys' ceilings are, and they ain't high.

Awesome. As noted upthread, McCabe is the primary physical, responsible, shutdown defender (assuming he's not traded, of course). I agree with JSB -- If McCabe, Bogo and Risto are all gone, I think we will have a nastiness/hitting deficiency. Skill and quickness can be great but a high-end defensive corps still needs an intimidation factor -- the Kronwall to Detroit's Lidstrom, or the Weber to Nashville's Josi.

I wouldn't for a minute expect Ruotsy to seize the 3C position this year -- but it sure would be nice if the Sabres struck gold on one of these mining expeditions across the pond, and this one in particular would be a major boost.

I agree with this and would just add that the risk associated with trading Risto as described here is one of the good reasons not to trade Risto unless there is a really good forward coming back.

Excellent deep dive in the Athletic today about the possibility of Risto to TB: https://theathletic.com/1071188/2019/07/11/roundtable-is-sabres-defenseman-rasmus-ristolainen-worth-a-look-for-the-lightning/ They agree with @Randall Flaggthat Cirelli would be ideal for the Sabres, but the TB writer says he doesn't think TB would trade Cirelli.

This is kinda harsh. He’s 21 years old FFS! I’m fine with JB concluding that Nylander is unlikely to reach his potential, but the human thing to do here is to wish him well.

D'oh! As corrected: Skinner-Eichel-Ehlers Vesey-JoJo-Reino Olofsson-Ruotsy-Mitts ERod-Asplund-KO extra: Sheary, Zemgus Dahlin-Montour McCabe-MIller Pilut-Joker extra: Bogo, Nelson

Assumptions: - Risto is traded for Ehlers - Scandy is unloaded for a draft pick - Sabres get lucky with Ruotsalainen - Larsson is not brought back and Asplund steps up to grab his spot That gives us: Skinner-Eichel-Ehlers Vesey-JoJo-Reino Olofsson-Ruotsy-Erod Zemgus-Asplund-KO extra: Sheary, Wilson Dahlin-Montour McCabe-MIller Pilut-Joker extra: Bogo, Nelson