GASabresIUFAN

Ehlers may be our best chance at this point for a top 6 talent upgrade. However, he has a m-NTC (10 teams), thus he has some say where he goes, if he goes. I do wonder if Eden’s Iafallo might be a cheaper and more logically target. He has a bit of an off season last year, but is normally a 35-40 pt player with good energy. He has no trade protection, and is on the last year of his contract ($4 mill). I can see Adams getting him for a 3rd or 4th rd pick and holding onto our prospects until the deadline if we are in contention. By then he’ll know if Krebs, Savoie or Kulich are ready to be 3C’s in the NHL.

Exactly and those career years will skew projections.

I looked at both the guys average 3 years running and also look at their career and recent shooting % with average shoots on goals the last 3 seasons and did a comparison. You bring up TNT who averaged 38 goals the last 3 seasons, but in two of those seasons he had shooting % of over 15%. He fell to 11.8% last season. Prior to the last 3 seasons he had never reached even 10%. Using his Buffalo shooting % of 12.9% and his 264 shots on goal (his 3 year average) I came up with 34 goals. I also had Zucker at 16, and Cozens at 21. Tuch was also less than your projection. His career shooting % is 11.4%. During his career year he posted an out of character 16.5%. Using his career shooting % and the average shots over the last 2 years, I had him at 24 goals. I had Kubel (8) and Benson (14) a little higher than you did. Benson's increase is a projection from having an increased role next season. All told, I looked at all top 18 skaters and came up with 241 goals, plus a fudge factor of 12 for 253. Fudge Factor: I looked at the Sabres goals by players who played less than 40 games for the team the last 3 seasons and they scored 14, 11, 15 goals. The average is 13, but I discounted it one to 12 hoping for better health.

Isn't that a bit apples to oranges unless Quinn is going to play center and focus more on playmaking. Quinn is certainly a better goal scorer then Casey will every be, but his total game? I would agree that Quinn has a very high pt potential. I can see him putting up 75-80 pts with 35+ goals in the next few years. I just don't see the same playmaking skill set.

I think your calculations, especially for TnT and Tuch assume they again shoot at career levels. I also think you are a little generous to a declining older player in Zucker. Outside of his fluky season 2 years ago, he's been more in the 15 goals area of late. I also think your "fudge factor" (other non-roster current players such as deadline pickups or injury callups) is a little generous. Certainly 20 goals is possible, but we would have injuries in the top 18 skaters for that to happen. We'd probably then see a corresponding decrease in the projected numbers of the injured player(s). I came up with 253 goals including a fudge factor of 12. I can see, with an improved PP the team rebounding to 260-265. Krebs would also have to find a new level to his game and some returning players would have to step up their playmaking. For us to hit 273, we'd have to have much better lucky in the injury department and the PP would have to become lethal again.

Lighten up Francis!

That may be Adams plan this year.

Yes, I think his game is more complete and I think he is a better all-around O player. I see Kulich as JJP lite. Good goal scorer who long-term should be a good 2-way NHL forward. Someone like Jason Zucker. By the way Zucker didn't establish himself in the NHL until 22.

One issue I think other teams have with our prospect pool isn't the breath of it, but the projection of the ceiling for the players in it. We have a ton of players you can projected playing in the NHL. Forwards - Savoie, Rosen, Kulich, Östlund, Wahlberg, Neuchev, Poltapov, Zeimer, Helenius and possibly others. Defense - Johnson, Novikov, Komarov, Strbak and maybe others like Kleber and McCarthy Goalies - Levi plus possibly Ratzlaff and Leenders Outside of Levi, who is viewed as a potential high-end NHL starter and even that would be tempered by his size, who in our pipeline is considered to have top line potential? I don't think anyone save maybe Helenius. Nothing wrong with having a pile of middle six forward prospects, but if you are trying to entice someone to acquire a few prospects, having a standout or two would help. Truthfully, I see Kulich, Wahlberg, Rosen and Poltapov as max 3rd line players. Savoie, Neuchev and Östlund, I can see getting 2nd line duty. What about the D. Where do we see the potential of Johnson, Novikov, Komarov and Strbak?

I agree. The CHL rules really hurt Savoie. If he had been 1 day older, he'd have played all season in the A and likely be viewed as a excellent prospect after averaging a pt a game as 19 year old. His height is also an issue right now in the NHL. All through the draft coverage the analysts talked about the draftees being 6'2 or taller. They also talked about how big the Panthers were (only 2 regulars were under 6', Erod and Cousins - both listed 5-11). This is not a bar to Savoie succeeding in the NHL, but if teams are now valuing bigger players it will drive down the value of smaller guys even ones as skilled as Savoie if the skill set isn't viewed as "elite." Personally, I think he is going to prove them all wrong. I see Adams' failure to secure real forward help as a huge opportunity for Savoie, Kulich and Rosen and I believe Savoie is the best of the bunch. The kid centered Benson in Wpg and I can see him beating out Krebs to play between Zucker and Greenway.

I finally watched the coverage of rounds 2-7 and the coverage team agreed that we got excellent value with Leenders in the 7th rd. Height was the issue, but they loved his athleticism in net. They did think he over plays the positions and needs to work on his “hockey IQ.” I took that to mean he needs to be more positionally and situationally aware. They said he has 2A potential which they explained as high end backup. Here is the graphic the they put up.

Finally watched the draft coverage rounds 2-7 and the coverage loved this pick. They think he’s a future 2nd line forward who will bring constant effort while adding depth scoring. here is the graphic they put up.

No help is coming outside Savoie beating someone out for a job. The mostly likely time Adams gets someone to come here is at the deadline, but he may not be the GM by that time if this team stumbles out of the gate.

So we are finally going to have an elite forward again?

Roslovic to Carolina.

While I agree on Adams, most of the players on this team would help contenders if slotted correctly. If we learned anything for this past season with the Flordia Ex-Sabres winning the Cup, Mitts becoming the 2nd line C for Colorado and all of our castoffs signing with contenders, it’s the management of the team that's the problem.

I did a rundown of the podcast in the Boycott thread.

It seemed strange to us as well. That’s why we bought tickets.

No I guess not.

Sadly, I think that it's unlikely at this point. I can see them possibly signing Jack Roslovic. I would also like to see if they have an interest in former Devil Michael McLeod if Lindy thinks there is something there. I hate to defend Adams, but none of the guys we thought might be available changed teams. Roy and Karlsson are still in LV. Erickson-Ek remains in Minn. Cirelli is still with TB. The guys who did change teams were the UFAs. Stephenson and Monahan received big contracts, especially Stephenson. The sad part is guys who could have helped, like Wennberg (SJ) and Monahan (CBJ), signed with teams that aren't good either. Makes you wonder what Adams' plan was.

Isn't that ultimately all that matters. Maybe it's time for TP to find a experienced NHL GM with credibility with players and other GMs to run his team. If not, maybe it's time for TP to sell the team to someone who will bring in legit professionals.

Now that we know that Adams was unable or unwilling to acquire a viable 3rd center for the Sabres, does that change how you feel about this trade?

Beggars can’t do choosers.

How about Daniel Sprong and Jack Roslovic on 1 year deals?

I would love to see the media members ask Adams directly about 1) What is his plan at center if Krebs again proves unequal to the task or you have injuries to Cozens or TNT? 2) Why buy out Skinner if you weren't going to use the cap space? 3) Why didn't Lindy bring in any of his own assistants?