GASabresIUFAN

How do we know UPL isn’t ready? Last years stats 14 AHL games : 3.60 gaa .888 save% 4 NHL games: 3.88 .906 save% Those are the stats of a guy still learning to play goal in the pros. Those are not the stats of even a mediocre NHL backup. If the management team thinks he is ready, then they shouldn’t be managing an NHL team. Truthfully there is zero reason to rush UPL. We took our time with Ullmark and were rewarded for it.

I had wings the other night for the first time since Dec. I got COVID at the Anchor Bar in Kennesaw GA. What I noticed was how small the wings were. They tasted ok but what I’ve heard that there is a shortage of high quality wings in the supply chain.

They have to know UPL isn't ready and that if Anderson and Dell are the primary Sabres goaltenders that the goaltending will be as bad if not worse then last year. This is simply called a "tank." The only saving grace at this point is that we have only 5 goaltenders in the organization. That leaves a tiny grain of hope that KA isn't done on the goaltending front. I hope he thinks he can grab someone when teams cut goaltenders to get to the roster limits during camp. Last year Nedjelkovic was waived by Carolina just before the season.

I think his floor is as an average 2C. I think the 2C's on contenders and top line centers in general tend to be the top level of centers in the NHL. Do you remember the debate here after Regier called Roy and Connolly top 25 centers in the NHL and they were by points. However I remember an article in TBN illustrating how they would have been 3rd line centers on contenders. So in terms of sheer numbers, I think Mitts is probably in the top 60 of NHL centers, and whether he gets to top 30 status only time will tell.

The question was not who is going to score 20 goals but who has the potential to score 20 goals. Those are very different questions and based on their performance with DG as coach guys like Asplund, R2 and Thompson were scoring at a 20 goal pace at the end of last season. That implies they have that potential. However if you read the end of my post I said the following : Of the 7 guys I've listed with 20 goal potential, I'd wager on only Mitts and VO reaching that goal next season.

It's an interesting question as to which of our forwards have 20+ goal potential next season 1) Skinner? Scored 40 with Jack, but hasn't been close since. Has 20 goal potential still but probably not 30. 2) Mitts? scored 10 in 41 games last year despite the handicap of playing 13 games under Rasputin. He had 8 goals in his last 20 games. At least 20 goals should be a minimum goal for next season 3) Olofsson - He'll probably score 15 on the PP alone next season. I think we can pencil in at least 20 over 82 games. He has scored at .31 goals/gp so far in the NHL. 4) Thompson - Had 8 in 38 games last year with 7 goals in his last 20 games. If he plays with Mitts, 20 is a real possibility. 5) Asplund - Had a huge breakout once given a legit roster slot. Had 7 goals in 28 game last year which is an approximate 20 goal pace. Like Tage, 6 of his goals came playing with Mitts. That said, I see him as a 3rd line 2 way forward. I'd set expectations more at 15 goals. He reminds me of Jochen Hecht who topped out at 21 goals. 6) Cozens - He'll score 20 in the NHL someday soon, but will it be next season. Let's hope so. 7) R2 - Scored 5 in only 17 games. Has the skills to be a top 6 forward in the NHL imho. Like Asplund, I actually expected more playing making (aka assists) then we saw last season. Still, if he is given a top 6 role. 20 goals is reasonably possible. 8.) Others? [career hi in "()"] KO (27), Girgensons (15), Hinostroza (16), and Caggiula (13) all have add 10+ goal seasons in the past, but none have ever reached 20 except KO and he hasn't come close in 6 years. Bjork's best is 9. Of the 7 guys I've listed with 20 goal potential, I'd wager on only Mitts and VO reaching that goal next season. Others will come close as I think our offense will be OK next season.

While it seems likely right now that Power is going to return to college for next season, on the off chance that he and Johnson sign with the Sabres we could in theory have a defense the features the following Power (1st overall 2021) - LHD Johnson (1st rd 31st overall 2019) - LHD Dahlin (1st overall 2018) - LHD/RHD Samuelsson (2nd rd 32nd overall 2018) - LHD Jokiharju (1st rd 29th overall 2017) RHD Pysyk (1st rd 23rd overall 2010) - RHD NHL experience of the current roster players Pysyk (453 NHL games) Miller (349 NHL games) Butcher (238 NHL games) Hagg (236 NHL games) Dahlin (197 NHL games) Davidson (180 NHL games) Jokiharju (153 NHL games) Bryson (38 NHL games) Samuelsson (12 NHL games) Schuldt (1 NHL game)

Those who can’t teach? Tim Kennedy the Matt Ellis of Buffalo born hockey players?

I respectfully disagree. I remained on the Casey bandwagon after reading what Taylor said about his time in Rochester. Casey is a top 6 center. Whether he is ultimately a top line center or a top 6 center on a top tier team has yet to be determined. That said, he has played for two real coaches in his brief pro career, Taylor in Rochester and Granato in Buffalo, and each time the results have been excellent. With DG as his coach this season, if he stays healthy, I can easily see him leading this team in scoring. We also can't right him off if his team leading total is 50 pts or less. During the Rolston/Nolan season of 13/14 Ennis and CoHo lead team with 43 & 44 pts respectfully. I hope this team is better then that horror show, but it may not be given our goaltending. How do we view R2's potential? Afinogenov? Audette?

Don't act like Farrance was a sure thing. He was a good USHLer his draft year that some rated as high as a mid 2nd rd pick. However there was a reason every team passed on him twice and in some cases 3 times.` You can always play the what if game. What if the Sabres had taken Bossy instead on Seiling? etc..... I thought at the time that Oskari was a huge reach, just like Bloom and Sardarian were this year. However Laaksonen was a 3rd round pick and after being an AHL All-star last season is tracking toward an NHL future. If you get a decent NHL players at the end of the 3rd round you've done your job. Picks in around where Oskari was drafted have about an 18% chance of playing 100 games in the NHL. Those are long odds, but so far Laaksonen looks like he'll beat those odds.

For some reason y’all keep selling Casey short. Last season all I heard on this board was Casey is a bust and will never amount to anything. Now, after proving you wrong, it’s he is worse then John Tucker and will never be counted on in the clutch. Lol. All this kid did last season was play clutch hockey. Once inserted in the lineup full time, after soul sucking Rasputin was fired, all he did was play tough minutes as the no. 2 scoring at a 63 pt pace. https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-casey-mittelstadt-season-recap/c-325121364 Granato, like Chris Taylor the year before, thinks the world of this kid. Maybe it’s time for people here to keep a more open mind on his potential.

So simple to say, but not a likely outcome. I would love nothing better for Jack to get healthy and love playing with Mitts and Cozens creating the most talented spine we've had since the Briere/Drury/Roy/Connolly teams. Sadly, KA wants him gone plain and simple. KA wants to wipe the slate clean and start over. That doesn't include the stank fruit Jack, Sam and Risto. 2 down one to go. We therefore are a motivated seller and he'll take a deal sooner or later. The second Jbot found a buyer willing to pay ROR's $8 mill bonus the deal got done. It no different this time. The deal will get done as soon as KA finds a buyer willing to assume the risk of Jack's surgery even if it is not the haul KA has said he wants and we the fans expect.

Yes we can, but despite those saying "just keep Jack," Jack is gone as soon as KA feels the deal is adequate. Look at how he handled Reinhart. He could have signed him to a one year deal and then traded him at the deadline for exactly (if not more) then he got from Florida. Instead he took the first "reasonable" deal from a division rival no less, that appeared on his desk. You can't expect KA to get a good deal for Eichel. We are going to lose the deal because we are trading the best player. We just have to hope the futures we receive at least turn into good players.

I went and looked at Tucker, Plante, Roy and Connolly's peaks and honestly Roy had the highest peak and I think Mitts is a more skilled hockey player then Roy. That doesn't mean that he'll be as good as long as Roy was or even hit the numbers Roy did at his peak, but I think that is his potential. I also think Dahlin is more Calle Johansson then Erik Karlson. I do like the Kesler comparison for Cozens, but I'm not sure Cozens will ever be that physical which is why I mentioned ROR. As to Samuelsson, I wonder if he is more McKee or Schoenfeld then anyone else long-term. I'm hoping for Mike Ramsey, but that is asking for two much.

I was thinking about players like Asplund, Mitts, and wondering about their potential. For example I think Asplund can (will) mature into Jochen Hecht type player. As to guys like Mitts I think he has the potential to be better then Derek Roy and more like Connolly at his best. Cozens maybe ROR. I’m really not sure. Who do think these guys and others compare too?

If we had any decent offer for Jack he’d already have been traded. Considering the Risto and Reinhart trades, I have serious doubt KA will be able to get more then 3 pieces for Jack. At this point we’ll be lucky to get a 1st, a decent prospect and a useful cap dump.

Can we put the date he signed Anderson and Dell as the goaltenders that KA killed all hope for next season?

I just get the feeling Vegas is Jack's ultimate destination. They are a Cup contender but lack the true superstar up front (no Mark Stone isn't a superstar, just overpaid) to make their team more dynamic. I think their owner will do anything to get this team over the top. They need a superstar and we have one for sale for the right price. I'd start with Tuch and Reilly Smith. Tuch because he'd become a core piece once healthy again. Smith can play 1st line center for the last year of his deal and between both contracts we'd get as much Cap as Jack costs. We'd need their 1st also and Krebs? Something else? I'm not sure I'd make this deal if I were them, but they are in win now mode.

The PP could benefit from being less predictable. I can see Tage on the screen in front. Mitts and VO as the other forwards with Dahlin and Butcher on the blueline.

Sabres scored 138 goals last season. 66 came in the final 23 games following the end of the losing streak. That means they scored only 72 in the 33 games prior. They were shutout 7 times during those 33 games.

But does it equal or exceed Sam+70% Jack, Staal, Reider, Sheahan and Lazar. Since 3 of the 4 were negatives to the team, I'd say offensively there is a chance they'll be at least as effective. Outside of the offense, the lack of good in zone D and any semblance of goaltending, yes I agree the team is looking at a bottom or near bottom of the league finish. I wrote earlier that KA has set up DG to fail with his D group and goaltending.

I've only said this once, but did you read my post? "If Jack wants out bad enough" This is Jack's nuclear option. If he takes it, yes he'll likely lose all the guarantees and that is my point. However it gives him full control of the situation going forward. Right now he wants his cake and to eat it to. He wants him money, his surgery and a trade and so far he and his agent are doing everything to make it impossible to accomplish. They know the Sabres have an insurance policy on his contract. At this point it seems to me that Jack is trying to screw the team. Well F-him. Stay strong KA.

The cap issue is a significant one if Jack is traded. We are at around 63 million with the RFAs signed and JACK. Cap floor is 60 or so. Remove Jack before the season and you have an $8 mill gap to get just to the floor. That is a huge crater to fill with some contracts in trade. This fact is why I'm of the belief that the group we have listed isn't the final group. I'm praying he uses the cap space to get a goalie (Ben Bishop?) and a veteran center.

I agree which is why adding Butcher is perplexing other then we got him for nothing.

Yes and no. Hinostroza is the only new player but Girgensons was also gone last year. However, this is the group minus Reinhart (Jack was out injured) that played significantly better hockey for this team down the stretch. The roster turnover occurred last season when the kids went from Taxi Squad/limited roles/AHL to contributors once the toxic RK was sent packing. Gone from last year so far are Sam, Hall, Staal, Sheehan, Reider and Lazar. That’s 50% of the opening night roster and the only one we’ll miss is Reinhart.