FrenchConnection44

Imo at this point you have to go BPA over positional need at 13 given it could be a year or two to get to the club. We can always add RHD in free agency or trade. For immediate help. But if they think a D is the best player on the board, well fine. Players that seem to be trending are Simashev, Pellikka, Moore, and Perrault. Baker mentioned all but Simashev as serious targets. I would be happy with whomever they think is the best player. I see positives in all. That Moore has size, speed, and can be a two way guy is an exciting prospect. Pellikka is small but a righty. And Baker compared him to Cal Maker. link to article below has a really good breakdown on him and one pundit rated him the fifth best overall. Vancouver appears to be interested. https://twitter.com/sportsmde/status/1673885117532569602?s=46&t=EB7RmKnqTQzD3e9c8TXAGg

Potential. my problem with Casey is he’s not a scorer. His shot isn’t especially accurate or powerful. Plus I would like to see Kulich make the team. Possibly Rosen. Casey could center a line with a scorer or two and his speed and decent forecheck could come in handy. He’s a decent passer. Love pairing Quinn and Cozens. big future there imo. Also like your 3rd line a lot. Could do some real damage.

One has to wonder what they are thinking for free agency and who might actually want to come to Buffalo without being too over paid. I’m okay with a trade as long as it’s not one of our young assets. Don’t know how much Olafsson will bring in.

We shall see if this is the right move. First and foremost we still need a significant upgrade at top 4 defenseman and a vet starter in goal to split time with and take the pressure off Levi. This should be had through free agency I was hoping for an upgrade over Girgs. Although mentioned above I don’t see him bring much physicality or toughness on the ice given his size. Certainly not much in the way of a two way forward. Which is really a need on this roster - guy who can set the tone - not with hits per se but just a physical skater and checker. Just haven’t seen Girgs do that. Only one year so not a huge cap hit. We shall see if Adams is building to slowly or not.

Going for the Panthers because I don’t ever want to see Eichel win the Cup. That said, Tkachuk is such a piss ant that I am a bit torn. But still trumps my animosity toward Jack. Let’s go Bobrovski!!

I guess I am okay with the signing. But in no universe, whatsoever, do I want Girgensons back! He offers nothing to the team. It’s just an expense and money that could be used far better. Either going toward signing our young players to long-term deals, or put toward a bigger, free agent signing. I just don’t get, the benefit of Girgensons to this team. For his size, he is not at all a very physical player. And he’s not a scorer either. If he were some sort of epic defender and a strong physical presence on the ice I could see it. But he isn’t.

Final Four has almost zero interest for me with none of these teams being in a legit hockey town. I do not want Vegas because Eichel (the guy has been playing better in the playoffs than he ever did here). If I wanted one team to win, probably the Panthers. Like others, I wish we still had Montour. That would have likely vaulted us into the playoffs. I hope Adams sees that reality and can land a top 4 defender this off season. After the Sabres - I root for the Original 6 (aside from Boston) in the cup chase or the Oilers (loved the Gretzky / Messier era there). Growing up in Buffalo (even before the Sabres arrived) I loved Hockey Night in Canada on Wednesday and Saturday. Never hated the Leafs like some on here do (probably from interaction with Leaf fans). Always enjoyed the Leafs teams of Borje Salming, Daryl Sittler, & Lanny McDonald. Bruins were the team I hated as they beat up on us early (will never forget a 7-2, 80 shot on goal drubbing). Really hated all the Boston teams. Pats. Celtics because they always seemed to beat the Braves when it mattered. I was at a great game 4 win (McAdoo was incredible) and a game six loss on a bad foul call that allowed JoJo White to sink two FTs with no time on the clock (sat just behind the stansion at those games - snuck down to sit by the ball boys!). Crushing. (though they had some amazing players to watch in Cowens, Havlicek, White). Also hate the Flyers for obvious reasons (1975). I digress. Quite Meh on this final four as I think most of Canada & the US will be.

We definitely need a veteran goalie to carry a heavy load and let Levi progress and not be overworked or over pressured. a 1A and Levi as 1B could take a lot of pressure off his shoulders and free him to push hard and improve and build confidence. I’m not for giving up a ton. But if the Sabres (Adams) thinks we are just one top tier goalie away from being bonafide Cup contenders I would question that. I think there are a couple of other pieces for sure. A top 4 defenseman would help a lot. And replacing the forwards likely to leave with a solid two way forward would be very helpful, imo.

There is some sense to the positionless aspect and that may benefit him. Who knows. I'm not entirely opposed to that or certainly giving it a try. But I would not put much stock in his ability to get his shot off simply because it's been neither precise or potent. I'd like to have at least one other, if not two, goal scorer alongside Cozens. I think you'll see Quinn and Peterka pass up Middlestadt in goal scoring and shot % next year. They've had one season and nearly matched Casey (whose first full season came 5 years back in 2018-19) in goals scored. This year CM proved he can pass and set up others pretty well. But Cozens is both a goal scorer and distributor. To me CM is more of a 3rd line level - bottom 6 - player. Cozens is clearly a top 6 talent. And I think Quinn is going to be that; perhaps Peterka. But I'd say Peterka has better goal scoring quality than CM - unless CM develops a sniper shot out of the blue at age 25. I also suspect that within two years, if they continue to progress as they have, we'll see Savoie and Kulich (and perhaps even Rosen) pass up CM for offensive firepower. On the other hand, if we are going to continue to develop Krebs it might be good to put some more offensive firepower alongside him and see what happens there - so that may require fitting CM on a line with Cozens. Part of the trickiness to the equation is calculating how well and how fast these 19-22 year olds develop - relative to Casey at 24; who, given he did miss a good bit of time the past 3 years with injuries, could have a higher ceiling than it appears. But all that is also an unknown. In the mean time we have to push to win, not just develop. I'm all for whatever benefits that. New Jersey is about the same age range and they made a big jump this past year. We've progressed a bit more slowly.

I don’t see the point in resigning Girgs with the cap space and the need for more dynamic two way players on lines 3-4. Just don’t see him offering anything special or unique.

Great piece. That’s the attitude you want. Reminds me a bit of Krebs in that way. Good goals tonight by two promising youngsters.

I just don't know what to think about Middlestadt. He improved this year. But I think he's a passing center. He is fast and can pass decently, but he just doesn't have a great shot or scoring prowess. As a wing, I just don't see him taking advantage of Cozens talent, imo. I can see Savoie in that slot at C next year. But eventually I think Savoie and Kulich on a line would be ideal (not this year but in 2024-25). Both can skate fast. Savoie has lots of great tools for scoring, handle, and passing; and Kulich is a sniper. In fact, in two years - perhaps even some this season - I think our PP will include Kulich and Tage on the wings and goalies will be caught in a cross fire.

Makes sense to me. 🤷🏼‍♂️ I have to say I hope Kulich and Savoie make the team (at least to start. As Baker indicated, they could start them off a bit slow; let them play the worlds; then finish out the year strong). One thing I love about both is that they are both fast, strong skaters (and Kulich has a rocket shot! In two years he and Tage will be crushing it on the Power Play). Watching the Florida Panthers and the New Jersey Devils, even though the Devils will have trouble getting past Carolina, speed is such a big factor. And anything that adds speed to our team will help us. I feel like, past the first couple of lines, our speed / quickness diminishes as a whole. And Krebs is such a positive intangible. Toughness. Fearless. You just want him on your team and in games. Of course, if they decide to put Tage on a wing with Cozens that shuffle things around. But I’m not so sure that’s the best way to go.

I like his potential. Hope he does well at that level.

Would be great to get a top 4 defenseman like Graves. That has to be the prime target position in free agency, imo. We have the cap space (and get a Dahlin deal done). Graves has 33 games of playoff experience and counting which is a big plus. Hard to say how much interest some of these like a Graves would have in coming to Buffalo. But roll out the red carpet. Let them talk with Tuch, Dahlin, and an others about the team. Totally agree on needing some players with Grit. And speed, of course. They don’t need to be hitters. Just tough. Mentally and physically. We have potential but both adding and within the team we need to develop more sand / toughness and players getting physically developed as well. Adding 1-2 vets who have playoff experience and grit to their game could benefit them. This was from a recent ESPN column on the Stanley Cup playoffs and the benefit of playoff experience for the Kraken: Seattle's Yanni Gourde has played 77 playoff games and won two Stanley Cups. Jaden Schwartz has played 96 playoff games, with a Cup win. Justin Schultz has played 75 playoff games, with two Cup wins. Jamie Oleksiak (51), Jordan Eberle (70) and even Philipp Grubauer(41) have ample playoff experience. Getting 1-2 players with healthy playoff experience can also help in the regular season, imo, when we have some big games we need to win. We played in a number of those down the stretch this year and wilted in several of them.

Of course, that makes sense. The issue is not hitting per se. The issue is being able to play a physical game against physical teams and not get dominated physically and, to one degree or another, wilt just a bit in the face of it. That includes taking hits and having the strength to fend off players who are trying to be physical against you New Jersey has performed well as a speed team. I’m fine with that. We do need to get faster on the whole. We shall see if they can win it all. Though they do have a physically strong, quality defender who is becoming a free agent. But I think that labeling it “hit or don’t hit” is a misnomer as well as a false dichotomy. It really is about being able to hold up physically against a physical team. Look at Victor Headman the past decade. It’s not just the hits that matter. It’s been his ability to be physical, skate, and dominate forwards coming into his zone. He can fend them off and drive them away without even necessarily laying a big hit. As well as being a generally good hockey player. He goes 6’7, 244. And he’s been a crucial player on a perennial Cup contender. I’d like to see Power get into the 230-235 range and be that kind of player on defense.

Let’s Go Oilers! Pound Eichel. Send him into hiding.

I am sure this has been posted. But Kris Baker, whose opinion I respect, is really high on Kulich and Savoie making the team. Savoie he sees as making the team, being rotated in and out of the line up; maybe sent to the World Jr. Championships. But ultimately brought back. He and the other analysts with the Sabres are very high on Kulich and his shot and his strength - while realizing he will get stronger. And they seem to see Kulich making the team. His shot is incredible. Add a strong defender in free agency (or two), those two, and another power forward, and I am pretty happy - as long as the young guys still get stronger.

This is the best observation of the thread. Hands down... wherever they wind up. 😉

Gotta improve the defense. IMHO, we have 3 solid defenders. I'm okay with Joker as a #5-6. But at the least we need a strong veteran defensive player in free agency to pair with Power. Maybe another to play with Joker. I don't have confidence in Johnson at this point as a # 5-6 - and it may be best he moves on and we pick up a 2nd round comp pick - but who knows.

Unsure where he will fit but Krebs is a guy I want on my team. He has to get stronger and more physical - as well as 90% of the team - but his scrappiness and his toughness is something this team needs. He's one of those guys that can be a thorn in the oppositions side. I want him there. And I think he can make it. It's a tough call because of the talent entering with an NHL future. But we gotta find a space for him. He has a bit of Brad Marchand in him (not the same player; but the same kind of pesky nature). If he can get to 200 lbs in a year or so he can be a really tough fourth line center or forward. He may be someone we need to trade but I hope there is space for him.

Good breakdown. Going to have to see what’s up next year. But the only thing I am unsure about is Mitts at $6 million? Not a hater. He’s improved. But still some question marks as far as his shot and overall play. Would like to see Heim become stronger, more physical, a better two way guy, and work on his shot velocity / accuracy.

I’ve never felt the hatred on that basis. I have fam in NC and they are big fans. But I generally dislike root against most of the southern teams / expansion teams including the Hurricanes (I am an old school original six; plus the late 60s early 70s expansion teams; and the WHA additions; - Buffalo, of course; and okay with the Kings - with fond memories of 11:00 pm games against Dionne and Rogie Vachon). The one original 6 team I can’t ever root for is Boston. First Sabres game I ever saw was on TV vs Bruins in 1970. Lost 8-2 and if I recall, they had 72 shots on goal. Lol. It was actually a good goaltending game from Daley. Hated them ever since.

McDavid is amazing. So aggressive and quick. What a beast. Love the Oilers team.

Gavrikov would be a really good addition.