GASabresIUFAN

JJP on pace for 82 pts as a rookie.

As I said, Tuch came to play.

Only two forwards have come to play both games Tuch and JJP.

Defense sucks and continues to give up odd man breaks. Comrie was good and we made two really good plays to tie the score.

This is want you want in a organization. You want the guys below to earn their way up and force management’s hand. Also the cap will eventually force management to make some hard choices. You’ll be thankful for that depth then. In theory 3 or 4 forward slots might be available after this season as Vinnie, Sheahan, Okposo, and Girgensons are UFAs. VO is a UFA the following year.

I don’t think Granato or the analytics agree with your assessment. Some quick thoughts: Krebs is the best passer on the team. Dylan’s line is a huge matchup problem for other teams when we are at home, just like Vanek, Roy and Max back in the day. Anderson was spectacular tonight. I thought the Sabres were the better after the 1st. My Son-In-law asked me why Mule got such a big extension. We saw why tonight. He allows Dahlin to be creative. DG calls him the “Antidote,” I call him Dahlin’s security blanket.

Who scores our first goal? Quinn?

Anderson the opening night goalie.

Tonight is a must win! We need to show all those computer modelers that we are the better team then those wasteful spending Sens.

It’s close to now or never for Mitts. With KA diligently locking up his core, Mitts needs to prove he is part of the solution this year despite having another year on his current deal.

The Sabres went 17-12-2 behind an over the hill 40 year old goaltender last season. How would have done with just league average goaltending or even better, Ullmark level goaltending? Playoffs. You pointed out previously that we played at a playoff level when Ullmark was in net and last season when any of our goaltenders stopped 9/10 of the shots they faced we won consistently. How is it then disingenuous to say had management invested in real goaltending then may have been a playoff contender already when the stats support that assertion?

Do you honestly believe that KA is going to tell either of these top overall picks walk ever? Dahlin was just granted an "A" and is the only member of the young core so honored. DG was already skating 23 minutes a night in his debut last year and he was arguably the best D in camp. Furthermore both are still RFAs after next season. Can things change? Of course they can and will. However, those changes likely won't include either Dahlin or Power.

Since we now speculating on Cozens' and Asplund's next deals, here is the cap situation for 23-24. 8 Forwards - 30,725,356 - Quinn, JJP, VO, Mitts, Skinner, TnT, Tuch & Krebs - RFA: Cozens, Asplund. UFAs: KO, Z, Vinnie and Sheahan 6 Defenders - 18,302,381 - Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson, Bryson, Lyubushkin, and Jokiharju - RFA: Fitzgerald 1 Goalie - 1,800,000 - Comrie TOTAL: 50,827,737 Likely additions: Savoie (950K) and UPL (837.5K) Total with additions 52,615,237 for 9F, 6D & 2 G

From Johnson's point of view, with 6 D locked up for next year, he's got to be asking himself if he'll get a legit shot at making the Sabres next year. Personally, I think he could beat out Bryson right now. Also with long-term commitments to Mule, Power and Dahlin, he's got to be asking himself if 3rd pairing LHD is his long-term ceiling even if he makes the Sabres. So yes, I believe the long-term deal for Mule might reflect KA's knowledge that Johnson is thinking about moving on after this season.

KA and DG are now joined at the hip like McBeane. Stability is the watch word. However Don Adams now have to win like McBeane.

A couple of quick cap thoughts on this contract. KA now has the same top 6 defenders under contract for next season. He has preached stability and here is another example. One less worry for next off-season. Does this deal reflect anything on KA's knowledge on Johnson's situation? Does KA feel Johnson is going to walk after this college season or with Bryson only on a one year deal entering next season, does KA believe Johnson might beat him out in camp, demoting Bryson to the 7th D or the trade market? Joki and Bryson better step up this season or we might need to make changes here despite their both being under contract.

Whatever. Again this is like extending KA, Mule, TnT, etc... Now he has to win.

The Sabres are doing what the Atlanta Braves are doing and have been doing; locking up key players when they are young to insure continuity and at least for the Braves, the winning culture. This is a smart practice if the team becomes a winner.

Because had management committed to real goaltending over the last 2 off-seasons maybe we’d already be a playoff team.

If management felt that we were ready to compete for a playoff spot they wouldn’t have a tandem of Comrie/Anderson in net and JJP would have been sent down given the mediocre camp he had. The sad truth is this season is just another hopefully positive stepping stone toward building a long-term competitive team. So yes, individual development is more important this season and from KA’s point of view hopefully that development equates to more wins.

What would have the Sabres done if Sheahan had been healthy? Would Bjork have gotten waived? I understand that Pilut was exempt from Waivers, but does anyone really believe the someone else would have claimed Fitz?

From your lips to G-d’s ears. Like i’ve said before I like Comrie, but I would have upgraded Anderson as well.

That’s always the question isn’t it. Other organizations in the last 3 years, including dumpster fires like Det and Ott, seemed to find ways to acquire goaltending. Forsberg in Ott was a waiver pick up. I have said for years that this wait and see approach hoping one of the prospects emerges is a mistake. Devon “Goalie of the future” Levi is still 2 years away. UPL may never make the NHL and Portillo is likely to go elsewhere. I thought in April that KA should have brought in someone to challenge UPL.

This is another developmental year and JJP showed last year that he really doesn’t have much to learn anymore in the AHL. My guess is he and Vinnie will rotate at points depending on matchups and as JJP’s understanding of the NHL games improves. I suspect by mid-season JJP will be established in this lineup

…. Or are they circling the drain?