GASabresIUFAN

This is disappointing as it seems to eliminate someone like Orlov. They seem to believe in vets like Anderson and KO but for reasons unknown won’t get a veteran leader for the defense. I hope this does mean that players still in their prime are still on the table, guys like Saros or Demko who are 27.

https://theathletic.com/4357938/2023/03/29/buffalo-sabres-2023-24-roster-contracts-offseason/ The Athletics view of where each player stands for next year Core under contract - TNT, Skinner, Tuch, Cozens, Samuelsson Core needing an extension - Power and Dahlin Potential Core Players - Quinn, JJP and Krebs. Not sure I agree on Krebs. The author thinks Krebs is emerging as our No 3 center. Part of the Plan for at least next season - Mitts, Greenway, Joki and Lyubushkin. I say Stillman is as well as a worst the 7th D. The author thinks both Joki and Mitts will be available if the right trade offer was made. He thinks Joki on the 3rd pair would help Joki succeed and thinks Mitts adds value as a 3rd line winger. Under Contract with things to prove - Bryson , Stillman, Comrie, UPL, and VO - He thinks UPL returns and VO is gone. I think all should go, except I realize management acquired him for depth next year as well. I think there is a high likelihood that UPL is included in any deal for a quality goaltender. RFAs - Clague and Jost - He says no to Clague and yes to Jost, but not sure of Jost’s role next season. UFAs - KO, Z, Anderson and Vinnie - Vinnie is gone. Anderson to retire. KO decides if he’ll be back and Z may hit the market. I say time to move on from all 4. Potential rookies - Levi, Kulich, Rousek, Rosen and Savoie. What about Johnson? Agrees Rosen and Levi need to be in the AHL. Thinks Kulich and Savoie could compete for NHL jobs and Rousek had a legit shot at earning one next year. I agree, except I think Rousek will make the team.

https://theathletic.com/4348003/2023/03/28/nhl-most-underrated-defensemen/ Samuelsson makes this list and the guys on this list are the type of guys we need more of not less. With Power and Dahlin, we need one more Samuelsson type to balance the top pairs. If KA can do that we’ll take a mediocre D group and turn it into a very good one. “Mattias Samuelsson, Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are an elite offensive team, ranking third in the league behind Edmonton and Bostonwith 3.57 goals per game. They’ve faded from the playoff race because they lack quality defensive players. That’s put a spotlight on the importance of Mattias Samuelsson, their go-to rugged defensive defensemen, who’s been in and out of the lineup because of injuries. Buffalo has a 28-16-4 record when Samuelsson’s played and a dismal 7-15-2 record when he’s been hurt. Samuelsson is 6-4, 231 pounds and plays a throwback style with his physical nature. He’s also mobile which combined with his long reach and excellent stickwork makes him an excellent one-on-one defender. Watch how he effortlessly eliminates a Brayden Point rush. Here’s another example of a brilliant defensive stop against a puck carrier with speed. Samuelsson, 23, is going to be a crucial piece for the Sabres as a caddy for either Rasmus Dahlin or Owen Power.”

That isn't exactly saying much.

This game encapsulates the Sabres' season. Winning in the 3rd but can't hold the lead. Winning in the shootout, but can't get the big save. Just coming up a little short.

Lame Casey

Like I said Quinn

Lame attempts

Quinn with the winner?

Anyone bet on Stillman, Rousek and JJP as your goal scorers so far tonight?

Milestone watch Tage (out?) needs 1 goal for 45 and 1 pts for 90. He needs 11 pts for 100 Tuch needs 2 pts for 70 Dahlin needs 1 goal for 15 and 5 pts for 70 Cozens needs 2 goals for 30 and 4 pts for 65 Mitts needs 7 pts for 50 and 3 goals to reach a new career high in goals. VO needs 4 goals for 30 Quinn needs 1 goal for 15 and 6 pts for 40 JJP needs 1 goal for 10 and 1 pt for 30 Power needs 2 pts for 30. TNT, Mitts, Tuch, Dahlin, Skinner and Cozens have all had their career highs in points this season and TNT, Cozens, Tuch, Dahlin and VO all have had career highs in goals.

All good points. Even by AHL standards he is having a very good but not great season as an 18 year old. https://www.quanthockey.com/ahl/en/player-age/18-year-old-ahl-players.html. Kulich is 2nd all-time so far in total points for an 18 year old, but his pts per game played of .727 are significantly behind Pastrank’s 1.12. Perfetti and M Nylander all had better pts/gp than Kulich as 18 year olds in the A. I think Perfetti is a pretty good proxy for Kulich. Cole has 30 pts in 51 NHL games this year at 20. Leave Kulich in the A another year and see how he grows.

Can the Amerks still make the playoffs?

I think he's already given them that speech. They have played so much looser the last 2 games.

Give Levi the start against his hometown team. We aren’t making the playoffs without running the table. Might as well make his debut special.

This was the first game the team won all season when scoring only 2 goals. This was only the second shutout of the season. The Sabres are 15-0-1 when allowing 2 or less goals. The Sabres are 7-21-4 when allowing 4 or more.

Just when we thought they would fully implode, they go and win 2 in a row and bam we are out of the Bedard sweepstakes. Make up your mind Sabres. To Bedard or Not to Bedard, that is the question.

I saw an interesting graphic today before the Bruins/TB game. The Bruins have only had 6 players score 50+ in a season in their franchise history Pasta will be the 6th and the 1st in over 30 years and only the 3rd in 40 years. They are Espo (5), Middleton, Hodge, Bucyk, and Neely (3). Pasta needs 1 more goal to get to 50. If Thompson gets to 50, he’ll be the Sabres 5th player to reach 50 and our first in 30 years and only our 3rd in 40 years. He’ll join Gare (2), Martin (2), Patty and Mogilny.

That was about as unexpected victory of the season. Comrie a shutout? Who would have bet on that? KO withhis 10th and the GWG. Lyubuskin with the primary assist. Mitts makes a good D play to launch Cozens who sets up Skinner for the empty net goal. Weird. Now they have won back to back games on back to back nights.

Is Quinn now the 5th best forward on the team?

None of Demko, Hart or Saros have any trade protection. If Buffalo trades for one, they are coming here.

As of this post, we are sitting in the 11th draft slot (72 pts in 70 games) - 2-6-2 in the last 10. Ottawa is in the 12 slots (75 pts in 72 games) Det is 10th with 71 points (71 games) - 3-7-0 in the last 10 Stl is 9th with 70 pts (71 games) - 5-4-1 in the last 10 Van is 8th with 69 pts (71 games) - 8-2-0 in the last 10 Sorry, but the way this team is we are very much in the Bedard sweepstakes.

As annoyed as I am with both Granato and Adams, the firing of either at this point would be a huge mistake. Even if they aren't perfect or even great, they have shown a level of competence that the previous administrations lacked. I don't blame DG for all the problems the roster has had. It's not his fault that the team lacks D depth or any goaltending to speak of. He can only coach what he is given. Considering the growth of the offense under his system and the improvement in guys like Dahlin, Skinner, Jost, Mitts, Cozens, and Tuch, I'm having a hard time wishing he were replaced. His system on the other hand needs to be looked at more closely. I don't like that he doesn't match lines, especially at home, and I am a bit discouraged that he hasn't found a way to stop at least some of these high-danger chances against. My complaints about KA are well-known and don't need to be rehashed here. His job performance in clearing out the old core, drafting well, and creating a more competitive and exciting roster are well documented and enough positive to keep him in his job. I also like the fact that he seems to recognize the defensive issues and is working to start fixing them. One of the things this franchise needs more than anything else is stability. However given the recent collapse by the team once they got into legit playoff contention has significantly warmed the seats both men are sitting on.

It's not like he is ever going to be a Sabre. The more important point is that KA is finally taking our need for defense depth in the organization seriously. Getting Stillman, trying to get Chychrun, and signing a college FA are all part hopefully of a continued trend toward making the team's defense better and making the organizational defensive depth better. Granted this signing and the Stillman trade are baby steps, but they are steps nonetheless.

Those others you ask? Well if you have to ask the price you really can’t afford it. However, we have these two Swedish imports that are very much in your price range. In fact, we are running a special. But one Swedish import and get a lottery ticket or a Russian import free.