GASabresIUFAN

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/ranking-nhl-best-and-worst-prospect-pools-sabres-red-wings-canadiens-blackhawks-devils-120025136.html This was published in July, but I don't think anyone linked it here. Ian Kennedy, the author, IMHO does a very good job evaluating prospects and draft-eligible players. He writes for the Hockey News and Yahoo News as well as the Globe & Mail in Canada.1

I expect him to be traded by mid-season.

There is no reason Tage can't repeat last season and even eclipse 50 goals. He will need to stay healthy and he'll need the Cozens line to be productive to keep opponents from solely focusing on Tage's line.

Milano, Dawkins and White were drafted before Beane became the GM. The 2017 draft was in April, Beane became GM in May. The only “star’ player drafted by Beane on the Bills is Allen.

One thing is for sure; NFL truly means Not For Long.

I expect Davis, Elam, and Espensa to be gone by next season. Davis could have a great year and even then he'll be too expensive to keep. Elam could get a 3rd year, because he's cheap, but if Benford has a good season, they'll be no reason to keep him.

The problem with any draft evaluation is separating Busts from depth players from starters from stars. Beane has been very good at finding depth players like Hamlin, Dane Jackson, and Saron Neal, and nominal starters, but outside of Allen and maybe Edmunds what star player has he found? Rousseau was a nice pick and a starter, but Spenser Brown is a starter only by necessity. Knox regressed last year. Ed Oliver is solid but not exactly a star. However, he also gave us Ford, Moss, Basham, Espensa, Elam, and even Singletary and Gabe Davis. These guys are mostly busts or starters out of necessity but don't really elevate the team.

These are similar to my list earlier in the thread, but there is no planet where Rosen is a better prospect than Östlund. You can argue that he is "closer" to playing in the NHL because he is already here and Östlund was loaned back to the SHL today, but Östlund is the more talented player with a much higher upside. Rosen does have a better shot. I do like how high they have Neuchev and Wahlberg. Pronman also like Wahlberg, but he is sleeping on Neuchev. KA was very clear how much they like Neuchev and I think he'll be the big upside surprise this season in Rochester.

You got your OL replacement. The Bills sign German Ifedi formerly a 1sr rd pick and recently cut by the Lions. https://billswire.usatoday.com/2023/08/30/buffalo-bills-sign-germain-ifedi-nfl/

How will this system work for actual Sabres fans, from say Atlanta for example, making a road trip to Buffalo ?

I don’t see any reason for a regression except injuries. 30g 50a 80 pts again. To easy to say that the 1st won’t be under estimated this season and teams will focus on stopping them. Opponents tried that last season as well and Tuch was a pt a game player in the 2nd half with 16 goals (33 games do to an injury). The better news for the 1st line will be the emergence of a nearly as lethal 2nd line of Cozens, Mitts and JJP. I’m looking for another step forward by all 3 with JJP being the breakout player this season. Defenses will be hard pressed to defend two deadly lines.

Option not in the poll. He gets beat out by Clague again and spends the season in the A.

Breakout star. I’m thinking a 50 pt season.

Benson and Savoie will continue to do their Jr magic together in the WHL and for team Canada. See you in 2024.

Because he is awful. Apparently the Bills have also cut AJ Klein. I guess they are throwing the kids into the deep end and hope they swim.

I hope this is sarcasm. Another wasted 2nd rd pick.

https://theathletic.com/4812994/2023/08/28/terry-pegula-dissolves-pse-sabres-bills/ The most telling quote from the story. 9 employees were let go. TG and Roth run both franchises.

https://theathletic.com/4805966/2023/08/28/nhl-players-prospects-under-23-connor-bedard/ Players listed 1-168. 6. Cozens - Bubble Elite 13. Power - NHL All-star 27. Quinn - Top of the lineup player 64. Benson - Bubble top of the lineup player - middle of the lineup 70. JJP - Bubble top of the lineup player - middle of the lineup 80. Kulich - Bubble top of the lineup player - middle of the lineup 91. Östlund - Middle of the lineup player 100. Savoie - Middle of the lineup player 126. Krebs - Middle of the lineup player 138. Wahlberg - Middle of the lineup player 139. Strbak - Middle of the lineup player 165. Levi - Middle of the lineup player

Yep, he wore 23 before 5. Rick Martin wore 8 and 9 before 7.

Try this for the Sabres by decade. It’s really hard. Here is my attempt. 70’s - Edwards (29), Martin (9), Perreault (11), Robert (14), Hajt (24), Schoenfeld (13) 80’s - Barrasso (30), Ruuttu (21), Andreychuk (29), Hamel (9), Ramsey (5), Housley (6) - missing Mike Foligno (17) 90’s - Hasek (39), LaFontaine (16), Satan (18), Ward (15), Zhitnik (4), Bodger (8) 2000’s - Miller (30), Pominville (29), Dumont (17), Roy (9), Tallinder (10), Lydman (5) 2010’s - Ullmark (35), Eichel (9), Reinhart (23), Moulson (26), Gorges (4), Leopold (3) 2020’s - Levi (27), Mule (23), E Johnson (6), Krebs (19), Rousek (13), Greenway (12) or Levi (27), Cozens (24), Okposo (21), Greenway (12), Joki (10), Johnson (6)

Why pay millions to renovate a stadium if you plan to sell? Simple, it’s like renovating a kitchen in a house. You do it because it’s necessary. You do because it adds value to the home. You do it because it make it easier to sell the home. The fan experience has been awful for years, but it didn’t matter there were no fans to worry about as the team stunk. With these renovations, you improve the product both on the ice and off. The goal is to increase the season ticket base and thereby increasing the value of the franchise. The sale isn’t today or next week, but with each playoff appearance the odds of a sale increase. The question is who in Buffalo, besides Jacobs and Bob Rich, are wealthy enough to keep the team in Buffalo long-term. I don’t mind that idea.

This was posted in the Trivia thread earlier. Here is a somewhat offbeat but good group. Miller (30), Dahlin (26), (Bodger (8), Hawerchuk (10), Mike Foligno (17), Kane (9)

So he is in a direct position to diccuss and field offers. My guess is this won’t happen for a couple of years. He wants to get the team back into the playoffs, get the season ticket base back up and then sell the team. With KA firmly in charge of the hockey side of things, TP can focus on the business end and dealing with his fellow owners. His parents.

Setting up to sell the Sabres.

https://thehockeynews.com/news/2023-24-prospect-pool-overview-buffalo-sabres