FrenchConnection44

Agreed. Which is why I mention Komarov as a prospect at age 19 (Johnson still needs seasoning and is 21).

Gonna be a tough one. But we have won some big road games this season, sooo …. Will be interesting to see how the Sabres handle the size and physical play of the Jets. Would love to have one or two talented forwards with the kind of size / physicality the Jets bring to the table.

A lot of talk about the forwards (and Levi) - Savoie, Kulich, Bloom, Nadeau - and rightfully so; like all those guys. Defensively, there aren't as many candidates in the system. Ryan Johnson is the premier draft pick - we shall see how he does at Minnesota and he is 21 already. No big deal really, some players develop a bit later. But one player I am looking out for is Komarov - in the Quebec league. Just turned 19 a couple of weeks ago. Good size and seems to be playing quite well.

Levi gets back to back goaltender of the week: https://nuhuskies.com/news/2023/1/23/mens-ice-hockey-levi-earns-consecutive-goaltender-of-the-week-honor.aspx

Starting to see the young team develop. I like where we are. At goalie, I feel good with Luukko, especially with Levi on the rise. We really do need a 6th defenseman. Komarov (19) is looking very good (+33) although he's on a very good team. Could use a couple of forwards. This really isn't trying to be negative on Mittlestadt, but I'd like to see another forward with some size, who can be a bit physical and still be offensive alongside Jost and Krebs (and eventually getting Savoie and Kulich up will add to the center/forward position). Olofsson is a sniper. I think Nadeau (20) and Bloom (19) are great candidates for forwards on the 3rd/4th lines.

Another clutch goaltending night! UPL has really been good (can't believe some had all but given up on the guy early in the season). He's showing the potential many scouts, not just the Sabres, saw in him early on. And he is still young and has plenty of upside. If we can keep Anderson in the fold another year-plus, that may give time for Levi to come in and let UPL be the starter with the heavier load as Levi adjusts. We continue to play pretty sloppy in our own end and at center ice - giving up too many chances. Can't do that against teams with strong scorers. Gotta keep working on staying focused on puck control and crisp passing. Get some of that sloppiness shored up and it's an even better team. Great to see Tage get a goal and Power and another goal. Some great passes on our first 3 goals. Love watching this team. )

Our young team has had trouble bouncing back on back to back games without rest. Especially after a tough game. This will be tough on the road. Hard to predict. Really have to bring the energy. I don’t think it will be easy to get a W. If we do that would be another step in maturity. Would love to see Tage get a goal and get out of his funk. He’s been solid setting others up though, which is great to see. But all the lines gotta bring it.

Anderson’s extraordinary goaltending last night also puts the lie to using save percentage as the be all end all for goaltending. It is valuable over time. But given how many chances we give up it’s a bit skewed. There is no substitute for video. 31 shots, 29 saves, but it felt like 3/4 of those saves were incredible scoring chances he took away. I doubt there has been a better single game performance by a goalie this year.

Well, the best teams are able to overcome that and get free. They need to do better in breaking free and scoring on odd man rushes and that will slow down those. But when they are able to forecheck without risking much or getting burned, then it will continue. That’s the point. 🙄

The way teams are figuring out to play the Sabres is to just forecheck the heck out of them. Dallas did that quite well. We really have trouble getting free from that and clearing the zone. And we have to cut down on the turnovers. Talent wise, whether it happens this year or in the off season, along with another strong defenseman with size who can skate; and it really could use a physical, two-way forward, with size, who can score, forecheck, and play defense. If we added those two spots and if the rest of the team developed as expected … this team could be a genuine contender in another 1-2 yrs. I like the centers - still young and developing. And a few on the way.

Anderson was other worldly. Some of those onslaughts- especially at about three different junctures in the first period, were just insane. There were times it was hard to believe Dallas didn’t score. One of the best goaltending games I’ve seen.

Savioe heating up.

Both would add physicality to the team. But I would not give up much for them. Given they are loans. But I do have interest in Horvat in free agency. As long as we still get Dahlin and Cousins under long term deals. Horvat adds something the Sabres don’t have. Physicality in a two way forward. Schenn would also add that. And both are positive in the plus minus. I wonder about Schenn’s resurgence - is it the system? Or what?

Let’s Go. Gotta come to play tonight.

The prime culprit this game was zero energy. Likely emotionally drained. That is a sign of a young team. But you are right about physical teams. I don’t think anything will change that until some of these guys get stronger and more physical. Cousins, Power, Krebs, Quinn, even Mittelstadt, all need to add weight in muscle and strength in the off season (+8, +10 lb range). Power is listed at 215. He should be at 225-230 in 2-3 years and a physically intimidating force to be reckoned with (only 19 of course). And he needs to skate better and have more power in his lower half as well. Cousins is variously listed in the mid-high 180s. One listing has him in the low 190s. At 6’3 and the style of fame he plays he needs to be at least 205. If not 210. He’s only 21 still so a ways to go before his body matures. The Sabres need to spend some money off ice in terms of training staff and systems for these guys to develop faster and become not only better players in their skill sets, but stronger and more physical. The Flyers gave teams the blueprint for beating us. Granato has to see this need.

They are just taking it to us physically and we can’t match them. And their goalie has been strong.

This team is so great to watch. Incredibly exciting. Love their youth and fight. Great team win. Still give up a lot on defense but Minnesota is a good team and even though we gave up 5 goals UPL made some huge saves. How about that crowd as well? Loved the building. Six games at home in the next few weeks.

Yes. Easy-peasy.

Tage is unbelievable. So good. Incredible shooter. Phenomenal stick handling. And that play by Dahlin. So smooth.

I am pumped about both Kulich and Bloom. Wouldn’t they make a nice line in the future? Bloom is not playing at quite as high a level but he’s already 3rd in goals scored (14) for North Bay - behind other NHL drafted players (22 & 18 respectively) - in spite of the others playing 36 games and Bloom only 19. he also has a good sized frame once he fills it out (6’2, 183) Kulich is proving himself at the international and minor league levels.

Seems like nonsense to favor Comrie and UPL over Anderson. Anderson is our best goalie. But he is 41 so he needs rest to stay fresh. I think we start to use him more down the stretch. And if we are in the playoffs. I think UPL is better than Comrie at this point - if we look at how he’s played of late and how Comrie played recently prior to his injury. UPL has more upside. Hopefully we can win these two home games. Really want to sink the Flyers. A) because I don’t like them; B) because we have their 2nd round pick and the further they fall the better that pick becomes.

Maybe so. But my prime point is my view of him is not based on his draft status. At the same time we need significant improvement at the center / forward position past the first two lines. I’m just not seeing consistency from CM game in game out. Maybe he will improve as the season goes on.

This chart says it all about some of the weaknesses on the team (Bryson and Mitts). I don't think just looking at the last 17 games since Jost came on the team is a full evaluation of Mittelstadt. One could argue that Jost has reduced Casey's negative +/- by his presence on the line. Nor does it have to do with his being a top 10 pick. Casey has been scoring a bit more lately. But a classic illustration of why I think fans find problems with him is the breakaway goal he gave up vs. the Caps. First, he's weak on the puck and gets it stolen. Then he gets just buried trying to chase. He has good size but he needs to be physically stronger and play with more physicality. Until he does that he'll always flash here and there because of his skating speed; and will get some goals; but he'll also be a weak spot. I suspect if he gets traded or released that, like a number of players in the NHL and NFL who get traded from their drafting team, they realize that they haven't put the work in that they need to. But it doesn't seem to be the case that he is improving as he should be. I don't care about the goals or points but that he works hard and stops making bad plays. If he's a #3 or #4 center or wing, he's got to be physical and tough.

I wouldn’t draw much from this game. They lacked energy on back to back games. They will be better next outing.