LGR4GM

Ilya Lyubushkin played his roll perfectly last year. In fact if we had had another Lyubushkin we probably make the playoffs. Boosh is a very solid #5 defender.

This is the thing with Mitts. You can play him in 6 of the top 9 forward spots, maybe 5 (I don't truly think he is a good 1c for a long period of time but that's an aside) and he can produce. He is 6'1" 200lbs so he isn't slight and can handle himself against bigger players. His passing is quite good, he has above average edges, he has some manipulation in his rush and zone patterns. He's really the perfect middle 6 player. He only overlaps with Jordan Greenway for 1 year so you could conceivable give him a 4yr, 5.5mil extension and basically just use the savings from when Greenway (3mil) comes off to accomplish that. I might go 5 years with Mitts but that would probably be my limit. I like him but I don't love him and there is a lot of talent coming behind. Also, his buddy is your #1 defender so paying a little to keep one of his friends around, especially a useful friend, doesn't hurt anything.

My only concern with Wood is how he scored in college and his skating. Wood needs to really increase his agility to be like Tage. Tage has excellent edges and Wood simply does not.

Because I think that David Jiricek is going to be better than any "proven" defender you can trade that for. In fact I like Jiricek so much I think he might be a top 10 defender in the league within the next 3 years. 6'3" great skating physical RHD don't grow on trees.

You don't see how a GM moving players when they would like to go elsewhere and sending them to places they might like helps? Of course you don't. The perception about the Sabres as a team is changing. Why? Because the team is actually a team now. There is a reason all those fun videos are coming out of the locker room and guys are going on vacation together etc... That is the stuff that players talk about, is the room fun. Also Don Granato is highly liked and respected by everyone who plays under him. Contrary to the narrative that comes up here repeatedly, DG isn't some novice bumbling his way around. He's got 20 years of coaching experience and players like him. Finally, no one gives a crap about other stuff when you start to win and the Sabres made a big statement last year. Before you toss out "they didn't make the playoffs!" this team was supposed to be a lottery team again. Almost every single national publication picked them to finish in the 5-9 range. I don't know of anyone who picked them to finish above Detroit or Ottawa. There is an entire thread on this website dedicated to Tage Thompson's sh% because everywhere you looked his new contract was highly questioned and basically everyone said "he will regress because his sh% won't be that high again". I mean I guess they were right there, it was higher. The point is, what Jack Eichel does or says doesn't matter because the teams locker room is fun, the coach is highly respected and liked, and they are starting to win. When the Sabres win a playoff round this upcoming season, no one is going to be thinking "oh man, they traded Jack Eichel 3 years ago and he won a cup so they are a bad franchise I won't go there."

Can't believe you disagree with trading 13oa. I thought you wanted to get better? I guess you're content with losing. See how annoying that post sounds. It's exactly how you frame everything.

Couldn't disagree more with this mess of a Response. No one cares that 2 years ago Eichel was in Buffalo, no players do. He doesn't.

I'd trade 13oa for Hanifin regardless of his contract. I'd do the same for. hellebuyck.

Lol. No I want to be worse next year. It's my childhood dream.

I would draft one of these players. Overage goalies are the way to go. Agreed

The forward spots on this roster are non existent even if you don't sign Zemgus and you trade olofsson. I'd love to add Hanifin to our 2nd pair. I'd trade 13 for him.

Height and weights

Rest of group 2

Also Novikov was only playing 7-14min a night in the KHL. I don't know his average exactly but I'd guess right around 9-10min. He's gonna get a lot more in Rochester.

Suppose it's possible with our weak defense 4-6 but I'd guess a year in Rochester. Novikov won't even be 20 until July 25th. Lots of time to develop him.

Corey Pronman said Kucherov. "I chose Kucherov because while he’s a slightly better skater and has more physicality than Michkov, he can also score a lot of goals and both have special hockey sense." https://theathletic.com/4510314/2023/06/07/nhl-draft-2023-player-comparisons?source=user-shared-article

Random thought/question, is Östlund better or worse than the 31/32 player going in this draft?

Yea I think they would but Michkov will be drafted in the top 10.

I really hope we draft Matthew Mania. Guy is actually pretty good.