GASabresIUFAN

How often have I said he was my favorite pick of ours in this draft. After Kasper, this is the one kid I really wanted. Watched him pot 9 goals on a mediocre Czech team in the U18s. He was also good in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and even in the U20s. I kind of hope he plays in Rochester in the fall, but I wonder if KA will send him to the CHL for a year.

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/sports/sabres/devon-levi-very-impressed-with-sabres This interview makes it pretty clear that this is one class kid who wants to be here. He became friends with Owen Power at the Olympics. He also is becoming fast friends with Portillo. The more I read about Levi and Portillo these seem like two terrific people regardless of hockey. Whether both come here or just Levi, I think I'll remain a fan of both.

Either can Kevyn Adams. You know that ELC is burning a hole in his pocket.

I agree with Wheeler on this one. Savoie has to play juniors the next 2 seasons if he doesn't make the NHL. He dominated the league last year. How much better will he be this coming season. I can see him spending the season working on his two way game to help get NHL ready much like Reinhart did. Now the question is which forward gets voted off the island to make room for him?

People seem to forget that both these teams were considerably ahead of the Sabres most of the season and the young Sabres over took them in the last 3rd of the season. They had to make moves because they both lack the pipeline of the Sabres. Despite the Sabres adding Samuelsson, Power, Quinn and JJP to the NHL roster, our pipeline is still deeper than Ott and Det.

I love Slafkovsky the player, but I agree Wright should have been the choice.

Jesse Pegula's future doubles partner? I had him 59th on my consensus board and he his average ranking was 59. I was shocked he slipped so far. I had Neuchev at 67.

Dude, Montreal is tanking. Adding Dach is ok, but he has never really recovered from his terrible wrist injury. I love the draft pick of Slafkovsky, but he isn't Connor McDavid. Their best D is Petry and he's 34. Price is likely to spend the season on IR. The Sabres as we wrote above didn't need to make drastic moves to compete, because they changed the roster over mid season last year. They brought in Tuch and Krebs, and then added four top notch kids in Power, Samuelsson, Quinn and JJP. Yes the kids need to step it up to make it work, but when you bring back 90% on an improving offense and then add the two top rookies from the AHL, you are going to score some goals.

There are no sure things. None. Vets get hurt, prospect don't develop and get hurt, coaches change, linemates change etc... I'd have done the Copp deal term and $. As I wrote above, Debrincat would help but not at the money involved. No way I'm paying him $9 mill plus after next season. The goalies I'd have done in a heart beat, but I felt back in May that KA would go the value route.

I went back and looked closer at CBJ's offense and they are actually very deep. They had 10 forwards score in double digits and 2 D score 11 each. They now add Johnny Hockey and his 40 goals. I wouldn't be surprised if the score 270+ this season. They scored 258 last year and the only contributor they lost is Maxi Domi and his 9 goals. Their D last year scored nearly 40 goals as a group. Many of their guys are young and just entering their primes: Laine 24, Werenski 25, Sillinger 19, Texier 22, Roslovic 25, Boqvist 22, Roslovic 25, and Bean 24. Forwards CBJ 1, Buff 2, Det 3 and Ott 4 Defense CBJ 1, Buf 2, Ott 3, Det 4 Goaltending Ott 1, Det 2, Buf 3, CBJ 4

my bad. Makes the deal even worse. I also don't get the Miller deal, but good for him.

I hear Jagr's team in Czechia is looking for players.

Would a better question be "which of these moves would have made the Sabres improved enough to block a prospect or swap for a veteran"? Copp would certainly be an upgrade over Girgensons or Asplund. The length of the deal would be a long-term issue, but he would definitely help the Sabres now. I also would have done the Talbot deal and the Husso deals (trade and contract). I don't trust UPL and it maybe another 3 years before Levi or Portillo are NHL ready, assuming Portillo signs. Obviously Debrincat would help this team, but not enough to spend 6.4 on him this year and be stuck with a minimum Q offer next season of $9 mill. That said he is an amazing goal scorer.

Much of our JAG corps seems to be getting jobs. Tokarski, Dell, Pysyk, Miller and Caggiula have all signed somewhere. Dell to SJ Pysyk to Det - 1 yr 1 way 850K Miller to Dal - 2 yr 1 way 1.85 aav Tokarski to Pitt - 1 yr 1 way 775K Caggiula to Pitt - 1 yr 2 way 750K\ Jonas Johannsson back to Col - 1 yr 2 way 750K ( I never thought he'd last this long to the NHL/AHL Nick Deslauriers - 4 yr 1way 1 mill aav Staal to Fla PTO No word on Hayden, Eakin, Houser or Hagg

Has Kadri signed yet?

Just shows how really good of a player you must be to even make a roster for even a couple of seasons. The kid put up 71 points his final Jr season, represented Canada multiple times as a Jr. Was a 2nd rd draft pick in the NHL but even a guy this talented can't hold onto an NHL roster spot. If I had to guess why, he has never fully embraced the defensive aspects of his position.

Always good to have options. VO pops to 30 (I have him estimated for 25 next season) each of the next two years and people here will want to give him a Skinner type contract. LOL. I'll add another factor. VO blows the doors off and the kids develop, the odds KO returns diminish. KA has a ton of decisions to make the next two seasons. 7 forwards (and Samuelsson) are playing next season with only a year left on their contracts. The following season 3 key forwards (VO, Mitts and Krebs) plus 5/6 of the D come due. The only 4 players contracted beyond 2023/24 are Skinner, Tuch, Quinn and JJP. I can fully understand why KA didn't throw big money at any of the UFAs, but I still would have really liked to add Palat to this group.

I don't think there is any question about that. However I don't see VO being part of the equation 2 years from now given how much talent at forward is coming up the pipeline. A few of Quinn, JJP, Savoie, Kulich, Östlund, Rosen and maybe others are going to make an impact within the next couple of years. My money is on the first 4 names I listed.

I envision Donnie G creating a offense oriented kids line that start 75% to 80% in the Ozone and plays protected minutes. Similar to what Ruff did with Vanek, Roy and Max back in 05/06. That line might start with JJP Krebs and Quinn to get their feet wet. Like the Vanek line, they'll be a huge matchup problem on offense for most 4th lines around the league. I honestly think the only real forward camp battle is going to be Vinnie vs JJP vs Bjork and R2. If JJP shows he's ready, Vinnie becomes the 13th forward and the rest go to Rochester. If JJP is not ready, he goes to the Amerks, Vinnie draws in the 12 forward with Bjork and r2 battling for the 13th forward slot. That said there are an infinity number of lineup combo if DG wants to start from scratch at camp. I have a feeling he likes VO with Mitts together and Skinner, TT and Tuch together. After that he'll slot based on what works in camp. I am in agreement with you that this could be a playoff team if they stay healthy and Comrie gives even Ullmark level goaltending.

I believe that as well, but what interesting is that even if that doesn't happen, adding Power, Quinn, and JJP, plus hopefully full seasons of Mitts, Krebs and Tuch, should propel that offense to greater heights. Here is the math. We return 208 goals from last year's team. In my mind we need to get to 250-260 to be playoff competitive. I think Power, Quinn and JJP are worth 35-40 goals next year. Mitts, Krebs and Tuch scored 25 total in just over half a season each. Would 20 more be unreasonable to ask? Of course some guys like Vinnie, KO and possible Thompson may score a few less, but still we really don't need huge growth from Cozens or even Mitts to make this team's offense better. It looks to me that our better depth could contribute more to our success than personal growth. Get both and it's really going to fun to watch. One other note is time of possession, the more we can tilt the games in our offenses' favor, the less pressure on our suspect goaltending to save the day.

When I look at these 4 teams, honestly, I think the other teams had significantly more work to do this summer than we did. @dudacek did a graphic in another thread showing the change in our roster over last season. Last season opened with Eakin, Caggiula, Bjork, Hayden, Hagg, Butcher, Miller, Pysyk and Tokarski in our lineup. That pile of JAG gave us 391 games last year and a total of 21 goals (plus 50 assists). Tokar did give us 29 games, but allowed 3.27 goals per game. We also used 3 other JAG goalies in 18 other games who were much worse than Tokarski. None of those players, except Bjork (and he is the 14th forward at this point), return. They have been replaced by Tuch, Krebs, Quinn, JJP, Power, Samuelsson, Fitz, Lyubushkin and Comrie. Anderson and Hinostroza both return but likely in diminished roles. Quinn alone will probably replace the JAG corps 21 goals. The Sabres return 208 of the 232 goals scored last season. Now add full seasons of Krebs, Tuch and Mitts, plus talented rookies Power, Quinn and JJP and getting to 250+ goals looks very feasible. If we get to that level, it's going to be a very entertaining season. Getting to the playoffs however will require Comrie stepping up and giving us Ville Husso level goaltending. If he does that, then this team will likely compete for a playoff spot. Ultimately it comes down to goal differential. Playoff teams score more that they allow. Non playoff teams don't. Yes there are some exceptions, but usually not many. For example, in the East last year all 8 playoffs teams had positive differentials and in the West 7 of 8. Dallas was -8. In the West LV and Van had positive differentials and missed the playoffs, but still had 90+ pt seasons.

None of that changes that we gave up 290 goals last year. That number needs to fall to around 240-250 for this team to even think about the playoffs

Chris Drury

I was thinking more about Palat. 4 years @ 6 mill per season to teach this team how to win. It will add another proven scorer and counter the moves by Ott, Det and CBJ. From a roster standpoint you send Bjork and JJP down to start the year knowing he’ll JJP will be the first call up.

I hate to ask this now, but if we aren't in playoff contention at the deadline does KA move VO for a major assets? Honestly, my expectation for next season if Comrie can come through is for this team to be an 87-90 pt team. If that comes true, then no way VO is traded, but if Comrie fails then all bets are off.