DarthEbriate

We all have to remember that Johnson was a JBot pick, with the exception of the obvious (Dahlin) and the one top-end defender (Samuelsson), every defenseman he drafted/acquired would be classified as a puck-moving defenseman with the attributes: slight in frame/bulk relative to height, good skater (relative to size), and an outlet-pass. Note: They were being acquired for Housley's activated D system, which even though he was fired a bit before Johnson's 2020 draft, the draft board would have been influenced by that approach, as well as JBot's preferred type. It's really striking to see the type of defensemen signed/drafted/extended by GMTM, then JBot, and now Adams.

The announcers are going to forget Dalpe, too, aren't they? 😇

Savoie took Cederqvist's spot for 2 games, but Cederqvist was coming back from a knee-on-knee hit in the opening round. He returned for a bit, but maybe was sore enough that it made sense for him to come out of the lineup. Cederqvist returned last game and assisted on both of the Amerks' goals. The best thing for the Amerks right now is probably keeping Savoie in the press box as he doesn't yet play at AHL speed and Hershey plays with sufficient speed and a very sound defense to stymie WHL play-speed and Savoie and his small size. Add to that that the refs are letting Hershey play clutch-and-grab playoff hockey and it's a poor mix for him. Cederqvist and Passolt as grown adults are better options for the team. But, it was good for Savoie to see what he'll be up against in the future.

Does the tandem bike photo get shown in a pre-Final hype video? How much does the ex-Sabres' saviors angle get played up? During the broadcast, are they each referred to as "former Sabres" or the former teammates if they happen to take a draw together, etc.?

Simply getting to 30 teams quickly doesn't impress me that much. Now, when MLS' TV, gate, and merchandise revenue gets to #4 in the US, then we're talking. But with 34 total games a season (and then some teams also do other Concacaf matchups, etc.) I'm guessing they're not yet making that much cash. That's the article I'd like to see. Now, is soccer more popular than hockey as a sport in the US? Sure. By numbers of kids/people who play it, it's a landslide for soccer. The main thing for me is this: the NHL is the #1 hockey league in the world and it isn't close. No other league can retain its best players against the NHL. As many of you have noted above, is the MLS even a top-10 football league in the world? Is it even on par with the ECHL?

And here we go... Jackikin Eichwalker versus Reino Samidala in their final confrontation.

They're also better, more complete, and polished players now themselves.

It sounds like Savoie is looking like what I saw in the WHL Final. He's got great skill and if there's a ton of space you see it on display. But against a well-coached defense, he isn't fast enough or strong enough to create space. I'm thinking he definitely gets his NHL look to start the season, but the best for him and the Sabres will be another season in the WHL. He belongs at the AHL level to grow his game (same as Kisakov), but his age and physical maturity may call for another year in Winnipeg.

Savoie should be better than Kozak. The question is: Is Savoie's game better than Kozak's right now? I look forward to finding out. I hope they both score hat tricks tonight.

It's not. My view is that there is no need for secrecy, or coyness, or subterfuge. If he had said, "I'd like to thank Buffalo for drafting me and supporting me these last couple years, but my agent and I believe my best option is to test free agency." it would be the same thing. His only option (for the NHL) was to sign an ELC in a very narrow band of salaries, whichever path or team he had chosen.

They showed the 1st goal four times. Now that's a PR department!

What sort of lubricant is Coach proposing?

I was wrong. I was wrong about Deustchland. Tell your brother (Tuch)… I was wrong.

I had written him off as walking to UFA. But I am glad he signed. A defensive defenseman who can skate as well as he does is a good thing for this pipeline. My disappointment is that he simply could have said weeks ago, “It was a long season; I’m in need of some recharge and to heal up a bit. I’m going to have fun with my friends, graduate, and then sign with the Sabres. I wish the Amerks the best in their playoff run in the meantime.”

And different a position. But Cozens still has 4 years of filling out, strengthening up, and learning boardwork as they've had. But in terms of size, strength, going into corners and to the net, and willingness to battle, he's the current Sabre that could matchup. Quinn trailing 2-1 and now Tuch early on decided that Latvia and Germany should be competing for bronze.

Currently from the Sabres' perspective, yes. Everyone else is on an AHL deal. LHD: Pilut, Davies-AHL, Bartkowski-AHL, Tischke-AHL || Johnson, Novikov, Jandric-AHL (and Bryson as his salary would likely clear waivers at the start of the season, but may not later in the year if a team is crushed by injuries); Clague, possibly RHD: Prow-AHL, Cecconi-AHL, Strand-AHL, Eliot-AHL || Metsa-AHL It'd be really nice to keep Prow and Davies. Pilut probably can find a franchise that's willing to give him a shot as a 6/7 for a year, but he's an excellent AHL-level guy.

What about Cozens?

The little fish have been taken care of. Now it's time to address the real items of the offseason: Extensions for Dahlin and Power, determining what Joker and UPL and Mitts mean to the franchise, and then finding the veteran D and goalie. (OK probably not goalie because it's GM Sheevyn and we have all we need right here, but still a veteran goalie would be very, very helpful.)

A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. Rochester's blue line looks much more sound next season with he and Novikov as options.

The willingness to draft a CHL or Russian league player across all rounds is a significant advantage compared to the previous GMs' approaches of only taking players committed to the NCAA or in Sweden/Finland for additional years of team control once past round 3.

Yup. We'd like to thank Oskari for his time with the NHL and its affiliates and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

If all goes according to plan, the Sabres are going to be legitimate contenders, spending to the cap, and Tuch is going to be an in-demand player from deep postseason runs when his current contract expires. He's also already had one significant shoulder surgery. He could very easily become a cap casualty no matter how much he wants to be here. Either of your questions could be possible. (Granted, if he becomes captain [my gut says yes], then they definitely do lock him up through his mid-to-late 30s.) Only time will tell. I believe Skinner is going to face the same problem he did in Carolina; he's a very good player but a youthful core is going to kick him out because he isn't a bottom-6 guy who kills penalties, etc. and the Sabres' version of Svechnikov is coming. The question is... is it Neuchev/Savoie, this year's #13, or even a 2024 draft pick?

Fascinating. Maybe Johnson just wanted to focus on relaxing and finishing the school year. But... he did just let Metsa take all his postseason appearances with the Amerks. Johnson could have been getting valuable experience playing with longtime veteran Bartkowski, meshing with his future teammates, etc.

This is definitely a disconnect for me. The core as I see it is spanning Dahlin and Power. Tage is on the upper end and Tuch is on the outskirts (in 4 years there's going to be a thread called "Alex Tuch Kyle Okposo is back" and people will be griping that he's blocking young talent). They're set up to get good (really, really good) in 2025-26. That is when the age 20-23 core will start to enter their window. And what I hope is that the Sabres win one early so that the window is broken open, and then remains wide open for 15 seasons while they've got the Power.