French Collection

I haven’t been too dark of a mood but was getting there. This summer’s moves are refilling my hopium prescription.

This is all a plus in my books. Their ages relate better to the core than EJ. Hearing what making the playoffs is all about and the extra effort required for a deep run can’t be bad. Aube-Kubel has a Cup and along with Zucker, Lafferty and Malenstyn they have combined for more than 150 games of playoff experience.

All good, glad to see you sporting the chicken hat again. Your days on the dark side are done, I hope.

Mitts hasn’t stopped raving about the organization.

True. As McLeod gets closer to 30 and the C prospects move up he could transition to a Girgensons like role.

Right. I was just trying to use Östlund’s first name in a funny way, because someone called him Ostland. Also why I put the u in Rochester.

I think that move helps. Colton can play C if needed. We know the Avs have seen Greenway a lot and they get a cap reduction. With a finishing move worthy of a wrestling name, The Malachi Crunch.

Here is my stab at team scoring. Most of my estimates lean on the side of optimism, but the scorers are entering their primes or starting their ascent. There will be injuries, but the Rochester guys will be closer to making a contribution than last year. Unless it is something like TNT long term, they won’t drop off too much. I grouped them by line, so the names could change and need adjusting. Thompson Tuch Peterka 102. TNT returns to 40, Peterka 30+ and Tuch 25+. Cozens, Quinn Benson 74. Quinn will be the difference maker while Benson is 15+. Zucker McLeod Greenway 42. Between 10 and 18 is achievable by all here. Krebs, Lafferty, Aube-Kubel, Manlenstyn 34. Between 6-12 for 4 guys. Dahlin, Power, Byram, Jokiharju, Samuelsson, Clifton 40. It’s possible the first 3 guys hit this number, bonus from the rest. Kulich, Rosen, Rousek, Murray, Tullio, Bryson, Johnson, Gilbert, Clague, ?? 12. An injury replacement that makes a difference could bump this up a bit. These numbers get them back to 22/23 stats (300+) so some regression still gets them above the 23/24 level.

It would be interesting to hear Seth Appert’s take on Savoie. He has seen all of these prospects up close.

I was reading some stuff about the trade in the Edmonton Journal. Most of the “experts” love the deal and he becomes their #1 prospect. Interesting tidbit is that his brother Carter was just cut loose by the Oilers, they didn’t qualify him.

Pretty close to my thinking. My idea of a short term deal for UPL is 3 years +/- 1. By the time that deal is done there should be a clearer picture of who is the guy to go forward with. Another possibility is one of those two becoming a solid backup while the other is a clear #1. My view from six hours away is that these two may have a hard time co-existing as a Swayman-Ullmark type of tandem.

I think KA needs to just let it play out. Neither UPL or Levi is at their peak, so there is no panic in getting them long term deals. It is also early to gamble on a long term deal with this small of a sample size, especially in Levi’s case. KA has gambled in the case of Cozens and Power but Levi is still unproven at this point.

I’m sure he likes that chant, it is understandable. There was a clip on the web of him and some buddies in Finland and he seemed miffed at the UPL tag. It was in Finnish so the translation may be off.

I’ll repeat again that I like Savoie and wish him well. I don’t want to talk trash about him but I was not impressed with his Memorial Cup. I watched every game and while he had some highlights, I expected him to be a difference maker and separate himself from the crowd. As a 20 year old top pick, he didn’t shine as brightly as I had hoped. Small sample sizes but he did the same thing at the World Juniors.

We know he’s not fond of being called UPL. I will refrain from using that in his presence but for typing purposes, I think we all stick with that. I think they get a deal done but it could be shorter term in order for KA to see what he can do, for UPL to bump up his value and to see how Levi progresses.

No ah think he was in Rochestur to finish the season.

Is there a clause in his contract to let him go to Rochester? I thought he had a year left with Jukurit.

I like Savoie a lot but he wasn’t helping the Sabres get to the playoffs this season. His ceiling is higher than McLeod’s but that may be 4-5 years away. McLeod’s current ability is what the Sabres need and if he gets a bump in production, great. Savoie could be Brayden Point but he could also be Nic Petan. My guess is Edmonton wanted him as the local boy, WHL star and for the ceiling that his draft status hints at.

I don’t think any players actually want to go to arbitration. Having an employer that picked you from hundreds of teenagers, guided you through years of development and supported you to become one of the top 20 or so athletes at your position in the world suddenly highlight your weaknesses and deficiencies has got to be hard. KA also realizes that UPL may not want to be in Buffalo once the process is done. It is way better to settle “out of court“, and that is usually what happens.

Biro has moved on, with Seattle.

Need more puny, skilled Euros. LOL.

In time one of the prospects can force McLeod to 4C, then your C spine is really good.

Plus, Malenstyn, Aube-Kubel and Lafferty have some jam. Other teams will think twice about bullying our guys. They are not goons but are hard nosed players who won’t put up with bulls**t.

That’s what the short term stints are for. If you’re not ready, next man up.

That comp is not the greatest. Erat was already 31 with declining numbers at the time of the trade. I hope Savoie becomes a decent NHLer, but stays out west so there are few revenge games.