GASabresIUFAN

I went and looked at the box score. Interesting how balanced all the play was. It looks like DG so far doesn’t have a No .1 line or a top D pair. Should be interesting to see if this balance remains over the rest of the season. Anyone see how Mitts got hurt?

I just got to watch the 9 minute highlight reel. Impressive. Great leadership from the vets Okposo, Anderson and Big 7. From the highlights it looks like we were the better team from the opening faceoff, plus we got some great and timely saves from Anderson. Gives one hope.

The large turnover here reflects that management couldn’t find a combination that worked, but even successful rebuilds have high turnover as the kids replace vets. Every team goes through some turnover every year do to cap and other considerations. Obviously the hope now is guys like Quinn, JJP and Samuelsson push out the JAGs by next season to help establish a new core and create a stable competitive franchise soon. If we assume that Mitts, Cozens, Asplund, R2, Jokiharju, Dahlin and possibly Thompson are pieces of the future, then add Power, JJP, Quinn and Samuelson to the mix next season, I think we have the potential start of a deep team. The defense looks very promising and we’ll have to wait and see if the young forwards can build on last season. One thing we know for sure is that with 10 UFAs on the current roster more turnover is coming.

I feel better now.

I didn't want to be accused of being doom and gloom all the time.

I have sided mostly with the Sabres in this matter. Having a renowned Dr on the Sabres side certainly helps. However if 4-5 teams are willing to assume the risk of the $ and the surgery, it’s probably time to take the best deal and get this drama over with. Make sure you get 4 pieces to save face even if 2 are contingent and move on

How long until we see Rousseau line up as a goal line TE? He played WR in high school and his hands look pretty good on that interception. At 6-6 266 he'd make a huge target for Allen. He ran a 4.68 at his team pro day before the draft. (Knox ran a 4.59 at his pro day).

How is showing the turnover in this roster over the last three years "hate?" I have stated many times that I like DG and wanted him hired. I also like many players on this team. I think you are forgetting that I was one of a few voices preaching patience with Mitts. I also wanted Hinostroza signed. I also like R2, Asplund, Jokiharju, Dahlin, Cozens, and am hopeful on Hagg. I also really like Samuelsson, JJP, and want a greater opportunity for Weissbach, Murray and Bryson. How is that hate? In fact, I was pleading in camp last season for this team to stop adding JAGs like Eakin, Reider and Sheahan and to go with the kids. Wanting bad players like Eakin, Hayden, Dell gone isn't hate, it's logic. I also don't hate KA. I just think he is in way over his head as an NHL GM because he has no experience or training for the job. I think the results speak for themselves. Also I did dislike the hire of RK as the coach and I was proven correct. I said at the time we needed a teacher, not a motivational speaker. Truth be told I love this team and it tears me apart that the management of this team since TP bought the team has decimated the team. If you think my opinion is incorrect, please bring facts to illustrate I'm incorrect. However, enough with the personal attacks.

What in this thread is doom and gloom? I simply asked for people's predictions for the team. I predicted strong seasons for guys like Dahlin, Mitts, R2 and Hagg. Not sure how that is doom. Many people have predicted worse seasons then I did. How is that my fault? Others have predicted we'll compete for a playoff spot. I have not judged or criticized any opinions on this thread other then yours. If you would like to predict a Stanley Cup contender, by all means please do so.

With Fitzgerald now on the Rochester Shuttle, I think we and me specifically need to reassess his NHL potential. Going into this camp I thought he was an AHL lifer. However the news reports seem to imply that he nearly made the team. This suggests there is more to his game then I thought based on his results in Rochester. I still don't think he is anything more then a depth NHL D, but I have to rank him now in the top 20 prospects considering I left him off the initial list completely.

Yep or something like it.

1) Leading scorers - Goals, Assists and Points - Mittelstadt leads in points (56) and goals (25). Dahlin leads in assists (45) and is very close to Mitts in points (52) 2) Team record - 30-45-7 3) Team MVP - Dahlin 4) Team ROY - R2 - becomes move valuable as the soon goes along and forces his way into the top 6 5) First Player traded - Butcher - gets outplayed by Bryson. Sabres trade him for a 6th. 6) First player recalled from Rochester - Murray 7) Surprising in season move (trade or acquistion) - KA acquires a goalie when Anderson gets hurt because UPL and Dell are struggling in Rochester. 8.) Best surprise player - Hagg, plays a simple physical game and reminds us of McCabe. 9) Biggest disappointment - Cozens - struggles and gets sent down. JJP called up to replace him. Any other bold predictions (or not so bold). Jack never returns and is traded for a 1st, a medium center prospect, a conditional pick and a cap dump at the deadline. KA also promoted and Karmanos becomes the GM. Miller and VO also traded at the deadline. We get a 4th for Miller and a conditional 1st for VO.

1) Leading scorers - Goals, Assists and Points 2) Team record 3) Team MVP 4) Team ROY 5) First Player traded 6) First player recalled from Rochester 7) Surprising in season move (trade or acquistion) 8.) Best surprise player 9) Biggest disappointment Any other bold predictions (or not so bold).

It's amazing the roster turnover the last 3 seasons. I went back and looked at opening night the last 2 years and compared where we are today. 3 year starters (including this season): Dahlin, Jokiharju, Skinner, VO, and Colin Friggin Miller. There were 9 new skaters opening night last season over 2019/20 and it looks like we'll have 13 this season (although KO, Mitts and Girgensons were starters in 2019-20, but either were injured or on the taxi squad to open last season). Gone from last year's starters are Hutton, Ullmark, Hall, Jack, Reinhart, McCabe, Lazar, Ristolainen, Reider, Sheahan, Montour and Staal New Starters: Anderson (FA), Tokarski (Rochester), Hinostroza (FA), Caggiula (Waivers last season), Bjork (trade last year), Routsalainen (prospect), Hagg (trade), Butcher (trade), Pysyk (FA). Other new players Bryson (prospect) and Hayden (FA). So the question is how many of the current roster are still here at year's end? I expect Butcher and Miller to be traded by the deadline. I'm hopeful Bjork will be traded as well. VO is an arbitration eligible RFA. I can see him getting traded as well. I hope JJP, Samuelson and Murray all force their way into the lineup. I'm also curious to see how Laaksonen and Fitzgerald do in Rochester. KA and DG seem to think Fitzgerald is nearly a NHL ready player.

I admit I'm starting this thread because of the team I get to see each week in Athens, GA. However this had been a truly amazing season throughout the country and I thought it would be fun to discuss some of the storylines this season. 1) New leadership in the SEC? UK is undefeated and heading to Athens this weekend. Texas A&M's stunning victory over Alabama coupled with Bama's near loss to Fla, makes the Tide look vulnerable for the first time in over a decade. Is this finally GA's year. Still so much ground to cover. Georgia still has games with undefeated UK, ranked Fla, and an improving Tenn before they even reach the SEC championship where they'll likely still see the Tide. 2) Revival of the Big 10 - Iowa, Penn St, Mich, OSU and Mich St are in the top 10. After seeing my Hoosier lose to Iowa and Penn St (plus Cinn), with Michigan, OSU and Mich St still on the schedule, IU may have the hardest schedule in the country. Ouch! It will be interesting to see who gets the pleasure of playing Iowa's ball hawking D in the Big 10 championship. A case can be made for any of the 4 East team. I'm betting OSU ends up on top in the end. 3) The Outsiders - Cinn, Coastal Carolina, SMU and San Diego State are all undefeated with Cinn now ranked 3/4. Honestly they are overrated and should have lost to IU, best I think they have a legit shot of making the playoffs. 4) Okla, Oregon and Ok St are also lurking out there. Oklahoma and OK St have no D. Oregon also looks decent but not great. 5) ACC is a joke. Wake is the top team right now. Enough said. Playoff right now IMHO GA, Cinn, OSU and Okla.

Look I'm not exactly a cheerleader for the squad KA created, but I'm hopeful they'll play hard each night with DG as coach and they'll out play their preseason ranking.

I guess this roster wasn't hard to project after all.

I'll reserve judgement until Thursday, but the line combos posted above are well stupid. Hayden with JJP and R2? Really. Eakin even playing. Using what they listed, I think this makes much more sense. Skinner Mitts Hinostroza Bjork R2 Cozens Asplund Thompson VO Caggiula Girgensons KO

Bjork is certainly not overrated on this board. I think everyone thinks he’s terrible.

Edmunds is the defense QB of the best D in football. What is left to argue about?

It’s called tanking

Sarcasm

She’ll never admit it.

Yes KA is incompetent

Because they like Caggiula, Hayden and Eakin and who wouldn’t really.