dudacek

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.

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?