GASabresIUFAN

There is a surprise.

You ok?

Schedule maker already screwing the Bills for next season. According to Cbssports.com here are our opponents for next season. A bunch of crap home games and then road games at KC, at Philly and at Cinn.

Already set up. Have had them setup since college football season started.

No question. Already lapping the field even if the Oil fail to make the playoffs. I think Dahlin vs Morrisey for the Norris if both make the playoffs.

Can Dahlin or Tage win the Norris/Hart if the Sabres don’t make the playoffs?

How crazy will the stadium be next Sunday if Damar comes out of the tunnel with the team?

If I had to put odds on those two guys, I think I'd put the odds of Z returning at 90% and probably on a two year deal. KO less, maybe 60%, and could depend on how much he wants and for how long. I agree KO's deal will be annual. Next season we will still have cap space to keep both easily, but after next season, Power, Dahlin, Mitts, Joki, Krebs, and UPL will all need new deals. We could be getting to the cap quicker than expected if these guy continue to blossom. Also prospects like Savoie, Kulich, Cedarqvist, Rousek and others are going to be pusking from below.

That's a bit unfair comparison. UPL has mostly played behind at least 5/6 of the intended D group. Before Comrie got injured, he was playing behind as few as 2 of the starting 6 D and often just 3. Hard for any goaltender to win consistently in that situation. I'm reserving judgement until I see Comrie in the same circumstances as UPL.

Good teams bring up prospects all the time. Adding youth to the roster is a key component to cap management. While we aren't close to a cap team now or even next season, we are about to see major extensions handed out this off-season and in another year. Cozens, Clague and Jost are up after this season, TnT and Mule's deals kick in plus UFAs Z and KO. After next season Power, Dahlin, Krebs, Joki, Mitts and UPL all need new deals. (UFAs Comrie and VO are also up). How much is that going to cost? Dahlin (10+?), Cozens (7.5 to 8), Power (6?) alone might cost 25 mill to keep. I can easily see VO being traded in the off-season and his roster spot going to Savoie as a 3rd line winger for next season. Is anyone shocked by this news? No, I didn't think so. This seemed apparent in the off-season, why not trade him then?

This is not as outlandish as it seems at first blush. I doubt KA goes this route, but it is something to chew on. We wanted Mitts sent down and while it took a while it helped him get his confidence back. Same for Thompson. My guess is DG wants them in Buffalo to work through the rookie wali, but never say never, especially if Mitts and VO start scoring regularly. We have to revisit this idea after the next 3 home games and Comrie comes off IR. Would they send Joki down for a conditioning stint while they hit the road to further delay some decisions?

Can we beat the Flyers on Monday first?

Has CNN ever been trustworthy? Fantastic news if true.

Hines I guess is the special teams player of the week. Now D needs to make some plays

I agree. Dorsey's play calling is erratic at best. Frazier's refusal to adjust his D is also mindboggling.

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.