Drag0nDan

The thing ive noticed is how much quicker dahlin,joker,bryson are when exiting the zone. They're trying to get it out of the zone quicker instead of the constant back and forth between defensemen allowing the other team to set up. They still get stuck and do that here and there, but trying to attack the zone with pace is better than dump and chase and cycle the wall.

I bet we're on the no-trade list for Dumba, but he'd be an interesting add as a RHD.

Eakin saves 1.6 in cap during the flat year, and adds 800k in 2022. You also save 800k in cash. Miller saves 2.6 in cap, adds 1.3 in 2022. Savings of about 1.3m in cash as well. Miller's only becomes positive if you anticipate carrying him as a 7th dman (assuming they upgrade at RHD), in which case find someone cheaper than 3.875 million per year. Eakin is the worst player on the team and can probably stash for temporary cap benefits. I think eakin is possible simply for the cash you save by dumping him. I honestly think seattle takes miller even without much of a pick.

Eichel played 21/56 games Girgs 0/56 games McCabe 13/56 games Okposo to miss the last like 13, Cozens missed time twice Ullmark has missed a bunch of time, same with hutton In addition to several players getting covid at once and the team returning shortly after and looking terrible. But now the C and both A's are out for the rest of the year, another 4th line leader, and the starting goalie. This year i think the best buyouts are eakin and miller. Assuming you can upgrade miller.

Borgens going to have about 20 games of experience when its all said and done. Whether he stays or goes, i don't think he's penciled in buffalo's top 6. He should be exposed, and if he's not taken he will likely have his work cut out for him be it with competition from Miller, or someone else buffalo signs. Risto-joki-miller is the top 3 RHD at the moment, and I'd be aggressive trying to acquire a new one. If you do, you can either stash miller or buy him out. I'd play him to see if he's worth being a part of buffalo moving forward. They can always trade him too.

They're trying to get them to say something they can print/talk about. He didn't want to take the bait.

I think Borgen comparisons may be a tad overblown. He's 24 going on 25. He's played 8 NHL games and has registered 0 points. And he has 25 points in 140 AHL games. Any other team in the league is praying you pick this guy - he could be the next mike weber for all we know. I'm not saying I want to lose him, I just have no loyalty to a defenseman that couldn't crack this team the last few years, bad coaching or not.

I think paraykos a big boy too - i thought borgen looked smaller.

5 against boston, 4 against pitt, 1 against Wash, 2 against the islanders and 2 against the rangers. How many points do we honestly expect to get? Especially with Tokarski in net for some... Right now we've got 3 points agianst washington in 7 games, 1 point against boston in 3 games, 0 points against the islanders in 6 games, 0 points against pittsburgh in 4 games, and 6 against the rangers in 6 games (2-2-2). No more games against the flyers or devils who are the teams buffalo has had success against, and the rangers are fighting for a playoff berth. I don't like our chances. would be impressive to have an 18 game losing streak in a shortened season and not finish last.

Risto hits, has some offensive upside and arguments can be made that he may be better should he be away from this organization.

His upside is like pysyk though. Is that enough for a team to want him?

I don't think any of those like 7 exposed players are true building blocks. Asplund has looks of a solid bottom 6 forward. Borgen looks like he could be a decent defensive defenseman. Okposo won't be picked. Eakin won't be picked (assuming they've watched him play hockey). Bjork and Asplund are both young guys with some bottom 6 upside - i do like asplunds shot. Borgen i watched play like 4 games and I thought he looked alright. Girgensons is coming off a major injury and is probably somewhat overpaid. Several of them fetch nothing in a trade, and others would fetch very little. Plus you get to protect 1 of the forwards. Depends what other defensemen are available in the expansion draft.

I'm reluctant to lose a player who has some value for nothing. If asplund and borgen dont need to be protected youre looking at Bjork, Girgensons, Okposo, Eakin, Miller. They might take Miller out of that group without the pick.

At this point in the season this has to be the primary focus so i would hope yes. There's plenty of AHL schlubs we could call up. And i would... he has trade value at the very least.

The goal is to avoid a player you want to build around. Risto is on an expiring deal and theoretically is an asset - so id protect him over borgen. If we wanted to steer them away from a certain player - expect to pay a decent premium.

Who's exempt? Asplund? Bryson? Ruots? In any case - looks about right. Funny that olofsson was like a future building block before the season, and now I view him as Kotalik. I know they're taking him if he's exposed, but i can't help but think he's never going to be much more than a guy with a good shot who's probably overpaid.

I don't think its a stretch to say that his impact is felt beyond his point total though (although he does have more 5x5 points and goals than hall). He takes draws, starts in the d zone, kills penalties, blocks shots, hits people... etc. He plays more of a 200ft game than Hall, and that's what Toronto needs.

There just isn't that level of accountability with the sabres as a team like the Bills. I feel like there were incidents with partying and the Bills, poyer's drama, zay jones incident. And it seems like the player almost felt like they let down their team.

Sure, you are absolutely right. It becomes a problem when it affects your performance on the job.

I tend to agree with you LGR4GM - Reinhart and Eichel both came in right around the same time as these two guys who are notorious partyers. O'reilly had a noted DUI. Lehner wrote an entire article about how he was drinking on game days.

Of course. Just sharing a rumor i heard - I don't know anything myself and its totally unsubstantiated. I do think that the young core of this team has or had a partying issue. Making one of that core the captain probably didn't help much either.

The he hurt his nose kind of rehab.

I'll never understand the quinn pick tbh. I didn't see rossi as like this dominant player, but dinging players for size isn't it either. Hopefully they saw something special and thats why they went with Quinn. But it sounds like I would prefer the Rossi type of player.

I think in this climate it allowed him to say no to the bruins offer and take buffalos knowing if it doesnt work out, i can still make it happen with boston and get my pay day. He was also traded last season and had no say, so i think he was thinking if I'm getting moved this time I want a say.

I think the challenge scouting hockey is that - they're all so young. The desire for greatness, the want to be faster, stronger, how to overcome adversity - how do you scout that? Give me the player with that desire, not the kid whos the fastest or with the best shot. I love watching diggs offseason training regimen - its weird stuff - but its all designed to get faster out of his breaks, improve his balance, and improve his general ability to play the position even the slightest bit. I want players who want to improve their weakest attributes, and generally want to be great. I don't expect this sabres draft pick to have an impact next season - but i want them to be a player who truly has that competitive spirit and desire to be great.