2019-20 Sabres Prospects

[Taro T]

39 minutes ago, sabremike said:

Here is the problem: Teams that have really good #2 centers (even teams with depth to where the player is playing on the 3rd or even 4th line) don't give them away. The only way you can acquire one via trade is to find a GM who you can take advantage of because they are so inept and in over their head (like Botts). So we need the guy who is the mark other teams go to when they want to sucker someone to find someone who is an even bigger sucker than he is. Those aren't good odds.

The 2C is going to cost Ristolainen or Montour plus.  Those are good hockey players.  If the 2C is coming from a cap strapped team, it could be Jokiharju is the key D piece going out.  And the 2C the Sabres end up getting isn't likely to be the other team's 2C (unless it's Henrique, & the cost had better be reasonable if that's who comes back) but rather a young 3C with 2 guts established ahead of him & that's due a raise.

And it's possible that the trade is effectively a 3 way trade.  (3 way trades no- bueno in the cap world.  But a trade of say Risto for a low caphit haul which then goes off to TB along with other pieces and Cirelli comes back.  Or the Sabres take on a minor cap hit hit to make the #'s work for TB.) The Sabres did essentially that to get Drury.  They traded for Reinprecht & then he went out in the package for Drury back pre-lockout.

[sabremike]

1 minute ago, Taro T said:

The 2C is going to cost Ristolainen or Montour plus.  Those are good hockey players.  If the 2C is coming from a cap strapped team, it could be Jokiharju is the key D piece going out.  And the 2C the Sabres end up getting isn't likely to be the other team's 2C (unless it's Henrique, & the cost had better be reasonable if that's who comes back) but rather a young 3C with 2 guts established ahead of him & that's due a raise.

And it's possible that the trade is effectively a 3 way trade.  (3 way trades no- bueno in the cap world.  But a trade of say Risto for a low caphit haul which then goes off to TB along with other pieces and Cirelli comes back.  Or the Sabres take on a minor cap hit hit to make the #'s work for TB.) The Sabres did essentially that to get Drury.  They traded for Reinprecht & then he went out in the package for Drury back pre-lockout.

If Risto had any value he would've been long gone by now. Teams know what he is: a bad negative value player. Nobody is touching him unless you practically give him away. When a guy like Brian Burke (who is just about the least progressive/most old school hockey mind out there) says he'd never touch the guy that's all you need to know. 

[dudacek]

1 hour ago, sabremike said:

If Risto had any value he would've been long gone by now. Teams know what he is: a bad negative value player. Nobody is touching him unless you practically give him away. When a guy like Brian Burke (who is just about the least progressive/most old school hockey mind out there) says he'd never touch the guy that's all you need to know. 

This is the same Risto who we could have traded for Taylor Hall? Or the one that three consecutive coaches have used as a #1?

I get people not liking his game, but the hyperbole surrounding Risto Is ridiculous.

[Weave]

1 minute ago, dudacek said:

This is the same Risto who we could have traded for Taylor Hall? Or the one that three consecutive coaches have used as a #1?

I get people not liking his game, but the hyperbole surrounding Risto Is ridiculous.

Zhitnick 2.0  If he were on a good team we'd all respect his play alot more.

[dudacek]

2 minutes ago, Weave said:

Zhitnick 2.0  If he were on a good team we'd all respect his play alot more.

Yep. He’s the poster child for the worst era in team history and it’s not his fault.

If he was subbed in for Lydman in 06 or Korab in 75 fans would love him.

[sabremike]

25 minutes ago, dudacek said:

This is the same Risto who we could have traded for Taylor Hall? Or the one that three consecutive coaches have used as a #1?

I get people not liking his game, but the hyperbole surrounding Risto Is ridiculous.

That was years ago before he was completely exposed and his value fell off a cliff.

[Thorny]

On 5/11/2020 at 3:40 PM, GASabresIUFAN said:

And we were a 78 pt team.  
 

Interesting article in the News about Huglen.  A lost year of development do to a bulging disk.  https://buffalonews.com/2020/05/11/buffalo-sabres-fargo-force-aaron-huglen-nhl-ushl-news-2020/

I did like his coach’s comparison to Brock Nelson.

This might be the worst argument that comes up consistently. 

We are near last with Jack. Let's trade him, too. 

[Thorny]

7 hours ago, Taro T said:

In fairness, there is likely a D slot opening up this off-season so a 2C arrives and there is also likely another D slot open after Seattle chooses a player.

If the 2C brought in is young (Cirelli-ish)  They'll have in the top 6: Eichel, new guy, Reinhart, Olofsson, & Skinner definitely for several years, barring injuries plus Kahun, Cozens, Mittelstadt, & Thompson all also around for several years if the Sabres want them that long.  That's likely 7-9 "top 6" players locked in for the foreseeable future.  That doesn't put strain on the pipeline.

Whereas on 2, there will likely be 2 of 6 guys gone, so (for simplicity, let's say Montour & McCabe are the 2 gone) they have Ristolainen, Dahlin, Jokiharju, & Miller.  With Pilut likely on the big squad too.  Leaves at least 1 ST opening & probably at least 2 moving towards 2-3 seasons from now as Miller probably isn't here LT.  There also is the matter of needing a 7th D up on the parent club.

So, Cozens moves off that prospect chart as he moves up & 3 D move up (1 now, 1 soon, & 1 as a spare).

Is F really that lacking relative to D in the prospect pool when those moves are considered? 

Yes. If Botterill takes a D round 1 he should absolutely be fired on the spot. Not kidding. 

[Thorny]

2 hours ago, dudacek said:

Yep. He’s the poster child for the worst era in team history and it’s not his fault.

If he was subbed in for Lydman in 06 or Korab in 75 fans would love him.

TLDR. I think he belongs on the poster, but there are a lot of faces. 

Edited May 16, 2020 by Thorny

[GASabresIUFAN]

https://dobberprospects.com/2020-21-dobberprospects-organizational-rankings-13-9/

Quote

 

9. BUFFALO SABRES – 73 

Prospect Depth Chart

Left Wing                   Center                         Right Wing

Arttu Ruostalainen   Dylan Cozens            Matej Pekar

Linus Weissbach      Casey Mittelstadt     Lukas Rousek

Brett Murray              Rasmus Asplund

Dawson DiPietro      Marcus Davidsson

Remi Elie

C.J. Smith

Defensemen                 Goaltender                        Defensemen

Ryan Johnson              Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen   Oskari Laaksonen

Lawrence Pilut             Jonas Johansson             Will Borgen

Mattias Samuelsson   Erik Portillo                        Casey Nelson

Jacob Bryson

TOP TEN PROSPECTS

Dylan Cozens, C – Dominated the WHL and WJC. Could return for a final CHL season.

Casey Mittelstadt, C – Rushed to NHL too fast, some AHL development is needed.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G – years away, but future starting goalie.

Ryan Johnson, D – Excellent skater, needs to develop offensive game as a sophomore.

Lawrence Pilut, D – Production in AHL not translating to NHL. Stil has upside.

Arttu Ruostalainen, LW – Free agent signee from 2019 could come to N.A. for ’20-21.

Rasmus Asplund, C – Looking to recreate AHL chemistry with Victor Olafson at the NHL level.

Matej Pekar, RW – Scoring improved after trade to Sudbury, including 5 points in the final game

Brandon Biro, LW – Signed as a free agent after four years with Penn State.

Oskari Laaksonen, D – Unsigned 2017 third round pick has one more year in Liiga. (NOW SIGNED)

 

Other Players To Receive Votes:

Jacob Bryson, Linus Weissbach, Brett Murray, Erik Portillo, Mattias Samuelsson, Marcus Davidsson, Dawson DiPietro

Roster Players 21 and Under:

Rasmus Dahlin, D; Henri Jokiharju, D

 

Overview:

Buffalo has picked in the top ten at the NHL Entry Draft for seven consecutive years including first overall in 2018 (Dahlin); second overall in 2015 and 2014 (Eichel, Reinhart) and eleven first-round picks in eight years. As a result, they rank in the top ten of our Organizational Prospect Ranking. With the caliber of picks this franchise has enjoyed, they should either be ranked a little higher or be in a more competitive situation. The young core of Eichel, Dahlin, Reinhart, Olafson, Jokiharju, Ristolainen are all under 25-years-old and will soon be joined by future star Dylan Cozens in a year or two. Casey Mittelstadt was perhaps rushed to the NHL too soon. Buffalo also struggled to develop Alex Nylander and when he was looking like a lost cause they made a good trade to acquire Jokiharju. Hopefully, Mittelstadt can rediscover his game at the AHL and become an impact player. With the quality and quantity of picks Buffalo has had, it would be difficult to not get better in the near future.

 

 

Edited June 16, 2020 by GASabresIUFAN

[LGR4GM]

"it would be difficult to not get better in the near future"... if we make a bunch of trades and add a bunch of forward prospects than I agree. 

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

"it would be difficult to not get better in the near future"... if we make a bunch of trades and add a bunch of forward prospects than I agree. 

Provided the goaltending doesn't take a step back, simply having everyone a year older will make this team better.  But to be better enough will require more - a 2C, a backup/tandem goalie, 1-2 middle 6 wingers, & a 3rd pairing LD.  All but the 2C & 1 of the wings COULD come from w/in the organization this season but my expectation is the goalie isn't here at present either.

(And any of Larsson, Girgensons, & or Lazar not coming back each add 1 more bottom 6 F that is necessary.)

[LGR4GM]

 

[Weave]

2nd tier league.  Seems about right.   I don’t think he’ll have an NHL career of any significance.

[dudacek]

48 minutes ago, Weave said:

2nd tier league.  Seems about right.   I don’t think he’ll have an NHL career of any significance.

Asplund started playing in the Swedish Elite league at 17 and put up 28 points in 50 games there as a 20-year-old.

2nd tier is not a reflection of his standing as a player.

He's still under contract to the Sabres. This is about finding him a place to play while they wait for the season to restart, just like Lukkonnen and Ruotsalainen.

[shrader]

25 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Asplund started playing in the Swedish Elite league at 17 and put up 28 points in 50 games there as a 20-year-old.

2nd tier is not a reflection of his standing as a player.

He's still under contract to the Sabres. This is about finding him a place to play while they wait for the season to restart, just like Lukkonnen and Ruotsalainen.

And also finding a team who is willing to take him on in the short-term, knowing that he'll leave before their season ends.

[LGR4GM]

Realistically he should easily be a PPG player in that league at his age and experience if he is any good. 

[inkman]

2 hours ago, Weave said:

2nd tier league.  Seems about right.   I don’t think he’ll have an NHL career of any significance.

I don't think he was out of place last year in the league.  I could see a nice bottom 6 role for him for 7-8 years.  

[Curt]

2 hours ago, Weave said:

2nd tier league.  Seems about right.   I don’t think he’ll have an NHL career of any significance.

What everyone else said.

[tom webster]

1 hour ago, Let's Go B-Lo said:

Seriously. If he's not lighting it up in the Swedish 2nd division he should probably just stay there.

That’s just not how hockey works. Some guys aren’t meant to light up a beer league. It’s not their game. Asplund will end up a 8-10 year NHL player if he chooses.

[shrader]

12 minutes ago, tom webster said:

That’s just not how hockey works. Some guys aren’t meant to light up a beer league. It’s not their game. Asplund will end up a 8-10 year NHL player if he chooses.

Take for instance a guy who it seems like most posters want to see re-signed.  Johan Larsson will not be lighting up any league.  And that's the kind of player I think we'd all be very happy to see Asplund turn into.

[DarthEbriate]

53 minutes ago, shrader said:

Take for instance a guy who it seems like most posters want to see re-signed.  Johan Larsson will not be lighting up any league.  And that's the kind of player I think we'd all be very happy to see Asplund turn into.

But can he become an Angry Asplund? Queuing up Han Solo's Fever Dream --- "Angry Asplunds! Very dangerous. You go first."

[Curt]

5 hours ago, shrader said:

Take for instance a guy who it seems like most posters want to see re-signed.  Johan Larsson will not be lighting up any league.  And that's the kind of player I think we'd all be very happy to see Asplund turn into.

But Larsson did sort of light it up at lower levels.  Scoring at nearly a point per game at times.

[rakish]

1 hour ago, Curt said:

But Larsson did sort of light it up at lower levels.  Scoring at nearly a point per game at times.

Dude, don't ruin the narrative with facts

[tom webster]

54 minutes ago, rakish said:

Dude, don't ruin the narrative with facts

Actually I don’t consider a point per game lighting it up and Larsson was close to a point per game once in his career so I guess you should have said don’t make up facts to confuse the narrative.

Edited August 29, 2020 by tom webster