nfreeman

I would be shocked if KA made a move like this -- not least because it seems like a spend-like-a-drunken-sailor move that TP probably wouldn't like. I would also be very surprised if Calgary retained meaningful salary to facilitate a trade -- I think teams can only retain on one deal at a time, and this would occupy their slot for 5 years. Having said that, if Calgary were to retain $2.5MM or so, I would trade for Kadri in a heartbeat. He is exactly what the doctor ordered for this team.

Thanks for clarifying. Still, I could be wrong, but I don't think the Sabres ever exposed UPL to waivers -- i.e. I don't think there was an opportunity for another team to take him, either from Buffalo or Rochester.

I checked every one! Unfortunately, this probably won’t happen, as I think the likelihood is greater than 50% that injuries derail the season of at least one of TT, mule and Quinn. But I also think that each of the guys you named has it in him. Also, @GoPuckYourself – I don’t think UPL has ever been waived.

The pain that the family must be going through is IMHO literally incomprehensible to anyone who hasn't endured a similar loss. God bless them.

The other thread is for grief, sympathy, etc.

The terrible news about Johnny Gaudreau and his brother has now been confirmed. God bless their family.

Well, I voted in the majority (so far) on each one. Regarding the 1st question -- I think right now they are just above average, but with coaching and development could become high-end. I am less optimistic that they will become above average in physically tough to play against. It's possible though.

XGF% is from moneypuck. CF% and FF% are from hockey reference.

IMHO, Owen Power is a guy who has significant potential to affect the big picture but who isn't the subject of much discussion. Power, who turns 22 in November, played 24 min per game as a rookie, scoring 4-31-35 and then 23 min last year, with 6-27-33. Disconcertingly, he was 16th on the team in xGF%, with 44.4% (Dahlin was 1st with 54.7%). Among NHL defensemen with at least 1000 minutes last year, that xGF% was #116 in the NHL (Dahlin was #28). Power was a bit better as a rookie at #87, with a 47.5% xGF%. Either way, that number stinks. OTOH, his possession metrics were better -- CF% as a rookie was pretty good at 51.7%, with FF% close to break-even at 49.7%, although both declined last year to 49.7% CF% and 48.6% FF%. Power has great size, which he doesn't use to play any kind of physical game, and IMHO excellent offensive hockey IQ and passing skills. But it's hard to avoid the conclusion, based on eye test and the above numbers, that he needs to improve his D-zone game substantially. He's still a very young player. Let's see what Lindy can do with him.

Well, at least this post didn't contain another mournful ode to Mittelstadt.

You’ve said twice in this thread that KA tried and failed to sign him to a PTO. The article you linked doesn’t say that.

FWIW, Corey Pronman of the Athletic has ranked the Sabres' prospect pool at #11 in the NHL (down from #3 last year): linkage "Prospects" in these rankings include players who are 22 or younger on 9/15/24 -- so guys like Quinn and Power are included. Pronman's ranking of the Sabres' prospects: 1. Power 2. Quinn 3. JJP 4. Helenius 5. Benson 6. Kulich 7. Östlund 8. Wahlberg 9. Kleber 10. Levi 11. Strbak 12. Komarov

Well, I agree that they need more movement and that all of the shots shouldn't come from the same general area, but still. I think Dahlin can and does roam and shoot from the entire blue line, not just the left side, and that the Sabres, like most teams, only have one "point" guy on the PP, with the other 4 closer in (right and left half-walls, slot and behind the net). I think they need a better plan, with more motion, and better playmaking from at least 2 of the right half-wall, slot and behind-net guys. (I think TT and Dahlin both excel at playmaking, but VO and Skinner were both lousy at it.) My first choice at this point would be Quinn at the right half-wall, Tuch in the slot and Benson or Cozens behind the net. That lineup, with good coaching, will be much better than last year's PP.

OK -- time to chill out a bit. You are hysterically picking fights here and babbling incomprehensibly. Get back to talking hockey please.

Yes, and I'm pretty annoyed about that situation -- but that doesn't mean that certain posters who are inclined towards #hammymath can just repeat a piece of speculation and thereby magically morph that speculation into fact.

Again: how do we know he tried to sign Zadina?

Sorry for your loss @Doohickie. I bet he was a great dog and that he had a great life with your family.

How do we know there was an attempt?

Waitaminute. You think he’d be better in front on the PP than in his office on the left half-wall? I think that is the perfect spot for him.

That is awesome.

It's only a matter of time until...

I voted Dixon Ward, although I think Ward’s contemporary, Curtis Brown, who was a bit better than Ward, and was also a center, is within reach as well. I think Krebsie has good hockey IQ, good feet, good passion for the game and, unfortunately, lousy hands. I don’t think he’ll ever be productive enough to be a top-sixer. There also is a real possibility that he never sees a 35-pt season. But next season is only his 3rd full NHL season and I can see Lindy getting the best out of him.

I really hope the Sabres have a top medical/sports science team at this point that can make a difference in Quinn staying healthy. If he plays 75+ games I think he will develop into a star.

This is kind of overstated IMHO. I agree that the prospect rankings don’t mean anything for this coming season, but they mean quite a bit in evaluating a team’s pool of assets, which is important. Having a strong pool of assets, for example, allows you to trade one of them for a bona fide #3 center who is extremely fast, only 24 and might even have a bit of upside, as the Sabres did this summer.