GASabresIUFAN

There are no sure things. None. Vets get hurt, prospect don't develop and get hurt, coaches change, linemates change etc... I'd have done the Copp deal term and $. As I wrote above, Debrincat would help but not at the money involved. No way I'm paying him $9 mill plus after next season. The goalies I'd have done in a heart beat, but I felt back in May that KA would go the value route.

I went back and looked closer at CBJ's offense and they are actually very deep. They had 10 forwards score in double digits and 2 D score 11 each. They now add Johnny Hockey and his 40 goals. I wouldn't be surprised if the score 270+ this season. They scored 258 last year and the only contributor they lost is Maxi Domi and his 9 goals. Their D last year scored nearly 40 goals as a group. Many of their guys are young and just entering their primes: Laine 24, Werenski 25, Sillinger 19, Texier 22, Roslovic 25, Boqvist 22, Roslovic 25, and Bean 24. Forwards CBJ 1, Buff 2, Det 3 and Ott 4 Defense CBJ 1, Buf 2, Ott 3, Det 4 Goaltending Ott 1, Det 2, Buf 3, CBJ 4

my bad. Makes the deal even worse. I also don't get the Miller deal, but good for him.

I hear Jagr's team in Czechia is looking for players.

Would a better question be "which of these moves would have made the Sabres improved enough to block a prospect or swap for a veteran"? Copp would certainly be an upgrade over Girgensons or Asplund. The length of the deal would be a long-term issue, but he would definitely help the Sabres now. I also would have done the Talbot deal and the Husso deals (trade and contract). I don't trust UPL and it maybe another 3 years before Levi or Portillo are NHL ready, assuming Portillo signs. Obviously Debrincat would help this team, but not enough to spend 6.4 on him this year and be stuck with a minimum Q offer next season of $9 mill. That said he is an amazing goal scorer.

Much of our JAG corps seems to be getting jobs. Tokarski, Dell, Pysyk, Miller and Caggiula have all signed somewhere. Dell to SJ Pysyk to Det - 1 yr 1 way 850K Miller to Dal - 2 yr 1 way 1.85 aav Tokarski to Pitt - 1 yr 1 way 775K Caggiula to Pitt - 1 yr 2 way 750K\ Jonas Johannsson back to Col - 1 yr 2 way 750K ( I never thought he'd last this long to the NHL/AHL Nick Deslauriers - 4 yr 1way 1 mill aav Staal to Fla PTO No word on Hayden, Eakin, Houser or Hagg

Has Kadri signed yet?

Just shows how really good of a player you must be to even make a roster for even a couple of seasons. The kid put up 71 points his final Jr season, represented Canada multiple times as a Jr. Was a 2nd rd draft pick in the NHL but even a guy this talented can't hold onto an NHL roster spot. If I had to guess why, he has never fully embraced the defensive aspects of his position.

Always good to have options. VO pops to 30 (I have him estimated for 25 next season) each of the next two years and people here will want to give him a Skinner type contract. LOL. I'll add another factor. VO blows the doors off and the kids develop, the odds KO returns diminish. KA has a ton of decisions to make the next two seasons. 7 forwards (and Samuelsson) are playing next season with only a year left on their contracts. The following season 3 key forwards (VO, Mitts and Krebs) plus 5/6 of the D come due. The only 4 players contracted beyond 2023/24 are Skinner, Tuch, Quinn and JJP. I can fully understand why KA didn't throw big money at any of the UFAs, but I still would have really liked to add Palat to this group.

I don't think there is any question about that. However I don't see VO being part of the equation 2 years from now given how much talent at forward is coming up the pipeline. A few of Quinn, JJP, Savoie, Kulich, Östlund, Rosen and maybe others are going to make an impact within the next couple of years. My money is on the first 4 names I listed.

I envision Donnie G creating a offense oriented kids line that start 75% to 80% in the Ozone and plays protected minutes. Similar to what Ruff did with Vanek, Roy and Max back in 05/06. That line might start with JJP Krebs and Quinn to get their feet wet. Like the Vanek line, they'll be a huge matchup problem on offense for most 4th lines around the league. I honestly think the only real forward camp battle is going to be Vinnie vs JJP vs Bjork and R2. If JJP shows he's ready, Vinnie becomes the 13th forward and the rest go to Rochester. If JJP is not ready, he goes to the Amerks, Vinnie draws in the 12 forward with Bjork and r2 battling for the 13th forward slot. That said there are an infinity number of lineup combo if DG wants to start from scratch at camp. I have a feeling he likes VO with Mitts together and Skinner, TT and Tuch together. After that he'll slot based on what works in camp. I am in agreement with you that this could be a playoff team if they stay healthy and Comrie gives even Ullmark level goaltending.

I believe that as well, but what interesting is that even if that doesn't happen, adding Power, Quinn, and JJP, plus hopefully full seasons of Mitts, Krebs and Tuch, should propel that offense to greater heights. Here is the math. We return 208 goals from last year's team. In my mind we need to get to 250-260 to be playoff competitive. I think Power, Quinn and JJP are worth 35-40 goals next year. Mitts, Krebs and Tuch scored 25 total in just over half a season each. Would 20 more be unreasonable to ask? Of course some guys like Vinnie, KO and possible Thompson may score a few less, but still we really don't need huge growth from Cozens or even Mitts to make this team's offense better. It looks to me that our better depth could contribute more to our success than personal growth. Get both and it's really going to fun to watch. One other note is time of possession, the more we can tilt the games in our offenses' favor, the less pressure on our suspect goaltending to save the day.

When I look at these 4 teams, honestly, I think the other teams had significantly more work to do this summer than we did. @dudacek did a graphic in another thread showing the change in our roster over last season. Last season opened with Eakin, Caggiula, Bjork, Hayden, Hagg, Butcher, Miller, Pysyk and Tokarski in our lineup. That pile of JAG gave us 391 games last year and a total of 21 goals (plus 50 assists). Tokar did give us 29 games, but allowed 3.27 goals per game. We also used 3 other JAG goalies in 18 other games who were much worse than Tokarski. None of those players, except Bjork (and he is the 14th forward at this point), return. They have been replaced by Tuch, Krebs, Quinn, JJP, Power, Samuelsson, Fitz, Lyubushkin and Comrie. Anderson and Hinostroza both return but likely in diminished roles. Quinn alone will probably replace the JAG corps 21 goals. The Sabres return 208 of the 232 goals scored last season. Now add full seasons of Krebs, Tuch and Mitts, plus talented rookies Power, Quinn and JJP and getting to 250+ goals looks very feasible. If we get to that level, it's going to be a very entertaining season. Getting to the playoffs however will require Comrie stepping up and giving us Ville Husso level goaltending. If he does that, then this team will likely compete for a playoff spot. Ultimately it comes down to goal differential. Playoff teams score more that they allow. Non playoff teams don't. Yes there are some exceptions, but usually not many. For example, in the East last year all 8 playoffs teams had positive differentials and in the West 7 of 8. Dallas was -8. In the West LV and Van had positive differentials and missed the playoffs, but still had 90+ pt seasons.

None of that changes that we gave up 290 goals last year. That number needs to fall to around 240-250 for this team to even think about the playoffs

Chris Drury

I was thinking more about Palat. 4 years @ 6 mill per season to teach this team how to win. It will add another proven scorer and counter the moves by Ott, Det and CBJ. From a roster standpoint you send Bjork and JJP down to start the year knowing he’ll JJP will be the first call up.

I hate to ask this now, but if we aren't in playoff contention at the deadline does KA move VO for a major assets? Honestly, my expectation for next season if Comrie can come through is for this team to be an 87-90 pt team. If that comes true, then no way VO is traded, but if Comrie fails then all bets are off.

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)