FrenchConnection44

I recall McLeod’s name mentioned a few times in the playoffs and that’s all I know. He was listed as 71st in Lady Byng voting on hockey reference so he’s likely not a dominant physical player. But his face off wins could be big (though some don’t think that’s a thing). Disappointed to lose Savoie but who knows what he’d have become. I will defer to others on this trade. Look forward to hearing what Baker has to say. It’s very possible Adams felt his job was on the line if he didn’t make the playoffs this year, so there’s that. But making the playoffs and playing well could draw a few better free agents.

No one is arguing this, of course. Fallacy of the false dilemma. 😊 Same issue that no one is arguing only players over 6 ft tall can be physical. But size does at times come into play. I just don’t see one, let alone 5 Brad Marchands in our players. Maybe Helenius in what, 3-4 years? By then, who else will have asked out or been traded to a Cup contender, lol? One hopes these guys can play and develop into gritty, hard nosed, physical grinders. I don’t see any intimidators aside from maybe - but who knows - Walhberg. Maybe Poltapov but all we get ins a few reports. And a couple really good scorers. But it is even debatable that any will contribute big this year. Benson Has the mentality but he needs to come into camp close to 180 if I recall correctly he got up to near 170 last year. How many rookies do we expect to make the team and contribute significantly this year? If any? Seems to me the biggest hope is that the same players from last season work their butts off in the offseason and show the talent they have only flashed to date. Which would be great. But it’s only a hope at this point.

Benson is good and a talented player in digging the puck but if he’s going to be a truly difficult player to play against and become a force going to have to put on 15-20 lbs of muscle from his draft weight of 163.

They are hoping it brings the same good fortune that came to the Panthers! Lol

So we pay $5 million for Zucker (ESPN had in the category of “Rickety Investments”) And Dallas signs Duchene for $3 million. Another sign how low we have sunk as a franchise. Somehow this franchise has to regain its respect in the league. Not sure the ownership or management will produce that - have to hope that the young talent will get us to the playoffs and then perhaps we can be a franchise with at least some appeal to better players.

Even Peterka and Quinn - though not under 6 feet - are not big nor physical players. (Not arguing any of these players are not talented. Because that’s not really the point). There just is not that player on the roster, particularly at the forward position, who plays a physical two-way game and has the size and strength to do so with great effectiveness and I believe that is a necessary ingredient to win the Cup. The Marchand’s of the world come around once every generation and even he can get roughed up due to his size. Perhaps it will come with one of these. But we don’t have one, let alone two at the forward position, as yet.

I’m not pushing the 200 lb threshold as the only measure. But I don’t think it’s coaching that will make this roster a physically tough 2-way team. These players don’t play physical because they are finesse types. Even Tage and Power are that. Yes they need speed but Barkov at 214 is not slow. He's the best, of course, and if Helenius turns out to be a physical beast of a player - great. But they don’t have a single one on the team right now. I don’t think coaching will turn Savoie or Rosen or Peterka, et al, into physical two way players (though coaching is a general problem). And how long before Helenius is on the team? It’s speculation at this point. At the same time I would argue from a physical standpoint that all these guys could add 10 pounds of muscle, and still be fast, in fact, perhaps be even faster than they are. While there is a balance, players can be in great shape, add another 10 pounds to their body, and be just as fast if not faster if the weight is good weight. I have little doubt that Cozens could go 205, possibly 210, and be just as fast. Power could go 225 and be even faster. Benson could add muscle as well and be faster. And needs to if he’s to be a real factor, given the kind of game he plays. But my point is more about the kind of game and physical toughness a player brings to the ice. Nevertheless, a guy who is 6’2, 215 and fast and physical will generally wreak more havoc as a defensive forward than one who is 5’10, 185-190. Let alone 175-180. I appreciate Cozens willingness in him, but it’s just not his game. The only guy we really had in the last couple of years who had a modicum of that mentality was Krebs. But he just wasn’t big enough nor good enough. There is not one physically intimidating player on this team that opponents would say, “that guy is a pain to play against bec he will grind you into the ice.” And it doesn’t have to be a fighter.

Benson, Savoie, Östlund, Kulich, Rosen … even Quinn & Peterka are smallish and remain under 200 lbs. Casey remains under 200 and Cozens so far - depending on what is reported by various sources. Not one of those are physical forwards. That’s nine top picks that do not fit what I’m describing. And they just paid $5 million for a 5’11, 192 lb forward who is not some big intimidator In the big picture, it’s accurate. Later round talent is still in the minors and still questionable whether they will pan out. Helenius remains to be seen but expecting a 5’11 190 pound player to get to 200 and to be a physical intimidator or defensively shut down handle a big scoring center is expecting an exception. They also passed on arguably the most physical two way forward available who could be the best physical defensive forward in the draft and the Wings snatched him up. It’s not arguing a few of those players are not talented but they don’t need more of them.

When those guys are critical you know it’s bad. And all those criticisms are fair. Pegula seems more interested in spending on the Bills and seems to be doing so at the expense of the Sabres. We need a billionaire with ties to WNY to buy the team. I don’t see them going anywhere with Pegula. Unless we just get lucky with some players.

Really. If they just landed a physical, 2-way forward we’d be in a much better spot. Just no toughness on this team. Some try (Cozens) but they just aren’t made for that role. Sabres seem bent on primarily under 6 feet, 160-185 pound forwards who all look like future Lady Byng candidates.

To be fair, they are taken seriously as a talent feeder for Cup contenders. 😂 🤦‍♂️

Sure. But it’s not as if they are “lucky,” they drafted Bergeron in the 2nd, Marchand in the 3rd, as well as Pastrnak & McAvoy in the first after the Sabres drafted their players. The year they drafted McAvoy we drafted Nylander. 🙄 They get McAvoy, we draft Ryan Johnson - now 23 and still borderline NHL. As much as people talk about Buffalo’s pipeline, none of our picks have panned out to be stars. Closest is Dahlin but that’s one guy. We have been mediocre to poor evaluators, frankly. If at least one of Kulich or Savoie or Rosen and Ryan Johnson (soon to be 23) are not in the lineup playing well this year, then if not a failure yet, it will be a disappointment given all 3 were first rounders and need to start showing high talent potential. And if Power isn’t 230 and beastly then we are not instilling a work ethic and developing talent either. I don’t think Adams could draft a strong two-way or defensive forward over 200 lbs if he were paid half a mil for each one. He certainly hasn’t been able to recruit one in free agency.

Well, one draft iteration is not a legit sample size. But what happened or didn’t in the past week is neither here nor there to my comment. I’m not directly complaining about Adams (though there is plenty to complain about). Just stating that few appear willing to make a deal with us for our prospects / picks. They want our guys when they make the NHL and we are forced to trade or let them go in free agency. We have been a feeder club for playoff teams.

Watching a lot of the videos he seems like a slightly more solidly built Zach Benson. Not a fast skater, not a big shot, but good intangibles and gritty. I guess Brandsegg-Nygard was too big of a two-way forward, and too much what they don’t have for Adams to draft him (“Brandsegg-Nygard has a professional body already, at 6-foot-1, 207 pounds and is the type of prospect the Wings have focused on in recent years. He's a two-way right wing who is as responsible on the defensive end as he is offensively, with a hard shot and good playmaking ability. He's a physical player who searches for contact with that strong body and plays with an edge.” Detroit FP). Nah, don’t need a player like that! And there is your 6+ ft 200+ pounder. We shall see.

Seems like they did exactly what you didn’t want to happen. Passed on Eiserman and went with a “complete game” player. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Although it could be argued they passed on the guy with the most complete game who went one pick later, Brandsegg-Nygard

So … our picks and prospects are not in high demand and no free agent is hot to come to Buffalo. Guess teams have figured out - better to copy the Panthers / Knights MO - wait til the player is developed some, becomes dissatisfied with the Sabres, then get him for a few prospects and add a cog to their Stanley Cup run. At this point we are just a AAA feeder franchise.

Right. It remains to be seen. On the surface it makes no sense if they are drafting these players. They don't need more prospects - especially long term prospects and the further down the board one moves the more long term and uncertain the prospect becomes. They need talent influx asap. It only makes sense if they are making a trade with these picks in some way.

The voting by Jim Matheson. Lol. That’s some real homerism right there. 3 Oilers. I think a case could be made for Barkov, McDavid, or Bob. Barkov shut McDavid down in the first two games. And McDavid was ineffectual in game 7. And Bob had 4 great games, not 3 like McDavid (really, 2). He gave up 5 goals in the 4 wins. Of course, Barkov was a big part of that. As well as the rest of the Panthers team defense. I’d have voted for one of the Panthers. It was a strange series. One of crazy streaks. Which makes MVP voting difficult. Based on which set of games?

Agree on wanting Edmonton and not liking southern teams winning. I prefer more traditional franchises to win. The Kings are a minor exception since they’ve been around. But still go for northern teams. A Florida reporter tweeted this. This really ticks me off. We should have tanked for McDavid. SMH. Had a solid lead over the Oilers for the top pick thru game 68. The Panthers appear to be the Sabres parent club and we are their AAA talent feeder at this point - which makes me want them less (I’ve never gone in for rooting for former players, even ones I liked, to win a cup with another team. It only irritates me. 😊). Was really rooting for the Rangers. I may watch a game or two in hopes McDavid plays well and can score. Had Dallas won I would likely not have watched a single game of the finals. That said, I think the Panthers are the better overall team with the better goalie. And they have the number one agitator in the NHL in Tkachuk. Hate that guy with a passion. But wish we had him on our team. Or a player like him. It will be interesting to see how the Oilers plan to deal with him.

That statement that he could see in October / November that “it just wasn’t there” - something was missing - is really what many of us saw. Which is why several of us were calling for Granato to be gone in early December. I do like Dahlin calling out the team for not showing up in camp in great condition. And that they need to this upcoming year. Several of these guys need to get a lot stronger. Probably 2/3 to 3/4 of the team could stand to add - at minimum - 10 lbs of muscle. It’s very doable with the right diet and weight training. A high school kid can do it. There is no excuse for Power not to come into camp at 228-230 (after playing at 218 lat year) given his frame. And to be quicker, faster and more dominant. Zero excuses.

So the Sabres South are better than the actual Sabres. Have to admit, frustrating to see us serving as a farm team for the Panthers.

Pretty exciting to see. Good write up.

Watching the Hurricanes on the road is like watching the Russian Olympic team with their red and white uniforms. Almost feels like they copied them.

It's time to start penalizing ***-***** like that. But could not believe they didn't call Marchand on that hook/interference just before the Bruins scored their GW goal.

I am fully content with this. (Eff the whole "wash, rinse, repeat" bs. He took Buffalo to the Stanley Cup Finals - granted it was with arguably one of the greatest goalies in NHL history - still he did that) He has a TON of experience in the NHL (unlike Granato). He had 8 playoff appearances in 14 seasons with the Sabres. Who wouldn't take that after the last 13 years? His successful stint with the Devils, where he guided a relatively young team, further demonstrates his coaching prowess. He's either developed into or had a winner at every franchise he's been with. He's a Buffalo man. Now, Adams needs to add at least 2 high-quality, tough, physical NHL players this offseason—ideally one two-way forward and one top-4 D man.