GASabresIUFAN

The 24 thing isn't an issue with him making the Sabres it's a limiting factor on his NHL upside. One other thought on Poltapov. When I make my list I look at both a player's upside and when the player will arrive in the NHL. I see him at best as a 3rd line player and that is 2-3 years in the future. I see Neuchev and I see a guy with top 6 scoring potential who is already under contract to the Sabres.

I have a name for you. Pius Suter. What you just wrote is why I have posted up thread that I think Quinn's injury definitely decreased the likelihood VO gets traded.

True. It begs the question, who was the best UFA signing ever by the Sabres? Teppo? Okposo? Gionta? Spacek? Leopold? Not exactly a list of greatness. The worst are easy. Erhoff, Leino, Hutton, and Moulson to name but four. There are plenty more.

The Sabres scored 293 goals last season. That was certainly enough to get us into the playoffs if we had had adequate D and goaltending. Quinn only potted 14 of the 293 goals. I think adding Rousek should replace most if not all of those 14 goals. The bigger loss from a scoring standpoint was the potential trade of VO. My guess is KA had penciled in improvement from JJP, Quinn, and Greenway to replace that loss. Now he has to hope that guys like Krebs (9 goals), Mitts (15 goals), and Power (4 goals) pick up the slack if VO isn't retained or replaced. Either way, this lineup is lethal enough without Quinn and/or VO to be a playoff team. The more important question is limiting he scoring chances against through better backchecking, better defense, and better goaltending to get the GA down from 300 to a more reasonable 265 or so.

I would be very surprised if KA brought in any forward to play in the top 9 even with Quinn's injury. I think he'd much rather see if his internal solutions can fill the void. However, he has repeatedly stated that he wants to upgrade the D and this should be his primary focus. Pesce, Dumba, Gudas, Hanifin, Orlov, Soucy, Sanheim, Dumoulin, Mayfield, Graves, Andrew Peeke, Tanev, etc.. should all be on KA's watch list. It will interesting to see which route he goes to fix this roster issue UFA or trade. After fixing the D, getting a vet goalie should be his next priority.

KA said in one of the recent press conferences that he sees Appert getting an NHL opportunity. I'll post the link and time if I find it again.

Why does this matter? We want our GMs to find NHL players and as many as possible. Who cares anymore where they come from as long as we have a constant stream of young up-and-coming talent. KA is doing an excellent job so far. Jbot did a fine job as well and last I looked he is Canadian. He just didn't like the CHL/NHL agreement. It's also hard to really criticize his drafting. The Sabres already have 6 players from 18 picks. When Johnson and Rousek make the NHL that will be 8 NHLers. If Portillo makes it, that will be nine. Even Cederaqvist has an outside shot. Most GMs don't bat 33% in the draft much less 50%. Back on topic. I really really like the Ratzlaff pick.

TOP 25 Sabres prospects 1) Devon Levi (G)- His play for Buffalo late last season solidified his place IMHO 2) Zach Benson (LW)- What a draft steal at 13. KA probably couldn't believe his luck 3) Matt Savoie (C/W)- Benson's Ice linemate with a similar point total, just a year older. 4) Jiri Kulich (C/W)- Great rookie campaign in the AHL after a slow start with 46 pts in 62 games, but elevated to 11 pts in 12 playoff games. Most NHL-ready of the young forwards? 5) Noah Östlund (C) - KA says added size and strength and he outperformed fellow 1st rd picks teammates. SHL next season and then NA 6) Isak Rosen (RW) - former 1st rd pick made his NA and AHL debut last season and improved as the season went along. 37 pts in 66 games and then 8 pts in 14 playoff games. Needs another year or 2 in the A. 7) Ryan Johnson (D) - Finally signed with the Sabres. Most proven D prospect. 8.) Viktor Neuchev (LW)- Made the jump to the KHL fulltime in his D+1 season 9) Nikita Novikov (D)- This was a hard placement to decide until I realized that the former 6th rd pick has spent most of the last 2 seasons playing regularly in the KHL. After Johnson, he is our next closed NHL ready D. Just don't expect much offense. 10) Lukas Rousek (RW) - 56 pts in 70 A games plus 2 pts in 2 NHL games. Could make the Sabres in the fall. Biggest issue is that he is already 24. 11) Oliver Nadeau (RW) - the next 4 guys could be in any order. Nadeau has had back-to-back excellent Q seasons. AHL in the fall 12) Prokhor Poltapov (LW) - Spent last season in the KHL fulltime. Has another 2 years left on his KHL contract. 13) Anton Wahlberg (C/W) - KA had a 1st rd grade on him. 6'3" forward has one year left on his SHL contract. Played 1/3 of the season in the SHL last year and was solid at the U18's with 10 pts in 14 games. He could rapidly move up this board. 14) Alek Kisakov (LW) - Made the jump to the AHL last year and did OK. Needs to make a step up this season 15) Max Strbak (D)- 2nd rd pick this year is a defensive stalwart. Heading to MSU in the fall 16) Tyson Kozak (C/W) - 7th rd pick made his AHL debut last year and proved a feisty competitor. 10 pts in 55 games, but blossomed further in the playoffs with 5 in 14 games. 17) Gavin McCarthy (D) - This year's 3rd pick recovered from injury to have a very solid USHL season. Headed to BU in the fall. 18) Vsevolod Komarov (D) - Took a huge step forward offensively. Big D was also very solid for Que during their Memorial Cup run. 19) Mats Lindgren (D) - Rough 1st half, but excellent in the 2nd half of the season. 20) Scott Ratzlaff (G) - Excellent season as backup to Milic for Seattle (WHL). Highlight was 4-0 record with a .50 gaa and .976 save % for Canada in the Hlinka tourney. He is Seattle's starter next season. Could also move rapidly up his board. 21) Topias Leinonen (G) - 2nd rd pick last year. Looked like a reach then and still does. However he is a tall goalie and was OK at the U20's going 2-2 with a .874 save %. 22) Filip Cederqvist (LW) - 22-year-old made the jump to the AHL and was respectable in his first NA season with 20 pts in 55 games. 23) Jake Richard (W) - Had 62 pts in 57 USHL games last season. Headed to UConn in the fall. 24) Ethan "Funky Cold" Miedema (LW) - 6'4 forward 200 lbs winger had 21 pts in 32 OHL games. Some scouts think the Sabres got great value with this 4th rd pick. 25) Viljami Marjala (LW) - former 5th rd pick resurrected his prospect status by returning to Finland and having a solid year in Finland. Will the Sabres sign the 20-year-old?

A player needs to be turning 20 before the calendar rolls over. For example last year Nadeau vs Kozak. Both were in the same draft class and were born about 2 weeks apart. However, Kozak was eligible for the AHL because he was born Dec 29th 2002, while Nadeau went back to the Q because he was born Jan 15, 2003. The exception to the rule is 4 years already played in the CHL. Lindgren has 3 seasons in the CHL and doesn't turn 20 until August 2024. He is stuck in the CHL for another year. Benson also has 3 years in the CHL and doesn't turn 20 until May 2005. He is stuck in the CHL for another year unless he makes the Sabres. His case is interesting. If the 24 games in 2020-21 are considered a full season (COVID), Benson will become AHL eligible at 19. Savoie is also CHL or NHL only this season by ONE DAY. He has a Jan 1st B-day. If he was one day older, he'd be AHL eligible this season.

Thus next man up. KA has many internal candidates to keep the team moving forward. He can keep VO. He can expand the roles of Krebs and Mitts. He can give Kulich, Rousek, Savoie or Benson a shot. He can sign a FA to assume the Krebs 4C role if he elevates Krebs. Plenty of options and plenty of cap room to make decisions with. I don't think this injury will derail the offense much and long-term I don't think it will derail Quinn's career. We have seen this before. Tage Thompson went through something similar and look where he is today. Yes, it was shoulder surgery, but the recovery time is similar and the for someone with Tage's shot, a major shoulder injury could have easily derailed his career. https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-tage-thompson-injury-update/c-313918708

No it didn’t. Thank G-d.

I'm still not convinced that Poltapov ever comes over to NA. In his D+1 year he was a pt a game MHL player (15 pts in 13 games) and had 7 pts in 25 VHL games. In his D+2 year he played primarily in the KHL and had only 10 pts in 56 games. Kisakov in his D+1 had 56 pts in 51 MHL games. In D+2 he had 8 pts in 48 AHL games. These stats indicate to me that they are similar level prospects. The KHL is a "better" league than the AHL, but not much and the NHLe put the players at a similar level. Nadeau in D+1 in the Q had 78 pts in 65 games. Again similar production to Kisakov and Poltapov at the Jr level. Neuchev is the best of the bunch. In his D+1 he played in the KHL full-time and had 12 pts in 57 games, except he also played 6 games in the MHL playoffs and had 6 pts (4 goals) in 3 games. To me all these guys are bunched together with Neuchev as the leader. Until I see them in action together it's going to be hard to separate them, but if I had to make a bet, I'd bet on Neuchev as the most likely successful NHLer. I also think you are overselling Poltapov's potential. Our forwards and forward prospect pool is so deep, he is going to have a hard time unseating incumbent players or beating out higher-rated prospects like Kulich and Rosen.

McCarthy is a better prospect than either Komarov or Lindgren. Also Ratzlaff is a better goaltender than Leinonen. Also, Poltapov is way too high on your winger list. Neuchev, Kisakov and even Nadeau are probably better prospects at this point.

Need two roster spots for that to happen and where do they play?

Lollipop Guild.

That certainly is a real possibility and I understand that point of view. I’ve been looking at Pius Suter as an under the radar UFA signing to add experience forward depth, especially if Jost doesn’t re-sign or VO is traded. The question I have for you, is his one dimensional game as big an issue if KA upgrades the D and goaltending? KA admitted in today’s presser that he wants to upgrade the D and that he is talking to every available D to find the right player for the right cost and term. I suspect he already has a deal in mind. How much of a liability is VO in that scenario? KA preaches organizational depth.

The more I think about this, Quinn’s injury decreases the likelihood VO gets traded. With Quinn gone for perhaps most of the season, we are going to need to replace his offense. What’s more KA than looking for an internal solution and utilizing the 28 goal scorer already on the payroll? VO will be motivated to earn his next contract and he is well liked in the locker-room. VO also has acknowledged his deficiencies and my guess he’ll put in the work to get better. KA said he wants to re-sign Jost and once completed that deal will give us 12 healthy forwards under contract again. Skinner TnT Tuch JJP Cozens Mitts VO Krebs Greenway Girgensons Jost KO This might also clear a path for Rousek to start the year in Buffalo Skinner TnT Tuch JJP Cozens Greenway Rousek Mitts VO Girgensons Krebs KO (Jost) I do find Greenway playing a 2nd line role on Cozens line very intriguing. He’ll create a lot of space for JJP and Cozens to operate.

Don’t ever tell me odds!

Goalies are different. They often take longer to develop and therefore get drafted later. Miller was a 5th rd pick, Levi a 7th, Ullmark a 6th and Petersen a 5th. I also said similar development path as Levi. I didn’t say as good as Levi. We’ll know more next season when he is the man in Seattle and hopefully plays for Canada at the U20s like Levi did.

You really need 3. 2 is the absolute minimum. Benson is a given. After that Strbak will likely play in the NHL given the type of game he plays. I disagree that Ratzlaff is a shot in the dark. This is a talented athletic goalie who was discounted because of height. He is on a similar development track to Levi.

Probably.

How cliche.

It’s possible. This kid is a top 5/6 talent and we have a slot open with Quinn now on IR. Will it happen? Doubt it. The Sabres have no interest in rushing players to the NHL any longer. He and Savoie are kind of in limbo. They are probably to good for the CHL and not physically ready for the NHL. They should go the AHL, but that isn’t what the CHL/NHL agreement allows. If I had to make a wager, whoever has the best camp will get a tryout to start the season in Buffalo to see if they are physically ready. Ultimately both end up back in the CHL to make a Memorial Cup run.

This is a very real possibility.

He has a good name.