GASabresIUFAN

Re-signed Bryson - 2 years @ 1.85 cap hit per year. Drafted 11 players including 3 centers in the first rd - Savoie 9th, Östlund 16th and Kulich 28th. Made Q Offers to VO, R2, Murray and UPL. Trying to re-sign Lawrence Pilut. Waiting on KHL release.

I’d add Toronto and Mon to the mix. It’s nice that the Sabres aren’t on that list anymore.

I thought about that, but I think Joki is the better player. That would also put 4 LHD in our top 4. Not necessarily a negative, but not a positive either.

Serious question. If you were Johnson would you sign with the Sabres? I’m not sure I would. Looking at our depth chart of LHD 1) Dahlin (RD/LD) 2) Power 3) Samuelsson 4) Bryson (RD/LD) It’s possible he will probably beat Bryson out for the 3rd LHD job, but that’s most likely the ceiling in Buffalo unless the Sabres decide to play Power and Dahlin together. I think he’ll have better opportunities elsewhere. I’d really like to see KA trade him for a RHD in a similar circumstance.

Kevin Weekes said we are looking at trading for Allen. I’d rather have Comrie, but Allen isn’t the worst idea. Also here is some info from KA’s discussion with Hamilton. Nothing Earth shattering but worth a read. https://www.wgrz.com/article/sports/nhl/sabres/nhl-insider-paul-hamilton-buffalo-sabres-free-agency-no-big-contracts-hockey-sports/71-1feeac43-efe0-47e2-90f4-da92c0a3735f

Me too.

Kevin Weekes said the Sabres have an interest in trading for Jake Allen. https://www.nhltraderumors.me/2022/07/nhl-rumors-2-teams-with-interest-in.html

It’s early still on 2017 and 18, but here goes 2016 - C-. On the plus side TM found 3 depth NHLers in Hagel, Asplund and Fitz, and 1 AAAA player in Murray. Sadly, the late round steal in Hagel wasn’t even offered a contract although his play to that point didn’t warrant one. TM’s failure in the Nylander (84 NHL games so far) pick set the franchise back and the pick was only salvaged by Jbot dumping him for Jokiharju. The rest of the draft stunk. Jbot also used Pu to help get Skinner. Asplund is the only player from this draft that may have a long term future as a Sabre. 2017 - B-. Mitts is a solid NHLer and still has a chance to be a star. Getting a starting D in the 4th round (Bryson) is a steal. UPL and Laaksonen are still developing with UPL still having a chance to earn the Sabres starting job. Missing on Davidsson hurts and Weissback looks like a good AHLer. Grade could still increase if UPL and/or Laaksonen become Sabres and/or Mitts becomes a star. 2018 - A-. Dahlin and Samuelsson are homeruns and our No. 1 D pair, but the rest our busts. I guess Pekar still has an outside chance. The top 2 picks deserve an A+, but not getting anything but a depth AHLer lowers the grade some.

Should be a really fun camp. I will be very interesting to see how the guys fare against the NHL guys like Krebs, Samuelsson, Power, JJP and Quinn, as well the very experienced prospects like Johnson and Weissbach. I'm really curious how Rosen compares to Savoie, Östlund and Kulich and to see Lindgren. I have a feeling he'll be one of good camp surprises.

yes. That said, I was listening to NHL Network radio today and heard an interesting comment on the goaltenders in this draft. They said COVID basically hurt the developing goalies more than any other position because they need game reps to learn their craft. Skaters can work on their skill set individually, but goalies need to see pucks in game conditions. He said that the goalies in this draft will probably need an extra development year but ultimately will be fine. While this gave me a little more hope for this pick, it also reinforced that we took the goalie way to early. As to the 3 centers, given our lack of depth at that position in the prospect pool, I have zero problem with the 3 picks. Also Savoie and Kulich also have experience on the wing. What makes their selection so interesting is that each guy brings something a little different to the party. Savoie is hi IQ, speed and a lethal shot. Östlund is another Krebs type player which we need although I think as he gets more mature his shot will improve. Kulich is a little bit of everything. He shoots extremely well, skates well and passes well but not quite at the elite levels of Savoie (shooting) or Östlund (playmaking). In addition he is better defensively than his 1st rd counterparts. Kulich is my favorite of the 3 picks. Long-term, I believe Savoie will grow into a scoring middle six winger, a better version of VO. Östlund and Krebs will battle it out for top playmaking center while Kulich will hopefully become a home grown ROR.

If he doesn't get a decent goaltender the heat will be on high. He has run out of excuses in that area. The only reason I'm on the Comrie train is that he is one of the few goalies available with any upside. In theory Samsonov has some as well, but KA already committed to Anderson.

and at 23, he might be good depth in the system especially if Johnson boogies.

Don't forget Pilut is back in the mix. I also wonder if a couple of youngish vets looking for a new home like Jacob Larsson and David Farrance might be good depth for Rochester and emergency recalls?

I'm so looking forward to the implosion in Toronto. Leafs fans it's not the goalie. It your terrible defense.

Signing Campbell

I am shocked by some of the names not tendered a Q offer. Kubel, Kase, both Stromes, Evgeny Svechnikov, Milano, Steel, Jacob Larsson, Heinen, Kubalik, LaFontaine, Samsonov, many others. There are some really good players on this list, although most are goaltenders and depth forwards. I don't see really any value D. Larsson might be a nice addition in Rochester. @LGR4GM favorite Rochester kid, David Farrance, might also be a solid addition in Rochester.

..and Pi is an optimist.

Jokiharju is right handed.

Not really. Dahlin and Joki are the top RD Samuelsson Dahlin Power Jokiharju Bryson Rutta

A students teacher and B students work for C students.

Sounds like a perfect KA acquisition.

Sean Connery - Goldfinger and From Russia with Love are the best two, but I’d watch the first 4 in order Roger Moore - Live and Let Die is the best, but The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only are worth watching Timothy Dalton - License to Kill Pierce Brosnan - GoldenEye is his best, but I also like Tomorrow Never Dies Daniel Craig - Casino Royale. I also like Skyfall and Spectre.

Here is Lance’s plan https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/sabres-gm-for-the-day-plotting-a-course-for-a-tricky-offseason/article_9fca37ba-ff97-11ec-8140-0f3e18cdc487.html It includes re-signing VO, Vinnie and Hayden upfront. Possibly bringing back Larson or Lazar as the 4th center. On the back end he wants to make a run at Ethan Bear. If not look at Rutta, Stretcher or Lyubushkin In goal look at Reiner/Hill, Brossoit or Comrie. Thinks trading for Reimer is the best option. Wants Domingue with UPL in Rochester.

That wouldn’t be a complete surprise, but all three picks do at least one thing really well. Karlsson and Berndtsson are goal scorers and apparently Linus is a gifted stickhandler.

Needs heading into Wednesday’s free agent signing period. 1) Starting goaltender - Available UFAs - Kuemper, Campbell. Others - Comrie, Jones, Rittich, Greiss 2) Top 4/6 RHD - Available UFAs - Klingberg, Manson. Others Rutta, Stralman, Gudbranson, Subban 3) Depth D - such as Pysyk 4) 3rd or 4th line center - Copp? KA’s likely approach; in a word cautious. Avoid long-term deals if possible and preserve as many current assets as possible. Weaponize our cap space to get quality assets cheap from trade. The team is still about 12.5 under the cap floor with only VO’s new contract as a major internal expense. Given KA’s approach, we can scratch all the big $ UFAs off the list. I also think Stralman, Gudbranson and Subban sign value deals with contenders to try to win a Cup like Bogo did. If he goes with FAs, I think the best result would be Comrie (3 years @ $ 2.25 per season) and Rutta (3 years at $3.5 per season). Maybe he surprises with a one year big $ deal for Stralman such as 1 year $6 mill deal. I think the trade market is the most likely place KA shops to get the players he needs. The bold approach would be to make an offer sheet for Oettinger and acquire Marino from Pitt. The value approach might be getting Petry and Allen from Montreal for a 2nd and Portillo with salary retention on Petry’s deal. The cheap approach would be getting Reimer or Hill from SJ or even Talbot from Minn or Allen from Mon and then settling for a return of Pysyk on defense.