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GASabresIUFAN

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Everything posted by GASabresIUFAN

  1. The Sabres have definitely taken a step forward. You don’t add a former MVP in his prime and not be better for it. Also adding a 2c in Staal fixes the biggest hole left by the last administration. I also like Eakin over Larsson as well. However Issues remain like goaltending and LHD. That said, who is the most improved team in the Altantic. Montreal has added Anderson, Toffoli, Edmundson and Allen but lost Domi. Ottawa added talent in the draft plus Matt Murray in net and Gudbranson and Brown on D. Yzerman has been active in Det. He has signed Garner, Ryan, Greiss, Namestnikov, Merrill plus acquired Marc Staal and drafted Raymond. Toronto added Brodie but lost Kapenan and Johnsson in the process. Replaced them with Vesey, Bogo and Simmonds. Not a great sign when you’re adding 3 ex-Sabres. Boston added Craig Smith Florida has added depth in Gudas, Wennberg, Hornqvist, Verheaghe, but lost Brown and dumped some Pu. Imho Montreal, Ottawa and Buffalo are the most improved. Toronto D is marginally better but losing 2 talented depth forwards hurts. Not sure what Florida is doing, Boston just has to tinker and TB is in cap hell Montreal and Buffalo are neck and neck, but I’d give Montreal the edge because they addressed all 3 areas in need with the 2 star forwards, Edmundson on D plus Allen for Price’s backup.
  2. Just think how good things will be if we have two or even 3 lines that can drive offense. Then teams can’t just put their best D line out against Jack because the Hall Staal line will kill them.
  3. That may well be the initial plan, but a similar plan failed in Edm with McDavid. Hall is a driver of offense. Jack is a driver of offense. Seems like duplicate effort. That said if Hall wants to become a feeder for Jack's shot, I'm ok with the that, but I don't think that the best use of these two players.
  4. Why don't people think that Skinner will be playing with Eichel next year? The Hall McDavid combo didn't work because both players wanted the puck in the offensive zone. I don't think that is all that different then Hall Eichel. I believe Skinner will be Jack's LW to start the season and Hall will be on Staal's wing. I'm thinking our 1-2 punch will be Skinner Eichel Reinhart Hall Staal VO Where you will see Hall and Jack together is the No. 1 PP. The addition of Hall gives Jack more of an opportunity to launch the shot from high slot or top of the face off circle.
  5. Ullmark is also getting more then 2.5. Think closer to 3.0. Korpisalo is a great proxy for Ullmark and he got 2.8 for 2 years.
  6. I want the kids and still do, but I can also read the tea leaves, look at KA has done and it’s clear putting kids on this team isn’t his priority. Mitts and Cozens are going to have to beat out guys like Rieder, Thompson and/or Lazar to make this team. All this BS that Mitts hasn’t improved is bull. Taylor, his AHL coach and someone whose opinion we should respect says otherwise. He had Casey killing penalties and in the last 30 seconds to protect a one goal lead. He has also stated that Casey got better without the puck and after a rough start his offense came around. No prospect’s development is a straight line and Casey was burdened by stupid expectations created by people like Pronman and our throwing him into a role he wasn’t ready for. This kid has mad skills and if he gets in the right situation he’ll blossom into a top 6 forward. That situation could be this coming season, especially if VO is moved to 2RW. The biggest issue with Casey was physical and mental maturity. Taylor said he has taken huge steps in those areas as well.
  7. Cozens is not a better prospect then Mitts. They were drafted in the same slot and honestly Cozens is a complete unknown right now. We don't know if he is NHL ready or not. Mitts has over 100 NHL games under is belt and improved significantly over the course of last season. You can't discount the NHL experience and the lessons learned from it. Cozens may certainly become a better player someday, and if he makes the Sabres, he will certainly have a better cast around him then Mitts did, but right now Mitts is probably ahead of him on the development curve. Also neither guy is guaranteed a slot on the NHL team this coming season. We have 4 centers Eichel, Staal, Eakin and Lazar, 4 LW Hall, Skinner, VO and Girgensons and 4 RW Reinhart, KO, Thompson and Rieder. Mitts and Cozens are going to have to beat out someone to make the team. Honestly Thompson and Lazar are probably the weakest links. Rieder was brought in for a PK/defensive roll and should make the team because of it. However KA just gave Thompson a 3 year deal, so he must have confidence that he is ready to contribute at the NHL level. Should be an interesting camp, but if I had to guess, Cozens goes back to Jrs and Mitts to the AHL (or alternative training site if no AHL), with Mitts being the first callup.
  8. How does this rank under most surprising moves ever made by the franchise?
  9. I think KA wanted to go in another direction and thought Lazar could do the job for significantly less. That's the way things work for most 4th line players. My guess is that KA didn't feel Asplund was ready to step in and be more effective then Girgensons.
  10. Sabres depth chart (professionals only) Center Eichel, Staal, Eakin, Lazar - Cozens, Mittelstadt, Asplund (LW), Routsalainen (LW), Oglevie, Pekar (RW) Left Wing Hall, Skinner, VO, Girgensons, Lazar, - Asplund, Smith, Murray Right Wing Reinhart, Thompson, Okposo, Rieder, - Pekar RHD Ristolainen, Montour, Jokiharju, Miller, - Irwin, Borgen, Laaksonen, Fitzgerald LHD Dahlin, McCabe, Davidson (Pilut?) - Bryson, Samuelsson Goaltending Ullmark, Hutton, - Johnasson, UPL
  11. Anyone wonder what Larsson is thinking right now?
  12. RFA after this season and if he doesn't get 40 games next season he won't satisfy the expansion requirement.
  13. This is the requirements for LV expansion. I assume Seattle's will be the same. https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-expansion-draft-rules/c-281010592?tid=281011650
  14. I'm perfectly OK with VO as the 2 RW as long as Cozens plays center.
  15. This deal had a huge Eichel component in it. KA and the Sabres needed to prove to Jack that they were and are serious about winning. Getting Hall is a great start.
  16. FO = Front Office? Maybe. I certainly don't think they want Montour playing out of position again for another season. That implies to me that a trade or two is coming to upgrade the goaltending and re balance the defense. Kudos to TP and KA for the Hall deal. I guess the Bills' success made TP and KP re-think their cost cutting strategy for the player part of the Sabres organization. One other quick note: The Sabres are likely to protect 3 D for expansion, Dahlin, Risto and Joker as things stand. If Miller is traded they won't have a D to expose who is signed beyond this season.
  17. If we are really going for it as the Hall deal implies, how can we sit tight with Hutton as the backup goalie?
  18. The Sabres for many years. Bogo, Franson, Kulikov, Gorges made a fine bunch of lollygaggers.
  19. Was watching NHL Tonight and they talked like Hall was going to Nash but thought he was a good fit in Carolina. They said he likes to play fast and carry the puck. Likes having D move the puck up quickly to him. Sounds like a good fit here. Just an FYI: Staal, Hall, Montour, and McCabe (and Hutton) plus RFAs Joker and Dahlin are all on one year deals.
  20. I wonder if the Hall signing will give the Sabres a good reason to start Cozens at center? Hall is a player that likes the puck on his stick. Therefore he probably isn’t a good fit with Jack. Also Rieder was brought in to kill penalties and will make this team. Skinner Jack Reinhart Hall Staal KO Girgensons Eakin Rieder VO Cozens Thompson Lazar This way no one is forced to play out of position. KO will be a nice physical presence on Staal’s line. The three kids gets sheltered minutes and get used as a 3rd O line. Eakin’s line gets to kill penalties and defend other teams top scoring line. This move puts us at 80 million. My guess is a RHD is being voted off the island.
  21. I’m completely shocked and completely thrilled. A gusty move and completely worth the risk. Now do we keep Reinhart also? Does VO get traded.
  22. How can we salvage this offseason and stay within the budget? 1) Acquire Tyler Johnson with TB keeping 2 mill of salary and cap every year and we also get a draft pick. 2) Trade Colin Miller to create the cap space for Johnson. 3) Acquire Darcy Kemper from Ariz for Hutton. They need to cut serious payroll. 4) Trade Thompson for a 2nd rd pick
  23. Less then mediocre. None of those signings are moving the team forward except maybe Eakin and none of the problems with the team has been addressed. No improvement in goal. No additional scoring No fixing the over abundance of RHD.
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