FrenchConnection44

At least Murray has improved every year in the AHL. Big long shot but I’ve seen players make similar progress and eventually get to the NHL.

I’m trusting in the Sabres self scouting. And hope they excel. UPL has potential but who knows. I have wanted a trade for a veteran but also don’t want to give up a ton. Middle vote there. But I’m willing to let Levi split time with one or both of the other two. We went with 3 goalies much of last year and I suspect we could do the same this year; unless the young forwards prove they belong. We could carry 8/12/3 Or 7/13/3. Ideally 8/13/2 but either UPL or Comrie would have to show up and be excellent. Perhaps they will. One never knows. It may be of use to recall that UPL had nine games year before last and he put up better numbers than Levi did last season in 7 games. Though I think Levi has more talent. I do think the defensive upgrades and another year of maturity of our young defenders will help a ton! I thought the D was a big problem with our giving up so many goals last season.

Agree on D and reach and the ability to take up space and steer attackers away (Victor Hedman is the quintessential example imo). And that reach can help with forwards also. Yes, a strong forecheck is part of what I was getting at. But even smaller guys like Benson can excel at that. Im okay with some young talent of which we have a ton - regardless of size - entering and playing for a couple of years in the bottom six. Perhaps then using as trade value. But my main thing is tenacity and toughness (mental and physical - Obviously, in general all our guys are tough. But the toughness that can win in the playoffs is another level).

Really hoping we get Dahlin on a deal soon. Cale Maker is averaging $9 million on a long term deal he signed last year with $6.7 million in his final year. He’s the best young defenseman in the NHL and has already won the Cup. Surely we can get Dahlin for 7-8 at $10 million avg. or in that range? Power is likely to wait til next year. I didn’t pay attention to his first deal with us but surprised he’s going to be a RFA after two years. He could get a massive deal if he plays great.

This is a great thread. Love the lists and rankings. As well as the link to elite hockey. Will be keeping tabs on these all year. Also looking forward to seeing some of our boys in the NCAA.

Nice article. I am pretty excited about the prospects and the potential of this team. The NHL lineup has some weaknesses on lines 3-4 but the future is really bright. If we can get Dahlin under contract before the season and get a deal with Power by next year this team should be on fire the next 3-4 seasons.

This is the key. It’s useful to have some size scattered on the roster and big strong defenders or forwards have a role to play in games. What is crucial to winning and going deep in the playoffs is not size but the tenacity and intensity with which a team plays (along with talent, of course, and goaltending). Size is less significant (see Marchand) but having a couple of big, powerful players who can play (Chara, Hedman) can really benefit a team. Hoping Power can become that player. That tenacious dog is something that was missing a couple of years ago and though improved, you could still see wane during the ebb and flow of the season last year. We just had stretches of malaise. As the young players mature and hopefully get stronger and more physical - this intensity will come. When they get there it should be a very good team.

You can see my post above in terms of my perspective on Hasek and the situation in Eastern Europe. Quite understandable. Difficult situation and reasonable people can disagree, but I am OK with drafting the Russian players. Hard to blame an 18-year-old. Hopefully by the time they come into the NHL, this will be over. It’s an awful situation and there are different perspectives on how to actually approach it. I am very pro Ukrainian and pro military support of them because this is such an awful attack. But I also differ a bit from Hasek even though I absolutely understand and respect his perspective. As a friend of mine used to say, “I always think I’m right [in any given moment], but know I’m not always right.”

Was just coming on to post this. As others have noted, this guy is super likable. Knows the team. Has very reasonable and informed takes (even if one disagrees with parts). This was a a solid video.

This is spot on. I lived in the Czech Republic for two years from 1990-92 just after the collapse of the Eastern bloc (also traveled to Ukraine while there - while it was still under the Soviet Union. The ppl we met hated Russian oppression). Russia was horribly oppressive. Ruined the Czech country. It was like traveling back 60 years when I arrived and many people were psychologically ruined. One of my best friends there had parents born in the 1930s and he noted that 60 years of their life was ruined. It’s easy, living so far removed from such oppressive regimes, to think Hasek too extreme. But when you see remnants of it up front one becomes far more empathetic. Just look at how most of the eastern euros (Poland; Latvia; etc) see it. They know. While I am okay with some of these athletes participating, I also get why Hasek is so outspoken. He knows the evil. At the same time, most of the Russian athletes have family living under a threat if they speak out so I understand why they would not. It’s just a terrible situation for all brought on through no fault of their own; but by a deranged tyrant.

Looking forward to watching several Hockey East games this year with 3 prospects at BU, UConn, and New Hampshire.

The physicality that Clifton and E. Johnson bring will be welcome. Their respective hits last year (208 & 121) were easily more than any other defender on the Sabres last season. Their hits the past two years: Clifton: 156 / 208 Johnson: 165 / 121 Hits are not everything when it comes to physical play but it’s part of it. Another element I am hopeful Johnson will improve on D when we are short handed. We let guys sit in the slot way too much.

I like Greenway okay. I’d like to see him be more of an intimidator with his size. He just is not a reliable scorer. It’s possible but I would be surprised if his injury kept him from putting the puck away on chances he had last year. He could still be a player if he would grind harder and develop as a forechecker and defender.

This is great. I am super pumped about the future for this franchise.

This is a phenomenal piece. I am pretty pumped over our prospects. Can’t wait to follow them this year.

Johnson may well need to be spelled some on defense as he’s no longer a 22 minute guy, but his defensive metrics are better than any of our 4-5-6 guys last year. And they didn’t sign him to a $3.25 to sit at #7 on the depth chart. I think Joki can and will improve. How much remains to be seen. He’s still quite young. So while Biron thinks he could be trade bait I’m fine with him competing to play on the 3rd line. I do think the D will be improved. Perhaps significantly. Clifton and E Johnson give it a boost. The young guys will improve. Power needs to add a good 15-20 lbs to his frame over the course of the next few yrs. But we are already more sound on D than last year, imo. I actually have more concern - today -at forward with Quinn out and VO still on the team potentially getting minutes with his -23. With Quinn, we have a solid pairing with Cozens or Krebs. But we still need a replacement at forward as well as an upgrade over VO.

Duffer & Biron discussing Sabres defense in this episode. They both predict the top 4 to be Dahlin, Samuelsson, Power, Clifton. Marty thinks 5-6 will go to Johnson and Lyubushkin (!). Thinks Lyu really came on at the end last year. Assuming everyone is healthy. Thinks they will carry 7-8 on D depending on whether they have 2 or 3 goalies. And he thinks Joki is a big trade possibility if that is the case (didn’t say who would be 7th but based on their conversation one can assume it will be Stillman; if Joki is traded). Of course, that assumes perfect health.

From The Athletic on Pesce (given what he wants and with 3 young D studs to keep; he’d be a 1 year loaner). But if I am the Hurricanes I’d keep Pesce barring a massive haul relative to the player. They are a bonafide Cup contender. ——— Pesce is probably looking for a max-term contract worth something in the $6.5 million range annually. The Hurricanes have been reluctant to give out big-ticket, long-term contracts to those in their late 20s and have several players (Aho, Skjei, Martin Necas, Seth Jarvis, Jalen Chatfield) who will expect raises starting with the 2024-25 campaign. Things could be tight, even with a spike in the salary cap next summer. Any team negotiating with Pesce must also consider his injury history. He has twice had his season cut short due to shoulder injuries, and the wear and tear of playing more than 13,000 minutes since coming into the league in 2015 will catch up to him at some point. What the Hurricanes must weigh is how many years Pesce can be expected to play at or near his current level before the drop-off occurs. And if Pesce is indeed seeking an eight-year extension in the $50 million to $55 million range, that might be too rich for Carolina’s blood. So, then what? The Hurricanes could certainly play out next season with Pesce, who is still a key part of their defense. Carolina hasn’t shied away from using its pending UFAs as “own rentals” in the past — see Micheal Ferland, Dougie Hamilton and Vincent Trocheck. The problem is half of the team’s expected top six — Pesce, Skjei and Chatfield — have contracts that are up after the 2023-24 season. So while Carolina has been able in the past to let a few players leave via free agency without compensation, it cannot allow three defensemen to walk for nothing. That means exploring alternatives — and it’s the reason Pesce’s name has come up in trade rumors.

As to cap space, Buffalo is right at the middle of the pack in the league (essentially even with 3 other teams bet 12-15). Cap space around the league is not quite as bad as many are saying. https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/cap/ Id give up future draft considerations, VO, maybe Östlund and another for Helly. But I’m not giving up any prime assets in the pipeline.

Completely agree. I don’t get all this talk. Gibson has dropped off and frankly I’d rather run with the potential upside of UPL than the downside of Gibson (when look at not only save % but also his quality save % and various advanced stats; just not great). I am not a huge UPL fan or defender. But his 9 games two years ago comp just as well with Levi’s 7 last year. Levi is the better goalie prospect imo but UPL is still only 23. Plenty of goalies don’t come into their own until they get older and more experienced. Anecdotally, when one looks back at Ullmark for example, he didn’t even break in to be a starter (30 + starts) til he was 25. And his first full year he ranked pretty low (30s in most categories); he didn’t really become quality starter til 26. I wanted to sign a vet goalie on a 2 yr deal to help take the pressure off our young guys. Esp. Levi. But I still think UPL can improve and we could have a good tandem with Levi for a few years. Not confident it will be this year. But hope springs eternal.