dudacek

Since Kulich doesn't have a contract, this means they can assign him pretty much wherever they want, no? I wonder if Rochester might be in the cards? He's probably physically more ready than Rosen and Kisakov. Also, Östlund, I believe, is under contract. But under the latest CBA, doesn't his 1st-round status give the Sabres control of where he goes, as well? Or was that a different nuance to do with 1st-round Swedes? Savoie is Buff or Winnipeg.

Thought he was overrated during his time here and he hasn’t exactly torn up the KHL. But in terms of a 7/8 he’s perfectly serviceable.

This is what people don't get about "blocking". Shielding isn't actually about shielding the player, it's about shielding the team from the mistakes that player makes as he learns. Adams and Granato don't want players blocking their kids because they are trying to accelerate their learning process. They want them in opportunities where they learn, adapt and overcome. If the kid is going to be good, he will.

From Adam Mair's interview sounds like there is a good chance he plays in the Q this year. I'm kinda expecting the Sabres to sign all three 1st rounders shortly after camp. And to @LGR4GM, personally I'm exceptionally high on Kulich. Kid is a hockey player. Right there with JJ as among the best "value picks" the Sabres have made.

One would think that with the sheer volume of teams and our willingness and ability to assist them that some kind of move is coming.

Genuine concern out there post-Eichel is whether the team possesses the type of elite talent necessary to ever be a cup winner. If we do, it will be in the form of the concept of Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Devon Levi.

Well the kid did score 40 this year, one off the league lead.

That’s how I read it too. His conflict appears to be more about signing now or later, rather than here or elsewhere. Loves Minny wants go back and win a title NHL is his dream and the opportunity to fulfill it is right there. Genuinely looking at camp to push him one way or the other. Doesnt like conflict, feels the pressure from the media to sign Not a gifted public speaker We see the uncertainty and insecurity and conclude that it’s about Buffalo when it may really be about the when, rather than the where. “I love Buffalo, I plan on signing eventually” is either an outright lie or simply the truth. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt until they prove they deserve otherwise. Portillo responded by talking about having to prove himself in Michigan. To who? Why? Buffalo has already offered him a contract. Unlike Johnson, he seems otherwise very self-assured and aware of his path. Unlike Johnson, he did not even try to address his future with the Sabres. I tend to think he hasn’t closed the door on Buffalo, but his approach to his future will be purely businesslike.

There’s their Backstrom replacement. Big drop off there, IMO. Closer to home Ottawa extends Josh Norris 8 years for just a smidge under $8 million. The market for Tage is setting. Wonder if they’re talking.

So it’s Dreger, but he actually sounds like he’s hearing some buzz that Buffalo is kicking tires on some bigger pieces. That Montreal radio, so not his typical Buffalo radio hit. Kevyn has us conditioned to think he’s done, but maybe not? There’s a lot to like about Chychrun. It really feels like we’re not nearly as concerned about handedness as some.

Canucks allegedly talking to teams about dumping Ekman-Larsson. He's a lefty and has a brutal contract. But he can still play in the top 4 and fits the elder statesman role here very well. He's only 30. I wonder would we could get for taking him.

On the other hand, meet Devon Levi. Without even being asked the question, this kid leaves no doubt where he'll be signing. Fantastic interview. Fantastic kid. Fantastic goalie.

I'm thinking of all-offence, all lines: more like Krebs Cozens Savoie Quinn Östlund Tuch Kulich Thompson Peterka Asplund Mitts Olofsson I gotta say the mix of projected talent, speed and compete on those first three lines is drool-worthy.

So hard to dislike Cozens.

I think Adams is trying to operate more like a football team. He's trying to create a situation where the team develops and slides the cheaper back-up into the role of the non-core player who earns a big raise. The trick is determining which players you identify as 'core" and sign long-term and which ones you can afford to let go.

And if Rosen trends to bust, Quinn struggles in the NHL and VO scores 38 next year while Mitts and Thompson disappoint, the equation changes. Don't get me wrong I largely agree with you, and think that is likely the way Kevyn is leaning as well. But best-laid plans, right?

The bold has it. Any discrepancy between ice time between the 2 will be a result of ice time earned, though. I don't see the Sabres approaching it from the perspective of a 3C they want to get 14 minutes and a 2C they want to get 16. I'm more interested in how they mix up the lines and who gets shifted to the wing. It sounds like the early plan is Zemgus at 4C, but Rochester convinced me that Krebs is more suited to centre. I do think there is a chance the 4th line this year will be non-traditional and often include Quinn, Peterka and/or Krebs depending on the matchups Donnie wants higher up the lineup, specifically Girgs/Asplund in defensive conscience roles. That doesn't mean 8 minutes a game though, they'll get their 12.

This contract is about seeing what VO does this year versus how Quinn, Peterka and Rosen develop. It's about keeping options open.

The Sabres like Henri a lot more than you do.

Seems like unheralded over-25 goalies suddenly get an opportunity and break out almost every year. Binnington, Husso, Kuemper, Talbot, Campbell... Why not Comrie? We can always dream.

Its gonna be Boosh Definitely signed to be a 4/5 — 17-18 minutes a night killing penalties and making D-zone starts.

The team is counting on those kinda updates: the biggest improvements this year are going to come from guys like Cozens or Mitts making leaps.

The mid-point break was actually incidental to the point I was trying to make. I was more approaching this from the perspective I’ve seen of “we were a bad team last year and we haven’t done anything to improve the roster.” The point of my exercise was to show that we actually have turned over literally half the players from the team that was bad, and that the team actually improved with the turnover. It’s just been a gradual process from the group we watched struggle in November and December: Tuch for Hayden Mitts for Eakin Krebs for R2 Peterka for Caggiula Quinn for Murray Samuelsson for Pysyk Power for Miller Lyubushkin for Hagg Fitzpatrick for Butcher Comrie for Tokarski Anderson for Dell Basically we’ve moved the majority of the JAGs off the roster. But rather than replacing them with proven talent, it’s been unproven talent. They add guys they think have more to give. Lyubushkin has only played just over 200 games. Comrie 28. Even Tuch had only played about 250 when we got him.

Clague actually became a Hab when the Kings waived him last year. I don’t remember it, but he was 2-time World Junior player for team Canada. Probably whyI recognized the name.

I’d be surprised if Tischke isn’t back. Still need one more to replace Fitzy’s fire or Mule’s strength. Priskie Davies, Pilut and Clague certainly address the biggest weakness of last year’s team though. They should do a much better job of exiting the zone than this year’s team though. Especially if Johnson gets added to that group.