GASabresIUFAN

On defense for next year, I hope KA signs Komarov to an ELC. He’s having a breakout season in the Q. I’d also like to see him sign one or two college UFAs. Jake Livingston and Jacob Bengtsson look like good additions if KA can sign them. Both are 6-3. They also also good at both ends. If Johnson walks, these guys or others like them should be a priority. I also want to draft Casey’s brother Luke who plays D for Minn. Has 14 pts in 26 games and is a +14. From FCHockey.com https://nhlentrydraft.com/players/luke-mittelstadt/ “An efficient skater on the blue line. Uses his crossovers to start the breakout. Able to keep up with most of his opponents speed wise, but needs to focus on his straight-line skating. Good stance and stride overall. Strong on his edges, able to change direction smoothly and reacts to play quickly. Agile enough to consistently be apart of the play and create his own space. Battles hard for space in front of the net and clears enough room for his goalie to see better. Consistently taking away space in the defensive zone and is very aware of where he needs to be. Closes the passing lanes and is willing to block shots for his team. Competes hard for the puck in the board battles and consistently gets the pucks out of the defensive zone. Needs to slow down his game so he can process the ice. Tends to rush the puck off of his stick, with the first instinct being at the net. Can force turnovers in the neutral zone effectively, but he has trouble getting passes off under pressure. Understands when to be conservative and knows when to get more aggressive. Able to control play at both high and slow paces. Very apt at completing accurate stretch passes to his teammates. Applies good pressure on the puck carrier, making it difficult for them to find space.”

They have forwards stacked like cord wood right now. KA’s challenge will be to keep the “right” ones and use the others to strengthen other areas of the team like defense.

When does Rousek get a shot with the Sabres?

I think Cozens last year is about right. JJP in the same area.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/major-earthquake-strikes-turkey-syria-about-200-dead-many-trapped-2023-02-06/

Are his metrics bad because he stinks or because CBJ stink?

Yep. He was penny wise, pound foolish. Just think where we would be with "Ullmark level" goaltending. We'd be easily in the playoff spot. However the lesson is until the Sabres announce the signing, the deal isn't done.

I went back and looked at the Ullmark thread and Vogl (and @tom webster) said they were close to an extension. We all remember how that turned out. I hope they get this done asap.

That would be great news. Didn’t Chad also report KA had Ullmark signed to an extension? I’ll believe it when I see it.

Think Jake McCabe or Chris Butler. Can play both ends. Solid in the D zone, and can contribute on offense. Johnson is also the team Captain and an academic All-American. The Gophers are currently ranked No.1. FYI: Mitts two younger brothers play for the Gophers.

??

Tage is an exception but there are many others. VO is another who made the team at 24 and is still improving at 27. Rousek like Tage lost a year to injury and is clearly still improving at 23. 22 is just to young a limit. At least he got rid of the even dumber NHL games played rule.

Top 5 not posted yet. Minn, Chi, Det, CBJ, and NJ are the 5 teams not yet posted

FYI: Wheeler’s criteria is 22 & under (Skaters) and 25 & under (goalies). He claims that skaters over 22 are done with the “steep” part of the development curve. Whatever that means. Tage is just one example of why this is a probably incorrect. Physical maturity is a huge piece of the development curve, but I guess you have to have some cut off, but 22 is to young. For example, I still think Rousek (23) is developing. I also wonder why Cederqvist isn’t at least a consideration for the top 15. He seems to be adjusting very well to his first season in NA.

https://theathletic.com/4147000/2023/02/04/sabres-nhl-prospect-pool-rankings-2023/ Highlights from his top 15 1. 2022 1st rd picks are the top 3 - Savoie, Kulich and Östlund. 2. 4 goalies in the top 15. Levi tops at No. 4. Portillo (7), UPL (8), and Leinonen (14). 3. 2 D made the list - Johnson (6), Lindgren (12). The rest are forwards - Rosen (5), Neuchev (9), Kisakov (10), Nadeau (11), Poltapov (13), Marjala (15). Others he considered - Richards, Komarov and Novikov. Surprises - Bloom not even considered. Personally I’d slot him as high as 12. I’d also have Komarov, given the season he is having, a top 15 rating. IMHO Lindgren and Leinonen are not among our top 15. Graduates - Krebs, Power, Quinn and JJP.

He was filming a State Farm commercial.

Have they won a game in these terrible uni's?

Defense wins championships and our defense isn't close yet. I guess Dahlin is going to the All-star game after all.

Not ready for prime time.

Right up there with FIFA, The Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics.

There has got to be a Yogi-ism in here somewhere. Maybe “NHL players give 110% 100% of the time in 85% of their games”?

We have a team on a back to back. We are rested and healthy. We need two points to be in a playoff spot heading into the all-star break. If this team is going to prove they are ready to be a contender this game is a must win. Sabres 4-2. Skinner (2), Mitts and Samuelsson with the empty net goal to seal the victory.

I thought that was trading McNabb and 2 2nds for Fasching and Delo

He is and he was the only tank fruit player I wanted KA to keep. However, Draisaitl should have been the pick. He was 2nd on my consensus draft board.

They were all bad picks except for VO. Reinhart should have been Draisaitl. Lemieux has been mediocre at best, he didn’t want to be here and we could have numerous better players like Demko or Marcus Pettersson who were drafted soon after. Sorokin and Point were drafted in the 3rd after we took Johansson and Martin. Just awful.