GASabresIUFAN

One small step for Adams, one large step for Sabreland

14 - Helenius - Nice player, could be here sooner that later. I had him 11th on my board. Given our volume of "similar" prospects, pick makes more sense if some of the prospects forward depth is traded for NHL pieces. I would have preferred Eiserman or Brandsegg-Nygard, as they had skill sets needed in our organization, but Helenius is a very talented player and there is always room for very talented players. 42 - Kleber - Was 48th on my board, but some published rankings had him with an early second grade. Love the size and most reports say he is a very athletic for his size. Seems to fit a pattern of KA adding physical D like Strbak and McCarthy. Heading to Minn Duluth in the fall 71 - Ziemer - Had some high 2nd rd grades. Was 68th on my board. Captain of the USNTP and put up 12 pts in 7 WJr games. Skilled passer, and although under 6', he likes to forecheck and has decent wheels. Heading to Minn in the fall. 108 - Osburn - Had him 100th on my list. Reportedly a high IQ good skating D who is good at breaking up the play defensively but isn't overly physical. A classic wait and see what happen development wise. Heading to Wisconsin in the fall. Picks - 123 - Brunet; 172 - Geary; and 204 - Zelenov are three guys I had never heard of entering the draft. My list had 180 guys on it and these 3 weren't on it. It would be miracle if any become NHL players. Apparently Brunet was a teammate of Komarov, so at least our scouts know him well. 219 - Leenders - This is my favorite pick in this draft. I had him 74th on my list and one of the top goalies. He played for Canada at he U18s and was good in his second OHL season. Only reason he last so long is he's only 6'1". Overall, I think Adams and his scouts a solid if unspectacular job this draft. I really like the top 3 picks and Leenders, but Brunet, Geary and Zelenov look like wasted picks. I hate to say it, but this draft has a very Jbot feel to it with drafting Euros and American collegiates early to get the longer development time. Overall a B-.

I'll give you a couple positive thoughts 1) We have 6 good, but no great forwards. JJP and Quinn have another level which could take them from good to great. 2) Dahlin and Power are a good start to a very good D group. Clifton is a useful 3rd pair guy and Mule, if he can stay healthy, is the physical presence in the lineup we need. 3) Levi is a future franchise goalie and UPL proved he can be an NHL started. Goaltending, which has been wondering in the desert for 40 years, is now a strength. Now the issues! A) The forwards after the top 6 and Greenway are a complete void. We need to be rolling 4 lines and right now we can barely roll 2. We lack depth scoring, no good centers after the top 2 and not enough physical play even with Greenway and Beck. B) Byram is a mismatched piece. He is not a good pair with Power or Dahlin. Byram's xGF was 46% with Dahlin and 37% with Power. Our best way forward is probably Power & Dahlin (55%), Samuelson with Joki (56%) & Byram with Clifton (52%). My preference is to upgrade Joki, but I don't see that happening. Stats https://www.naturalstattrick.com/pairings.php?fromseason=20232024&thruseason=20232024&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=BUF&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410

Dude, it look awful.

Forwards JJP TNT Tuch Benson Cozens Quinn ?(Savoie) Krebs(rfa) Greenway Malenstyn(rfa) ???? ???? (Rousek) Defense Dahlin Samuelsson Power Joki(rfa) Byram Clifton (Johnson - Clague) Goalies UPL(rfa) Levi Savoie is probably a favorite to make the roster at this point. Does that projected 3rd line makes you feel pretty good about next season? Bryson(rfa) also in contention to return.

This is the way

It’s becoming clear that Adams hasn’t displayed the guts necessary to make an aggressive move to improve his roster. His last two major moves have significantly downgraded his offense by trading Mitts, trading away his best playmaker, and buying out Skinner, one of his best goal scorers. His moves to “upgrade” the defense, Stillman, Clifton, Johnson, Lyubuskin, and now Byram, are all 3rd pairing quality players or less at this point. Byram’s O skills are top 4 potential, but his D metrics last season were bottom pairing and we need better defensive play. Only the trade for Greenway is a roster upgrade and that wasn’t much of a risk. Just think we got Greenway for 2 plus years for a 2nd rd pick. This draft Adams just wasted a 2nd on a an Arb eligible 26 year old RFA 4th line player.

Actually the buyout came after the draft, so technically there was no major move during the draft.

As much as I loath Kevyn Adams the GM, we as fans are caught in the catch 22. We either maintain some level of hope that Adams can fix the roster or give up on the team completely. The Sabres have been my favorite team I was little and attended my first game their inaugural season. I was at the Bat game and there when they beat the Soviets twice. I’m not yet ready to give up. However, Adams needs to add the following pieces by the end of next week: A middle six center, a scoring winger to replace Skinner, and at least one D who can beat out/replace Joki in the top 4. A couple of these guys also need to physically hard to play against. The deadline is July 5th Kevyn.

He’s also 6’7”

Just think Skinner’s buyout will last just longer than Erhoff’s remaining payments. I’m going to be optimistic and say that TP wouldn’t have approved the buyout without some key acquisitions in nearly ready to be announced.

Can’t wait to see how this board reacts when Adams gives him a 2 year 3 mill per season contract.

So the buyout was after the draft, right? I guess the "no's" win. Also swapping Jeff for Beck is currently a step in the wrong direction.

No idea why that drafted him that early. He was 185th on Central Scouting's NA list and no one elses. I'm surprised he got drafted at all.

I had him 74th. Nice pick up.

I just realized Beck is an RFA with Arb rights. You go Kevyn.

Bye Jeff, thanks for the funny videos and 2 good seasons.

There better be some significant acquisitions coming and soon.

Is Matt implying that Adams received the least value for his pick?

I want it remembered that I didn’t start this thread. I’ll admit that the thought had occurred, but I was going to wait until at least July 5th. So far the team is not improved.

I love Adams. He’s such a good GM. A 2nd for a lousy player. When will the fun never end?

Door no. 3

Good player, like the pick, but whatever. Just another prospect. Would rather have had Eiserman, but something turned teams off from Cole. We may regret not staying at 11 as Dickinson and Buium fell to 11 and 12 respectively.

Like he’s done the last two years? I agree with @thewookie1. If Adams brings back the same roster save a few bottom of the barrel FAs like last offseason he should be fired before training came starts.

He will make no move during the draft to improve the NHL roster.