GASabresIUFAN

Yes very, but only Troy Polamanu has $8.3 million hair.

No but……

@Thorner I honestly don’t know what you like about Power’s game. He isn’t physical at all. He is unable or unwilling to clear the crease or knock someone off the puck. He is positionally horrible on defense. He isn’t a very fast skater and doesn’t make good decisions with the puck consistently. He also isn’t a great PP QB. Byram gives us the same level of offense without the PP time and at least he’s working on get better defensively. Basically Power is offensively the same player he was as a rookie and his defense has gotten worse. Paying this guy 8.3 million a year is drag on the franchise.

This is the Sabres every year. Get eliminated from playoff contention and then start playing better.

Power can’t go to Rochester. He is no longer waivers exempt. Great shot by Quinn, who seems to be finding his game 60 games to late.

Power is just awful and didn’t even try to catch up on the shortie.

He knows he’s a wussy and doesn’t care. The guy was the last Sabre into the scrum after the boarding of JJP and didn’t even drop his stick or grab a guy. He needs to be traded while he still has value and we can get out from under his terrible contract. He has 235 NHL games already has hasn’t improved at all on either end of the ice.

It took a while for Östlund to get his sea legs, but he been terrific once he figured it out. Helenius, Östlund and Wahlberg should be an amazing spine for the Amerks next year.

On track for what? Being the softest and worst defensive big D man in NHL history?

I think he’ll beat him out in camp.

Brannstrom is younger (25 vs 27) and more talented than Bryson and has had more success in the NHL. Brannstrom has 294 NHL games with 10g, 67a. Bryson has 251 games with 4g 39a.

2nd blown obvious penalty along with the high stick on McLeod.

Brannstrom will be on the Buffalo blueline next year.

Great goal by McLeod. Byram and Clifton in defense. I’m shocked Washington scored.

They made a recall of Jack Rathbone. Hilarious. 🤣 This organization is clueless.

Trade him for a 1st and a defensive D and then trade the 1st for 2nd defensive D.

Kulich only showed he was ready to displace someone after getting time in the NHL. Thank you for proving my point. Kulich played in one NHL game last season and this season had little impact in his 1st 17 games with just 2g, 0 assists. As to Novikov, he has been the Amerks best defensive D that last 2 season despite being only 20 years old in 2023/24 and 21 this season. He hits, blocks shots, and even chips in some offense with 23 points last season and 20, including 6 goals, so far this campaign. The thing that stands out is he was the Amerks leader in +/- in 2023/24 at + 20 and now this season he is the leader again at +30. Metsa, the next D, is only + 18. This indicates to me that he is doing a great job at suppressing opponents offense. Novikov's performance isn't really a surprise. Novikov played the majority of his 18 year old season in the KHL and was full time at 19. Now look at the Sabres. Besides Dahlin, the rest of our D group stinks defensively. The Sabres have allowed the 5th most goal in the NHL this season. Is it really so hard to believe that a defensive stalwart like Novikov might do a better job at playing defense for the Sabres than Clifton, Bryson, Samuelsson, Power or Byram? Certainly it's reasonable to give the kid a shot because there is almost zero chance he'll be worse than Bryson or Clifton. The Sabres just got blown out by the Flyers; allowing 7 goals. Haven't you seen enough of our crap defenders to be willing to try someone else?

These current players already know winning isn't important to this organization. LOL! Did bringing up Murray, Rosen, Dunne, Kulich, Kozak change the messaging? Bringing up a player who has earned an opportunity sends the right message to the players in the A and to the players in the NHL. That message is roster spots are earned and that players in the NHL who aren't doing what is necessary will be replaced. This team has already been eliminated from the playoffs. Finding out who can contribute long-term is much more important than winning an extra game here or there. Don't forget I have been harping on bringing in two veteran stay at home D to this roster for 3 years. I've wanted failed D like Joki and Bryson gone for years. You want to build a wining culture, this team needs to make better offseason acquisitions. That doesn't change the need to properly evaluate your prospect pool.

What are you talking about? Teams have been brining up prospects late in the season for 100 years to help determine if they are ready for the NHL. We are not talking about Novikov or any of the kids playing out the season in Buffalo, but for a few games. Practice? Don't make me laugh. Clifton has been mostly lousy this season. He has 2 pts and a -3 in his last 10 games, and this maybe his best stretch of the season. Who the heck cares if he is benched for a few games to see if a key prospect is ready for NHL duty. It's not like Clifton is helping us win games down the stretch for a playoff spot run. My guess is Novikov is a better player than Clifton right now. The best way to find out is to put him out there against NHL competition.

Send Dunne down, bench Clifton and play Novikov for example.

I didn't say give them a roster spot. I said lets give the kids a few games as a reward for a good work in the A and to see how they look against NHLers. How do you know if Novikov's skating is NHL quality until you see him in the NHL?

Anyone you want to see get a callup? I was looking at the Amerks stats, and maybe it's time for Novikov to get a few games in the NHL. The guy is +26 for the Amerks. Metsa is the next closest D at +16. Östlund in the next closed player at +17. Novikov has to be doing something right. Lets find out how his skating looks at the next level. I'm also wondering if Östlund should get a look see as well.

While there is much truth to this analysis, occasionally young guys do build on their late season heroics. Whether JBD is one of those guys only time will tell.

Gotcha! Yep, I agree a terrible draft pick by the Sabres.

What? Isn't he a center for Columbus? I doubt Leinonen every becomes a full time NHL goalie.