GASabresIUFAN

The Sabres have given up 45 goals in their last 13 games. They need better defensemen. Schenn is better than Lyubuskin and it isn’t even close. Who said Schenn is a rental. Why could he be retained if he is a fit here. We need playoff-Cup experience and our young D group needs a mentor.

You can get WRs much easier than Oline help. Also I like Davis and I think Shakir is going to be much better as a 2nd year player.

Only Atlanta can lose a playoff game they aren't even playing in.

Come draft day it's obvious that Safety and O Line are the biggest needs, but I'd love to see the Bills draft Darnell Washington TE from GA even in the 1st rd, but if still available for sure in the second. Washington is a 6'7" 265 TE who runs a 4.6 40, who had 26 catches for 417 yards and 2TDs for GA this season. He was one of team's best blockers and often served as a 6th OL. He wasn't the primary TE receiver at GA because of Brock Bowers, but for a team like Buffalo, whose offense is very similar to GA he'd help protect Josh, make more running lanes for Cook and Singletary and also give the Bills a match up nightmare for LB's and Safeties when used as a pass catcher. In 12 personnel, he'd allow Knox to block less and serve as a primary receiver to maximize his abilities. https://www.profootballnetwork.com/darnell-washington-te-georgia-nfl-draft-scouting-report-2023/

That's correct and that's on Beane who has to improve the O line. However, Dorsey didn't adjust and move the pocket and he had a terrible game plan. Dorsey also had a terrible game plan and he always comes out in the base defense and it's wearing thin. O coordinators have adjusted and he hasn't. IMHO Frazier needs to go bye bye and Dorsey needs to have a chat with Daboll on how to call a friggin game and create a game plan where Josh isn't just chucking the ball 40 yards on 3rd and 2 and 4th and 2.

Why? I expect the Van will now being the process of dumping players to try to get Bedard. We need a veteran D to help solidify our D and he is an excellent fit.

Nice of the Bills to do their TCU impersonation.

Schenn to Buffalo?

Also any trades at the deadline could have profound effect on the 2023-24 Sabres roster. For example: KO let's KA know he won't be back next season. Does KA trade him at the deadline or just let him walk? How that plays out may determine how that roster spot is filled next season. What if someone makes a TB for Hagel like offer for Olofsson at the deadline? If KA accepts, that may open a 3rd line opportunity for someone outside the organization next season.

I agree and I doubt he is being moved at the deadline, but if we fall out of contention and someone like the Devils offers up 2 1st rd picks wouldn't KA have to listen? Tampa gave Chicago 2 1sts, Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk for Hagel. Hagel had a cheap contract when acquired similar to Tnt's. Sadly I do think that next season will be both Casey and VO's last season with the Sabres. With Krebs, Jost, Cozens, Power, UPL and Dahlin needing to be re-signed over the next 2 offseasons, Mitts and VO's 7.5 mill will need to be reallocated elsewhere.

Most of the scenarios I have with VO getting traded is based on his age and someone coming up from the system like a Kulich or Savoie to replace that skill set. That doesn't look like it's going to happen any time soon. Therefore trading VO is off the table unless someone makes KA an offer he can't refuse like TB trade for Hagel.

@Pimlach wrote the following in another thread and when I think about whether KA will re-sign KO and or Z, I think he has to ask how does he replace their skill set if he doesn't re-sign them. In context of what he said in the podcast, can he replace them with younger players who can grow with the core? How does he repalce their leadership if he goes that route?

Why not. KA made it clear from the podcast that this is on his mind as the deadline approaches and how he is going to handle prospects going forward. If he is already thinking about next season, it seems like a worthy discussion here.

I was joking about trading VO. That's why there was a little smiley face next to comment. People on this board have been trying to bum rush Mitts and VO out of town all season. I was again pointing out how silly it was as I have been defending both all season.

I listened to KA on Ray Ferraro's podcast and came away with the impression that he isn't going to make any major moves at the deadline or even this summer. He is set on letting the guys mature and will only fill holes as they naturally occur. From that standpoint the status quo team looks like it will return in 2023-24 In goal (2) - UPL and Comrie - UPL's play has convinced KA to let him become the starter. (Cost 2.638) Defense (6) - Power, Dahlin, Samuelsson, Jokiharju, Lyubushkin and Bryson. They are all under contract. Only question is RFA Clague. This is a huge mistake imho. Jokiharju isn't good enough for the 2nd pairing and Bryson isn't good enough to be an everyday player. (Cost 18.302) Forwards (8) - Tnt, Tuch, Skinner, Mitts, VO, JJP, Quinn and Krebs are all under contract. Jost, Cozens and Asplund are all RFAs and both will be re-signed. KA was clear on the podcast how happy he was with Jost and how he is a guy who can grow with the group. That leaves Z and KO, both UFAs as the only points of possible change. (Cost 30.726) Capwise - The 16 players cost 51.166. Add about 10.5 for Cozens ($8?) and Jost (2.5?) and we are at approx 61.5 for 18 players. Basically KA's biggest offseason question is what to do about KO and Z. Re-sign or not and if re-signed for how long. How do you replace them if not re-signed. Cap space is not an issue for next year, but the year after Power, Dahlin, Mitts, Joki and UPL will all need new deals. VO will also if KA thinks he is part of the core. 30+ goal scorers are hard to replace. Prospects looking for jobs 1) Forwards - Savoie is NHL or CHL only next year. Kulich is prospering at 18 in the AHL (17 pts in 29 games). Older prospects Bio (24) 29 pts in 30 games, Weissbach (24) 26 pts with 13 goals in 36 games and Rousek (23) 25 pts in 36 games are the Amerks leading scorers. 2) Defense - Only former 1st rd pick Johnson is possibly NHL ready assuming KA signs him once Minn's season ends. 3) Goalie - None, but KA was gushing over Levi. He was clear that Levi won't be rushed to the NHL. KA was also happy with Portillo, but his words were very measured. After listening to the podcast, I now doubt Kulich or Savoie will be Sabres next year. No need to rush either, but I still don't like the idea of Savoie returning to the CHL. I think it's a waste of his time. Might he go to Europe for a year to play against older competition? If I'm honest, I think this is the wrong strategy for next season. It's now time to start moving on from some of the former prospects, now players, who aren't contributing how they should. Asplund, Bryson, Jokiharju, and even Mitts and VO should all be discussed. For me I'm ok with Mitts and Vo for another season especially if the chemistry with Jost continues to improve. However allowing 3+ goal a game against is not acceptable. If I were KA I'd be looking for a partner for Power. My thought would be, in keeping with the status quo theme, to drop Bryson and Bush to the 7/8 roles, move Joki to the 6, find a RHD partner for Power and a LHD partner for Jokiharju.

Why would we help the Rags when were still competing for a playoff spot? This scenario only comes into play if the Sabres significantly fall off the table in the next 4 weeks. I don't that happening. In the last 13 games that Sabres have given up 3 or more goals 12 times, including 7 games of 4 or more. Despite that they still have won 7 of those game although 4 in OT. They are 7-5-1. GF 45 GA GA 45. Honestly, even with Bush healthy, if KA is serious about trying to make the playoffs this year (I don't think he is serious about it however), he needs to upgrade the defense sooner then later. At this point with the improved play from the 3rd line, I don't expect any real change at forward unless KO says he wants to be traded to a legit contender.

What about 2-1-1?

The question is how many UFA years they buy. The more they buy the bigger the $.

Looks like Algonquin park. Big Rock Lake maybe?

Did you know that the Bills and Sabres have the 2nd highest scoring offenses in their leagues?

That might be the best game Bush has ever played in his life. Time to trade Goal-offson while his value is at it's zenith. 🙂 Fun game and mostly a top notch effort outside of about 10 minutes in the second. Thompson needs to shoot first and deek second. Great game today by VO, Krebs and Bush. Maybe the best game for all 3 all season.

He seems to have found himself after getting demolished by Harvard. 3 wins in a row against ranked teams stopping 92 of 97 shots for a .949 save %

I get why people are frustrated with Casey. He made a great pass to VO last night and made a terrific play in the first last night as well to give himself a great scoring chance but rang it off the pipe. After seeing those plays it's easy to ask yourself why doesn't he do that all the time. I don't know the answer, but I've seen many worse players on the Sabres, including certain current players like Bush, Bryson, Asplund, even Girgensons.

Why are people so happy with Jost? He has a similar pedigree as Casey. Jost was a 10th overall pick by the Avs and was supposed to be one their center's of the future. It didn't work out and he was eventually sent to Minn and in 33 games their (between this year and last) he scored 2 goals with 7 assists. Minn waived him after 12 games this season. Now he comes here for nothing and we have no expectations for him. So far so good. He has 4 goals with 7 assists in 26 games. He is on a career high scoring pace. FYI Casey has 16 points (2g 14a) in those same games. At some point people have to get their expectations in line with what is really happening. Casey isn't Cozens and never will be, but 50 point players who can play multiple positions and can move up and down the lineup are not easy to find and are a good asset to have. Just FYI Casey is 8th in his draft class in games played, 11th in points (although Yamamoto is right on his heals), 12th in goals, and 10th in assists. Forwards drafted ahead of him include Nolan Patrick, Cody Glass, and Lias Andersson.

I once thought that Eichel was going to be the next McKinnon. Over the early part of his career Eichel was outscoring McKinnon. Instead he has turned into Taylor Hall 2.0.