GASabresIUFAN

and if Thompson back tracks this season to 50 pts? How is Skinner's huge deal working out? Did we get our money's worth out of Risto's extension? What about deals like Mark Stones or William Karlsson's? These long-term big money deals rarely work out. I'm not signing any current Sabre for more than 5-6 years. I think TB will come to regret all 3 of the 8 years extension they just gave out.

I don't disagree, but I doubt KA does. I think in his mind he has committed to Bryson, Jokiharju and JJP this season.

I’m just curious who people want to vote off the island. I’m also curious which cap casualties would actually upgrade the Sabres?

So lets assume for arguments sake that somebody good shakes loose from a team making a bigger deal and or trying to get to the cap ceiling. Which player in the Sabres lineup do you want to dump to add that player? On defense Power, Dahlin, Samuelsson and newly signed Lyubushkin are written in stone. Are you dumping Bryson or Jokiharju? At forward, are you replacing the team's best defensive forward (Asplund) or the most physical forward to accommodate an acquisition? Or do you think one of the rookies needs to be sent down? Other that these 4 guys I don't think anyone else is vulnerable.

Please re-read the bolded. Obviously, Levi is our top G prospect, but I was only comparing each teams’ respective draft picks.

I wonder if Bryon also goes by the name Eklund, who recently posted that Johan Larsson is a 50 pt player. He also has Minn No. 1. Lets compare just using recent draft picks Top D Power (no 1 2021) vs Lambos (26th in 2021) - huge edge Buffalo Top G Leinonen (no. 41 -2022) vs Wallstedt (no 20 - 2021) - huge edge Minn Top RW Quinn (no. 8 2020) vs Yurov (No. 24 2022) - Edge Buffalo Top LW JJP (no. 34 2020) vs Ohgren (No. 19 2022) - Edge Buffalo but close Top C Savoie (No. 9 2022) vs Rossi (No. 9 2020) - Edge Buffalo as Rossi is struggling with transition to the NHL So relatively similar except Power’s huge edge on D, but Levi balances the scale in goal and when you add 3 additional 1st rd forwards for Buffalo in Rosen, Östlund (who helped Ohgren score his goals) and the under drafted Kulich, the scales tip heavily in the Sabres favor.

It really depends on how management feels. They have 3 choices with him, the Q, back to Europe or the AHL. It may come down to how he does at camp. JJP almost made the Sabres in camp and had a great year in the A at 19 in similar circumstances. The biggest difference is size. They are about the same height but JJP has about 20 lbs on Kulich. If management thinks he’s ready for the physical grind that is the AHL, he’ll be in Rochester. If the want him in NA but don’t think he’s ready for the AHL than he goes to the Q. Otherwise back to Europe like Östlund. KA has no plans to rush any of these guys. He doesn’t really need any of them until 2024-25 at the earliest. I did look at Nadeau’s Q team and they were a good mix of ages but of their top 22 players in games played 15 were 18 or older including 7 19 year olds and 3 over agers. Kulich just turned 18. While agree he’d probably dominate the league, it’s wouldn’t be the worst thing for him to learn the NA game in a place he can have success. Savoie is also returning and if doesn’t make the Sabres in a year, he’ll have to return again.

Good question. I imagine something like 5g 25a and playing 22-23 minutes a night as Dahlin’s wingman.

He didn’t draft them because of a need in the NHL. Savoie is likely a winger in the NHL, Östlund is going back to Sweden for at least 2 more years, and Kulich is likely to play in the Q next season. KA isn’t going to rush any of them. We did need centers in our pipeline, but he was pretty clear they stuck to their board. Whether organizational need was a factor in how they ranked the players we’ll never know for sure, but filling needs for centers and goaltending in the first 4 picks hints that it might have factored in.

I do as well but the organization has to consider it. I will say this, they seem pretty confident about getting their Russian over here. I hope for their sake that it works out for the players and the team. Sadly, I don't share his confidence. I'd feel better if Kisakov is in camp for the Sabres come fall.

FYI: The Sabres are as high on Kozak as I am. This is from Peca after Development Camp as quoted by Lance Lysowski Now add that Kozak will be signed sooner or later after playing one more season in the CHL. Poltapov may never player here. All the talent in the world is meaningless from a Sabres point of view if the guy never comes to NA. Lets hope that Novikov, Poltapov, Kisakov and Neuchev all come to NA after next season and infuse Rochester with even more talent. Can you imagine an Amerks team in 2023-24 with Rosen, Kulich, Kisakov, Poltapov, Neuchev, Cederqvist, Huglen, Bloom, Nadeau and Kozak?

I'm sorry to post something by Eklund, but I just had to laugh. See bolded comment Johan Larsson To the Penguins? I respect Johan. He played his heart out for the Sabres. However to put it kindly the guy will never sniff 50 pts in a season even with Pittsburgh. The guy scored 132 pts in 488 NHL games, with a career high of 18 pts. Maybe he was thinking about Erod returning to the Pens. LMAO.

We liked 167 Raw Oyster Bar, Millers All Day and Hank's. Loved the ice cream at Off Track. Had a great Kayak tour with Kayak Charleston (Kayakcharleston.net).

It's going to happen, but I don't think Vinnie is the guy to do it.

I was in Charleston a few weeks ago. We had a great time.

When I did the poll for the Breakout Thread it was really cool being able to include so many players on the roster. Outside of Anderson, Okposo, Girgensons, Lyubushkin, Bjork, Skinner, Hinostroza, Fitz, and Thompson (who broke out last year), I felt a legit case could be made for everyone else on the roster even Bryson and Jokiharju. I still think Dahlin is only scratching the surface and could easily become a 70 pt player. I also think Krebs, Cozens, and Mitts all have another gear or two. The poll helped me truly understand why KA is preaching patience.

To those who voted for Power, what does a breakout look like? 25 pts playing 22 minutes a night? More points? More minutes? For a point of reference here our the rookie years of some other highly drafted D who Power somewhat reminds me of. Dahlin score 9 goals and added 35 assists playing 21 minutes a night as a rookie Hedman average 23 pts and 21-22 minutes for his first 3 seasons. Ekblad scored 12 goals and added 27 assists playing 22 minutes in his rookie year? (He also had 15g w 21a in year 2). PS How do we define a breakout by a rookie forward as well? For guys like JJP and Quinn would it be putting up Zegras type numbers or would 40 or so points be a great 1st year?

I get it. I want to win now as well. I've been yelling about fixing the goaltending for 3 years. In fact, I believe this team would have been in playoff contention last season had KA simply re-signed Ullmark or went out an actually got a real goaltender. Just think with a 40 year old retired goaltender who put up a 3.12 gaa the team went 17-12-2 or a 95 pt clip. Now imagine how things would have gone with real goaltending. I also wanted a top flight upgrade for Pysyk instead of a Toronto cast-off and as much as I like Comrie's potential, I'd much rather have a proven starting goaltender. KA's handling of the goaltending as the Sabres GM is malpractice. I fully believe that had TM keep our picks and prospects we'd already be a playoff team. Instead he rushed the rebuild and bam we are still wondering the desert. Outside the goaltending, I'm onboard with most of KA's development program. I think our forwards are a really good group ready to take the next step and if they do you'll see KA invest in the group as he replaces Girgensons and probably KO after this season. I also like 4/6 of the young D and see a bright future there as well. I also disagree about simply adding vets. Good franchises integrate the kids as the are ready. KA is right to give them a shot, but has insurance in Hinostroza and arguably Bjork if they fail. I would have sent Bjork packing, and I think if he has to play more than a couple of games here and there KA will look elsewhere for help.

It was a reasonable thought. He played at Michigan so the Sabres had probably scouted him, he played well in the SHL, the Olympics and WC and the Sabres were desperate for any live body to play goal. SJ signed him instead.

I thought KA would go a slightly different direction for the Amerks next season. With only one actual Sabres prospect (Laaksonnen) on the Amerks roster, I thought he might sign a few college UFAs. Instead he brought back Prow, Eliot and Tischke and then added Clague and Davies. All but Prow qualify as developmental players with under 260 pro games. Prow has 320 games under his belt, which is the cut off for the developmental exception player with 260 to 320 pro games. FYI ECHL games don’t count, but Euro games in the KHL, Liiga, SHL, DEL, Czech and Swiss top leagues do count.

Would it by cynical for me to think that KA brought in the big goalie from Minn-Duluth as Portillo insurance? I thought the kid, who apparently is coming back from an injury, looked really solid at the camp. I would ‘t be surprised if they signed him after next season, especially if Portillo bolts.

I added Dahlin and Tuch, because I think there is yet another level possible in their games. I saw what JT Miller and Kadri accomplished last season even though they were established and productive veterans, yet they managed to find an even higher level in the right situation. I feel Dahlin is developing kind of like Hedman who had a breakout at 23 (55pts) another at 26 (72 pts) and one more last year at 31 (85 pts).

I doubt Tnt was on anyone's radar as breakout player. Tons of choices this year. We have a plethora of promising rookies, maturing high draft picks, and even a FA goalie trying to establish himself as a bonafide NHL starter. The rookies are of course Power, JJP and Quinn. The maturing young high draft picks are Mitts, Cozens, Krebs and Dahlin. Of course Comrie in net is a first time starter. Others may include developing role players like Samuelsson and Asplund who's play demands more icetime. Even established guys like Tuch and Olofsson may hit new career heights in DG's system. My choice for breakout player is Rasmus Asplund of all people. In his first full NHL season he quietly put together a solid offensive season while becoming the team's best defensive forward. He showed some playmaking ability and the ability to score when the opportunity arose. His minutes have grown with each season. He even received Selke votes. If deployed with Mitts fulltime, I can easily see a jump from 8g 19a to something like 13-15g and 25 or so assists. He'll also be our top penalty killer. Interestingly, because he often played with Mitts, his Ozone starters we 54% last season, which was a complete reversal from the genius RK who used consistently 60%+ in the D zone. My second choice is Mitts if he can stay healthy.

Although not a perfect measure, Z was 5th last year in draws taken. (Obviously Eakin was first).