GASabresIUFAN

FYI: Dylan is currently tied for 31st in NHL scoring by centers with guys like Dylan Larkin, Robert Thomas, Zegras, and Kuznetsov. Thomas, 23, who is playing on the last year of his prior contract with the Blues, re-signed this past off-season for 8 years at 8.125 per season after putting up 77 pts (20 goals) last season. His Buddy Kyrou, 24, signed an identical deal with the Blues after a 75 pts season (27 goals) at age 23. I think both guys are pretty good comps for Cozens and we got him 2 years younger and for 1 mill less per season.

I don't think it will come in under $10. I'm hoping for 10 x 8.

But did he say what year they were going to make the playoffs?

Now that Cozens' deal is done, we probably need a place for the speculation on Norris candidate Rasmus Dahlin's next contract. It should be noted that Raz has another year on his current deal and therefore can't be extended until this off-season (July 1st I believe). Dahlin currently is Second among NHL D with 55 points and second in goals with 14. Only Erik Karlsson has more with 66 and 16. Dahlin is 3rd in average PT at 26:07 per game (only behind Makar and Doughty) and 3rd in assists at 41 (behind Karlsson w 50 and Morrissey w 43). Dahlin is also 3rd at EV points at 31 (Karlsson 49, Fox 32) and tied for 2nd at EV goals at 9 (Karlsson has 13). Prior to this campaign Dahlin best season was last year with 53 pts (13 goals ) in 80 games.

Yep, 8 years for an internal player and 7 years for an external player, but 10 for 10 just sounds better. 10 x 8 just doesn't have the same ring to it.

10 for 10

@BullBuchanan Just curious what did you think Cozens' deal was going to come in at? KA has been re-signing his young core to long-term extensions. What did you think this was going to cost for a 2nd line center scoring nearly a pt per game?

Just a guess, but the 5 team NTC likely includes the Leafs. No self respecting player committed to the Sabres would ever want to be a Leaf, especially if they are from Western Canada.

Yes, yes and yes. KA wasn't yet comfortable in the chair, Dahlin's growth had been arrested by RK and Dahlin had confidence in himself. The truth is that Dahlin is our best player and should be our highest paid. I have to give KA credit. He learned a great deal from that first miserable season and has built a real positive organization that is in sync from player to senior management. I have a glimmer of hope that he can getting Dahlin signed to a "reasonable" contract that will leave some money on the table to help retain other players. While this is great news, the defense and goaltending still need to be better for this rebuild to ultimately work. 3.4 goals against per game is terrible.

Obviously it's impossible to predict how any contract is going to age, but this contract has the potential to be a great bargain for the Sabres. Yes Dylan gets 49 million whether he succeeds or fails, but what in his character even hints that he doesn't want to continue to grow and improve? Nothing. I also think KA made it clear that he has his core and wants to get that core signed, sealed and delivered. I agree wholeheartedly. Unlike the Thompson situation where the improvement came seemingly out of left field. Cozens has improved dramatically each of his 3 seasons. I honestly believe he'll easily be a pt a game player for the term of this deal, making this contract a bargain in hockey terms. I do think it's interesting that the deal came in 42K under Thompson's annual cap hit. I guess KA didn't want to pay his 2nd line center more than his 1st. Also I think this indication that management and the players on this club are on the same page. Hear me out. We have seen numerous reports how close many of the young guys on this team are. Someone mentioned earlier that Dylan left money on the table. He possibly did, but I get the distinct impression that Tage, Dylan, Dahlin and others want to build something together and that if leaving a few $ on the table so that guys like Mitts or Joki can be kept another year or two, that's ok by them. Also Dylan will be a UFA at 28. Plenty of more $ to earn while still in his prime.

With forwards

This team can’t succeed with the D group as currently constructed. Last season we gave up 3.56 goals against. This year we have only marginally improved to 3.4 despite the additions of Power and Bush and a full season of Samuelson. Simply put our goaltending and 50% of our D group aren’t good enough. The first step is to move on from Bryson. This should be done at the deadline. I know he is friends with the young core, but if we want to win now and in the future he is the first casualty. The second step is to demote Jokiharju to the 3rd pair and get a good partner for Power. This seems more like an off-season move, but if the right deal comes along at the deadline KA should listen. In fact, if KA can upgrade Joki and then demote him to the 3rd pairing, he can include Bryson in the trade. This leaves Clague as the 7 and I’m good with that.

Hopefully he won’t wait until he is 24 like Danny did to develop into a good player.

We have had one. It was called get a darn D man already Kevin. I just didn't say do something already.

Some all-star notes 47 players were named to the All-Star teams (3 were injury replacements). Of those 47 -33 Forwards, 8 G and only 6 D. Of the 39 Skaters - 31 were 1st rd picks. 26 were top 15, 16 were top 5, including 7 1st overall. Only Panarin was undrafted. Only 1 G was drafted in the 1st rd. 7 of the 8 were 3rd rd or lower, including the undrafted Thompson. Ullmark was a 6th rd pick (the lowest drafted player). All the D were 1st rd picks, except Fox (3rd rd in 2016). Players from 8 countries participated. CZE, GER and SUI had 1 each. FIN had 3 and SWE had 4. The Big 3 were Russia, Canada and the USA. Russia had 9 including 3 goalies, Canada had 12, including the 2 rookies goalies (Skinner and Thompson - both from Alberta) and the surprisingly the USA lead with 16 including 13 forwards. Earliest draft year was 2004 (Ovie) and latest was 2021 (Beniers). The heart of these games were players drafts from 2013 to 2017 with 5 or 6 players from each draft. That said the 2018 draft had the 1st, 2nd and 4th overall picks participating. From 2015 2 5th rd picks made the teams - Kaprizov and Troy Terry.

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.