DarthEbriate

I appreciate Poltapov.

Sabres Prospects involved in Prospects Challenge 2022: Forwards 17, Defense 8, Goalies 2 2023: Forwards 15, Defense 8, Goalies 2 2024: Forwards 13, Defense 7, Goalies 2 The winsome Sabres fan will say, "There's no need for extra prospects, because there aren't any folks to play 1 game and sit the rest because they'll be trying to make the NHL roster." The cynical Sabres fan will say, "EEE means you can't bring in too many prospects to the tourney because that extra travel and food budget costs $$$."

Levi is ready for backup duty, but is probably in ROC to get playing time. Johnson is ready to be a 6-7 on the Sabres. Beyond that, I don't know that any of them are ready to compete for a spot that fits. Until injuries occur. This season, I'd rather have Greenway on the PK than Kulich. I'd rather have Benson/Quinn/Zucker/Peterka battling for top-6 wing spots than Rosen. There will be openings next year.

Maybe it'll be the Sabres. You can make a ton more money in the merchandise/other sales category when your team is going to the playoffs each year, as well. Or if you're the must-see attraction for opponents' fans. Being relevant means you draw both home and away. And if the Sabres, particularly GMKA, had invested in a starting goaltender since losing Miller, they wouldn't be going on 14 years without playoffs. Lehner was playoff-capable, but self-defeating, and the roster was still in tank-recovery. But if they had extended Ullmark before his UFA, or traded for or signed a real UFA starting goalie instead of retired Anderson/not-ready Luukkonen, they'd have been in the playoffs handily in 2022-23. Next season, Luukkonen will be the first starting salary goalie they've rostered in 7 seasons.

Rest in peace, Mr. Jones. I hear he did some voicework over the years for CNN, The Simpsons, and such. But I also like his underrated contributions to the Jack Ryan films and turning snakes into arrows.

If GMKA really wants to keep Krebs as the unsung future hero of the Eichel trade... I wonder what contract (that DarthPegulasTheWise is willing to pay, unnaturally) is sufficient for Krebs to pass through waivers to Rochester. Maybe 2 x $2M? Krebs has 66 points in 215 career games, isn't good at faceoffs, led the Sabres in fights/season once (2), was 4th among forwards in hits, is a 3rd PK and 3rd PP mop-up time guy. He's Tyson Jost 2.0, who was traded once, then claimed off waivers by a rebuilding team with a ton of cap space. Note: Jost signed with Colorado for 2x$2M before his trade to and subsequent waiver from Minnesota.

Through injuries, the 12th-15th forwards in the lineup last season were: Olofsson 51 GP, Jost 43 GP, Robinson 40 GP, and Rousek 15 GP. Krebs as a 13th forward would still get in a lot of games.

So, it's settled then. We want career years from Byram, Quinn, Peterka, and McLeod. (And Rousek). Then, we encourage them to accept RFA offer sheets elsewhere so we can restock with draft picks and get younger and cheaper next season. GMKA: you have your orders.

The one thing that GMKA has proven is that if you're part of his core, he's happy to lock you up immediately (Muel, Cozens) or after one big year (TNT). Cozens had an ELC year slide, but he signed his 7x$7.1M during his 68-point season. TNT signed his contract after his 68-point season (then shattered it the next season). Muel... well, he's not here for scoring points. If Quinn and Peterka both have near point-per-game seasons (and I expect them one of them to do so), and GMKA wants the 8-year, they're going to point to Stutzle and his 8x$8.3M which he signed after scoring 58 points, and leading into his 90-point breakout. And... none those contracts would be onerous if the ownership is willing to spend.

A projected $92 million cap means nothing if we're still EEE and GMKA has full capability to spend, but you know, still leave about 8% of the cap unused. And whatever the cap is, they're already minus $4.44M for Skinner's buyout. Our hands are tied!

Oh, bloody hell. Let him retire. You don't gain respect around the league by trading ready-to-retire 13th forwards and 7th defensemen to Cup contenders at the deadline. You gain respect around the league by being in the playoffs.

So... when they miss the playoffs at the end of this season because one of either Detroit or Ottawa has taken that #3 spot in the division instead, they'll trade their new captain Dahlin for picks and start a new timeline around Helenius as the 1C?

At this rate, I'm not all that worried about Byram's next (bridge) contract given his annual production (he's not yet broken 30 points). Bouchard and Dobson had both had much better seasons than Byram ever had before they signed their bridge contracts. They're at $3.9M/2 and $4M/3, respectively. (He could have a breakout campaign this season, but probably only if he's on PP1 with Dahlin.)

Judge Pronman by his size do you?

If the Sabres won, would they hang a banner? Banners can be pricey....

If last season was the final house money/developmental year of the rebuild and this season is the first "we're going to make the playoffs" season... then you'd best act like it from top to bottom. Edit: And who wouldn't want Cozens, McLeod, and Benson learning some punk trade secrets from Kadri? (Of course, thus far, EEE and the unspoken message from the top begs to differ.)

There are tanking teams who need veteran leadership and reaching the cap floor; there is salary retention and draft capital as sweeteners; there is LTIR. Many contracts don't age beautifully, but most can also be moved or avoided, at need. The cap is rising. For Krebs, Rosen, and a 1st? Absolutely. The team is immediately better and has depth down the spine.

If the Sabres as a team can get .904 sv% or higher, that ought to do it unless the offense is atrocious. They were .899 last season, but Comrie's disastrous .874 in 10 games dug their hole deeper than Luukkonen's great second half could elevate them.

Pronman just ranked the Sabres top 5 by height. 6-6, 6-1, 6-0, 5-11, 5-10. Power, Quinn, Peterka, Helenius, Benson. Easy peasy.

It's a whole 'nother year (of EEE). Ehrhoff gets money through 2027-28.

A mandate from the bench for Power: your stat line must include 1 or more recorded hit each game. Learn to correctly throw a body check, get used to it, and go from there.

You're desperate to know when Ehrhoff is completely off the Pegula ledger and the team is allowed to spend to the salary cap again?

--I saw a city hockey stadium by the lake. ++Mmm. A team's fans you have there. -- They were in pain! ++It is the future you see. --The future? Will they die make the playoffs? ++Difficult to see. ---- As to Skinner, last season was accountability. Other players out-earned him for playing time. HCDG learned just as HCRK and HC RB'A had learned before him. But this offseason was strictly accounting. ---- Accountability in the offseason would be the leadership of this team being leaders and announcing that yes, EEE is the sole guiding principle and not GMKA's assertion that's he free to spend as he feels fit, and certainly not that "the Buffalo Sabres' reason for existence will be to win a Stanley Cup."

Yes. The Laine, McGroarty, and Askarov deals mean the GMs are back to actual season preparation and communications. September starts on Sunday and then the prospect tournaments are less than 2 weeks out. The completely silent period has passed us by.