GASabresIUFAN

I disagree. Rebuilding an organization starts and ends with talent. All the great platitudes, such as "building with players that want to be here," are meaningless unless those players are actually good at hockey. Jbot left KA a solid foundation to build upon. KA and his staff have done a good job of developing that talent, but again no talent no development. The real rebuild steps are (Platitudes need not apply) 1) Build a competent front office and coaching staff. - Done (although the coaching needs help on defense) 2) Evaluate the players on hand and in the pipeline. Get rid of any players that don't fit what the coaches want to do or make trouble in the locker room. Use these assets to accomplish steps 3 and/or 4. This is still in process and is ongoing (see KO, Z, Bryson and VO for example) 3) Draft and develop to create a long-term pipeline of talent. Done and still in process 4) Acquire veteran players to fill the roster holes. 4th D and at least one goaltender are still needed. Also possibly a 4th line center. This team is now on step 4. Winning usually solves all the "do the guys want to be here" BS.

Your missing one step - building on the quality assets already here (or in the organization) - Dahlin, Samuelsson, Thompson, Cozens, Mittelstadt, Jokiharju, UPL, VO, Rousek and Johnson (once he signs).

That and the 5 pts in 6 games he put up after he signed his ELC. His initial NHL points also came on the wing.

John, I flat-out disagree with your statement here. Here is Casey's career in numbers. Year 1 - 1st half 11 pts in 40 games (.28 pts/gp) Year 1 - 2nd half 14 pts in 37 games (.38) Year 2 - 31 games - 9 pts (.29) but RK was the coach so he can be forgiven for regressing. (.69 pts/gp in 36 AHL games). Year 3 - 22 pts in 41 games played (.54) Year 4 - 19 pts in 40 games played (.48) Year 5 - 1st half - 25 pts in 41 games (.61) Year 5 - 2nd half - 24 pts in 34 games (.71) Outside his 2nd season under offense killer RK, Casey has basically improved every 40 or so NHL games he's played. Not a straight line of course, but pretty close. Remember in year 4 he played through the entire 2nd half of the season with a hand injury and still managed nearly .5 pts/gp. I'm sorry, but the stats don't reflect a descending career, but a slow ascending one. I have never seen a player as misunderstood as Casey by the fans here and across Sabreland. The more the Sabres' management has properly defined his role the more he has improved. If anyone watched him in college, you'd have realized that his potential was that of a middle-six forward and that is what he has become. At Minn Casey only had 30 pts in 34 games. Yes, the Gophers weren't great that year, but they had a decent team starring Casey, Rem Pitlick, Thomas Novak, and Ryan Lindgren who are all solid NHL players. By comparison, Eichel had 71 pts in 40 college games also as a Freshman. While Casey's offense has improved as this season went along, the real change is in +/-. In the first half of the season, Casey was -12. In the second half, Casey has a +/- of zero. The way Casey is trending, both offensively and as a 2-way player, don't be surprised if he gets an extension this off-season. Please remember that good teams have good secondary scoring and players who can fill multiple roles to help the team weather injuries. Casey in becoming that kind of player.

Trend analysis The NYI are 5-4-1 in their last 10 - Keep at the pace they'll reach 91 pts, but they are scuffling lately going 2-3 in their last 5. If that trend continues, they'll finish with 90 points The Pens are 4-6-0 in their last 10 - That puts them at 90 points, but they have been slightly better in their last 5 going 3-2. If that trend continues then they'll reach 92. FLA is 6-4-0 in their last 10 and 3-2 in their last 5. That's a consistent 91 pt pace. BUF is the real wildcard in the Wildcard race. We are 5-3-2 in our last 10, which would put us at 89 to 90 pts. However, we are 4-0-1 in our last 5. Continue that level of play and we'll get to 93 or 94 points. Wouldn't that shock the world?

It's possible that all 4 teams could end up with 92 pts. Of the 4 teams, only Buffalo and Florida play each other and that game is tomorrow. To get to 92 points here's what must happen. (I'm going to assume all wins are in regulation) 1) NYI - They have 4 games remaining (TB, PHI, @ Wash and Mon) - They must go 2-1-1. RW 35, ROW 40 2) FLA - They have 5 games remaining (BUF, OTT, @ Wash, TOR and CAR) - They must go 3-1-1. RW 36, ROW 40 3) PIT - They have 5 games remaining (@ NJ, MIN, @ DET, CHI, @ CBJ) - They must go 3-2-0. RW 32, ROW 40 4) BUF - We have 7 games remaining (@ FLA, @ DET, CAR, @ NYR, @ NJD, OTT & @ CBJ) - We must go 5-1-1. RW 33, ROW 41 If all 4 teams tie, FLA and the NYI make the playoffs because they'll likely have the most RWs. They each have 33 RWs at this point. Obviously, we have the hardest road, but by the time we play the NYR and NJ they'll may have nothing to play for. Tomorrow's game against FLA is critical. A RW for the Sabres tightens things considerably.

Tage is back and there’s going to be trouble.

I think the thing that clicked with Casey this season is his work along the boards. The play in the first last night where Casey won the forecheck battle stole the puck and made the great pass to a breaking Skinner has now become a typical Casey play. Just wait until next year when Casey continues to hit the weight room. He is already a pretty big guy and like many of the young Sabres, he needs to get stronger. One thing we need to realize about Casey is that on every team he has ever played on, until the Sabres, he was the go-to scoring option. He was a top 10 pick who dominated the World Jrs. His game, until now, was geared to be that primary scoring threat. Now he is morphing into a secondary playmaker who creates off the forecheck. That's a very different role and it takes time for a player to make that transition, but we have seen him successfully make the transition this season. The goal scoring will come. He has a very good shot, but DG wants him to be a playmaker. You can see that on every shift. He won't ever put up 30, but will add 20 here and there. I'm thinking a Nik Backstrom kind of player with 70 points being the peak, or maybe a better version of Hecht. That's a great secondary piece to have. He is also becoming our Jack of all trades. He is forechecking and playmaking as a winger along the boards but also can fill in at center when needed. He can also play up and down the lineup. One final note. I doubt he gets traded this off-season.

https://theathletic.com/4368716/2023/04/03/buffalo-sabres-underrated-players/ From an Athletic article about the most underrated player on the team according to its players. (Samuelsson won - no surprise) Here is what a few players said about Mitts. Casey Mittelstadt (2) Owen Power: “I just think he’s so smart. He makes so many good little plays that I think a lot of people kind of miss just watching the game. But when you really sit down and watch and understand his game, you realize all those plays he makes and how smart he really is. Jack Quinn: “I’ll go with Mittelstadt. I think he does so many little things that go unnoticed. He’s not the fastest skater or the flashiest, but all of the little plays he makes with puck protections and he keeps pucks alive, I just think he has a lot of hockey sense. Sometimes maybe people don’t notice that.”

what good is a spell checker if you have to check the checker all the time?

F-ing spellcheck. "Meditating."

???? I was agreeing with you. We'll really know Levi's influence on them when they start mediating.

Levi’s dedication to his craft and attention to detail will make both UPL and Comrie better goalies. They will have to work OT just to keep up. Don’t be surprised if they start mediating.

I believe I did.

Quick thoughts: Greenway looking much more comfortable here. Mitts is our Minnesota Army Knife. Looks like he’ll do whatever DG asks. He is clearly one of best passers and playmakers on this team. Casey one point from 50 and only skater to play in every game. Tuch just loves being a Sabre. He really elevated today with TNT out. Skinner is a better player today then when he got here. Takes so much more joy when playing now. UPL made some great plays, but also some that leave you scratching your head. Milestone watch Tnt 1g from 45 and 1 pt from 90 Skinner 2 goals from 35 and 2 points from 75. Now 10 pts past his previous career high. Tuch’s hattie gave him 35 and he’s 2 pts from 75. Previous highs were 20 goals and 52 pts. Dahlin 3 pts from 70. Cozens 2 goals from 30 and 3 pts from 65 VO still needs 4 for 30. Quinn 1 goal from 15 and 4 pts from 40.

I’m not saying Östlund isn’t good. In fact, it’s the opposite, but you have to give to get. TNT was Stl’s 3rd best prospect at the time and that’s how I view Östlund. Unlike Stl, we don’t need a top 2 center, but we need a top 4 D or a goaltender. Getting a top 4 D, unless signing a UFA will cost a first or a someone like Östlund.

The timeline even to become a Cup Contender is now. A team with one of the top 3-4 offenses in the sports with a top line of players squarely in their primes should be a contender now. In 3 years Thompson, the youngest member of the top line will be 28, Skinner 33, and Tuch 29. What the heck is KA waiting for? The team’s needs are not that great and can be fixed with 3 or so smart acquisitions. One goaltender who can play 50 games, one veteran D who can play with Power and 1 or 2 depth forwards to give us a true physical 4th line. At some point this GM is going to have to step up and take a risk and force this team to take the next step. This doesn’t mean giving up the next 3 years worth of top draft picks or dumping every top prospect in the system, but moving a few assets, such as Rosen, or Östlund, and/or a few draft picks to fix these holes is honestly a necessity at this point if KA is truly going to address the top issues with this team. Band-aids like Comrie and Lyubushkin won’t cut it any longer.

Doesn’t half the NBA also make it?

At least we aren’t the NY Jets, who now hold the longest streak of missing the playoffs. The Sacramento Kings held the record, but just clinched an NBA playoff spot. The Jets last appeared in the playoffs in 2010. Sabres last made the playoffs in 2011.

It also requires a coaching staff that can teach defense, defensemen who can play defense and goaltenders who can stop a puck at least 90% of the time. Based on the current team, we don’t have the goalies, enough D who can play D or possibly the right coaching staff. These issues have now been evident for 2 plus seasons and have yet to be properly addressed by the GM. I know the KA/STH meeting gave @Taro T and others hope that KA is serious about winning next season, I’m not sure that true. Continually saying the time line is 3-5 years from now after 3 years of his tenure doesn’t bode well.

Two of their top players were Recchi (then 38) and Sergei Gonchar (then 32). Frankly KA is wrong to cross guys like Orlov (32) off his list. Unlike Z, Anderson and KO, Orlov is an actual Cup winner with tons of playoff experience. The Hawks brought in Soupy and then Hossa.

Winning still isn’t the priority. The playoffs are “a goal” not the goal. I interpret that to mean the winning is still not the priority but an aside that would be nice if it happened. That means he won’t do what is necessary to fix the roster holes, but hopes to fill them again with more band-aids like Comrie and Lyubuskin and hope for the best. Frankly it’s discouraging, because last year’s band-aids did nothing to elevate the defense or goaltending. Both areas are weaker this season than last year and that is truly saying something.

And that’s the problem with KA. He seems to think you can’t do both.

Or Putin could send them to the front. To bad no one had the guts to ask Adams why he has mismanaged the goaltending so badly and what affirmative steps he planned to take to fix it. Someone should have also asked when does winning the priority?

Yep. Instead we got Stillman and no help in goal, but kept a draft picks that won’t see the lineup for 2-3 years if we are lucky.