GASabresIUFAN

Sounds like he’ll remain in Sweden at least another 2 years.

Maybe our GM with acquire a quality RHD to play with him? Maybe? Possibly?

He never had any trade value.

25 pts in 37 SM-Liiga games.

Why is that funny? Raty was 17th on my consensus draft board and he is a center. PP was 40th. Kisakov was 52nd. Raty has 20 pts in his last 23 games in the highest Finnish league. Poltapov has zero pts in 17 KHL games, but is doing very well in their junior league (which is 2 steps down from the KHL).

I still would have taken Raty at 33. I have to say how surprised I am about how well Cole Sillinger is doing for CBJ right out of the USHL (and not even on the USNTDP). Playing at a 30 pt pace as an 18 year old rookie after being the 12th overall pick is pretty amazing.

Thanks you coming. Hope you get well and can continue your career elsewhere.

It's kind of sad that the game basically ended 34 seconds in.

Makes one wonder about all the angst about losing Borgen. All you need is ESPN+.

That’s not good.

Who is Stamkos? The goaltending has a long way to go until it gets to TB’s level.

he gave up 5 on 40 1/13 and then 4 on 8 1/22. The 5 goal game was bookended by two shutouts. He has given up 7 goals on this last 39 shots however. Distracted by Olympic Games speculation?

I honestly have no idea how LV moves $10 from this roster for Martinez and Eichel. All their bigger $ deals have NMC or M-NTCs. except Theodore, who I certain they won't trade. I don't think they are moving on from Stone (NMC) or Patches (M-NTC) as they have been two of their best players when healthy. I can see them as willing (wanting) to move Karlsson (4 more years left at 5.9) and Dadonov (I more year a 5), but both have M-NTC and limited market value at this point. I don't KA is interested in either player.

According to John Vogl, the Sabres have added JJP, R2, Murray, Biro, Laaksonen and Schuldt to the taxi squad. I get the feeling that more injury news is coming. It makes one wonder about the status of Mitts, Quinn and Vinnie. Have there been updates on Butcher and Mitts?

Hasek had bad games occasionally. The Sabres literally have no goaltending under contract next season. Tokarski, Dell, Houser, and Anderson are all UFAs and UPL is an RFA. Levi is definitely getting signed and I wouldn't be surprised if Portillo is as well. The question becomes how does KA layer veterans in with the 3 kids? UPL, once re-signed likely starts in the NHL, then Levi and Portillo compete for the No. 1 spot in Rochester with loser starting in Cinn. Sign Tokarski as the backup in Rochester and hopefully he acquires (trade or UFA) a good vet to split time with UPL in Buffalo.

Sadly we have had a history for holding on to some un-popped kernels to long and trading away some kernels before they have even had a chance to pop. Speaking of kernels traded away to soon, I just noticed that McNabb just signed a 3 year extension with LV. Will this debate grow over time like Draisaitl vs Reinhart?

He shouldn't have to play himself into game shape. DG said he didn't know how much he could play him in his first game back and that he wasn't going to play him in the 2nd game but did. Getting into game shape vs playing at NHL speed are two different things. I think it's pretty clear that he came back to soon, again.

It does prove that great minds think alike. I would like to see the quote and it doesn't surprise me. I think it gives the kids a chance for some perspective and an opportunity to work on deficient areas of their game.

I don't think Zegras is anywhere even close to his ceiling as an NHL playmaker. This kid see the ice amazingly well. He'll be a pt+ a game player when he hits his prime. I do agree that Cozens is still finding his NHL offensive game. Kelser is a great comparison and Dylan is actually ahead of Kesler's growth curve. It took until Kelser's 4th season for him to full blossom offensively. Kelser's first 4 seasons were .28pts/gp, .33, .45 and the .72. Dylan so far is .31 and .51. If Dylan grows into a 60+ point player as early as next year, I'll be thrilled. When I made the OP, my intention wasn't to disparage Cozens. In fact, I love the player and think he's a key piece of the puzzle. However, I think we'd be just as happy with Zegras. The good news is we may have a nearly comparable talent in Krebs.

Honestly shut down any kid until they are 100% ready to go, even if that sidelines them for the season. It's strange but sometimes I think kids benefit from being off the ice or adversity. Mitts and Thompson got sent down and came back better players. Thompson and Quinn missed almost entire seasons recently with injury and came back better players. I think the good kids learn from the adversity. Thompson and Quinn used their rehabs to get stronger and to come back more mature and frankly more driven. I think that also applies to Mitts and Thompson when they were sent down. They simply couldn't rely on their skill level or size to beat opponents. That had to work to get better. They used being sent down as fuel their desire to get better. I believe that Mitts will use this lost season to get stronger this off-season and come back a better player. IMHO management should give him a few weeks to work into game shape (however long he needs) and then and only then bring him back.

Is it bad training staff or a super thin roster devastated by injury and Covid or both? I’m not sure myself, but it does seem like we are rushing guys back, but partly because we have no choice.

Not that I'm surprised, but I think the defense has been better without Butcher and Miller and with Samuelsson and Fitzgerald.

Had we had real goaltending day 1 we’d be a significantly better team. The need for stable goaltending was just as true last season.

While I personally might agree with you, considering I’ve been screaming for 2 years about the lack of good goaltending. We are talking about KA’s “plan” such as it is. KA set the course we are on. He is responsible for the goaltending mess. Had I been GM, I would have had a legit plan B when Ullmark didn’t sign. In fact, I’d have gone after a goalie prior to expansion to have a solid vet in place given Ullmark’s injury history. Also relying on a 40 year old Anderson isn’t smart either. He has played only 7 games this season. 7 of 43. He has played well in those 7, but what are the odds he can play 25 plus down the stretch at the level he has played the 7? Low. At the start of the season I pointed out that only 2 goalies age 40+ have played 40 plus games at a .910 save % or better. Don’t expect him to last even if he isn’t traded. It’s not what I want but what I think KA will do.

Hagg, Vinnie, Anderson and Miller get traded for whatever. Pysyk signs a two year extension. The Sabres play improved hockey, but still are mediocre as the goaltending tandem of UPL/Tokar remains subpar giving up 4 goals most nights. They finish 5th in the division but close the 9 pt gap to Detroit. The also end up with the 8th overall pick again. The big thing about the second half is the exciting offense. VO gets his shot back and the top 9 of Krebs, Quinn, Mitts, Tage, KO, VO, Cozens, Tuch and Skinner scare the crap out of teams, excite the fans, and giving the franchise hopium for next season as they score 3-5 goals per night. TP sells part of the franchise and announces that KA is becoming team President, another job he isn’t qualified for, Karmanos is named GM, a job he is qualified for, and that team and State of NY have agreed to jointly renovate the arena as part of $2 Billion deal that includes the renovations and a new stadium for the Bills in OP.