GASabresIUFAN

All 3 teams finished within 2 points of each other last season. (Buf 75, Det 74 and Ott 73) Sabres scored the most goals of the 3 at 232, followed by Det 230 and Ott at 227 Ott had the least goals against with 266, Buffalo was second at 290 and Det the worst at 312. Buffalo adds Power, Quinn, JJP, Lyubushkin and Comrie to an already young team, plus full seasons of Tuch and Krebs. Stevie Y is going for it. He has added Husso, Maatta, Chariot, Copp, Kubalik, and Perron. I can even see Kasper possibly earning a spot in camp. Ott is also going for it adding Giroux, DeBrincat and Talbot. So who is the better team on paper heading into next season? Which team has the most potential to make the playoffs next season? Goaltending: IMHO Ottawa has the edge with the tandem of Talbot and Forsberg. Forsberg was great for them last year. I also have more confidence in the tandem of Husso and Nedeljkovic over our pair of Comrie/Anderson. Defense: This is a very hard question. Seider/Hronek are the top 2 in Detroit. Chabot/Sanderson in Ott and Dahlin/Power in Buffalo. Seider, Dahlin and Chabot are probably 3 of the most exciting young veteran D in the NHL. I give the edge to Buffalo because of better young depth, but they all seem much the same. Forwards: I know I'm biased, but I feel the Sabres are the only one of the 3 squad to be able to field 4 lines that can score, despite all the additions Stevie Y made. Det has an excellent top of the order in Raymond, Larkin and Bertuzzi. I love their addition of Copp. I see 3 capable lines after the additions. Ott will have a lethal top 6 with Tkachuk, Stutzle, DeBrincat, Norris, Giroux and Batherson, but not much in scoring depth after that. The Sabres on the other hand truly look 4 lines deep if (and this is a big if) Quinn and JJP make an impact. They don't have to score 20+, but getting 10-15 might give us 11 forwards and 2 D who could score in double digits next year. These three teams look very close on paper with Det maybe having the edge of proven talent. However, the Sabres have the most upside. Healthy is going to be one the biggest issues with these teams. The one that stays the healthiest will be the one that challenges for a playoff spot. EDIT: A requested was made to add the CBJ to the conversation. Please see below.

Rochester needs a D man who can also play defense.

Does that mean the Jets won't be fielding a team next year?

Great song

Another puck moving AAAA D man for Rochester to go with Prow, Laaksonen and maybe Pilut and Clague.

Yes. It's also a 2 way contract.

Apparently not.

I like this signing. I think he has a chance to make the club as the 8th D. 6' 190. Has puck moving skill. I was kind of hoping for David Farrance. Upside of this move, if he makes the team, Bjork is probably gone. As to Pilut, who knows what his status.

1st rd picks Wright, Kasper, Slafkovsky, Jiricek, and Mateychuk have all signed today. Can Savoie, Östlund and Kulich's contracts be far behind?

How long until they announce the Okposo 3 year 4aav extension.

Has he ever played well except when on Stl?

Would it be wrong to hope KA might go after Palat?

Out of curiosity, who is left? Kadri, Stralman, Palat, Bergeron, Subban, Kessel, Johnny Hockey. Has either Strome signed? What about Burakovsky or Klingberg?

Williamsville native Andrew Poturalski to the Kraken - 2 year 2 way deal at 762K per season.

Oh well.

What prospects. Wheeler ranked them 30th in Jan.

Many cap casualties to come. It looks like 10 teams still with cap issues.

Major difference. Hutton was playing behind a wall in StL and was already 32.

And they are allergic to actually playing defense in Toronto; ask all their ex-goalies.

Wow. TB with 3 8 years deal on Cirelli, Sergachev and Cernak totaling $159 million. Talk about committment.

I’ve wanted him gone since he got here. I’d love for him to be beaten out by any of Murray, Biro, R2 or Malone. I’d love for KA to get an 8th D and waive Bjork.

Yes

I wrote this back on May 2 in the offseason goaltending thread. However props to @Norcal for saying KA should acquire Comrie at the trade deadline.

That should make @LGR4GM happy.

Possibly, but Fitz is making this team. He adds a hard charging attitude this team needs. Right now we have 4 LHDs and 3 RHD, but Dahlin is playing on the right. Almost seems more likely that he get a defensively responsible LHD for depth or gives Pilut a chance to make the roster.