GASabresIUFAN

Tage 6-7 Tuch 6-4 Power 6-6 Samuelsson 6-4 Cozens 6-3 Dahlin 6-3 This isn’t exact Nathan Gerbe and the lollipop guild. The only mini player is Bryson. They also don’t play small. When they are doing what DG wants they are relentless on the forecheck. They are also much improved at covering for the pinching D and using that to cycle in zone. What the are lacking is some physical maturity up front. Krebs, Cozens and others can get pushed off the puck. The skaters in general also tend to pass puck into skates. The poor passing has increased in recent games, but top teams will do that to you. It’s pretty clear that Krebs and Mitts are our most talented playmakers, while Tuch, TNT, and VO have displayed more chops as passers then I expected. What we lack is a truly dynamic all around forward. Maybe Quinn will be that guy. Still, I haven’t seen the fear to attack the net that was prevalent in years past and earlier this seasons. So many guys up front haven’t quite hit their peak. Cozens, Krebs, Asplund, Mitts spring must to mind. Hopefully all will hit the weight room this summer. If you are asking for an identity. I think look no further then the Blues for what this team can become. Rolling 4 effective lines with guys who can score throughout the lineup. Guys who also are willing to back check and support the D. Now if we can just get some Binnington level goaltending.

I think they are just rotating the depth players to get them some PT.

The lineup here is pretty much distilled down to our best 9 forwards and 4/5 of our legit NHL D. Only Samuelsson is missing. Girgensons, Hinostroza, Eakin, Bjork, Hayden, and Caggiula are all expendable forwards. Miller, Butcher, Pysyk and Fitz are also expendable D. None of these 10 players are part of a championship roster other then as a short term injury substitute. I have Z on the list because while the effort is there most nights the results don’t match the effort.

Maybe, he is just weighing his options or wanting to finish up the school year before deciding.

Were just securing the 8th over pick for seemingly the 15 time in recent years. Seriously since 2013: 8 (Risto), 2 (Reinhart), 2 (Eichel), 8 (Nylander), 8 (Mittelstadt), 1 (Dahlin), 7 (Cozens), 8 (Quinn), 1 (Power), 8?

How many grade A chances are the Sabres going to miss?

Nice pinch by Power. He is clearly less nervous and engaged in playing his entire game.

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.