dudacek

Reinhart also did very well for himself. Fair value now, UFA at 28 after the flat cap ends and after padding his stats and his reputation on what should be a good Florida team.

I find it hard to believe Owen Power would throw away about $12 million by not signing with the Sabres in 2022. That's essentially what he'd be giving up by sitting out three more years and going to UFA. It's money he would never get back. Ryan Johnson on the other hand is one we should be worried about. He's got Power, Dahlin and possibly Bryson and Samuelsson ahead of him and would essentially "only" be throwing away about $1 million

Do you think at the moment it is more important to Jack to get traded than get treated?

I mean that under Adams' apparent plan, I'm thinking 65 points would be satisfactory in the coming 21/22 season and 80-plus in the 22/23.

I'm all over moving him for John Gibson, along with something like Comtois and next year's first. (And look at you adding to this thread)

Without any snark, I honestly don't see the Bruins having the pieces. The only piece 23 or younger that moves the needle is McAvoy and that's not happening. An offer of any three of Lysell, Swayman, Frederic, Vaakaninen, Studnicka, or Beecher plus a 1st doesn't touch the trash the Rangers want to dump on us, and those are literally their best young assets

Well, you haven't really defined what level of wins is considered satisfactory. I posted earlier that Granato would be a Jack Adams candidate if we hit 65 points with the current lineup, so maybe that's my line for this season? A 50-somethingish tank-level season would probably be a failure because it would indicate that the kids did not continue with the promise they showed to finish the season and support around them was insufficient. Next season, a 20-point gain, playoff contention the season after? That's probably tough but fair under the path Adams has chosen. But this feels like a doorway back into old discussions about "why can't they just try to win right now?' which feels moot at this point.

Every year, but results are always relative to expectations, and, for me, equally important is how his decisions worked out. His first off-season was an abject failure. The overriding organizational viewpoint was that the team was a few pieces away from contending. ❌ Jeremiah Crowe was elevated to head scout over a gutted scouting department. ❌ Jack Quinn was picked 8th overall 🤷‍♂️ He traded up to select JJ Peterka ✅ Taylor Hall was was signed to a one-year prove it contract ❌ Eric Staal was brought in to fix the hole at 2C ❌ Sheahan, Rieder and a handfull of others were brought in as depth pieces 🤷‍♂️ He stayed status quo in net ❌ Expectations were a team that would flirt with a playoff spot. ❌ This is what we've seen since The overriding organizational viewpoint was that the team is broken and a complete flush and reset is needed 🤷‍♂️ Ralph Krueger and Steve Smith fired ✅ Granato hired as interim coach ✅ Hall traded for Bjork and the pick that became Kisakov 🤷‍♂️ Staal traded for a 3rd and 4th ✅ Montour traded for a 3rd 🤷‍♂️ Pending UFA Ullmark kept ❌ The youngsters given a trial by fire down the stretch ✅ Internal decision made to trade Eichel 🤷‍♂️ Karmanos hired 🤷‍♂️ Fortin elevated to head amateur scout 🤷‍♂️ Ventura brought in as analytics guru 🤷‍♂️ Granato named head coach 🤷‍♂️ Risto traded for pick 13, a 2023 2nd and Hagg ✅ Reinhart traded for a 22 1st and Devon Levi 🤷‍♂️ Power selected 1st overall 🤷‍♂️ Rosen selected 13th overall 🤷‍♂️ Deep draft dive made into the Russian junior league 🤷‍♂️ Decision made to let Ullmark go rather than give him term in order to keep him 🤷‍♂️ Butcher and a 5th acquired for nothing ✅ Anderson, Dell signed to battle for a spot on the NHL roster in net 🤷‍♂️ Pysyk, Hinostroza, Caggiula and assorted depth players signed 🤷‍♂️ Eichel trade/surgery question drags on without resolution...❓ NHL starter spot in net remains unfilled...❓ Dahlin, Mittelstadt, Jokiharju contracts need to be signed...❓ Decision needs to be made on what to do with approximately $30 million in cap space...❓ Expectations are that the team will entertain and the kids show growth while the team remains in contention for top spot in the draft 🤷‍♂️ More moves to see and many questions to be answered

I thought Huglen was a wing as well, I know he was listed there when he drafted him, but capfriendly has him listed as a centre and eliteprospects as w/c. Looks like he may have played a fair amount in the middle this past season in the USHL.

Assistant coach, Charlotte Checkers? I guess Disco Dan is finding his level.

Maybe that ligament damage he had has slowed him up post-college? I don't have time to dig them up, but reading through Jersey blogs and commentary, his bad footwork was a common theme this year.

This is our depth chart of players 23 and under CENTRE Dylan Cozens (20) Casey Mittelstadt (22) Arttu Ruotsalainen (23) Rasmus Asplund (23) Matej Pekar (21) Aaron Huglen (20) Matteo Constantini (18) Tyson Kozak (18) Jakub Konecny (19) LEFT WING JJ Peterka (19) Prokhor Poltopov (18) Alexander Kisakov (18) Brett Murray (23) Josh Bloom (18) Linus Weisbach (23) Lukas Rousek (21) Viljami Marjala (18) Filip Cedarqvist (20) RIGHT WING Tage Thompson (23) Jack Quinn (19) Isak Rosen (18) Stiven Sardarian (18) Oliver Nadeau (18) William Van Barnekow (18) LEFT DEFENCE Rasmus Dahlin (21) Owen Power (18) Mattias Samuelsson (21) Ryan Johnson (20) Jacob Bryson (23) Linus Cronholm (21) William Worg-Kreu (21) Nikita Novikov (18) RIGHT DEFENCE Henri Jokiharju (22) Oskari Laaksonen (22) Miska Kukkonen (21) Albert Lyacksen (20) GOALIE Ukko-Pekka Lukkonnen (22) Erik Portillo (20) Devon Levi (19)

Not meaning to pick on the bold, but I've seen this misconception from a few posters; Butcher is not fast. He can process the game and move the puck fast, but from what I read, his feet are actually the weakest part of his game, especially in the defensive zone. To your point, the Sabres need 8 defencemen. They have 2 who are guaranteed jobs. Adams was actually paid to take on Butcher. To me he's clearly saying "Why not? Best case scenario is he anchors our 2nd pair, worst case he sits in the press box fills a role in case of injury and gets us to the cap floor."

If last year's finish was any indication, Hagg, Butcher and Pysyk (and following that, even Miller) are hardly blocks, more like insurance. A "block" implies an actual no-debate no-scratch NHLer, like McCabe. All four of our veterans were basically functioning as their team's 6/7 last year. Granato will not hesitate to sit any of them in favour of Samuelsson or Bryson. They are four pending UFAs essentially with their careers on the line — two of whom were given away. There is no incentive to give any of them opportunities they don't earn. At the same time, he won't hesitate to have Samuelsson or Bryson doing their learning in Rochester if they aren't earning top 6 minutes in Buffalo over the competition. I think the money is irrelevant. The Sabres haven't even reached the cap floor yet, the contracts are small, and each player is getting paid regardless of the six on the ice.

They went ~ 5/10 with the bolded. Not sure how Girgs, Hinostoza, and Butcher/Pysyk are much of an upgrade on Rieder, Sheahan, and Risto, but OK. Love the optimism though. Anderson for Vezina would be an awesome story.

Pretty sure that Jack is physically unable to perform. Also pretty sure that Kevyn Adams has moved on from Jack and would rather he not be a distraction. Jack will do whatever's required of him by his contract (not that it matters, but people probably don't remember he said as much on locker room cleanout day) but he will almost certainly be put on IR and asked to stay away. *** Separately, we are fast approaching the point where Adams will have to change tactics and wait until Jack is healthy to make the trade. He has a player who needs a medical procedure in order to play. Both sides have agreed to put that off until a trade can be made, but since he hasn't made the trade he will have to make a decision. Jack won't let him put it off indefinitely. He either agrees to Jack's chosen surgery, or it goes to arbitration.

Still think there will be a goalie and a centre added before puck drop.

I actually think for me that the bottoming out finishes with the Eichel trade. That makes ripping off the scab complete. It's not hard for me to find hope in change, in knowing there's a course and watching them execute (or not). Adams has hit the reset button hard enough to virtually make this an expansion team and that will hold the interest for the part of me that spends an inordinate amount of time playing fantasy coach and general manager on Sabrespace. The part of me that enjoys watching good hockey will be more challenged, but speed and effort can make a difference. I will find it very easy to root for underdog stories like Ruotsalanien, Mittelstadt, Thompson, Samuelsson, Anderson, Quinn, Girgensons, Okposo and Granato as they try to prove people wrong. And I look forward to watching the obvious talents of Dahlin and Cozens blossom as I scour the games and the internet for reasons to fool myself into seeing signs that Adams' plan is working. Don't blame those who are tuning out one bit though. It's been a long, hard slog.

Houser, Tokarski and UPL were .904, .901 and .906 respectively in terms of save percentage and an ugly 3.54, 3.46 and 3.88 GAA.

I think we should sign Lundqvist and Miller and then team them with Anderson to form a classic rock reunion/farewell style tour while they each play once a week to stay fresh while entertaining the kids in the room with takes of bygone seasons and distracting media attention from the state of the Sabres. You think I’m joking, but I defy you to find a happier way of meeting the organization’s goals this year.

So draft three in the 1st round next year. Trade one of your wingers, or left defenceman for one.

From what I’ve read on here, I understand the Marchand factor is an element I value more than you do. Comtois brings that along with as much willingness to get his nose dirty and more physical strength than any of the above. Added to the more important fact he is a good two-way hockey player, it’s a package we don’t have in the system and, in my observation, most championship teams have in their arsenal.

I like the competitiveness of that group, but none of them bring the abrasive element Comtois does. I want that in my top six.

He’s pointing out that we have unproven babies in two of our what, five most important positions, and no one behind them if they fail. And he’s saying it would be a mistake to not use our best trade asset to address that. I don’t agree with him given the option being discussed at the moment, but it’s hardly out of line for a topic of conversation. On the contrary, it’s a huge concern.

I think you’re so focused on the need for centre you are ignoring other needs. I like Joki as much as the next Sabrefan, but he certainly not a sure fire 1st-pairing RD and there is literally no one in pipeline who might be. Hell, Laaksonen is the only other RD in the the entire organization who projects as an NHL. And while we have plenty of wingers, we have no one at all who approaches the power forward mode or plays with an edge. Pekar? Brett Murray? At centre we at least have two guys with legitimate shots at turning into top-six level players. I absolutely agree we need more, but we also need RHD and power forwards and this trade meets both needs. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good great.