GASabresIUFAN

That’s much to aggressive for KA, but one can dream. Also if KO returns he isn’t playing above the 4th line. I like the Graves idea and Compher, although someone cheaper (Haula?) seems more likely.

Actually I’m not. JJP was arguably a little better down the stretch. He had 11 pts (4G) in his last 20 games. Quinn had 8 (2g) in his last 20. Both were lacking defensively. JJP was -11 in those games and Quinn -13. If they turnout as you expect (hope?), that would be a fine result, but I think you are selling JJP short.

I appreciate that you’re so sure of what they are now and will be in the future. History proves these types of pronouncements are most likely wrong. Many people, including me, made similar pronouncements on Thompson, Mitts and Skinner. All have proven incorrect. Quinn and JJP had historical seasons in the AHL last year. JJP is younger and is only his 2nd season in NA, yet he was nearly as productive as Quinn. I’ll stick to the Thomas Kyrou comparison.

Krebs was only 21 to start last season. He played 74 games had 26 pts. Thompson at 21 - 65 games 12 pts Casey at 21 - 31g 9 pts Cozens at 21 - 81g 68 pts Skinner at 21 - 71g 54 pts Tuch at 21 - 78g 37 pts Are you noticing a trend? I’m not either. Player development is anything but linear. Given Krebs’ U18/U20 background, I think some patience is in order with him.

It’s funny, but it seems people are down on JJP and high on Quinn, yet Quinn only had 5 more points this past season and only 2 more goals. Both were better than Casey’s first season. I still believe that both have similar upside as each other. They both remind me of Stl’s Thomas and Kyrou. Those two started with 30 pt seasons at a similar age and have blossomed into 70 pts players. I expect both guys to take another step forward next season at Cozen’s wingers.

I believe Casey can become a 70 pt player. When also replacing a young vet like Casey, you have to ask how long until the prospect gives you what Casey does already. Let’s take Kulich for example. He’ll arguably be NHL ready after next season when Casey’s contract expires. Is Kulich a better prospect than JJP? I think they are about the same. Well JJP put up 32 pts and was occasionally scratched from the lineup. A solid rookie year but not anywhere close to what Casey brings. So how long until JJP or Kulich reaches Casey current level? 2 years? More? This team’s window is now. Sometimes it’s best to keep what you have. Admittedly the cap will force KA to move on from some guys, but that won’t be anytime soon here. I do agree however that Casey is one guy who won’t finish his career here. I surmise KA extends him another 3-4 years and then Casey will move on.

He picked the one with the least experience, from the wrong system that cost him nothing to acquire but some cash. Not surprisingly he got exactly what he paid for. Nothing. Honestly his management of the goaltenders has been horrific since day 1 other than getting Levi in trade. It’s the biggest black mark on his record to date and his cheapskate approach cost us the playoffs this season. Oh, by the way all the goalies you mentioned in the fail list outperformed Comrie, except Campbell

I think it would depend on his contract status. Maybe if they hire him we can demand a good draft pick back like we had to pay to get the fired Bylsma. What do you think? A fired Coach was worth a 3rd. I think a 1st this year should cover it. How about this. The cost to talk to him is a 6th and if hired we get the 1st instead.

You know that’s demonstrably not true. There were a ton of goalies traded this summer and nearly all went cheaply. Aidn Hill was traded for a 4th. Georgiev for 2 3rds and a 5th, Husso for a 3rd etc. Toronto paid Ott to take Mzarek and he outplayed Comrie and UPL. A 3rd pick has about an 18% of playing 100 games in the NHL and will probably take 3-5 years to arrive. A 4th even less. The prices paid for those goalies was extremely cheap and KA should have made a similar deal.

Joki and co are bad. I agree that Bush and Stillman will be back, but they truly aren't good players. For a team without cap issues to have depth this poor is inexcusable IMHO. The defense left the goaltenders out to dry more than almost every other team in the NHL. The Sabres allowed 888 HDC against. Only cellar teams ANA, MON, and CBJ allowed more. The D was and remains a huge issue despite the 3 good players. If I were in KA's shoes, I'd get a 4, a 5, and a 7 and send everyone outside of the top 3 packing except Bush. I'd then move on from him after next season. We can do better. Yes, the coaching is a problem as well. It's one of the reasons I gave DG and his staff a grade of C+ Yes, despite the terrible in-zone play by our parade of terrible D, the goalies also stunk. It's clear that under the same difficult conditions, Anderson still succeeded while Comrie and UPL often imploded. Both need to go. UPL does not look improved year over year and it's clear Comrie's success in WPG was partially a product of their system. Our staff should have recognized that Comrie's game maybe wasn't suited for Buffalo's system and found goaltending help elsewhere.

I've been evolving on the issue of KO. In the last months of the season, I was in the camp of sending KO and Z packing. I was and still sort of am in the bring in a Haula or Compher camp, but the Krebs discussion and Mitt's play at center down the stretch have me thinking more about keeping the status quo at forward and carrying 14 forwards for next season. That means re-signing Jost, Z and KO for proven depth and that still leaves one open slot for a smart acquisition. (Savoie also replaces VO). This way we aren't relying on KO and Z to carry the freight of being the responsible forwards, but also keeps their experience and leadership on the team. I really think KO would shine in the playoffs. https://theathletic.com/4424414/2023/04/18/buffalo-sabres-kevyn-adams-offseason-questions/ The article does a nice job of spelling out the remaining issues with the roster for next year and how they could be addressed. The six questions are 1. What happens in net? 2. What does the future hold for Victor Olofsson? 3. Will KO and Z return? 4. How will Buffalo upgrade its defense? 5. Will the Sabres clear the way for any other prospect? Rousek? Kulich? Savoie? 6. Can the Sabres get more extensions done? Dahlin & Power top the list.

Not really. 50% of the D isn't adequate. While Levi is certainly the future and maybe even a key contributor as early as next year, he still needs a running mate for next season and I'm sorry, but there really isn't an excuse for the crap we've had in net for the last few seasons. They could have and should have hired better placeholders while waiting for the prospects to mature (oops they don't have any D prospects soon to emerge). As I posted earlier, GAA of 3.12, 3.50, 3.50, and now 3.65 is not improvement.

I think he is too offensively talented to become that limited. We saw Mitts breakout finally to become a 60 pt player and I still believe Krebs has that ability as well. He just needs to find a role to secure a spot until that breakout happens. Krebs' development curve reminds me of Eriksson Ek for the Wild, who finally became a 60 pt player at 26.

He could, but he doesn't seem like that kind of guy. Krebs, Quinn, and Cozens were all teammates for Team Canada, and like the USNTDP guys, they seem particularly close. There is also a real bond between those two groups as well. I know Dahlin, Mitts, and Cozens are very close as they talk in interviews about traveling together and hanging together at Mitt's place during the season. I think this group will do whatever Donnie asks them to help the team win. I don't honestly remember any other group of Sabres being this close.

I'm happy with the direction of the franchise, but it doesn't change the fact that Adams and his staff have failed to improve the defense and goaltending over the last 3 years. Whether that changes this off-season is a question that needs to be answered. So far I have not been impressed with their choices on D and in net and the poor stats reflect those poor choices.

I wouldn't mind hearing the "Russians are coming," "the Russians are coming."

They had the same expectations for Krebs as they did for Mitts after seeing him dominate at the U18's and U20. Part of Krebs' problem is that he is on a team with Thompson, Skinner, Tuch, Cozens, Quinn, Mitts, and others with as much if not more O talent. For him to win a spot, he's either going to out offense the competition or find a niche that others aren't filling. The hope for Krebs is he develops into a Haula or Compher type player. Krebs is 6' 190. That's the same size as both Haula and Compher. Haula had 55 points for LV in 2017/18 (at age 26) and has had back to back 40+ pt seasons while winning 52-55% of his draws. Compher fully blossomed this year at 28 with his first 50 pt campaign and he wins about 50% of his draws.

He has already said the Playoffs are the goal next season. I want to hear his roadmap to getting there.

That wasn't because of the defense and goaltending and it's still not in a playoff spot. Clearly, this front office can evaluate forwards, but so far their record in evaluating and hiring D and G is suspect. They traded away Montour and allowed Ullmark to walk. Instead, they acquired Hagg, Butcher, Pysyk, Dell, Comrie, Subban, Tokarski, Clague, Stillman and Lyubushkin. The few pluses on the ledger were the dumping of Risto and the signing of Anderson off the scrap heap. The Sabres' GAA in the last 4 years has increased from 3.12 to 3.5 to 3.5 to 3.62. This is not a positive trend. Hopefully, Levi cures some of these issues, but he can't do it alone.

What is interesting are the Save % on the PK by the 3 main goalies and this stat is one of the primary reasons I want to move on from Comrie and UPL. UPL Save % overall .892 PK .833 Comrie Save % overall .886 PK. 823 Anderson Save % .908 PK. .882 If we had had Anderson level goaltending last season every night we'd have let in 30 fewer goals (including 13 less on the PK), had a positive differential of about 20 goals, and probably have made the playoffs. Comrie's and UPL's PK save % are among the worst in the NHL. Couple losing possession of the draw in the D zone on the PK 62% of the time with goalies that allow goals on 17-18% of the shots taken and you have a recipe for a terrible PK. Back on topic for a minute. If Krebs can develop into a good PKer, that will really help his long-term value to this franchise

Didn't help last year. The same front office gave us Lyubushkin, Clague, Stillman, and Comrie. Not exactly an endorsement.

That the team is going to upgrade the defense and goaltending.

You would think, but on the PK does the extra skater on the PP team may wipe out that advantage? It seems like it. On D Zone draws the Sabres were 41.6% last year, but that number drops to 37.96% on the PK. The same holds true on the PP. Our regular Ozone faceoff % was 45.97, but on the PP it increased to 49.46% Clearly the extra skater makes a huge difference in the faceoff stats.

The Flames and Trelving just parted ways. Maybe he'd be a good replacement if Karmonos takes the Pitt job.

Simple solution. Wear Goatheads at home, and traditional whites on the road.