French Collection

Maybe he wants an abacus to help out the analytics folks.

I like the signing, they are locking up a guy they have seen every day, developing into what his a first rounder should be doing. He is entering his prime years on an improving team. This is a way better use of cap space than getting a 29 year old UFA who just happened to have a career year. Tage is making peanuts for what he contributed last year and he doesn’t seem like the type to quit improving now that he has guaranteed money.

It is more important if your play is glass and out, then Dahlin would be on his backhand. That play is rarely used anymore, flip passes or dump outs are more common. He would have to handle more D to D passes on his backhand. With his edge work and stick handling ability cutting to the centre of the ice and making a play should be in his wheelhouse. He is not really a north south skater and last year with Samuelsson they switched sides during play quite a bit. If DG makes that pairing permanent, these guys will figure it out. Just as there are certain advantages to wingers on their off sides, there will be some for Dmen and Dahlin should exploit them.

I just want to see continued growth from these three. Cozens has the most upside in my opinion, but I doubt he makes a huge jump this season. I’m thinking maybe 50 points. He and Asplund had important roles at the World Championship and they showed some offensive flair. I believe he gets a bridge deal next. I think Asplund will be a 4th liner who can actually play up a line or two for stretches. I think he will improve offensively but becomes a defensive presence who gives other teams stars problems. I hope he can play centre as he could own that 4C spot for a while if he can. He is probably looking at 1 or 2 year deals for the next while. Samuelsson will be a value player. He may get a long term deal but not big money due to a lack of scoring.

I don’t see TT extension.

I guess his window to show them if he can play in the NHL is two years. I want Levi to be the next one but I am still pulling for UPL. He may find his game and some health to show everyone he deserves a stall at KBC.

I love this stuff. I know we all want to see success at the NHL level now but it has to start somewhere and these departments are key to creating a pipeline of Sabres. It has been a long decade+ but I think KA and his group are on the right path. I believe he wants a homegrown team that plays for each other and the fans. The conveyor belt full of prospects will ensure that once the team is competitive that they will have many playoff runs and that one or more of them will end with a Cup. If the scouting and analytics people do their jobs well, success can be sustainable.

Yeah, it sounds a little strange. Kamloops is also much closer to home than Red Deer.

I like the idea of scoring threats on three lines. Matchups will be tougher for other teams and DG can go with whoever is hotter as his go to line.

No question his offense is way better than his defense. He will continue to improve in both areas. Look at it this way, if he/Sabres have the puck for the majority of the time he is on the ice, that means there is less defense to be played.

Interesting that he wanted out of Kamloops, in my opinion it is a quality CHL program. I will keep an eye on Red Deer to see how he develops there. They paid a first rounder and a decent ‘03 Dman for Lindgren so he has value in that league. Masters is a 2021 4th round pick of the Wild.

Mike Babcock says he has retired from coaching. This past season he was the HC of the University of Saskatchewan. The Leafs are still paying him $6M plus this year so I guess he isn’t struggling financially.

Hard to say. It is not a best on best tournament without them. To my knowledge the NHL has not put sanctions on Russians, but the IIHF has banned them from their events.

Power’s offense often comes from joining the rush or vacating the point. This will cause some odd man rushes the other way but if he picks his spots well and forwards cover for him there will be more GF than GA. He skates well and obviously has tons of reach so getting back in the play will happen too. Because of limited PP time I don’t think he will have a Seider like season, but I think he can put up 40 points. Because of his 1OA status he will be in the ROY conversation.Some great work on special teams will help him gain some favourable reviews.

Is it the Islanders with 19? I hear that in the playoffs from the CBC guys.

Most of the Canada vs USA games have been great hockey. The women are making inroads at coaching, scouting and management roles in the NHL. Even if they cannot compete directly with men physically, there is no restriction to having the skills to find talent, develop motivate, train players and create strategies at the highest level.

I love the best on best hockey, too bad the Olympics didn’t go through this past winter. I would prefer the World Cup being in September, it just seems to get the season started right.

Similar skill set to Bryson. He will play when injuries take out a few Dmen. There is more talent and support around than in his last stint so he will do fine in that 7-8 role.

Spencer Sova, I believe.

I better not “fall in love” with players, they are all eligible to be moved. It is hard to think ahead and realize guys will have to be moved/cut to make room for the next wave. Just as we are seeing a group that can become a true core. If it is a true core then they get to stay, but some good players will probably leave for cap/prospect reasons.

Me too.

I think KA will have that discussion with KO. He may not want to go anywhere but if he does they may re-sign him (a la Tkachuk).

Makarov is the reason they changed the eligibility rules. He was almost 32 at the end of that season.

It will be a tough road but the Sabres are better and will be in the hunt. I think they fall short unless they avoid injuries and the goaltending is above average. I believe a lot of the non playoff teams have gotten better, which will erode points from the top teams. I don’t see the wide disparity in points like last season. Eight 100 point teams is unlikely, Boston and Washington will drop the most but Tampa is weaker and I feel Florida will drop a few points.

Power and Quinn having Seider/Raymond like seasons is possible, that would move this team up into playoff contention.