dudacek

Let's say he can do one year of schooling part-time every two years while playing pro. This way he gets his degree 3 years from now instead of 5. And yes, he may return for his senior season in order to get it done in 2 years instead of 3. What about this doesn't make sense?

I have no idea what his goals are. That was kinda my point. I know he is in the Michigan business program and I know it would be easier to progress in his education as a full-time student rather than as a professional hockey player.

Nothing new though, post-frozen 4, or post decision?

First off, you don’t know you are handicapping a player. Some are comfortable on their off-hand. Generalities are useful in big picture discussions, but what matters is this specific instance. Secondly, what’s important is what’s best for the team. Johnson might be a 78% player on LD and a 71% player on RD, but if that means he is our 4LD and our 2RD, you play him on RD.

Tight games that went down to the wire.

LGR already pointed out the downside. Beyond that, what if his life goals are to get his Michigan MBA, win the frozen 4 and to be a starting goalie in the NHL? What if he’s got a great relationship with the Sabres and sees no established #1 or #2 in their system? What if he’s decided he can pursue the first 2 now with the door still wide-open for the third a year from now with an organization he feels comfortable with? Im not saying you’re wrong; I’m certain people around him will give him your advice, just as people around him almost certainly advised him to sign with Buffalo right now. I am saying people are going to do what’s best for them and their values and preferences are not ours. I would hope that if he intends to explore UFA, he will have told the Sabres about his intentions. We will just have to wait and see.

I see this a lot about Johnson. Disagree. He will have a spot on the team if he is one of our 5 best defenceman, regardless of what hand he plays. And he should become one of our 5 best defencemen. Different player, but his ceiling is similar to Mule.

Last time I checked Krebs, Tuch, Quinn and JJ already have contracts. No you aren’t going to carry 15 forwards on the NHL roster. Yes, assuming good health someone might have to get waived. You’re nearly there. He wouldn’t be signing him “for Rochester” he’d be signing him for the 15-60 games he’s going to be needed in Buffalo. The Sabres dressed 22 forwards this year. 18 of them played at least 18 games.

The difficulty was these threads is that in the absence of real information, people are free to fill in the blanks with whatever they want. It will play itself out. Until it does…🤷

I think his point is that JJ is being overlooked in part because of how good Quinn is. I crunched the numbers elsewhere on here a week or two ago, JJ is having one of the best D2 seasons in Sabres/Amerks history. He’s ahead of Ennis and Vanek, players who went on to put up nearly 50 points in the NHL the following year. Statistically speaking, it would be shocking if he’s not in the NHL next year. Guys don’t produce the way he is at his age and not make the step. Like, it literally has never happened in the past 25 years.

Or you could look at it like this: Hinostroza Eakin Caggiula Hayden Ruotsalainen jankowski All represent expiring contracts that got significant time in the NHL this year. Adams is going to fill those contract slots. Again, you are much too focused on the NHL starters. NHL GMs also want depth, preferably depth capable have playing in the NHL. Adams has the cap and he has the contract slot space. He doesn’t have a big group of prospects moving into the system. Hopefully some of those slots are used on upgrades, but they all won’t be. Some will be used on depth. Granato loves Caggiula; he’s mentioned it multiple times. Caggiula is an Adams type player - no excuses, fast, competitive, good teammate. Caggiula wants to be here. Caggiula is a pesky, fast worker who has played 270 NHL games and scored 1 point for every 3rd game. You could do a heckuva lot worse as a 15th forward. I disagree with your math.

Has he commented? I missed it. Jack McBain was in the same situation and just got traded for a 2nd.

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.