dudacek

Athletic's Montreal writer does a nice dive into the process of finding goalies this morning. https://theathletic.com/4510285/2023/05/11/montreal-canadiens-goalie-of-the-future/ He was looking at the period of 2011 to 2017 because goalies picked after 2017 are, by and large stil developing. The Sabres took 5 goalies in those 7 drafts, pretty much in line with what the thread recommends. Two teams took 8, one took 2. 16 - half the league - took 3 or 4. The only conclusion I can gather from the article is that there's no magic formula for finding them, it usually takes years to determine whether you did, and when they finally arrive, it's more often than not on another team.

So kind of like last year, when we had 4 goalie prospects (UPL, Portillo, Levi and Leinonen) and we watched Levi rise to the top? Taro cited the Sharks as a team with a history of having excess goalies, so I looked them up. They’ve drafted 16 since the year 2000. Just 2 of them have played more than 15 NHL games. Twelve have played no NHL games at all. None of them played a significant role for the Sharks. The thing with goalies is you want “the guy” you want a backup and you want a “potential guy” in the system. The key though is finding the guy. If you don’t have him you need to be spending a lot of time and resources chasing him, like the Sabres have in recent years with Lehner, Ullmark, Johansson, Luukkonnen, Portillo, Levi and Leinonen. Once you get the guy though, the pressure is off because the push for other 2 to be more than they are is more of a want than need.

The skill was always there, but Rosen is finally starting to look like he believes he belongs.

I wouldnt say lucky — because that may mean we pick him over a better player — but I think he's gone before 13 as well. I like him and think he's a reasonable pick in the mid-teens. i also think there will be better players available at 13.

None of you guys wanting a goalie every year are the same guys wanting the Sabres to stop drafting college players are you? You know Portillo skipped town in part because there were 2 other young goalies in the system. Also, you’re not planning on signing all these guys right? Where are you going to develop them if you do?

I’m not sure Reinbacher is among the top 13 prospects in this draft. He’ll be an NHLer, but I think you’re looking at a Marco Scandella-level guy.

Agreed. You only have room for 4 or 5 pro goalies at any one time and only 2 of them will be getting the playing time they need. As long as you have three prospects outside the NHL, you should be fine. The loss of Portillo and the likely early graduation of Levi means the Sabres have adjust.

UPL at 24, Levi at 21 and Leinonen at 19 is probably a better "young goalie" situation than well over half the league, but we don't always do context well around here.

Leinonen has to be one of the most quickly dismissed or forgotten 2nd-rounders in a long time. He was the first goalie taken overall last year, and the highest drafted Sabre goalie in 25 years. We'll see in 5-7 years if he's as bad as everyone thinks. Yes, a goalie would be nice, but it better not be early.

Why shouldn’t the Sabres play Mittelstadt and Cozens together next year? They made some nice plays when they were together. Put a rejuvenated Greenway with them for matchup purposes and you might be looking at a very good 2nd line. Krebs between Girgs and Okposo (or veteran upgrades) on a checking line. Savoie slides in between Jack and JJ to fill the Vanek/Roy/Max 2006 role feasting on 3rd-pairings. The more I think about it, the more I like it.

New Jersey is a great one. They added Marino, who missed 20 games, Palat who had just over 20 points and Vanacek, who was dead average. And they jumped 60 freaking points! You don’t need to make big moves, you need to make the right moves, and you need to develop your talent in-house.

The stuff I've been reading this week (Athletic mostly) suggests he might have a chance to sneak into the top 10.

Last year, Detroit added Chairot, Perron, Copp, Husso, Kubalik and Maatta and improved 6 points Ottawa added Giroux, Debrincat, Talbot, and eventually Chychrun and jumped 13 points We added Lyubushkin and Comrie and climbed 16. Im not sure if this works the way you think it does.

Are we really ready to flush the veterans? Frederic Krebs Kulich Mitts Savoie Greenway Peterka Cozens Quinn Skinner Thompson Tuch Samuelsson Dahlin Power Graves Lyubushkin Jokiharju Levi

I’m interested in the “where is he going to play?” discussion. The Sabre 4th line typically gets 12-13 minutes a night and no longer includes the likes of Hayden and Eakin. There is no rule a 4th line has to be built around the likes of Adam Mair and Rob Ray. Assuming next year’s Kulich = this year’s Peterka, would a 4th line of Kulich/Krebs/Okposo be a bad thing? Couldn’t it be better than most 4th lines?

If people think Krebs is the 4C, does that mean they have Mitts back at centre full time? There is no way Jost is ahead of Krebs on the depth chart, or in ice time. Regardless of his linemates, Krebs will be top 9 in forward ice time, and most likely battling with Quinn for the 6/7 slot. He might not be in your plan, but he is very much in Adams’ plan.

The Athletic did a deep dive with 4 anonymous scouts into players who might be under consideration at pick 11. It's written from a Canuck perspective, but since we are two picks later and also in the market for a D, it is very relevant for Sabres fans For those who can get past the paywall, it's a fantastic read. https://theathletic.com/4497412/2023/05/09/nhl-draft-2023-canucks-scouts-poll/ Among the insights: No defenceman — not Reinbacher, nor Sandin-Pelikka — is worthy of pick 11, but some will be overdrafted for need If Simashev was a North American, he'd be picked around this area, Willander is good, but probably more of a late teens pick Guys who might slip out the top 10 but shouldn't and who should be pounced on at 11: Benson, Dvorsky Forwards Wood (skill, size but questionable motor), Moore (pace, speed, lacks top-end skill), Yaeger (top-end skill, disappointing season), Danielson (pro size and speed, hockey sense questions) and Perreault ((opposite of Danielson) would be under heavy consideration here for some teams and not for others. Pro-style wingers Barlow and Leonard might be available at that range and should be, good value picks here

What do we think of Ryan Lindgren? 25-year-old defensive defenceman who battles hard, sacrifices his body, kills penalties and seems reliable in his own zone. With Miller to re-sign this year and Schneider next he might by the odd man out cap-wise on $3 million deal. If he works with Fox, then why not Dahlin or Power?

He plays like a Sabre: fast and relentless. One of many good choices at 13. We’ll get a shot at players who would have gone around 8th in a more typical draft.

Hawks had 3 1st rounders last year and have 6 firsts, 8 2nds and 5 3rds to play with over the next 3 years. They have $41 million in cap space. And they just got the player of the next decade. Not every GM is Tim Murray.

Highest the Sabres can get to under the new rules is 3rd.

I'm pretty sure the best players available at 13 will be forwards. If that's the case, take one. There will be better prospects than Sandin-Pelikka available

It was interesting listening to goalie guru Kevin Woodley talk goalies and systems a while back on the radio about how most goalies need their team to play a certain style to maximize their effectiveness. He specifically cited Hellebuyck and the Sabres as an example of a poor match. At the time I wondered if that was part of the reason Comrie dropped off so much, coming out of Winnipeg’s system. I love Hellebuyck, but I don’t think the Sabres should pay the price necessary to acquire him if they don’t intend to commit to him long-term. You don’t give up #13 for a rental and he’s not going to have any interest in a short-term deal. He’s one of the league’s best. You don’t get him to be a bridge, you get him to be the man.

Welcome back Did I tell you I’m headed for a Bosnian coffee in Mostar in few weeks?

Oh that sounds just about perfect. Bruins cannot afford it, bu twe certainly can. And, to answer @GASabresIUFAN's question, there are 9 forward spots taken, 5 currently unspoken for, Olofsson, Okposo, Hinostroza, Girgensons and Jost