dudacek

I agree that would Girgs and Cozens did in the NHL in their D+2 years is very similar and there is a chance Cozens could follow the same path. Cozens was pretty clearly ahead of him before that though, IMO. Girgensons was a 14th overall pick who put up 55 points in 49 games in the USHL Cozens was a 7th overall pick who put up 84 points in 68 games in the better WHL Girgensons put up 17 points in 61 games in the tough AHL and was considered one of the 30 best prospects in hockey Cozens put up 85 points in 51 games in the WHL and was considered one of the 5 best prospects in hockey Girgensons put up 22 points in 70 NHL games Cozens put up 13 points in 41 NHL games after dominating the WJC.

I just think Dahlin alone puts the current group well ahead on talent. That’s not even a projection, that’s proven. Mitts is demonstrably ahead of Grigorenko. Cozens has a better track record than Girgs. This I agree with.

I’m not convinced Rossi is a better prospect than Boldy. Being a centre makes Rossi more attractive, but Boldy is very good. If we get both Im happy, no matter the other pieces. I don’t think we will.

What I’m saying is one of the two big prospects and next year’s first will be coming back, that’s a given. Can it be both? If not, which of the two? What other prospects and picks are included to sweeten the pot for the Sabres? How are the Wild’s cap needs being accommodated? That’s what will be negotiated today. Something like Rossi Boldy Khusnutdinov and a 1st would be the Sabres home run. Boldy, the 1st, a depth prospect and Rask would be the Wild’s. Where do they meet?

I think Adams will be focused on hammering out a deal today. Minnesota seems inevitable. It will include Boldy or Rossi and a 1st next year. Today will be spent finalizing the other assets involved and how to make the cap work.

Danton Heinen seems like he might be a potential target. Basically replaces Reider for speed and PK with more offence. 26 and versatile. He fits our current “type”

He was fantastic at the tournament, pretty much flawless actually. I can’t speak firsthand beyond that, but here’s some good articles: https://www.si.com/hockey/news/underestimate-devon-levi-at-your-own-peril https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/west-island-gazette/devon-levi-broke-idol-carey-prices-record-while-playing-with-broken-rib https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2021/01/31_Levis-Process-Lead-to-World.php He’s a very easy kid to root for.

Upon further review, I really think the Sabres didn’t so much target a goalie as make it their priority to get the best combination of prospect and 1st-round pick they could, position be damned. Like Bjork, and like the Russian run in the draft, he is an attempt at tapping an under-recognized resource. And I think Levi’s character had high appeal to them. They love these self-motivated types. Levi and Portillo are each four years from Buffalo and UPL two. A lot can happen over four years. Having three provides competition and insurance. If all 3 emerge, great, we’ve got depth and trade chips.

That excellent Minnesota article gave some good insight into the team's big picture issues. Basically, it needs to augment its roster with cheap roster-bottom forwards and it only has three NHL defencemen. It also has issues with how a Jack trade empties its pool of futures. Zemgus, Bjork, Thompson, Asplund, Bryson and Hagg are all pieces that might have some value to them, particularly if they are in conjunction with some cap relief.

I’d tend to agree. Im not sure if it would be the right thing for the player - I guess you see how things look in camp - but guys like Cozens, Bryson, Samuelsson and R2 are still waiver-exempt. It’s unlikely, but… Peterka Cozens Boldy Quinn Ruotsalainen Murray Bryson Fitzgerald Samuelsson Laaksonen Lukkonnen … or something similar would have me watching the Amerks more than the Sabres.

Oh I think the Sabres will come down from their ask, they’re just waiting for someone to move up from their offer first.

Here’s something that seems to be forgotten: Ruotsalainen is a centre. He may have played the wing in Buffalo, but all his recent success in Europe and in the AHL was in the middle. He will be in Buffalo next season.I wonder where he is slotted on Kevyn’s big board?

I have. Heard, I mean. Not saying I believe it, and I know nothing.

Usually because each is trying to wrestle the conversation over to different elements of the same issue. 😄 Whether Girgs or Cozens quite qualifies or not doesn’t respond to my overall point. And I certainly feel like young players could be impacted negatively by a ton of losses as well, and that they need veteran support. There is no debate from me there. All I am basically saying is the group of U23 Sabres right now is significantly deeper, more talented and more prepared than the group of the same in July of 2013 and I think that puts us in a better position to avoid the damage caused by 2013-15. And I also believe the Adams/Granato braintrust is more aware of the dangers of the tear down than Murray/Nolan and better equipped to mitigate.

Actually it's not the volume of the assets that I focused on, it's where they are in terms of being able to play. Girgs and Risto and Girgorenko and Zadorov were tossed to the wolves as teenagers in 2013-15. Quinn and Power and Peterka and Rosen shouldn't be. Dahlin, Joki, Mitts, Cozens etc. aren't entering next year as raw rookies, but as guys who have already been developed and have some basic understanding of life as an NHL pro. We had no one with the upside of Dahlin or Cozens in 2013. And instead of TWO years dedicated to the sole purpose of losing as many games as possible with all the damage that does, we get one year (fingers crossed) that should be one big 82-game teachable moment where the goal is steady, measurable improvement and team-building that provides the proper foundation for increased success each year to come, with proper environment for the guys following to join when they are ready. And if it results in another top-3 pick in 11 months, great. If not, that's great too. It means that our guys developed.

But is something you can observe. We all know the Granato Sabres were still objectively not very good, but it didn't stop people from enjoying them more.

I don't want to revisit the debate you guys already have had, but your comparisons change drastically when you adjust your dates to account for the correct timing of the great sell-offs. I think we can agree Adams started at the deadline this year. The young players already playing pro were Cozens, Dahlin, Samuelsson, Pekar, Mittelstadt, Luukonen, Laaksonen, Bryson, Jokiharju, Asplund and Ruotsalainen The previous one began at the deadline in 2013 when Darcy shipped off Jason Pominville. The young players already playing pro were Girgensons, Armia, Catenacci, Sundher, Pysyk, Kassian, McNabb and Foligno I think that's notable difference in both top-end talent and depth.

I know this isn't where you are, but you've read it from countless posters: "I don't like this team and I don't like these players, give me a team I can love.' Effort helps, wins help, but basically for a lot of people, it's just about being likable.

The Sabres prospect depth on the wing (Quinn, Rosen, Peterka, Poltapov, Kisakov) defence (Power, Samuelsson, Johnson, Laaksonen) and goalie (UPL, Portillo and Levi) is suddenly outstanding.

Are the Sabres looking into any of these cap dump deals? The amount of room they have is ridiculous and it doesn't seem like they are planning to go to town on free agents.

Forgot Sexton was now with the Wild. He will been leaned on hard for intel about Jack and other Sabres pieces that might be included.

LET ME SEE THAT BOARD!!!!!

They are going to acquire at least a 3C. Not going into next season with a spine of Mitts Cozens Eakin

Your vision for what is going on right now is my favourite.

If a trade isn't done soon, I would imagine Jack's camp starts the ball rolling on contesting his treatment plan. I suspect there is a current agreement to backburner that discussion until a trade, but that will expire very soon.