GASabresIUFAN

I am right there with you brother. I'm not a Leslie Frazier fan. The refusal to adjust to running offense got us plowed numerous games and ultimately cost us home field in this playoffs. I hope he gets a nice NC job elsewhere. Things just don't work like that. The core of this team is excellent and Allen is going to be here for the next decade plus. They need a few upgrades on defense. Need to play 3 linebackers to stop the run and they'll be fine.

You know Vinnie is getting traded?

.... and then depression set in. Was it so wrong to want a 3rd championship?

We don't need Laaksonen to be a top pairing guy. We have Power and Dahlin to be our top two pairing puck moving anchors. Hopefully Jokiharju continues to develop into the role of stay at home D partner to either Power or Dahlin long-term. Honestly I envision Oskari as a puck moving partner to Samuelsson and PP QB on the 2nd PP unit, that is if Samuelsson does ultimately move to the right side. To say Fitz isn't reliable NHL D is just a little premature. Lets give him 10 NHL games before we label him as such. I honestly never though he'd ever play a minute in the NHL, but his work ethic and development has gotten him this far. I don't think it's to far fetched to imagine he'll continue to improve even at 24 and possibly become a solid 3rd line defender. I think your real concern is that Jokiharju isn't good enough to remain paired with Dahlin long-term. It's a reasonable fear and if it comes to pass then there really isn't a RHD prospect in the system worthy of that role. In theory you could this as your grouping without trades or UFA signings in a year or two. Dahlin Jokiharju Power Samuelsson Johnson Laaksonen Bryson Fitzgerald

Do you mean the guy drafted with one of the draft picks TM sent back to LA in the terrible McNabb trade? On a serious note, I think the issue of even balance between RHD and LHD is overrated. Most NHL teams aren't balanced. The Avs and Bruins, for example, only have 2 RHDs on their roster. Many teams have at least one LHD who is comfortable playing RD. Sergachev on TB and Orlov on Wash are just a couple of examples. I can see Dahlin and Samuelsson with that kind of ability. For us, Jokiharju is cemented on the roster. I think Laaksonen will eventually play in the NHL, maybe as soon as late this season. Despite comments above, according to Amerk's HC Seth Appert, Oskari's D is coming along and is their current focus. It's improved enough that Appert is now playing him 5 on 5 late in the third protecting leads. https://pickinsplinters.com/2022/01/12/laaksonen-assists-on-4-goals-in-amerks-win-but-his-defensive-gains-are-more-important/ Appert said: Don't forget Fitzgerald is a solid defender who has finally earned a callup. I have argued for two off-seasons that we need one or two veteran RHD, mostly as mentors for the kids while providing better in zone defense. I have zero problem with getting a guy like Orlov who can play both side. I also have no problem with moving Johnson for added RHD depth in the organization, although I think he also could comfortably move to the right side. I think Dahlin, Power and Samuelsson are the core LHD going forward. I also would not surprised if we grab at least one D, hopefully a RHD, in the first round this coming draft.

Quinn is just resting for a few so KA can showcase some of the JAGs on the roster ahead of the trade deadline.

The point of the comparison isn’t a shot at Jack, but a sign that we got a quality return for him that is making an immediate positive impact.

Don’t forget Finkle is Einhorn.

Also Berglund was kind enough to skip town allowing us to void his deal and save $12 mill.

I think of Krebs as more of a Nik Backstrom light.

Agreed, also Thompson has turned into a really good player and Johnson has a chance to be solid as well. They were the “prizes” from the ROR trade. Berglund and Sobatka were cap balance and roster filler. I was about to post an Eichel to Tuch comparison when I saw your and Brawndo’s posts. Eichel gave us 2 g and 18 points in 21 games last year. Tuch so far; 3g 7a for 10 pts in only 9 games.

Why do you doubt he’ll be traded? He is on cheap expiring contract, is having a good year, playoff teams need scoring depth and I doubt he has a place in next year’s lineup with all the kids likely getting jobs. Vogl in the Athletic has him, along with Miller and Hagg as our mostly likely trade pieces to bring good value.

I am going to assume the Amerks remain in the playoffs and that Hinostroza and Miller are traded at the deadline. I'm also going to assume the guys stay mostly healthy and I recognize that that's a big if. Olofsson Mitts Tuch Asplund Cozens Okposo Skinner Thompson Quinn Girgensons Jankowski Murray Dahlin Jokiharju Samuelsson Pysyk Bryson Hagg Anderson UPL I'd trade Caggilua, Butcher, Eakin, Hayden and Bjork if teams are interested and if not, put them on the Taxi squad in case of Covid or Injuries. Bryson and Murray are probably on the bench until Hinostroza and Miller are traded. IMHO Quinn and Samuelsson and even Murray have proven they have nothing left to prove in the A and we therefore should be getting them NHL PT. They can always go down for the playoffs. UPL was a close call, but ultimately we need to find out if his good play here was an aberration or the start of something good. The only way to determine that is by playing him. The top 3 forward line, I think could be mix and match depending on who DG like together. I created a semi-D conscious 2nd line, and think the combo of Mitts, Tuch and Olofsson could generate a ton of offense.

I agree. That was one amazing pass. On the NHL network highlight shows, they talk about Quinn excellent shot, but not one mention of the sick pass.

Welcome to the club

it does seem like the team doesn't go a single game without someone getting hurt.

If it wasn’t for bad luck the Sabres would have no luck at all. I’ve changed my mind KA, move all AHL eligible players to Rochester just to protect them from the Sabres injury curse.

Dahlin is the only truly dynamic player on this team. What Krueger did to this team and these players in unforgivable. He should never be allowed near another hockey team at any level ever.

Hard to win with guys like this on your roster.

That's one of the reasons they are down on my chart. I think Rosen won't be here until 2023-24 and the Russians until 2024-25.

Here is how I'd rank the prospects right now from 1-33. To me the biggest surprises are Novikov, Biro, Cederqvist, Murray and of course Levi. Biggest disappointments R2, Rosen, Poltapov and Kisakov. I thought all 4 would take a big step forward, but I haven't seen it yet. I have Levi lower then others not because I don't love what he has done this season, but because I consider how long it takes until someone gets to the NHL as well as their upside and everyone I rated ahead of him are NHL regulars now or will be soon. Goaltenders and their develop is especially hard to predict. Still Levi has been arguably with Power the best two players in the NCAA. 1 Power - 24 pts in 22 NCAA Games and completely dominating the competition. 2 Quinn - Dominate in the AHL (35 pts in 24 games). Looked solid in NHL debut. 3 Cozens - Cozens is improving in the NHL, not sure where his pts ceiling is yet. 50, 60 or 70? 4 Krebs - Solid AHL numbers and has shown flashes in the NHL. Still needs work before ready. 5 JJP - 26 pts in 27 AHL games. Made NHL debut, but still work to be done on his two way game. 6 Samuelsson - Put up good O numbers in the AHL (16 pts in 20 games). Came up and played solidly. No surprise. Will O game develop in the NHL only question. Should be an NHL regular now. (I'm really tempted to move Matt ahead of JJP and Krebs). 7 UPL- Shaky start to the season in the A, but then got on a roll and continue solid play in 9 NHL games. Now injured. 8 Levi - Absolutely dominating the NCAA in net. 9 Shutouts. 1.31 gaa and .955 save %. Cal Petersen never looked this good. AHL next year? 9 Johnson - Solid all around D play in 3rd NCAA season. AHL likely next year, but could also compete for an NHL job next year. Think a better McCabe. 10 R2 - 18 NHL games didn't go as hoped, not sure if he's not good enough or bad linemates. Jury is still out. Should get another shot after the deadline. 11 Portillo - Michigan NCAA anchor in net. Solid play with a 2.31 and .921. Probably needs another year in college before turning pro. 12 Rosen - 4 pts in 27 SHL games and since returned to Jrs, 6 pts in 5 SWE Jr games 13 Poltapov - 0 pts in 17 KHL games and since returned to Jrs, 9 pts in 7 MHL games 14 Kisakov - 0 pts in 4 KHL games and since returned to Jrs, 31 pts in 32 MHL games w 15 goals. 15 Bryson - Now an NHL regular, but it looks like he may lose out to the LHD coming like Samuelsson, Johnson and Power 16 Murray - 6 pts in 18 NHL games. Phyiscal presence who can contribute up the lineup. Should be a depth NHL piece going forward. 17 Laaksonen - Excellent O creator from the blueline, D game still needs work, but improving. I can him making an NHL debut sooner then later. 18 Novikov - 18 year old D don't often hold their own in the KHL. Novikov has, but has since been sent down after the World Jrs. 19 Nadeau - Leading scorer w 45 pts in 30 games for the Shawingan in the Q. 20 Bloom - Scoring slowed after a big start, but solid at 15g 29pts in 31 OHL games 21 Fitzgerald - Finally made his NHL debut and played solidly. Should get another shot given our need for RHD and stay at home defensemen. 22 Weissbach - 23 year doing ok in rookie pro season with 13 points in 24 games in a middle six role 23 Biro - Huge improvement for this 23 year old. 21 points in 26 games as a middle six playmaker. Would like to see him get a callup soon. 24 Kozak - 34 pts in 35 games in the tough WHL. Big step forward in D+1 season 25 Cederqvist - 16 pts in 27 SHL games. I can now see him getting a shot at the AHL next season 26 Costantini Former Jr Sabres, playing well for UND with 10 pts in 16 games as an NCAA rookie2 27 Konecny - Czech World Jr team member doing Ok in senior Czech league with 7 pts in 28 games 28 Lyckasen - Swedish RHD getting regular PT in mid level SWE1 league. 12 pts in 32 games. 29 Rousek - Injury has kept this physical scorer from helping the Amerks this season 30 Von Barnekow - Dominate in Swe Jr (27 pts in 19 games) but zero pts in the SHL or Swe1 leagues 31 Huglen - Getting pretty regular PT for Minn Gophers with 4 pts in 20 games 32 Sardarian - 12 pts in 22 USHL games 33 Marjala - only 14 pts in 30 Q games, down from 27 in 30 last year

it is terrible. If we were paying him the market value of $5 mill and he produces a 40 pts season no big deal, but if you are paying someone $8 you need to get 20 goals and 60 assists to justify the contract. Why do we all rag on Skinner? It's because he isn't producing close to even half value on his contract (although he is on a 30 goal pace this season without RK). Also the stats don't reflect your performance argument. Hall had 6 pts (of his 19 total) in his first 3 games and then only 13 (1 goal) pts in the next 34 with 3 coming in his last 7. Sorry friend, but after the first 3 games he was down right awful. That's a 31 pt pace for the season after the first 3 games, but a 35 pt pace in the last 7 games before the trade.

Signing Hall I don't think in any way prevented a Reinhart extension. Samson was under contract for the last season with Hall or without him. Had they signed Sam to an extension it would have kicked in this season. It's more likely that when the team starting going further down hill TP/KP told KA to scrap the thing and Reinhart told management to trade him. No extension was on the table from the Sabres and no extension was requested from Reinhart. To bad. I agree with @dudacek that it would have been great to have Samson back this season to be the top line center and allow the kids to grow in secondary roles. I also agree that the deal we got for him for have been on the table ( or even a better one) come the deadline. Honestly the dealing of Reinhart this summer instead of a bridge deal for the season to me looks more and more as evidence of a mandate to save $ and a decision to not put the best possible product on the ice, but I digress. Also 17 assists in 37 games for a top line player is not a good assist total., especially when you consider a 71% O zone start percentage. With 19 points total in 37 games, Hall was on pace for a 41 pt season. Mitts, VO and especially Reinhart all out pointed him in both actual and in p/gp for significantly less $. Hall was a waste. Also the $8 mill contract when the market price was $5 mill is what facilitated the deal. Hall's camp asked for the NMC and KA stupidly gave it to him. He would have signed the deal with a limited NTC or possibly none at all to get the money. Also we had better offers at the deadline according to news reports for the NYI and Caps.

@dudacek giving KA a “pass” on the Hall fiasco is funny my friend. To put it simply he overpaid to get Hall. Gave him a NMC which destroyed his trade value. He played a position that was already deep with Skinner and VO and therefore didn’t fix any roster holes. His addition sent Skinner to RK purgatory. He was terrible on the ice with 2 goals in 37 games. The trade garnered for us a late 2nd rd pick (Kisakov), who may not reach NA for 2-3 more years, plus we gave up a serviceable 4th line center in Lazar (something we still need)for an awful depth forward in Bjork who we are stuck with because he had a 3 year deal. That is the ultimate fail for any GM at both ends for the transaction. Getting 2 goals for an $8 investment is a fail. Getting only a 2nd rd pick for a former recent MVP is a fail and being stuck with 2.5 years of Bjork makes it worse.

Good news on Mitts, to bad he’ll be skating alone when he gets back if this injury trend continues.