dudacek

Another piece in the Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3112825/2022/02/06/why-sizzling-northeastern-sophomore-devon-levi-is-no-long-shot-for-canadas-olympic-net-he-loves-the-challenge/ “I love his hockey sense,” Keefe said. “For a goaltender, I just feel like he’s always aware of what’s happening. He doesn’t need to cheat because he’s so powerful. But he’s never surprised. If you go dot-to-dot on him, he doesn’t need to cheat to get over there. He’s aware of what’s going on. Because of his explosiveness and his athleticism, he’s able to get there and close it quickly.” Pre-WJC: “Nobody thought he was going to be the No. 1,” Keefe said. “I think part of that, when he got asked, they told him, ‘You’re one of three or four goaltenders.’ I think right then and there, he was like, ‘Hmm, so you’re trying to tell me that I’m going to have to go earn this?’ He believes in himself. He loves the challenge.”

Interesting way of looking at things. How many players away are the Sabres: 12? 15? How many of the missing players are already in the system and can grow into those slots?

Am I wrong to think that the majority of us will be absolutely shocked if Eichel doesn’t rip it up in Vegas? I mean he’s an elite talent being added to a great team at a time when his motivation will never be higher.

Not arguing the bold. I am arguing that the group the Sabres are building around is not close to giving up on the Sabres and that certainly Jack, probably Sam, and to a lesser extent Risto were in radically different places. Their mindset was a variation of “I’m good and I’m doing everything I can. This organization can’t get out of its own way and I doubt I will ever meet my goals here if I don’t move on.” Tage, Casey, Power, Krebs, Cozens, Quinn, Peterka etc. need to worry about establishing themselves as NHL players before they even start thinking in that manner. This is 2015-16, not 2020-21.

Your concern is a valid one. I just don't think we are nearing the danger zone. My point was there are very few young Sabres who have experienced the 6 or more full seasons or losing that Jack, Sam and Risto did. Dahlin is the only one even close. This is essentially Tage's first full season as a regular. Casey has played 50 or so NHL games in the past 2 calendar years.

Digressing from your point, but this is a sabresfan meme that is false. Rasmus Dahlin in his 4th year as a Sabre qualifies. He did win a WJC silver and was a champins league champion in Europe Henri Jokiharju is in his 3rd year with the Sabres after winning 2 WJC golds and a world championship Mittelstadt and Thompson have had what less than 150 games of it? Tage has 2 World Championship bronze medals, Casey has a WJC bronze. That's it. The actual kids who are just arriving are generally coming from winning backgrounds and have been largely protected this year. It's the fans who have known nothing but losing.

Well, it is Jeremy Colliton...just saying

Not sure of the big picture but recent D1 SHL seasons for 1st rounders: Eklund 9 points 14 games played Rosen 4/28 Raymond 18/34 Holtz 18/40 Lundestrom 9/17 Bokk 23/47 Pettersen 56/44 Anderson 19/42 So he’s definitely behind statistically. It’s interesting that other recent 1st-round “tweeners” - Lysell, Olousson Holmstrom - left Sweden rather than be in Rosen’s situation.

So @pi2000 needs a Twitter account?

How and where are 8 goalies going to earn their ice over 20 games in 3 nets?

What centres in this draft are more likely to put up 60 points than Krebs, Mitts, Cozens and/or Thompson?

There is the issue of place to play and practice. Subban is gone for the season, but there are only 3 nets Buf: Anderson/Tokarski Roch: Dell/UPL Cin: Houser And you’re trying to fit Levi, Portillo and Mann? Down the stretch I’m giving UPL and Levi most of the starts with Buf and Roch, with Anderson the other Buffalo goalie. Where would you put Mann, especially if we also sign Portillo?

I'm not seeing a huge need — or room — for another goalie prospect in his early 20s fighting for ice time with UPL, Levi and Portillo. An 18-year-old or a guy who might be able to play in the NHL now, sure.

You've got me curious. I have a pet theory about NHL value and how its determined largely by four factors, all of which are somewhat subjective in application, but provide a concrete framework that seems to reflect how GMs work. They've also got a common currency used as a means of exchange, and that's draft picks. It's going to take some time, but I'm going run the Sabres roster through those variables and give you an answer.

Not particularly interested in moving any of our young pieces prior to getting a better look at what they are but as always it depends on which assets and what return. Rosen or one of our late firsts for the RD version of Alex Tuch (25, on a favourable deal and good), Absolutley.

Hasn’t been a cup winner who hasn’t brought in important pieces or sacrificed assets. It clearly about assembling enough asset capital and moving the right pieces in or out at the right time.

I’d forgotten the book beyond its core concept so I can’t pass judgement on that level. But as far as the series goes, kinda slow at times, exceedingly beautiful to look at, and ultimately worth my while.

Dahlin versus Power is an interesting discussion given the mystery box elements of both players. But they are easily 1/2.

Sounds like he might return to the practice right after the break according to Granato on WGR this morning. He was imprecise, but made it sound like that's also the case for Zemgus and the hoped-for case for Mitts. Caggiula and Hinostroza probably not, but maybe not too much later. Butcher and Miller still a ways off. Donnie very happy to be getting some stability in goal again and very much itching to get a mostly full roster.

People who make fun of curling and enjoy baseball have no sense of perspective.

I’ve only watched him play one game. (WJC) I was surprised that he did not look noticeably small out there; height-wise he looked average, and his gear must have hidden the skinniness. He also did not shy away at all from contact. Elias Peterson in his draft year was 6’2” 161. He put up 41 in 43 in Allsvensken.

I am considering 2 possibilities for the Rosen pick: The Sabres did a ton of work on Rosen and saw him as a Jack Quinn: a highly skilled, self-motivated kid behind some of his peers in terms of his development curve, but with an enormous ceiling and huge potential for growth. The Sabres fell in love with Rosen's explosive U18 tourney in a year where scouting opportunities were slim, and invested heavy on a small sample size when picking him out a large tier of players. Either way, I'm not going to pass judgement any time soon. He's a long-term project.

They need to win more, and to win fans back, agreed. It’s why I can’t see a bottom 5 finish next year as an intended tank, more like a misreading of what they have and what they added.

I think development and the future will still take precedence over right now next year in terms of the way the Sabres do business. As in they won’t be using significant assets or cap space to acquire much in the way of proven veterans. We are going to watch a lot of Mitts-Tage-Tuch-Asplund-Cozens-Krebs-Quinn-Peterka-Dahlin-Jokiharju-Power-Samuelsson-Luukkonnen, in pretty significant roles, supplemented by a handful of vets. I doubt any of those vets will be as good as Tuch, hopefully most will be more Okposo than Hayden. Whether that is tanking or not I guess is in the eye of the beholder. To my mind they want to and expect to improve, but are planning for much of the improvement to come from within.

I doubt Rasmus and Henri are this team's future number one pairing. But I think it's best for Dahlin to be playing tough minutes against tough opponents. And I think it's best for Jokiharju to be playing tough minutes against tough opponents. I think the most important thing about this season is development. So while I'm not entirely against the premise of this thread I'm watching the situation with a bit of a different lens.