GASabresIUFAN

@matter2003 No question goaltending is the greatest need. While UPL was decent during his time here, he has some serious flaws in his game that Marty Biron has pointed out on occasion. Frankly, I’d wipe the slate clean. I don’t trust UPL at all, nor do I want Anderson or Tokarski back in the NHL. The biggest problem facing KA this off-season is who is a proven upgrade on Anderson & Co. who is willing to come here. Most of the available players have flaws or allegedly don’t want to come here. For example DeSmith has never played more then 36 NHL games in a season; Holtby hasn’t started to 2 years and not sure if his rebound in performance is sustainable; MAF is old, expensive, and probably won’t come here etc… Husso, Kuemper, and Campbell are probably the top 3 UFA starters and all 3 play for contenders. I honestly can’t see Colo (Kuemper) and Tor (Campbell) letting their starters walk. Husso is the most obvious player to invest in at 27 except this was only his second season in the NHL and his numbers were drastically improved year over year. Stl is committed to Binnington via a longterm deal with a NTC, thus Husso should be available. Sadly I just don’t see KA taking that risk.

I'd love to add Vinny. He is making 6.25 this season (cap hit only 4.75). Do you think he's even on KA's radar ? Are the Sabres on his? How much would it cost to get him? Personally, I think the Canes will re-sign him, but I'd love for KA to at least kick the tires.

Something Marty Biron has talked about on numerous occasions. If he doesn't fix that, he'll never survive in the NHL.

I hate a 3 headed goalie monster. What happens when/if DeSmith and UPL outplay the 41 year old Anderson? I'd hate to put the classy veteran in that position. Hopefully Anderson will save KA from himself and either retire or take a job with a team in Florida. https://sabrenoise.com/2022/03/23/buffalo-sabres-craig-anderson-continue-playing-career/ My only real issue with signing DeSmith is that he has never been a starter in the NHL. The most he's played is 36 games in a season. His age is perfect to be here 2-4 years and be part of the equation. He comes from a winning organization is familiar with our management and they with him. His career NHL numbers are good with 92 games a 2.69 and .914. This year he is a little under those numbers. I like Holtby better because he has starter experience but has also won a Vezina, Jennings and a Cup. He is also only 32 and like DeSMith is young enough to be here for 2-4 years as our kids mature. I love that he's having a nice bounce back year. I also think he'd come to Buffalo to be part of an emerging team and to be a starter again. The biggest issue here is is this rebound sustainable.

While I don't think Tage's coming out party is a fluke, this does smell like a career year. I do think he is a better player then Karlsson. When I see a shooting % of 15% for a guy who has never come close to that number I see a regression of the horizon. Take our friend Jack for example. Jack is a career 10.5% shooter. This season in LV he is at 10.4%. In his 36 goal campaign he shot 15.9% That's the only season he has ever been over 10.4% I'd wait and see next season if Tage can build on his accomplishments this season before entering a long-term deal.

I did find it interesting the Buff News story discussed bringing Subban back at the veteran in Rochester. I have nothing against this idea. I would still like for KA to sign a young UFA for Rochester like SJS just did with Strauss Mann.

Link? EDIT: Found the story. https://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/amerks-arttu-ruotsalainen-sees-future-with-sabres-hasnt-signed-in-europe/ Interesting! I had him high on my prospect list to start the season. I like the kid and his game, but I don't see him as a 2-way center. I would love to see him make it.

R2 is heading to Switzerland next season and is no longer part of the equation. Asplund would be an upgrade except in the faceoff circle and that he looks more comfortable on the wing. Copp would be a great pick up, but I suspect he'll want a long-term deal as this is his opportunity to get a big contract. Boyle at 37 is probably not in KA's sights. He has played decently for a good Pit team. I still like the idea of acquiring Eller from Washington. He plays on both special teams is a 30+ point guy, has some size, but is just ok in the faceoff circle. I also like Adam Henrique from Ana. Can still score and is good in the faceoff circle.

MAF is certainly on the list. Holtby is only 32 and could be here long enough to let one of the kids become a starter

Let me rephrase. Who is available, adds veteran leadership, plays a solid two way game and can win the majority of their face offs?

Who is available who is an upgrade over Eakin?

https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/inside-the-sabres-questions-in-goal-loom-large-with-prospects-going-back-to-school/article_b2da8cc2-be58-11ec-b96b-bbf8502aa148.html No real surprises. I do wonder if Holtby will be KA’s target of choice.

@elijah I’d say the biggest obstacle to KA going out and bring big $ UFAs in is that that’s not his stated plan. I also believe there may be budget constraints on the actual $ he can spend on the roster. That isn’t to say he won’t spend some money this summer. He only has 42 million currently committed to 15 players next season without Quinn, VO and JJP. That’s plenty of money to spend $ on goaltending, veteran D help and another forward or two. As to Quinn and JJP, Quinn is certainly making this team next fall. He’d be in the NHL right now if it wasn’t to the Sabres advantage to let his contract slide again. JJP could return to Rochester, but 19 year olds who score a pt/g in the A rarely return the following season.

So where do we net gain 40 goals from next season. We are losing about 34 goals from guys who likely won’t be here next season (Bjork, Caggilua, Miller, Butcher etc…. Including Hinostroza). That means the returnees plus any additions will need to score an additional 70-75 goals for us to make the playoffs. Starting with the kids, i can see 30 goals coming Quinn (20) and JJP (10). The rest from full season and improvement. Full seasons from Tuch and Mitts should add about 22 goals from their production this season. I can also see Krebs scoring 15 next year, up from this year’s 7 YTD. Power should add at least 5 goals. Cozens hopefully continues to improves and moves from his current 13 to 20. To guess Quinn’s totals I used Vanek’s 1st NHL season as a proxy, although Quinn has been much more dominate. For JJP I used Roy’s first season in 2002/3 (he was also 20) as a proxy realizing the JJP should exceed those numbers if he plays 70+ games.

Despite having two 30 goal scorers, 2 more 20 goal scorers and 8 total forwards with 10 or more goals, the Sabres’ 216 goals (2.77 gf/gp) is significantly below the league’s 3.09 gf/gp average. We aren’t even close to the elite teams. Florida has 317 goals already (in 75 games). Most playoff caliber teams have at least 250-260 gf at this points. Like defense we need to find at least another 40 goals. The good news is since 3/1 we have scored 75 goals in the last 24 games (3.13). In theory KA could take a pretty easy route to build his forward group next year. Assuming JJP and Quinn make the team and he re-signs RFA Olofsson, the Sabres will have 13 forwards under contract for about 37 mill. Lines might look something like this Skinner Tnt Tuch VO Mitts Quinn Z Asplund KO Krebs Cozens JJP (Bjork) I don’t see this as a typical 1-4 line designation. I see the 2-4th lines getting nearly the same PT as each other with PT given based on who is going well. Balance PT with balanced production. Seems simple, bring up the kids, but otherwise keep the status quo and let the development of the kids increase the GF to a playoff level. I’m not sure that’s the right strategy any longer. I think guys like Vinnie and even Eakin made a positive impact of the roster on the off the ice (ok Eakin’s was more off the ice until paired with Z and KO). We also need to replace UFA Eakin’s contributions in the faceoff circle and PK. I also don’t think Bjork has a place on this roster going forward. After find goaltending and a veteran RHD, I believe KA 3rd priority should be upgrading Eakin with a 2 way center to center Z and KO. I’m willing to include Asplund to help make a trade. I’d also like to keep Vinnie as additional depth especially if we jettison Bjork and or trade Asplund. Others have discussed making a bigger splash and possibly moving on from Mitts, or Vo or even Cozens. I don’t think KA is willing to be that aggressive at this point. Mitts is on a 50 point pace since 3/1 and VO has 13g, 20 pts in his last 24 games (68 pt pace) since his wrist got healthy. Mitts and Cozens are also on team friendly contracts. Finding the right center for KO and Z should be interesting. Don’t forget, KA needs to spend at least 11 mill on the goalie, RHD and center to get us to the cap floor.

Any year's they sign him for with be UFA year except the first. After this 60+ point season and 30+ goals, I think 6.5 is the starting point based on other contracts around the league. Reinhart's finally 3 seasons in Buffalo were 65 pts, 50 (in 69 games or a 60 pt pace) and 40 pts with 25 goals (in 54 games (also a 60+ pt pace). He signed with Florida for 3 years @ 6.5.

His new contract won’t start until 23/24 season. It’s no help getting to next year’s cap.

1) How much? 2) How long? 3) Sign him this summer or wait another season? Has two years until unrestricted free agency, and one year left on his contract. He also has arbitration rights.

Eakin’s contract is up.

Mitts isn’t being traded.

Watching NHL Now and they are interviewing Jordan Samuels-Thomas who is now an NHL ref. First Kea now Samuels-Thomas .

I don't think this is to outlandish. There are 2 real possible places this happens. 1) Okposo line center. The Sabres need a better Cody Eakin and Asplund or Girgensons could become the odd man out because of it. I can easily see a deal of Asplund for a medium $ middle six center. 2) Depth on defense. Bryson is a nice utility D who I believe KA would prefer to keep, however he himself he wants another veteran RHD in this lineup. Like the Asplund deal, Bryson for a top 4 veteran RHD. From a Sabres standpoint neither player is irreplaceable and have deficiencies in their games that puts them down on the depth chart. However other teams would love to have them because of the reasonable skill level and cheap contracts.

The last one is Kalinin.

That won’t get us to the cap floor. We need to upgrade Eakin, Pysyk and the goaltending. I don’t think Fitz or Pysyk are good enough to be in our top 6 next season, except as injury replacements. I also think we need a center for KO’s line. One who can do what Eakin does, but adds significantly more offense and who can play up when necessary. Asplund and Girgensons aren’t those guys. They are better suited on the wing, and neither is stellar in the faceoff circle. Z is a career 45% and Asplund 42. Eakin has won nearly 57% of 860 draws this season. Z and Asplund have only taken 300 draws total.

Yep. We have pulled the goalie 30 times and have given up goals 17 times. While becoming a better team will eliminate the need to pull the goalie so often, even good teams give up 10 or so a year. Here is where improved D and G come in. The Sabres YTD have allowed 275 goals on 2596 shots with a save % of .894. Pitiful! The league average is only a .902 save %. If our goalies could save shots at just the league average it would shave 21 goals from our goals against. Get our shot suppression to the league average even with the current goaltending it also shaves 21 goals from our goals against. Do both, aka just get to the league average in shots allowed and save %, and we decrease our goals against per game from 3.53 to 2.99. At a 3 gaa per game we might have even been in playoff contention most of the year. KA job this summer is to get real goaltending for this team.