Crusader1969

Yep. It's coming but still a year away

Definitely agree, not being comfortable in the "system" has led to way too many 2-1s against. On top of that you have the brutal turnovers in each and every game - 82 being the worst offender. Still only 3 games in and way too early to draw any conclusions. As a point of reference the Leafs started 2-7 last year.

I figured the Sabres were a year away still but I didn't think they would look this bad. Hopefully we will see huge improvements after 15 games or so but I think it will be too late if/when they do. What did we give up for 82? Looks like we got fleeced no matter how little it was.

If the Sabres get lucky in the lottery and Dahlim goes # 1, then it's a no-brainer to take Svechnikov

Andrei Svechvikov with all 3 goals for the Colts last night: 6GP 6G and 2A so far for Andrei http://ontariohockeyleague.com/video/oct-517-nb-1-bar-3

Totally agree, tough year last year with a crap team in Roch. At World Juniors showed he was still in the top group of players within his peer group. Put him on the LW with Samson and I think he will flourish. Team prediction: 5th in the Division, 10th in conference - 90 points. Yes,I'll be happy with the improvement.

Think Dahlin can be projected #1 wire to wire?

More draft lists: Smith, Merkley and Wilde in the spot I would expect the Sabres to be drafting (13-15) http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/sportsnets-2018-nhl-draft-prospect-rankings/ NHL releases their "players to watch" list 23 have A prospect rankings. https://www.nhl.com/news/rasmus-dahlin-among-players-to-watch-for-2018-nhl-draft/c-291520870

Hi just turned 22 and have no worries about his development. As Ray Ferraro once said "no body ever got worse by playing in the AHL"

depends on the draft for most years I think you would in a heart beat. Which would you rather? 2016 - Nylander & Sergachev vs Luc-Dobois 2015 - Werenski & Myer vs Strome 2014 - Nylander & Ehlers vs Draisaitl 2013 - Risto & Horvat vs Drouin 2012 - Pouliot & Trouba vs Galchenyuk 2011 - Couturier & Hamilton vs Huberdeau 2010 - Burmistrov & Granlund vs Gubranson Think in almost all cases I take the 8&9 picks together over the 3rd pick?

I think it means we still have at least one more year to put up with a mediocre hockey team.

i still look at Buffalo's 3rd line and come away pretty unimpressed. I believe in Samson as a center and think he will be extremely good for the Sabres but his line-mates don't inspire much confidence. just compare to Toronto's Top 9 and there is no doubt we are behind them at the moment. The good thing about Toronto is that they are already playing with all their top players, I don't believe they have anyone who is in the minors that could eventually push for a top 9 spot. While Sabres have 3 (if not 4) who should push into the top 9 next year. Speaking of 18/19 who knows if they can afford to keep JVR and Bozak with Marner, Matthews and Nylander up for big paydays in the near future?

if that was true, he'd have spent more time in the pressbox last year, once Jack returned and Moulson was no longer needed on the PP. NOT saying I wouldn't prefer Moulson off the ice, though not sure the Sabres have the LW depth to fill his spot at the moment.

unfortunately, there is a $5million reason to dress him. Though, I won't be surprised to see him in the press box as the healthy scratch quite often.

100% on point, I see improvement and a better product to watch but playoffs? not so much But once you start adding, Mittelstadt, Nylander, Asplund& Pu, not to mention Baptiste, Bailey and Fasching with more experience..... Nylander joins the Sabres in January and never sees the AHL again. Pu signs with Sabres in the next month or so and makes the Sabres in 18/19 out of camp, along with Mittelstadt and Asplund. My prediction is that the Sabres finish with 88-92 points and 10th in the East, 21st overall. Playoffs in 18/19 and cup contender in 19/20.

Here is the play by Widle. I didnt bother to edit it to just the highlite - Unfortunately, it cuts the defensive play he makes out Scroll to 1:30 of the highlite package also, check out his goal around 2:20

There is a clip of Wilde in that game that I wanted to post but haven't had the time. He breaks up a 2-1, gathers the puck and takes it all the way down the ice, beating a dman clean and getting a nice shot on goal. Rebound was put away by a teammate. If you can find the hilites of that game, it's worth the watch. In other news: Tkachuk was the MVP of the US prospects game last night Svechnikov 2 goals in his first OHL game with Barrie.

He would have torn up the OHL playing with Mcleod and he would be ranked a 9 on all our lists. He played on a terrible Rochester team last season and struggled. When playing against his peers in the WJC he lead the tourney in scoring. I have no reason to believe he wont be Jack's long term LW partner one day.

Great start by Asplund on the weekend but Nylander is still the #2 prospect in the system. I believe that Nylander will see a huge improvement in his point totals as he begins the new season with the Amerks. He will benefit from his own improved play plus he should have much better line-mates than he had last season.. My prediction is that he will be called up to the Sabres sometime early in the New Year, playing LW on Samson's line. If Pysyk was still a Sabre, where would he be slotted this season?

I still think this team is 1 year away from making the playoffs. I hope they do but when I look at the Forward lines I don't see them quite there yet. I'll be happy if they contend for a playoff spot up to the last 3 - 5 games of the season.

I agree about 2 of the 3 being ready but I don't want them on the 4th line (maybe Fasching) but who's job are they taking? Okposo Pommer and Samson rank ahead, or have we definitely moved him to C? ROR and Okposo should be kept together. Maybe Girgs on LW? Kane Eichel and Baptiste Samson with Bailey and Pouliot 4th line of Moulson Larsson Pommer Dont really see Playoffs for the above forward group but team will look a lot better in 2018/19 when you put Nylander and Mittelstadt in the line-up. maybe Clifford Pu too???

TSN's Bob Mckenzie's initial rankings: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/bob-mckenzie-s-pre-season-ranking-show~1207605 http://www.tsn.ca/the-year-of-swedish-defencemen-1.852963 If you are looking for the Sabres to finally take a Dman with their 1st pick you will be happy to know that there are 8 Dmen in the top 20. 7 in the top 11. All are considered to be puck movers with offensive abilities. Though, outside of Dahlin, you are probably waiting until 2020 to see any of them in the NHL. You can definitely see the Karlsson effect as only Dahlin, McIssac and Wilde are over 6'0. IF the Sabres miss the playoffs and get lucky in the lottery (alas NJ / Philly) Brady Tkachuk would be an amazing addition to the forward group.

cough ** Brendan Guhle

what are the expectations of this roster? I see them fighting for a wildcard spot at best. My best guess is that they finish 4-5 points out of the playoffs this season. However, the addition of Mittelstadt, Nylander, Guhle and Asplund put them firmly into playoff / cup contender in 2018-19

Preliminary Prospect Rankings are now coming out. Craig Button released his yesterday: http://www.tsn.ca/craig-s-list-defenceman-dahlin-leads-draft-class-1.847739 You are seeing more and more Dmen under 6'0 on these lists. Kids I will be keeping a close eye on this year are: 1) Adam Boqvist - Swedish RHD. Arguably the best player in this years Ivan Hlinka Tournament. 5GP 1G 7A (lottery pick) 2) Bode Wilde - RHD US National Team Dman who will be attending Harvard this fall. (1st rounder) 3) Quinton Hughes -LHD US national Team grad who is attending Michigan (mid 1st rounder) 4) Ryan Merkley - RHD who plays for Guelph in OHL 5GP 0G 6A in helping Canada win the Ivan Hlinka (Mid 1st rounder) 5) Ty Smith - LHD Spokane WHL - 5GP 0G 3A playing for Canada at Ivan Hlinka (Lottery Pick) 6) Jet Woo RHD Moose Jaw WHL - 0 points an Hlinka but love the name. (1st Rounder) The 2018 draft is shaping up to be much deeper and stronger that the 2017 crop. If teams are looking for a puck moving dman, there should be options available throughout the 1st round. Rasmus Dahlin is considered to be the next big thing, it will be interesting to see if he gets picked apart as much as the other highly touted Dmen entering their draft year - Liljegren, Chychrun and Hanifan come to mind.