GASabresIUFAN

Hey Power is signing, do the rest really matter?

Especially if he uses a smelly equipment bag.

That would be a very large suitcase. Probably should use a rolling duffel bag instead.

And there was much rejoicing.

and void the Petersen Problem. Essential once we draft college kids we need to recruit them to the Sabres. PS Is it a surprise that the TM Sabres failed to reasonably communicate with their players and prospects?

I wouldn't give up on Laaksonen yet. Fitzgerald was a 3rd rd pick in 2016 and finally made the Sabres this year. Oskari is a 3rd rd pick for 2017 and is in only his 2nd year of NA pro hockey. Given our lack of depth on the right side, he could easily get a shot next season. He is still physically maturing and is now 6'2" 185. According the Amerks coaching staff he is making strides on defense. https://pickinsplinters.com/2022/01/12/laaksonen-assists-on-4-goals-in-amerks-win-but-his-defensive-gains-are-more-important/

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.