GASabresIUFAN

I don't think you have to worry about it. He and JJP will be in Buffalo next fall.

Like I said, Copp would be a fine addition, but in the end we stlll lack that dynamic forward that can carry a team like McDavid or MacKinnon. That doesn't mean we can win. Stl won a Cup with a 4 line forward group whose most dynamic player was ROR. If they can do it so can we. The good news is that I see upper echelon potential in Quinn, JJP and even Mitts, who has another level to his game.

There are 3 players in the second tier in this draft, Kemell, Nemec and Jiricek. If one of those 2 D somehow fall to 7, KA should absolutely move to 7 and grab him if he can.

Copp as an upgrade on at center I ok with, but how does Hornqvist upgrade this roster? Also if you add guys like Hornqvist and Copp who are you removing? Right now we are 10 NHL forwards under contract plus VO (RFA) and 2 stud rookies in Quinn and JJP. That's 13 forwards right there, besides Bjork, whom are you dumping or sending back down? VO? the kids? Asplund? Veteran leaders like Girgensons? If we have learned anything about KA this past season, he isn't moving on from young guys under contract. I also don't think he wants to mess with the chemistry established this past season. Obviously that doesn't leave much room for change, but maybe that isn't a bad thing.

I think the actual trade would be 9 and 41 for 7, 71 and a late pick. If we can get a really top notch D prospect by making that deal, I'd do it in a minute.

I don't think I started this thread previously, but there seems to be considerable debate in other threads about who to bring back and whether the kids (JJP and Quinn) are ready and does R2 still have a chance. A couple of things have "changed already since the end of the season. Asplund became Sweden's best goal scoring thread at the Worlds. R2 and JPP were awesome in the Amerks' playoff run while Quinn disappeared for reasons unknown. Krebs was also very solid for the Amerks in the playoffs. I know it's been mentioned before(including by me), but KA really doesn't have to do really anything to the forward group to field a young and up and coming group. At center: Thompson, Mittelstadt, Cozens and Girgensons are all under contract. At RW: Okposo, Tuch, Quinn (AHL) and JJP (AHL) are under contract. At LW: Skinner, Asplund, Krebs and Bjork are also under contract. The only significant RFAs are winger VO (NHL) and C/LW Routsalaien (AHL), whose inspired playoff might have earned him another shot in Buffalo in the fall. Vinnie Hinostroza in the only UFA of note and I'd like to see him back, but with 14 forwards under contract or control, odds against him returning might be long. There is also chatter here about bringing in a real center to anchor KO's two way line. There is also a legit question about how management views Asplund, who is the Sabres best defensive forward, but may still have more offense to give. Mitts' and Cozens still to prove themselves. The simplest option for KA is to stick with what he has by re-signing R2 and VO and let guys like Bjork and R2 prove in camp there are worthy of an NHL roster spot. Honestly, I have both Quinn and JJP penned into the roster to open next season. The status quo forward group Skinner Thompson Tuch VO Mitts Quinn/JJP Asplund Girgensons KO Krebs Cozens JJP/Quinn R2 Bjork Any interest in VO for Fiala?

I liked what I've seen from our old friend Zadorov. I wouldn't mind bringing him back if he is interested.

I want KA to do what's necessary to secure goaltending and a partner for Power. So those two things, and this team will be on it's way.

https://www.nhl.com/news/ottawa-may-trade-no-7-pick-in-2022-nhl-draft/c-334316764 Would you trade up to 7 if Jirecek or Nemec were available?

I think Flash makes me look like an optimist. I understand Flash's frustration. I've been waiting for the Sabres to win the Cup literally since day 1. I was at the "bat" game, I was at the 1st 2 Soviet games. I remember Perreault breaking his leg and I remember Hull with his skate in the crease. I remember Schultz and Korab fighting it out at center ice. I get it. However for the first time in a very long time, I think this team is ready to be very good. I wrote last offseason that with some goaltending and a few D this team was ready to turn the corner. KA didn't get me what I wanted, but kids turned the corner any way. Now the same prescription will get these kids into the playoff race. I honestly don't think KA has a choice. Get the right pieces and this team has the opportunity to do something similar to the Briere/Drury team coming out of the lockout.

Thx. I needed that laugh.

I agree. However the forwards aren’t the issue. The D and goaltending need to be upgraded. If we bring back the current signed forwards, re-sign VO and maybe Vinny and let JJP, R2 and Quinn compete with Vinny for jobs I think the forward group will be excellent. However, just like this year, that won’t be enough to make the team contend. KA must find a partner for Power and a legit NHL starting goalie. If he has to trade someone and a pick or two to get it done so be it.

I still take Eichel but I don’t acquire ROR, Kane, Bogosian and Lehner.

Quick thoughts. Bob at 33 is a reasonable risk if FLA retains the $4 mill you mentioned. I'm not taking Hornqvist, a 30 pt player, for 5 mill + even for a year. I think Fla could trade Gudas and get some assets. Bob has a complete NMC so I doubt he'd accept a deal to Buffalo.

Is this Asplund's coming out party. Will he be able to carry over the scoring to next season?

While I do a consensus board, I also track the hi and the low of the “ballots” i utilize. That usually gives me a solid range where the player might get drafted. For example take Chaz Lucius. My board had him 11th with a range of 7th to 19th. He went 18th to Wpg. Bolduc went 17th. I had him 26th on my board, but his range was 16th to outside the 1st. Again this is just a tool to help me understand how the draft might go. I actually do the same type of thing when I get ready for fantasy baseball. I search out rankings from a variety of people, do a consensus with a range and utilize both to help me draft. This year i emphasized young pitching and so far so good. The draft analysis of my team was that it was the 2nd worst in our league. After 7 weeks, I lead the league in pitching, and am second in points scored and wins, while having the highest scoring team 3 of the 7 weeks.

Which is why I look at 15 each year and never use the one quoted.

His rankings aren’t the best

While I understand and empathize with your feelings, don't you feel as though we have turned the corner (except in goal)? I agree that continuing to sell the future has worn thin, very thin, but getting Fla's pick is hopefully about sustaining a run of good play. When I look back at the Briere/Drury teams, it's clear that DR failed to maintain the pipeline behind them, and when they left town, there wasn't enough in the pipeline to sustain the team. My hope now is that the Sabres have turned the corner and are ready to contend for the playoff. These picks 2021 and now 2022, hopefully will develop well thereby allowing the team to remain good and cap compliant.

You should. Samuelsson was drafted 32nd., Asplund 33rd, and JJP 34. Jokiharhu went 29th to the Hawks, and St Louis grabbed Thompson at 26. That's 5 important pieces of next year's roster drafted 26-34. I'd say the Fla pick is important, maybe not for next year, but soon there after with a little luck.

Moving on is easy. Rebuilding a winner is hard.

I like it and he better find a friggin goaltender.

I agree. KA's pivot from Ullmark to Anderson/Dell never made sense and still doesn't. Why offer a multi-year deal to your current decent goalie, replace him with garbage and then say you did it to not block prospects. However it's past tense at this point. KA has another bite at this apple. Anderson/UPL won't cut it and as I pointed out up thread he is going to have to pay the same money he would have paid Ullmark for similar years to get the decent goaltending he needs. Oh well. This is an important year to step up. Bos, Pitts, and Washington all have aging cores with big changes coming. Toronto is soul searching and will also probably make changes. A couple of these makeovers could easily blow up, opening up opportunity for the Sabres to move up the standings with the right goaltending.

Tokarski Anderson wasn’t the plan. Dell Anderson was the plan and it failed miserably. While Anderson was injured the team won 8 of 32 games. Had they had real goaltending, these kids may have turned the ship around in the first half of the year instead of March. It probably cost the team NHL 500+ and maybe even playoff contention. How much better off would these kids be if they played meaningful games down the stretch? Obviously there was more to the divot than bad goaltending, such as injuries and to many JAGs, but while Anderson was out the team literally had almost no chance to win games and it nearly lead to another bottom 5 finish. KA doesn’t get a pass for going with crap goaltending just because the kids grew up.

Statistically speaking 4th rd picks have about a 20% chance of playing 100 NHL games. That said, I think this kid has a real chance. Every year a few 4th rd players develop into good NHLers. This kid has good hands and a willingness to go to the net. A skill very much in demand in todays game. He has another year in the CHL to improve his skating and has improved each year. At some point where you were drafted doesn’t matter. The Sabres have now recently signed 3 wingers from the 2021 class with Poltapov and Rosen to go, but Nadeau is the only right shot in the group. These guys will compete and the best will make the team regardless of draft position. I suspect 7th pick Kozak will also get signed soon.