dudacek

I think some people on here forget that NHL teams draft 18-year-olds with a wide range of physical maturity levels, and NHLers aren’t typically fully formed until they are about 25. On average, NHL players arrive on the scene 3-5 years after being picked and take about 3 more years after arriving to become what they will be. It is unusual for anyone picked outside the top 10 to become an NHL regular 3 years after being picked. Six players from the 2021 first round played the entire season in the NHL last year.

Adam Mair gave a quick update on Poltapov at development camp. Said he communicates with him regularly through Zoom and WhatsApp and sends him clips with feedback about his game. Characterized him as gritty bull of a forechecker with excellent strength and superior puck protection. Said he’s a guy who can play up and down the lineup: enough talent to play with skill guys and enough grit to play further down the lineup. Won a KHL championship as a 20-year-old in a bottom six role. Sounds like the type of player people say we don’t draft. Didn’t sound like a guy they’ve given up on at all. No update on when he’s coming over, but last I heard he was under contract there until the end of this season.

One thing I have to admit about this off-season is how the Sabres have been accountable to their own cries for accountability. One thing each member of our new 4th line - and even Zucker in a less punishing manner - shares is the fact they bring it. No catered-to national team bonus babies here; these are guys who are in the NHL for one reason only: They come fast and they come hard, every night. And they are replacing guys like Jost, Skinner and Olofsson who didn’t. And I wonder what replacing 4 guys with questionable “accountability” with 4 guys with unquestioned “accountability” does to the other 8 guys on the roster? Won’t it mean more pressure on them to match that? As opposed to last season where they could be off and still say “well, I’m bringing more than that guy.” Can it create more of a critical mass where talented but uneven players like Tuch and Cozens are dragged into the fight more often? Particularly when the new coach will have no hesitation nailing your ass to the bench if it doesn’t?

Almost historically, like literally top 10 of all time. And Aube-Kubel was right there with him.

Right, another one. And now Poolman makes 8

Ross Colton as a trade target perhaps with Colorado in a cap squeeze? Boone Jenner with Columbus adding Monahan? Just spitballing.

So Reimer is the lead item on the Amerks web page this morning, which is…interesting. I guess I’m fine with them pencilling him in as the 3 to start because it doesn’t change his availability as a fallback. I don’t really care if Levi gets 30 starts in Buffalo instead of 50 in Roch if it means the Sabres are getting a better chance of winning those 30 games.

Their roster looks pretty full now. I mean, there are a literally 9 legitimate prospect forwards under contract that I’d expect to be in Rochester next year and they’re talking like Helenius might join them. They added Murray and Dunne yesterday, Slaggert, Warren and Jobst today. I’m not sure the status of Mersch, but that’s 14-16 up front, plus Rousek if he doesn’t stick with the Sabres. add Prow and Laaouan to Johnson, Komorov and Novikov, plus likely one or 2 of Clague, Bryson, Gilbert and the D is close too.

Another Cup contender

History is also replete with teams who don't match expectations writ on paper. None of the past 4 editions of the Sabres matched my expectations — 2 were better, 2 were worse. Teams are complex creatures and chemistry an unpredictable beast.

Thing is, he still gotta close. Until then, he's the GM of an 84-point team whose biggest adds were a backup goalie, a veteran middle-six winger and a new 4th line. Those are the moves of a GM tweaking a contender. Trying is not good enough. Especially when you cut a 30-goal scorer for no tangible benefit other than saving money.

I think there is some heavy-duty stare downs happening where he is gone well down the road on a bigger deal or deals, but hasn’t been able to close them yet. We know he wants to make a move and we hear he’s been trying hard to make a move. None of the players that have moved have the profile of the type of reverse-Reinhart trade he wants to make. He still has his bucket full of assets, using pick 11 doesn’t change that. He’s a stubborn guy and his “we like our team” is an attempt to reinforce that to whoever he’s talking to. Meanwhile, whoever he’s talking to knows the pressure he’s under and is trying to squeeze an extra pick or better player out of the deal.

It’s also on a Canadian long weekend, during the middle of free agent frenzy, which is going to take the full attention of the hockey media, just before they book out for the summer. From a PR perspective it’s about as easy a window as they are going to find.

I’m more shocked than common sense says I should be. It's just Adams has been so stubborn in net, you’d think he’s just continue to double down. It’s who he is, and the two kids are finally at a point where it can be justified. And given those factors, I wasn’t sure they’d even be able to find a goalie who fit the bill. Craig Anderson played well when he wasn’t overused, but let’s face it: he was basically retired when we brought him in. Sad to say, but this is the most established outside goalie this team has acquired since…Neuvirth/Halak? I mean Comrie, Tokarski, Hutton, Nilsson, Johnson…it’s been a real scrap heap of veteran pickups since Miller got traded.

He’s kinda the perfect backup for a young guy like UPL at this point. This is the kind of play a real NHL team would make given the other 2 goalies in the organization. Fills in while Luukkonen carries the load up here and they play the ***** out of Levi in Rochester. Watch them bring back the three-headed monster.

Just when you thought you knew this team they go and do this.

I was little surprised to see that Tage has averaged 40 per 82 over the past 3 years.

Not really. I think regardless of the talent level up front we needed to change the makeup of the forward group. We’ve done that, and seemingly with the right types of players. I’d rather this than status quo. I just don’t know if they are right players, or what’s been done is enough.

To the thread question, we’re definitely better than before the draft, but it’s hard to say we’re a playoff team as constituted. I think we’re less talented than last year, but maybe better prepared for the rigours of an 82-game schedule and the grind of expectation? Part of that is the coach, part of that is the roster changes aimed at giving the coach what he needs to implement his game plan, and part of it is what last season taught a very young team. I think our defence corps is possibly the most talented this franchise has ever assembled. I know there are eyes rolling at that post, but a healthy Samuelsson, an older, stronger Power, and a highly motivated, comfortable Byram along with an elite Dahlin has a chance to be special. UPL looked real good last year and Levi is a talent. I think the back-end has questions to answer, but I believe it is playoff worthy. The forwards have questions from top to bottom. I think Thompson, Tuch, Cozens, Quinn and Peterka have a chance to be dangerous, but I’m not confident of that. I think the rest has a chance to be fast and hard to play against, but I’m not confident of that either. And I really want another centre.

This is kinda rose-tinted I think. Aube-kubel has never played a full season in the NHL and spent time in the minors last year. Malenstyn is a career minor-leaguer who needs to prove he can repeat. Even Lafferty has had healthy scratches.

You’ve been around for a while, you know how the Sabreverse works.

I would not be surprised if he just finally said to himself “it’s time to see what else this game has to offer” while he still had a chance.

Girgs doing his best to match Skinner. And I just posted in another thread about the minor league call-up Tampa needed for their 12th forward. 😂 But hey, maybe this is the final break from the tank era this team needed.

From what Kevyn said, it might be their plan A. His performance in Liiga has them thinking he might be ready.

And the absolute greasiest timing imaginable.