GASabresIUFAN

I didn't realize talking about Eichel was still a thing around here. I'm so happy to have Tuch (plus Krebs and Östlund) on this team, I have almost completely forgotten about Eichel

I'm surprised no one has commented on this article

Back in 2018 Pronmam hated this pick. I remember watching him for the USNTDP and seeing him as their Captain and thinking this is exactly the type of player we need on the back end. I was glad we grabbed him then and thrilled with how quickly he has developed into a top D man for us.

https://theathletic.com/3691128/2022/10/20/nhl-redraft-2018/ The Sabres had 6 picks in 2018 headlined by Dahlin, Samuelsson. According to Pronman, Dahlin is the 4th best player in that draft, behind Brady Tkachuk, Svechnikov, and Quinn Hughes. Dahlin looks like he is working toward another level this season. Samuelsson (drafted 32nd) is now 13th on Pronman’s list, but is listed in Tier 5 as a middle of the lineup player. While I don’t have an issue with the ranking per se, Mule is playing top line minutes right now and is a perfect compliment to the free wheeling Dahlin.

I saw the B’s with the sword in the video, but they aren’t really noticeable in the photos at all. Maybe a color on the shoulders would help make them stand out.

My daughter and I were watching the Edm game and we noticed the boards showing Buffalo ads (La Nova pizza specifically), yet that was no interference with the broadcast of the players when they in front of the boards. Amazing tech. I noticed last year the ads on the ice by the blueline and the one on the glass behind the net, but the changing ads on the boards is really crazy. What is also weird is seeing a Buffalo ad on the board during the live broadcast, but then seeing the ad painted on the boards in the highlights or replays.

Much to early to read this trends. Special team usage and late game assignments will play heavily into this especially early into the season. For example Mitts has played 17, 21 and 15 minutes in the 3 games. In game 2 he spent 4 minutes killing penalties. So he is averaging 17:30 a night, but it hasn't exactly been consistent.

…. And? Badly bruised ankle, broken ankle or what?

Pronman’s 2019 re-draft. The Sabres had 6 picks in 2019 and acquired Krebs in the Eichel trade. 5 of 7 made the list and unlike the 2021 re-draft, I doubt we’d quibble much with his list. https://theathletic.com/3690768/2022/10/19/nhl-redraft-2019/ 4. Cozens (pick 7) - Tier 2 - Bubble NHL All-star. I think we’d all agree this is his potential 11. Krebs (pick 17) - Tier 3 - Potential top line player. I think we’d all agree he isn’t close to that level, but is an elite passer with speed. Should get closer to that level with time, experience and physical development 35. Johnson (pick 31) - Tier 5 - Middle of the lineup player. Most of us project him as a 2nd or 3rd pairing stay at home D. 56. Portillo (pick 67) - Tier 6 - Will play in the NHL. He’ll play in the NHL but probably not the Sabres. Likely as a back-up. Cal Petersen 2.0 99. Huglen (pick 102) - Tier 7 - Could play in the NHL. I’d lean more toward Tier 6 given his skillset and development last year, but he is now in a very crowded Sabres forward pipeline. Missing: Cederqvist and Rousek. IMHO Rousek should be on the list. He’ll get a callup at some point this year given his development and the organization’s belief in his game. I see him as Z’s eventual replacement. Cederqvist also has a chance if he translates his improved SHL scoring to the Amerks. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if all 6 for Jbot’s picks from 2019 play at least some NHL games. The closest we’ve come to an entire draft class playing in the NHL was 1979 when 6 of 7 played at least one game. That 79 class was pretty solid and featured Mike Ramsey, Ruff, Cloutier, Hamel and Haworth. Even goalie Rick Knickle managed 14 NHL games for the Kings in the early 1990s. What a story that must have been, kicking around the minors for 14 years waiting to hear your name in the NHL.

How to get into the Calder conversation? Average a pt a game for the season. That should do it.

Lets see where we are after 10 games. In those games we play (or have played) 4 playoff teams from last year (Edm, Cgy, Fla and Pitt), two teams viewed as significantly improved (Ott and Det) and 4 teams we should be able to beat on paper (Chi, Mon, Sea and Van). I think that schedule is a pretty good sample for what we will face this season. If we are say 6-3-1, I think there is reason for optimism for the rest of the season. That said two wins when being outplayed most of the game is not sustainable. On the positive, most of the sustained pressure in our zone in the 3rd of both games came from teams pressing because they were down on the score board. However, in both contests we went into a shell much much to quickly. Honestly this should improve over the course of the season. This is a very young team still learning to win.

A couple of random thoughts 1) Comrie and Anderson through 3 games are giving the Sabres the type of goaltending needed to make and win in the playoffs. That said, it's 3 games with another 79 to go. If they can stay healthy and keep this up, this team will have a legit chance to be very good. 2) However, the 3rd period made it clear and to quote Robert Frost, we have "Miles to go before we sleep," The Sabres don't have anyone close to as talented as McJesus and Draistaitl. We have to win through collective will and rolling 4 lines and they all have to contribute. 3) Nice to see TnT return to form and as I said pregame, I like Asplund, Mitts and VO together and I thought they had a really good game 4) Lyubishkin really stepped up tonight until he got, but Joki's game is still lacking. Dahlin has taken his offense to another level. Now if he can be a fraction better on D, he'll become a mega star. 5) Rookie Watch: JJP is making the most of his limited playing time and is getting better and better each shift. Power was better tonight, but needs to be more assertive. 6) I love Vinnie's energy, but he does seem to turn the puck over to much.

Comrie has been awesome, but we need to get even more aggressive and get some chances.

I think our goal projection for Dahlin may have been low.

Maybe he is the more talented love child of Mike Peca

Maybe their best in years

How do we know our coaching is good and our players are listening? When the team comes out after the 1st intermission and looks like a completely different team. Tip of the hat to DG and his staff.

Not a Joki fan. He doesn't seem be getting better.

We have a TnT sighting in the second period.

JJP - Calder ready

Skinner scores the GWG on Skinner and the Sabres add an empty net goal to win 5-3

I like the lines. Asplund and VO always seem to bring out the best in Mitts. Hopefully Tuch will get TnT going. The Cozens line will be the Energizer Bunny line. 45 second a shift of all out effort.

https://theathletic.com/3704768/2022/10/18/sabres-goalie-prospect-ukko-pekka-luukkonen-rochester-offseason-training/ Nice article on UPL. Basically he is finally fully healthy and spent the summer in Finland getting into excellent physical condition and working with 2 Finnish goalie coaches (who also coach in the NHL) on his game. Result is a fit confident and improved (so far) goalie.

I missed Novikov in my first read as well. Nice catch. So that’s 7 players from our draft, without including Kozak, in his top 127 so to speak. I’d say again, that’s a pretty good sign for the depth in our pipeline. I agree with @dudacekthat Kozak’s absence from the list is questionable. He was basically as effective last year in the CHL as Bloom was and earned a jobnin the AHL as a 19 year old. He should have made the list.

NHL contracts are guaranteed. He gets his salary where ever he plays. If he clears waivers, the only exception I know of are if he refuses to go to the AHL like Bogo did a few years ago. At that point the Sabres can terminate his contract. Once he clears waivers, the Sabres would get 1.125 million in cap relief (not that it matters). Interestingly, capfriendly still has Bjork listed on the Sabres as a current roster player.