GASabresIUFAN

https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/team-resets/buffalo-sabres-roster-changes-for-2024-25-season NHL.Com's review of the Sabres off-season so far.

Got to love spell check.

Wow!

It's why the deal needs to be done, assuming ANA really has him on the trading block. I don't think Krebs starts the season in the lineup as is unless he outplays Malenstyn or Aube-Kubel during camp.

I believe we'll get the 2.6 player as he'll have better snipers to pass to here than he's had in Anaheim. My guess is Greenway would be trades to Anaheim in the deal for cap reasons.

What does it look like if KA acquires Zegras. Odd man out would likely be Greenway or Aubrey-Kubel.

Their GM was smart enough to bring in Soupy and then Hossa the following season. We are still waiting for Adams to bring in a top player in his prime to get his team over the top.

Benson and Levi are still prospects. Both players are waivers exempt. Levi played in the A last season and may again this season. Benson just turned 19 and can be sent down at any time. As I just illustrated, in another thread, with other 18 years who recently played in the NHL, they commonly get sent down in year 2. Kotkaniemi and Cole Sillinger are recent examples. We also saw Mitts and TNT sent down after playing 100+ NHL games before they established themselves as NHL players. The strength of the Sabres pipeline is numbers. We have depth at all positions and some players with significant upside. However, the biggest issue with the pipeline, outside of Benson and Levi and now maybe Helenius, there are no elite prospects. Most our best forward project as middle six players and our D look like interesting players, but most again project toward 4-6 type players. I don't think we have a top 4 pipeline, but we certainly, given our depth alone, at in the top 7.

According to Quanthockey.com Benson's 18 year old season was tied for the 58th best season by an 18 year old in NHL history. His 30 points were tied with Doug Smith and decent Andrew McBain. Immortals Gretzky, Hawerchuk and Crosby each had over 100 pts as 18 year old NHLers. Housley is 9th with 66 pts. Skinner has 63 pts at 18 (12th overall) and that is pretty much who he ended up being. Our friend Tim Connolly had 34 pts at 18. Here are some recent comparables. 1) Kotkaniemi - 34 pts at 18 years old. He struggled in year 2 and got send down. The last 3 seasons have been 29, 43 & 27 pts for the former 3rd overall pick (2018) 2) Cole Sillinger - 31 pts at 18 years old. Like Kotkaniemi, he struggled some in year 2 and got sent down. He has 11 pts in year 2 (64 games), but rebounded last year with 32. He was drafted 12 overall in 2021 3) Tim Stutzle - 29 points at 18. Has really only blossomed since being drafted 3 overall in 2020. Pts per season since 58, 90 and 70 last year. 4) Pastrnak - 27 pts at 18. Former 25th overall pick in 2014 is one of the best goal scorers and players in the NHL. Career pts by season since 26, 70, 80, 81, 95, 48 (48 games), 77, 113, 110 last season. 5) Barkov - 24 pts (54 games) at 18. Maybe the NHL best 2 way forward. Pts per season since 36, 59, 52, 78, 96, 62 (66 gms), 58 (50 gms), 88, 78, and 80 6) Kakko - 23 pts (66 games) at 18. The next seasons were 17 pts (48 gms), 18pts (43 gms), 40 pts in 22/23 and 19 pts last season (61 games). 7) Jack Hughes - 21 pts (61 games) at 18. Since then 31 (56 gms), 56 (49 gms), 99 and 74 (62 gms). So what can we expect in year two? I personally believe his counting stats will improve somewhat. I'd like to see him get to 15g and 25a next year. However, I also wouldn't be surprised if he struggles some in year 2. I think he is probably better than Kotkaniemi, Sillinger and Kakko, but does he have the same upside as Hughes, Barkov or Stutzle? Probably not.

As I outlined above we are at about breakeven with what we lost. The question is and has been, how do we get the extra 20-25 goals at a minimum to become a playoff team. I'd like to see us replace a depth forward with a scoring forward. For example, trade Greenway and acquire Zegras. That would solidify the top 6, give Cozens and Quinn a bona fide lethal playmaker to elevate their games and given Benson time to develop on the 3rd line with McLeod and Zucker. Right now we are asking Benson to be the catalyst that creates for Cozens and Quinn. That's asking to much of a 19 year old IMHO.

Between the trade deadline and the off-season moves, the Sabres dumped 72g & 89a from last year's squad If you just ask the newcomers to give the Sabres what they gave their old teams you get Zucker 14-18 McLeod 12-18 Lafferty 13-11 Malenstyn 6-15 Aube-Kubel 6-10 Totals 51-72 We seem a little short in the aggregate. If you add in a full season of Quinn (add 18g-20a) you about break even with what was lost. This team is going to have to score at least 20-25 more goals than last year's squad while maintaining a similar goals against to make a serious run at the playoffs. That's going to have to come from growth in Benson, and better years from our top 5. The top 5 most also stay healthy because there is no real scoring depth on the team behind them.

Correct. As the 6th wing he should skate on the 3rd line JJP Tuch Benson Quinn Zucker Greenway

With Quinn's return Skinner became the 5th wing with Greenway 6. (Tuch, JJP, Quinn, Benson.) With those 5 returning, Zucker is currently the 5th wing. At the end of the season the Sabres fielded a line of Skinner Krebs Greenway (xGF 42%, but GF% of 67%) for almost 55 minutes.

But isn't he really the current replacement for Skinner? Tuch, TNT, JJP, Quinn, Cozens, Benson, and Greenway all return to their roles. Mitts' job went to Krebs who has been demoted to a 4th line (or 13th forward) role in favor of McLeod. Skinner was replaced by Zucker The 4 bottom of the roster forwards at the end of last season were Jost, VO, Robinson and Z. Now the bottom of the roster forwards are Kubel, Malenstyn, Lafferty and Krebs.

Obviously being sent packing after a Cup run has got to be disappointing, especially when you've been replaced by Henrique. However, he truly has an opportunity to become a semi-core player. We have him for at least 2 years and if he continues to improve to say a 40pt player, he could be here for the next 5-6 years and be a vital piece of the hoped turnaround.

https://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/excited-ryan-mcleod-ready-for-great-opportunity-after-trade-to-sabres/

12 pages on Beck Malenstyn. Wow ! or sad?

That's a positive review. McLeod is really the key. If he can play a solid 2-way game and add just a touch more offense, the team should be improved.

I'm a little surprised that Hockeydb.com or hockey-reference.com hasn't built a site similar to capfriendly.

My understanding is that they bought the site to essentially hire the team that ran the site.

https://puckpedia.com

https://www.nhltraderumors.me/2024/07/analyst-calls-buffalo-sabres-move.html

Rolling 4 lines doesn’t mean the 4 lines all play the same amount 5 on 5. It just means that the bottom 6 get consistent PT. If you assume about 10 minutes a game of PP/PK play per game how do you allocate the 50 minutes 5 on 5? Would it really a surprise you if the time is generally allocated 15, 15, 10, 10?

I don't think either our 3rd or 4th lines will be seeing more than 10 minutes at EV. This lineup is top heavy scoring wise and they'll get the minutes.

No reason to invest in a whole new fast and physical 4th line if Ruff didn't intend to use it.