dudacek

I never got the sense from what I read or heard that it was mostly about sample size, more about accuracy. Maybe I misinterpreted. Regardless, even if it is strictly sample size, wouldn’t the analytics department still have a better two-year sample to observe trends with the Russian prospects than others? And the new scout also suggests increased emphasis.

But Matt is a reporter, no? Maybe I’m old school, but I look for professionalism and not-readily-available facts, from my reporters and personality and insight from my columnists. How do you reconcile the two?

But their trust in the analytics available in Russia versus those available elsewhere should continue. Seemed to me it was as much about trusting the numbers as it was about having them. They have added a Russian-based scout this year to help Musil and Forsberg in Europe. And they also seem to becoming a group that leans into exploiting gaps, so a general reluctance in some quarters to draft Russians seems to be something they may exploit.

Am I wrong to thing the Sabres will be leaning hard into the USNDP (Nightengale) and Sweden (Anders Forsberg), as well as their recent Russian interest with their higher picks? It just seems to be a scenario where scouting intel and consensus ranking collide.

Shouldn’t the cost of Dubois be very similar to what the Sabres gave up to get O’Reilly in 2015? I mean the scenarios are very similar: 60 point centre just entering his prime who brings more than points but comes with some “trade me” baggage? I think the Jets would be asking for at least one of Cozens/Krebs/Quinn/Peterka But I also think Zadorov/Grigorenko/Compher/Pick 31 translates better to 4 of Isak Rosen/Pick 16/Ryan Johnson/Prokhor Poltapov/Pick 28/Pick 41/Erik Portillo especially when you remember the Sabres also got Jamie McGinn in that deal. I wonder what the Jets would think of a Mitts/Olofsson-based package if they were more interested in current pieces? If they just want futures, I doubt anyone would beat an offer of 9 and 16. If I was comfortable with Dubois’ want-to-be-here level, I’d think I’d make it.

I don't have any insight into off-ice and re-signing questions, but I'd say Tuch is strong evidence that Adams is willing to take on a 23-year-old forward with the intent of adding him to the core.

Pick is in the possession of the Vegas Golden Knights. Suspect it would be pretty easy to get back. Doubt the Sabres will be offer sheeting anyone, but there will never be a better time to try.

I don't have an answer for you and I don't think your skepticism is without warrant. There are too many question marks. Draft and develop is based around players within the system getting better. Last year was incredibly successful on that front and there is no guarantee that will repeat Year 1: Tage and Dahlin emerged, Skinner and Okposo bounced back strong, Tuch and Olofsson has their best seasons, minus injuries. Krebs, Samuelsson, Bryson and Ftizgerald graduated into the lineup. Year 2: Will the above group sustain? Can we see jumps from Krebs, Bryson Samuelsson and Fitzgerald, as well as Cozens, Jokiharju, Asplund and Mittelstad? Power, Quinn, Peterka, Luukkonnen and possibly Ruotsalainen are expected to graduate. Will they and how much can they bring? And none of that even touches on the hole in goal. I expect our kids to get better, but not without bumps in the road.

Depends. That’s spellcheck, or more likely my brain fart. Possible, but I don’t think so. The context was a question about how to backfill behind the players who are graduating.

Not sure whether this bit from the Karmanos presser fits better here or the prospects thread. In the context of restocking Rochester because of prospects graduating, he said something to the effect of "demands on what happens with some ongoing talks we're having." He didn't elaborate. Does he mean where they plan to play Kisakov? Are they still hoping for Johnson to sign? Is there something potentially brewing with Poltapov or Rosen? Maybe Cedarqvist or Konecny or kozak one of the 3 defencemen taken at the bottom of 2018? Is there a college UFA left worth signing? It piqued my curiousity.

I'm not sure if Dubois the person is a fit. Dubois the player is certainly someone I'm willing to invest assets and cap space in to add to the core.

I think with PK it comes down to whether or not he can reinvent himself like Patrick did. Is he mature enough now to lead from back — empowering others rather than taking the ball himself? Can he play a safer game better suited to his current skillset, rather than the skillset he had in 2015? I think he's a good guy and there's a great opportunity here from him to extend his career, depending on his headspace. The biggest question I have is whether his skating is still good enough.

Well there’s a gotcha moment. 😄 No memory of posting that, although, as I said above, I am perfectly fine with the team re-signing any of those guys for depth. Still think it’s weird that you reacted to my initial post by bashing Eakin and Hayden. Still think your roster math is wrong. As far as the bold goes, if you mean “in the starting 12” I agree with you. If you mean “among our 50 contracts” I think that’s shortsighted. Regardless of whether it’s Hinostroza and Caggiula, or 2 players from elsewhere, we are going to need to sign at least two players of that nature to supplement the returning 10, Peterka Quinn, R2 and Bjork.

What I actually said was that I would not be surprised at all if they re-sign Caggiula. I also would not be surprised if they re-sign Hinostroza, Pysyk, Subban or Hayden. That’s because I think the organization likes these guys as people and teammates. And I have no problem with them signing any of these guys to risk on waivers, sit in the press box or be emergency call-ups. That’s the type of role they’re suited for. (Well, Vinnie is an actual NHL player, but I digress.) That’s not the same as me wanting to sign them, or pencilling them in to the starting lineup. And it really has nothing to do with the post you originally responded to, or how you responded.

But that’s essentially where Cozens was used on Buffalo’s 2nd PP, in the slot.

We’ve had this conversation before; teams don’t get through a season with 13 or 14 forwards. Hell, they rarely start a season that way. Players are always hurt. You plan for that. Last year the Sabres used 22 forwards. Nobody is going to be sent packing. I think they will. But they will acquire or re-sign some players for depth. I agree 10 guys are returning and have jobs for sure. Peterka and Quinn should get the slots that belonged to Bjork and Hinostroza. Krebs essentially replaced Caggiula, but that still leaves the Eakin and Hayden NHL spots, as well as the R2 and Jankowski call-up spots. R2 and Bjork will certainly be in the mix there, but they will sign at least 2 more forwards

Translation of Swedish interview prior to Canada/Sweden posted on another site: Now Dahlin is up against Buffalo forward Dylan Cozens, who has had a good World Cup tournament in terms of points and scored four goals and four assists in seven games. - I'm very close with him. I know how he is, says Rasmus Dahlin and smiles quirkily. And what does it mean? - He is extremely competitive. When it does not go his way, he does not get so happy. So I'll try to make him feel that way today.

It’s crazy how often Sabres players and prospects have stood out on other stages over the past 8 months. Not the usual Sabre fans saying “he looked pretty good”, more media and fans of other teams saying “that guy looks great”

Another interesting nugget Karmanos dropped at his year-ender was a hint that UPL might not be in Buffalo next year. He made it absolutely clear that the organization believes that developing goalies have to play. From the context, I took it to mean a: UPL has not played enough (108 games total over three pro seasons); and b: they don’t intend to have him sitting on the bench 2 out of every 3 games in Buffalo. After listening, I believe the Sabres are considering a path where next season’s plan for Rochester is to base the team around UPL playing 60 games, with the opportunity to have the statement season he has yet to have as a pro. Unless he clearly establishes himself as #1, or at least #1A in Buffalo.

Bjork, Hayden, Eakin and Hinostroza all played regularly for the Sabres last season. Caggiula and Jankowski were also part of the picture. Only Bjork is under contract for next year and none of us would shed a tear if he were waived. There are at least 4 spots up for grabs up front to open next season. I will be very surprised and disappointed if Jack and JJ don’t claim 2 of them.

I’ve read chatter that Georgiev is not signing with the Rangers and there is a good chance he won’t be qualified. The logic with the bigger money one-year offer is opportunity: there are only going to be so many musical chairs available for a real shot at being a #1. You can sign 2x2 or 2x1.5 to back up somewhere, or take 3 or more for this year, and if you succeed in the opportunity, you’re in line for more money later as well. My thought is that the 2nd tier guys will be battling against each other for limited spots and having a concrete offer on the table from Adams while other GMs consider their options might make someone jump.

I think that playing key roles in pressure-packed games, several of them in OT, against the highest level of competition they’ve yet faced, with opponents giving it their all has to help the young players develop.

Quinn and Peterka each played primarily on their off hand, but each is comfortable on both sides. Most Sabres forwards play multiple positions. 12 forward dress: Right now, Thompson, Tuch, Skinner, Okposo, Olofsson, Mittelstadt, Cozens, Girgensons, Asplund, Krebs, Quinn, Peterka is 12

His last post was just before the Eichel return game. I can’t help but think that’s not a coincidence.

Karmanos was cagey early in his Amerks year-end presser about Peterka and Quinn having to do the right things in summer and in training camp in order to make the Sabres. But later on he talked about the need to replace them with the Amerks because when guys have seasons that good you “expect them to graduate.” As far as R2 goes “by the end of the year it was very clear he had taken a step.” ”Based in the way he finished the year he’s going to push very hard for a job with the Sabres.”