JohnC

I'm more than happy with the Comrie signing. If I had my druthers, I would have preferred a second goalie being added. I'm just queasy about Anderson's durability as a backup. My sense is that KA is comfortable with UPL being next man up. We shall see if he is worthy of that trust.

In addition to the lineup flexibility that you described with the added talent there shouldn't be as great a drop off when the inevitable injuries happen. This more robust lineup has more cushion to absorb injuries compared to last year.

Assuming that the Skinner/Thompson/Tuch line stays in tact as our first line it looks like there is enough talent to configure an A second line and a B second line where they will be on the ice for nearly the same amount of time. That's a reflection of the talent pool increasing. For the past number of years, players were playing on lines and defensive pairings above their talent level. That is changing because more players and better players are competing for those higher lines and pairings.

Just a general observation: As a group this is a very good skating and skilled group. I'm aware that you can't draw too much from this particular format where there is a lot of open ice and not much defense but this group can skate.

It's fair to believe that Ottawa and Detroit are in the same strata as Buffalo is in. As you have perceptively pointed out to @PerreaultForever there is a valid reason why Buffalo didn't make many outside additions to the roster: The organization had the replacements within their system. Quinn, JJ and Power are players who will be replacing lesser talented players. And not only will they be better than the players they replaced but they will have significantly more potential than the players they will take over for. It seems that you, @dudacek, I and others believe that the 16-9-3 record at the end of the season reflected a positive trend. And it should be noted that this record materialized when the roster was mostly back to health. There was a big difference in play when Olofsson and Mittss were hurt and when they were healthy at the end of the season. While some others use the full season record as their measuring stick, others are drawing more meaning when our roster was fully healthy. (As you have also noted.) We'll just have to wait and see who is more correct in their assessment. I'm in the optimistic camp.

The Sabres getting better this upcoming season will be more of a function of the young players who were on the roster last year getting better than the prospects moving up the ranks. Tage, Mitts, Cozens, Dahlin, Joki, Krebs (also a prospect who played some NHL games), Bryson and Samuelsson are players who already have demonstrated that they can play in this league. The issue becomes how much better will they get? I just think that the listed players have more growth potential that should be evident next season. I'm not disputing the fact that Detroit, Ottawa and Columbus made moves to bring in talent. The reason that the Sabres didn't is because they had players such as Quinn, JJ and Powers who should be added to the roster. The Sabres did add a goalie and the Toronto defenseman so some obvious needs were addressed. I don't know how teams such as Ottawa and Detroit will do in comparison to Buffalo. As it stands, I consider these three teams in the same strata. It will be interesting to watch how each team will rank in comparison to one another.

Don Granato was asked on WGR why the team was playing so much better the last third of the season. He said that is when we got our injured players back and when players who were playing hurt got healthier. (Just as you stated.) Olofsson and Mitts were two examples of impaired players getting healthier resulting in better play. What should be encouraging is this team's talent base is getting deeper. There is more depth here where a backup or even a callup from Rochester should be able to fill-in without a major drop-off in team performance.

I don't doubt that a coach told you that he felt that Thompson would eventually go back to wing. I just don't see that happening. He did play wing. And his talents were stifled. My understanding is that Don G. in the offseason made the decision to move him to center, where he has flourished. In fact, I have heard DG state on more than a few occasions on WGR that he believed that there was still more upside for him at the center position. I agree with the last sentence in your post. That's what KA has repeatedly said since assuming his position. And his actions have underscored his rebuild strategy.

Yes, absolutely Asplund has a place on this team. He is a good defensive player who has some room to develop more on offensive. Quinn and JJ are second line players, maybe higher. Asplund is a third or fourth line player who has an important role on those lower lines. That lower line role shouldn't be dismissed. I'm an Asplund fan. I really like his game and effort. I'm confident that the GM, the coaches and his teammates appreciate and respect his contributions.

You ask the key question whether the late season success represents a point of demarcation of an upward trajectory from its struggling past. I'm inclined to think so (but not sure) for the primary reason is that I witnessed a collective improvement from the enlarged core of young players. And if so, that improvement should continue. But as you indicate everything is relative. Just because we get better that doesn't mean that teams such as Ottawa and Detroit won't also get better at a faster rate.

I hope you don't mind if I ask you as a STH (paying customer) some maybe intrusive questions. As a loyal fan who backs up that loyalty with your $$$$ are you on board with what the GM is doing and is accepting of the rebuild strategy and rebuilding timeframe? Are you and the STHs you know optimistic about the long run and near term prospects of this team? And for someone who has already invested his money for this season what are your expectations for this team this year? I'm not arguing one way or the other but am interested in your view about this team and franchise. Just curious?

Attached is a 25 min WGR link with Paul Hamilton on the Howard and Jeremy Show. The focus is on free agents. The most interesting part is from 23 min to the conclusion of the segment. Paul talks about the GM's plan and what it entails. He basically reinforces the notion that the GM believes in his mostly internal rebuild from within and is sticking with it. It's a long segment but the last five minutes is worth listening to. https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/authors/howard-and-jeremy-show

Getting any return on these players is better than no return. It made absolutely no sense. The issue isn't whether they were not worth the contract. They made the determination it wasn't. So why not then try to get something for them? The DeBrincat deal made little sense because the return should have been more.

What they are doing makes no sense. Even if the organization wanted to tank for better positioning in next year's draft, they could have shed players for future assets. Compare what Chicago did with how much KA got in return for his dispatched old core trio? If you are going to explode your roster doing it with some purpose instead of being nihilistic about it makes more sense.

Within this WGR link are two segments with Chad De Dominicis of Expected Buffalo (18 min) and Travis Yost (18 min) segment talking about the free agent market. The Travis Yost is more interesting and lively. https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/authors/howard-and-jeremy-show

I'm aligned with @Brawndo's view on Asplund and his value to the team. It goes beyond the stats. I'm confident that the coaches and his teammates recognize his contributions.

Anyone who regularly watches the Sabres recognizes that he is one of our best defensive players. You don't have to be an analytical maven to not notice how hard and responsibly he plays. Right now, he is not much of a finisher but he has enough offensive instincts to put himself in a position to get opportunities. So, I do see him contributing more offensively even as a lower line player. And it should be noted that he is excellent on the PK. He is not going to be provide many scoring highlights but without a doubt his teammates and coaches appreciate him his contributions.

I was watching ESPN and saw a scroll that Kane and Edmonton were linked. What does that mean? Nothing. TBD.

We'll see. What I find interesting is the Chicago side of the equation. Are they just looking to dump Buffalo Kane and start anew, or will they try to get some assets for him? It might make sense for Chicago to hold him until the trade deadline and get whatever they can get. But it seems as if they want to clean out the cupboard and tank so they will have one of the top picks in the next draft for one of the premier prospects. I'm just so glad that Buffalo is more advanced in its rebuild because it is such a dispiriting and exhausting process for the fanbase to go through. I got to give KA credit for expediting our rebuild and shortening the time to get to the road of respectability.

What does a pessimist look like?

Rumor: Kane to Edmonton. I saw a scroll on ESPN suggesting that Kane could end up in Edmonton. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-LKAEhVDRY

We don't always agree but on the goalie issue we are in accord. I'm just hoping that the GM comes up with a reasonable addition to the backstop position, even if it is for the short-term. I do believe that for the most part Lance's thoughts reflect the GM's line of thought.

I'm not attempting to over-inflate Joki's talents. He may be a border-line second or good third pairing player. The issue becomes is the GM willing to pay for a second-pairing caliber of player to play with Power? And is that type of player available? I consider Joki more of a subordinate type of defenseman who doesn't lead the pairing but allows the primary player to dominate the play with his more expansive talent. He does that. And let me add that I still think there is more upside to his game to draw from. What I'm never going to complain about is a player moved down the ranks because of a better player is found. That in itself reflects a roster getting better and progress in general.

When you have been diminished by someone and then elevated by someone else, you become determined to repay that exhibition of confidence in you. Good people skills and a talent to manage people is something you have or don't. KA has it. A good leader who earns the trust of his workers gets paid in spades by better performances.

The transactions he suggests are all doable. I'm in the minority here but I thought that Joki worked well with Power. I foresee a veteran defenseman being added to the mix, but it is more likely a third pairing type player. As I said in a prior post it seems that Lysowski is aligned with the GM's thinking.