dudacek

I liked Kisakov a lot. He's sneaky and I think maybe a bit dirty. I get the impression he's found ways to deal with the tough guys. His on-ice vision is good and his hands and body control sublime. The way he adjusts his feet and frame to open up for the puck, or to make a play is impressive. Can he be fast enough and/or strong enough to take advantage of his skill at the higher levels?

This is generally proven true time and again. That said, the numbers support getting at least 3 or 4 out of: Savoie, Östlund, Power, Rosen, and Quinn as top 16 picks And I would be surprised if there aren't 2 or 3 more out of: UPL, Kulich, Leinonen, Poltapov, Kisakov, Peterka and Johnson. The math supports that as well. Throw in the progress of Portillo, Bloom, Nadeau, Novikov, and especially Levi, among others, and I'll take the over. Personally, I will be surprised if Savoie, Östlund, Kulich, Power, Quinn, Peterka, Johnson and Levi don't all play substantial NHL games. That's 8 without dipping in to the longer shots.

I wonder about the offence. I am an Asplund fan - the smarts and hustle are topnotch - but he’s never scored enough at any level to suggest he will up here. You can’t cement yourself in the top 9 with 25 point seasons. 35 maybe. He’s young enough to show more than he has, but I fear he’s probably headed for a Girgensons-like career.

Wonder if there were many young Sabres in attendance, and if they took notice of what could be theirs.

So many things to like about that tourney. But I think my biggest takeaway was seeing how complete a player Jiri Kilich was — and this is important — as a centre! Hard on puck battles, fast in open ice and always in the right position on both ends of the ice. Such an an assertive, smart game. Loved the way he connected with and seemed to rub off on Rosen (who also elevated in my eyes). And he looked that good coming off an injury, and without really showcasing what we've been told is his elite trait: his shot. This kid is a player. Overall, our team looked so much faster and more talented than the competition and fun to watch. Keep it coming.

Last year was all about how many picks were outperforming expectations. Was it a repeat, or an anomaly? Looking at Savoie, Kulich, Komarov, and Lindgren in this tourney and you lean toward repeat. Especially when you consider how good Rosen and Kisakov looked — two players who were among the more "disappointing" from last year's draft.

I hear he's got a helluva slap shot

Mersch, Murray, Biro and Malone are back up front, along with Prow on D. Subban in net and the four D - Pilut, Priskie, Clague and Davies - are the big veteran adds.

Looks like 3 goals, 0 helpers in 3 games to me. Kozak 4/0 Rosen 1/2 Weissbach 1/3 Kisakov 1/3 Kulich 1/2 Rousek 1/2 All unofficial quick addition from the Harborcentre site. https://www.rinksatharborcenter.com/stats#/1508/game/576241/boxscore You score 17 in 3 games, it’s pretty easy to pile up the stats. 😁

And if they don’t, the disappointment will be crushing. I hope the fans truly are truly fine with “competitive” and “entertaining” as opposed to “good”. Because if they aren’t, all this “likable” stuff is not going to last

Kinda more like the cream of JBot's draft picks more than his team, no? I mean only Dahlin Skinner, Mitts and Jokiharju actually were acquired by Botts and played a full season for him. When I think of Botterill's team, I think of guys like Hutton, Montour, Miller, Sheahy, Johansson, Berglund, Sobotka, Frolik, Vesey, Kahun, Pouliot, Josefson, Jordan Nolan, Zach Redmond — space filler after space filler. I count 12 Adams acquisitions 10 Botterill (Samuelsson, Asplund, Thompson, Cozens, Bryson, UPL were the others) 3 Murray (Okposo, Olofsson, Fitzgerald) and 1 Darcy (Girgensons) among the guys expected to play this year.

I've always thought part of the issue with Dan (besides the fact that he's not RJ) is the product he's been calling.

Talented. He still lacks the engagement level that really stands out with Savoie and Kulich, but last night was the first time in my watching that it wasn’t a minus for him. My impression over six periods was that of kid gradually realizing that he belonged and could assert himself. Still think he’s an anomaly for this regime’s prospects in terms of assertiveness, and he has long way to go physically, but starting to see why they picked him and gain hope that there is something there Appert can mold. His speed and hands are unquestionably there. Definitely this and Rosen wasn’t a passenger in that.

7-4. Devils are dirty, chippy bunch, but Kulich and Savoie both bounced back after cheap shots by scoring. Didn't back off at all. When people get concerned about the Sabres not having enough size, that's the way you make it not matter.

Kulich empty netter

Savoie always seems to backcheck hard and engage physically with his check.

Savoie off a great Weissbach feed.

And 5-4.

Weak play on the backline there. 5-3

Great move by Rousek sets it up, Rosen buries the rebound.

Roused with the defence and breakout spin pass, Kulich with the speed up ice and the nice feed to a streaking Rosen who nearly buries it. All three for those guys are looking good.

I think it was Rousek on the latter with a terrific screen.

Alexander Holtz is no Jack Quinn

This is a fun game.

Sova from the point. Kulich Rosen Rousek making things happen again.