dudacek

Here’s another way of looking at this: In the spring of 2013, Darcy Regier hit the reset button and began selling off vets for picks and prospects. He and Tim Murray combined to develop and assemble a trove of “futures” assets with which to build a contender. Kevyn Adams did a similar thing 8 years later with several pieces inherited from Botterill. Here’s what they had/have to work with in terms of 1st and 2nd round pick value: 2) Eichel 1) Power 2) Reinhart 1) Dahlin 8. Nylander 4) TBD 2022* 8. Ristolainen 7) Cozens 10) Hodgson 8. Quinn 12) Myers 8.Mittelstadt 12) Grigorenko 14) Rosen 14) Girgensons 16) TBD 2023* 16) Armia 17) Krebs 16) Zadorov 20) TBD Vegas* 21) Colin White 26) Thompson 23) Pysyk 29) Jokiharju 24) Ennis 30) TBD Florida* 25) Jack Roslovic 31) Johnson 31) Jeremy Roy 32) Samuelsson 31) Lemieux 33) Poltapov 33) Asplund 33) Asplund 35) Compher 34) Peterka 38) Hurley 36) TBD 2022* 44) Cornel 37) Davidsson 44) Adam 48) TBD 2023* 44) McCabe 48) TBD Philly* 45) Chad Krys 48) TBD Vegas* 49) Karabacek 53) Kisakov 51) Guhle 54) Luukkonen 52) Bailey 56) Larsson 57) Carrier Murray also acquired Fasching and Adams Levi as targeted prospects who weren’t high picks. 2016 shows up twice as Adams oldest prospects and Murray’s furthest-away futures. 2022 picks are where they stand today, 2023 right dead centre of the round. Its very interesting how similar the asset capital is.

This is absolutely correct. On paper, Murray’s team followed a contender template and should have worked. Playmaking 1C Eichel Elite 2way C ROR 2 top-6 power forwards in Okposo and Kane Smart versatile top-6 playmaker in Reinhart Young, rugged, talented horses on D in Bogo, McCabe and Risto Massive emerging goalie stud in Lehner Veteran leadership in Gorges, Gionta and Moulson And a group of big, strong youngsters on the way for depth in Foligno, Girgensons, Fasching, Bailey, Baptiste, Deslauriers and Guhle. It had a potential identity and all the potential in the world to be a big, tough, skilled handful to play against. But it was also a poorly managed, poorly coached group of entitled athletes, most of whom failed to live up to their billings or gel as a team. I’d say that group had better perceived talent. Let’s hope this one is better at the rest.

This is a long way from where this started. Are we comparing prospects or teams?

And McCabe and Risto with Power and Dahlin? And where does Cozens fit?

Not disputing anything about big picture trends. Im wondering about Johnson’s skill set specifically, and how the Sabres see him. I see 12 of the top 100 highest paid D listed as capable of playing on their off-hands.

I remember the board being high on Fasching, Baptiste and Bailey. But in terms of where those prospects are compared to the current Rochester trio, is night and day. 1st year Rochester pro projected over 82 AHL games: Bailey 23/29/52 Baptiste 17/20/37 Fasching 18/9/27 Quinn 61/58/119 Krebs 18/50/68 Peterka 24/58/82 Quinn is as productive on his own as the 2016 three combined.

I found it interesting that Wheeler made a point of Johnson playing both sides. I wonder if the Sabres are looking at him on the right, which certainly shifts the way you look at this group. He does project well as complementary ES top 4 guy.

For sure, but I was more thinking of forward profiles than positions: Matthews (sniper), Messier (power forward) Gretzky (playmaker), Bergeron (2-way) all point-producing 1Cs. I guess I did specify the 2-way player as a C, so I can see why that wasn't clear.

Peterka Cozens Quinn could evolve into a special combination of skill and pace at both ends of the ice.

Throws temper tantrum, sucker punches unsuspecting goalie, then sticks him in the face. Selfishly makes self unavailable to his fading team for at least 5 games. Yep, the type of player we should aspire to being more like. (Did we all see the play earlier when Jerry was trying to flip the puck to a fan in the stands during a break and Marchand snuck in and knocked it away? Class act, that guy) Does in-person mean 5 minimum?

Score effect refers to a team playing a different style depending on the score of the game. Lindy’s Alamo being the best known local example.

in summary Wheeler’s piece: Best top 5 in hockey, best prospect overall in Power (NHL star), with Quinn (30 goals), Krebs (50 points with a complete game), Peterka (fan-fave buzzsaw middle-sixer) in his top 50. Levi 3-5 in his goalie rankings. Notables Rosen oozes skill Johnson projects as a 3-5 possession D, can play both sides Doesn’t like UPL against good shooters Thinks Poltapov lacks top 6 skill, but is tough to play against Kisakov has sick hands, might be too small to translate to next level Nadeau, Laaksonen and Rousek (who has just started skating again) are a tier above the other depth guys. Team jumped from 15 to 1 thanks to Krebs, Levi trades, Quinn Peterka development, and a good draft headed by Power.

Wheeler also promising a deeper dive into Rosen’s game soon.

He had him 45th in August, Power 3rd. He’s not generally ranking individual prospects though on this list.

I’d like to see some cohesiveness with a lineup that seems to have been constantly patched together, and some identity in terms of players carving (the younger prospects, Mitts) or continuing to carve (Tuch, Tage, Dahlin) go-to roles.

Heard that too. Was wondering if Mitts back tomorrow means Krebs into Bjork’s spot with Cozens and Okposo, and Casey with the Swedes?

Thought Butcher was gone forever, and that Girgs would be back. Happy about UPL, disappointed about Mitts.

Wheeler nearly finished his prospect pool countdown in the Athletic. Minnesota was 3rd in an upper tier of three teams that have both elite talent and depth. The top team should be revealed tomorrow, it will be either L.A. or Buffalo. Commence with the eye rolls.

Guess health is a question, but I’d love to see 3 balanced lines assembled and readied for Thursday out of these 9 players: Mitts, Cozens, Tage, VO, KO, Tuch, Asplund, Krebs and Skinner. We’ve got to get 3 stalled players moving again: Casey, Victor and Ras. Put Tage and Olofsson back together. They were good to start the year. Put Asplund with them, or with Casey. Ras and Casey were good last year.

I think we're looking more like the end of the month.

Speaking of undrafted college free agents, it's about time we started paying attention to our most recent. I don't have Brandon Biro on my list of prospect list potential NHLers, but maybe I should. He's got a game that translates to the 4th line and has really stepped up since Sean Malone went down: https://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/amerks-brandon-biro-becoming-elite-scorer-one-of-sabres-top-prospects/

Why so slim? I didn’t have to go back far to find those trades, they all happened this summer. Also, a top 25 goalie will be tough, top 64 piece of cake. Anderson signed for minimum wage.

Not to speak for @JohnC and I’m putting things out for illustrative purposes only, but I’d imagine he’s hoping for a cap-motivated trade, something modelled after a 2nd and Johnson for Seabrook’s contract a 2nd and Stralman for a 7th Fleury for a C-level prospect Nate Schmidt for a 3rd Shayne Gostisbehere for free Buchnevich for a 2nd and Blais Goodrow for a 7th 2 2nds for picking up Ladd’s contract Leddy for a 2nd He’s talking getting a goalie in the process, and I don’t know if there is a situation that fits, but it also works for an RHD.

I’d say a true contender typically has the following: A core that includes a sniper, a power forward, a playmaker, a 2-way C, a minutes-munching D, and a starting goalie - at least one of which is elite. It also has at least one good offensive and one good defensive D-man to complement the stud and add situational and/or special teams depth and 5-8 other secondary players who add some scoring and have a skill set that complements the strengths and weaknesses of the core. And it’s got depth beyond that capable of being more than filler. Right now, one could argue the Sabre may have the power forward (Tuch) and the stud D (Dahlin) even though neither has proven that over term. At the very least they are a strong secondary player and a good offensive defenceman, respectively. Olofsson (healthy), Thompson, Okposo, Skinner, Mittelstadt (healthy) and Jokiharju look like serviceable secondary pieces. Girgensons, Hinostroza, Cozens, Asplund, Bryson, Miller, Pysyk, Samuelsson, Anderson have shown they can be more than filler in depth roles. So, at best, the Sabres are still 4 core pieces and 2 secondary pieces away. Any hopium comes from the possibility Quinn, Krebs, Peterka, Power, Levi, Luukkonnen, Johnson, Samuelsson and Cozens (and to a lesser extent Mitts, Tage and Joker) all having the potential to become those pieces.