Flashsabre

Coach David Carle could lead Denver to their 3rd Frozen Four championship in 4 years. A good organization would jump on him as the next great young coach to come into the league. So the Sabres won’t bother and keep Lindy or make Appert head coach. Id love to see this organization make the smart choice for once. Can’t believe they could have had Zito as GM.

Very nice write up. If the Sabres are on the clock 5th-7th with McQueen and Desnoyers on the board which one would you take? McQueen is the sexier pick and has home run potential but Desnoyers all around game, leadership and physicality might be too much for me to pass up at that spot.

Jake O’Brien is a 6’2 RHC for Brantford in the OHL. He finished with 98 points including 66 assists in 66 games. He will most likely be a top 10 pick. Here is Sportsnet’s Jason Bakula’s write up: ” NHL Projection: Top six forward. Deceptive playmaker. O’Brien is a crafty playmaker. He reads how plays are developing in the offensive zone and has a knack for finding opportunities in the deep slot and around the net. He works the weak side flank effectively on the power play and has added more of a defensive dimension to his overall game. He produced 32G-66A for the Bulldogs in the regular season and averaged over 20 minutes of ice time. O’Brien’s skating mechanics are sound, but he needs time to add more strength to his frame, which should result in more separation in open ice and the ability to track the full 200 feet even more effectively. “ Desnoyers, McQueen and O’Brien are all big skilled centres. Probably where they should be looking if they are picking 6-10 area of the draft.

If the Leafs sign Marner and Knies then there is no room for Tavares. Come follow in your Uncle’s footsteps on a 2 year deal John😁. He’s having a hell of a season

LA really defends well and Gavrikov is a huge piece. If he hit UFA I would love to sign him and have a Gavrikov-Dahlin pair and play them all the time. Then move Byram.

LOL make this team make sense. Beat LA in LA where they never lose this season, beat Winnipeg in Winnipeg, put 8 up on Washington in Washington with Logan Thompson in net. Quinn looks like he has battled through (or is starting to turn a corner) on whatever has been going on with him. Tage and Tuch continue to score. McLeod with another one. The problem is Adams will think everything is fixed and convince Pegula to keep him around because the plan is finally working. Reimer has given them a much better chance then UPL of late. Bernard Docker continues to look like a dman that could find a home in Buffalo.

Östlund may never stop scoring 😛

Signing Bryson just shows how clueless he is. Novikov, Brannstron and even Metsa could provide more next season as a 7th dman and his entire schtick has been “don’t block the kids” Nothing Adams does makes sense.

He reminds me of Aho in that he excels everywhere. PP, PK, defensively, scoring, playmaking. Not sure how he is at the faceoff dot but he is an all around player who you can throw over the boards in all situations. I think the big breakthrough for him was that early in the season he was so focused on D play that he wasn’t putting up points and Leone finally told him to be selfish and step up offensively. He has taken off since.

UPL has not been great this year but I’m not pinning today on him he has had zero support defensively

So Benny is pretty good.😁 He reminds me of a ROR like player. Not sexy but he impacts the game so much for your team that he is invaluable.

1) You are right. A playmaking centre helps the PP immensely 2) they need a new coaching staff. I still laugh at that letter they sent out pumping the vastly improved PK. 😁 It’s still not great and as if anyone has decided to renew season tickets because the penalty kill has taken a slight uptick. Shows just how desperate they are for anything positive at this point.

I’m really warming up to Desnoyers. The anti Cozens: big but thinks the game and creates for his teammates with the puck on his stick. All while being defensively solid.

A winning mentality and all around top 6 centre at 6’2.

I think you’re right. The top 2 is set and then the next group depends on how the rest of the playoffs play out for these kids and then the combine and what teams are looking for. Big centres always take precedence over small centre and wingers when it comes to NHL front offices.

I see both sides. Misa is having a terrific season and has already won a Memorial Cup. If Buffalo got the first pick and took Misa I wouldn’t be mad.

Reading some Minny boards and it sounds like Rossi will be traded. There biggest thing is rumors that he wants $9 million on a long term deal. What if JJ’s ask is $9 million a year? He is a top line scorer and the cap is going up. Is that a crazy ask? Do you move him or sign him? I think JJ and Byram will be offer sheet targets if not signed or traded early.

This is why I said if the Sabres get the first pick you take him. Forget position. Take the player who is the best. The kid has electric skating, engages physically, defends and puts up points.

The timing is odd with 9 games to go but I guess it had run its course.

He’s a guy who knows he is in way over his head and no other team would let him near their front office.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/scouts-analysis-ranking-the-top-64-prospects-for-the-2025-nhl-draft/ Very good read. Frondell 3rd, Martone 6th Desnoyers sounds like a ROR type player. Someone you want on the ice in every single situation.

You could pick number 5 and have Martone or Hagens sitting there. Really depends what the teams in spots 3 and 4 think. I think you can lock Schaefer and Misa in the top 2 spots after that it will be interesting. Desnoyers, Frondell and McQueen are all bigger centres that might appeal to teams in that range.

The plan seems to be Power- Bernard Docker for the rest of the season to see if they work. They have looked good together in a small sample size so far. I think Byram will be moved in the offseason.

A great article and it just stacks on top of the pile of negative media stories on the franchise of late. I mean if Terry doesn’t take note and change things this offseason IDK when he will. I mean an end of season PC where Adams stands there and goes “this is on me. I need to be better and I will” will do more harm than good to this organization and fan base.

The most frustrating part is that the team is not that far away. With a knowledgeable guy in charge and a couple moves this team would be right there in a playoff spot. Hire a Holland or Shanahan to oversee things. Hire someone like Kelkalainen as GM. Kick Lindy upstairs to work with him. Identify a quality coaching staff that can teach defensive structure. A few roster moves later and the team would be in good shape. But Terry doesn’t see it or isn’t interested in seeing it.