GASabresIUFAN

…and there was much rejoicing.

I generally agree. As I pointed out in the Krebs thread, we have 12 forwards entering camp drafted in the top 34 with 5 drafted in the top 10. VO is the only player drafted outside of that group guaranteed a starting job. We haven't had this much legit forward talent in 2 decades. The only issue with the talent is a lack of experience. While there won't be many camp battles to actually make the roster as I think the top 14 are set (with Bjork now the odd man out), the battle for PT is going to be fierce. Outside of Girgensons, (Vinnie and Sheahan), you can make a very reasonable argument that the other 11 forwards could earn a top 6 job. This will the first season since 2005/6 and 6/7 that we will have 4 lines that can score at any time and we could have 11 forwards score 10+ this season.

I don't have an issue with that other than I believe DG's long-term goal is to make Cozens our top 2 way center in the mold of what ROR was supposed to be. Briere is a reasonable aspiration for Krebs, although I don't think Krebs is as gifted as a scorer. DG does like position-less hockey. He does like giving his players freedom to create.

I couldn't disagree more. The only way Sheahan starts the season in the top 12 is injury. I think JPP and Quinn are ready. KA is adamant about giving the kids an opportunity to play and develop. None are sitting in favor of a JAG vet. With JJP and Quinn ready, who are you pushing out of the lineup to play Sheahan? Krebs? Girgensons? Asplund? Asplund isn't sitting. He is our best defensive forward and is improving offensively. Girgensons is a 50% faceoff guy just like Sheahan, is decent defensively, a team leader and our most physical forward. Krebs was one of the key pieces from the Eichel trade and one of most skilled playmakers. Sorry, I just don't see any of these guys sitting in favor of Sheahan.

He played 48 games for the Sabres last season and blew hot and cold. In those 48 games he only had points in 17 of them, but in those 17 games he scored 7g and 15 assists. A step forward would be scoring more consistently. A playmaker as gifted as Krebs should be adding helpers more often than once every 3 games. That said 22 points in 48 games is verging on a 40 point pace as a rookie. The 7 goals were also a nice surprise. The biggest roadblock for next season is where does he play and with whom? He is arguably the team's 4th best center right now behind TnT, Mitts and Cozens. He is also at best the 3rd LW behind Skinner and VO, but could also be behind Asplund and JJP depending on how camp shakes out. I honestly think his highest and best use is as the 3rd scoring line center. It might be fun to create a line of him centering snipers like VO and Quinn. Do that and use matchups at home and he could easily put up 50 assists. On the other hand, leave him at LW in a depth role with the 11 minutes he was often used last season and if we get 40 points we'll be lucky. The Sabres haven't had in 2 decades the overall depth in skill they have right now. Other than Girgensons, Vinnie. Bjork and Sheahan, you can make a reasonable argument for the other 11 forwards to play in the top 9 or even the top 6. Krebs is in a dog fight for PT with rookies Quinn, and JPP, developing young vets in Asplund, Mitts and Cozens. Those 6 are competing with our top 5 scorers and vets in TnT, Tuch, Skinner, VO and KO. This is going to be one hell of a camp. Why is there so much overall talent? of the 15 forwards legitimately competing for NHL spots this season, 12 were drafted in the first 34 picks. 10 in the actual 1st rd including 5 top 10 picks although no one picked better than 7th overall (Cozens, KO and Skinner). Mitts and Quinn were 8th overall picks. The only guy drafted outside the top 34 who is guaranteed a roster spot in former 7th rd pick VO.

Signing Sheahan doesn't waste the season, but yes he is a another JAG. Hopefully he's now the team's 14th forward. We could do worse for a 14th forward. Honestly with Malone (2 NHL games), Murray (21) and Biro (1) as our depth with at least some NHL experience in Rochester, it's not a huge surprise this move was made. Riley's 635 NHL games has value. Yep. This is the bigger bright spot of the signing for me.

Sheahan is kinda of a JAG. He is a step down from even Vinnie. On the plus side, I do remember him being reasonably solid defensively. He is also a little highly pricey for KA, maybe 950K is the new 750K.

@dudacek, you sort of got your center, sort of. If this means Bjork is sent packing I’m all for it, but if this guy is in the top 12 to start the season barring an injury, then I’ll be disappointed.

I can’t decide if he is McCabe 2.0 or will develop into something more.

No better way to gain experience than playing. As we have learned from DG's shift of TnT to center, he has a pretty good handle on who should be playing center and who shouldn't. I've come to trust DG's judgement in that regard. I also doubt Stastny would come here without a nearly guaranteed spot in the starting 12. KA has made it pretty clear that slow and steady wins the rebuild. He is going to give Mitts, Cozens and Krebs every chance to prove they are NHL centers before seeking outside help. Could this organization use more veteran depth at center? Certainly. Would I like to see Bjork kicked to the curb and replaced by a center willing to take on a depth role to stay in the NHL. Sure. Do I think it will happen. Doubtful. As to Rochester, I agree their isn't enough depth there, but I think the plan is to see where Rosen and Kulich are before making a move there. I believe KA wants Rosen in Rochester and will give him a shot at center. I also believe management wants to see if Kulich is Rochester ready and if he is, then they'll give him a center job as well. Ultimately your Rochester centers could be Malone, Rosen, Kulich and Pekar with Biro moved back to his natural LW slot.

I'm hoping for 45 games with Ullmark level play. The other 37 will go to Anderson 25, UPL 10 and Subban 2. Sadly the goaltending in the other 37 will be sub par.

Hutchinson hasn't come through in the NHL recently, but his first 3 seasons in WPG were decent to excellent and the one season Comrie and he shared the net in the AHL, Hutchinson was the much better goalie. Looking at what Hutchinson has devolved to today, isn't what the brass saw in WPG while both he, Comrie and Hellebuyck came through the system.

It was back at the end of the season.

Last I looked the current lineup has 6 players with center experience in the NHL - TnT, Mitts, Cozens, Krebs, Girgensons and Asplund. 4 of those guys will be lining up at center. Where is this unknown center playing? Where is my math wrong? Also Malone's play last year earned him the role filled by Jankowski last year.

Comrie ran into the buzz saw developmentally behind two better prospects in Hellebuyck and Hutchinson. What’s UPL’s excuse.

That’s fair. It’s one of the reasons I’m not 100% on the KA train. I agree with you that this team with a few adjustments could be competing for the playoffs next season. I would have dumped Girgensons for a decent proven center. I would brought in 2 good D. I also would have signed Comrie and another proven goalie instead of Anderson. Sadly that is the road KA decided to travel.

Comrie has always been better. Comrie’s worst AHL season was his first with a 3.12 gaa. He has never had a save% in the A below .900. UPL has never had an AHL season below 3.15 or better than .900. I would be great if UPL could somehow turn the corner, but after hearing Biron discuss UPL’s short comings I have kind of lost faith in him ever taking that next step.

Eakin has already been replaced. Girgensons or Asplund or Cozens step into that role opening up a wing slot for Quinn or JJP. Eakin played that many games because he was the 2nd best JAG on the team after Vinnie and the teams starting 4th line center. Guys like Jankowski, Hayden, Caggiula and Bjork also spent most of the season in the lineup. Now Vinnie and Bjork are at best the teams 13th and 14th forwards and the rest are gone. The top 12 forwards are TNT, Mitts, Cozens, Tuch, Skinner, KO, Krebs, Asplund, Girgensons, JJP, Quinn and VO. Again who are you sitting for the unknown C? I said in the off-season thread that I’d move on from Girgensons and replace him with a legit 3/4 center to take the pressure off Cozens and Krebs some, but that isn’t the road that KA chose this summer. Instead KA chose to stick with his kids and locker room leadership. I don’t see that changing. I also think management likes what Malone brings and envisions him as the emergency center. PS I’d be thrilled if they dumped Bjork asap That isn’t KA’s philosophy at this point. This is developmental year 2.0.

What journeyman? If you are getting a new center the goal is for them to play in the top 12. That means someone like Asplund or Girgensons isn’t playing.

As I’ve asked before when we discuss adding another forward, who are you sending down or out?

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/sports/sabres/thompson-isnt-satisfied-with-good-2021-22-season-wants-more This article is about Thompson, but the early paragraphs about Granato makes it even more clear that we somehow found the right man to coach this team. Still not 100% on the KA train, but DG, I'm all in.

I hear they are going to hire Ralph Krueger to fix the program and motivate the kids.

We have had long discussions on Savoie and Kulich, but Östlund seems to have fallen through the cracks a little bit. He reminds me of Krebs 2.0 and that is not a bad thing. We have goal scorers, but outside of Krebs and maybe Mitts, we really don't have many pure playmakers to get our scorers like Quinn, VO and TNT the puck. Anyway, NHL.com has a nice write up on Östlund. https://www.nhl.com/news/noah-Östlund-evolving-with-buffalo-sabres-keeps-improving/c-335144848

https://billswire.usatoday.com/2022/08/03/vin-scully-call-called-buffalo-bills-win-los-angeles-rams/ Scully calling a Bills OT win over the Rams.

He also called golf and football. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/03/vin-scully-dodgers-broadcaster.html