dudacek

So you actually are serious? i thought you were having some fun playing the role. The body of work generally outweighs — and should outweigh — what you do over the 3 weeks in camp. There is no way Lukas Rousek is making the team over Jason Zucker unless Rousek scores 8 in the exhibition games and Zucker is caught pissing in Lindy's skate boot. Camp competition is on margins and about roles. It's about forcing decisions where people are close: Benson and Zucker battling for a top six LW spot; Levi pushing UPL and Reimer pushing Levi; Clague and Johnson pushing Bryson and Gilbert pushing Clifton and Jokiharju; Byram pushing Power; Krebs pushing McLeod; Lafferty pushing Greenway; Rousek, Rosen and Kulich pushing for the last forward spot on the roster; the top 5-7 forwards battling for PP time; the bottom 5-7 forwards battling for the last spot on the opening night lineup. Also, you've been big on Lindy taking a whole new approach with his lines, wouldn't you rather he spend the 2 weeks he has before Prague figuring out how his NHL combinations might work, than giving Östlund and Komarov a chance to skate a few practices with Tuch and Dahlin? i mean you know who Lindy Ruff is. You can't actually think "safe" will be the theme of this camp?

I think he has a better game than both those guys. I was mostly honing in on the “won’t be in the NHL” comment, but it sounds more like it’s more philosophical for you than anything. My own bias is smart guys who work hard, and Östlund is that, with a high skill level too. He doesn’t tick the big and mean boxes, but he sure ticks a lot of other ones.

Good example of the box score not telling the whole story. Popped to me. Wrote about him in the previous game thread. Was better than Rosen over the 2 games I watched closely. (Today’s I watched more with one eye.) I did see him get robbed by the save of the tourney on a breakaway and get snuffed on a one-timer from the right dot today though. In earlier games I watched him set up Helenius and Wahlberg for fantastic chances they failed to convert. He was generally the fastest, most active skater on the ice, always in motion, always around the puck. Forechecks and back checks hard and looks elite as a puck tracker. Not at all afraid of contact. He has NHL skating, hands, hockey sense and effort. There is certainly question about how good an NHL player he will be at his size. What do Kailer Yamamoto or Tyler Ennis, to name two players of smaller stature, have or do that he does not?

This is absolutely true. It's also true that he is in a similar place to where Casey Mittelstadt was at the same age. Personally I don't see him washing out like Jost or taking a jump like Casey; I think his career will settle out around the Cody Eakin level. But it's an important year for him and it's in his best interest to get on the ice and carve out a role under his new coach. He and his agent must see that.

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/sports/sabres/listen-adams-theres-still-time-to-sign-peyton-krebs That stuff is towards the end.

Adams interview on WGR says the focus at training camp is getting the big club ready as soon as possible. You will see the guys expected to be on the final roster together pretty much from the get-go, and way less mixing in of players further down the depth chart. The first 2 exhibition games will see them icing a lot of roster regulars and the 27 players headed to Europe will be formalized shortly thereafter.

@PerreaultForever, you’re always looking for signs of Sabres taking their jobs seriously. The Quinn piece certainly seems to reflect a player who does. According to the article he’s been in Buffalo the entire summer working out and shooting and took advantage of the time to be in the best shape of his life.

People are talking about the poll, and that’s cool, but that wasn’t the primary reason for the thread. I found the linked article to be very interesting in the way it took a deep dive into both the injuries and the rehab. Pretty much says flat out that the Achilles tear was Quinn’s own fault. Didn’t get into specifically why, but implied improper training practices. The fibula on the other hand, looks to be one of those things. The takeaway for me was how fully he took charge of his rehab and how successful he was with it. From sept. 7 not being able to bend his knee or ankle, to playing NHL games 2 months later, and being good enough to score 12 points in 19 games despite how far the injury put him behind his peers. And then suffering an injury that could have had him out for the season, but putting in the effort to not only finish the season, but finish it with 4 goals and 7 points in 7 games. I get the impression this is a kid who is wired to just keep striving.

You can read just about anything at all into that statement. He basically said “I’m not going to talk about it now because things are at a tipping point.” A trade, a contract, a stalemate, your guess is as good as anyone’s.

I got kids to put through college. every little bit helps

Nice piece in the Buffalo News about Quinn’s injuries and his rehab. https://buffalonews.com/sports/professional/nhl/sabres/buffalo-sabres-jack-quinn-injuries/article_468589f6-6eb3-11ef-88a4-675da521b7b7.html I’m seeing a lot of pretty high expectations for the kid around here this summer. I’ve been a fan since before we drafted him. He seems like a pretty easy guy to cheer for.

Any other interesting nuggets from Fan Fest? I saw pictures of a Lindy/Adams Q&A and another with Benson, Zucker and Power. Also saw Krebs was actively involved in the festivities, so whatever is going on with his contract, it hasn’t reached the nasty stage yet.

Not seeing much on Östlund here, so I need to mention I was quite impressed. Kulich has been the best player, but Noah is right there with him in terms of skill: best skater and best passer among the forwards. With Savoie gone and Helenius’ size issues a myth, the “too many small forward prospects” thing essentially comes down to Rosen and Östlund. What Östlund has that Rosen doesn’t is an attack mentality. While Isak tends to let the game come to him, Noah is always around the puck. His tracking skills are amazing, he always seems to arrive where the puck is going, and he gets a ton of puck touches and does smart things with them. He obviously needs strength but he is not afraid to engage and was fairly effective along the wall overall at this level. Looking forward to seeing what he does in Rochester this year.

Do you mean offensively? That’s not the kid’s game. He did look pretty dominant to me in terms of what is his game: snuffing out rushes and breaking the forecheck. The number of chances surrendered against him over 2 games was pretty negligible and he got a ton of ice time. Im not saying “he’s ready” exactly, but I’m not seeing a huge gap in his game that needs to be addressed first like with the other top prospects (save Kulich). He’s physically mature, and his feet almost guarantee he’ll at least have a Bryson/Clague-level NHL career. His head and hands will determine whether it’s more than a cup of coffee. He’s not bumping any of the 6 we have right now though, I’ll agree with that. I liked the kid’s spark and he has some skill - not enough to put him in the NHL, but enough that it won’t stop him from getting there if he develops as a checker and a pest.

As it sits right now, he's the 15th forward. I suspect they will keep 13 and 8 D, but we shall see. 2 of Krebs, Rousek, Aube-Kubel, Gilbert and Bryson would have to waived for Kulich makes the roster, three if they stupidly keep 3 goalies again. If he's outright better, he'll make it, but if there'a any doubt about him being an every-night player, he will go to the minors and be the first call-up. I agree with you on the 4th line thing.

Not saying you're wrong, but there is nothing in the resumes of Malenstyn, Lafferty, McLeod or Aube-Kubel other than being acquired by Kevyn Adams this summer that suggests they are or should be ahead of Greenway in the pecking order. Krebs is another one Kulich would have to elbow aside.

I think my point is that in order to make the roster he will have to blow the doors off in camp, not just be good enough. Prospects challenge is a way to see how the prospects stand up against their peers: what their games are and where the holes are. Not sure if this was exactly his point, but I generally agree with @PerreaultForever in the sense that Kulich is the only one you look at and not say "he's going to have to ... before he takes a step" Ryan Johnson might be an exception? I think there might be a 1/2-dozen guys out there tonight who have some tools that translate to NHL potential Helenius looks pretty well-rounded, but needs more exposure to the pace before he can make plays at the next level. Rosen has flat-out NHL skill, but needs to produce more or defend better to carve out a role. Komarov and Novikov have NHL size and aggression, they have to show they can handle NHL speed Östlund has NHL speed, motor and IQ, he needs to show he can handle NHL size Wahlberg's a physical beast who can skate, but his hands and processor ain't there yet To put this in perspective, Kulich and Rosen are the only guys on this team who have played 100 pro games yet.

It's an NHL roster designed with no space for any of these guys, including Kulich.

Played well. Didn't finish.

Have we seen Bodin since he was wiped out in the corner in the 2nd?

I remember that. In the aftermath of the Botterill firing, it became pretty clear that Jason was hired on the strong recommendation of the NHL and Pegula regretted listening. Always wondered who he thought he should have hired.

You know, 5 periods into prospect camp and it has been surprisingly good hockey. They're doing that "hard and fast" thing they've been preaching. Bodies are getting to the net and they aren't giving up a ton. The forward group is tracking back hard and supporting the D.

The thing about Kulich is not the finish. Kid has a fantastic shot and can find the space to deliver. That’s a given. Its always been about the rest of the game. His strength and doggedness on the puck last night was not something we’ve seen from him on a daily basis. And the question remains: he can do it against Charlie Elick at the Harbour Centre, but can he do it in the AHL playoffs against the Syracuse Crunch, or during the NHL stretch drive in Boston with Charlie McAvoy in his face? I like that the organization is really focused on telling him “good” is not enough to get you to Buffalo, you need to dominate. (PS, Vinnie Prospal is a press conference all-star. Love listening to that guy)

He's a horse, with the neck of a rhino.

Pretty dominating performance. Not a lot to pick apart there. First win of many this year, right?