GASabresIUFAN

I'm not sure if Red Wings fans are more optimistic or if our fans smarter or more bruised. What I do know is we have a right to be somewhat skeptical of the decision making of the last 3 GMs and our drafting reflects this. For example Jbot drafted Johnson when he could have taken skilled O players that had higher consensus ratings and who are already in the NHL or KA's draft of Quinn when young centers like Rossi and Perfetti were still on the board. He also reached on Rosen (ranked in the 20's on most boards) and took two Russians in the second who may never come to the NHL. Add to the fact Tm drafted Nylander over Sergachev, how few 2nd rd picks for this organization have made a positive impact here since 2013 and that RK nearly destroyed Mittelstadt and we the fans have earned our skepticism

I'm as negative as anyone about the team's chances this coming year. I agree that this is a full on reset. I have stated in other threads that with our current goaltending we'll be lucky to win 20 games this coming season. I'm as pissed as you are. I thought if we got good goaltending, added a few stay at home veteran D and kept Sam, this could be a very good hockey team even with a ton of kids in the lineup. Instead, KA blew it up. No McCabe (or suitable replacement), No Ullmark (or suitable replacement) no upgrades anywhere in the lineup at all. That said, this thread is about hope for the future. I was and am hoping for which pieces here today are the core. Cozens, Mitts, Dahlin, and Power are pretty obvious. However R2 is the player that intrigues me. He is the one guy I can see forcing himself into the future core. I just like the way he plays. Also Asplund is a guy who I think will be this new core's Jochen Hecht.

As I’ve said before, KA pivoted from a support young team reset to a full rebuild once Ullmark bolted (and my guess is no one else of quality was interested in coming here). However, I’m going to try to pull this thread back on the tracks. Regardless of how we got here, this team is now firmly in the hands of the kids which for the most part is a good thing. The question is which of these kids are the new core and where will be in 2 years. As @dudacek pointed out there a few pieces of this puzzle waiting to appear. The proceeds from the Jack trade could significantly alter the perception of what we have today and going forward. How long until Rosen and the 2 second round Russians come to NA? Does Rosen have a chance of being a Sabres in 2 years? Is his possible move to center a significant positive development for the team? One thing that is bothering me is KA’s no blocking policy. I think there is a fine line between not blocking a prospect vs supporting a young core. We saw this past season how KA, RK and even Jbot blocked some of the kids. Why were Asplund and Mitts on the taxi squad to start the season? Hindsight is 20/20 but why were guys like Eakin, Sheahan or Reider ever playing ahead of either guy. This time I think KA has gone to far the other direction (see UPL). For this reset to work KA and his staff need to determine who is core is pretty quickly and supplement from there with vets where appropriate.

Admittedly I have beaten this dead horse pretty badly over the signings of Anderson and Dell. I don't think either guys is currently an NHL caliber goaltender any longer. Maybe Dell will prove me wrong. I also don't think and frankly can't understand why KA (other then incompetence) would think that UPL, whose save% was 37th in goalies with 10+ games AHL last season, could suddenly be NHL ready. However there is a small ray of hope for the goaltending. There are two major events coming where a new goaltender could find his way here. First the Eichel trade. Maybe a decent goaltender will be the cap casualty or a young vet in the Eichel trade. For example, maybe Georgiev will be a piece if Eichel is traded to the NYR. Secondly, trades or waivers during or following training camp. Last year guys like Nedjelkovic and Forsberg were waived following camp. Det smartly grabbed Nedelkovic. Right now Dallas has a 3 headed goalie monster and in desperate need of cap space. Right now any of the 3 would upgrade our group, but they can only waive Holtby or Khudobin. I expect a trade here rather then one getting waived. See I'm not all negative.

Not trying to finish last? They are deliberately selling off their most value assets in Eichel, Reinhart and Risto. Once we have sold Eichel, the key center position has been downgraded. Once they failed to retain Ullmark, (a conclusion that was probably inevitable given the last place finish, the selloff of assets and offers from contenders), KA clearly pivoted to "full reset" by replacing Ullmark and Hutton to 2 goalies who are not long fit to be called NHL goalies. Are they trying to finish last. I think they absolutely are. If they truly wanted to support the kids and give them a chance each night they would have worked harder to get a suitable replacement for Ullmark.

That is a banned phrase my friend. The euphemism on the day is "reset"

That isn't exactly true. The signed Tokarski and he ended up playing 13 games for us. We also had a ton of goalies in the system last year. We had a good starter, Ullmark, and questionable backup Hutton, a good prospect in UPL, 2 signed vets in Tokaraki and Houser and an aging prospect in Johansson. All appeared in the NHL for us last year because of injuries and trades. With this stable, my only disappointment was not upgrading Hutton because of his past poor performances and Ullmark injury history. KA spent all his money on Hall and didn't upgrade Hutton. Instead he added Tokarski as Hutton 2.0. This season we need a real plan in net beside pray that the injury prone starter wanted to stick around. Instead we got the declining 3rd stringer from NJ and a guy contemplating retirement.

There is one huge difference. Cozens, R2, Samuelsson, Mitts, and Asplund have shown they can handle the NHL. UPL hasn't shown that he can handle the AHL. His save % was 37th in the AHL of goalies with 10 or more games last season.

Questionable is a generous term

It’s a reset without goaltending

I tend to agree. How many teams ever field a squad with 15 or more internal prospects on their roster. I think the Blackhawks when they won their first Cup with Kane were close. That said, if we stay as a budget team and with the current philosophy of letting the kids play, I think the likelihood of this kind of roster increases. This is also an exercise in seeing which prospects do the people here thing will force their way on the team over the next couple of seasons.

Please see below

Dell's save % over the last 3 seasons is .895 in 65 games on terrible teams. Ullmark's over the same period on equally bad teams in .911 in 91 games.

Yes. Ullmark's line is better. He is 4 years younger and his play has been improving while Dell's play has been going the other direction. KA will look like a genius if Dell somehow returns to the form of 2017/18, but don't count on it.

Who are you comparing Ullmark to? Ullmark's numbers are pretty incredible if you think about the teams he played on. Did the other guy achieve those numbers on a similarly crappy team or did he have a better team in front of him?

When camp breaks for the 2023/24 season, what do we project the team to look like? Will Skinner still be a Sabres? Who will be our centers? Who will be the goaltenders? We have depth on D, will Dahlin and Power anchor a dominate group? KA has focused (for reasons unknown) on drafting wingers, wingers and more wingers (We've done this before under TM), will any of them make the team in 2 years? Will any of Rosen, Quinn, JJP, Poltapov, or Kisakov make the Sabres by then? Here are my initial thoughts. Skinner is currently the only Sabre signed beyond 22/23 season, besides Eichel who will be gone by this season's trade deadline. I think we are stuck with him and the only question is his role on the team at that time. At forward I'm looking at a spine of Wright (the 2021/22 tank fruit), Mitts, and Cozen with Wright actually playing 3rd line center as the gets used to the NHL. JJP, Skinner, Quinn and Routsalainen as 5/6 of our top 6 wingers. I think JJP and Quinn tear up the A this year and are in the lineup in Buffalo in 22/23. I don't see Bjork, Girgensons as part of the picture long term. I also only see one of VO or Thompson here beyond next season. If here, Asplund will be in the mix for a bottom 6 role, just not sure where or if KA will move on from him as well. I can see Pekar, but more likely Murray and or Rousek earning a 4th wing spot. All 3 add a physical presence this team needs. I also think Weissbach could surprise and make a run at the top 9 job. On defense Power, Dahlin, Jokiharju, Samuelsson and Johnson seem like 5/6 of the long-term pieces. As an RHD, I think Laaksonen has a chance to grab a job. My guess is Dahlin and Jokiharju get extended beyond to at least 23/24 this off-season. I think Power and Johnson sign this year and play here late this season. Power wins a starting job in 2022/23 and Johnson 23/24 after spending one season in the A. Goaltending: UPL will be the backup, but KA will need to bring someone in as the starter. R2 Mitts Quinn ???? Cozens JJP Skinner Wright ???? Murray Asplund ????? Samuelsson Dahlin Power Jokiharju Johnson Laaksonen ????? UPL

Doesn't everyone.

one top D who plays his offside in the NHL is Sergachev and there are others

Actually he can play either side. Has played his offside before in college and in international competitions. Dahlin also plays both sides. I actually expect Dahlin to move to the right side. Samuelsson and Bryson are left shoots as well. Doesn't matter in the end. The best players will play and talent wise he'll earn a spot quickly. We need smart defensive D who can skate and that is Johnson's game.

Buffalo is probably the best place for him then. Wasn't he also paired with Samuelsson for an international tournament?

The Sabres can't afford to let quality young players walk if they are trying to build this the right way. Just think of how much better our goaltender situation would be if Jbot had gotten Petersen signed.

I would love it if ESPN asks RJ to call a Cup Finals game. Obviously the Sabres won’t be there but it would be great to gear him on a national broadcast to cap his career.

I said that day one.

I know full well he is growing into the job. Maybe he should have actually become a scout or asst GM instead of running a team into the ground as he learns. What I don’t understand why so many were not willing to give Mitts the benefit of the doubt while giving a pass to someone who in clearly not competent in his job.

Really? 18 year old kids who have had success at every level earned the benefit of the doubt as they develop. I also gave TM and JB the benefit of the doubt, because they earned it coming up through the ranks. TM lost it completely with the McNabb and Lehner trades. Jbot lost it by never replacing ROR. Unlike KA, they had earned the opportunity to run a team. KA doesn’t get that rope, not because of KA the person, but because the Pegulas put someone in charge who had no experience, no credentials and thus no business being in charge. He had to hit the ground running and prove that he was worthy of the job. He’s proven otherwise. His failure to get the team credible goaltending is alone worthy of dismissal.