SabreFinn

Player development doesn't seem to be on the right path... One thing for sure, Appert is not the one who should replace Granato.

Change draft tactics from drafting the best player available to drafting the one who who has the strongest will to win of the topp players! IF they are big or small or whatever should not matter, we want winners!

I agree. And to connect to PerreaultForevers post also, if we want to trade for something good, the packade we send in return has to be great...

First. I did not think we need to overreact and blow everything up again. Things might have gone better than expected last year, so then this was the year when all the misstakes and bad plays are appearing, Ducks third goal the other evening was this season in a nutshell. For me it was not unexpected and I am convinced that they will turn things around and make the play off next year even if KA would not make one single trade. Then. I started thinking some steps further. Do we want to be a team that just make it to the play offs (like Leafs), or do we want to be a serious contender? Do we have players that can make Sabres a contender? That can be Conn Smythe winners? No we do not have those type off players. I would not want this team to be blown up again. Is there any way to become a contender without doing that?

What I was thinking about, but I did not get down in text very well, was the focus on that he made his debut when he felt he was ready. I think a lot of players, especially those who get drafted in the range you mentioned, aren't well prepared for NHL when they play their first games as 18-19y. I do not know if it is the players that believe they are ready, or if the teams push them to come over without enough good personnel to help with their development? Or what? My strong opinion is that they are not physically, tactically or mentally ready at that age. And I do not understand why they are rushed into the toughest league in sports. And why Sabres have such a young team.

Teemu Selänne was 22 when he played his rookie record season. He refused to leave Finland before he felt he was ready.

I am thinking of a scenario where we trade down with Vegas. We get their later first rounder and one of their lower line Stanley cup winner power forwards. They get a more attractive first rounder to use when trading for a second year of success.

Agree! Use the pick to get a player that we know what we get, we are not in a position where we take a chans anymore.

Agree. I think he will be signed for three years at 2-2.5. He is still unexperienced.

Noticed that every game where western teams played against eastern teams, west won... I have held east as the harder conference, but it might have changed.

Yes, and they bought out the team captain and send their 2C to Kings during the offseason!! And last season the coach shouted out that the stars are lazy (but said in other words). Not what we are used to here.

Sad and obvious but it was a four point game they lost. They could have been just five point away from tampa. But if they do not manage to win these tight games they have nothing in play off to do. But I believe they learn a lot, or I really hope so. Powers horribel play with empty net is one thing for example. Their goalscoring is very locked up, and the PP too. It is too slow. To me the biggest concern for the moment is however their sloppy play when they have control of the puck but is under preasure in own zone, they give several takeaways every game when they should make it easy and just dump it out of the zone. Disaster.

I don't think they can get a deal with more than one year left and salary retained. But most likely they will have to buy him out.

Thanks for the review! The cap hit is rising but when doing the maths I think we also have to take Johnson, Quinn and Peterkas coming contract negotiations to the form also. App. 3milj. each. So even if next year is the year, when talking about cap hit we need to look att the 25-26 - season.

I totally agree! Every word! It can be hard to get one young goalie to develop into NHL -starter, now they have two with big chanses to be stars in this league! Hope they make wise decisions! And I would go with Comrie as back up, even if I earlier shouted for a veteran goalie. If a miracle happens and they are close to a play off spot at trade deadline, it might be worth considering a goalie trade.

Send Levi to Rochester, everything else is just stupid. This season is probably lost already and if they do not send him now they might ruin the next season for the whole team. I hope KA finds a a veteran to back up UPL next season and Levi is rockin' in Rochester, but what if UPL gets injured and the backup did not work out like planned? The time he should get in Rochester now could be important then. Cause next year has to be the year!!!

You are hard to convince! Do I have to change the 2nd to a 3rd? 😀

Maybe, maybe not. For me it is what he can be signed for that also matters. And ofcourse what he can bring to the team. They invested big money for many years in Owen Power, who is not yet playing on a level where he is worth the invested money. So they might have to make another investment to make the first one pay off. No ideal situation. For Owen it might also be growing pains that disappears over summer. I Still think Power-Tanev would rock.

Then why is he still in Calgary? 😀

I wrote in my first post that that's what we could give if Tanev is willing to sign for two years at reasonable cap hit! No way we should pay that for a rental. And if a player that the team needs is on the market, I think that we should try to get that player, no matter if it is trade deadline or off season. If he is willing to sign for some years in Buffalo, go for it!

Yes, I believe I do. Tanev is not afraid to block a shot and plays hard. By trading one of the longtime core players you show that no one is safe if they can't play well. Rosén will not have a spot on the team. And I believe that is the price to pay if we want to take him in front of other teams, to show that we are serious.

Jokiharju, Rosén and a 2nd to Calgary for Tanev if he is willing to sign for two years at reasonable cap hit. I can see us moving on from Krebs. McLeod from Devils is high on my wishlist. And I think Sabres should be buyers, not sellers.

It is a bit sad. Especially for all of you who have suffered through all of these 12 years, that bad management has taken away many joyful moments, just because of bad management. There are really a lot of former Sabreplayers that is and have been important in succesful teams...

Which means Caseys next contract should be max. 2year. IF he isn't traded at deadline.

It is hard to believe that we actually had Eichel and O'Reilly as centers...