GASabresIUFAN

It's interesting that the goal differential between the halves isn't greater. The 2nd half showed an 11 GF improvement, but also 5 more GA. What it really shows me is that we still need to cut down about .5 GA/GP to be competitive. I'm not sure the additions of Comrie and Lyubushkin can accomplish that.

Johnny Hockey is certainly a nice addition to an 81 pt team, but that left them 6th in the metro. They also just invested 4 a year for 4 years in maybe the slowest D in the NHL in Gudbranson. Obviously Werenski is excellent. Boqvist is just ok for such a high draft pick. I do like Bean however. Still I'd rather have our trio of Samuelsson, Dahlin and Power over Werenski, Bean and Boqvist. Upfront Voracek and Johnny Hockey should work together well. Laine is solid scorer if they can get him re-signed. Bjorkstad and Jenner are also solid. It looks kind of like Ott with a solid top 6, but questionable after that. They did score 262 last year, but gave up 300 for a -38. Ultimately they fit with Buf, Ott, and Det. I still like our potential the best of the bunch. With all 4 teams and the Islanders looking better for next year, these 4 teams are going to shave points from the 8 playoff teams. I think Tor, Wash, Bos have regressed. This should make the East much more balanced.

This is from your article. The following table from the current CBA indicates when a player is no longer exempt from waivers. For example, a skater who signs his entry-level contract at 18 will become exempt after playing 160 NHL games, or after five seasons (whichever comes first).

Whose real name was revealed at the NHL draft as Topias Leinonen. At 6'5" 233 as an 18 year old, I guess if the hockey thing doesn't work out the Bills can always turn him into an O Lineman in a few years.

Ok Amerks fans are you happy with the flying D corp of Laaksonen, Prow, Davies, Priske and maybe Clague or Pilut?

Not sure Poltopov or Novikov will ever play here.

CapFriendly says he must clear waivers because he has already been a pro 5 seasons

Another puck mover. Are you seeing a trend. Priskie - Charlotte - 54gp 8g 23a (4 NHL games zero points) Prow - Rochester - 70gp 10g 39a (4 NHL games 1 goal) Laaksonen - Rochester - 71gp 5g 29a Clague - NHL 35gp 2g 8a Davies - Milwaukee - 54gp 6g 25a (6 NHL games 2a)

All 3 teams finished within 2 points of each other last season. (Buf 75, Det 74 and Ott 73) Sabres scored the most goals of the 3 at 232, followed by Det 230 and Ott at 227 Ott had the least goals against with 266, Buffalo was second at 290 and Det the worst at 312. Buffalo adds Power, Quinn, JJP, Lyubushkin and Comrie to an already young team, plus full seasons of Tuch and Krebs. Stevie Y is going for it. He has added Husso, Maatta, Chariot, Copp, Kubalik, and Perron. I can even see Kasper possibly earning a spot in camp. Ott is also going for it adding Giroux, DeBrincat and Talbot. So who is the better team on paper heading into next season? Which team has the most potential to make the playoffs next season? Goaltending: IMHO Ottawa has the edge with the tandem of Talbot and Forsberg. Forsberg was great for them last year. I also have more confidence in the tandem of Husso and Nedeljkovic over our pair of Comrie/Anderson. Defense: This is a very hard question. Seider/Hronek are the top 2 in Detroit. Chabot/Sanderson in Ott and Dahlin/Power in Buffalo. Seider, Dahlin and Chabot are probably 3 of the most exciting young veteran D in the NHL. I give the edge to Buffalo because of better young depth, but they all seem much the same. Forwards: I know I'm biased, but I feel the Sabres are the only one of the 3 squad to be able to field 4 lines that can score, despite all the additions Stevie Y made. Det has an excellent top of the order in Raymond, Larkin and Bertuzzi. I love their addition of Copp. I see 3 capable lines after the additions. Ott will have a lethal top 6 with Tkachuk, Stutzle, DeBrincat, Norris, Giroux and Batherson, but not much in scoring depth after that. The Sabres on the other hand truly look 4 lines deep if (and this is a big if) Quinn and JJP make an impact. They don't have to score 20+, but getting 10-15 might give us 11 forwards and 2 D who could score in double digits next year. These three teams look very close on paper with Det maybe having the edge of proven talent. However, the Sabres have the most upside. Healthy is going to be one the biggest issues with these teams. The one that stays the healthiest will be the one that challenges for a playoff spot. EDIT: A requested was made to add the CBJ to the conversation. Please see below.

Rochester needs a D man who can also play defense.

Does that mean the Jets won't be fielding a team next year?

Great song

Another puck moving AAAA D man for Rochester to go with Prow, Laaksonen and maybe Pilut and Clague.

Yes. It's also a 2 way contract.

Apparently not.

I like this signing. I think he has a chance to make the club as the 8th D. 6' 190. Has puck moving skill. I was kind of hoping for David Farrance. Upside of this move, if he makes the team, Bjork is probably gone. As to Pilut, who knows what his status.

1st rd picks Wright, Kasper, Slafkovsky, Jiricek, and Mateychuk have all signed today. Can Savoie, Östlund and Kulich's contracts be far behind?

How long until they announce the Okposo 3 year 4aav extension.

Has he ever played well except when on Stl?

Would it be wrong to hope KA might go after Palat?

Out of curiosity, who is left? Kadri, Stralman, Palat, Bergeron, Subban, Kessel, Johnny Hockey. Has either Strome signed? What about Burakovsky or Klingberg?

Williamsville native Andrew Poturalski to the Kraken - 2 year 2 way deal at 762K per season.

Oh well.

What prospects. Wheeler ranked them 30th in Jan.

Many cap casualties to come. It looks like 10 teams still with cap issues.