GASabresIUFAN

Certainly makes it easier to stand up in deeper water. Nice tip by Rasmus

I think Binnington will look just fine is Sabres blue and gold next season.

I’ve been wondering which young D would score first. I think I have my answer. Power is a much more developed O defensemen then Samuelsson or Fitz.

Great awareness by Power on that PK rush.

Power on the PK. Way to drop him in the deep end DG.

I’d love to see all those guys go. All four would be really good additions to the club and I love to see Tuch, Thomspon and Mitts play together.

Feel better. Covid sucks. We needed Samuelsson to knock ROR into next week.

Potential Sabres on team USA? Mittelstadt Thompson Tuch Samuelsson

This is what makes all the handwringing about Portillo’s return to college so useless. Portillo is a Petersen level college goaltender. Their numbers are nearly identical in similar circumstances. Petersen’s stats at ND were 2.20 .927 in 37 games facing 1049 shots as a sophomore. Portillo’s 2.14 .926 were in 42 games facing 1111 shots. Both guys were the backbone of defensively limited teams. Petersen’s junior was nearly identical to his sophomore at 2.22 .926. Petersen has been ok in the NHL with a 2.84 .908 in 90 games. Honestly Ullmark has been and continues to be the better goalie. So could Portillo become a better pro then Petersen? Certainly, but Levi is the better prospect and he seems to want to be here. (Nothing has been written saying Portillo doesn’t want to be here, only that he wants to return to school). Ryan Miller also returned for his junior year after winning the Hobey. As long as we sign Levi, I’m not real concerned about signing Portillo, but I want them both. Competition is a good thing.

Casey yes, Bryson no.

Makes you really wonder what the scouts saw in Nylander to take him above Sergachev and McAvoy.

https://theathletic.com/3248134/2022/04/13/lebrun-with-some-quality-goalies-potentially-available-this-offseason-who-could-be-on-the-move-who-stays/ Lebrun’s Top UFAs - MAF, Kuemper, Husso, and Campbell. Lebrun implies Colorado may not be able to afford to keep him. Team looking for goalies - Edm, Wash, Colo, NJ, Toronto, Buffalo. Tor & Col hinges on whether they keep their current starters Campbell & Kuemper. Trade market - Allen, Murray, Georgiev, Mrazek, Gibson - He’s not sure their will be much of a market for Murray or Mrazek.

The bigger worry is who is available that is an upgrade of Anderson? 28 gp 3.09 .900 Kuemper UFA - 50 gp 2.37 .926 Husso UFA - 36gp 2.37 . 925 Reimer (1yr @ 2.25) - 43gp 2.77 .915 Kahkonen RFA - 31gp 2.91 .911 Ullmark (3yrs 5 mill) - 37 gp 2.59 .912 Campbell UFA - 44gp 2.72 .912 Vanecek RFA - 37gp 2.58 .911 MAF UFA - 50gp 2.90 .910 Varlamov (1 yr 5 mill) - 28 gp 2.86 . 914 Oettinger RFA - 42gp 2.53 . 914 Samsonov RFA - 39gp 2.93 .899 Georgiev RFA - 29gp 3.03 .894 Binnington (5 yr 6mil) 32gp 3.18 .901 DeSmith UFA - 21gp 2.94 .906 Holtby UFA - 24 gp 2.78 . 913 I honestly think Campbell, Kuemper and Oettinger will be re-signed by their current clubs. I would be something to make an offer sheet to Oettinger. I suspect KA has a similar list.

Levi has made it very clear that he has no issue with joining the Sabres after next season. I'm actually not worried about Portillo either. Like Levi, he's really only played one season in college and probably wants another shot at a title. Luke Hughes is also returning to Michigan. Power being a Sabres also probably helps.

Exactly No not nothing, which is why it's unlikely to happen. KA is very committed to building this team and if he and his staff think the prospect is important to the future, I trust they'll get him signed. Johnson hasn't said he is returning and he may just be going home for the summer to weigh his options. However, from an on ice perspective, neither Johnson or Portillo are critical to the franchise's success. 4/6 of the long-term D is already in stone in Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson and Jokiharju. The Sabres have 3 1sts this year and it's likely one or more will be spent on a D. Add Jiricek to this group and I doubt anyone worries much about losing Johnson. Sign Levi who is younger and frankly a better prospect, and Portillo becomes a luxury.

That's been possible for years and years. In Sabres history it's happened once. People here are making a mountain out of a ant hill. Again that's been true for years and years and it's happened exactly once. Levi seems perfectly happy to come here after next season. If Portillo bolts he bolts, although I doubt he bolts as well. To much opportunity here for an up and coming team. I also think people need to stop fretting over this and worry more about who is actually going to man the net as the starter for the next few seasons. I don't think that person is currently in the organization. This is much more critical to the immediate future of this team.

That's only if he doesn't remain a bonafide college student. In theory Portillo could finish next season and then drop out of school and that will change the time line.

A NCAA athlete has 5 years to complete four seasons. COVID added a 6th year. Portillo is only a Sophomore and has 2 years left of eligibility unless he graduates early. If he does, we have until August 15 of the year he graduates to sign him.

2 for Portillo and 3 for Levi. It's 5 seasons from being drafted or when their college eligibility runs out, whichever is first. Portillo is 3 years and 2 college seasons. Levi is 2 years and one college season.

No, not unless they graduate early. A team has 5 years to sign a college track player. If they play USHL for a year after the draft, a NHL team has 4 years in college to hold onto their rights. If they go straight to college it's still 5 years. The player must be signed by August 15th of the 5th year or they become a free agent. The exception is if they graduate early and therefore give up their NCAA eligibility. Then it's August 15th of the year they graduate. As to Levi, he has 3 year of eligibility left and is only in year 2 from being drafted. Portillo was drafted 3 seasons ago and has two seasons of college eligibility left. On the other hand, Johnson will be a senior next season and in theory could bolt as a FA, but even that is rare. More common now then a decade ago but still rare. I'm not sure how the Covid rules affected NCAA hockey eligibility, but at a minimum the Sabres have only one more season to sign Johnson. In theory because of COVID it could actually be two. College kids who bolt from their teams mostly jump because of bad relationships with the team that drafted them (like Butcher with Colorado) or coming into a crowded situation for playing time. Petersen left the Sabres because of both bad communication and Lehner, Ullmark and Johansson already in the rotation. By Dahlin moving to the right side, it really opens up a slot for Johnson. Also we have no LHD prospects in Rochester. Johnson, as far as I know, hasn't said he is returning to college. I hope this helps. PS lets say Johnson returns to college and plays a 4th season with the Gophers. When that season is over, the Sabres still maintain his rights until August 15th. This is the situation Nashville found itself in with Vesey when TM acquired his rights for a 3rd. I honestly don't see the Johnson situation deteriorating to that point. As I mentioned earlier, the Sabres are essentially opening a position for Johnson by moving Dahlin to the right side. (which Dahlin likes playing). Also, unlike TM, KA's Sabres do a very good job of communicating with the players. This is what Levi recently said about the Sabres. “They’re all really good people and good humans, which is kind of what they’re trying to build,” Levi said of the Sabres. “They’re trying to build an organization with good people and good culture. It’s good to hear, because I would like to take part in a team where the culture is unreal. … It sounds like a great place. Everyone is pretty close. All the guys are good teammates and they’re also good players, too. I’m looking forward to hopefully joining their organization.” I doubt Portillo's and Johnson's experience is any different. I'm also sure Power will give Portillo a full rundown of his experience playing for the team.

No not right. Levi was very explicit when he said in a recent interview that he wants to play here after one more year at NE. I haven’t heard anything about Johnson or Portillo not wanting to play for the Sabres. Remember only one drafted college player hasn’t ultimately signed with the Sabres and that was Petersen.

FYI: Housley is the only Sabres D to ever score 20 or more. His Sabres career hi came in 1983-84 when he potted 31 goals as a 19 year old. He scored 20 or more 5 times. https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/team-season-records/buffalo-sabres-defensemen-nhl-season-records.html If Dahlin gets to 50 points it will be the 17th best D scoring season by a Sabres D. 8 of the 16 were had by Housley. This list also points out how effective Van Boxmeer and Bodger were in their primes.

What goal record? His best was 11 in his rookie year. Leopold had 13 the next season. Ultimately one of Power or Dahlin will break 13 goal barrier. I wonder which rookie defender, Samuelsson, Power or Fitz, will be the first to get his first NHL goal.

I basically agree with your line characterization. Our forward group is as effective as it’s been in a decade. Against most teams this would be enough and it has been except at the top level of competition. I exempt Tor because their defense is terrible.

I mentioned DeSmith up thread as well. The most he’s played in an NHL season is 36 games. He is a solid NHL goalie. Around Ullmark level. I’d be ok with him as a bridge for a couple of years but I hope KA can find better.