dudacek

Yep, Leanders and Ratzlaff are unsigned juniors so it all works. UPL is in Buffalo, Houser in the ECHL and Sandstrom in Rochester. Levi and Reimer will be #2 in Buffalo or #1 for the Amerks.

I think everybody knows the Sabres 13/8/3 right now. The 14th forward spot is Lukas Rousek’s to lose. That leaves 2 spots for the Prague 27. Id be shocked if they aren’t Kulich and Rosen.

Except right now the first injury replacement is probably Krebs, followed by Rousek. Kulich then Rosen after them if you need a scorer. Dunne and Murray if you need a big body. Johnson is the 9th or 10th D-man, along with Clague. Wahlberg, Östlund, Helenius and Komarov are AHL rookies who will hopefully push past those guys, or follow in their footsteps in a year or 2 or 3.

Oh for sure, I like Krebs more than you do and of course our views of his contract will differ because of that filter. Surprised you think that I think this was a clean sweep of good moves summer from Adams though. I would not have made the Skinner move, without a part B, even though I don't like Skinner. I like the concept of Lafferty, Malenstyn and Aube-Kubel but I don't think they're talented enough to be the every night defensive force people hope they will be. Would have liked them more on top of a real, established middle six player. I doubt McLeod is that player. I think this board has inflated him into something he's not in order to justify trading Savoie. I don't hate the player, or the concept of the trade, I just doubt he's the 3C solution. if you absolutely had to play Skinner in the middle six (you didn't) I think there is a chance plugging Zucker in for him is an upgrade because of Skinner's flaws and how bad he has looked away from Thompson and Eichel. Again, I don't hate the player, I just don't like him being the leading choice for our 4W. The only move Adams made that I outright like is Byram for Mittelstadt, because — unlike most — I think Byram is better fit than he is being credited for and will prove to be better player. Overall, I like the vision of adding speed and edge and giving Lindy the types of players he wants and the idea of moving away from the types of players he moved away from. I just think our GM didn't finish the job. He left far too much on the table relative to what he could have done.

I think it's kinda weird to be complaining about "overpayments" when the team is $7M under the cap. Lafferty, Aube-Kubel, Malenstyn are low-risk contracts. He paid a little more to make sure he got 3 guys he targeted. Each is a cheap, short-term commitment that doesn't handicap the team in any way under that cap. If they provide what they're supposed to, they were good signings, if they don't they weren't. Zucker is pretty obviously a huge overpayment on AAV to avoid term. Maybe he should have been more willing to accept term and chased a better player. But this contract again, doesn't handicap the team under the cap in any way, shape or form. If Zucker does what he's supposed to the signing in and of itself is fine. If Peterka and Quinn take a jump, then it looks very smart. UPL is your straight bet on the player deal: paying the player more than you have to before you have to pay more than you want to. Like the Thompson and Power deals, time will tell if it was a good bet. And with Krebs, it's kinda similar, but which much lower stakes. To me, UPL is the only deal that carries any real risk. I think what Adams didn't spend is far more questionable than what he did.

Maybe Robertson signed his qualifier because the Leafs refused to honour his trade request and a low deal makes it more likely he does get claimed if he is waived? He's basically created the best possible scenario for himself to be in the NHL next year. The difference between Robertson and Krebs is that Robertson has not established himself as an NHL regular. Krebs has. To my knowledge he's not been a healthy scratch for a year and a half. He played 80 games last year. The other thing I disagree with is the idea I've seen floated that Krebs is Tyson Jost. Unlike Tyson Jost, Krebs has shown that he can play effectively in a bottom-six role. He was one of the Sabres more effective defensive players last year. People are judging him through their trade-day top-6 glasses. The guy has shown he can be a decent 4C and the Sabres paid him like one.

The Sabres can carry a maximum of 3 extras. Assuming Krebs is in stone as the 13th-forward and won't play unless injury (which I don't think is actually the case), it would be one of him, Rousek, Gilbert or Bryson getting waived. If Levi (who is not waiver eligible) makes the team, you can add Reimer to that group. If Kulich or another kid (none of them are waiver eligible) makes the team that would add another body. But I think what this contract makes obvious is that Kevyn Adams thinks more of Peyton Krebs than a lot of people on here do and it is very unlikely he will be waived.

Not in my opinion. Also in my opinion, the only way Krebs was ever getting waived was if Lindy just couldn't stand him, and I always thought he was Lindy's type

The Sabres have three guys on ELCs: Peterka, Benson and Quinn. Putting them aside, he's the 9th-highest paid of the other 10 — a fraction behind Aube-Kubel and a fraction ahead of Malenstyn. The 2nd year is confirmation that the organization is not done with him the way some fans are. I'm not surprised that's the case and I actually agree with it.

Of course he does. In line with Aube-Kubel and Malenstyn, and what Adams has done with other 2nd-contract guys yet to break through. Affordable, with some upside and little risk for the Sabres. Gives Krebs a bit of security and the ego-boost of knowing he's more than a minimum wage guy, and still a factor in their long-term plans. Personally, I don't have high hopes of an impact player, but I still see potential for a glue guy. Always liked his commitment. Glad he will be in camp and looking forward to seeing whether he can make any progress under Lindy.

So you actually are serious? i thought you were having some fun playing the role. The body of work generally outweighs — and should outweigh — what you do over the 3 weeks in camp. There is no way Lukas Rousek is making the team over Jason Zucker unless Rousek scores 8 in the exhibition games and Zucker is caught pissing in Lindy's skate boot. Camp competition is on margins and about roles. It's about forcing decisions where people are close: Benson and Zucker battling for a top six LW spot; Levi pushing UPL and Reimer pushing Levi; Clague and Johnson pushing Bryson and Gilbert pushing Clifton and Jokiharju; Byram pushing Power; Krebs pushing McLeod; Lafferty pushing Greenway; Rousek, Rosen and Kulich pushing for the last forward spot on the roster; the top 5-7 forwards battling for PP time; the bottom 5-7 forwards battling for the last spot on the opening night lineup. Also, you've been big on Lindy taking a whole new approach with his lines, wouldn't you rather he spend the 2 weeks he has before Prague figuring out how his NHL combinations might work, than giving Östlund and Komarov a chance to skate a few practices with Tuch and Dahlin? i mean you know who Lindy Ruff is. You can't actually think "safe" will be the theme of this camp?

I think he has a better game than both those guys. I was mostly honing in on the “won’t be in the NHL” comment, but it sounds more like it’s more philosophical for you than anything. My own bias is smart guys who work hard, and Östlund is that, with a high skill level too. He doesn’t tick the big and mean boxes, but he sure ticks a lot of other ones.

Good example of the box score not telling the whole story. Popped to me. Wrote about him in the previous game thread. Was better than Rosen over the 2 games I watched closely. (Today’s I watched more with one eye.) I did see him get robbed by the save of the tourney on a breakaway and get snuffed on a one-timer from the right dot today though. In earlier games I watched him set up Helenius and Wahlberg for fantastic chances they failed to convert. He was generally the fastest, most active skater on the ice, always in motion, always around the puck. Forechecks and back checks hard and looks elite as a puck tracker. Not at all afraid of contact. He has NHL skating, hands, hockey sense and effort. There is certainly question about how good an NHL player he will be at his size. What do Kailer Yamamoto or Tyler Ennis, to name two players of smaller stature, have or do that he does not?

This is absolutely true. It's also true that he is in a similar place to where Casey Mittelstadt was at the same age. Personally I don't see him washing out like Jost or taking a jump like Casey; I think his career will settle out around the Cody Eakin level. But it's an important year for him and it's in his best interest to get on the ice and carve out a role under his new coach. He and his agent must see that.

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/sports/sabres/listen-adams-theres-still-time-to-sign-peyton-krebs That stuff is towards the end.

Adams interview on WGR says the focus at training camp is getting the big club ready as soon as possible. You will see the guys expected to be on the final roster together pretty much from the get-go, and way less mixing in of players further down the depth chart. The first 2 exhibition games will see them icing a lot of roster regulars and the 27 players headed to Europe will be formalized shortly thereafter.

@PerreaultForever, you’re always looking for signs of Sabres taking their jobs seriously. The Quinn piece certainly seems to reflect a player who does. According to the article he’s been in Buffalo the entire summer working out and shooting and took advantage of the time to be in the best shape of his life.

People are talking about the poll, and that’s cool, but that wasn’t the primary reason for the thread. I found the linked article to be very interesting in the way it took a deep dive into both the injuries and the rehab. Pretty much says flat out that the Achilles tear was Quinn’s own fault. Didn’t get into specifically why, but implied improper training practices. The fibula on the other hand, looks to be one of those things. The takeaway for me was how fully he took charge of his rehab and how successful he was with it. From sept. 7 not being able to bend his knee or ankle, to playing NHL games 2 months later, and being good enough to score 12 points in 19 games despite how far the injury put him behind his peers. And then suffering an injury that could have had him out for the season, but putting in the effort to not only finish the season, but finish it with 4 goals and 7 points in 7 games. I get the impression this is a kid who is wired to just keep striving.

You can read just about anything at all into that statement. He basically said “I’m not going to talk about it now because things are at a tipping point.” A trade, a contract, a stalemate, your guess is as good as anyone’s.

I got kids to put through college. every little bit helps

Nice piece in the Buffalo News about Quinn’s injuries and his rehab. https://buffalonews.com/sports/professional/nhl/sabres/buffalo-sabres-jack-quinn-injuries/article_468589f6-6eb3-11ef-88a4-675da521b7b7.html I’m seeing a lot of pretty high expectations for the kid around here this summer. I’ve been a fan since before we drafted him. He seems like a pretty easy guy to cheer for.

Any other interesting nuggets from Fan Fest? I saw pictures of a Lindy/Adams Q&A and another with Benson, Zucker and Power. Also saw Krebs was actively involved in the festivities, so whatever is going on with his contract, it hasn’t reached the nasty stage yet.

Not seeing much on Östlund here, so I need to mention I was quite impressed. Kulich has been the best player, but Noah is right there with him in terms of skill: best skater and best passer among the forwards. With Savoie gone and Helenius’ size issues a myth, the “too many small forward prospects” thing essentially comes down to Rosen and Östlund. What Östlund has that Rosen doesn’t is an attack mentality. While Isak tends to let the game come to him, Noah is always around the puck. His tracking skills are amazing, he always seems to arrive where the puck is going, and he gets a ton of puck touches and does smart things with them. He obviously needs strength but he is not afraid to engage and was fairly effective along the wall overall at this level. Looking forward to seeing what he does in Rochester this year.

Do you mean offensively? That’s not the kid’s game. He did look pretty dominant to me in terms of what is his game: snuffing out rushes and breaking the forecheck. The number of chances surrendered against him over 2 games was pretty negligible and he got a ton of ice time. Im not saying “he’s ready” exactly, but I’m not seeing a huge gap in his game that needs to be addressed first like with the other top prospects (save Kulich). He’s physically mature, and his feet almost guarantee he’ll at least have a Bryson/Clague-level NHL career. His head and hands will determine whether it’s more than a cup of coffee. He’s not bumping any of the 6 we have right now though, I’ll agree with that. I liked the kid’s spark and he has some skill - not enough to put him in the NHL, but enough that it won’t stop him from getting there if he develops as a checker and a pest.

As it sits right now, he's the 15th forward. I suspect they will keep 13 and 8 D, but we shall see. 2 of Krebs, Rousek, Aube-Kubel, Gilbert and Bryson would have to waived for Kulich makes the roster, three if they stupidly keep 3 goalies again. If he's outright better, he'll make it, but if there'a any doubt about him being an every-night player, he will go to the minors and be the first call-up. I agree with you on the 4th line thing.