dudacek

Like Portillo and Levi, I wonder how much of Johnson’s decision-making is tie to unfinished business. Final 4 loss has gotta sting.

Personally I think there needs to be more focus on Johnson. Kid is a bigger, better Bryson and is going to play 10 years in the NHL. Quotes from January: “Whether it's Tim [Kennedy], Nate [Paetsch], or even GM Kevyn Adams, they've all put a lot of effort into me," he said. "It's really cool to see and makes me very confident in the future." Johnson feels confident that he will be able to take the next step in his career sooner rather than later. He's paid attention to the Sabres throughout the season and is thrilled to be a part of what is being built for the future. "I really do see lots of positives within the organization right now," he said. "They have continued to draft skilled players and develop them. It's just a matter of time before things really start to click in Buffalo

He looked spent last night. Worst game in months. You might be right.

You guys are going to lose your ***** when it happens, but I can almost guarantee Drake Caggiula will be signed as one of our spare forwards next year.

Agree with this except the bold. I think you are underestimating Portillo’s potential. He season this year has generally pushed him onto a number of top 10 goalie prospect lists.

It’s interesting that Kris Baker is reporting that 3 seasons in Michigan was always the plan for Portillo. He’s just decided to stick with it. This is a good test of the good will Adams and Seamus Kotyk have built and can continue to build with Portillo. If his reason for returning to college is truly college, there are two possible incentives for him to jump from the organization that has nurtured him: discomfort and opportunity. That’s generally why people change jobs. We have no way of knowing what he thinks about either.

Asplund will be lucky if he scores 10. His career high is literally 10 in any pro league. (Started playing pro at age 16 in Sweden)

Another year of college will be good for Portillo. He hasn’t played a lot of games prior to this year. The revelation he can bolt next year coupled with the fact he may feel threatened by Levi is worth people feeling concerned. He had the opportunity to be handed the number one job in Rochester and be one pulled groin away from the NHL next year and didn’t take it. Im very curious to find out why.

I wonder if Asplund does too? Brown had 43 points in 51 games as an AHL rookie, then 24 in 63 in his first NHL year. Asplund had 41 in 75, then 24 in 71 this year. Difference was Brown didn’t have the pandemic interrupting his development in between. 35 points as a bottom 6er is pretty good and not out of Asplund’s reach.

Don’t get too fixated on top 12. Skinner, Tage, Tuch, Mitts, VO, Girgs and KO are ahead of him in the pecking order He’s in a mix with Cozens, Krebs and likely Quinn on the next tier. Even if JJ and an Eakin upgrade push him to 13th forward, he’s unlikely to be a healthy scratch. Hope you are right though. Teams that have 12 forwards better than Asplund are generally good.

The offence is definitely a question mark. But his presence with 2 more talented guys has generally made their lines better; it's kinda like a lower-case Jochen Hecht. I've always got time for hustle and smarts. He can play on this team when it's good.

Off topic, but in addition to Devon, Krebs, Cozens, and Power have lengthy Hockey Canada connections. Skinner and Miller have some. Tage and Tuch would be naturals for Team USA. Mitts and Mule maybe? Dahlin, VO, Joker...? Might see a healthy group of Sabres at the Worlds this year.

There must be something in the way he hunches his shoulders, or gets a pained expression that inspires these posts. He was among our best forwards last night and his line was good despite the fact Brunette was trying to target it. And when Krebs Cozens Quinn Dahlin Power etc. hit their prime together in a few years the way Ekblad, Bennett, Reinhart, Barkov, Duclair etc.have we should also be that good. At least that’s the plan.

My immediate reaction was “sure they have, last night” They’ve had bad moments, but that was like the 1st game in a month where they were outclassed and hanging in for basically the final 2 periods. And then I remembered what we looked like in the fall against a Florida team that barely broke a sweat. And that was a whole different level of bad. Our standards are becoming more what a real NHL team’s should be. And it sure is nice.

I was all fingers crossed for Cooley and Nemec when were looking top 5. Now that the pick looks more 8ish, it’s been more Nazar and Jiricek. That your ranking has them flipped makes me happy. The Buffalo Sabres top draft pick will be fine.

Anyone know why he hasn’t really been part of the PK rotation? It’s been nagging me for a while.

I though he struggled against big bodies tonight and I don’t think it was a coincidence that it showed more because the opponents were bringing it harder than 90 per cent of the games Ive see him defend. That said, he’s played 100. Maybe games like tonight help him grow.

Hockey culture demands that players say they are focused on their current teams, therefore you will never hear a college player say "I am going pro as soon as I can." Sabrefan psychology says "if something can go wrong it will." Therefore, we will be treated to anxious posts until a player actually signs, regardless of the fact we haven't seen any indication of Portillo, Power, Johnson or Levi not wanting to start their career here. I counted 24 college players drafted by the Sabres since 2000. Petersen is the only one who walked.

The pre-season favourites rarely win rookie of the year in hockey. That out of the way, come September, will there be anyone ahead of Quinn and Power?

Well, I guess with R2 on his way out the door it’s pretty much a given Power gets 25, eh? 22 Quinn 23 Samuelsson 24 Cozens 25 Power 26 Dahlin Pretty interesting to see the backbone of the future on a run like that

There it is, the 1st of what is sure to be years of never ending posts about Owen Power not playing physical enough. Ive expected it from the first few times I watched him play. Thanks for getting it started even before he’s put pen to paper on his contract. 😂

I tried but I got this message. “This is an automated response. LGR has already used up all Sabrespace circuits allotted to Cody Eakin scorn for today. Please delete your post and try again.” 😜 Also, you don’t actually think this board likes Eakin?

Wilford is the Sabres assistant coach in charge of the defence. Basically Steve Smith’s replacement.

Not defending Henri (his being on the PP is about development), but Bryson is not a better option IMO. It's easy to see the way Bryson skates and handles the puck and confuse that with offence. He has no shot that I've seen, or ability to make quick passes. Dude has less than 20 points in 100 NHL games. When was the last time you remember him creating a great scoring chance? This discussion becomes moot anyway come next week, when we get a power surge.