GASabresIUFAN

As I mentioned up thread, I think the way KA would play the cap dump would be to use our cap space to help another team fit a big trade under their cap. For that we'd be given a prospect or draft pick. The example of how this would work would be Carolina wants to acquire Meier from SJ, but can't fit his 6 mill cap figure under their cap limits. SJ eat s 50% (3 mill) and then trade Meier to us. We eat another 50% (1.5 mill) and then complete the trade to Carolina. Therefore Carolina gets Meier for a 1.5 mill cap hit in the end. Carolina gives SJ their 1st and a good prospect (plus maybe a cap dump forward like Stepan) and we'd get Carolina's 2nd rd pick or SJ's 3rd. Obviously who knows what the exact terms would be, but the deal would function some like this. Carolina did a similar trade last year to get Max Domi at the deadline. https://www.jacketscannon.com/2022/3/21/22989703/max-domi-traded-to-carolina-hurricanes-columbus-blue-jackets-2022-nhl-trade-deadline-aiden-hreschuk

While I think it’s certainly possible KO won’t return, I can’t see the salary cap demanding a veteran playing in his place. Once you add Jost and Cozens back to the 16 players under contract the team’s cap hit will be about 61.5 for 18 players. Bettman expects the cap to only rise to 83.5 which would put the floor at around 61.8. Even if the Sabres re-sign Z and 4 minimum vets, the cap hit will come in at least 67.2 mill. Next year the can easily afford a vet his a big contract, but it’s not a necessity.

You can’t have a guy who physically can only play once a week.

Jost fitting in immediately and playing well has enabled DG to slot all the forwards correctly. It enabled Mitt’s to go the wing and it actually created a very Lindy Ruff type line in which you have a playmaker (Mitts), Sniper (VO) and a forechecker (Jost). It allowed Mitts to get out of his own way and play a simpler game and in turn gave Mitts his natural game back, the one we saw when DG took over two years ago and in the last 3rd of the season last year. However it also solidified lines 2-4. Jost forced Krebs to the 4th line and also allowed him to simplify his game and play the style of KO and Z and low and behold he is blossoming. Now we have good chemistry on all 4 lines. In fact since Jost joined with Mitts/VO there has been almost no line juggling. DG is keeping everyone together despite recent struggles by the Cozens line wingers. This patience is being rewarded. The team is no longer relying on TNT line to dominate to win games. Look at the 4 game win streak and you’ll see 5 g from TNT line (Tnt 1, Tuch 2, Skinner 2), 3 from the Cozens line (all Cozens), 4 from Jost’s line (all VO) 2 from the Krebs line (both Krebs) and 3 from D (2 Power, 1 Dahlin). 10 forwards and 5 D registered at least 1 pt in the last 4 games.

I don't see Meier coming here. What I do see is one of the those crazy 3 way trades where we get a draft pick or prospect for helping to ease the cap burden on the team acquiring Meier. For example: Carolina wants to acquire Meier from SJ. SJ eats 50% (3 mill) of the cap hit, trades him to us, we eat 50% of the remainder (1.5) and Carolina gets the Meier for a 1.5 cap hit. In return Carolina sends SJ a 1st, a 3rd, a good prospect and Derek Stepan and we get SJ 3rd in 2023.

You and I laughed about this is the offseason. Det and Ott had major roster holes to fill and not enough in the pipeline to fill them. Buffalo had added Tuch and Krebs during last season and then the kids to the forward group. We didn't need or want any UFA forwards. I still wish however that KA had made a run at someone better than Lyubashkin for the defense or get Lyubushkin and someone else. It's just not his philosophy at this point.

Yep by winning %. 564 for Buffalo and 560 for Washington. 3 pts back w 3 games in hand will do that.

Certainly not on defense, but the depth on that team at both forward and D was better at this point. Toni Lydman was the 6th best D on that team. Grier, Goose and Hecht were the 4th line and they had 10 forwards score 18 or more goals. Still there are a ton of similarities. Both teams have 2 impactful rookies Vanek/Pommers vs JJP/Quinn.

Maybe we need to update the thread title to - Sabres making a charge for a playoff spot.

No real need to rush either to the NHL.

This team continues to remind me of the 2005/6 team. You could see back then the kids growing with confidence each game. UPL is stepping into the Ryan Miller role. Even Ryan Miller sees it. Apparently he said as much when in Buffalo to Dunleavy, who mentioned it today on the broadcast in the 1st period. That said, there are substantial differences. One Miller is far superior to UPL and the 2005/6 team was much better defensively, especially on the PK. That team was excellent offensively and had significant fire power throughout the lineup, but this team has the potential to be even better

During the off-season we talked about how few goals the dreadful forwards you mentioned scored for the Sabres and that the kids plus full seasons of Tuch and Krebs would elevate the offense giving DG 4 lines that can score. While many expected Cozens to build on last year, the heights being reached by the top line have been both unexpected but a pleasure to watch. Before the season I thought the team would score 260+ and I hoped for 270+, but they are blowing my predictions out of the water. Like you I fully expect JJP and Quinn to progress even further. I also think Jost under DG’s watchful eye could be a breakout player. If you go read his pre-draft scouting reports, the scoring potential is there. So far DG seems to be the only coach he’s had as a pro that is beginning to unlock it.

Just finished watching the game, and it turned out pretty much like I expected. I wrote this last night’s game thread. I was impressed with the team’s jump in the first, but by mid way in the second you could see the legs dying. KO’s 2 on 1 was the slowest 2 on 1 I think I’ve ever witnessed. Still a strong regulation road win against a team desperate for points. TnT’s line was spectacular in the first. I really liked Stl uniforms and UPL let in sone softies but made big saves to help seal the game. DG must be very proud of the boys.

It’s not a shine questions. It’s more of a $ question. You can’t keep everyone. With Skinner, Tuch, TnT, and Mule signed long-term and Big $ going to be spent on Dahlin, Power, Cozens and then probably Quinn and JJP, you are going to have to have cap space for another 14 players. If UPL becomes the goaltender long-term, he’ll have to paid as well. Here are the numbers. I estimate that adding Cozens, Power and Dahlin to Mule, TnT, Tuch and Skinner will cost 50-52 million. Even at 85 million, we’re talking 33-35 million for 16 players. Give JJP and Quinn 6 each and now were down to 21-23 for 14 players. I expect Krebs and Jost to get 3 year deals, but after that, I think there time here could be over. Why? Savoie, Rosen, Kulich, Östlund, Bloom, Nadeau, Kisakov, Neuchev among others. Even if only half these guys make an impact, they are going to force current guys to move on to help stay cap compliant. In fact, I see Kulich and Savoie replacing Mitts and VO as early as 2024-25.

Most of those guys shouldn't have been here last year, but I digress. As the deep pipeline matures guys like Mitts, Krebs, Jost, and VO will be pushed out. Z and KO are the next 2 to move on although maybe not for another season. Hopefully KA finds Vinnie a good home at the deadline and hopefully we stay healthy and don't need him to return.

Actually 3. Ours, LV and Philly. The Risto trade that keeps giving. Based on today’s standings we’d be drafting 16, 42, 47, & 58.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/connor-bedard-locked-in-at-no-1-in-bob-mckenzie-s-mid-season-nhl-draft-ranking-1.1909910 Bedard No. 1 by a wide margin. Top 2 D - Pellikka (17) and Reinbacher (20). Only 5 D in the top 32. Dragicevic was 27th. Radek Bonk’s son Oliver a strong 2 way D at 30. 15 D in the next 32.

Maybe KA uses the deadline to move on from Asplund and bring in a vet as the 13th forward who’d he be comfortable playing a regular shift in case of injury and who KA thinks he can retain next year and play next season in case Z or KO walk. Who that player could be, I have no idea. Could we get Sam Lafferty from the Hawks?

The Sabres are 3 for 27 in the last 9 games on the PP. That’s 11.1%. Obviously teams have adjusted to try to take Tage away. His last PP goal was 1/7 against Minn. The PP has become to predictable and the passing to slow. I loved Dallas’ set play with Benn going to the corner of the net. I’d also like to see more East-Wedt passing to get the PK moving and honestly more shots to create scrambles around the net.

Next Comrie game? Probably Thursday at Wpg.

At this point, there maybe only one position that KA might upgrade and that is Bryson’s. No way he sits the kids. His stated goal is development, the kids have to play in the playoffs if the team makes it just to get the experience of playing in the playoffs.

You have to think that Savoie getting left off the Canadian Jr team has given him some motivation to elevate his game. Can you say wake up call?

I wrote this a few weeks ago, and when we look back on this season that’s what we’ll remember. The Athletic seems to agree. https://theathletic.com/4116116/2023/01/23/bills-bengals-playoffs-result/ It’s worth a read. Now McBeane needs to find a way to fix the team going forward.

He isn’t going anywhere. He has fit this team like a glove and his instant chemistry with VO and Mitts has made the entire team better. The only questions left are how much for how long.

https://theathletic.com/4116068/2023/01/23/bills-bengals-result-playoffs/ This sums things up pretty good. Bad Oline with worse backups at a key position where Beane has failed to reinforce in the the draft. Poor WR play outside of Diggs, aging safeties, poor results from highly drafted D linemen and terrible play calling by first year OC. He talks about a regression from Josh, but there is only so much Josh can do with a terrible O-line, unreliable WRs, and terrible schemes from the rookie OC. Also injuries took their toll on this team. Injuries to Miller, White, Hamlin, Poyer, Hyde, and Jones ultimately stopped this team. Time for Beane to make hard decisions on AJ, Boogie, McKenzie, the entire O-Line, Dorsey, Poyer, and Edmunds. He has to draft better. O-line, Safety, WR all need to be addressed. I also wonder about the O-line coaching. I’d also re-think Frazier. Like Dorsey, he doesn’t adjust well enough or quickly enough to what’s happening.