GASabresIUFAN

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10129267-way-too-early-2026-olympic-roster-projections-for-the-top-6-mens-hockey-teams The Fins are pretty deep down the middle. Barkov, Aho and Hintz are locks. Can Helenius beat out Lundell?

After watching the gold medal Men’s basketball game, I began to wonder what the Olympic hockey tournament would look like and what current Sabres (or Amerks) might make their country’s Olympic team. I think there are 3 current Sabres who are “guaranteed” to make their country’s teams. They are Dahlin (Sweden), Jokiharju (Finland) and JJP (Germany). After those 3, I see a few players with a chance to make an Olympic team, but most are long-shots. Canada - Levi and Power have a chance. Levi would have to become our top goalie and Power would have to go from a 30 point D to a 60+ pt D and become more physical to even get a look. USA - Thompson and Tuch maybe? 90 pt Thompson would have a great shot. 60 pt Thompson has none. Finland - UPL. If he continues to play like he did this past season, I can easily see him earning the backup job behind Saros. Czechia - Kulich? Anyone else?

Most of that list looks like primarily 4th line players who occasionally played up or in Ruff’s case, played defense. Luce and Ramsay were definitely 3rd line players.

How about we make the playoffs? Although Charlton Trethewey is a great name.

FYI: Prow is the only "veteran" (aka over 320 pro games) on the Amerks roster Clague (279 games) and Murray (283 games) qualify for the 260 to 320 exception, although if both play, one would be classified as a "veteran" All the other skaters should be classified as developmental players according to AHL rules. After looking at everyone's back ground, I think Laaouan, Cheveldayoff, Nadeau, Tischke and maybe Kozak, will start the year in the ECHL.

I forgot about Rousek in my original post. I’ve amended it to add him in.

Because Buffalo

The AHL doesn't have the same kind of roster limits as the NHL. Their limits on based on how many vets (players over 260 games of pro experience to start a season) can play each night. Anyone with under 260 games is considered a developmental player and you can play as many developmental players as you want. There is also an exception for 1 player with over 260 games but less than 320. Goalies are exempted from these rules. 13 skaters each night must be developmental players. Otherwise there are no roster limits in the AHL. That makes sense considering every injury in the NHL usually causes callups from the A. You don't want to leave the A team shorthanded when the parent club has a rash of injuries.

TP is in charge and he doesn't let Adams forget it.

Are you ok?

Hopefully all the Swedes and Fins get along with the Russians.

This look like a very young and talented forward group for the Amerks, coupled with 3 good D prospects and solid goaltending regardless of whether Reimer or Levi is the Sabres backup. Forwards - Draftees (10) - Helenius (14th overall 2024), Östlund (16th 2022), Kulich (28th 2022), Rosen (20th 2021), Wahlberg (39th 2023), Kisakov (53rd 2021), Neuchev (74th 2022), Tullio (126th Edm 2020), plus other draftees Nadeau and Kozak will be fighting for roster spots. Veterans (7) - Rousek, Murray, Jobst, Dunne, Cheveldayoff, Slaggert, Warren (last 3 on AHL deals) Defense - Draftees (3) - Johnson (31st 2019), Komarov (134th 2022), Novikov (188th 2021) Veterans (6) - Clague, Poolman, Rathbone, Tischke, Prow, Laaouan (last 3 on AHL deals) Goalies - Levi/Reimer, Sandstrom, Houser (AHL deal) - Sabres camp will determine if Reimer or Levi is the starter in Rochester. I suspect Reimer loses that battle.

Enough of this excuse for KA’s failures to get what this team needs. He tried to get Chychrun. He tried to get a goalie and now he’s tried to get a RW. Each time he’s failed. His job is to get what this team needs and if he can’t, he needs to be replaced.

As the calendar has now moved to August trades take a back seat to RFA signings. It begs the question, is KA done tinkering with the NHL roster? it sure looks like it. We have discussed the possibility of a Necas, Farabee or Zegras trade and they look like non-starters at this point. Necas doesn't want to come to Buffalo and Ana can't really afford to lose Zegras' cap hit right now. Maybe he comes truly available at the deadline. We have 12 NHL forwards under contract - TNT, Tuch, JJP; Cozens, Benson, Quinn; McLeod, Zucker Greenway; and Aube-Kubel, Lafferty, Malenstyn. Krebs remains the only unsigned RFA. Once signed he'll be roster forward 13. We have 8 D under contract - Dahlin, Power; Samuelsson, Clifton; Byram, Jokiharju: and Gilbert, Bryson. We have 3 goalies under contract in UPL, Reimer and Levi. The only real roster questions are whether Levi beats our Reimer for the backup job and how will Lindy put his lines (F & D) together. Do you agree?

Accountability has zero to do with winning %. A good winning % should be the result of an accountable organization. Accountability is getting moved to a lower line or benched when you don't backcheck or make careless plays. Accountability is firing a coach who doesn't fix the PP. Accountability is removing players form the PP when they keep making the same mistakes over and over again. Hopefully when you hold players and coaches (and GM's) accountable, that leads to building a winning culture and that ultimately leads to a good winning %. The Sabres' owners, players, coaches and GMs have had 13 years to create accountability in the organization, but it's never happened. Our players were not asked to make the effort to win jobs in the NHL. Most of the young Sabres were basically given the jobs they have and management simply hoped they would grow into the role they were handed. Once they have a good year that get a long term deal. The Sabres players and GM are a complacent bunch that haven't proven they even know what accountability even means.

Meh! His review of Helenius makes we question the rest of his takes. He says Helenius has limited O upside, but doesn't give a reason why it's limited. Helenis just had the 2nd best offensive season in the Liiga of a 17 year old behind Barkov and we know how well he turned out. Helenius put in 14g and 36 pts in 51 Liiga games before averaging a pt a game in the playoffs. He said he had Helenius in the 20's on his draft board. McKenzie's board, from interviewing NHL scouts and execs, had him 9th. He calls Helenius a 3rd line center. He is flat out wrong. Helenius' upside is as a top 6 center. Let's not forget, his Liiga coach, Olli Jokinen, who played 1200 games in the NHL, thinks Helenius is NHL ready now!

Hoppe and Jokinen make a fair case the Helenius might be “ready” for the NHL. However, I don’t believe it’s in Buffalo’s or the kid’s best interest to start the year in Buffalo even if he is good enough physically. He needs to learn to play at speed on the smaller ice surface. The Sabres also have no need to rush anyone. The Benson situation was unique. The Quinn injury coupled with Benson being required to play in the CHL forced the Sabres hand. He didn’t look out of place in the NHL, but he was often physically over matched. Send Helenius to Rochester. If he dominates, then call him up and see what happens. One other note. McLeod isn’t sitting. He is the Sabres best FO guy and he has NHL experience at wing. He also kills penalties. I’d say Lafferty or Aube-Kubel would sit before McLeod as neither player contributes on special teams. Malenstyn played over 200 PK minutes last year. Of the new 4th liners, I expect him in the lineup nightly because of his PK ability, hitting and speed. Note: Returning top Sabres Pker forwards - Greenway (194 minutes), Cozens (126), Tuch (121) and then Quinn (30 minutes - would be 90+ in a full season).

Why? I like the person, just don’t think we should be paying 2.5 for a player we can replace for the vet minimum. I don’t think he makes the Sabres better on the ice and hasn’t for the last few years.

I generally don’t have an issue with need being part of a draft board, but reaching for a player a few rounds early simply because he plays a certain position makes little sense, especially a goaltender in a weak goaltender draft. Not surprisingly, they drafted goalies in the next 2 drafts and both are probably better prospects than Leinonen. What makes the pick even more shocking, was the very next pick was a huge value pick in Neuchev.

Almost fully agree with this except a couple notable exceptions such as Leinonen and Rosen. On the amateur side they almost always go for value such as Kulich, JJP, Benson, Zeimer, Leenders etc…but those 2 picks stand out the other way. Back to accountability for a second. The lack of accountability for the players has been a cultural issue for years. It seems to me that long-term deals after one good season, the lack of competition for jobs and Adams refusal to “block” prospects have all contributed to player complacency and in turn a lack of success on the ice. After all winning doesn’t matter if you are guaranteed your job and that job comes with a lifetime of wealth. It still annoys me the Adams even offered Girgensons a new deal. As much as I like Z the person, he is kind of a symbol of the problems of this franchise.

I've raised this issue before, but why has it taken so long for this organization to talk about and demand accountability?

And deluxe parting gifts

So now they can trade him to Buffalo. 🙂

KA is not trading Power, JJP, Quinn, Levi or Benson. They are his guys and I agree he can get Zegras without moving any of his guys. We have plenty of assets in the system from tradable roster players (Greenway, Krebs, Jokiharju) to near ready prospects (Kulich, Rosen, Johnson, & Novkiov) to other good to very good prospects (Komarov, Wahlberg, Östlund, and Neuchev) that some kind of package can be worked out that Ana would want and we can move on from without destroying our farm system.

By the way whether Jack becomes "better" than Zegras isn't the point of this discussion. This discussion is about whether getting Zegras would make the Sabres better next season. I really don't think that even debatable given the departures of Mitts and Skinner. We need help in the top 6 and if Zegras is available, KA should put his conservative approach in the garbage and go and get what this franchise needs.