GDT: Calder Cup QF: Amerks (1-1) @ Rocket, Gm3: Wed May 21 7p FLO, The Fan

[pastajoe]

[PromoTheRobot]

Levi grew up 8 miles from Place Bell. Put on a clinic, Devon.

[Porous Five Hole]

Had a great time tonight!

Just now, Porous Five Hole said:

Had a great time tonight!

 

[dudacek]

Not because of the goals, but tonight may have been the best game I've seen Rosen play.

It was nasty out there and he was fully engaged and paying the price.

[DarthEbriate]

2 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Not because of the goals, but tonight may have been the best game I've seen Rosen play.

It was nasty out there and he was fully engaged and paying the price.

It’s why the big league squad needs so desperately to make the playoffs. You never know who is going to step up and who will fold. Because then you may need to adjust a roster accordingly. And sometimes a playoff no-show can become a playoff warrior a few years down the line. 

[Porous Five Hole]

Östlund, Murray and Kulich have more to give. Dunne and Clague have been dynamite.  Rochester can win this series if the bounces go their way  Let’s gooooo!

[dudacek]

1 hour ago, Porous Five Hole said:

Östlund, Murray and Kulich have more to give. Dunne and Clague have been dynamite.  Rochester can win this series if the bounces go their way  Let’s gooooo!

I think Kulich has been good, their best forward;

And 7 points, +7 and 20 shots in 5 games is a pretty impressive stat line.

[Sabres73]

Has Clague improved his game this year? Is there any chance he can work his way back into the big club?

[PerreaultForever]

9 hours ago, dudacek said:

 

The makeup of Laval is not veteran heavy, it's almost identical to Rochester's, with a handful of AHL vets complementing a deep group of NHL prospects.

It's kinda seems ideal for development to me: the kids get to play in important situations and learn from them, while surrounded by enough veteran voices to show them the way.

They were the 1st and 4th place teams in the AHL this year. Amerks have both made the playoffs and improved their record in each of the past four years, and are currently in their 8th playoff series over their span while graduating a half-dozen players into full-term NHLers.

But the Sabres do still suck, so carry on being right about everything.

You don't have to get like that but if you enjoy it carry on. 

When I see the kind of players the Sabres need graduating from Rochester into the NHL I will know we have the right mix and type. As is we get a lot of the same. 

[Porous Five Hole]

4 hours ago, dudacek said:

I think Kulich has been good, their best forward;

And 7 points, +7 and 20 shots in 5 games is a pretty impressive stat line.

The stat line in there, but ROC is going to need him to take over a game. Three of his four points this series are secondary assists. He hasn’t looked dangerous with the puck on his stick.  He’s capable of driving play at this level and they need him to. 

[LGR4GM]

4 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

You don't have to get like that but if you enjoy it carry on. 

When I see the kind of players the Sabres need graduating from Rochester into the NHL I will know we have the right mix and type. As is we get a lot of the same. 

What players do you see graduating from Laval? Since you know they're bigger which will forever in this board mean "tougher".

[Porous Five Hole]

7 hours ago, dudacek said:

I think Kulich has been good, their best forward;

And 7 points, +7 and 20 shots in 5 games is a pretty impressive stat line.

Sorry to quote you twice, but I just read the game story. Jiri agrees with me 😂

”When the NHL regular season ended, Jiri Kulich was sent back to the Rochester Americans to experience intense playoff pressure, to prove he can perform in the spotlight when it matters most.

Five games into what the Amerks hope will be a long Calder Cup playoff run, Kulich isn’t so sure he is living up to expectations. At least not his own.

“To be honest, I’m still not good enough,” Kulich said. “I have to do more.”

The Amerks will tell you he’s doing plenty.“

https://pickinsplinters.com/2025/05/16/kulich-rousek-rosen-come-up-big-as-amerks-rebound-to-tie-series/

[JohnC]

I rarely here anything about Ryan Johnson's play. For a defenseman, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. For those who follow the Amerks, I would appreciate your views on him, and the progress he has made. If the Sabres reworked their blueline where he was brought up to the big league, could he be effective?

[Ctaeth]

Was at the game last night. Amerks controlled play and deserved to win.  Even though they were down at one point (3-2), it didn't feel out of reach.  They got production from their big guns and that will have to continue if they are going to win the series.

Agree on rosen looking great.  During each intermission, the jumbotron cut to the team in the tunnel.  Every time they did, rosen was the one going around the room and giving fist bumps.  Disregard his points and he still played a great game.  Lots of chances

Östlund looked to be primarily playing wing.  Not sure how comfortable he is there.  Probably got moved over when kulich came down.

Was a chippy game.  Stuff going on after every whistle.  This team can play that sort of game though.  They rose to the occasion 

[PromoTheRobot]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

I rarely here anything about Ryan Johnson's play. For a defenseman, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. For those who follow the Amerks, I would appreciate your views on him, and the progress he has made. If the Sabres reworked their blueline where he was brought up to the big league, could he be effective?

I thought Johnson has been very good, especially last night. The thing Laval was doing, two things actually, they were all over the Amerks giving them little room to operate, and two once they established control in the Amerks end, it was hard for Rochester to get it back. So players would get trapped io the ice, wear out and eventually give up a goal to Laval. 

But by the late second period Rochester started to figure things out, or Laval got tired playing such a high intensity pace. Amerks had more scoring chances and finally started cashing those in late.

Edited 3 hours ago by PromoTheRobot

[dudacek]

8 hours ago, Porous Five Hole said:

The stat line in there, but ROC is going to need him to take over a game. Three of his four points this series are secondary assists. He hasn’t looked dangerous with the puck on his stick.  He’s capable of driving play at this level and they need him to. 

 

4 hours ago, Porous Five Hole said:

Sorry to quote you twice, but I just read the game story. Jiri agrees with me 😂

”When the NHL regular season ended, Jiri Kulich was sent back to the Rochester Americans to experience intense playoff pressure, to prove he can perform in the spotlight when it matters most.

Five games into what the Amerks hope will be a long Calder Cup playoff run, Kulich isn’t so sure he is living up to expectations. At least not his own.

“To be honest, I’m still not good enough,” Kulich said. “I have to do more.”

The Amerks will tell you he’s doing plenty.“

https://pickinsplinters.com/2025/05/16/kulich-rousek-rosen-come-up-big-as-amerks-rebound-to-tie-series/

Maybe it’s about expectations, and I’m glad to see his are high.

Ive never seen Kulich as a “take over a game guy” at any level, in terms of “give me the puck and I’ll beat guys”. 

But I am seeing a guy right now who is reading the game very well, competing hard, and to me he does look dangerous.

3 hours ago, JohnC said:

I rarely here anything about Ryan Johnson's play. For a defenseman, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. For those who follow the Amerks, I would appreciate your views on him, and the progress he has made. If the Sabres reworked their blueline where he was brought up to the big league, could he be effective?

I thought Ryan Johnson was excellent last night and has been quietly good all playoffs.

His game is Bill Hajt: blunt the rush, collect the dump-in, move puck to safety.

He doesn’t create offence or hurt people, but at this level he kills plays.

I thought he was overwhelmed as an NHL rookie. His feet are NHL, but his brain wasn’t.

His processor has improved and he might be ready.

Edited 3 hours ago by dudacek

[Jorcus]

3 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I thought Johnson has been very good, especially last night. The thing Laval was doing, two things actually, they were all over the Amerks giving them little room to operate, and two once they established control in the Amerks end, it was hard for Rochester to get it back. So players would get trapped in the ice, wear out and eventually give up a goal to Laval. 

But by the late send I period Rochester started to figure things out, or Laval got tired playing such a high intensity pace. Amerks had more scoring chances and finally started calling those in late.

 

I know before the playoffs Leone stated that he was going to roll 4 lines. I would assume in an effort to wear Laval down. It would also seem that Kulich would be affected by playing less 5 on 5 time. I can't find time on ice numbers so just a guess about Kulich. Nice to see Rosen have a really good game when it matters.  

[JoeSchmoe]

39 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

 

I know before the playoffs Leone stated that he was going to roll 4 lines. I would assume in an effort to wear Laval down. It would also seem that Kulich would be affected by playing less 5 on 5 time. I can't find time on ice numbers so just a guess about Kulich. Nice to see Rosen have a really good game when it matters.  

Trade value!

[PerreaultForever]

8 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

What players do you see graduating from Laval? Since you know they're bigger which will forever in this board mean "tougher".

I don't know the Laval roster well enough to say. I just know that Rochester runs in to this every year. They score a lot and start the playoffs well but then they run into the bigger, tougher and more veteran teams and they get bounced in a boys vs. men way. 

[dudacek]

24 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

I don't know the Laval roster well enough to say. I just know that Rochester runs in to this every year. They score a lot and start the playoffs well but then they run into the bigger, tougher and more veteran teams and they get bounced in a boys vs. men way. 

Except exactly the opposite happened this year against bigger, tougher and more veteran Syracuse.

Last year they lost in the 5th and deciding game against bigger, tougher and more veteran Syracuse, two years ago they won in the 5th and deciding game against bigger, tougher and more veteran Syracuse. They then beat a more veteran Marlies team, then lost in the final 4 to a more veteran Hershey team, although I'm not sure either of those teams were actually bigger and tougher.

Three years ago, they beat Belleville and Utica teams that tried to goon it up, then lost a smaller, more skilled and more veteran team in Laval in the 3rd round.

It's not been as neat and tidy and obvious as your story suggests.

Edited 54 minutes ago by dudacek

[LGR4GM]

30 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

I don't know the Laval roster well enough to say. I just know that Rochester runs in to this every year. They score a lot and start the playoffs well but then they run into the bigger, tougher and more veteran teams and they get bounced in a boys vs. men way. 

So you're mad that AHL teams roster more veterans than Rochester? Also as others note, they beat quite a few of those teams in playoffs. 

8 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Except exactly the opposite happened this year against bigger, tougher and more veteran Syracuse.

Last year they lost in the 5th and deciding game against bigger, tougher and more veteran Syracuse, two years ago they won in the 5th and deciding game against bigger, tougher and more veteran Syracuse. They then beat a more veteran Marlies team, then lost in the final 4 to a more veteran Hershey team, although I'm not sure either of those teams were actually bigger and tougher.

Three years ago, they beat Belleville and Utica teams that tried to goon it up, then lost a smaller, more skilled and more veteran team in Laval in the 3rd round.

It's not been as neat and tidy and obvious as your story suggests.

That story he's shopping is a myth. 

I'm ***** floored anyone is arguing the Sabres org should roster a more veteran AHL squad so they can win there when they win there. 

[DarthEbriate]

6 hours ago, JohnC said:

I rarely here anything about Ryan Johnson's play. For a defenseman, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. For those who follow the Amerks, I would appreciate your views on him, and the progress he has made. If the Sabres reworked their blueline where he was brought up to the big league, could he be effective?

It's why the pre-re-signing of Bryson doesn't make sense. Bryson should get beaten out in camp by R Johnson for the 7th/8th D and waive Bryson. No loss, no foul. He'll pass waivers to the Amerks because everyone's waiving their 8th D at that time of year (barring one team with a boatload of preseason injuries).

But... because Bryson is already extended, it leads one to believe that Adams is willing to let Johnson be offer sheeted (at the no compensation level), OR just sign the qualifying offer. But if Johnson gets waived, he's much more likely to get snared than Bryson.

[dudacek]

2 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

It's why the pre-re-signing of Bryson doesn't make sense. Bryson should get beaten out in camp by R Johnson for the 7th/8th D and waive Bryson. No loss, no foul. He'll pass waivers to the Amerks because everyone's waiving their 8th D at that time of year (barring one team with a boatload of preseason injuries).

But... because Bryson is already extended, it leads one to believe that Adams is willing to let Johnson be offer sheeted (at the no compensation level), OR just sign the qualifying offer. But if Johnson gets waived, he's much more likely to get snared than Bryson.

This.

The only thing I can thing of is Bryson is this year’s Clague: purely insurance who has been waived before and you don’t mind waiving again?

Is Johnson subject to waivers? He’s only a 2nd-year pro, but he is an older prospect, so I’m not sure. 

[DarthEbriate]

7 minutes ago, dudacek said:

This.

The only thing I can thing of is Bryson is this year’s Clague: purely insurance who has been waived before and you don’t mind waiving again?

Is Johnson subject to waivers? He’s only a 2nd-year pro, but he is an older prospect, so I’m not sure. 

I think Johnson is still waivers exempt all next season unless he plays a bunch of NHL games. But the issue is, why so concerned with losing Bryson? He's fine as a #7-8 if your top 6 is all set and filled with in-their-prime guys and studs. But Bryson is the oldest-in-his-prime of the group not named Clifton (who is on an expiring contract next year) and Bryson has the lowest ceiling of any of their NHL/AHL D-men.

Back to the thread at hand, the cool thing about this series is if the Amerks win it, they could be Calder Cup favorites the rest of the way. Laval was no pushover this season and has their Habs reinforcements.