FrenchConnection44
-
Posts
544 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Posts posted by FrenchConnection44
-
-
8 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:
I wrote in another thread that there are rumors from credible people (not Eklund) that Van is listening to offers for Demko once he gets off IR. The price according to the Athletic should be around a 1st in 2023 and a good prospect. Demko has three years left and does not have an NMC or NTC. I'm not sure why Van wants to part with Demko, but if they are I'd love for KA to get him (not try to get him). This is probably the best in season option.
That said, I have been simply asking for him to try to upgrade Bryson, Pilut and Fitz in season. I think this is much more realistic and would help all of our goalies perform better without blocking any prospects or costing many of KA's precious picks and prospects.
I am not giving up a first for Demko.
I want a shot at Cam Allen. We aren’t going to win the Cup this year. I think we have enough in the pipeline at goalie. A kid like Cam Allen would really be one of those pain in the a** players. He reminds me a bit of Bergeron but plays D. Talented and pesteringly physical.
-
On 12/10/2022 at 1:17 PM, Brawndo said:
Per NHL
That’s an excessive penalty. Two would be better. No blood I’d say 1. What I didn’t like about that video is the guy says Skinner initiated it. No, Guentzel did!
-
2
-
-
On 12/7/2022 at 10:33 PM, GASabresIUFAN said:
Schenn has no trade protection. He doesn’t get to approve a trade. If Van trades him to us, he is going to play for us.
I think what confused the response to your prior post is the wording “Schenn has ‘no trade protection’” which makes it sound like he has a “no trade clause protection” as that is the common wording. Schenn doesn’t have a ‘no trade clause’ in his contract is what you’re saying.
As to whether we want to make that deal … Schenn is 33 and a UFA next year. No one is going to give up much for him. Unless they see themselves as a legit Cup contender. I can’t see anyone giving up a first for him. Especially in this next draft. But who knows …
He is definitely a target but esp in the off season. But the guy I really want off Vancouver is Bo Horvat. I’d go all in for him in free agency absolutely the kind of player we need. 27. A captain. An excellent two way center with size and an edge.
We add Horvat, a strong defensive defenseman and that’s a team that has firepower to contend. And with our youth we have the money to spend - we are $17 million below the cap this year and expected to be $32 million below the cap next year. While we will have to lock up some young players the next 2-3 years, we still have plenty of spending power.
-
I'd say the top 4 are solid for the future. Lyubushkin has a two year deal and needs to get healthy. But we have nothing at 6 and beyond. L has to get healthy - he is on IR. When he gets back that could really help some. But Bryson is a liability.
We need more upgrades there (two). But do have 1 or 2 players in the pipeline down the road (like, Komarov).
-
It is looking bright, imo.
No idea what we will do for free agency. But if we can get Levi in here - he will still need some time to develop but within 2 years he could be huge. Kind of our Grant Fuhr. 😉 Goaltending is something one can never predict for sure. It's often a confidence issue. And Luukkonen could still get better. And needs to.
Two areas I think we need to upgrade.
1. Center: I think Middlestadt needs to be traded for whatever we can get. He has the tools but he just seems to play soft and then disappear on some shifts. We need to add a two-way center in his place. One that can get face-offs in our zone on key situations, and be a great back checker. Dylan is that already, and he needs to get stronger. But I think we need another strong center with good size.
Bo Horvat, if he makes it to free agency, is a player I'd love to have. Physical I've seen him twice this year and he's looked really solid. Good defensive center and also wins face-offs. Add a player of this calibre and our team changes. His scouting report from one site (just the guy to replace Middlestadt):
Has grown into a shutdown center capable of making big contributions even when he is not generating a lot of offense. In addition, he has gotten much better at driving play--even when starting shifts in the defensive zone. He skates well and is among the NHL's best face-off men, meaning his team ends up with the puck more often than not. Is also a team leader who can play a lot of minutes at a high level. Quality two-way center and leader.
We have a ton of small guys coming up in the ranks that are high draft picks and surely one will emerge. But they all are at least a year if not two away and none are heavy on the defensive end.
2. Defenseman: Basically we have Dahlin, Samuelsson, and Power as mainstays. Jokiharu is good with more upside. That's 4. Lyubushkin could still be good if he gets healthy and be a mainstay next year. But I see Joki as more of a #5-6 defenseman overall unless he improves. We have to develop some solid defense. I think 1-2 more defensive defensemen could really shore things up the next few years.
As far as free agents, this year is not great for defensemen. Had Weegar not gotten an extension he might have been a great addition (one of the best defenders in blocking passes). Klingberg is a very good offensive defenseman. Average defensively. We are 32nd in the league in giving up "high danger chances." Matt Dumba will arguably be the best free agent defenseman on the market. He's a good two way player and physical which we could use. I'd really try to go after him if he reaches free agency.
Other than Power, we haven't spent a lot of draft capital on defensemen in the past few drafts.
Ryan Johnson (Minnesota Gophers) - I assume we still have his rights? Seems to be a good player but not producing a lot offensively. His plus minus is solid, though. Also not a big player for a defenseman. No idea what's going on there.
Vsevolod Komarov is a young player with a lot of upside, imo. Good size (6'3, 188 and will probably get to 200 in a couple of years). Only 18. I like the potential there but, again, he's two years away though (hopefully we will get him on the Amerks next year). But he's coached by Patrick Roy so that's a positive. Here's a nice report on him before this past draft when the Sabres selected him:
On the ice, there are a lot of things to like about Komarov’s game according to Remparts head coach, Patrick Roy.
“Hockey wise, I really love his poise with the puck. He’s very patient, doesn’t get rid of it, moves it very well, rarely makes mistakes on his first pass and defends really well,” Roy explained. “He’s a big, strong kid and I feel like he has a good mix of offense and defense because he’s got those skills with the puck.”
Roy is no stranger to coaching talented Russians and overcoming a language barrier after being behind the bench when Alexander Radulov, now a nine-year NHL veteran, played for Quebec from 2004-2006.
Although the Remparts have several highly touted draft eligible players on the roster this season, Komarov is making sure that he doesn’t fly under the radar and the hockey world is certainly taking notice. With six points in his first 23 games, he has been given a “B” rating in the NHL Central Scouting’s latest rankings and Roy is confident his 6’3’’ blueliner has what it takes to succeed at the next level.
“He needs to get stronger, and his skating has to improve, but he’s got all of the tools,” Roy said. “I think he just needs to keep working on his game. He has a great mindset and I see good things coming for him.”
Roy’s endorsement isn’t surprising considering that Komarov’s style of play and his abilities with the puck are well-suited for today’s NHL. Puck-moving defensemen are a hot commodity these days, which means that Komarov could be a popular name on the draft floor this summer.
-
Surely Levi will see the value of coming to a team like Buffalo with all the youth and potential. And the high scoring.
-
3
-
-
16 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:
I thought the deal was premature, because he looked like a possible one year wonder. I’m so glad I was wrong. Tage has taken his game to another level. He is arguably among the top 10 centers in the NHL. His long-term deal looks like a steal now.
That long term deal is one of the best decisions the Buffalo management has made in many years.
And the beauty is he is playing great in the first year. A lot of times an athlete will have a great season, sign a big deal, and his play and production tapers off (in every sport one sees this; in baseball, football, basketball, etc.). But Thompson is playing even better this year than last! Got to give great respect for that.
-
We do have a talented young offense with enormous upside. Tage is fantastic. Great with the puck around the net and a giant shot.
As long as these players make a commitment in the off-season (getting stronger; stick handling; skating) and continue to play selfless hockey, they will put up points and we will get better.
Defense needs input (another two way center; and 1-2 more defensemen).
-
This offense is reminding me of the early mid 70s. That potential.
-
17 hours ago, JohnC said:
The broadcast had a graphic that showed our three rookie players in Quinn, JJ and Power, combined, have more points than any rookie group on any team in the league. And watching our guys no one can deny that there is still so much more room to grow.
Indeed. Quinn is coming on and growing in confidence. As young as these players are they have a lot of potential.
No idea who might be available in free agency. But if we can get the Northeastern goalie to sign. Then bring in a quality two-way center (in place of Middlestadt) and add a quality defenseman with size, we could really be rocking in the future.
I was really pumped about this team at the start of the season. Then it looked like a carbon copy of the past couple of years with the big losing streak.
But whatever happens to the playoff race, if they can keep fighting for games, scoring, it will be a fun year and a year to build on.
love these young kids. It’s a bit like a college team playing in the NHL, they are so young.
-
I also would love to see Power look to Victor Hedman as an example. He needs to add muscle and strength (about 15 pounds worth the next 3 yrs). And needs to grow as a skater. But the raw ability is there. He could be a dominant defenseman. Offensively and defensively.
-
1
-
-
On 11/29/2022 at 1:02 PM, Ruff Around The Edges said:
Call me absolutely nuts but what if Buffalo reached out to Florida and say well take Bobrovsky where Florida eats 1/2 and the Sabres 3 way the deal and have a team eat even more of the contract and make Sergei the #1 for a few years while Levi develops? Or is that contract just too long to even consider even at 50%?
If they were willing to trade him why would we need to work so much for other teams to eat his salary?
His cap hit is $10 M. We are $17 million under right now, $32 million under next year though we will need to add some players. I don’t think the cap is
-
On 11/29/2022 at 11:29 AM, matter2003 said:
Basically all the metrics show this is actually a pretty damn good team. 7th in the NHL in Corsi is really good. Last year they were 20th and the year before 29th.
Anderson has played very well for them having a .917 save percentage and 2.76 GAA. Also has a +319 Goals Saved Above Average, ranking 20th in the NHL.
Comrie(66th) has been bad at -6.11 goals saved above average and UPL at -4.93 in only 3 games has been mind blowingly bad to the point he ranks 62 out of 74 goalies... in only 3 GAMES!! Also mind blowing is UPL has a 50% save percentage on penalty kills...how is that even possible? Comrie is also bad at .791.
The Sabres have the 2nd highest Corsi on the PK in the NHL! They have given up 21 goals on the PK, but their xGA is only 15...that -6 differential is 4th worst in the NHL behind Anaheim, Vancouver and Edmonton. So realistically the Goaltending on the PK is much worse than their PK itself.
The only answer at this point for the Sabres is to play Anderson more until he stops playing well. Yeah he is older but so what? Anderson currently has the highest save percentage of any 41 year old goalie since 1929. Better than Hasek, Brodeur, Belfour and Joseph in their age 41 seasons. Play him.
So frustrating to see this team flailing about due to goaltending again, but even more frustrating that we actually HAVE a goaltender playing well and we aren't riding him. Screw his age, ride him until he stops performing well.
Good points. While I do believe goaltending is a factor and also agree with a few others about Anderson not really being able to grind out 50-60 games like a 25 year old, I also think we need a couple more strong defensemen. Defensive defensemen.
Our offense is pretty good. But when you actually look at the games and the goals - we are leaving way too many open shots in the slot. Especially relative to some good defensive teams.
I would also add that some stronger defensive forwards. Whether that can be developed from within or not is not likely (a bit). But we were doing some quality back checking early on in some of our wind and that had been inconsistent. As well as positioning. One could see that against the Rays.
-
Quinn looked Gretzky-esque on that second goal.
Skinner. Two insane goals.
what is it with this team. Are we just going to go on 5-6-7 game streaks all year, lol.
The raw skill is there (and Skinner is on fire; that whole line is!); they do need some of that added physicality and intensity in close games. Gotta be able to be more physical and handle those tough games. But still feel positive for the future.
-
1
-
-
Well, that was more like the team we saw early in the year. Can they keep it up.
The positive is also a concern. 12 points came from the first line. But that is 12 of 17 points among forwards from our first line. The strength of this team is the first line. Cousins. And Dahlin. With a few future potential quality players. Hopefully we can add to that. But have to develop some intensity.
Nevertheless, great to see a big win. Now go win a close one.
-
This is a start to a discussion. Via ESPN. I am okay with not adding a bunch of free agents. But if the Pagula’s are not willing to start to spend this off-season something is amiss.
I love the nucleus. But we do need some good coaching to improve and, really, an entire organizational structure. Many teams are able to build winners without massive $$$$ such as the Astros or Rays in MLB or even the Lightning in the NHL. Maybe we need to poach the Lightning Asst. GM?
But there is some flotsam to be jettisoned and some fresh blood. And some better drafting. Frankly we have not drafted well, overall, given the draft positions.
VIA ESPN:
Buffalo's season began with promise. The Sabres were 7-3-0 on Nov. 2, boasting the NHL's fifth-best record and sitting second in the Atlantic Division. They've been the NHL's worst team ever since. Back-to-back losses at Carolina and Tampa Bay started a skid from which Buffalo has yet to recover -- an eight-game losing streak (through which the Sabres have been outscored 38-19) with seemingly no end in sight.
Problems: Everyone from coach Don Granato to top defenseman Rasmus Dahlin has posited theories about the Sabres' rapid decline. An increasingly impatient Granato -- who chalked up the skid early on to a necessary learning experience -- has since cited a lack of urgency and identity within the group. Dahlin thinks Buffalo is short on swagger. Killer instinct? They don't have it. Or at least, not enough to pull out of this funk.
Those are the intangible issues. Buffalo's performance on the ice has been laborious.
In the Sabres' past eight games, only Jeff Skinnerhas scored more than one five-on-five goal. Tage Thompson has been an excellent producer on the power play, without the even-strength offense to match. Buffalo is averaging the most goals against per game since Nov. 3 (4.75) and their penalty kill is tied for worst in the league since then.
Eric Comrie's play in net deteriorated (0-4-0, .865 save percentage and 4.28 goals-against average) until he was hurt against Ottawa earlier this month, forcing Buffalo to recall Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as a complement for 40-year-old Craig Anderson. The veteran Anderson has outplayed Comrie of late (.881 SV%, 3.84 GAA), but at his age, Anderson can't be rolled out each night. Despite the Sabres' best offseason efforts, goaltending is a problem -- again.
Buffalo has potential stars on the roster. Granato is still figuring out how best to use them. Dahlin deservedly generated early Norris Trophy buzz that has fizzled slightly along with the Sabres' hopes of busting an 11-year postseason drought. And that's not Dahlin's fault. He has arguably been Buffalo's best player, carrying a heavy workload and shepherding rookie Owen Powerwhen they're paired together. The Sabres just need more of everything, from everyone, everywhere. And that's going to be even tougher to get now that Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons are out with injuries, too.
After a hot start to the season, the Sabres have struggled. Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Solutions: The Sabres didn't add many pieces in the offseason. They were prepared to go to battle with a young core of players who will, in theory, be the bedrock of great Buffalo teams to come. What's happening now is a reflection of that choice.
Granato pointed out too many poor efforts following Buffalo's recent loss to Toronto. He called for more determination, for the team to "dig down" and work their way out of this hole. Granato believes the Sabres' youth to be a major benefit in that. But how?
Thompson, Dahlin, and Dylan Cozens have continuously put in the effort, with or without the desired results. That's the example Buffalo needs to follow. Their situation doesn't offer the most obvious solutions because, technically, the season is unfolding as planned. The next generation of Sabres is here now and doing its best to perform. Cultivating the right mindset that leads to consistent execution is part of that.
The Sabres showed real flashes of early potential. That's not gone. One greasy win to end the streak goes a long way. Forget about expectations or postseason pressure. The Sabres have to decide, first and foremost, who they are, and what habits to hang their hat on game after game.
-
Of course. A hat trick. F him!!!
-
1 minute ago, Pimlach said:
Cuzzy is my kind of player.
Love him. He needs to get stronger. If he’s 6’3 200 he would be a beast on the ice with his spirit and grit. Love him.
-
5 minutes ago, Cheektorado said:
Maybe Anderson the vet should have been between the pipes tonight.
Been saying that. Can’t believe we didn’t play him.
-
1 minute ago, K-9 said:
The point remains. Bryson and Joker are not optimal. Could be worse, as we’ve been seeing for weeks now.
Joki is good. More potential. Bryson is small and too mediocre. He doesn’t really have anything special to his game, imo.
-
Comrie hasn’t played poorly but why are we not playing Anderson? He’s only played 4 games and Comrie 10.
-
1
-
-
7 minutes ago, Doohickie said:
I'm thinking switching up the lines didn't help. I think Donny picked this game to do it because he figured even if they were off a bit they could still win. He figured wrong. The question becomes, then, did switching up the lines help at all and will it help in the future? I'm not optimistic for the rest of this week but we'll see.
It will also be interesting to see how much of this is on the absence of both Joki and Muel. When they were in and playing it seemed pretty obvious that the strong offense we were seeing was a direct result of a defense that could rapidly turn the play up ice. There was also excellent gap control. We're not seeing that currently.
definitely thinking missing our defensemen hits us. On both ends of the ice. When I see certain defensemen out there I get a bit discouraged that the shift will not produce anything. Having those two back in the lineup will elevate that and lead to fewer bad shifts.
Power clearly has amazing talent but at 19 is going to be up and down. And not as strong as he needs to be. Hard work and his talent will shine through.
-
1
-
-
The most disappointing game of the year for me. Arizona basically went into a defensive shell and then waited to counter attack. We had no one to make things happen.
We need a 2-3 of these young players to emerge as stars. Someone at the level of a Kucherov (there are 3-4 potentially there) or approaching a Stamkos. Neither are big but they are smart, strong for their size, and can dominate with the puck. And shoot.
But we also need these young guys to get stronger. To be able to dominate more. They can skate. They have potential with good height, several have grit (especially love Cousins grit), but they are not rising to physically dominate opponents (not just hits but being able to move opponents, carry the puck without getting pushed off, making plays with an opponent pressing, and so on). When they get that they can weather tough games better.
Concerned about Vegas; but also, more generally, about the team culture getting negative (that’s been a problem for years and it’s tough for teams to eliminate that).
I would also be good with trading Middlestadt. He’s not a center. If we can get a couple of good games out of him then someone might bite.
-
30 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:
Is it safe to say level of excitement right now is inversely proportional to your tenure as a fan?
Have you really not seen this movie before?
Spoiler alert: they don't make it out of the woods.
Well, I’ve been a fan since 1970.
I like this young team. Need some growth and another piece or two but this is the most positive I’ve felt in well over a decade. Probably since 2007 (and that team was loaded with a lot more players in their mid-late 20s and early 30s. So this team is at least 3-4 yrs away from that maturity and experience. While needing to add younger players).
-
1
-
Sabres Best player?
in The Aud Club
Posted
Difficult to say. I went with Tage. His shot and scoring prowess is impressive. Dahlin brings much to the table in scoring and passing. They are the two best for us for sure, imo.
But it takes a team for a player to be good.