GASabresIUFAN

Translation: KA won’t do anything this season to help the team make the playoffs this season. Oh well!

I was thinking about what DG will do when Bush comes back. I know he is a student of the game and back in the day, the Sabres really only played 5 D each night. They would dress 6 but really only play 5. I wonder if DG might consider this option.

Everyone played limited minutes with the 3rd pairing guys. They only play about 7:30 each. Also they didn't play together. Power played with Fitz and Joki with Bryson. It's pretty clear the DG views them as a serious liability, but he also can't play the big 4 25 minutes each a night.

I think he's been a solid pick up. DG also limited Casey's line's minutes tonight. Casey, Jost and VO only played 11 minutes tonight.

Imagine how dangerous this team will be if we can get 3 lines chipping in. I thought the D was better tonight and I just realized why. I looked at the box score and Fitz and Bryson played a combined 15 minutes tonight. The big 4 all played 24 to 26+ minutes tonight.

@tom webster would say he finally matured into his body and finally was playing for a coach who gave him the right opportunity at the right time.

Yep. He was arguably the best Sabres forward tonight and he needs to play with this kind of drive, energy and physicality every night.

Amerks give up 4 in the 3rd. Lose 5-2.

He’ll be traded for Chychrun by then.

Second goal was a Mitts to Thompson to Skinner. Mitts’ pass was zipped across the rink to an open Thompson. On the first goal Dahlin to Casey who drop passes to a charging Jost who snaps to the middle to VO.

Maybe it’s the start of a positive trend.

It’s better than never arriving at all. Seriously, I think Jost gave them a boost. They were much more physical and were driving the middle. Excellent passing by Casey on the first 2 goals.

Defense was better with the new pairings. Anderson should have stopped that 3rd goal. Jarry and the post kept Pit in the game early.

Best game in months by Casey’s line.

Skinner needs to stay after the game and skate 100 laps.

Casey arrives. 3 assists tonight so far.

That would tank them for sure. That would still leave 3 goalies in Buffalo once Comrie gets healthy.

I’m curious what their charts look like from last season. I think they are substantially better and wonder where the problem is. I also wonder how many of their goals against happened with at least one of Bush, Pilut, Fitz, Clague and Bryson on the ice. All 4 goals against CBJ came with Pilut and/or Bryson on the ice. They brought down everyone. No question Casey & VO aren’t adding anything 5 on 5, but there has to be more to the story.

https://theathletic.com/3986705/2022/12/09/tage-thompson-five-goal-game-sabres-dave-andreychuk/ Matt Fairburn’s excellent article talking with Andreychuk about Thompson. He said loves Tage’s skill and still considers himself a Buffaloian. He mentioned that after watching his 5 goal night that he looked like he was in slow motion. The article also mentions that Bowman was also watching. Andreychuk said Bowman sat him most of the 3rd like DG did to Thompson. Article worth a read if you can.

Nailed it. Sorry!

They are tanking even with the goalie. I’m not sure they’ll be able to replace him next season if they move him. After all we are still searching after losing Ullmark. Johnson’s value right now is at least the 2nd rd pick we’d get if he walks.

Lets talk this trade through. Chychrun and Vejmalka (G) for Mitts, VO, Ryan Johnson and a top 10 protected 1st. 1) With the depth of this draft, I sincerely doubt KA would trade the 1st without some protection. 2) Vejmalka would be a nice addition, but he is the AZ started and he was recently extended for 3 years. I doubt he'd be included in the deal. If he was included what happens to Comrie or Anderson this season? 3) Including Mitts and VO diminishes our forward depth significantly despite their difficult play of late. It would certainly give them more opportunity higher in the lineup and AZ would probably flip VO at the deadline for more assets. However for us, it would mean Asplund and Vinnie would be fixtures in the lineup and the first call ups would be Bjork, Rousek and Weissbach. It would opens opportunities from Savoie and a few others next season. I can see AZ insisting on Mitts in the deal and he is expendable because of the growth of Cozens and having Jost and Krebs here and Savoie and Kulich coming. 4) On defense adding Chychrun would be a huge help. It would push Bryson (once Bush is healthy) to the bench. I suspect AZ would want a D from us to replace Chychrun in the lineup. I think some of the principals in the deal are good. Chychrun, plus for Mitts, plus another roster player, plus a protected 1st and.... I think I'd structure the deal Chychrun, Boyd (or Bjugstad), and a D prospect for Mitts, Bryson, Ryan Johnson & a conditional protected 1st in 2023 and Bishop's contract. The condition is if we are draft 1-10, we keep the 2023 1st and AZ gets our 3rd in 2023 and our 1st in 2024.

Time to move on from all 3.

I think Levi is the starter in Rochester next season. I think he’ll need to adjust to the speed of pro hockey. What I’m hoping is someone like Adin Hill to compete with Comrie next year.

Like all questions, the answer is it depends. Off-season is the most likely answer. Hopefully Levi will be signed, UPL will be moved. I don’t see Comrie going anywhere. I’d say the deadline is possible if we have more injuries and are in contention