nfreeman

BTW, Vegas has lost 6 out of their last 8.

One other point is that given KA's emphasis on team-building and team spirit, it's hard to see them trading much from the NHL roster for an outsider, and then making that outsider the highest-paid or 2nd-highest paid player on the team -- which would be the case if Meier got, say, $8.5MM per year.

FWIW: UPL is 12-3 in his last 15 starts. That's pretty impressive, regardless of how much run support he's gotten.

Certainly we knew more about Hamlin than we do about Kim, but I don't think they ever disclosed exactly what happened, i.e. the diagnosis of the reasons for his cardiac arrest. It's also worth noting that Hamlin appears to have made pretty close to a full recovery in a pretty short period of time. If Kim is impaired, which seems likely, it's only natural that she would want to stay out of the public eye.

Yes indeed. Joki turns 24 this summer, is under contract through next season at a very reasonable $2.5MM per year, and will be an RFA when that contract expires. He's extension-eligible this summer -- so maybe another under-the-radar extension as they did with Muel is in order to secure their top 4 for the foreseeable future? He shouldn't cost too much as he only has 60 pts in 239 career NHL games.

A few game notes: - the 2nd was maybe their best period of the year and until the last 5 min of the 3rd, that was definitely one of their best games of the year. - Joki was excellent. Very smooth and on top of the play in the D-zone, good passing and just a very capable all-around game. I’m pretty close to convinced that he’s their long-term #4. - Dahlin and Power are so freaking good. - Also, as others have noted, Loobie appears healthy and is much improved. - All 4 lines played pretty well. The top line in particular really had it going on the forecheck. - Cozens’ line created a number of good chances that the kids couldn’t cash. They are close and will score more next year. - Rayzor: “Krebs is a wild man.” - Speaking of Rayzor, I think he’s improving at actual hockey analysis. For that matter, I’m enjoying DD’s work too. - @Thorny: glad you got to see that masterpiece in person. - 4 games over DeLuca .500 with 2 tough ones coming up before the break — at Minny and home vs Carolina. A split would be fine. But beating Minny and then coming home to a packed house of rabid baby-eaters looking to punish the Canes and a chance to go into the break at 6 over? Now you’re talking. Go Sabres.

If SJ isn't getting a good roster player in the deal, they are going to insist on a first-rounder this year.

If McCabe wanted to return, I'd happily have him. He turns 30 at the start of next season and is under contract for 2 more seasons after this one at $4MM per year.

Interesting. Reposting the DeBrincat return: That looks like: - Sabres 2023 #1, probably top-3 protected - Philly 2023 #2 - Östlund, Rosen or Sabres 2024 #2 pick ...which is a lot cheaper than Quinn, Kulich and a #1.

I agree with all of this and would just add that a contract extension needs to be part of the deal or else I'm not interested, and I'd expect KA feels the same way. Well, he is 220 lbs. That's a big forward even if he's not 6'4". Otherwise I think you are probably right on all of this and I should have included Savoie in my post as a potential trade chip. This does raise the question of how many big contracts the Sabres can realistically afford. They've got TT and Skinner right now, with Cozens and Dahlin due this summer, likely at about $8MM or so for Cozens and $9.5MM or so for Dahlin. If Meier gets $8.5MM or so (as others have noted a $10MM QO doesn't mean his long-term contract will cost $10MM per year), that's $42MM per year for 5 guys -- so about $40MM left over for the other 18 guys on the roster, with plenty of guys due for raises in the near term. I think SJ is going to require a better-than-Zadorov roster player and a #1 as part of the deal. This is interesting. Olofsson has value now as a goal-scorer on a reasonable contract, plus he can likely be flipped for a #1 either this summer or at the deadline next year. So maybe: Olofsson, Savoie and a top-3 protected 2023 #1?

Eichel isn't a perfect comparable due to the injury risk, but OTOH he was probably viewed as having higher upside and he plays a higher-value position in 1C, so maybe the price will be about the same: top-6 forward who is young and under team control for a while, blue-chip prospect, #1 and #2. The Sabres' picks are more valuable than Vegas' picks were at the time of the Eichel trade, because everyone assumed the Vegas picks would be pretty late in the respective rounds, while the Sabres are still fairly likely to be in the lottery -- and there is a major lottery prize this year as well. The Sabres aren't trading TT, Tuch or Cozens, or Power, Muel or Dahlin, and SJ isn't taking Skinner. That leaves: - Good, young roster player under team control: JJP, Quinn, Mitts, Krebs or Joki - Blue-chip prospect: Kulich, Rosen or Östlund - #1 -- the Sabres would almost certainly require top-3 or maybe just top-1 protection - #2 I can't see SJ accepting a Sabres offer that doesn't include JJP or Quinn. And it's pretty hard to see KA trading one of those 2. But maybe.

Incredible play.

Welcome!

I agree with most of this and would just add that I think unless the bottom falls out on the Sabres, there is NFW they trade VO this year unless it's in a package for a Meier or Chycrun or someone at that level. Good stuff here. I like the comparison to Tampa and their cycling guys through. I think that is definitely the plan here. I also think though there's a plausible scenario in which VO's play, relative to the play of Quinn and JJP, makes it almost imperative for KA to resign him. And that's one of the hard choices you're referring to. Good stuff here too. I agree that JJP and Quinn have more well-rounded games and probably higher ceilings than VO does, and that JJP and Quinn haven't reached those ceilings yet, while VO is likely now reaching his. Still, JJP or Quinn (or both of them) might never reach his ceiling, and we could be looking at a perennial 30-goal guy in VO, with peaks closer to 40, for the next 5 years -- which is the period when the Sabres are going to be taking their shot at a Cup and hopefully perennial contender status. (I haven't seen Kulich other than highlights so don't want to credit him with being at the same level as JJP and Quinn, which is a very good level.) I also agree that if the Sabres make the playoffs, the game VO shows KA will likely be a major factor in KA's thinking. If he can't handle the furnace, it will make it easier for KA to trade him at the deadline next year. (It would seem nuts to let him walk in FA if he's working on his second 30-goal season.) But he might pour in a bunch of goals down the stretch, help them make the playoffs and then play pretty well once they get there -- while Quinn and JJP look overwhelmed. What then? There's the good problem to have you mentioned.

Rangers vs Leafs is a good matchup tonight on TNT. The game just started and Holmberg, a rookie forward on the Leafs, scored a nice goal 2 minutes in.

I've been thinking about VO lately. He's on pace for 38 goals this year and is under contract through next season, after which he'll turn 29 that summer. Suppose he scores 35 goals this season and next season. Even with the league-wide scoring increase, there aren't that many guys who score 35 (VO is currently tied for 26th in goals). Are the Sabres really going to let that many goals walk out the door? Do they really think Quinn (7 goals in 40 games), JJP (7 in 45) or Kulich (7 in 29 AHL games) can score at that level? At some point, proven NHL performance should trump potential, innit?

Not funny.

It just seems like Kulich, Savoie or Rosen would really have to play in training camp like he's been shot out of a cannon in order to make the NHL squad next fall. I think it's more likely that Savoie returns to juniors and that Kulich and Rosen are back in Rochester fighting it out, perhaps with Rousek, for the top callup slot.

Whoa. That was awesome.

Serious question: I know Anderson is as old as the hills, and everyone thinks the plan next year is UPL and Comrie in Buffalo, Levi in Rochester and Portillo signing elsewhere and getting booed whenever he comes here with his new team -- but what if Anderson keeps delivering gems like the other night vs Dallas, which was a no-BS elite NHL goaltending performance, and he wants to come back for another year? There's a very real possibility that both of those contingencies will prove out -- i.e. that Anderson will play about once per week for the rest of this season and will play very well in those outings, and that he loves playing in the NHL and, since he can still bring it, will want to do so again next year. Would KA say no thanks? What if UPL loves Anderson as a mentor and source of calm and advice and begs KA to bring him back? And what if Comrie stinks for the rest of this season? It seems unlikely, but maybe?

I've been pondering some of these items myself. Regarding Jost, I am pretty confident that they will re-sign him. He's played pretty well, Mitts and VO have risen from the dead with him centering them, he seems to have the off-ice qualities they value, KA and DG speak highly of him, he won't be expensive, as he was a waiver claim this year and will probably end the season with about 25ish points, and there isn't a young player in the system who is ready to take his spot. I think they are pretty comfortable with Jost and Krebs as the #3 and #4 centers for the next couple of years while Kulich, Savoie, Östlund, etc. develop. I'm pretty comfortable with that situation as well. KO IMHO looks out of gas, especially the last few games, although I thought that for about 4 seasons until he looked great last year. I kinda think he'll retire, although I wouldn't be surprised if he sticks around for 1 more season. Zemgus still looks pretty good to me and I'd expect him to return next year.

3 games over Deluca .500 with 47 games in and 35 to go. Their next 3 games are challenging: at Winnipeg, at Minny and home vs Carolina, then the ASG. If they can go 2-1, they'll have 27 wins and hit the break at 4 over Deluca .500 with 32 games left. At that point, if they can win 20 out of their last 32, they'll end up with 47 wins plus probably 5-6 loser points (they have 3 right now) for a total of...99-100 points! They can do it.

Nuh-uh. I agree with the rest of this, but that is a lousy Blues team.

I noticed this as well. Joki played a very calm, smooth, effective and in control game. He and Power are playing very well together. Well, I’d say that during the stretches where the Sabres are getting worked in the D-zone, which occur pretty regularly, it’s a team effort.

this is a great song, but what does it have to do with this thread? That was a great play by Cozens. Skillful but simple – he won a battle for the puck, played it neatly off the boards and converted the long range ENG. I think Comrie will play Thursday night vs Winnipeg. I think playing him against his old team is a classic old-school coaching move that Donny meatballs will engage in. Also, Anderson just started yesterday, and they only want him to go once per week. Also, UPL has been playing a lot.