Scottysabres

Depends on his position played (center or left wing), the depth he plays at (2nd or 3rd line) and his line mates. If he's the 3rd line center with a fast young winger(s) with him (E-Rod, Baptiste or Bailey perhaps) then 20 to 25 goals with 25 to 30 assists seems possible, even if stretching it to the high end limit. The line will obviously have the tempo set by him, and he doesn't exactly why away from the task. Chemistry will be critical imo. If he is given 2nd line center duties, I expect those numbers to decrease slightly as he may end up with less O-zone time. If, on the off chance, he ends up as Eichel's left wing..........40+ goals with 50+ assists. ?

Completely agree.

Not so much speculation, just a thought but I would like William Nylander on Eichel or Middlestadts wing.

Speed up front with stable puck movement from the back. That is what I expected from Bots given his statements since taking over to date. We'll see how the Skinner deal pans out on speed, but the D is still a bit of a question mark on existing top 4.

Agreed. I'm looking at Sobotka as a line 3 or 4 vet anchor presence. We're most likely going to have a youngster or 2 on those lines I suspect. Berglund I see as our line 3 center.

Deals with immediate need on Jack's LW. Bots appears to have addressed LW overall for this coming season at least. Not really sure how the line up shakes out yet but at least we are addressing some needs for the coming season.

I don't expect any of the young guys up full time to start the season.

I'd like to start by saying.............the thread title is fully open to interpretation ? And as for the absence on the roster, time for the kids to start cutting their teeth.

Thanks GA, lost my email and sabrespace log-in info, SDS helped me out.

I agree the team needs improvement all over the roster. But I also agree an overwhelming majority of that improvement will come from within. I wouldn't count on the cavalry coming in the form of UFA's or trades. Might have to invest some time in a deck of cards while we wait for much of this youth to hammer out their transition to the pro game, see where it all shakes out.

I hope they keep all 3 keeps and continue to stock the pipeline.

KBC is fine I think. I'd like to see a domed stadium for the Bills downtown.

Well at least he's St. Louis problem now. If he looses heart and passion for the game they can deal with it. While I believe St. Louis will be a bubble playoff team this coming season, I don't see them as true cup contenders. I am hoping they fall flat and end up with the 11th spot in next years draft ?

C.J. Smith, Bailey and Reinhart are the last RFA's to be signed. Does anyone see C.J. Smith making the Sabres this year?

So did he or didn't he sign?

Tampa Bay, if they land Karlsson, has a real shot at an Edmonton of the 80's type Dynasty. Holy Stevie Y, unreal this guy gets players and contracts like that.

That concussion issue really derailed his career. Hope he turns it around.

I wonder if Sam's agent is waiting on Nylander up in Toronto to sign to get a number gauged on Sam's worth.

Did you like my new leash ?

I still am finding it difficult to believe they haven't moved at least one of Girgs, Larsson or Pominville yet. I'm hoping their plan isn't to have all 3 of these guys on the roster come October.

So much youth, so much unknowns with the new players coming in chemistry wise, still having slower players on the roster, the defense is a larger unknown and the netminding has question marks. Just to much right now for me to pull them out of the basement yet. I voted dead last.

Looking at the LHD depth in the organization I have to believe a trade is coming somewhere down the pipeline.

Pegula isn't a Democrat supporter, just so your aware.

And honestly, why wouldn't this take place? After all, we are currently speaking on a heavy dose of youth injection. Mistakes will be made on the ice by the young players themselves, of this I have little doubt. That isn't entirely about the head coach, that's equally a part of the equation to gain experience with the speed of the game, the size of the players they will be facing and other variables. That isn't to say Phil shouldn't be held to account for their preparedness, but let's be candid about the situation, we are now rebuilding the rebuild. That alone accounts for some time for Phil. And I'm no Phil as coach fan.

Erik Karlsson is Swedish, no? He belongs in Buffalo then ?