SabresBaltimore

It sounds like from the presser today KA is trying to lock up Dahlin and Power sooner rather than later. If he can do that with one or both this offseason, that will really help them to know how much they have to spend on a 4D.

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In my mind, being a first round draft pick doesn't mean "top end player" it just means you're expected to be an NHL level player. The overall #1 or even Top 5 (and maybe Top 10 depending on how deep that draft class was) are a different story though. Those I'd expect a lot more from than players taken later in the first round. For reference, Krebs was taking 17th. I think he's shown this season he can be a valuable NHL level player. To me the lingering questions are if we have room for him and what his ceiling will be. I don't think we really need to decide this offseason, unless a GM from another team really wants him back as part of a trade, in which case I'd be OK moving him depending on the return. My guess is we have other prospects teams will be after instead, and so we have a year until he needs to be either re-signed, traded or cut (don't see this one happening). Right now I think they'd choose to bring him back on a cheap deal unless he does something to warrant getting paid more.

I'd like to see us improve at face offs too. I'd maybe put that 3rd (or 4th) on the priority list behind improving defense and goal tending. Ideally if we can get a good PK/shutdown center who is good on the dot in 1 player, that'd help a lot. Cozens was our best FO guy, with a 48.3% win rate (45.6% in Defensive zone FOs). He lead the team in FO taken too, by a large margin with 1,174. Next closest was Tage with 813 (361 fewer Face Offs taken than Cozens, probably due to him moving around more). Tage had 43.1% overall, with an abysmal 34.8 in DZFOs. Mitts was 3rd with 736 taken for 45.9% (42.5% DZFOs) and Krebs 4th with 556 taken for 45.1% (42.9% DZFOs). Jost was pretty terrible for his 428 taken: 38.3% won (36.1 DZFOs). I hope all of them work on their face offs in the off-season. I think those numbers further make Jost expendable next year too. NHL Face Off Stats (Sabres 22-23)

Yeah, that's way worse. I have one Ravens friend who are angry the Lamar Jackson sack in the playoffs wasn't called personal foul and seems to bring it up every so often, but in general most people around here are at least neutral to positive about the Bills. This being such a transient area though, there are a lot of fans of other teams too because so many move to this area for work and bring their fandom with them.

I don't really get the reason for the delay. If I was him I'd look at the Amerks and want to be part of their playoff run, and I'd look at the Sabres and think I could crack that roster within 2 years. I can only assume he thinks he's good enough to play in the NHL next year, and is trying to consider if some other teams out there will give him that chance. I'm not losing sleep over it though. I'd like him to sign and play in the AHL next year. We need more defensive depth/prospect, but it's more his loss than ours if he walks.

I live in Maryland, so I try to avoid talking sports at work. I don't really want to talk about the Ravens or Commanders. Hockey isn't super popular here. I don't mind talking Caps, but the co-workers I've had who are into hockey are few and far between.

I really mean/want a middle pair player who can play top pair when needed. Is that a 2-4? Either way not a 4-6. When Mule went down they often moved up Joker. Sometimes Bryson or I want to say Clague. That shouldn't happen.

Yeah, not sure why I wrote it that way. I just meant middle pair. I mean there are typically 6 defenseman dressed, but I don't think I've heard anyone else say middle six when talking about defense either.

I will be a lot more surprised if KA doesn't bring in a middle 6 defenseman to play with Power who can play top minutes with Dahlin if/when Mule gets hurt. Then he might bring in another vet depending on what he does with Stillman/Clague/Bryson. As to goalie, I fear he may stick with some form of what we have. However the fact that neither Comrie nor UPL had a game down the stretch when we were still in the hunt is telling. He may hope UPL can continue to develop though. But UPL isn't his prospect, Levi is. I don't think him trading UPL is out of the question, but will it be for a Vet Goalie who can compliment Levi depending on how well he's playing (more games if he's struggling/needs more time). I could see him hoping Comrie just had bad luck with injury and bad defensive play. I hope not though. At this point I'd bring Girgenson back on the same deal he's on, and move on from Okposo if he's not already planning to retire. That means we need to add some additional 4th line/PK/Sandpaper guy to take his spot. I'm expecting him to make a few moves either way, but they may not be as big/flashy as some fans would like. He's definitely going to still stick to his plan of developing in-house talent over free agents. But he's also show he's willing to bring in the right guys from a trade (see: Tuch), so I don't think it would be unreasonable to see him move some forwards/prospects for the "right" trade. It will really depend on what he can get this offseason and if he thinks the price is worth it though. Moving on from Eichel was the right thing for all parties, and I doubt anyone expected Tuch to be as good as he's been. I think they were banking more on Krebs developing into a solid middle 6 player and Tuch was more of a stop gap/ until that happened/additional value for losing Eichel. But that's just total speculation on my part.

Last one of the season. No Tage tonight, so no shot at another 5 goal game (or really just 3) to get to 50. Still, let's hope the boys finish off strong and blow their doors out. Who is your bet for starter tonight? UPL? Comrie? Or will they give another game to Levi?

Since the stakes are low at this point, I'll probably just put it on the background. I hope Anderson gets a nice send-off. It's been a fun season, even with the disappointing outcome. My expectations were just in or just out of the playoffs this year, so they hit on that. Next year it's playoffs or bust. Hopefully they can use these last 2 games to take some momentum into next year. I want them mad/determined to do better next year, and not wallowing in doubts.

My audio is fine

I didn't do ESPN+ last year. I still had Center Ice like a fossil. I didn't like that there wasn't a hide spoilers or start from beginning option like NHL.tv had. Thankfully they added both features. You'd think they would have figured out something else to do. Center ice just showed that day's schedule with ***** music. Far superior to the ESPN+ ad. If anything that ad makes me look forward to when I can cancel my ESPN for the offseason

Not only that..but on repeat. It's so awful

Good news about Cozens. Although with how much is on the line can you imagine anyone voluntarily sitting out?

I'd be in favor of that, but we'll see what Anderson wants to do. I think he really loves the guys in the locker room. I know he's said a few times he wishes he was 10 years younger.

I'm pretty sure I read one of the things that appealed to Levi about getting here was spending time with Anderson. So while he may be focused and mature, I think (hope?) he realizes he's always got things to learn/ways to improve his game.

Jost is a RFA this offseason.

For anyone like me wondering if they could listen to this: https://www.audacy.com/podcast/the-jeremy-white-show-9b4b9/episodes/don-granato-sabres-staying-alive-in-the-playoff-race-bd269

Yeah, if Granato leaves this up to Levi, Levi is playing tonight.

The most important take away is we need to win tonight. Ideally in regulation, but I think after last night winning in regulation doesn't matter much anymore. We just need to finish more points than 2 of the 3 teams ahead of us.

We would still need the Isles or Pens to drop at least 1 point for that work I think, but I agree. Isles can still finish with 93 (and would beat us on tie breakers) Pens can finish with 94. I think we could beat them with 93 if we win our remaining games in regulation and they don't win in regulation, but I'm not sure. Winning in a shoot-out last night was better than losing, but not winning in Regulation or Overtime last night is going to hurt us if it comes down to ties.