GASabresIUFAN

Are you and TageMVP brothers? The assists question has been raised many times. The goal scorers that can score off of feeds but also can create opportunities for themselves, like TnT and Quinn are the most valuable of all, but if you ask me if I want a guy like Casey over a guy like VO, I'd take Casey in a second. Ask Ovie how valuable Kuznetsov is. Ask the guys who played with Adam Oates how valuable he was.

I was laughing at the part of the comment that there will always be someone to take minutes away from. That's funny and true.

Great nickname. 2 thumbs up.

Are you implying that I just like to argue by taking the contrary position to many of the board? Ok, you got me.

No. My faith in him, and it has been tested at times (Thanks RK), stems from the player I saw at the World Jrs and the player that emerged when RK finally got fired. My fear was we'd give up on him too soon and he'd explode with his next team. Fortunately, DG has a way of seeing a player's potential and experimenting until he finds that player's highest and best use. The list is getting near endless, Thompson, Tuch, Skinner, Dahlin, Jost, Krebs, and now Casey. There are guys who haven't taken a step forward like Asplund and Bryson, but those may be cases of not enough there to unlock. I'm so looking forward to how he unlocks Greenway's potential.

I'd be more worried about a back slide caused by injuries. I thought last off-season that Thompson might regress due to his historically high shooting %, but the truth was that he finally matured into his body and DG's offense gave him the freedom to unlock his skill set. He is going to be a threat to score 50 annually for 5 or more year to come. Casey and Cozens are forming a very dangerous partnership. Together they have another level in them. Cozens is only 22. Dahlin is only 22. The only issues here are health and whether the team gives the improving Power more PP pt. We honestly could see them play together at times soon and won't that be scary for our opponents The two who could trail off are Skinner, age 30, and Tuch, but I doubt it for next year. Tuch is only 26 and is in his prime. Skinner at 30 plays the kind of game that translates to longevity in production. He almost never sits out more than a few games a year and seems to have a nack for finding open ice around the net. He might be able to pot 30 at 35. He's a winger version of Pavelski.

Turns out I was correct. 🙂 It's so nice not to have to fight with everyone over him any longer.

The cap isn't an issue now. We are at about 65 million for next season and may not be an issue for years to come if the projected cap increase happens as predicted. Let's say for example that Casey hits 70 points next year and you trade him before 2024-25, what kind of production would you expect from a 20-year-old Kulich and/or Savoie? 20-year-old Cozens had 38 pts in 79 games. 21-year-old Quinn has 29 in 55 games. 20-year-old JJP has 21 in 59 games. 20-year-old Casey had 25 pts in 77 games. So even if they are exceptional as rookies, we are unlikely to replace Casey's production and strength along the boards. For team looking to compete in the playoffs, isn't that arguably a step backward if we can afford to keep him?

@TRIP65 I was joking. I'm one of Casey's biggest supporters here. I think he has the potential to be a pt-a-game player in the NHL. I think we are seeing much of that potential unlocked as he has formed excellent chemistry with his buddy Cozens. That said, I am also a realist. Due to our forward depth and the development of guys like JPP, Kulich, and Savoie, the odds of us not being able to afford to keep Casey increase with his improved production. Fortunately, he is under contract for one more season and I'm pretty confident he'll be back next fall. Still, as I pointed out up thread if the price to get a quality player to partner with Power is Casey, KA would have to consider it.

I think you are interpreting my use of evaluation as a negative. I’m not. I’m talking about giving KA another year to decide if he needs to make a long-term commitment to those players. Jost is an RFA and Casey has one more year. If Casey builds on this season next year there will be a strong argument to retain him long-term. However if he doesn’t then giving his job to Kulich/Savoie etc becomes easier. KA might have to cut Casey loose anyway, but at least he’ll have more info to make that hard decision.

.and best suited for 3rd pairing duty, but KA has invested in two significantly more physical D for the 3rd pair in Stillman and Lyubishkin. I think Joki has value and would bring a decent asset in return. I don't mind if he comes back as a 3rd pair player, but priority No 2. this off-season, after fixing the goaltending, is a better partner for Power. As to the forwards, I posted these stats in the "Who Sits" thread. JJP will back because he is so talented and I'm not worried about him improving year over year. The other 3, we probably can do better.

I've been pounding the table for him since the season ended. At the combine people finally saw in person what I've watched the entire season in Athens. He is the one guy in this draft who can make everything the Bills want to do on offense better. I now also doubt he'll be available when we draft, but let's pray other teams find a reason to pass on this unicorn. My ideal Bills draft is Washington in the 1st, an interior OL in the second, and a safety in the 3rd. There are a couple of lesser-known big fast receivers that should be available in the draft in the 4th.

Greenway isn't sitting. KA acquired him to play him. Jost may sit if his injury is still bothering him, but the least productive forwards of late are Olofsson and Peterka. Vinnie has shown excellent chemistry with Mitts and Cozens since returning from exile and has earned more PT. JJP has 3 points in his last 20 games w a -8. VO has no points in his last 10 games with a -10. Terrible. Truthfully KO should be on the list as well. He has 3 points in his last 15 games with a -5. Not exactly helping the team. Z has also disappeared with 3 points (all goals) in his last 20 games. At least he is an even +/-. VO is the one who should take a seat, but honestly, a rotation based on matchups, performance, and nagging injuries is ok with me.

Yeah. He has already earned a nomination and he is the best all around D in the NHL this season. However Karlsson’s resurgence is hard to ignore and the only thing that tips the scales for Dahlin would be the playoffs.

I’m not in favor of trading Casey this summer, but if KA could trade him in a hockey trade to get a better partner for Power he’d have to consider it. Casey’s improved work along the boards has been a huge piece of his improvement and asking a 20 year kid to win those battles consistently is asking a lot. It’s why KA brought in Greenway and why I think Casey plays out his contract next season at the very least. That gives KA another season to see if JJP or Kulich or whomever is ready. As I wrote up thread however KA can delay making hard decisions on the forwards next season, but in 24/25 some really hard choices will have to be made.

Bold prediction, if the Sabres make the playoffs, Dahlin wins the Norris.

And what if he goes for 70 pts next season? Will that make it more or less likely he gets sent packing? Casey has 12 pts (3g) in his last 12 games and now solidified himself as Cozens LW. If he continues near this pace for the rest of the season, is he working himself into the core? Can we afford another $6 mill plus forward?

When? 23/24 or 24/25? Don’t forget that Kulich and Savoie’s contracts slide another year if they don’t play in Buffalo next season. KA gets another evaluation year on guys like Casey, Jost and Greenway and another developmental season on Krebs, Quinn and JJP if he is patient with Kulich and Savoie. The pencilled in top 9, assuming no Kulich or Savoie, is Skinner, Tuch, Thompson, Casey, Cozens, Quinn, JJP, Krebs/Jost and Greenway. The Greenway addition allows KA to trade VO this summer and allows KA to keep Z and KO another year if they want to return. After next season all bets are off.

Watch out the haters will be gunning for you.

I’m with @inkmanon this one. I felt like Donnie had him at Joseph Banks trying on different suits to see which one fit. It’s going to take a few games to settle in.

I’ve changed my mind. He should be traded at seasons end for whatever KA can get.

At least Chicago is pounding Ott.

Anderson should have had it.

This is a bad game to be without Mule and Tuch

Geez. Bryson just isn’t strong enough.