JohnC

I agree with you that in all likelihood neither will make this roster coming out of camp. But what's encouraging is that it is not out of the realm of possibility that one of the high-end prospects shows enough in camp to get some introductory time when the season starts. That in itself demonstrates progress in stocking the system. If I was forced to answer @LGR4GM question I would say Kulich, and it wouldn't be shocking if Benson was also considered.

I'm hoping that Kane can regain his health and be an asset for some team. But why would Buffalo have any interest in him? The Sabres have plenty of scorers. That's not a problem for them. What this team needs to get to the next level is team improvement on defense. That's one area of the game where he doesn't offer much help. I don't see why our GM would have any interest in him.

The Brian Spencer story was tragic and complicated. He was murdered and his father was killed by the police. https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/simmons-remembering-brian-spencers-murder

I agree with you that it is unlikely that he will be on the top PP unit. However, he could be on the second unit. There is no question that he has to play better on the defensive end. But it should be remembered that he scored 28 goals last year while his minutes went down. So if he can get steady playing time it is not outlandish to believe that 30 goals could be attainable. We shall see.

The one player I will be watching for is Victor Olofsson. I wouldn't be surprised if he scores 30 goals this season. That would be more likely if he is on a PP unit. He's going to put more effort on the defensive side of the game but without question his main contribution will be scoring goals. A shooter is a shooter.

Mitts looks like he is posing for a Charles Manson look alike mug shot. He looks like he is in a trance after a murdering spree.

It was. The Sabres fell excruciatingly short in making the playoffs last year. However, that season was not a failure. It was part of the groundwork for future success that includes this season and the future. There is a false notion being promoted by some that this organization has not succeeded because it doesn't have the will or desire to succeed. It is undergirded by the notion that it favors younger players over more experienced players who will help you win sooner. That's not what happened to this rickety franchise. This franchise failed because of an accumulation of a lot of bad decisions by a well-intentioned but clueless owner. The owner belatedly learned from his self-sabotaging mistakes and hired the right GM who formulated the right plan to put this flailing franchise on the right path. There is no one, starting with the owner/s, the front office or any of the players who don't believe that this year's version of the Sabres are a playoff team. The premise that the organization has to change to a more winning attitude is bogus. The front office did the spadework that was required to get to this point i.e. in a position to succeed for an extended period of time. And that's exactly where we are at now.

Are you striving to be an all-star curmudgeon? 🤡

The attached Buffalo News link by Lance Lysowski is an overview of the roster. There is nothing new about his observations and cataloguing of players. Lance pointed out that the GM set a course and held to it. For the most part, he set out to rebuild the system and then draw from it. He pointed out that the GM was not going to expend assets for rental players or high profile players on the market. https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/buffalo-sabres-kevyn-adams-training-camp/article_905a61c0-4e4b-11ee-ae10-df3032cd26fb.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Can another team sign him to a two-way deal and keep him in the AHL?

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/authors/jeremy-and-joe-show Within this link is a 12 min. segment with Paul Hamilton talking about the prospect camp. He said the exact same thing about Metsa that you did.

Are you harassing me? You may not be aware of it but I'm a very sensitive person. You bring up an interesting question: Who will sign him?

Even older players wouldn't tolerate his BS. Whether he recognizes it or not it is a different era. The neanderthal era is long gone.

His current contract relative to his production is fair-value. None of the young prospects in the system will match his production, at least for the next 3 to 4 years. The pipeline will work itself out. Focus on the now!

Why was Babcock even hired? He was a known quantity. There was no secret how he operated. His old-school and autocratic method worked in the past era with a different generation of players. But that submissive world passed a long time ago. Columbus had a lot of young players that were developing. He certainly wasn't a match for that roster and situation. The hiring of him made no sense. KA has made a lot of transactions in his short stint. The most astute and impactful decision he made was hiring Granato to replace Krueger. And then hiring him as the permanent coach sealed the deal. At least for now, he is the right coach at the right time. Coaching matters!

Why would there be any interest in trading Skinner? The Sabres are finally/belatedly in a position to win. This team has serious aspirations that are grounded in realism. Skinner is a 30 + goal scorer on the top line. He's also a feisty player who energizes his teammates. Considering his production and the expectation for the cap to go up, his contract is a fair-value contract. It's inarguable that the talent pipeline is robust. But not one of the impressive prospects who are waiting in the wings will come close to matching his production in the next few years. We've come to the point where the discussion should be about the NOW. The worthy players in the pipeline will get their opportunities. Some of it will be due to injuries, retirements and player trades. As for now, I have no interest in trading Skinner or any player who will help us succeed right now.

I don't have the stats but in the end of the season playoff run the Sabres did play a tighter brand of two-way hockey. Even when Tage and Dahlin were impaired, the team played a playoff style of play. I don't expect this style of play for a full season but even if it is done to a lesser-extent it should have positive repercussions.

What's so appealing in reviewing your list of players is the level of depth and roster flexibility. Injuries are a fact of life in hockey. A loss of a player is also an opportunity for a prepared prospect. The system has been rebuilt and restocked. How can a Sabre fan not be optimistic?

With the additions of Johnson and Clfiton our PK should be better? Maybe adding 4 to 6 points? There should be better team defense from all our lines. Maybe adding another 6 points within the season? Will our netminding be better with Levi as the primary goalie and the other two as backups, however it shakes out? I think so. Is it 4-6 pts better within the season? That's not a stretch to believe. The Sabres had three separate eight game segments in the season where they didn't get a win. It's not unreasonable to believe that a couple more tie/loser and added winning points within the 3 segments could add another 3-6 points within the season. I don't expect to have as good a road record as we had last year. But I do expect a much better home record. And it should be noted that when the arena was filled or near filled, and the fans were engaged, this team did play well at home. Everything I have suggested is of course theoretical but also very doable. The unknown is the ability to stay healthy and the ability for this team to slightly modify their style of player to playing a little bit better two-way brand of game. A projection of 98 pts is not outlandish.

Players, like organizations, make decisions based on their best interests. If a player decides to take less $$$ for whatever reason, then that is a decision he will make. If a player decides not to take less and move on, then so be it. It's a business with a short life span. Contracts/value and cap space are issues that all franchises have to contend with in all sports. I don't begrudge any player who pursues his own best interest when making a contract decision.

Of course the stars went for the money. Their star players went for contracts commensurate with their value in the league. What did you expect? The Nylander and Tavares were bad deals that the organization made. Bad decisions by the front office and poor cap management. That's not a player problem; it's an organization problem.

Old school coach with dictatorial tendencies who hasn't adapted to the modern world. Players no longer put up with his kind of abuse. He just hasn't been able to make the adjustment.

Everyone is projecting the cap to go up in the future. The player's incentive is to get to the next contract sooner to tap into that larger pool of $$$$. The organization's incentive is to delay getting to the that contract in order to save money. This is a clear example of competing interests. There is no indication that it reflects any uncertainty about the franchise from the player.

A stud is a stud no matter what others think. 😄 Rumor has it that @Wyldnwoody44was a pin up model for a 2024 calendar showcasing nude doctors. It is called Doctors without borders and underwear. Check out the month of October. As the saying goes: If you got it----then flaunt it.

You stated your opinion was a gut feeling. There has not been one report that the player has issues about the team and the organization. It's over the contract numbers and term. What else could it be? It's a business where parties negotiate to get the best deal they can get. Now we have learned something new: Your imagination is linked up with your gut.