French Collection

He will be a big part of Sweden’s WJ team and being there will get him prepared for it. Sweden is hosting so this will be a big deal for him.

Hard to say. Everyone develops differently. The main issue is he will not be under the direction of the Sabres/Amerks staff. Also, Sabres/Amerks fans won’t get to see him up close. I am OK with this. He just turned 19 and will get to stay near home another year. The SHL is a good league and it is a step above where he played last year. He is not a big guy and should get stronger over the course of the season. It’s not like a lost year of development. Rosen may need one or two more years in the AHL before he is ready. Östlund can come over and need only one year of AHL hockey to be ready for the NHL.

I watched Myers a lot at the World Championships this year. It wasn’t quite NHL caliber hockey but he used on Canada’s 2nd pairing. He did OK but wasn’t a rock solid #4. I see him more as a 5-6 Dman. I guess he would help depth and mentor Power but he is not worth the money. Canucks would have to sweeten the pot. He could be an alternative plan if KA can’t find a true 4D.

Clutch game for him, he’s not known as a scorer.

I am tracking mock draft lists but am mainly concerned with potential first rounders. I have 21 lists so far but most of these guys are not on it. This site was provided to this board earlier by @Brawndo I think. I used it to target the above players. https://piyer97.shinyapps.io/NHLDraft2023/ Willander 33.3 Allen 36.2 Bonk 37 Strbak 42.1 Brzustewicz 42.4 Minnetian 55.9 McCarthy 61.7 Gibson 68.7 MacKinnon 86.2 Dragicevic is a RHD that is all offense. His rating is 31.1 Another RHD that was not on the above list is Beau Akey at 50.7. He was the #1 Dman for Barrie of the OHL until Brandt Clarke was sent down by the LAK. His numbers fell off after January.

Willander was good at the U18s, probably the best of this bunch. Bonk could sneak into the first round. He is a good all around Dman. I think MacKinnon had a good playoff run which would raise his profile. Another guy for this group is Lukas Dragicevic. He may go first round but could drop to the second. He is a converted forward who is all offense. He was a point per game in the WHL but is suspect playing actual D. Riverboat gambler is how I see him, I prefer the more well rounded type. If the Sabres didn’t have Dahlin and Power I would want a guy like that as a PP QB. Allen has fallen from a first rounder in the fall to maybe the third or later now.

Yeah, he wants the power and will probably do to his GM what Shanahan was doing to him in Toronto. I think it will be someone from his posse, he had a lot of underlings in TO. I know there are only 32 GM positions available but I have trouble seeing an experienced GM wanting to work for Dubas.

VO?

The Sabres are in way better shape than most teams. There is still some time to weaponize that cap space KA.

Welcome. They do need to add to the D pipeline. A RHD or two would be nice. There are plenty available in the second round, where they have two picks. Keep in mind these guys are 2-4 years away from joining the team. I think Power’s partner can be found in the UFA pool, Ryan Graves maybe. I know he is LHD but Dahlin/Mule seem to be fine. Trading may work too, I liked a guy like Hronek last year. I think they need a goalie in the later rounds, my preference would be a more experienced guy like Milic or Suchanek, who have been passed over in the last few drafts and are ready to turn pro.

I feel the opposite way. Defense can be taught. The defensive zone coverage will be… Pressure the puck here. Stick on puck, mind the gap. Defense is also a commitment by players to do the right thing at the right time and to be in position. Defense will also improve with physical and mental maturity. Offense has an artistic quality to it, you often need to be creative. Even chaotic play can be effective. Have fun, see what works, try something new. The playoffs are a bit different as there is less time and space. You have to adapt your offense and deal with more obstruction. They are different games but lacrosse being all offense when you have possession and a complete 180 degree turn to defense and getting possession back when you don’t is the mindset required. Unlike lacrosse, you don’t change your personnel on the fly to suit the situation, players need to be able to score and check. I think it’s easier show Jack Quinn how to improve defensively than teaching Girgs how to score goals.

Devils prospect.

I am glad that trade didn’t happen.

He just made $50M off of the Leafs, should be able to find a spot for her. Besides, they were back in Saskatoon for a bit while he coached the University team.

I don’t think Vegas got the cream of the crop. They made a few shrewd trades to upgrade but by and large these guys were teams’ third liners and 4-5D. Fleury was an immediate boost and Gallant got these guys working hard to prove that a bunch of “rejects” could compete. Here is their expansion draft result. Draft results #PlayerPos.Drafted from 1.Calvin PickardGColorado Avalanche 2.Luca SbisaDVancouver Canucks 3.Teemu PulkkinenLWArizona Coyotes 4.Jon MerrillDNew Jersey Devils 5.William CarrierLWBuffalo Sabres 6.Cody EakinCDallas Stars 7.Tomas NosekLWDetroit Red Wings 8.Jonathan MarchessaultCFlorida Panthers 9.Brayden McNabbDLos Angeles Kings 10.Connor BrickleyCCarolina Hurricanes 11.Chris ThorburnRWWinnipeg Jets 12.Pierre-Edouard BellemareRWPhiladelphia Flyers 13.Jason GarrisonDTampa Bay Lightning 14.Jean-Francois BerubeGNew York Islanders 15.James NealLWNashville Predators 16.Deryk EngellandDCalgary Flames 17.Brendan LeipsicLWToronto Maple Leafs 18.Colin MillerDBoston Bruins 19.Marc MethotDOttawa Senators 20.David SchlemkoDSan Jose Sharks 21.David PerronLWSt. Louis Blues 22.Oscar LindbergCNew York Rangers 23.Griffin ReinhartDEdmonton Oilers 24.Alexei EmelinDMontreal Canadiens 25.Clayton StonerDAnaheim Ducks 26.Erik HaulaCMinnesota Wild 27.William KarlssonCColumbus Blue Jackets 28.Trevor van RiemsdykDChicago Blackhawks 29.Marc-Andre FleuryGPittsburgh Penguins 30.Nate SchmidtDWashington Capitals

I think there are others, myself included, who think there is a high probability KA runs it back with those goalies. Do I want that? No. What I still hope for is that there are deals out there that he listens to and is considering. Something like the Hellebuyck deal could happen. This is young team but the runway to contention is not that long. I really want Levi to be the guy to lead this team to a Stanley Cup. Maybe he is ready for a tandem role now. I wouldn’t expect him to be a 60 game starter yet. What if he is not ready. Then you have to depend on Comrie or UPL to be the guy, and one of them may be lost to waivers, reducing the options. I know KA has been methodical and patient but if Levi needs 2-3 years to be ready for prime time goaltending then there will be a few years of below average playoff performance. KA must understand how much help Hellebuyck, Saros or a UFA like Andersen, Raanta or Hill could provide the team and Levi’s development. One year of Helle might be enough to go on a nice playoff run and get Levi ready to take over. Helle may like it enough to extend on $$ and term that KA can live with. Then, over time, the roles could gradually shift to Levi being the man with Helle being the solid vet 1B. I don’t think the Sabres would be mortgaging the future by giving up #13, a prospect and UPL for Hellebuyck. I just hope KA is not sold on Levi/UPL/Comrie come hell or high water.

Many people here want to move on from VO because of his one dimensional game. Kane brings more in terms of experience, playmaking and stick handling. His skill set is not a big hole on this team. He doesn’t bring elements that are needed like PK, grit, faceoffs and defensive awareness. I’ve said it before, I would rather bring in Toews as a 4C than Kane as a middle 6W for the requirements I listed above.

FTR I am OK with getting Hellebuyck. Not all of these prospects will get to play in Buffalo. There may already be discussions about a possible extension, lots of cloak and dagger stuff. They are not supposed to but I am sure there are ways. If not, they have a whole year to figure out if it is a good fit. The development of Levi could be a key to the term. Maybe 13 for 18, Rosen and UPL gets it done. Sabres get to have a first rounder, maybe Simashev.

Hellebuyck could extend.

I imagine there were days Stevie Y wanted out. He stuck it out revamped his game and led them through some great years. I always liked him, glad he is back there. The Sabres might meet them in a few playoffs in the near future. I like our core and prospects way more but Stevie Y knows how to win, I give him a lot of the credit for building Tampa’s team.

I don’t mind that, requires less cutting. We have an acre to cut and besides, people can’t see the lawn from the road, heavily treed property.

This is what happens around trade deadline time. 12-18 teams think that the missing ingredient can be airlifted in and carry them to the Cup. Chemistry is often overlooked as well as the temporary relocation of players and families. I don’t think the Sabres will need to make a big splash when they are ready to contend. I prefer the Tampa moves like Goodrow and Coleman to add grit, 2way play, PK skill and faceoff ability to add depth. As you say, plug a hole or two.

Some shuffling in the Flyers front office by Briere and Jones. Mule’s dad is out of a job. https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/philadelphia-flyers-promote-alyn-mccauley-to-assistant-gm-1.1968277

I think your assessment is accurate. Bedard is dazzling. Fantilli is a potential 1C. Michkov could be the best of them all. Carlsson and Smith could become top 6 NHLers. After these 5 there are no guys that jump off of the page. There are some that may end up as stars but that happens every year. There will be some diamonds in the rough and I hope the Sabres staff finds one maybe two. 13th should be in play. They can get a future NHLer, but it will be in Rosen, Östlund, Kulich level for forwards. As far as Dmen go, Simashev, Sandin-Pellikka, Reinbacher could all be available at 13. I see them as becoming 3-5 Dmen. I would gamble on Simashev because his rank has risen lately and his upside is Mule with better skating and offense.

The Quebec Remparts finished first in the round robin part of the Memorial Cup and have a bye into the final. Their opponent will be the winner of the Seattle Thunderbirds vs Peterborough Petes game.