GASabresIUFAN

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.

Your missing the point. KA doesn’t care about winning games this season. He wants to give UPL max playing time in the NHL now that he showed he can play there. The 2nd half of this season is about transition to next year’s roster. Out with guys like Caggiula, Hagg, Anderson, Dell, and Hinostroza. In with UPL, Samuelsson, Krebs, and Quinn. The picks we receive for the guys leaving is secondary to opening roster spots for the kids. The future is now and again winning is secondary to development through NHL PT. All this as to Anderson assumes he remains healthy (a big if) and UPL gets healthy (also a big if). For all any of us know we could have a Tokar/Houser tandem for the 2nd half of the season.

Your perplexed? This season has never been about winning. I call it a tank, others choose not to call it so. KA wants assets and teams need goaltending. Also Anderson is 40, giving him a chance to earn a ring is a kind thing to do for a veteran player not in the team’s long-term plans. That would leave the net to UPL and Tokar, allowing KA to give UPL valuable NHL time to continue his development. Does that help?

We know how Jack felt about things here before his trade, just imagine how Keller feels in AZ.

Want to know why Bjork is a bad NHL hockey player? He thinks a 1 on 4 is a good hockey play.

I do enjoy watching Samuelsson play defense. He and Casey look good together. Granted it is AZ, but Matt always looks like this.

First of all cap space is the least of our issues. We can retain salary and or take a player to make deals work and to enhance the draft pick we receive. Vinnie is going to have a huge market. How many guys will be on the market scoring at a nearly 40 pt pace with a price tag of just a few hundred K left on his deal?

back to the AHL or his unconditional release?

Cozens is developing nicely but Zegras has become a star. We took Cozens at 7 while Zegras slipped to 9th in the 2019. In the 2019 U18's Caufield and Hughes dominated for the US with 17 points each. Krebs lead the Canadians with 10 points, while Cozens (3,5) and Zegras (0,8) had 8 points each. (Note: they also had 9 points each in the 2020 World Jrs - Cozens (2,7) and Zegras (0,9). ) NHL performance - Cozens 80gp 14g 19a 33 pts; This year 39gp 10g 10a 20 points. (42 pt pace) Zegras 64gp 15g 30a 45 pts; This year 40gp 12g 20a 32 points. (66 pt pace) https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/nhl-entry-draft-picks-2019/2019/6/21/18692160/2019-nhl-draft-rankings-consensus-hughes-kakko-bob-mckenzie-athletic-hockey-prospects https://www.tsn.ca/craig-s-list-caufield-scores-his-way-into-top-5-1.1316942 https://www.tsn.ca/americans-set-to-dominate-first-round-of-the-nhl-draft-1.1323878 As a reference EOTP did a draft consensus rankings and had Zegras 5th, Cozens 7th (Krebs 8th). McKenzie in his NHL exec survey had Cozens 6th and Zegras 7th (Krebs 10th). Button (for what it's worth) had Zegras 6th, Krebs 8th and Cozens 14th. The scouting reports prior to the 2019 draft described Zegras as an elite playmaker and Cozens as a mature two way player. Given the Sabres' needs back in 2019, was Dylan the correct draft pick? At that time, Jbot's Sabres had Jack and Sam and had moved on from ROR. Jbot had drafted or acquired Skinner, Thompson, Dahlin and Mitts. I think there are strong arguments that we needed a playmaking center and a two way center. Was this a case of taking the best player available given the depth of talent available in the 2019 draft? Right now I'm siding with taking Cozens. Putting myself in Jbot's shoes, I think he'd have wanted a long-term ROR replacement with Jack as his No. 1 center, Mitts as his No 2. and Cozens manning the 3rd scoring/defensive line. Thoughts?

Portillo is doing great considering how often Michigan leaves him out to dry. He is going to be an excellent pro someday. He needs at least one more year in college.

Because only 2 would accept NHL minimum salaries.

Y'all realize that the Bills only have around 7 mill in cap space for next season? Wait until the following off season when Allen's cap hit jumps to about $40 mill. https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/football/nfl/bills/2022/01/23/buffalo-bills-2022-offseason-starts-schedule-draft-picks-opponents-salary-cap-space/6630899001/ They have 41 players under contract for next year. Hughes, Boettger, Levi Wallace, McKenzie, H Phillips and Siran Neal are UFAs. Bates is a RFA and a priority to re-sign. The Bills apparently want Beasley back even if they can save 6.1 mill by releasing him. We need upgrades at CB and LB, especially if they cut Klein. We need depth at OL. I'm not really worried about WR. I'd cut Beasley and re-sign McKenzie who really grew at the end of the season. Davis, Diggs, and McKenzie is a good place to start at WR. It's going to be a long off-season.

Geez I wonder why?

I hear the GEICO walrus is available.

I can see us easily getting to 8, maybe nine. I'm thinking Anderson gets traded and is replaced by a Subban type player and then Levi gets a game late in the year. Anyone else thinking that UPL is going down the same injury road as Ullmark. He has had serious injuries the last 2 season and had surgery a few years ago. Yes they should have. Considering they were scouting Portillo and Power, Beniers and Johnson, they should have had some notes on the guy dominating in the Michigan net.

All the nightmares about the goaltending have come true. As of tonight ECHL vet Houser is now the starter.

This reminds of the Drury situation. An outsider with real presence joins the organization and changes the dynamic in the lockerroom and on the ice. Honestly our situation really reminds me of that 05-06 team, but without a Miller level goaltender. The Sabres then had some young guys with a few seasons under their belt like Connolly, Campbell, Kalinin, Kotalik, Max, and Tallinder. DR added Drury, Briere and Hecht over the prior 2 seasons. Then Vanek, Miller, Roy and Pommers came up permanently in 2005/6 giving a gelling team the an extra talent boost. I think Tuch is this team's Drury. Skinner the Dumont or Briere. Like that team we have Cozens, Mitts (Connolly), Dahlin (Campbell), Jokiharju (Tallinder), Thompson (Kotalik) as the young guys with a few seasons under their belt but yet to hit their prime. Next season we are going to inject UPL, Quinn, Krebs, Samuelsson and Power at a minimum into this lineup full time. Now KA needs to find a McKee and Lydman to complete the defense. With the right additions, I think the team can compete for the playoffs next year.