nfreeman

I heard that Taylor Swift only took up with Travis Kelce because Benson wasn't returning her calls.

I think the most likely outcome is that he gets 9 games and then goes back to juniors, but there a non-negligible chance that he makes it crystal GD clear that he is, right now, one of the 12 best forwards in the organization and if so I would not be shocked if they keep him.

It's not clear from sabres.com whether the game will be streaming there. But what is clear is that a bunch of key guys will be playing, including TT, Dahlin and Levi, and of course Joey "two times" Cecconi: Forwards (12) 9 Zach Benson 15 Brandon Biro 49 Filip Cederqvist 85 Mason Jobst 48 Tyson Kozak 20 Jiri Kulich 37 Casey Mittelstadt 81 Brett Murray 63 Isak Rosen 53 Jeff Skinner 72 Tage Thompson 89 Alex Tuch Defensemen (6) 3 Joseph Cecconi 38 Kale Clague 26 Rasmus Dahlin 83 Mats Lindgren 23 Mattias Samuelsson 61 Riley Stillman Goalies (2) 27 Devon Levi 62 Devin Cooley

It was borderline unbearable.

I agree that it will most likely be Rousek. If I have to choose one of Rosen and Kulich, I would say Rosen, although that is based solely on the prospects tournament, where he looked terrific and Kulich looked good but not great IMHO.

Look at that hair!

Delightful. Or one might prefer: Skinner Thompson Tuch Peterka Cozens Greenway Quinn Mittelstadt Kane I'm not super-optimistic about Quinn returning 100% to form this year, but I continue to think there is a pretty decent chance that Kane will fully recover, get his legs back and want to join the high-scoring fireworks show occurring 3 nights a week in front of a packed house in his hometown and freight-training into the playoffs.

Luce-Ramsay-Gare was an awesome checking line -- and while we all know Gare could score in buckets, Luce and Ramsay were pretty decent scorers too.

I don't like taking Tuch away from the top line, but IIRC, DG did so a couple of times last year in trying different line combos. I can certainly see him doing so again this year. I am pretty confident (probably overconfident) that JJP is going to step up this year and be a consistent factor on Cozens' wing. Greenway with either of your Mitts or Cozens lines would make those lines very difficult to play against. And one of the high-scoring kids earning that spot with TT and Skinner is pretty unlikely but holy mackerel I would be psyched to watch it.

From the Athletic this morning: Pretty interesting. So maybe: Skinner-TT-Tuch JJP-Cozens-XXX XXX-Mitts-Greenway Zemgus-Krebs-KO ...with the candidates for the 2 open slots to include VO, Jost, Rousek, Rosen, Benson and Kulich

I vote retro Sabres only for the rest of the countdown.

BTW: I've seen a few posters mention that they aren't able to embed tweets -- but I was able to do so in my post above. Maybe it's just an issue when trying to do so on a phone?

Awesome.

I think there is close to zero chance of this happening. Having said that, if KA were interested, I would guess that TT, Tuch, Cozens, Peterka, Quinn, Benson and likely Savoie and Rosen are off the table, and cheapo Anaheim isn't going to take Skinner -- but KA might pay a price that includes a vet who is going to need a contract next year, like Mitts, plus someone like Kulich or Östlund.

Darren Dreger says the Sabres are interested!

Save the drama for yo' mama.

I don't think a sleeper making the opening night roster is realistic. If I have to choose one for opening night, I'll say Isak "Whole Lotta" Rosen -- but I really doubt it will happen. As for a sleeper to play some games with the Sabres during the season, I'll say Zach Metsa. I can see him jumping over any or all of Clague, Bryson and Stillman if there are some injuries to the D. Also, this isn't quite a sleeper, but perhaps an upset: I'll predict that Comrie stays with the Sabres and UPL doesn't.

Goaltending questions: 1) Will they carry 3 goalies? No. 2) if not, who is the odd man out? UPL. 3) Will Levi be the primary starter? Yes. 4) If UPL and Comrie struggle in camp, will KA make a trade? No. Defence Questions 1) Who will be Power's D partner? Clifton to start the season, but it will be a fluid situation. 2) Will the Sabres carry 7 or 8 D? 8. 3) Can Clague beat out Stillman or Bryson for an opening roster spot with the Sabres? No. 4) Will there be a reshuffling so that we end up with LHD-RHD on each pair, as opposed to 2 pairs with same-handed guys? (Courtesy of N Freeman) Yes -- Dahlin-Joki, Power-Clifton, Mule-Johnson will be the pairings on opening night Forward Questions 1) How will lines 2-4 shake out? Where do Greenway, Mitts, Krebs and VO end up playing? Mitts-Cozens-JJP Greenway-Krebs-VO Zemgus-Jost-KO 2) Will the Sabres carry 12 or 13 forwards? 13 3) Can any of the kids (Rousek, Kulich, Benson, Savoie or Rosen) earn a roster spot with the Sabres? And if so, who and in what role? Rousek will make the team as the first depth forward. The rest will return to junior/AHL General questions Biggest camp surprise? Comrie beats out UPL for the #2 job, VO looks hungry and determined to start his contract year and the D pairs are reshuffled. Biggest camp disappointment? Kulich and Benson make it clear that while both are very promising, neither is ready for prime time.

There are a few major contingencies that need to go the way KA has planned, but if they do, the Sabres will be good, the building will be full, loud and exciting and the team will be all the way back from a decade in the wilderness.

I sure hope you're right, but this seems pretty optimistic IMHO.

Nice list. I'd add one D question: will there be a reshuffling so that we end up with LHD-RHD on each pair, as opposed to 2 pairs with same-handed guys? I've seen a few reputable Sabres writers (including I think the guys on Maintenance Day) speculate that it will look something like this: Dahlin-Joki Power-Cliffie Mule-E Johnson I kinda expect them to keep Dahlin with Mule, but I wouldn't be shocked either way.

You're right, but still -- let the man be.

Yes -- he was poised, calm and very accurate.

Skinner is there too!

Not to my knowledge. I was just responding to the assertion that it was the agents that are pushing for LT deals — I don’t think this makes sense in the context of Dahlin though as it seems almost certain that the Sabres would want the full 8 years.