Weave

I second Mule. It is done.

No, I am judging the roster content and their expected ability to be able to adapt. They pretty much have 1 style of forward, 4th line aside. The lack of diversity of skill sets and styles of the top 3 lines is going to be limiting once teams have a normal season to scout and adjust.

The thing I notice most about Samuelsson (he needs a nickname so I do think need so many letters) is stylistically he is similar to McKee, Krupp, Ramsey, his size and strength already allows him to be “heavier” than they were. He really gets guys off the puck with seeming ease.

I’m not sold on your last sentence. They appear a kind of a one trick pony in terms of how they need to play to be successful. I don’t see this squad as one that can adapt different styles/gameplans and succeed. Decent teams will adjust and if this squad can’t adapt it will look ugly.

I thought Kjell and Ulf were related

I don't get excited over prospects anymore. I just don't. But watching Ulffie's nephew over the last few games is bringing out something in me that I haven't had in a long time, excitement for a prospect. This kid has poise beyond his years, man strength, and the will to use those attributes to gain advantage in the zone. He plays like a man among men already. The Buffalo Sabres have lacked a dominant stay at home defender since Mike Ramsey's heyday. This kid is looking to me like the lockdown top pair guy that makes good teams hard to play against. If this team ever shores the rest of this ***** up, Samuelsson will be a difference maker. He won't have the flash Dahlin has, but he'll be talked about with reverence among the Sabres loyal when his career ends. Fight me.

Samuelsson is of old school stock, that you cn tell. He reminds me of a young Uwe Krupp, except Samuelsson uses his strength a bit more than Krupp did.

They looked fantastic until Boston decided they needed to get moving and exposed this team one again. Fortunately they did so about 10 minutes too late. Boston took us lightly and paid for it. We're good enough to beat good teams that take us too lightly, and probably good enough to beat mediocre teams with respectable frequency, but not consistently. They have a long way to go yet.

Boston woke up 10 minutes too late tonight. And Sam was about as opportunistic as possible.

Olofsson looking good in this empty net situation.

The bear has woke. Should be an interesting finish.

I watch that guys youtube channel too.

Nice game so far. Very unexpected.

Daniel Carcillo, Pat Kaleta, or Matt Barnaby?

Yeah, I can see the bolded. The big question would be, does he have the ability to fight through the obstruction of that era.

94-04 ish is generally accepted, no? Quick snapshot of the 99 All Star game (mid dead puck era) roster centers, Gretz, Primeux, Modano, Lindros, Roenick, Forsberg, Sundin, Holik, Yahsin. Is Sam at Holik level? Maybe, but the skillsets are so different you can't compare. Other than that, Sam doesn't match up with that lineup IMO. In 94 is Sam beating out Nieuwendyk, Oates, or Turgeon? A case can be made he beats out Robert Lang or Marleau in 04. I think its a stretch to call him a bonafide all star in any era. He might make it into a game or two given one player from each team requirements.

How many expect to resign with their current team?

Well they are already planning for boosters so I’m inclined to think that this isn’t lasting immunity like measles or polio.

I’ve watched the last several, but your point is valid regarding my watching. Small sample size and all that. Like my projections for Sam 3-4 years ago, I can’t put to words decently what I see, but I don’t see Roy level dynamic play and I don’t see Casey backing off a defence like Roy could when he was really going, and this is the best Casey we’ve seen to date. I really see Casey topping out as a middling level 2c. I was one of the guys leading the Casey is a bust train so this is a recalculation on my part. I see much more dynamic play out of Cozens. Teams react much more cautiously to Dylan entering the zone than the do when Casey enters the zone. And Sam just flat out pulls up and slows down entering the offensive zone. He’s a talented player that feels a need to slow things down to make plays. It hinders his performance IMO. And what Thorny said too. You’re minimizing Roy’s best years. I don’t see Casey getting there.

Yes, that is the strongest center outlook. Moving Jack is not likely to maintain the strength of that spine, which is why I said depth and not strength. IMO the ideal return includes a middle of the road bonafide 1C and an upgrade at another roster spot or two, like say goalie or RW. In that scenario we maintain center depth, still have an actual 1C, AND upgraded an area of need. Otherwise moving him will not move the team forward.

The return matters. There are plenty of trades that could happen that preserves C depth and fills holes that could improve the team overall. If the return is picks and prospects I agree, we suck for another good stretch.

I agree that Casey’s ceiling is 2C. To me that means that if things develop perfectly he gets there. I have a hard time projecting Roy level for Casey. Roy had a season or two where he was pushing 1C performance. I’m hard pressed to see Casey elevate that much. Curtis Brown maybe? Less wheels, better hands? Cozens, however, his floor might be Stu Barnes and ceiling.... Peca?

Yup. The Bruins appear to be a worst case matchup for Buffalo. It’s like the 1980s all over again, without the 1st round disappointment.

I share your suspicions. It seems evident to me that the Sabres prefer the least invasive course of action to minimize risk to his value, whereas Jack prefers the course of action most likely to result in long term results.

I got the moderna vaccine. First shot had no reaction to speak of. Second shot had me feeling almost hungover for about 36hrs. Had a runny nose too. But probably the most notable reaction was my arm was feverish at the injection site for 4 days.