GASabresIUFAN

As you know I’m not a Frazier fan, but he has dialed up more blitzes of late with some success.

Especially Ken Dorsey. Frazier needs to study Baltimore’s D scheme to figure out how to stop Cin.

https://theathletic.com/4086990/2023/01/13/sabres-deadline-trade-board/ 10 possible D targets - The Sabres have allowed the 6th most high danger chances per 60 at even strength (Natural stat trick). 1. Chychrun - AZ wants 2 1sts and a prospect - Price likely to steep for KA. 2. Klingberg - Ana wants a 1st plus (according to LeBrun) - price needs to come down for the Sabres to take a chance on a UFA 3. Provorov - Nothing to see here. 4. Gavrikov - UFA - CBJ want a 1st, but only way Buffalo takes that risk is if they can re-sign him.\ 5. Dumba - UFA, but off the market while Minn in playoff contention 6. Kulikov - Apparently he is a good stay at home D. Funny I don't remember him that way. 7. Edmundson - Makes 3.5 and has one more year left. Montreal likely to trade. 8. Gostisbehere - He's allergic to actually playing D. I don't see an interest 9. Jack Johnson - Not the worst idea. Stats likely would be better on a better team than Chicago. Has won a Cup and we could use some veteran leadership at D. 10. Schenn - I wanted him all season. Physical RHD with Cup wins. Van allegdly wants a 1st. Only makes 800K or so.

Forwards Huglen and Costantini may want contracts after this season but they seem to have taken a step back. Not sure where they fit it with our deep forward group. On Defense it would be great if Novikov could get out of Russia, but that is a huge if. Not sure which other prospects are ready to make the jump from Europe or are eligible from the CHL.

I’m wondering if Komarov is signed and joins the Amerks next season. He just turned 19, but as a Russian player, I doubt he falls under the CHL’s 20 year old rule.

Right now we are carrying Diggs, Davis, MacKenzie, Shakir, Brown and Beasley. Hodgins would be 3rd on my list, but admittedly he is a Davis type player and not really a slot receiver.

I’m not a Leslie Frazier fan, but this was one of his better games. If the team played clean the Bills claim an easy victory. Ken Dorsey, not so much. I think he plays into Josh’s gambler instincts. Daboll had a better feel when to attack and when to simply take what the defense give you.

Just thinking the same thing.

If they get here. Ken Dorsey needs to be better.

They don’t do anything easy

Interesting.

Why didn’t DG call his TO after either icing?

Mighty Quinn. That line was excellent tonight.

McDonaugh is the type of player we need.

TNT ends his drought with an Empty net goal

DC with a Marvelous shot.

So Bush takes a dumb penalty and UPL gives up his 3rd weak in the last couple of games. Nice!

The first question is what do the Amerks need? Who is under contract for next season. At forward (6) - Biro, Kozak, Cederqvist, Kulich, Rosen, and Kisakov are with the Amerks now and under contract for next season. Odds are that all will return to the Amerks next season. Maybe Kulich makes a run at an NHL roster spot. Maybe. On Defense - Prow is signed to an AHL deal for next season. In Goal - no one That's a pretty clean slate to build from. Bloom and Nadeau should be in Rochester next season. Östlund is also likely, bringing the signed forwards to 9. Malone, Rousek and maybe Weissbach return, although I think Rousek will get a look with the Sabres at some point this season. In goal - I think they like Subban and he seems happy here. I can easily see him being retained. On Defense it's anyone's guess what he does. We have no prospects to speak of unless Johnson signs and he might compete for a slot in Buffalo. I think they like Clague, but he too maybe in Buffalo next year. Odds favor KA looking for more AAAA guys like Clague who are still considered developmental players by the AHL, but who have some NHL experience. I honestly hope he moves a forward to get a legit D prospect or two into the pipeline.

So TM surrounded Jack and Sam with Robyn Lehner, Evander Kane and Ryan O’Reilly. What could have possibly gone wrong.

This is a close bunch of younger players. They are relaxed on the road and just letting the game happen and when they do that their speed and skill usually rule the day. At home, they feel more pressure to succeed and in turn they aren't handling the pressure as well. It's funny, but that will turn sooner then later. At some point the energy of the home crowd will give them the lift they need to battle through games like the last 2, where they were the better team but didn't get the result. A better roster will help.

No pressure on the road.

Why? Players get sent down and don’t dress all the time. Uncle Lou would be very proud of this obvious, but probably legal roster manipualtion.

Speaking of roster gymnastics, I kind of like KA’s decisions so far. By “loaning” Quinn to Rochester and by “loaning” UPL to Rochester he is using their exempt status to keep UPL in Buffalo while also giving guys like Asplund and Vinnie some PT and giving JJP and Quinn a rest here and there. I suspect for the next 6 weeks, UPL will be getting consistent starts in net and when he plays one of either Quinn or JJP will be “loaned” to open a roster spot for UPL, resting the rookie, and giving Vinnie or Asplund PT to keep them involved and playing. Very smart and very creative.

So you’re saying that KA wanted a slow positionally unsound player just because he was physical? Seriously and you want to add a second one just like him? Why would they bring in a slow D for a fast paced counter punching style? That makes no sense. I If this is really what KA wanted when he signed Bush then we have to question KAs judgement. We knew before the season that according to advanced stats, Joki made everyone who played with him worse. What KA needed to do if he was only adding one top 6 was to find a partner for Power who would be positionally sound and help maximize Power’s game much like Mule does for Dahlin. That would have dropped Joki to Bryson’s pair potentially giving us a decent third pair. He then need to bring in someone as insurance if someone didn’t work out or injuries hit. Bush might have been fine for that role, maybe. Instead he brought in Bush and prayed Joki would be ok with Power. It hasn’t worked. Bush is Cody Franson 2.0 and is a deficit ever time he takes ice. We still need a top 4 D partner for Power and better depth than Clague, Bush and Bryson

There will be more waivers to come around the league as more teams get ready for the trade deadline. Someone as good if not better should be available at any time if needed. No worries.