GASabresIUFAN

Agree

I beginning to believe Eichel to LV. They cleared Fleury off the books today.

Did you even look at UIlmark's or UPL numbers before this post? UPL is almost on the exact trajectory as Ullmark completed to get to the NHL. UPL's 21 year old season is a little more fractured because COVID, but he is tracking just like Ullmark. Ullmark played in the AHL for most of 3 seasons at 21 - 3.41 gaa and .902 save % at 22 - 2.87 gaa and .909 save % at 23 - 2.44 gaa and .922 save % UPL actually made the AHL at 20, and last season split his time in Roch and the SM-Ligga at 20 - 3.15 and .874 at 21 (SM-Liiga) 2.52 & .908, AHL - 3.60 & .888 at 22 ??? He'll be the starter in Rochester this season and if continues to progress, he'll be in Buffalo at age 24, 2 more seasons from now, likely serving as Ullmark's backup.

That would make sense. Money isn't an issue here, it shows faith in Linus and bridges the team until UPL is ready.

Interesting trades. I would like to grab Donato and the Calg deal is interesting. I'm not sure Johnson has anything left. My biggest comment would be that it's about 10 mill more then TP wants to spend this year. I do think it's a reasonable competitive roster.

So does Eklund

Ok KA. We know you are going to get fleeced on the deal. Might as well dump him already and move on.

I did my list to 128 players. Next year I’ll try to add a full list

I guess Pronman and the Sabres has a similar rating on Nadeau.

I'm so numb from the pain how can another bad signing really hurt that bad. WE ARE ALREADY THE WORST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE!

So KA's gameplan so far is to dump the tank core (Eichel, Reinhart, & Risto). 2/3 of this goal is complete only Eichel remains. Heading into free agency we have 9 signed forwards including R2 (without Eichel) plus 2 qualified RFAs (Mitts and Asplund) and 3 signed D in Miller, Hagg and Bryson with 2 qualified RFAs (Dahlin and Jokiharju). No goalies. Cap sans Eichel (but with CoHo) is 34.475. I'm allocating about 10 mill for the 4 RFAs. That leaves us at approx 44.5 mill in cap. Questions 1) Who is playing Goalie? Ullmark according to Tom and Chad D is close to re-signing, but who might be his back-up? What does KA get if Ullmark walks instead? 2) Does Power sign instead of returning to college? If he does, that gives us 6 signed D, but very limited experience and only two RD one of whom is Miller. Does KA get a stay at home RHD (or two) in Free agency to balance the group both by hand and style of plan. Will McCabe return? 3) Who plays center besides Mitts and Cozens once Jack buggies? Asplund, Eakin, Girgensons, and R2 all have center experience, but will DG play Eakin? Does Ka bring back guys like Caggiula or Sheahan? Does he get a bridge center to protect Mitts and Cozens? Right now I see only a couple of depth skaters signed and a few more for Rochester. I think he is going to keep the cap expense under 60 mill for the season. The only real money I see KA spending is on goaltending help.

Fair question. He kind of struggled last season in his first AHL season but that doesn’t mean he won’t take a step forward next season and move back up the list. We need a few pests and if he can add some O to his being a pest it will go along way toward making him an NHL depth player. Still only 21. Look at the progress Murray made the last two years.

Couldnt hurt

I doubt it. Had we wanted to take a contract we probably could have add Stralman to the Fla deal.

Group had potential if allowed to stay together but….. bolded guys all traded away except Peterson who left on his own. Also stockpile 1st rd picks in 2015 went with them

What comparison leaves out is the better youth in the NHL now vs then. There was no one like Jokiharju, Mitts, Asplund or Dahlin on that 2014 team. Plus prospects 3-7, 9 and 13 (so 7 of the top 13) were traded away before they could have an impact for us.

Just the thought of Jbot drafting another D, not the person or player.

That’s even to old for the 50 somethings on the board.

The biggest questions with the Russians is will they come over and when? With 3 of the 4 Russians developing in Russia, it could be 3-4 years until they come to NA.

Just because and I like the general plan doesn't mean I trust or believe that KA is capable of making the plan work. I still think Ka is in way over his head. I think his failure to secure better returns for Hall and Reinhart are symptoms of his incompetence. That said after an initial negative reaction to this latest draft, I think there is real talent in the group. Sadly I think much of it may take years and years to unlock. I'd have much more confidence in the plan working if someone else was running it. However since KA is TP/KP's yes man, I have no choice to wait and see. At least the prospect poll give me some hope.

Fall apart? This is the strength of it. Who did KA trade at the draft? Not the kids. Who did KA say he planned to trade in order to acquire a veteran assets? No one. He just traded two veterans from the tank to acquire picks and prospects. His stated plan is to build around the kids, to not box them out. Most prospects / young players never reach their potential or even make it to the NHL, but unlike TM’s reign of depth destruction, at least these kids are going to be given the chance.

I think this is fair. If the Chad D is correct that they are close to re-signing Ullmark, then atvleast you have one solid goalie. I don’t think their focused on winning per se. They are focused on getting the kids PT and hoping these kids continue the growth they showed last year in order to be competitive.

Who were our best prospects and young players when Jack and Sam were acquired? Risto, Zadorov, McCabe, McNabb, Girgensons, Grirgoenko, Compher, Pysyk, and Armia. All but Risto, McCabe and Girgensons were shipped out during TM’s tenure. Now we have Mitts, Cozens, Quinn, JJP, Rosen, Dahlin, Jokiharju, Power, Samuelsson, Johnson, Asplund, R2, and UPL. None of which are being sent packing. Instead they are the players we are building around.

I think that is very true. Sounds like they actually had real scouting there despite their miniscule scouting dept.

They aren't tanking but finally rebuilding the right way. Unlike the tank for Sam and Jack, this organization has a solid group of kids in the system to build around. Now the question is can management execute to fill the holes as they occur without harming the development of the kids. This time they won't be trading the depth away to bring in "star" players. Now lets get 2 good goalies to back stop the kids and hopefully DG can get the kids playing hard every night win or lose. Sadly lose is more likely as the division will be stacked next season, with Cup contenders TB and Mon, playoff regulars like Boston and Toronto and newly competitive Florida. Ott and Det also look like they'll be better. The Sabres could still finish last in the division and be significantly better on the ice.