French Collection

I’ve said it before, I like KO a lot but his effectiveness was not there. He has lost a step or two, wasn’t winning many board battles and his zone entry was a dump in or getting pinned along the wall. The only way I want him back is as a part time player (Hinestroza role) to get his 1000th game. Even there he may be taking the place of someone who can provide more on ice value for the Sabres. He has helped form the new culture in Buffalo but I would prefer a vet or two with lots of playoff experience and maybe a Cup to support the new leaders (Dahlin, Tuch, Cozens). KO only has 24 playoff games played in 16 years of hockey. A guy like JT Compher got almost that many games last season.

Many of current Sabres’ agents represent multiple players, word gets around about the improvement happening on and off the ice. There will be guys that are willing to come. The Dmen need to be 4-5 range, not the 7-8 guys that they have plenty of.

Awesome, good road win.

Canes were really pressing at the end but Devils hold on to take this game to OT.

I guess one every year can cause a glut in the system. You can sign an undrafted FA every once in a while when you are in need.Some will not develop and fall by the wayside. If you take a Euro they can stay over there for a few years before signing them. You can get 2 prospects in the ECHL and one in Rochester.

If he embraces that role and is good at it there may be a spot for him.

Yes, I believe they could have signed him in the summer as a FA. They are limited to 50 contracts so they didn’t see enough in him then to pull the trigger. He has has a good season and WJHC since then so perhaps this time he has developed enough to warrant a pick. I’m sure they have good intel on him from camp and scouting.

I agree that the right move is to take a goalie every year, to keep the cupboard stocked. These guys generally develop so late that a 6th or 7th rounder can turn into an NHL #1 in 6-8 years. I would use the later rounds and probably get a guy that was passed over in his draft year because of the extra year of viewing him and development. Many goalies are not starters on their junior teams at 17 or 18 so the viewings and sample sizes are limited. I think the NHL is at the point where monster sized goalies may start to lose their lustre. Smaller guys having success like Saros and Shesterkin may change a few minds and if Levi and Wolf have success the pendulum might start to swing back towards athleticism. I know very little about the goalies in this article. I will trust the Sabres scouts to get a good kid. I would take a chance on Suchanek or Milic as older guys who have had success.

I am surprised by the Jones choice. He may do well but his background is broadcasting, not front office work. He has been around the NHL for a long time and has numerous connections that would help him. Maybe his role is changing the team culture more than hockey ops. He attended Western Michigan for 4 years, probably graduated. Good for Briere.

Are there any ramifications for fighting there? I thought it was 5 minutes and a game, maybe more in international hockey.

Nads injured blocking shot.

The majority of the team are early twenty somethings, Lucic is one of the only guys Levi would have watched growing up. He’s about to see first hand how slow Lucic looks, especially on that big ice.

Bouchard has been brutal defensively for the Oilers tonight.

A short article on Devon Levi playing in the World Championship. https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada/devon-levi-it-s-so-special-to-wear-the-maple-leaf-at-iihf-world-championships-1.1957772

This is a given, having played World Junior A Challenge, World Juniors and Olympics. I wonder if Hockey Canada reached out to him before he signed. Fantilli is on the team and hasn’t even been drafted yet, similar to Owen Power in his draft year.

Make the kid’s dream come true and go to Vancouver. Sabres will meet them in the 2026 Stanley Cup final, That 70’s duel.

I bet Stivler’s mom is hotter than Montour’s mom.

I am pulling for Power to win it, he had a huge impact on the Sabres bump up in the standings. He will have a much better career than Myers, whether he wins it or not.

NHL draft lottery is on tonight at 8:00 PM. Sabres have no chance at Connor Bedard. I view that as a step in the right direction.

Good for him. He had a good junior career and now it’s time to take the next step. He could go back to the Q as an overage player but I don’t think he has anymore to learn from that league. I don’t know if he slots in to the Amerks lineup but he is an interesting addition. Good size, lives in the front of the opponent’s net. The last time I saw him play I thought his skating needed work so this will be a good spot for him to develop. Good luck to him and go Amerks!

Nads.

I was aware of the Keefe, Frost issues but I didn’t know Wes McCauley was Frost’s brother in law.

I watched about 3/4 of that game. I can’t help but focus on Nylander when he is on the ice. That guy can skate, dangle and shoot with the best. He does not like playoff hockey, he had multiple opportunities to finish a check but did a fly by. You don’t have to crunch the guy, just squeeze him out and let him know there are no free passes. Maybe you wear him down a bit. He outright avoids contact. I know he is not the highest paid of the Fantastic Four but it makes me laugh how the announcers say he is putting on a clinic on puck possession and then poof, nothing happens. He just looks like a guy from a boy band who doesn’t want to mess his hair. Ten ply toilet paper.

I’ve thought about this one a lot. I don’t really see a need for his skillset but if he is the best player on their board they have to take him. Perhaps his offensive game ends up better than Power’s. Maybe his defensive game becomes good and the kid turns into Ryan Ellis. He could end up a slightly better Joki. Those are all positive outcomes and if he isn’t a fit then he can be moved later for something that is.

Florida fans trolling Leafs and their fans by chanting “we want Florida”. So good.