Curt

In the 2019 draft they picked Cozens. In 2020 they took Costantini. Costantini is definitely a random C who doesn’t move the needle, as you say, but Cozens moves the needle. Its really only the past 2 drafts that have been neglectful of C’s, not 3.

What do you mean by “throwing away this pick”? You have judged him to be a bust already? Trajectory wise he looks ok. Looks like he is having a better season this year than last. One big thing for him is adding strength/muscle so he can play a bigger role against pro men. That takes a little time. He is playing a small role in the SHL for this reason. In junior games he has played he lights it up. If he was playing in the CHL he would be lighting it up against 16-20 year olds.

Yurov could go as high as 2. I think he is a top 5 guy in this draft.

I don’t know how to interpret this. Honestly, I am sort of surprised that I feel this way, because I’m a proponent creating a competitive environment because that’s what’s best for the young players. I don’t know, I guess in those cases (Eichel, Sam, Risto) didn’t the players become what we expected, with the exception of Risto’s hockey IQ never improving? (I’m not sure if that’s a teachable thing)

I’m not convinced. Those players became (on-ice) what they were supposed to become. I don’t think Boston would have fixed Risto’s hockey IQ.

Just asking, what are you referring to when you say this? Our developing young stars did develop well. Players got pissed off, but they developed.

The other guys should be quiet, Marty is the best talker. Dis is tumbting dat muss be acknowledge.

This is most likely true. Outside chance that Thompson becomes a guy who can be real main piece (above average 2C who can be a main part of the PP), but more likely he is a middle 6 or 3C who is useful but not essential.

I’ve enjoyed their new podcast, better than the radio show. They seem to have a little more freedom to speak their minds and they get to talk about more non Sabres stuff. Their interview with Alex Tuch was really good.

Dahlin will be fine. He has been good this season. He isn’t great in his own end, but he is getting better, though he has ups and downs. He is going to be a top pair caliber player.

Read it again. I’m just poking fun, but seriously, read it.

Think about the bolded.

I think that he will/can be an OK-ish 2nd line C, but on a team that is actually going to be a contender, he will be a 3C. He can also fill a role on the PP.

Dylan Cozens had a 1.000 save percentage tonight. Can’t get any better than that.

For sure. Overall, I think we just don’t know yet. This year, more than most, we should take our time forming judgments. We are working with less information than normal. Everything prior to this season’s 15-20 games would tell you that Wright is the guy, so it will take a little more before Savoie changes that, but he could.

We’ll see how things shake out the rest of the season. Right now, I’d still take Wright #1. Don’t forget, Savoie is on an absurdly stacked team. They are 19 and 1, and have outscored the competition 106-36.

That was a goal, regardless of who is in net. Unless the goalie you want them to get is prime Hasek.

I guess that will be a learning experience or something.

We are way way off track, but the draft is 7 months away, so........ Maybe someone should start a 2022-23 lineup thread.

If The roster had been stripped of Vanek, Pominville, and Roy while Briere and Drury remained, the resulting team would have been similarly disappointing. A bubble team without the depth of talent to be more. It wasn’t that Vanek, Pominville, and Roy were not good. It was that the overall team no longer had enough talent to be more than “just” good.

Absolutely. Not saying that those rookies, or the talent above them will be equivalently good. I’m just saying that they should/would get the opportunity to have sheltered matchups, because guys like Tuch/Mittelstadt/Skinner/Olofsson/Thompson/Asplund should still get the focus from the opposition. They shouldn’t be in a situation way over their heads What they do with those matchups and what the top of the lineup does above them remains to be seen.

Unless teams start trying to match their top defensive players vs Kreb/Peterka/Quinn instead of Tuch/Mittelstadt/Skinner/Olofsson/Thompson/Asplund, yes they would be getting mismatches on lower lines.

That’s what I’m saying.

I don’t get it. Im not bent out of shape. You said you thought the situation was insulting. I’m saying that you shouldn’t be bent out of shape about it. Then you say that I’m getting bent out of shape. Nah.

I know, right? Last week I offered to reduce my own pay at my frustratingly crappy company, just to make sure they didn’t feel insulted. This is these guys’ life. They are working like crazy for chances to make millions, with the knowledge that at any moment, it could all be over. I think it’s completely unreasonable if you don’t expect them to attempt to maximize their guaranteed earnings.