GASabresIUFAN

I just checked the rules again. I thought a player was AHL eligible if he turns 20 the following season, but you are correct the cutoff is 12/31. Therefore Kozak is eligible to be signed by two days (12/29) while Nadeau, a Jan B-day, isn't. Stupid. If they have completed 3 years of Juniors, I'd say they gave all they should be required to give.

Samuelsson and Jokiharju kill penalties now. Bryson also chips in, but less so since Samuelsson returned and he got shifted to the right side. Fitz also kills as does Pysyk and Dahlin. DG uses a committee approach and doesn't seem afraid to throw any of the guys out there. (Cbssports.com does a good job of breaking down a players PT on their player game log.) https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/players/3115256/jacob-bryson/game-log/ The hopefully acquired RHD will likely be thrown into the mix as well. I don't see Bryson recent lack of PK time precluding him from playing a top 6 role next, especially when DG trusts him to play 19 to 20 minutes a night even without significant PK or PP time over the last few weeks.

The cupboard in Rochester with good prospects is getting a little bare. Samuelsson and Fitz made the jump in season. Quinn and JJP look ready to make the jump next fall. KA seems set on putting UPL in the NHL as well. R2's plan to go back to Europe empties the cupboard even more. So who is left? Weissback (24 in April), Murrray (24 in July), Biro (24), Rousek (23 in April) and Laaksonen (23 in July). Not exactly the list of top flight prospects. So, who's next? 2018 - the 3 late round D. Honestly I don't see any of them getting signed and if they do, all look stay at home players without any O upside. 2019 - Ryan Johnson, Erik Portillo, Aaron Huglen and Filip Cederqvist. Signing Johnson after the Frozen Four is a necessity. We literally have no prospect LHD depth at the AHL level. Huglen and Cederqvist (14g, 32p pts in 49 SHL games) made huge strides this season. Huglen will almost certainly return to Minn as one of their top forwards next season. I hope Cederqvist makes the jump. Portillo, with Levi returning to college is almost certainly going to be signed to man the Amerks net. 2020 - Matteo Costantini, Albert Lyckasen, Jakub Konecny. Like Huglen, Matteo made a huge jump this season at UND. I suspect he'll also return for another college season. I don't see either of the 7th rounders getting a contract. 2021 - Power is making the Jump to the NHL. I don't know Rosen's contract status but he looks like he needs at least another season in Sweden. Who knows about the status of the 3 Russians. Will KA try to get them out? Sardarian is off to college next year. Bloom is also likely to return to the OHL. That leaves two guys who I think could conceivably be signed this offseason. Olivier Nadeau is already 19 and has completed 3 CHL seasons. I think he is eligible to move to the AHL. He has blossom with 31g 40a for 71 points in only 56 games ytd. Like Nadeau, 7th rd pick, Tyson Kozak (19) has also blossomed in his 3rd CHL season with 31 g 36a for 67 pts in 62 WHL games. Neither guys needs to be signed, but given the lack of depth in Rochester I can see KA signing both. Bottom line: New Amerks 2019: Johnson, Portillo and hopefully Cederqvist. EDIT: Portillo also returning to college, Johnson’s decision still unknown. 2020: no one 2021: Nadeau and Kozak. EDIT: Kozak is eligible to sign because of his Dec 29th Bday. Nadeau is ineligible to be signed. (Dumb rule)! Looks like KA should sign a couple college UFAs.

I'm going to agree with @nfreeman here. Bryson has earned a job in the top 6 here next season. He has played well on the right side with Dahlin and Samuelsson and his ability to move back to the left side in case of injury is a great luxury. I'd also like to see him get a shot at QB'ing the 2nd power play.

No you read his post correctly. I think he misread that KO had two years left since when you look at capfriendly it shows this year's contract and next. I started this thread because I think KO deserves the C for next season, but I don't think the Sabres just want him to play out his contract. I think it would be a great show of faith in his leadership and continued skill if they give him an extension and the C at the same time. I did say I'm in the wait and see camp, but I also understand that KO and KA may want to make that statement this summer. I believe that KO is among the most popular Sabres with the fans and it would be great for the franchise both PR and in the lockerroom to get this done quickly.

Thus the reason for this thread.

Good for Devon. Enjoy college and have another great season. Now hopefully Portillo wins the National Championship signs with the Sabres to be Rochester's starter and we'll have our three goalie prospect staggered nicely and developed properly. Now Kevyn, do your job and go get the team a real proven NHL goalie for the Sabres.

Take out special teams and what are the numbers for the D? Where do you get find these stats?

The team is -55 for the season. Isn’t everyone negative? How much of that is on the goaltending? How much is the D? How have they been in hte last 20 games?

I really want to draft Salomonsson with the Fla pick for no other reason then to hear the announcers trying to say Samuelsson to Salomonsson 20 times a night. Seriously Mattias Samuelsson to Elias Salomonsson. It's almost to good to be true. (.... and he is a really solid looking prospect who would fit into our program).

Why? Miller stayed in school another year after winning the Hobey Baker. It didn't harm him any and I suspect it won't hurt Portillo or Levi. If both guys stay in school, then will get a very clear picture about where UPL is at and then we can send him down if (when ?) he proves not to be ready. That said, I'd almost rather sign Portillo. He is a year older and I don't mind staggering the two goaltender a little.

The new 4th center is going to come from outside the organization. I've suggested Lars Eller, but there are others. We need to spend 15-18 mill just to get to the cap floor. Getting a good 4th center; someone who can score, win a draw but also play up in the lineup, is going to be part of KA's spending this off-season. Despite playing well of late, there are questions surrounding all of our current centers. For example, is Mitts going to stay healthy and reach his potential. What is Cozens upside? Can TNT repeat this year's success or was this a career year. Without any good prospect centers in the organization near NHL ready, we are going to have to have NHL depth that can play important roles when called upon.

And we drafted Ric Seiling instead of him.

How much would it cost to add Stephan Gilmore to the roster and can Beane work some magic to get it done?

Not surprised if true, but a little disappointed. With the additions of Krebs, Tuch, and the growth of JJP and Quinn, not much room in Buffalo any longer for a player of his skillset. Still with injuries comes opportunity and he is very close to being an NHL player. Not sure why you’d give up so quickly. A job in the Swiss league will always be there.

I am surprised that he is the only Sabre on team in Buffalo year round. Maybe I shouldn’t be given the youth on the team. While I like your concept, I wonder if they make him Captain will he want a longer tenure to see this thing through?

So you think he only has one year of tread left on his tires?

Why do you think this? Nothing in KO’s past suggests he’d consider retirement even after major head injuries.

That is certainly the hope, but it may not be the reality of next season, especially if KA installs the Tandem of UPL and Anderson in net. Don’t forget that if the Sabres are in contention and KO remains a vital piece of the team, it becomes very likely that KA signs him to an extension. KA won’t want the leader of the rebuilt culture to walk. However if the Sabres next year fall out of contention, then KA and KO will do what’s best for the franchise and trade KO to a contender. Nothing precludes KO from returning to the Sabres that off-season if he and KA want him back. The odds of a Sabres out of contention and letting KO walk for nothing if healthy are about zero.

Correct! In addition, Pysyk is the 6th best D on this team now and Z is best utilized on the wing. Pysyk becomes the 7th D once Power signs. We need to invest in a good 2 way center someone who can score, kill penalties, can win important draws and play up in case of injury. Z’s highest and best use is as a energy forward who can add some depth scoring.

You don’t think KA would trade KO to a contender for a chance to win a Cup? If KO wants the opportunity KA will certainly oblige.

I’ve added another option to the Poll. I’ve added letting him walk when his contract ends. If he stays healthy I sincerely doubt KA let’s him walk for nothing. However if he gets hurt, which is a distinct possibility then it could come to pass.

?

KO has one season left on his deal. He will be 34 next year and has become the leader of this young improving team. He has also made Buffalo his home. DG is using him primarily in a 2 way role, often taking on the opponent’s top line. He has also deployed him as a scoring winger and on the 2nd PP. The Sabres have been rewarded this season with 18g 23a in 64 games. These are nearly identical number KO posted his 1st season in Buffalo. (65 gp 19g, 26a for 45 pts). The biggest difference is KO’s 5 on 5 playmaking is significantly higher now with 17a 5 on 5 vs 10 in year 1. Considering his injury history with the Sabres, he has stayed healthy this season and proven his game is still intact. My question therefore is taking into account his injury history, age, current production, role on the ice and in the lockerroom should KA extend his contract this summer, should he wait until closer to the end of next season or is it time to move on when his contract expires? If you want to re-sign him, what term and $ would you sign him to? Truthfully, I never thought we’d get to this point. I liked the signing at the time, but thought it was to long. I have always liked KO the player and have really grown to like KO the person. However the concussions lead me to question whether or not KO should retire and that history is still in the back of my mind when I asked the above question. Gudas’ questionable hit on KO yesterday had me holding my breath. Right now I’m in the wait and see camp, but I don’t think I’d object if KA extended KO’s contract this summer. My guess is he makes KO the team Captain and extends him for at least 3 years. If extended I’d approach it like this. A 1 year deal for $6 mill. Once he turns 35, I’d extend him again for 2 more years @ $3 mill. I’d also include a handshake deal that a job awaits him in the organization upon retirement.