Who Are The Three Most Important Sabres to Getting Back to the Playoffs?

[Porous Five Hole]

Saw an unremarkable article alluding to this and it got me thinking.  Who is it for you and why?

To me, Tage & Dahlin are not question marks.  So I vote UPL, Kesselring, and Norris.
 

While I don’t believe in UPL, he’s plan A in the crease in 2025-26. It is what it is.

Kess is such an upgrade from Clifton/Muel/Henri. Aside from being better than those guys, his impact on Power’s game is being counted upon. No pressure, kid…

To me, Norris was the better player in the Cozens trade. Dylan’s time was up here. But if he only plays 50 games, then the center spine is in big, big trouble.

There are so many guys who could earn honorable mention that it’ll be interesting to hear your thoughts…

[CallawaySabres]

Starting Goalie

Backup Goalie

And Levi

[Taro T]

1.  UPL or whomever wins the goaltending derby.

2.  Seth Appert.  Having a useful PP would do wonders for this team.  His getting his head out of his bippy would be incredible.  Literally.

3.  Marty Wilford.  If somebody could help him figure out what sort of a farm animal HIS head is stuck up; it could be a start towards his extricating said head from said farm animal's bippy.  There'll still be effort required to extract it, but he has to find that melon before he can even plan the extraction process of it.

Listed that one as #3 because it is the least likely to happen.

[DarthEbriate]

41 minutes ago, CallawaySabres said:

Starting Goalie

Backup Goalie

And Levi

This is the way. As a team, tenacity and defensive coverage are the most important efforts. But all is for naught if they get goaltending like last season.

If they get 2023-24 Ullmark, AHL 2025 Levi, and down-the-stretch 22-23 Lyon…. Then yes. Playoffs happen. 

That’s a bunch of If. 

[pi2000]

UPL, Norris and Power

[Ctaeth]

The players that players that could get the sabres back to the playoffs are players that are high variance types.  The type that you honestly dont know what you're going to get season to season.  To me, the three that could massively out perform expectations are quinn, upl, and norris (for injury reason).  You get a good to great season from any or all of these guys... we should be talking about playoffs.  Honorable mention to doan and levi

Edited 23 hours ago by Ctaeth

[Doohickie]

7 hours ago, Porous Five Hole said:

Kess is such an upgrade from Clifton/Muel/Henri.

Is he?

 

 

Sorry if my hopes aren't up.  I hope he is.

[Porous Five Hole]

38 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

Is he?

 

 

Sorry if my hopes aren't up.  I hope he is.

I admit that I didn’t watch a ton of Kraken hockey,  but his fancy stats look good and he brings a handedness & mean streak that we haven’t seen out of a top four D.  It’s why I listed him in my top three.  We need that guy to be money.   

[Pimlach]

Tage

Dahlin

A Goalie. 

[pi2000]

Their path to the playoffs... minimum requirements:

1. A goalie emerges as the bona-fide starter and posts a respectable .905 SV% and 2.80 GAA
2. Owen Power becomes a plus player and posts 50 points
3. Josh Norris plays 60 games and post 50 points
4. Quinn, Benson, Kulich combine to score 60g (scored 45 last season)
5. Greenway and Samuelsson play 60 games

[JP51]

1, Goal Levi or UPL

2. Power does he emerge as a dominate 2 pairing with Kesslring

3. Jack Quinn.... does he fill the JJP role

[mjd1001]

Goaltending. Had the sabers got ten the gold tenny from 2 years ago Last year they would have been in the playoffs. 

If I have to pick something besides goaltending... Second would be no major injuries, and third would be luck. 

But after last year I can't say anything else other than goaltending.

 

[Sabres73]

UPL, Norris, Quinn

[French Collection]

Helenius, Mrtka and Ratzlaff. I am half joking but….

There is no sense of urgency from this FO so it just feels like everyone will want out and the next group of prospects will have to turn it around. My hopium prescription has run out, I am on my last bottle.

Guys like Dahlin, Thompson and Tuch are pretty much at their ceilings, the young supporting cast needs to step up.

My three guys are.

Power. Just 10% more grit and take the next step. Be assertive and show your skill.

Quinn. You were as good or better than JJP all the way through development, just do it.

Levi. There is a spot for you if you show up with your A game and force KA’s hand.