GASabresIUFAN

That's like saying Alabama should have fired Saban to give Smart the job or Georgia firing Smart to give Dan Lanning the job.

See above.

Grumpy much? Player No. 1 is former 4th overall pick Sam Bennett. The point is Casey has been better to this point in his career than Bennett and we saw today what Bennett is capable of. Some of the questions I asked earlier is does Casey still have upside and what will he be in the future here or elsewhere and I think Bennett is a great proxy. During today’s broadcast Ray talked about how Casey is improved along the boards and I think that fact is what is helping to fuel that lines better play and as I watched Bennett today I realized he went through a similar maturation process. Like Bennett Casey may have to move to another franchise to unlock his full potential.

zzzzzzz

FYI: Who is who? Player 1 Age 20 - 81gm 26pts .32p/gp -16 Age 21 - 82gm 26pts .32p/gp -18 Age 22 - 71gm 27pts .38p/gp -6 Age 23 - 51gm 12pts .23p/gp -1 Age 24 - 48gm 27pts .56p/gp -2 Player 2 Age 20 - 77gm 25 pts . 32p/gp -19 Age 21 - 31gm 9pts .29p/gp -5 Age 22 - 41gm 22pts .54p/gp -10 Age 23 - 40gm 19pts .48p/gp - 14 Age 24 - 41gm 25tps .61p/gp -12

Actually Schenn has dramatically improved in recent years. He never became the offensive player Tor envisioned when they drafted him early, but he rededicated himself to becoming a very good stay at home D and that is what he has become. He is skating 17-18 minutes a night, has 14 pts in 43 games and is a +5 on a lousy Van team. He is exactly what are team needs. He is physical and shoots right like Bush, but adds more offense, is positionally sound and brings Cup winning experience. I wouldn't give up a 1st for him, but a 2nd and a 3rd in 2024 I would consider. I'd also give him a two year extension to stick around and teach the kids for to be a pro defenseman.

I think this thread title needs to be updated to a more appropriate question, such as Is Casey part of the solution or part of the problem? or What is Casey's future with the Sabres? or Is Casey Good Enough to be part of the core? I think we can move on from whether Casey is a bad player. He's not. He is on pace for 50 points and just matched his career high points number is 38 less games. Bad players don't put up 50 points in the NHL. The questions are whether he had further upside, he has turned the corner as a two way player and what is his future with the Sabres?

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.