GASabresIUFAN

Damar rest easy. Your guys have your back today.

I can easily see Savoie replacing VO. The Sabres won’t be sheltering anyone as they don’t now. They have said in the past they believe they can develop guys in Buffalo and that just practicing with the team helps.

TNT was a center in college. Stl moved him to wing. Donnie just moved him back to his natural position. Mitts was a center in college as well. Played wing initially with the Sabres and now is back at wing. Kulich was drafted as a center and I think that’s his natural position.

and....? TnT was a winger, and Mitts was a center. Where are they now? I see Kulich moving back to center next year for the Amerks. His game screams center to me. Savoie, I see more as a winger because of his size (or lack there of). Smallish centers like Hughes and even Sid are still nearly 6'.

As we have posted numerous times, because of his age he either plays in the NHL next season or goes back to Jrs. At this point, what benefit is there for him to return to the CHL? So to answer your question, he is going to be in the NHL because it's probably the best place for him next season.

Same answer. Kulich will be our 3rd best center within the next few years.

So he was lazy getting back on D, his passing was awful and he blew a couple golden scoring chances? 😉 I actually got to watch about 45 minutes of game time on the ESPN replay.

Quick thoughts Do Pitts & the NYI hear the Jaws music when they look up at the scoreboard to see how the Sabres are doing? The Sabres are in striking distance of the final playoff spot. They are now 2 pts behind Pitt with a game in hand and only 4 points behind the NYI with 4 games in hand. Both Pitt and Buff have higher pt % than the NYI.

Maybe, but if his chemistry with Mitts and VO continues to grow, it’s going to hard not to keep him in the conversation for the job. Still, by 2024-25, Kulich is going to have earned that 3C job.

One of the reasons I started this thread is for the issue we are now confronting with Joki nearly back and Comrie allegedly recalled from the A. With only 3 extra slots and everyone healthy, 2 of Clague, Bryson, Fitz, Asplund, Vinnie, and UPL need to go to make room for Comrie and Jokiharju. If we argue that Clague and UPL have earned their NHL roster spots, then 2 of Bryson, Fitz, Vinnie and Asplund get waived. Bryson isn’t going anywhere, except maybe to the bench. Fitz is our only RHD depth, but is now our 8th best D. Asplund is a good defensive forward, can play multiple positions and is under team control. However Jost may have stolen his job medium term. Vinnie is our offensive forward depth, but guys like Rousek or Weissbach could fill that role if needed. I don’t envy KA this decision. If it were up to me, I keep Fitz, send down UPL and waive Asplund. This may not be popular, but UPL can always be recalled as he is waiver exempt.

Don’t count out Jost. DG is working his magic on the former 10th overall pick. That said, Kulich is the long-term 3C imho.

Savoie or Kulich. Levi is really struggling of late. Of our top guys Kulich and Rosen have made a step forward. Savoie, Johnson and Östlund seems a little stagnant. While Levi, and Portillo seem to have taken a step back. Bloom has taken off lately on his new team. Neuchev seems to be adjusting well in the KHL. Current top 10 1) Savoie 2) Kulich 3) Levi 4) Rosen 5) Östlund 6) Johnson 7) Bloom 8.) Kisakov 9) Neuchev 10) Portillo

I agree the points are there, but when I watch him lately I’m seeing more forced passes into bad areas and being out of sink with Tuch and TnT. Maybe he is just trying to do to much.

Seriously? In his last 11 games Casey has 2g 8a and a +4 with no game worse than a -1. It’s not just one good game or even a couple. It’s 3 weeks of pretty solid play.

I’d had to watch the condensed game as I went to a wedding tonight. Some quick thoughts 1) Dahlin offensive skills are off the chart. 2) Power is looking like he is about to takeoff. He seems more confident each shift. 3) Mitts has turned a corner since replacing Skinner on the top line during the suspension. He looks more assertive and more confident. He was completely locked in tonight. DG moving him to wing has allowed him to stop over thinking each play and just be natural out there. Jost has fit this team like a glove and has helped Mitts play looser. With the kids going cold, we needed VO and Mitts to step up and they have. Now if we can get all 3 top limes going. 4) Skinner has been awful since the suspension. He seems to be in a funk. 5) Our in zone D play needs work. Mule seems off as well. How many stupid penalties can one D take Mr Lyubushkin? 6) Not UPL’s best effort, but he made some terrific saves. Overall a very solid and exciting win. I agree with earlier posts that this is a team that no one wants to play. Speed, high skill, scoring depth, youthful exuberance, and a playing for each other attitude is a recipe for success now and in the playoffs if they make it.

Jokiharju back practicing. 2 players on the chopping block if we keep 3 goalies.

I understood the Mikey reference. I’m not really a fan of Life Cereal. I think you meant Horned Frawgs.

I fully expect that this is Östlund’s last season in Sweden.

Let this be a lesson to you kids; always remember to wear your cup. Hockey, like life, is a contact sport.

Maybe after tonight’s game.

If they’re at home and 2 forwards go down, Asplund goes in first and they bring in Murray, Rousek or Weissbach to play. If they’re on the road and everyone is healthy, Asplund sits and no one is recalled. The only way someone is recalled for insurance is if Asplund is already in the lineup. At that point, the hope is no one else gets hurt so it doesn’t matter who sits. If Vinnie goes down, truthfully you want him to add to the veteran leadership group down there to help develop the younger kids. I’d rather him play there then sit in the pressbox on a 3 game road trip. Someone like Bjork is proving to be as marginal in the A as he was in the NHL. He can sit.

Update: The Sabres are 11-4-2 since my original post including the hoped for extended winning streak. They now sit 19-15-2 with 40 points. Still out of a playoff spot, but significantly closer. Because of the lousy weather, the Sabres also have games in hand over all their rivals for the final playoff spots. The team’s rebound coincides with getting most of the D back, continued dominate play for Tuch and TNT, and UPL coming up and playing very well. As is stands, the Sabres are 9 points behind TB for the final Atlantic playoff spot with 2 games in hand. As to the wild card, the Sabres are 10 points behind Washington (6 games in hand), 6 behind the NYI (5 games in hand), and 2 points behind Pitt (2 games in hand). Based on winning % the Sabres are virtually tied with the NYI. Outside of Wash who is 7–1-2 in their last 10, Buffalo is the hottest of the 4 teams and just beat Wash. The upcoming schedule is tough with 4 games a week for the next 3 weeks after tonights game. The schedule includes 2 games each against Min and Wpg plus Fla, Sea, Dal and the NYI. Come out of this next 13 games 9-3-1 and we may just be knocking on the playoff door with 4 weeks until the trade deadline. Fingers crossed.

Sorry. Go Sabres, Go Bills, Go Dawgs!

Sabres 5-3 All 4 lines pick up a goal tonight. Scorers: Krebs, JJP, Mitts, Skinner and Dahlin.

Didn’t he have 2 last year?