Sabre stock: who are your risers and fallers this year?

[...]

Just now, Doohickie said:

It's funny how everyone assumed Zellweger would be Power's partner and now that's shifting.

Not everyone. 

Either can work as a 4D, it's which of the two compliment Power better. Or, which one with Power stabilizes the 2nd and 3rd pairings (while not necessarily being the optimal partner for Power). 

[Doohickie]

51 minutes ago, ... said:

Not everyone. 

Either can work as a 4D, it's which of the two compliment Power better. Or, which one with Power stabilizes the 2nd and 3rd pairings (while not necessarily being the optimal partner for Power). 

I'm really excited to see the new defense pairings.  I think our defense has been upgraded despite losing Byram.

[SabresFan69420]

6 hours ago, Doohickie said:

It's funny how everyone assumed Zellweger would be Power's partner and now that's shifting.

I had Crevier pinned for powers partner as soon as the trade happened. 
 

match made in heaven

[Jorcus]

I like to lean on the 200 games played rule to look for breakout players. Or something in that neighborhood. Most true 2 way defensemen need more games than that. I do think you can count some AHL time toward development. So who fits the premise? 

Benson at 211 games would have the best chance of improving his output by 25%. He is bit of a strange case though being he was pretty well developed coming into the NHL. There is a thought he might be already the player he is mostly going to be. I would not be super surprised with any particular production outcome. The bigger issue with him is to play more within himself so he does not get killed out there. He has to keep his face off the ice. More games equals more production and although reckless Benson is entertaining it can also come at a cost. If he stays on the ice he has a good chance of hitting that boost in output. 

A sleeper pick is Timmins. He comes in at 198 games. He has had a tough go of it through the years. No one expects double digit goals out of him or any goals at all for that matter. Last year Sammy and Byram were in the low 200 of games played and had an up year. Power was in that games played range as well but stepped back in production from the previous 40pt season. His defense seemed to improve though. If Timmins i ever going to put a big year together now would be the time. 

Wide range of outcomes for the young guys but they will probably need 2-3 seasons to show us who they really are. 

Quinn given his setbacks and contract motivation could fall into this breakout category. He has 260 games and you could ague that last year was his breakout and this year might be more of the same. I would guess an a moderate increase in output. Maybe 25 goals 60 points. 

Doan is at 144 games and if he pulled a repeat of last year it would be great. 52 points was quite unexpected. He could step back this year and I would not be too worried as he will just be getting to the 200 game mark. 

The older guys are who the are. output will depend on health and the guys around them. Zucker may hit the wall and regress but he will not stop trying. 

[LGR4GM]

52 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

I like to lean on the 200 games played rule to look for breakout players. Or something in that neighborhood. Most true 2 way defensemen need more games than that. I do think you can count some AHL time toward development. So who fits the premise? 

Benson at 211 games would have the best chance of improving his output by 25%. He is bit of a strange case though being he was pretty well developed coming into the NHL. There is a thought he might be already the player he is mostly going to be. I would not be super surprised with any particular production outcome. The bigger issue with him is to play more within himself so he does not get killed out there. He has to keep his face off the ice. More games equals more production and although reckless Benson is entertaining it can also come at a cost. If he stays on the ice he has a good chance of hitting that boost in output. 

A sleeper pick is Timmins. He comes in at 198 games. He has had a tough go of it through the years. No one expects double digit goals out of him or any goals at all for that matter. Last year Sammy and Byram were in the low 200 of games played and had an up year. Power was in that games played range as well but stepped back in production from the previous 40pt season. His defense seemed to improve though. If Timmins i ever going to put a big year together now would be the time. 

Wide range of outcomes for the young guys but they will probably need 2-3 seasons to show us who they really are. 

Quinn given his setbacks and contract motivation could fall into this breakout category. He has 260 games and you could ague that last year was his breakout and this year might be more of the same. I would guess an a moderate increase in output. Maybe 25 goals 60 points. 

Doan is at 144 games and if he pulled a repeat of last year it would be great. 52 points was quite unexpected. He could step back this year and I would not be too worried as he will just be getting to the 200 game mark. 

The older guys are who the are. output will depend on health and the guys around them. Zucker may hit the wall and regress but he will not stop trying. 

This confuses me. Benson missed most of his games last year because he took a puck to the face and got an infection. He didn't miss many games because of not "playing within himself and getting killed out there". Benson missed 17games last year and I think more than half were due to the face injury, which was most of the month of November. 

Edited Thursday at 04:04 PM by LGR4GM
Edit: Benson missed approx 10 games because of the face injury

[Jorcus]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

This confuses me. Benson missed most of his games last year because he took a puck to the face and got an infection. He didn't miss many games because of not "playing within himself and getting killed out there". Benson missed 17games last year and I think more than half were due to the face injury, which was most of the month of November. 

In my view he has been lucky. I saw him dive for a puck swatting at it in pre season. It's kind of in his DNA to do stuff like that but sooner or later your number comes up. I hope not but it's dangerous to play low to the ice. 

[nfreeman]

Come on up for the rising: 

- Benson -- his stock is already high around here, but I think by the end of the season everyone will know.

- Östlund -- biggest variable with Osty is health.  If he stays on the ice, especially in the playoffs, I think he'll become a rock-solid 200-foot contributor who is cemented in as a core forward.

- Quinn -- I've got some self-induced whiplash here as until the 2nd half of last season I wanted him gone, but then I thought he turned the corner in the 2nd half and played a very good, well-rounded offensive game.  He can score it and pass it and he has very good hockey IQ.  He still has quite a bit of room to grow -- he wasn't strong enough in the D-zone in the regular season (although I thought that was a bit overblown and he was better in the 2nd half) or on the puck in the playoffs, and with a better start I can see him putting up 30-35-65 in his contract year.

- Carrick -- I really liked what we saw from him in those few games after they traded for him and before the injury.  I think we'll see a tough, veteran 2-way center who can do a bit of everything.

- Samuelsson -- I agree with others who've said he's unlikely to repeat his scoring numbers from last year, but I think he emerged last year as a terrific, physical, 200-foot defenseman and leader who is a great complement to Dahlin.  I think that guy is here to stay, and that he'll get more league-wide respect.

- UPL -- He was lousy in the playoffs, to be sure, but plenty of guys don't measure up in their first exposure to the playoffs.  He finally had a real NHL team in front of him last year and was terrific in the regular season.  While I'd still unload him to make room for Helly in a heartbeat, I also think UPL's stock has fallen unreasonably low due to the playoff debacle and his inconsistent career and thus has room to rise.

 

Stock might fall:

- Norris -- as always, I hope I'm wrong, but I can't see him staying healthy.  If he has another year where he misses half the season and can't hold up in the playoffs, the Sabres will need to move on from him (as I hoped they would do this summer).

- McLeod -- I'm not ready to write him off yet, and he was far from the only Sabre who didn't bring it in the playoffs -- but still.  He had the reputation of disappearing in the playoffs when they acquired him, and he lived down to it with the Sabres as well.  It can't happen again.

 

Not enough info:  Zellweger, Crevier, Kulich, Ellis

 

[Fansince70]

12 hours ago, Doohickie said:

It's funny how everyone assumed Zellweger would be Power's partner and now that's shifting.

It could change. Good to have depth though.  Chicago fans already missing Crevier and not impressed with Byram btw. 

[Drag0nDan]

22 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

I always take the other side on Quinn.  I could POTENTIALLY see him being a 30 goal scorer, but the one thing standing in the way of that is where is he going to get the shots from?  I really need to see him be able to improve his ability to generate his own shot.

On the other hand I still think he is well below average defensively. He was last year. Some said in the playoffs last year he took a step up but I didn't see it. The one thing that may work for him is his skating got better last year. He LOOKED like he skated better and his skating metrics/measurables backed that up. I'm hoping his defensive play will get better if he is more comfortable/faster skating now after fully recovering from his injury a couple years ago where it is not easier for him to get back into the play.

The same with me with Quinn over the last 2 seasons as now. I'm skeptical, but hopeful at the same time.

I felt at times during the playoffs he was the best player on a bad line.  Mcleod struggled, Zucker struggled too.  

[JohnC]

My surprise player who will rise above expectations is Norris. If he can stay on the ice without be nagged with lingering injuries, he will be a bonus player for us who will give us many top two line options.
 

There were some games at the end of the season that indicated why he was a highly rated prospect. If can avoid the recurring debilitating injuries, he who will do much to compensate for the departure of Tuch. 

[JP51]

On 9/30/2026 at 1:05 PM, Eleven said:

Just briefly, I agree that Power seems to have arrived.  Agree on Benson.  Disagree on Doan; I think he's going to fit in just fine.  And Helenius will benefit from his BFF relationship with Benson and score 20 this year.

I am with you on Doan... I think he actually takes a step... he has leadership intangibles.. my guess is he has found his groove... 

[Taro T]

Lyon is the one that this kid expects will fall off.

Could see Thompson, Samuelsson, and unfortunately UPL also doing so.

Expect Dahlin could have yet another level to reach.  Would be surprised if Benson doesn't reach another level too.  Like most others, expect Östlund will be on the rise as well.  Expect Ellis to look more composed this year too.  Power should be getting close to his peak too.