GASabresIUFAN

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

Based on what? He has played 2 pre-season games against Ahlers, Prospects and a couple of NHLers.

Ultimately that’s the question. Can he make a playoff contending team better this season?

I will add that he has looked more ready than Kulich and Rosen and that is saying something. DG has also given him a prime slot with Thompson and Skinner.

This kid's O talent is off the charts. We knew that when he was drafted. Give him open ice and he'll crave teams up like a Thanksgiving turkey. However, to compete in 5 on 5 battles he'll need to get stronger and he'll also need to work on his two-way game. Honestly, he reminds me of a Reinhart (maybe better) and I mean that as a compliment. I just don't think he's ready for full-time, full-tilt NHL action. The pre-season games so far are against veterans getting in game shape, AHLers, and other prospects. He won't have the time and space to operate once the rosters are all NHLers. The Sabres also don't have to rush him. The current turmoil with his CHL team notwithstanding, the Sabres can allow him to work on his strength and D-game with one more CHL season and then jump to the NHL as we did with Reinhart.

Benson, Rosen & Kulich in the lineup tonight. Benson playing with Thompson, Rosen with with Kozak and Biro and Kulich with Mitts and Nadeau

I just heard from the search party and they tell me Östlund is in Sweden somewhere playing hockey with 2 points in 4 SHL games. That is all.

I know it's way early in the season, but Sunday's game feels like a must win. Win and we have the same record as the fish but own the tiebreaker. Lose and the Bills fall essentially 3 games back of the fish as Miami would be 4-0 to our 2-2 and have the tiebreaker.

Thought shall not turn this thread into a discussion of the former Buffalo resident. We have enough such threads. Please back to the topic; Rosen or Kulich? (or Neither).

Assuming decent health this coming season, I’d argue the Sabres are 9-10 pts better than last year. Even without Quinn (who gave us 14 goals), the Sabres return basically the same roster that finished 3rd in goals. I expect continued growth from JJP, Krebs amd a rebound fro, Greenway. This team should be in the top 5 of scoring in the NHL again this coming season. The defense will also be better. Maybe not lockdown great, but improved at clearing the crease, blocking shots and on the PK. All these things will suppress the shots on goals and the high danger chances. If that improvement leads to even a 1/3 of a goal against per game, that’s 27 fewer goals allowed. Now add Levi. Yes 7 games is a small sample size, but even if he just gives us Anderson (26 games last season) level goaltending over 45 games (.908 save %), that saves another 13/14goals over what Comrie gave us in his 19 games. (Anderson played 26 last year and Comrie 19 - thus 45 games Levi will play). Between the improved D and improved goaltending, that 40 goals shaved off our GA and drops us from 304 allowed to a playoff bound 264.

Maybe KA can recommend someone to take the job.

There is no counter-narrative. DG wants to get more offense out of Clifton and Greenway. He says they both have more to give, but that doesn't change why they were acquired in the first place. They were acquired to make this team harder to play against. The Athletic has pointed out today our top forwards had lousy defensive numbers last season. That fact is partly because of youth and system, but that doesn't change the fact. That doesn't mean they can't or won't improve this coming season, but they were lousy last season. The facts are also that we gave up the most high-danger chances in the league and were at or near the bottom in PK, blocked shots, and hits. Kevyn Adams on Greenway - https://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/gm-kevyn-adams-becomes-emotional-talking-about-sabres-trade-for-jordan-greenway-beefs-team-up/ Kevyn Adams on Clifton -https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/news/connor-clifton-going-to-bring-a-lot-to-the-table-for-sabres “He’s our kind of guy,” Adams said. “He’s competitive, he’s a great character person. He’s going to help our group. He’s a good skater, physical presence."

There is a great deal of truth about a team united in their goals. If you look at the roster 23 of the 25 players vying for a roster spot in Buffalo played for the Sabres last season and the 2 new players have ties to the organization; Clifton with Granato and Johnson to Okposo. Both should feel part of the group quickly. That unity is a major reason most believe DG can get them over the hump this coming season.

Even they admit that the pt prediction seems low. That said there will be growing pains and we have a huge question in goal and our forwards have been allergic to backchecking. Also the competition in the East to deep. Ultimately this prediction won’t age well (as they predicted as well) and the Sabres make the playoffs but it’s not a guarantee.

Considering there was not a single NHL regular playing, what did u expect.

I had to turn off the sound, especially after they said Tage scored 50 last season. They were awful. Maybe it’s pre-season for them also.

Lol, KA inherited players like Skinner, Thompson, VO among others who don’t backcheck well which is why KA backfilled his roster with tougher players. Also just because you add a skill player via the draft or trade that doesn’t mean that will be their role with the Sabres. Amerks HCSA said the other day that he is working with Ryan Johnson to focus on being a stay at home D who uses his excellent skating to get the transition game going because that is his role to the NHL. Add that our 4th line is made up for 3 1st rd picks in KO, Z and either Jost or Krebs. Let’s also look at Mitt’s development. Once DG convinced to start hitting guys and muscling guys to win puck battles he blossomed offensively and defensively. Dahlin is the same story. He focus on being more physical and playing harder defensively and he blossomed on both ends. Just imagine if TNT would get the same message. The biggest change is on defense. Enter tough guys who can skate in Johnson and Clifton and out soft Bryson and Clague and pokey Lyubushkin. Let’s face it, your team doesn’t give up 300 goals, have the worst PK and lead the league in high danger chances allowed without being a little soft especially in our zone.

I’d like PPs that are interrupted by a period to start the next period in the o zone

No it’s not. This team for years has often been hemmed in our D zone by a physical forecheck. Last season was no different. KA has stated that his team needs to be tougher to play against and look who he has brought in; Lybushkin, Stillman, Greenway, Clifton, and Johnson. If management didn’t think the team needed to be harder to play against, why bring in all these tougher players?

I think there are better candidates for that role.

Agree. He is the forward they exempted from the prospect tournament.

Noooooooooooo. Yes, he is from here. Yes, he has vasts amount of playoff and Cup winning experience. He may even have something left in the tank. He might even sell a few tickets. However, he is part of that terrible culture from the Bowman era Hawks and friends in Chicago say he is far from a model citizen. I don’t want him anywhere near the youngsters.

In truth neither, but Kulich has a better shot. He still needs work on his play away from the puck and Rosen needs to show he can score more consistently.

You missed the point. The narrative of we are drafting small comes from what their stated sizes were when drafted. In the embedded draft video KA says it himself. He says, after they drafted Benson, that “they’ll say I drafted another small guy,” and then chuckles. (or something similar). This thread is not about the truth, but about the narratives surrounding this team. This is a small team (False). This is a soft team (somewhat true but being changed). We draft small skilled players (Somewhat true at forward, but not at all on defense). Just because a narrative is based on some truth doesn’t mean the team will end up small or easy to play against. I did think Neuchev was smaller than the data I had.

We all understand that the “Hit” stat varies. We get it. However, KA doesn’t agree. The 2 D he hired this summer, Clifton and Johnson, are known for hitting people. They add other attributes as well, such as experience, leadership, skating, PK etc…,but they are primarily known for hitting people,