JohnC

As you listed the young players that have come up through our system it is apparent that this youth movement needs to continue to be the central strategy in our rebuild and roster construction. Those who argue that this roster needs to be blown up are advocating for an approach that will only extend the timeline for assembling a competitive roster. The clock is ticking where players such as Jack, Reinhart and even Risto need to see some hope/belief that in the not too distant future this team will become a factor in the league. I agree with much of your post. It fairly and keenly represented where this team is at. However, on the issue of Samuelsson I disagree with your hesitancy to place him on the roster because of his relative inexperience. Samuelsson game can be described as a defensive style of blue liner. He plays with a maturity that belies his inexperience. His positioning and playing within his limitations (skating and speed) shows that he knows what and can and can't do and stays within that perimeter. I have no qualms about him being more than ready to be ensconced on the roster next year.

The Thompson/Mitts/Asplund line does more communicating on the bench than any other line. They are constantly looking at their tablets and talking amongst themselves after their shifts. It seems that they are growing together. Right now they may be our most active line. I thought Thompson had a good game. He was more determined to shoot the puck and be around the net than usually is. I don't want to over-interpret this win. But when this team gets solid to good goaltending (which we did in this game) this team has a chance to beat any team. That is not to say that this team doesn't have plenty of issues to address but getting consistent goaltending will mask some of our deficiencies.

The past is the past. His value has declined. It is questionable that in a trade there would be much return. I'm not a member of the chorus who advocate to get rid of him. I value his ruggedness on a team that lacks it. It has gotten to the point that if he were exposed in the expansion draft I'm not sure Seattle would even take him because of his contract.

I'm not sure what Risto's trade value is? Could he bring back a second-line forward? I don't know? There are plenty of people here who believe that he is a liability. I'm not one of them. He adds an element of ruggedness on a team that lacks it. But if he can be dealt for a second line forward with a contract in the vicinity of the outgoing player then I would be receptive to a trade. As other astute posters have noted addressing the deficiency at forward is a greater priority than worrying about the blue line where we have a collection of upcoming young players.

I say this with sincerity: I hope you are reasonably happy to live a satisfying life. To your credit you have put in the hard work to introspectively examine yourself in order to pursue a more positive life. I wish you the best.

You must have been precocious. However, at 8 you would have had difficulty spelling it in order to look it up. 🤡

In my exchange Perrault he was advocating moving down from our high first round pick. I'm am adamantly opposed to that. Considering where we will be drafting my unyielding stance is that it is an untouchable pick. I'm not against draft maneuvering. We have a number of extra picks where we have the assets to do that. But belaboring a point (apologize for the redundancy) I'm not touching or playing games with the first pick unless it is to move up higher for a player that we covet.

I agree with you that injuries and Covid were factors in playing younger players but contend they were not the main factors when the coaching change was made to go younger. Krueger was much more reluctant to play younger players because of their proclivity to make mistakes. Under Krueger Cozens and Mitts were often watching the games from the team suite. In comparison, Granato believed that making mistakes and learning from them is an essential part of the process in player development. Let's put this excruciating season in context: From a playoff and standing standpoint when Granato took over it was a lost cost. Scraping for a few extra points was meaningless when the hole that the Krueger regime had us in was so deep that it was impossible to come close to climb out. In a fast fading season player assessment was as important, if not more so, as the record. The front office has a lot of decisions to make this offseason. By playing the younger it has a better sense of what they have and don't have in the youth cupboard.

A prospect lacking discipline is a good reason to lower the ranking of that particular type of unruly player. Playing dumb doesn't add points to your ranking----it takes away points from your evaluation score.

If he would have kept his coaching position and maintained his influence he would set this franchise back for years. The only positive takeaway with his disastrous stint this year is that it allowed/forced the organization to give playing time to the youngsters and and give it a better ability to evaluate them.

With the higher pick we are more likely to come away with a top tier prospect. Moving down for a player that you consider a steal lessens the chances for getting the better prospect. If the player that you consider is the steal of the draft then why isn't he ranked higher by scouts that follow the prospects\? I'm not against using our extra picks to trade up for a prospect that we are interested after the first pick. But I'm not going to get cute and try to out-smart everyone else only to end up out-smarting oneself.

Did Mitts last year play well enough to indicate that he could be a second or third line center? Based on his previous sketchy play there were discussions whether he would even be on the roster. Am I projecting that Cozens could be one of our centers next year? Yes. Although it seems that this youngster has hit the wall (not surprising) I still strongly believe that he has the potential to be one of our centers next year. And in the not too distant future I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up as our #2C.

There are a variety of ways to slot the forwards. But I strongly believe that Cozens will ultimately earn the #2C role. I like Mitts a lot and still see him elevating his game. I have pleasantly been surprised at his leap forward this season and encouraged that he will continue with his upward trajectory. But I still believe that Cozens's more natural position is as a center. It may not happen right away but ultimately I believe he will be our #2C. What's heartening about these usage discussions is that it indicates that our talent based is widening to the point that it presents roster flexibility before having to discuss what we have to bring in from the outside. That's a sign of progress.

There are no immediate impact players. Where we are drafting the Sabres should be able to get a good prospect. The strategy should be to draft and development. That's the process that shouldn't be short-circuited. Being smart is better than being impatient.

My guess is the demotion is a commentary on his play. He's going back to his prior play of too much dipsy doodling with the puck instead of making quicker decisions and actions with the puck on his stick. Playing cute is not going to cut it when playing with the big boys.

Maybe my frozen brain? Making a mistake is understandable. Repeating a mistake is a sign of obtuseness. I'm guilty as charged. 🤐

I did it again. I need to master the map. 🤡

I think that that Cozens can become our #2C or, if not, our established #3C next year. He and Mitts will be vying for those positions. I have high expectations for this young and precocious Alaskan. His development will be on a much higher pace than Mitts. He came into the pro ranks already being more than his years would suggest.

I don't think that the issue about Sam being able to play center is an issue any longer. He clearly has demonstrated that he can. The more difficult issue is whether it would be more advantageous for the team for him to play on the Jack line with Mitts and Cozens playing center on the second and third line. If he moves to the Jack line will our first line become a top tier first line in the league? I think so. I have heard Granato talk about Sam and his play and his exceptional vision and feel for the game. Its seems that he prefers Sam as a center. But if he centers his own line then does that mean that Mitts or Cozens will not maximize their abilities if moved to the wing position. On the issue of where to slot Sam and the other players currently playing center it is an open question for me. I'm just not sure. On the positive side I rather have an excess of talent and make some tough decisions than have a limited number of talent and make do with what you got.

It's evident you are a loving son and your mother is a loving mother. You are blessed to have such a wonderful relationship.

It's often difficult to discern sarcasm from a text. Especially for someone who is as thickheaded as I am. Basically, you and I are in accord regarding Sam. I still worry about him desiring a change of scenery because the constant losing can be dispiriting. He's very underappreciated. This player with a subtle and nuanced game is a glue guy. One other thought about this game" If Skinner for the most part he can regain his scoring touch it would be like adding an impact free agent to the roster next year. He is moving well and the effort is there. He just isn't converting. I not only don't consider him a lost cause as much as I see him as a piece to the puzzle.

In the end it leaves a sour taste in your mouth the next day. ☠️

We don't need to look at any other team other than the home team to realize the fading player solution is a gimmick that doesn't work. It's been tried so many times and has failed so many times.

I agree with most of your commentary except for your belief that Sam has checked out. Sam's personality and style of play can be described as even keeled. It shouldn't be mistaken for disinterested play. What I found encouraging as you went through the list of young players is that they all still have plenty of upside. They are keeping up against good teams but unsurprisingly have lapses that come back to cost them. The more they play the more consistent they will be. Experience is the best teacher and at times it can be painful. I thought UPL played well. He didn't scramble and was composed throughout. Having good goaltending is such a stabilizing factor. While I'm encouraged about the youngsters and the better quality of play since the coaching change I'm ready for the season to finish. The blueprint for this team of building from within has been established. It just a question of having the will and fortitude to see it through.

Simmons is an inconsequential player for Toronto. If he didn't play the team wouldn't miss him. Acquiring a high character player who is a fading and very diminished player would make no sense for Buffalo.