GASabresIUFAN

Just killing time until the game starts. Everyone is on edge and the town is packed with people.

Sadly not happening even if they could find a trading partner this early in the season.

It’s ultimately about cap space, roster spots and role on the team. Asplund will be much cheaper to keep, allowing cap $ to be spent elsewhere. He also is our top defensive forward, can play both center and wing, and is still under team control He is also 3 years younger than VO. Still how do you replace a 30+ goal scorer? It’s nearly impossible without having a read made younger and cheaper player ready to take over that scoring role (like Quinn). VO will also have to want to stay as he is an UFA after next season. KA has to make decisions on KO, Z, Cozens & Asplund after this season and then Mitts, Dahlin, Power, VO, Krebs, Bush, Comrie, and Bryson after next. I don’t envy him the task. There is only so much cap to go around.

Some guys will be voted off the island to make room for Savoie, Rosen, Kulich and others possibly as early as next year. Rosen and Kulich are nearly pt a game scorers in the AHL at 19 & 18 respectively. Savoie, who can only join the NHL or be returned to the WHL next year, is picking up where he left off last year. These 3 and Rousek, also a pt a game so far, are probably already knocking on the door. Hard decisions will have to be made for eventual cap reasons and to give guys pushing up from below their opportunity. This is a huge year for Asplund, Mitts, Krebs, VO, Z, and KO if they want to be part of things here long-term. Guys are coming for their jobs. If injuries strike (G-d forbid) upfront, I’d love to see Weissbach and Rousek get a chance. I think Rousek is Z’s eventual replacement. As to VO, I wouldn’t mind keeping him long-term, shooters of his quality don’t come around very often and we are lucky enough to have 3 (TnT and Quinn also). I’d love to have one sniper on all 3 main lines for years to come, but his 2 year deal seems very much like a bridge for Quinn to eventually assume his role allowing a roster spot for Savoie or another prospect.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/travis-yost-tage-thompson-takes-flight-at-centre-for-buffalo-sabres-1.1871792 Good read except the ubiquitous pot shot at the Sabres near the end.

It looks like Bush is back and Joki is making progress. Hopefully Joki will be back by the time we return home for LV and Bos.

It looks like we also reacquired Dean Marlowe at the deadline for extra safety help. The Bills gave Atlanta a 7th in 2023 for Marlowe. https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-today-dean-marlowe-is-pumped-to-be-back-in-blue-and-red Just like the Sabres, always happy to have someone who wants to be here. He knows the defense in and out and will be a great fit.

If I had to guess and assuming Vinnie gets back in the lineup, Krebs sits next. He only played 10 minutes against Pitt (a team low). Quinn and JJP aren't coming out any time soon. Quinn is making a difference on the PP and JJP is improving with each game. Also with the D banged up, Asplund should stay in the lineup. We could be down to a rotation of 2. Vinnie and Krebs.

Does Gare look a little bit like Louie Anderson in the above photo? Maybe Sam Kinison? PS glad to have Bush back.

He has moved from being a PP specialist to an empty net goal specialist. At this pace he might score 25 empty net goals. By way the NHL record in a season is 9. Ovie tied it last year (Bure in 99/2000 was the first to 9). I think VO will blow this record out of the water.

They play TB, Car, LV, Bos and AZ in the next 5. If they win 3 of 5 wouldn't you agree that they have proven they can compete with the best and are therefore a good team?

It's a fair question as to what I mean by "there." I made it open ended because "there" means something different for different people. For some it would simply be nightly entertaining hockey with a legit chance to win the game. I think we reached this definition in the 2nd half of last season There to me means are we are legit playoff contender. I think we are "there" or nearly. When I combine late last season and the first 9 of this season, it's pretty clear to me we can regularly beat teams considered to be playoff teams and should be in the fight for a playoff spot this season. For us to sustain this level we need to get and remain healthy on the backend. If your definition of "there" is a guaranteed playoff team or even a Cup contender, IMHO, we still have much work to do. D depth and elite goaltending are still the areas we need the most help, but at least Comrie and Anderson are keeping us in every game.

Vinnie was the 13th forward the Day he re-signed. He, Bjork and Sheahan (and Malone) are here in case the rookies falter and or we have a rash of injuries. Rousek and Weissbach are also playing themselves into a position to get a callup.

I’m worried about the next 5 games. If we go through that gauntlet 3-2, I think that will answer most of my questions. Successfully playing those tough teams with our patch work D group will tell me we can compete with the best even without our best possible lineup. That said, I disagree that these ten games are “a small sample” when viewed with how this nearly the same lineup played down the stretch last season. Now we are looking at 40+ game run of success with good results against top teams. I’ve mentioned 05/06 comparison previously, but that team actually turned the corner late in 2003/04 season and then the kids, Roy, Pommers, Vanek and Miller got an extra development year together in the A during the strike. To me this strong start is just a continuation of the momentum created last year. The funny thing is that this D group is most of the group we finished last year with Fitz, Bryson, Power and Dahlin.

A somewhat cryptic thread title I know. We are ten games in and sit 7-3-0 with 14 pts only behind the 9-1 Bruins. We have beaten contenders like Pitt, Edm and Calg and other than the awful Sea game, the Sabres were in the other losses. The kids are starting to play well, even Krebs. They lead the NHL with 20 3rd period goals, they are +15 and in 3rd period differential. They have a couple of comeback wins, but have also been able to hold all their leads after 2 periods. The offense is clicking and as balanced as we hoped. Tage, who I admitted being worried about before the season, is even better. Dahlin is playing like a Norris contender. We have 4 guys with 6+ goals and 3 with 7+ to lead the NHL. No one else has more than 2. Our 43 gf is second to Bos’ 45. There is some bad news. The GA is improved but is 11th in the league. As pointed out in the broadcast we give up way to many odd man rushes. Last night all 3 Pitt goals came on either 2 on 1 or a breakaway. This has to stop for this team to succeed long term. The injuries on D are obviously a factor. The schedule also gets harder from here with 4 more contenders in the next 5 games including the red hot Eichel lead Knights and Bruins at home and roadies at TB and Carolina. Dare I ask; Are we there yet?

I forgot, what an amazing veteran play by Power on VO’s first goal. While the “stars” for the Sabres all had great games tonight, all 3 rookies were major contributors tonight. So exciting to see.

This may not be the most experienced forward group ever in Rochester, but it might be the most talented in nearly 20 years.

Do you remember the last Sabres team that played with that kind of effort, played for each other, and was able to roll 4 effective lines? The 2005/6 team. This team really feels much like that team.

Joki’s mom was there also. Just thought you should know. 🙂

Still don’t like the white pants. 😉

These TNT guys really don’t know that this team actually turned the corner the day Tuch joined this team.

This is the type of effort that can define a team and this is why Z and KO are on this team.

King Henrik saying we need to tighten up defensively. Hey Henry, did you notice 3 key D out with injuries?

This was a defining win for a young team. They got down 2 goals to a veteran laden desperate team and just destroyed them after the first 5-6 minutes of the 2nd period. Best game yet by Power. PP is so much better with Quinn in it. JJP’s ability to hold into the puck was key to VO’s first goal. Also Krebs’ best game in a long time. DG had Mitts and VO on the ice at the end of the game.