GASabresIUFAN

Speaking of the Coyotes, Logan Cooley heading back to Minn. I guess he has unfinished business in college and probably doesn't want to play for the Coyotes until they get their house in order (if ever). He'll make a nice addition to the Atlanta Coyotes (and yes we have Coyotes in the ATL).

Maybe Greenway on offense and Samuelsson on defense. Even Mitts is becoming more of a grinder willing to forecheck. Tuch also has that skillset. I hate to say it but Toronto really misses Kadri and Hyman.

Which is why they added Tkachuk. Anytime in the 50+ years of Sabres hockey that they have been true contenders they have had solid goaltending and 6 solid D. 1975 - Schoenfeld, Hajt, Korab, Guevremont, Carriere, Fogolin - Crozier 1998 - Woolley, Zhitnik, Shannon, Smehlik, J Patrick, McKee - Hasek 2006 - Campbell, Numminen, Lydman, Tallinder, McKee, Kalinin - Miller

As well as the other 3 teams remaining in the playoffs.

In our division, assuming KA adds a D or 2 and a veteran goalie, which team would you want to be Buffalo, Det, Toronto, Ottawa, TB, Bos, or Fla? All these teams will have playoffs aspirations next season. Outside of Fla and maybe TB, the Sabres are arguably the best positioned team with 3 scoring lines, youth, cap space, a potential franchise goalie, and 3 top young D. Boston is aging fast, Ott and Det are a step behind us on the development curve, and Toronto is overly top heavy and aging. TB and Fla still look to be in their windows, but TB is heading for a major cap crunch. Florida is also going to need goaltending soon if Knight doesn’t get healthy. KA get the necessary additions and then let the players take over.

He’s been team President since 2014 and Dubas was executing his vision for the franchise. In 2018 they needed defense and goaltending, but instead signed Tavares. No way they sign Tavares without Shanny spearheading that decision. https://editorinleaf.com/2018/08/29/toronto-maple-leafs-john-tavares-6/ Dubas has been trying to fix the D and goaltending ever since. In fact, since Shanny took over they haven’t developed a goalie and they’ve only developed 3 D, but only Liligren remains in the organization. They also lack depth scoring outside the top 2 lines and outside Reilly they get little to no offense from their D. KA’s goal needs to be to not become the Leafs.

The Leafs and Oilers are the reason I harp on defense and goaltending. Scoring 300 goals is fun, but to win on the playoffs you need to kill penalties, clear the zone quickly, grind and get key saves from the goalies.

Was he really the problem? I think it’s much more likely the team President and signing Tavares.

How about some college football stadiums? How about a Bills vs Giants in the Carrier Dome? or Seahawks vs Raiders in the Autzen Field in Eugene? How about Falcons vs Texans in Death Valley or Tuscaloosa?

What a bunch of crap. Send the photo and story to Karmanos and also the Amerks beat reporter. Also post the story on social media. Let's see what happens then.

FYI: Jonah Heim, the Catcher for Texas, is a Buffalo native. Played high school ball at Kemore East and Amherst.

Love seeing two Toronto teams lose in a week. Leafs the Sabres are coming.

Apparently Josh Allen is washed up at 26 according to the Athletic. https://theathletic.com/4522005/2023/05/17/nfl-best-bets-picks-teams/ “Buffalo Bills Under 10.5 (+110) The Bills were a popular Super Bowl pick a year ago and cruised to a 13-3 record before the wheels fell off. The schedule is tough, plus there are a growing number of NFL people who feel that Josh Allen — at 26! — has hit the ceiling and already is on his way back down. Not only will he have a hard time staying on the field while sacrificing his body the way he does, but some signs of wear and tear are already visible. The line of only 10.5 wins does feel like a trap.”

The same way Lyubushkin mentored Kisakov this summer as outlined in the Athletic today. It’s not like Rochester is 3000 miles from Buffalo. Orlov understands from his time in Washington what it means to help young Russians settle in in NA and how to create an environment where these guys can thrive. With so many Russian prospects coming we need a Russian veteran who will be here more than two years to be a resource for them.

You are missing out. The games are faster despite a jump in offense. The new rules brought speed back into the game and that has added more excitement. These changes are doing for baseball what the post lockout rule changes have done for hockey.

Obviously. Go Braves! Became a Braves fan during Hank’s drive for 715 and then used to go Braves Spring training games with my grandfather. Now that I’ve lived here for 30+ years being a Braves fan is as natural as being a Sabres fan.

The Atlanta Coyotes has a good ring to it.

The better question is what is a top 4 D worth to the Sabres that can skate, aid the transition game while also playing solid in zone D, mentor a young D group, provide Cup Winning experience, and be an ambassador to our pipeline of young Russians? The answer is probably 6 mill a year for 5 years. I'd sign him to that tomorrow if he'll come. We can easily afford that contract and another contract for an 8th D.

https://theathletic.com/4522861/2023/05/16/nhl-playoffs-free-agency-ufas/ Interesting discussion on which players helped their UFA status with their playoff performance. Some notes on players of interest to us. Compher - stock down. Great in a 3rd line role, but wasn't effective as a top 6 forward Barbashev - stock up. Hard-nosed player who has played great on Eichel's line. Type of grinder teams need in the playoffs to succeed. Damon Severson - stock neutral - excellent in the regular season suppressing opponent offense 5 on 5, but had a spotty playoffs. Dmitry Orlov - stock up. "Time in Boston really highlighted his play in transition and offensive ability in addition to the defense he's become known for." Vladislav Gavrikov - stock up. Shut down D who has very effective in the playoffs when slotted correctly. Luke Schenn - stock up. "Schenn’s underlying numbers were stellar and the Leafs outscored opponents 10-2 during his five-on-five minutes in the playoffs." Joonas Korpisalo - stock down. Had a great regular season with a .913 save % on a terrible defensive CBJ team. Solid for the Kings after a deadline deal, but struggled in the playoffs after a hot start. Adin Hill - stock up - Solid regular season and has been great in the playoffs with Brossoit injured. I thought at the end of the season that Orlov is the right guy to add to this D group. Transition play, solid defense, veteran Cup winning leadership, and the Russian factor to help mentor our bushel of young Russian prospects.

Sorry to hear about your health issue. The Cleveland Clinic is an excellent hospital. Best wishes and feel better.

Correct, which is why a 1-year contract doesn't work. I would like a 3-year deal for the veteran partner with Levi. I'd like the Sabres to draft another goalie this draft to have two solid prospects coming up through the system to hopefully be ready to be Levi's backup when the vet's contract expires.

World round up. Tuch has 3 goals (0 assists) in 3 games for Team USA. Luke Tuch has a goal in 2 games. JJP has a goal (0 assists) in 3 games for Germany. Quinn & Krebs have 0 goals and 1 assist each in 3 games for Canada, but Quinn scored in the SO to secure a win. Levi has appeared in 2 games with 1 start and allowed 2 goals in the start on 24 shots.

That’s the real question isn’t it. KA certainly talked up UPL in recent weeks making a Levi/UPL tandem next year a distinct possibility. This is a dangerous strategy for a team expecting to make the playoffs next season. UPL’s numbers and analytics aren’t good and Levi has 7 career starts. UPL also has only 46 career games and the 3rd goalie, Comrie, has 47. The Hellebuyck rumor is the first sign that KA is not satisfied with the Levi/UPL/Comrie grouping for next season and that is the best news of the off-season so far. I wouldn’t overpay for one season of Hellebuyck, but it’s a clear sign that KA is kicking the tires on good veteran goaltending.

I'm not sure that's accurate. Miller's start in Buffalo was delayed because of the lockout. Hasek was traded because Belfour already had the net in Chicago. Recently, Vasi was the starter in TB at 22, Oettinger in Dallas at 23, Hellebuyck in Wpg at 23. Hart made the jump at 20 and Skinner in Edm is 24. Many guys like Saros in Nash or even Swayman in Bos are or were ready to be starters but had top-end players like Ullmark and Rinne ahead of them. When guys are ready they play. What we need to be looking for is a veteran goalie who has played in a high-event system, is under 35 and can be counted on to play 40 games or more. We also need that player to have a minimum of a two-year contract, but I think 3 would be preferable if the contract is affordable.

He means Karmanos was planting ideas in KA's head on how to be an NHL GM.