GASabresIUFAN

https://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/story/_/id/41512880/nhl-2024-25-breakout-predictions-players-stats-goals-points-stars

Not an accurate statement. KO played 24 playoffs games for the NYI (and won a Cup with Fla playing in 17 playoffs games last season) Jost played 46 playoffs games for Colo/Minn Robinson played 10 playoff games for CBJ VO, Mitts, Z and Skinner had no playoff experience, but 3 of the 4 grew up in the sad Sabres organization. As soon Mitts escaped he put up 9 pts in 11 playoff games for the AVS. Playoff experience may or may not be meaningful, but the problems with this organization went far beyond players without playoff experience. Starting with bad coaching and poor management. Put any of the departed guys in the right situation and they'd be fine in the playoffs as Mitts & KO just proved. The most important part of the turnover is whether the new players make us better. If the new 4th line can help tilt the ice in our direction by their fast hitting style then it's going to be a positive change.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5808861/2024/10/01/buffalo-sabres-prague-predictions-questions/ I’m sorry for posting most of this article but I thought everyone should read Fairburn’s thoughts.

Amerks officially taking shape with the Sabres training camp cuts today. I really like the prospect group returned to the Amerks today: (f): Östlund, Wahlberg, Helenius, Neuchev, Rosen, Tullio, Kisakov, and Nadeau. (D) Komarov and Novikov. As I mentioned in the OP, this has the making of the strongest Amerks forward group in 15-20 years, especially when you add strong AHLers Rousek, Murray, Jobst, and Dunne and top prospect Kulich gets returned as well. The D group also looks talented with Johnson, Metsa, Novikov, and Komarov, plus vets Gilbert and Clague (currently with the Sabres) plus AHLers Rathbone, and Poolman. Reimer should given them solid goaltending assuming he clears waivers and who knows about Sandstrom. Maybe our goalie coaches can fix his issues.

None of this matters anyway as Reimer will clear waivers.

The only stumbling block would be Ratzlaff's contract status. I'd assume Ratzlaff would need to sign his ELC to be recalled, but I can't find a story that confirms this belief. The Canadians brought up Owen Beck 2 seasons ago from the OHL, but Beck had signed his ELC before the season. https://montrealhockeynow.com/2023/01/27/owen-beck-montreal-canadiens-recall-prospect-nhl-promotion-chl-habs/

Ratzlaff's play this pre-season probably makes him the Sabres top goalie prospect at this point (if he wasn't already) outside of Levi. From an overall standpoint his inspired play probably moves him up to the top 15 prospects overall in the organization? So who stood out in camp? Kulich early, Ratzlaff late. Helenius and Östlund had big moments. Novikov had highs and Lows. Poltapov is off to a strong KHL start (11 pts in 10 games w 5 goals). He has 13 pts (5 goals) in 56 KHL games last year. Marjala has 4 pts in 5 Liiga games to start the season. Komarov had a few assists. Metsa, 25, was getting the most PT of our Amerks D in pre-season. So besides Levi and Benson who are slated for the NHL who are the top 15 prospects as we head into the season? Honestly not sure about the order after the top 3. 1) Kulich 2) Helenius 3) Östlund 4) Rosen 5) Wahlberg 6) Johnson 7) Poltapov 😎 Neuchev 9) Novikov 10) Komarov 11) Strbak 12) Ratzlaff 13) Zeimer 14) Kleber 15) Kisakov

Whether this team makes the playoff comes down to a few things. 1) Can they keep their key player healthy and on the ice? Last year the answer was no. If they can scoring will improve. 2) Can they tighten up defensively? I don't expect them to be "tight," but I do expect them to improve on their near bottom of the NHL HDCA (for the last 2 years). Improve here and that will take away serious pressure from UPL and Levi to carry the team 3) Can they improve on special teams? I expect the PK to improve with the new additions. However the team Achilles heal last year on offseason was the terrible PP. The Sabres were the 4th worst in the NHL at 16.59%. Their 37 PP goals were 3rd worst in the NHL (TB lead with 71). Middle of the pack is about 21% and 51+ goals. If they can do these 3 things they will make the playoffs. The one area I'm not worried to much about is the goaltending. I expect UPL to regress slightly from last season but still remain solid and I expect Levi to take a big step forward. So my vote right now leans slightly on the "No" because I'm not sure they can tighten up defensively or execute the PP. We'll see. NJ will be a good early test. I will say this. If the team hits on the 3 items I've mentioned and kids like Byram, Quinn, JJP, and Benson take the next step this team could get to 100 points. Just think of the offense 2 years ago coupled with a GA from last year and you'd have a +50 differential. Every team last year with a +40 differential had 99 pts or more.

From ESPN https://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/story/_/id/41419134/nhl-predictions-2024-25-scoring-trades-stats-playoffs-awards-leaders "Buffalo Sabres The playoff drought ends The last time the Sabres made the playoffs, "Fast 5" was in theaters, a duet between Katy Perry and Kanye West was the No. 1 song in the U.S. and their coach was ... the same guy who's coaching them now? Wait, that can't be right, can it? Yup. Lindy Ruff returns to the franchise where he coached 15 seasons and finds a Sabres team that hasn't made the postseason cut since 2011. He also finds a team with two pillars on defense (Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power); a collection of young standout forwards in their top six; and a revamped bottom six that brings speed this team lacked under Don Granato. While he doesn't have Dominik Hasek or Ryan Miller between the pipes, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was strong last season and Devon Levi's underlying numbers showed promise. Look, there is a mountainous amount of stuff that needs to go right for the Sabres to make the playoffs. It starts with Ruff getting a young roster to commit defensively in ways it hasn't before -- something he had success with for a time during his last stop in New Jersey. It requires good health and core players continuing on their growth trajectories. Most of all, it requires a spot opening up for them in the conference from the teams that qualified last season -- perhaps even two spots, if we assume the Devils are back in the playoff picture. So let's call this an "educated prayer." Ultimately, I think enough breaks right for Buffalo for them to emerge from that pack of rebuilders in the Atlantic. The streak ends. The playoff tailgates in Buffalo begin."

Do you realize that Spielberg and co made this affect 44 years ago. (Movie made in June 1980 and released June 1981). Crazy. @Taro T I loved how the guys looked in Germany. Maybe its the Bills rubbing off on me or my Hoosiers at 5-0 (sad my Dawgs couldn't finish the comeback), but I'm getting exciting for the Sabres season.

LIke I said earlier, Jamie Lee Curtis looked better in that outfit.

That about covers the Fedora

It wouldn’t have mattered.

Sabres fans are going to love Lafferty this season. He is noticeable every shift. Levi may already be better than UPL. His reaction time is just so fast.

First German to score in Red Bull’s new arena.

Way to go JJ!

JJ needs to score in the 3rd

They look better on Jamie Lee Curtis.

Tobias Rieder plays for Munich. It’s amazing how few players are still on the Sabres from when he played here. Cozens and Thompson are the only forwards.

Sure, but they needed to have made a better choice. Come on guys. You need to convert those opportunities.

Can the coaching staff get rid of those stupid fedoras? They look like hoods from a bad 1970s gangster movie.

I think they are better than the league profile. They are the best franchise in the DEL and finished 2nd in the Euro Champions league in 2022. I went and read a profile on the franchise after asking the question. My guess after reading the profile is that they are better than most AHL, Liiga and SHL teams.

There’s a little finish. Their poor goalie is under siege.

Obviously the Sabres are a faster and more talented team. They seem to be winning the race to nearly every loose puck. Not finishing so far. Legit question. Red Bull is the Germany top league. What level is this Red Bull team skill wise relative to the AHL, KHL or SHL?

Here is one. Mitts was the ring leader of Bryson, Cozens and new Captain Dahlin. https://www.nhl.com/sabres/video/topic/sabres-embedded/sabres-embedded-full-house-338806648