Buffalo's 'no blocking' days are over

[dudacek]

It's kinda died down now, but a month or so ago I was seeing chatter about the "same old Sabres" handing roster spots to kids instead of proven veterans.

I disagree.

I think the Sabres have 8 proven forwards in their top nine and the three "kids" in question today (Östlund, Helenius, Kulich) have their work cut out for them in order to play in a key role or even make the team in the coming season.

People were calling for a "blocker" to be acquired. I say blockers already exist in the forms of Jason Zucker and Peyton Krebs.

Edited August 11 by dudacek

[dudacek]

First line production (over 53 points)

• 21) Thompson 81
• 93) McLeod 54

Second line production (35-53 points)

• 101) Doan 52
• 106) Quinn 51
• 135) Zucker 45
• 151) Benson 43
• 169) Krebs 39

(Norris finished 204th with 34 points in 44 games)

To my mind, the Sabres have a pretty obvious top six forwards pencilled heading into camp: Thompson, Norris, McLeod, Benson Doan, Quinn. Could any of them slip down? Sure. But it's not like they haven't shown they can handle playing a significant role on a good team. They just did it.

The Sabres also have proven pieces for a good NHL 4th line in Danforth, Carrick and Malenstyn.

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, dudacek said:

First line production (over 53 points)

• 21) Thompson 81
• 93) McLeod 54

Second line production (35-53 points)

• 101) Doan 52
• 106) Quinn 51
• 135) Zucker 45
• 151) Benson 43
• 169) Krebs 39

(Norris finished 204th with 34 points in 44 games)

To my mind, the Sabres have a pretty obvious top six forwards pencilled heading into camp: Thompson, Norris, McLeod, Benson Doan, Quinn. Could any of them slip down? Sure. But it's not like they haven't shown they can handle playing a significant role on a good team. They just did it.

The Sabres also have proven pieces for a good NHL 4th line in Danforth, Carrick and Malenstyn.

That can be a top 6.  Still expecting Kulich gets a shot on Thompson's line setting McLeod up to be a true 3C and letting Norris slot into the 2C that he's pretty much perfectly suited for when he plays.  And that 3rd line would be a true 2 way line as Zucker and Östlund could flank McLeod.  (And still fear Kulich's line will get blown up when playing against a top line; but guess they can mix and match when those games are on the schedule.)

Leaves Carrick centering Krebs and Malenstyn with Helenius and Kozak/Danforth on the farm and Danforth/Kozak the designated PB sitter when all are healthy.

[PASabreFan]

From NHL.com:

That starts with a group of young forwards that made a splash in their two rounds in the playoffs, including Zach Benson, who the Sabres signed to a seven-year, $52.5 million contract ($7.5 million average annual value) on June 24, Josh Doan, Noah Östlund, Konsta Helenius and Jack Quinn, plus Jiri Kulich, the 22-year-old center who missed most of last season with a blood clot issue.

“We expect internal growth from not only the guys like Kulich and Helenius, who didn’t play much for us last year, but Benson’s going to take another step. We hope, and certainly believe, that he can do that,” Flynn said. “We have so many other guys that are in that under-25 age group -- Jack Quinn, Doan, Östlund -- we haven’t even gotten to. They all have so much room for growth.”

Which is why Buffalo felt it could move forward and move ahead, even without Tuch or Byram, the latter of whom the Sabres felt they adequately replaced with the acquisitions of defenseman Olen Zellweger, who came in a trade for a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and prospect Anton Wahlberg, and defenseman Louis Crevier, who came in the Byram trade, along with the No. 4 (Daxon Rudolph) and No. 45 (traded to Anaheim Ducks) picks in the 2026 draft.

“It’s hard to balance giving those guys the opportunity and keeping your veterans in place,” Flynn said. “You have a 23-man roster, you can only (play) 12 forwards, there has to be room for these guys to get their opportunity.”

This season, there will be that opportunity.

Tage Thompson, who turns 29 on Oct. 30, figures to be one of the oldest players, if not the oldest, in the team’s top nine, with many in the group born in 2001 or later. That’s a lot of young talent in the forward group.

[dudacek]

People moan about Krebs playing with Tage and worry about Zucker getting old.

But it's pretty hard to argue that on a division-winning team, Krebs played the 3rd-most even strength minutes and also finished 107th in ES points among all NHL forwards, while Zucker led the team in PP goals and was 32nd in points among all NHL LWs, despite missing 22 games.

These guys aren't JAGs, they're useful middle-six players on  a successful NHL team and they match up favourably with the #7/8 forwards on teams around the league.

Östlund, Kulich and Helenius aren't being handed three NHL spots, they are competing with each other for one NHL top nine spot. 

If more than one makes it, it's because they outplayed one of two established NHL vets blocking their paths.

It's exactly the way it should be for kids trying to establish themselves in the NHL.

Finally.

Edited August 11 by dudacek

[GASabresIUFAN]

Who exactly are the Sabres blocking?  Maybe Helenius, maybe.  Östlund and Kulich are penciled into the roster leaving Helenius as the guy fighting for a roster spot, but, baring injury, he'll likely start the year in Rochester as he is waiver exempt.  

Your top 6 includes are Tage, Benson, Doan, Östlund and Norris 

Your 3rd line includes Zucker and McLeod.

Your 4th line and extra(s) include Carrick, Malenstyn, Danforth and Kozak.  

The issues are how does Ruff allocate Kulich, Krebs, Quinn and Helenius.  Quinn will be slotted somewhere in the top 9.  Krebs and Kulich will battle for a role with Tage or starting the year on the 4th line.  Helenius' best chance of making the roster is an injury in the top 9.  Otherwise they'll want him in Rochester playing in all situations. 

 

Edited August 11 by GASabresIUFAN

[dudacek]

9 minutes ago, Taro T said:

That can be a top 6.  Still expecting Kulich gets a shot on Thompson's line setting McLeod up to be a true 3C and letting Norris slot into the 2C that he's pretty much perfectly suited for when he plays.  And that 3rd line would be a true 2 way line as Zucker and Östlund could flank McLeod.  (And still fear Kulich's line will get blown up when playing against a top line; but guess they can mix and match when those games are on the schedule.)

Leaves Carrick centering Krebs and Malenstyn with Helenius and Kozak/Danforth on the farm and Danforth/Kozak the designated PB sitter when all are healthy.

When I say "top 6" I don't necessarily mean those 6 will comprise the first two lines.

I mean they will likely be Lindy's 6 most-trusted/most-used forwards.

How they're blended and deployed is a different set of thoughts.

[LGR4GM]

25 minutes ago, dudacek said:

It's kinda died down now, but a month or so ago I was seeing chatter about the "same old Sabres" handing roster spots to kids instead of proven veterans.

I disagree.

I think the Sabres have 8 proven forwards in their top nine and the three "kids" in question today (Östlund, Helenius, Kulich) have their work cut out for them in order play in a key role or even make the team in the coming season.

People were calling for a "blocker" to be acquired. I say blockers already exist in the forms of Jason Zucker and Peyton Krebs.

What people? 

People wanted a top 6 forward, that I remember. 

[dudacek]

5 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

The issues are how does Ruff allocate Kulich, Krebs, Quinn and Helenius.  Quinn will be slotted somewhere in the top 9.  Krebs and Kulich will battle for a role with Tage or starting the year on the 4th line.  Helenius' best chance of making the roster is an injury in the top 9.  Otherwise they'll want him in Rochester playing in all situations. 

 

So you agree with me that there will be roster battles for role and playing time?

[Doohickie]

5 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Helenius' best chance of making the roster is an injury in the top 9.  Otherwise they'll want him in Rochester playing in all situations. 

Out of the young guns, Helenius may be the best.  It seems wild that he will start in Rochester, but I understand the waiver exempt angle.  Still.... kind of reminds me of the Östlund situation that supposedly contributed to the change at GM.

When you look at Kulich, Östlund, and Helenius as a group, it seems that each of them has earned a spot on the NHL roster.  I think the lack of a trade for Hellebuyck is creating a logjam at forward.  Chances are one of those guys or maybe Quinn would (or still will) be moved in a trade.  Kind of a shame really because I'd like to keep them all.  

Maybe they just start with Helenius in Roch and wait for the inevitable injury.

[transient]

22 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

Out of the young guns, Helenius may be the best.  It seems wild that he will start in Rochester, but I understand the waiver exempt angle.  Still.... kind of reminds me of the Östlund situation that supposedly contributed to the change at GM.

When you look at Kulich, Östlund, and Helenius as a group, it seems that each of them has earned a spot on the NHL roster.  I think the lack of a trade for Hellebuyck is creating a logjam at forward.  Chances are one of those guys or maybe Quinn would (or still will) be moved in a trade.  Kind of a shame really because I'd like to keep them all.  

Maybe they just start with Helenius in Roch and wait for the inevitable injury.

IMO, the ideal would be that Kulich is able to take the 1C and one of the others plays well enough that they make Norris expendable and the Sabres get what they can for him early in the season while he's healthy. Like the player when he's on the ice, but "the best ability is availability".

[Doohickie]

Just now, transient said:

IMO, the ideal would be that Kulich is able to take the 1C and one of the others plays well enough that they make Norris expendable and the Sabres get what they can for him early in the season while he's healthy. Like the player when he's on the ice, but "the best ability is availability".

[Doohickie]

Depends on the return though.  If Norris is viewed as high-priced, damaged goods and we don't get much for him, versus giving up Quinn, Östlund or Kulich in a Hellebuyck (or other vital need) trade, I think a younger guy might be out the door, as much as I like them all.  You gave to give value to get value.

Edited August 11 by Doohickie

[SabresFan69420]

36 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

Out of the young guns, Helenius may be the best.  It seems wild that he will start in Rochester, but I understand the waiver exempt angle.  Still.... kind of reminds me of the Östlund situation that supposedly contributed to the change at GM.

When you look at Kulich, Östlund, and Helenius as a group, it seems that each of them has earned a spot on the NHL roster.  I think the lack of a trade for Hellebuyck is creating a logjam at forward.  Chances are one of those guys or maybe Quinn would (or still will) be moved in a trade.  Kind of a shame really because I'd like to keep them all.  

Maybe they just start with Helenius in Roch and wait for the inevitable injury.

I agree Helenius may become the best overall, I would say among the young kids Kulich is the most developed/best right now. 
 

He was the top line center at the beginning of this year and Lindy was still very high on him at the season end presser. I would expect the 1C is Kulich’s to lose. 
 

With Kulich owning the middle of the ice and one year older benson, the top line of

Benson Kulich Thompson should do pretty well especially considering it looks like Kulich bulked up a little bit based how he looked at locker clean out. 

[DarthEbriate]

No blocking officially stopped being a thing when Adams was fired.

Unofficially, the depth started to accumulate as blockers while he was still around, but Benson rightfully took Olofsson's place in the starting lineup anyway.*

 

*Though VO should've already have been replaced by a Quinn-injury-middle-6 guy anyway: a Zucker/Tarasenko/Perron type, who might not have blocked Benson from games but would have solidified the 2W and provided JJP-Cozens with a veteran and still kept Jost as the 13.

[transient]

1 hour ago, Doohickie said:

Depends on the return though.  If Norris is viewed as high-priced, damaged goods and we don't get much for him, versus giving up Quinn, Östlund or Kulich in a Hellebuyck (or other vital need) trade, I think a younger guy might be out the door, as much as I like them all.  You gave to give value to get value.

...and the circumstances. Assuming there is no deal for one of the younger guys for a marquee piece in place, if whomever is taking his spot is playing well enough that getting a middling or better return for an asset that is perceived to be diminished in order to open that roster spot and not lose one of the younger guys could be considered acceptable.

[Pimlach]

2 hours ago, dudacek said:

It's kinda died down now, but a month or so ago I was seeing chatter about the "same old Sabres" handing roster spots to kids instead of proven veterans.

I disagree.

I think the Sabres have 8 proven forwards in their top nine and the three "kids" in question today (Östlund, Helenius, Kulich) have their work cut out for them in order to play in a key role or even make the team in the coming season.

People were calling for a "blocker" to be acquired. I say blockers already exist in the forms of Jason Zucker and Peyton Krebs.

Well Dude, they are replacing Tuch from within and relying in one or two of the prospects to step up and several of the young forwards (Quinn/Benson/Doan) to continue to progress.  Not many playoff teams have three players like Kulich/Östlund/Helenius knocking on the door to the NHL.  

They did add two defensemen to help backfill the loss of Byram. 

 

[Weave]

And the timing is perfect!  There is noone left on the farm to block.

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, Doohickie said:

Out of the young guns, Helenius may be the best.  It seems wild that he will start in Rochester, but I understand the waiver exempt angle.  Still.... kind of reminds me of the Östlund situation that supposedly contributed to the change at GM.

When you look at Kulich, Östlund, and Helenius as a group, it seems that each of them has earned a spot on the NHL roster.  I think the lack of a trade for Hellebuyck is creating a logjam at forward.  Chances are one of those guys or maybe Quinn would (or still will) be moved in a trade.  Kind of a shame really because I'd like to keep them all.  

Maybe they just start with Helenius in Roch and wait for the inevitable injury.

I wouldn't describe our forward situation as a logjam but rather it demonstrating depth. There's no need to trade any of the players you mentioned because of a supposedly roster surplus. We are going to have injuries, some severe and others in the category of nicks. So there will be playing time for some of the reserves. The upside of having a lot of talent is the internal competition for playing time and roles. Lindy is an old-school coach. He's going to play players who earn it. This is a good situation to be in. 

[Night Train]

I know I have few supporters... but I like the kids.

Sabres had ALL those picks for years and the pipeline seemed full. Eventually, they have to play. So be it.

I do not want them to be blocked with some over the hill vet on the slide down. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

Honestly I think the salary cap has mostly killed the “blocking” of young players.   Teams need to give kids roster spots to keep cap compliant.  

 

[PerreaultForever]

8 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Honestly I think the salary cap has mostly killed the “blocking” of young players.   Teams need to give kids roster spots to keep cap compliant.  

 

lol, tell that to the Providence Bruins. One example. Bruins have a kid named Brunet who appears ready to push for an NHL job and Sweeney's got 10 veteran NHL D men signed. They aren't the only team that does this either. 

Now as for the Sabres I just want them to ditch this 3 goalie nonsense. Just make a decision. Is Ellis a guy or not? Pick your two and let's move (unless the trade for you know who happens but that's just a different two)

As for the 3 kids and blocking I suspect the plan is one of them makes the roster (maybe two) and the year after Zucker will be gone so there's really not a whole lot of blocking going on. The real test will be if and when Rudolph and Mrtka push for spots. Do both Timmins and Crevier go? It'll be a battle for spots if there aren't any trades. 

[Demoted]

I have always been an advocate for having these young kids play earlier then teams seem to play them.

[LGR4GM]

4 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

lol, tell that to the Providence Bruins. One example. Bruins have a kid named Brunet who appears ready to push for an NHL job and Sweeney's got 10 veteran NHL D men signed. They aren't the only team that does this either. 

Now as for the Sabres I just want them to ditch this 3 goalie nonsense. Just make a decision. Is Ellis a guy or not? Pick your two and let's move (unless the trade for you know who happens but that's just a different two)

As for the 3 kids and blocking I suspect the plan is one of them makes the roster (maybe two) and the year after Zucker will be gone so there's really not a whole lot of blocking going on. The real test will be if and when Rudolph and Mrtka push for spots. Do both Timmins and Crevier go? It'll be a battle for spots if there aren't any trades. 

Sweeney should have rebuilt his defense. 

I think the 2 names that will push for spots are Kleber and Rudolph, not mrtka. 

[JohnC]

Our younger players are not getting blocked because they have demonstrated that when they do get called up they are better than the players they have replaced. These young fellows are not being entitled roster spots because they have earned their spots. Kulich, Östlund and Helenius all played in the AHL. When given opportunities with the big club they made the most of it. 

What makes this upcoming season intriguing is watching how they earn their roles and playing time. It seems that most of the different line combinations that are being offered by many all seem to make sense. How it eventually shakes out will be fun to follow. And it should be noted that Lindy is not afraid to tinker with his lines before each game and during the games. It's apparent that Ruff's approach is simple: You earn what you get.