Flashsabre

When I asked you earlier about his hockey IQ you weren’t sure. when I read about Nemec I constantly here about high hockey IQ. I don’t hear it mentioned about Jiricek. That is my comparison to Risto: big, physical kid that can skate and hit but questionable IQ. I only say questionable about Jiricek because I haven’t heard of it is good or not. I haven’t seen him enough to make a decision. I think it is all mute anyways because I think he goes long before we pick but who lnows in this crazy year.

And have you found out about his IQ yet?

Put Samuelsson- Dahlin right into my veins!😀

This is one of the worst takes I have read in a long time. 2 1sts, Power, Dahlin and Quinn. I wouldn’t give that up for McDavid or Matthews. the Sabres have to spend like $20 million to get to the floor next year. Throw money at Kuemper or Husso, both near the top of the league at goals saved above replacement.

Yes but his strength is the offensive zone. He can put up points. His weakness is his own zone. He can’t read the play and rarely covers the right person. He was never a defensive dman.

The cap goes up by $1 million so that will buy some teams a little wiggle room. Florida will do whatever it takes to hold on to Weegar. He is one of the best defensive dmen in the league and they know it. Ekblad and Weegar are their anchors back there. Gudas will probably be available. He plays a warrior type game. He would be a good addition.

Between the Jays and Sabres this was just not a good day to be a fan. Oh well, some days are just like that.

So every 3 on 1 is an automatic goal? He should have had that shot.

Defensive gaffs but I need saves on both those. Anderson is starting to show his age. He can’t be a starting option next year.

People came away from that draft angry because of the Quinn pick instead of Rossi. They only had 5 selections but right now coming away with Quinn and Peterka is looking like a major coup.

This report says Savoie’s first couple steps are elite and explosive. A different site yesterday said Savoie’s first couple steps are a weakness in his game and his skating is only OK. I wonder how qualified some of these people are to be doing this work. Savoie would be a great pick if he fell a bit to Buffalo’s pick and Oghren sounds like an interesting forward to keep an eye on.

Risto would be Risto regardless. You can’t teach hockey sense. Risto just can’t read or anticipate the play and make the right decisions.

Some people just want the worst possible outcome. It turns them on to just complain and revel in perceived hopelessness. “He is not going to sign here, he is gone. They can not possibly trade him at all because no college player has ever been moved in the history of the game.” Friedman mentioned a ton of teams around the league are interested in Portillo. If anything, this is a positive. If the two kids signed and were in Rochester I guarantee we would have Anderson and UPL in Buffalo next year because “we don’t want to block the kids.” Now Adams is going to be forced to really address the position. This team can compete next year with a real high end NHL starter. Put Kuemper in net with these guys and they are competing for a playoff spot.

I was watching the Colorado game and they said that once Grubauer went to Seattle last year they really upped their offer to make sure they landed Kuemper because a couple other teams were really in on him. I wonder if Buffalo was one of those teams at the time and if they will circle back this summer. They have the money to offer him. Kuemper followed by Husso would be the 2 goalies I go after in UFA if I am Adams. Not sure what goalies will be available in trade. Offseason: sign Kuemper, sign Copp, trade for Dumba compete for playoffs

Hopefully this wakes Adams up to the fact that the Sabres need a proven starting goalie. Can’t worry about “blocking the kids”. Go throw some money at Kuemper. Solidify the net and let the kids figure out their futures.

Surprised Beniers hasn’t signed with Seattle yet. Maybe today.

https://www.diebytheblade.com/2022/4/9/23009312/draft-season-is-upon-us-aprils-top-100-2022-draft-rankings-sabres-draft-guide-nhl-hockey A good read. Done with a Sabres bias for the draft.

My issue with Jiricek is that he sounds a lot like Risto. The defining issue with Risto is lack of hockey sense. I don’t know if Jiricek has it, haven’t had enough views of him. Risto with hockey sense is a heck of a player. Plain ol Risto is a nightmare for a high pick. I think we will be surprised with a couple of the names available when we choose. I have read multiple NHL scouts have Geekie ranked one or two. They believe that as his core gets stronger his skating will improve and they will have a Kopitar like centre. This is a draft where your scouting staff is really going to make or break it. The past couple years have seen them uncover some good prospects so I am interested to see who they go after this draft.

Levi talking to Adams during game “Boy Portillo looks weak, I wouldn’t sign him Kevyn”😁

I’m sorry but if the plan for next year is to bring back Anderson for an Anderson/UPL pair then that is a joke. Anderson is a great guy but is in his forties and is clocking in at around a .903 sv% the last 3-4 years. That isn’t good enough. UPL has proven nothing and is not dominating in the AHL. Go get a legit starter. They have no idea where UPL, Levi or Portillo are going to end up. Get a proven guy. They have to spend money to get to the cap floor.

This team is learning. This is Murder’s Row and they are hanging tough. Bad goaltending and defensive lapses are their downfall at the moment. These guys are ready to compete next season with consistent quality goaltending. It is on Adams to shore that up this offseason.

I can’t watch Tokarski play net anymore

Tokarski looks like he has no clue what he is doing on every stop.

And Levi was named first team All American whatever that means. They should make McKay play for North Eastern next year and Levi for Minn St. and see how the numbers shake out.