GASabresIUFAN

Either the top 12 are the best prospects since McJesus or some scouts need to re-think how they do their jobs.

Benson looks so skilled. Can’t wait to see if he can maintain this level once we are playing an entire roster of NHL players. It would be very exciting if he can force KA to keep him.

They played a very good 3rd period. It was interesting to see that this deep into camp, Buffalo was playing all depth defenders with our 6th D (Joki) being the only NHL regular.

I don't think there are any rules that say players on a PTO have to be signed or released by ex-number of days in camp. After camp ends certainly, but not during camp. I believe that if the Sabres wanted to keep him up for another week they could have. It could be a simple numbers game and they want him to be a key cog on the Amerks and go from there, but I thought he had shown enough to keep him around a little longer. Not a big deal either way.

Is anyone else surprised that Metsa didn’t get a longer look?

The truth is all 3 are sub-replacement players. The problem is Jost and Bryson are being paid nearly $4 mill. I don’t think TP would be thrilled with dumping $4 mill to Rochester. KA would try to trade them for anything before waiving them and sending them down. I also not sure why you bring back Tokarski and sign a proven AHL netminder like Cooley if the plan wasn’t to move on from either Comrie or UPL. In fact, Cooley posted better numbers in the A last year than UPL ever did. I don’t think Cooley signs with Buffalo if he thought he’d be returning to the ECHL. Ultimately I think it shakes out as 13-8-2, but 13-7-3 wouldn’t be the worst thing as it would give Johnson a chance at an earlier callup,give KA and DG a longer runway to decide on who the ultimate backup to Levi would be, and also allow DG to build Levi’s work load more slowly. That said I doubt the 3 headed goalie monster lasts more than a month or 2.

What is the effect on the roster if we keep 3 goalies? The answer is we can only carry 7 D or 12 forwards. If they go the 12 forward route, then none of the kids are making the team or one of VO or Jost will have to be traded. Rousek is still waivers exempt but Biro is not. If they go the 7 D route, Bryson is the likely casualty. None of Bryson, Stillman or Clague are waiver exempt. Personally I don’t think keeping 3 goalies is the plan. They brought Tokarski back to be the 3rd goalie if necessary.

I got the impression from one of the interviews that DG has 30 players in mind from which he is going to construct the 23 man roster. In fact, he discussed cutting down from 65 to 30 before he’ll fully implement wants he wants the team to do this season. Here is the who I think the 30 are so far F - Definite Sabres (11) - Skinner, Tnt, Tuch, Cozens, Mitts, JJP, Greenway, Krebs, KO, Z and Jost Probably a Sabres (1) - VO Fighting for a roster spot (4) - Kulich, Rousek, Biro, and Benson. D - Definite Sabres (7) - Dahlin, Power, Mule, Joki, Clifton, EJ and Stillman Fighting for a roster spot (3) - Bryson, Clague and Johnson G - Definite Sabres (1) - Levi Fighting for a roster spot (3) - UPL, Comrie and Tokarski Wild Card - will they keep Savoie up to give KA and the coaching staff some time to get a decent look at him once healthy?

That would be a first. 😉

I did miss two things that need to be resolved in the 2nd half of camp. 7. Without EJ and Clifton playing, we still don’t really have a clue what the D pairings will look like. I didn’t like seeing Joki and Power back together. 8. Besides the battle for the open winger slot in the top 9, DG really hasn’t given much of a hint about where the established wingers will play except Skinner stapled to Thompson.

I watched about 2/3 of the pre-season games as well as DG’s post game interviews and have come away with the following thoughts 1. Benson’s skill level is off the charts. Benson’s body isn’t NHL ready, but come next year he’ll be a Sabre. A 9 game tryout could be in the works. 2. Goaltending - Levi is ready. Comrie was impressive against the NHL Pens, while UPL wasn’t in his start so far. 3. DG really likes Biro and Ryan Johnson. Could Biro steal last forward slot on the Sabres? Johnson is starting in Roch, but he could easily pass Bryson and Clague on the depth chart. 4. Mitts is going to be the 3C when the season starts. DG has played him exclusively at C so far. This relegates Krebs to the 4 and Jost to the press box. This implies at Rousek and Biro are fighting for a top 9 job. Maybe both lose and Benson or Kulich win the slot. 5. Tuch, Clifton and EJ haven’t played yet. Not sure why. 6. I’ve also liked what I’ve seen from Rosen, Kozak, Cederqvist and Novikov. Did I miss anything?

So you think there's a chance?

DG wants to see what they can and cannot do. He knows Bryson’s limitations.

Terrible news for the Bolts, but sadly good news for the Atlantic, Vasi out 8-10 weeks after having back surgery.

Are the Pens playing nearly their entire NHL roster for tonight's game?

No, which is why I said it “reminded” me. I have held this opinion for a while. Krebs’ position with the Sabres is a little tenuous. He needs to really step up this season. Remember you can’t keep everyone and odds favor Kulich, Benson and probably Rosen making the Sabres in a year. Ultimately this is Kreb’s year to prove he is the 3rd line center of the future or Kulich will take the job in a year.

Krebs tonight reminded me why I think he’ll be the first of the KA era forwards voted off the island. I see Skinner, Thompson, Tuch, Cozens, Mitts, JJP, Quinn, Benson and Kulich as our top 9 in 2024/25. I see Greenway on the 4th line with Rosen. I think KA trades Krebs as part of a package to get a backup for Levi, possibly as soon as the deadline. I think he then adds a veteran energy center to replace the leadership lost by moving on from Z and KO.

Tonight's game sadly reinforced 3 things for me. First, I have zero faith in UPL as an NHL goalie. Second, Krebs needs to really step up his play or he will be pushed out of the lineup by Kulich. Third, I still don't like the Power/Joki pairing. Please DG make it stop. Push Joki to the 3rd pair where he belongs.

From your lips to KA’s ears. Is Devan Cooley the 2nd best goalie on the team?

The Sabres were flat the entire game. It was mostly an AHL team. Yes UPL didn’t get much help, but he needs to learn to stop a breakaway.

On the positive front, after listening to the broadcast teams from Wash, Bos and Tor, I feel so much better about Dunleavy and Sabres broadcast team.

Lehner level awful. He has to save al least one of those two breakaways. The skaters screwed up, but that is when the goalie needs to step up.

UPL sucks.

That’s a place to start, but it’s not 2 way play in the NHL. I’ll reserve judgement on his 2 way play until we see him in the NHL. Cozens was known for his two way play and he is struggling with that piece of his game.

I’m surprised Clifton hasn’t played a pre-season game yet.