dudacek

It’s certainly a valid argument that they are more valuable as development coaches. It is what they were originally hired to do and our prospects are developing. Probably comes down to the person ultimately hired to be head coach, and to Adams.

Are Ellis and Girardi also auditioning for full-time gigs as well? Seems to me that Ellis probably has more to do with Mittelstadt than any other factor. And how much influence has Girardi had on transforming Dahlin and Joki? Whether they stay behind the bench or not, they certainly seem to be showing results in their roles as development coaches.

Really appreciate this stuff. I don’t agree exactly with the weight you give certain elements, but I love the fact you build a structure and lean into it. Particularly think the NHL could learn to pay more attention to production, particularly the way you weight it.

For proof, just see his second goal last night 😘

Because his name came up in another context, on some level, Samuelsson reminds me of Mike Grier. That combination of exceptional strength, leadership and trustworthiness in battle.

This is fair, but some of it can come from within - I’m specifically thinking of what prime Dylan Cozens will look like. Asplund, Bjork and Girgensons all have the relentless element and Samuelsson and Borgen will elevate the testosterone on the blueline, but we definitely need a Marcus Foligno or a Mike Grier. Or better yet a Mike Foligno.

I’ve been lobbying for this kid since he was drafted. People hear big and they default to Mike Wilson or Justin Falk but he has never been just “big”. He has always been a leader, a rock, and a defensive presence, sucking up big minutes against the best players on every team he’s ever played on. He is a Clydesdale and is going to play in this league for a long, long time.

I did. Fixed. So much Krupp. Good call. They are. I am surprised to see John leaning into Donnie as hard as he has. Seems a little out of character and I wonder who he has been talking to. @PASabreFan?

So, we're talking about the Sam Reinhart who is tied for 12 in goal scoring for the entire NHL? Without Jack Eichel? That Sam Reinhart?

It's interesting to note that despite not really get to play until after Ralph was fired, Casey has scored more goals this year than: Suzuki, Chytil, Villardi, Hischier, Glass, Patrick, Rasmussen, Tippett, Thomas, Yamamoto and Frost — all of whom were ranked light years ahead of him going in to the season. He's got points in 10 of his last 14 and has only been a minus once in that stretch +9 overall. You always have to give a draft at least five years, and that was a weird draft. Be interesting to see how it all settles out.

UPL isn't ready, but he does have the presence of a real goalie — his size, his calmness, and the way he moves. Rasmus Asplund showed more speed and more skill tonight than I thought he had. Nice to see Sam and Risto bounce back after lacklustre games yesterday. Casey Mittelstadt continues to score nice goals. R2 is having no problem adjusting to the speed and strength of the NHL. He looks like might be a find. Dahlin and Joki shouldnt be a pair on paper, but their chemistry is a treat to watch. Mattias Samuelsson is a beast. I don't see an ounce of anger in him, just buckets of poise and strength. Team continues to be entertaining.

I thought TT was bad last night, and he still makes poor decisions. But post-Ralph he is definitely an NHL player who also makes more "skill' plays than most. He's got 5/1/6+3 in 12 April games, but has no points in his past 3. At this moment, he would be one of the 7 forwards I protect, but it's not a slam dunk.

I guess what I'm stumbling over is a chicken-and-the-egg thing: If you are saying that the hype around a consensus #1 usually matches the guy that gets picked there, that's hard to disagree. But I'd argue that has more to do with the industry glomming on to who is going to get picked there, than the industry influencing who's going to get picked there. (Cover of the 2013 Hockey News draft preview: "Seth Jones, slam dunk to go number 1.")

These are drafts where I don't remember there being a clear-cut #1: 2017, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2007, 2006, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 Kovalchuk over Spezza was definitely against the consensus. Seth Jones and McKinnon were flip a coin for first that year, they went 1st and 4th. No one would have been stunned if Sam Bennett went 1st in 2014. I remember Turris and vanReimsdyk being rated higher than Kane by many that year. 2006 Kessel was the hype. Eric Johnson came out of (relative) nowhere.

How many drafts compare to this one though, where there isn't an obvious elite player? Or are you saying a consensus is forming that Power is an elite player?

Over term, I'd rather have Ullmark than any goalie on that list. Grubauer and Rask are very good and would be fine, if expensive signings. Andersen and Raantta would be acceptable fallbacks. This would be entirely reasonable. If we can't re-sign Linus, I'm inclined to make a move for Merzlikins or Korpisalo.

You guys may be right on the bold. Casey has been head and shoulders more dangerous than his current teammates in a way Roy never was to my recollection. But that may be a factor of the surrounding cast. I do think a 60-point player in today's game with Thompson and Asplund on this team is roughly similar to an 80-point player with Vanek and Pominville on that team, but I am fully aware of the small sample size, and made sure to point that out.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you haven't been watching much, no? Casey Mittelstadt's play over the past month is roughly equal to Roy level. He does not have to elevate, merely sustain. No guarantee he will, but it's not the reach you are projecting it to be.

Eichel and Reinhart for Tkachuk, Lindholm and a good 3rd piece (for example) certainly does not do that. And we've been garbage for the past three years, so... (*Standard disclaimer: this point is made for discussion purposes only and should not be construed as the poster advocating for the trading of either Jack Eichel or Sam Reinhart. Results may vary. Call your physician if symptoms persist beyond the first round of the playoffs.)

Got it. I was going of your "2B" which implied bad defence, since 50 points is solid offence.

So 50-point, ***** D? Not disagreeing, but his D has been surprisingly good this past hot streak. He doesn't have Cozens instincts, but he is coming back hard and breaking up plays.

I think 50 points is a good average for a legit 2C, the defence marks the difference between a 1B and a 2B. I think Roy is Casey's ceiling and in his prime Roy was a good 2C.

I just don't know how this is any different than saying the same things about Kyle Okposo a couple years after he signed his retirement deal. Jeff doesn't pass the eye test. And, getting back to @3putt's point that launched this conversation: stapling him to Jack so he scores 22 goals instead of 11 might help Skinner, but I'm not sure it's going to help the Sabres win many hockey games. Tonya Harding? (Seriously, I don't know. Play him where he least hurts the team until you can bite the bullet and find a way to move him? And that might be with Eichel. I just get tired of Jeff's play and the excuses people make for it)

So it was injury -> Ralph -> bad limemates -> weird COVID year, filtered through an "off"-season (that carries over parts of 3) and sprinkled with a lack of Jack? No one circles the wagons like Jeff Skinner fans. *** Separately, is being a 25-point "first-line" penalty-drawer more or less important than being a 25-point "first-line" face-off man?

What's a 2/3 tweener, 35-50 points over the next 5-8 years? 40-60 bumps him to an average #2?