What is Olofsson's role in the 2023/24 Sabres?

[Pimlach]

23 hours ago, Marvin said:

Given Olofsson's weaknesses, might it be best to play him with Girgensons and Okposo when he is in the line-up?

Why, to cover for his defensive weaknesses and then not have a strong shut down defensive line?  

Edited July 19, 2023 by Pimlach

[K-9]

18 hours ago, pi2000 said:

A close friend of mine, who still plays for Frolunda, is a former teammate of his and they talk pretty regular.     

VO wants out, which is no secret.

That said, KA doesn't just give guys away, so it wouldn't surprise me if he's still around come training camp.

I’m tired of players who “want out” and if his heart isn’t in it to be here, I don’t need to see another example of that manifesting on the ice. If he doesn’t want to be here, then do him a favor and let him go. He doesn’t command much in the way of trade value, anyway. There is more value in jettisoning a disgruntled player, imo. Are we really going to lament the loss of a couple middling future draft picks? 

[Taro T]

5 hours ago, French Collection said:

Something no one talks about is if he stays all year the Sabres May walk him to UFA. I don’t see an extension coming.

If he plays decently and injuries keep him in the top 9, the Sabres might keep him for the playoff run. My guess is they will not be a seller at the deadline.

It is not like losing Briere and Drury but it depends on how they are sitting at the deadline as far as depth and standings.

At this time, barring that off-season trade we all expected to see happen prior to Quinn's injury, that seems IMHO to be the most likely scenario of how his situation plays out.  And it's one more of the "good team" problems that other contenders deal with every year, but with the Sabres not contending in so long we might tend to forget that the top teams end up having middle 6 guys walk all the time.  And the money that gets freed up on the cap is all they get back for it and it's usually enough to take the sting out of the loss.  Especially when there's a traffic jam of young talent awaiting opportunities. 

4 hours ago, Doohickie said:

I think it's likely that by the end of the season not only will Quinn be back but other prospects will be pushing for spots on the NHL roster.  If Ollie is playing well and he's not in the long term plans, he definitely could be sold at the deadline for a draft pick or depth player in an area of need.

If the Sabres are in the playoff picture (either in the top 8 or close enough to have a legit chance to make it) and Olofsson "is playing well" then really can't see any scenario in which he gets traded at the deadline.  At that point in the year, THE goal is to make a playoff run without "mortgaging the future" (or some other such catch phrase).  If VO is playing well, Adams is not going to trade him away for a pick or a prospect to bolster the future at the expense of today.  And really can't see him getting traded either outright (or as a part of a package) to bring in a goalie, a D-man, or a PK specialist (which are the likely needs that might remain unfilled in late February/early March) because the teams looking to get rid of guys like that are looking for young players, picks, or prospects to restock their pipeline and 28 yo soon to be a UFA VO is none of those things.

[Doohickie]

11 minutes ago, Taro T said:

If VO is playing well, Adams is not going to trade him away for a pick or a prospect to bolster the future at the expense of today. 

I can.  I can see an scenario where he's contributing goals but still platooning in as a 13F because Quinn and Rousek are both above him on the depth chart.

[Taro T]

6 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

I can.  I can see an scenario where he's contributing goals but still platooning in as a 13F because Quinn and Rousek are both above him on the depth chart.

But merely contributing goals is not going to get considered to be "playing well."  Unless it is on a 40 goal (or better) pace.  And they AREN'T pulling him out of the lineup if he's on a 40 goal pace.  He's also not getting pulled out of the lineup if he's on a 25-30 goal pace but actually respectable in his own end and coming back in transition.

He had 28 goals last year in roughly 75 games and was routinely bashed around here (typically deservedly so) for NOT playing well.

If he's playing like crud in his own end, he's not going to bring much of a return at all as a rental.  (Unless he's on that mythical 40 goal pace, and will Adams REALLY trade away a 40 goal scorer right before the playoffs?  Personally, can't see that happening.)

So, is it better to have an extra 3rd round pick or to have another player in the pressbox that can fill in reasonably well in an injury crunch come playoff time?  You know this kid's answer and expect Adams would agree.

Edited July 19, 2023 by Taro T

[That Aud Smell]

4 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

I can.  I can see an scenario where he's contributing goals but still platooning in as a 13F because Quinn and Rousek are both above him on the depth chart.

Please keep the boy wonder's name out of your mouth when discussing marginal forwards on the roster. 

[Ctaeth]

21 hours ago, Marvin said:

The idea is to give him PP minutes but have his weaknesses compensated by the old sages on the team.  His goal scoring will go down, but it might be less of a net negative.

Yes, but if you're minimizing his ability to score goals and not even playing him on PP1.. wouldn't it be better to just have someone who may score a little bit less but not be such a defensive liability (and maybe even chip in more assists)?  That way you don't have to saddle the fourth line with dead weight and have a line you can constantly throw out there in defensive zone starts and not have to worry about VO?  

[PerreaultForever]

6 hours ago, JohnC said:

I agree with your comments. No one is worried about the 2024-25 season. When you have a hole in your pipe you patch it for a temporary solution, and then later on replace that segment of the pipe. If VO places well, then his value goes up as a trade asset. 

I don't "worry" about it, but I do tend to think ahead and big picture. Some of my comments actually become contentious because of that as I'm already considering the make up of the roster to be successful in the playoffs, not just make the playoffs and so forth. 

[Pimlach]

20 hours ago, pi2000 said:

A close friend of mine, who still plays for Frolunda, is a former teammate of his and they talk pretty regular.     

VO wants out, which is no secret.

That said, KA doesn't just give guys away, so it wouldn't surprise me if he's still around come training camp.

I am happy he wants out, that means the message was received on his benching last season.  In his post season interview he said the right things, he knows he has to work on his entire game. 

What he tells your friend is one thing, what he tells Adams is what matters.  

[GASabresIUFAN]

21 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

What he tells your friend is one thing, what he tells Adams is what matters.  

What he does on the ice and how he acts in the lockerroom are ultimately the only things that matter.  Don't forget he is playing for a UFA contract.

[Thorny]

19 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I gotta say, this is getting old fast. You say the exact same thing about everyone someone questions "I'll wait until camp..." 

Yea... we all have to wait until camp but this is a message board so we debate stuff before that. 

Maybe Olofsson will have a sudden epiphany that you have to be stronger and faster in the NHL. Certainly possible but this will be his last year in Buffalo. The talent coming is going to eclipse him. 

Ftr, I really like VO. I remember when he emerged after the Possler injury and just never went away. I think he's been a solid player and my take isn't a reflection on him as much as on how the team itself has grown around him. Or imo the team has outgrown him. 

There’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time

a long time 

[irregularly irregular]

22 hours ago, pi2000 said:

A close friend of mine, who still plays for Frolunda, is a former teammate of his and they talk pretty regular.     

VO wants out, which is no secret.

That said, KA doesn't just give guys away, so it wouldn't surprise me if he's still around come training camp.

Most everyone can agree that if KA got a decent offer for VO at any point so far this off season, he would be gone.

The Quinn injury changed that plan and gives VO an opportunity. That chance along with his enjoying the view from the press box for the final 20 games of last season should be a wakeup call. It's totally up to Victor. He wants out, he's got to play his way into a trade or onto the waiver wire. I hope he is up to the challenge and chooses the proper path.

[Doohickie]

2 hours ago, Pimlach said:

In his post season interview he said the right things, he knows he has to work on his entire game. 

I disagree.  When asked about what he needs to do he mentioned higher compete and better consistency.  He never mentioned anything about defense which is, in my opinion, what he needed to say.

[LGR4GM]

32 minutes ago, irregularly irregular said:

Most everyone can agree that if KA got a decent offer for VO at any point so far this off season, he would be gone.

The Quinn injury changed that plan and gives VO an opportunity. That chance along with his enjoying the view from the press box for the final 20 games of last season should be a wakeup call. It's totally up to Victor. He wants out, he's got to play his way into a trade or onto the waiver wire. I hope he is up to the challenge and chooses the proper path.

Quick note, olofsson only missed 7 games last year. Not 20.

[dudacek]

Good discussion on Vic on SabresLive.

2 of the interesting points raised:

His analytics were good last year

His 28 goals led all NHLers who averaged less than 15 minutes of ice time last year by a wide margin. No one else had more than 22.

[Weave]

2 hours ago, Doohickie said:

I disagree.  When asked about what he needs to do he mentioned higher compete and better consistency.  He never mentioned anything about defense which is, in my opinion, what he needed to say.

I think he parroted exactly what the coach and GM told him.

[PASabreFan]

This year our Swede graduates:

[Doohickie]

2 hours ago, Weave said:

I think he parroted exactly what the coach and GM told him.

Perhaps.

[Marvin]

9 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Why, to cover for his defensive weaknesses and then not have a strong shut down defensive line?  

That's what was done with Krebs.  Olofsson would need to learn defence.

Of course, my idea might be hair-brained.

[RochesterExpat]

At what age or point in the career of a player do we no longer consider them teachable?

It’s an honest question. I’m curious what opinions people have. Personally, I think the player you have at game 200 is the player you end up with at game 800.

Edited July 20, 2023 by RochesterExpat

[Pimlach]

6 hours ago, Doohickie said:

I disagree.  When asked about what he needs to do he mentioned higher compete and better consistency.  He never mentioned anything about defense which is, in my opinion, what he needed to say.

To me “Higher compete” means play a complete game, which includes defense too.  

[North Buffalo]

8 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

To me “Higher compete” means play a complete game, which includes defense too.  

Saying that and doing that are too different things... guys can learn but it may take a rude awakening like the benching... hard to say with Ollie... I think his intensions are good but not sure he fully gets it... I still want him gone as soon as a viable replacement is found ie one of the kids step up.

[DarthEbriate]

A long time.

[PASabreFan]

A lesser Olofsson?

[French Collection]

10 hours ago, RochesterExpat said:

At what age or point in the career of a player do we no longer consider them teachable?

It’s an honest question. I’m curious what opinions people have. Personally, I think the player you have at game 200 is the player you end up with at game 800.

The guy that comes to mind when I think of transformation from offense to two way force is Steve Yzerman.

Bowman took over the Wings when StevieY was 28 and told him it was nice to score 50 goals and 100+ points but in order to win championships you need to shut down opponents as well as score. He never scored at his previous levels again but was a point per game 200’ C who went on to help his team win 3 Cups.

VO is no Yzerman but I guess it can be done if the player commits to it.

A few scoring veteran players hang on for a few extra years by becoming 4th line pests (Corey Perry) or more defensive roles (Staal, Stastny).