Adams: we have an elite D corps

[shrader]

50 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Ruff implied last season that Samuelsson came into the year out of shape and explicitly said so this year.  That he didn't strip a letter from him implies that he considers him in shape this year.

His '23-'24 season ended in January, so yes, he was recovering from an injury once again.  

Agreed, that it will be interesting to see if he's back to his early NHL form with a full healthy off-season this year.

And he may look completely different if he's routinely getting 3rd pair minutes this year.  One can hope.

[Ctaeth]

dahlin #3

 

[Night Train]

Me thinks KA is hyping a wee bit..

Here's a pic of him in his backyard most nights.. 

 

[Taro T]

4 minutes ago, Ctaeth said:

dahlin #3

 

That seems to be about where he should be.

Hopefully they aren't a tire fire in their own end again, the PP isn't beyond useless, and the goaltending scary.  Because if that happens then the Sabres will be relevant, and then people will recognize just how good he actually is.

His abiiity to keep the puck in the zone is beyond elite.

[dudacek]

1 hour ago, Ctaeth said:

dahlin #3

 

 

Very interesting, thanks for posting.

Also interesting that it includes top 30 centres ranking and Tage ranks #11, even as the acknowledge his positional shift.

[GASabresIUFAN]

33 minutes ago, dudacek said:

 

Very interesting, thanks for posting.

Also interesting that it includes top 30 centres ranking and Tage ranks #11, even as the acknowledge his positional shift.

but Tuch doesn't make the top 30 wingers (or honorable mentions), but Mark Stone does.  

[Flashsabre]

Does this mean we can have a break from Bryson this year?😁

[inkman]

5 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Does this mean we can have a break from Bryson this year?😁

Nope he’s #8 and will still be on the roster.  

[Weave]

11 minutes ago, inkman said:

Nope he’s #8 and will still be on the roster.  

UPLs status may play a role.  If they need to carry 3 goalies on the roster, they may not have the ability to carry 8 D?

[CallawaySabres]

My worst nightmare is that they mis the playoffs again, have one of the best defensive groups, and are the most boring team in hockey to watch.

[DarthEbriate]

53 minutes ago, inkman said:

Nope he’s #8 and will still be on the roster.  

If recent history is anything to go by, Jones would be in the lineup for Samuelsson for at least 15-20 games, meaning Bryson is skating in place of anyone else who dinged up during that span.

[Carmel Corn]

2 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

If recent history is anything to go by, Jones would be in the lineup for Samuelsson for at least 15-20 games, meaning Bryson is skating in place of anyone else who dinged up during that span.

The Bryson dilemma makes me wonder what will happen first……the Sabres part ways with Bryson or the Sabres make the playoffs?

[LGR4GM]

I don't even understand why Bryson was signed. 

[inkman]

11 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I don't even understand why Bryson was signed. 

It was an immediate sign that nothings really changed. Kesselring, Doan and to a lesser extent Danforth, Timmons and Jones are fine additions but the Sabres cannot continue to employ 5’9” dmen unless they are Brian Campbell or Lane Hutson.  Having a run of the mill defenseman so undersized he simply cannot effectively play in the position in the NHL.  

[Mustache of God]

16 minutes ago, Carmel Corn said:

The Bryson dilemma makes me wonder what will happen first……the Sabres part ways with Bryson or the Sabres make the playoffs?

I have been saying for years now that as long as Jacob Bryson is on this team they will not make the playoffs. 

I am still completely ***** baffled why he was re-signed in March of 2025 when the Sabres were last in the Division. The team couldn't be any worse and you're already re-signing fringe depth pieces instead of even exploring improving that area? It's such a joke.

[bob_sauve28]

20 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I don't even understand why Bryson was signed. 

Everyone in the locker room likes him! 😇

[DarthEbriate]

Bryson as an 8 (or better yet, waived, cleared to Rochester and still the #8) is OK if you have a solid top 6 and he only needs to fill in for limited minutes in 15 games. He's got wheels and NHL experience. 

It was the early extension that didn't make sense. At the time, they had JBD and Ryan Johnson. Either of them could be the 7 (who will play 40 games) if you go out and get a top-4 D-man for Power like they needed to do. JBD, of course, had played with Power and looked alright down the stretch, but the shopping list still needed the experienced defensive/crease-clearing RHD type for Power.

[Pimlach]

46 minutes ago, Carmel Corn said:

The Bryson dilemma makes me wonder what will happen first……the Sabres part ways with Bryson or the Sabres make the playoffs?

This was the year to move on from Bryson, yet they rushed to re-sign him.  

43 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I don't even understand why Bryson was signed. 

Because Adams said he is a great teammate that wants to be here.  He doesn't complain when he is scratched, even for long periods.   I want guys that hate sitting out.  

[Taro T]

27 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

This was the year to move on from Bryson, yet they rushed to re-sign him.  

Because Adams said he is a great teammate that wants to be here.  He doesn't complain when he is scratched, even for long periods.   I want guys that hate sitting out.  

Exactly.  He also doesn't seem to need to play a few games after missing long stretches to "get his game back."  Adams and Ruff were very clear about that being why he was brought back.

And, like everybody else, would much rather they have a guy that isn't as limited as Bryson in that 8 role.  UNLESS (well actually even if, to be technical, but should this be the case it isn't as galling) the plan is to have him be the rostered 8 but in reality the 9 behind either Johnson or Novikov who will actually be playing in Ra-cha-cha until somebody in addition to Samuelsson breaks.

Don't fully get why people say they don't understand why Bryson is on the roster when Adams has been very clear as to why.  FULLY understand why they don't agree with it.  And as already said, would rather they have a better player slotted into the 8 because the 8 realistically will play ~20 games.

[dudacek]

The way I see it, Bryson's role is to fill out the fourth-pair in practice, get spot duty on the 3rd pair in case of short-term injury or poor play, and act as a safety valve if Jones and Johnson suck, all with a smile on his face.

I'm sick of him too, but he's as qualified as anyone for the role.

[LGR4GM]

Just now, dudacek said:

The way I see it, Bryson's role is to fill out the fourth-pair in practice, get spot duty on the 3rd pair in case of short-term injury or poor play, and act as a safety valve if Jones and Johnson suck, all with a smile on his face.

I'm sick of him too, but he's as qualified as anyone for the role.

Matt Grzelcyk was available all summer. 

[dudacek]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

Matt Grzelcyk was available all summer. 

I'd say he's over-qualfied and probably had aspirations of a higher role.

But he's certainly a better player.

[LGR4GM]

1 minute ago, dudacek said:

I'd say he's over-qualfied and probably had aspirations of a higher role.

But he's certainly a better player.

He got a pto for Chicago. Adams lacks imagination and wouldn't dare give his friend Samuelsson competition. 

[Flashsabre]

They have the “potential” to be an elite D corps

Byram Dahlin

Power Kesselring

Novikov Mrtka

would be a tremendous D corps when the bottom pairing was ready to play NHL minutes but that is not right now.

Muel- Timmins is a decent 3rd pairing for the moment.

Hopefully Kesselring can help unlock Power and he takes a big step this year.

[dudacek]

12 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

They have the “potential” to be an elite D corps

Byram Dahlin

Power Kesselring

Novikov Mrtka

would be a tremendous D corps when the bottom pairing was ready to play NHL minutes but that is not right now.

Muel- Timmins is a decent 3rd pairing for the moment.

Hopefully Kesselring can help unlock Power and he takes a big step this year.

Athletic analytics model has an interesting take on this in terms of the depth chart and where the Sabres rank in terms of other guys in those slots around the league

1) Dahlin 82nd percentile

2) Power 31

3) Kesselring 55

4) Byram 64

5) Timmins 83

6) Samuelsson 93

Model says Mule/Timmins is an elite 3rd pair and Power is the only weak link standing in the way of the unit actually being elite.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6655759/2025/09/25/buffalo-sabres-2025-26-season-preview/

Edited 48 minutes ago by dudacek