dudacek

Once again Dahlin immediately overlooked. No one on the team And wins as much as he does.

Past 3 years combined Steven Stamkos 242 games, 116 goals, 39 goals per 82 GP Tage Thompson 234 games, 114 goals, 40 goals per 82 GP I think a lot of Sabrespace is choosing to look at Tage (and Cozens) like 2022/23 never happened.

To the fans, sure, but it seems like a good business move. Sounds like 2/3rds of the league was using it and the Caps took that tool away from them. Now those teams will have to invest time and resources building their own.

This isnt the final uniform, logo, or name. It’s just what the will wear in the coming season while the above are developed and finalized. The colours however are what they will use for final product. I think the powder blue is distinct and unique, and separates them from any other NHL team since the original Penguins back in the early ‘70s. (Maybe the Caps Eagle in the ‘90s? I think Utah is a couple shades lighter). Hope they ultimately use that, not the black as the main colour at home.

I’ve seen 2 Peyton Krebs posts on social media in the past month. The first was him lacing up his skates in the Sabres dressing room, with an emoji indicating “it’s time” The second was him on the ice, in June, getting after it. This isn’t really about Krebs. It’s about Lindy saying how he’s talked to every single player, and how it’s his job to set a new standard. And it’s about Lindy in events like yesterday’s reminding me about his charisma, his smarts, his passion and his focus. I don’t know how much coaching was at fault for last year’s results, but if things aren’t better next season, I dont think I’ll be blaming the coach.

Thompson’s leadership qualities are consistently overlooked around here. He seems to have a stone-cold, no-excuses personality and the respect of room.

A small, complete, competitive and fearless winger who outsmarts and outworks the opposition, while getting under their skins. An above-average but not elite talent who wins because he is always working, always on the right side of the puck, always goes and moves pucks to the right spaces, and always plays the game the right way. I’m actually describing Brad Marchand, but there’s nothing in there that wouldn’t describe peak Benson as well. A lot of people disagree with me - primarily it seems because they see Marchand first as a dirty player and a villain and that doesn’t fit with Benson. But I think if you shave off the dark moustache and cape and look at the actual skill set and what each player does well, I think there are a ton of similarities. We can only hope Zach can reach the same heights.

I have seen many moments like this that support my view that Dahlin as the next C was decided last summer and the organization has been preparing for it since then. It’s been suggested that I’m reading things through my own biases, and that is entirely possible. I also see many things that Dahlin does, or qualities that he has, that also lead me to be believe he is the obvious choice, regardless of what the organization thinks. LGR listed a bunch of them. I’m not sure why others don’t see his work ethic, his commitment to the city and the franchise, and the respect from his teammates the same way I do, but these areas, coupled with ability, are the qualities that I see typically see adding up to a C. He’s grown into the position very well. I don’t really care if they give it someone else, but I will be shocked.

Based solely on last year, you can make that case. I think it’s overstated, but the bones are there. Based on the ages and track records of the players, as well as historical NHL trends, I disagree (at least on Stamkos and the Sabre players - we do need 4 new bottom-sixers). The good thing for you is that even if you’re wrong, you still win 😁

The idea that a couple high-profile free agents is going to get us into the playoffs is false in my view. We certainly need additions to fill the holes, but no outsider short of McDavid is going to make enough of a difference if we don't get the best versions of guys who are already here: Specifically, Thompson, Cozens, Quinn, Power and Samuelsson; 5 good players who can give far more than they did last year.

Absolutely agree. That's why we need to add 4 forwards over the next month. Right now, Kulich and Savoie are on the roster by default. Girgensons, Jost, Robinson Olofsson (and Okposo) need to be replaced (read upgraded) in a way that makes them have to earn a spot.

It really feels like the Sabres have reached a critical mass on prospects that reflects where an NHL franchise should be: 20-year-olds won't be handed jobs in training camp out of desperation, they will be cooked in the minors until an opportunity opens up top and it will be up to them to take advantage. (Also saw some talk on line that last night featured a lack of Skinner talk from Adams and Linday that left some reading between the lines.)

Here's the other thing about comparisons to Peterka: JJ at 19 was really, really good. I did the research a couple years back on here and am not going to repeat it, but at the time Jack Quinn's 21-22 season was off the charts, the most productive by a D2 AHL player in 20 years. JJ's was not far behind, something like 4th or 5th, if memory serves. That's why JJ became an NHL 2nd liner just 2 years later and I believe has another level. He was a rare prospect. Kulich is simply a good prospect. As LGR shows, his numbers stack up well against his cohort and an NHL career is likely.

One think to keep in mind with Kulich (and this applies to Rosen as well) is development plan the Sabres implemented. Kulich's first year he was usually deployed like a middle-six offensive player: he got lots of ice time, but it was in friendly situations: lots of o-zone time, against friendly lineups, often on the wing. Last year he was often used as a first-line centre and asked to play a complete game against the toughest opponents in the hardest situations. They asked more of him in order to grow his game.

Summer fun automatically makes you ineligible.

Yep. From my perspective Adams comes across as capable in both his ability to lead people and his grasp on the business side of the hockey department. I'm just waiting to see if he's right in his player evaluations. Regardless of what adds he makes, the success and failure of his build is relying heavily on Thompson, Cozens, Power, Samuelsson earning their contracts.

Not particularly about your post, but I've seen a recent trend toward calling all short-term contracts 'bridge" contracts. A bridge contract is typically short, but it's defining quality is that it starts and ends with the player as an RFA and basically takes advantage of the team control RFA status offers in order to keep the player's salary low. Basically, it bridges the gap between the fixed ELC contract, and the leverage a player gains with arbitration rights or UFA status. It doesn't have to be (because 1-year deals exist), but it usually is a 2nd contract. UPL just finished his bridge contract and now has arbitration rights.

Forton tightens his clutches.

People are talking Iginla and Sennecke being in play for some teams at #5. Sounds like there are more than 10 players worthy of being top,10 picks. That 2nd tier of similarly-ranked players is a big one and we’re in it.

Don’t know that I agree on the particulars, but I do agree with this: not everyone can or should get a big, long-term deal. It was actually kinda my point. The solution may be as obvious as you say - my current views aren’t dissimilar to yours - but there are a lot of variables that could send things sideways. The pressure to re-sign Tuch, for example, could be considerable. What if you have to choose between Quinn Peterka and Benson? Levi and UPL? What if Byram is a stud? Do you bet on any of these guys early like you did with Mule and Power? (Skinner is playing out a long-term deal and is a good reminder of how some long-term deals play out. He isn’t on anyone’s list of players the Sabres should be re-signing to a long-term deal, that’s why I set it up like I did.)

I’ve yet to see a mock where the Sabres don’t have a choice of very interesting players. The way the draft is tiered 11 ended up being an attractive slot. A few weeks back I was OK with the thought of adding an Eiserman. Now I’m convinced there will be better choices available than a guy whose scouting report looks like Mike Bossy’s.

I agree with concept of locking up the guys you believe in early. The question don’t see being addressed is how many? Skinner, Dahlin, Thompson, Cozens, Samuelsson, and Power, that’s 6 Luukkonen, Quinn, Peterka, Benson, Byram, Tuch and Levi are coming. Tampa gave out term to Stamkos, Kucherov, Vasilevskiy, Hedman, McDonough, Palat and Killorn And then augmented as they went along with Point, Hagel, Cirelli, Sergachev and Cernak. So it's definitely possible and can be successful. But stacking up that many value contracts, including some absolutely elite players could not have been easy.

I guess the Bergeron hire should be considered in conjunction with this. College scouting was Forton’s thing. Bergeron picks up some of the slack as Forton adds more admin duties, and in the process frees of Crowe from admin duties to do more actual scouting?

Is Zeev Buium this year’ Benson? The smaller kid with the elite hockey brain who might drop out of the top 10 due to teams falling in love with another guy’s better athletic package (shot, size, skating etc.)? He looks to be a poor fit as smaller puck-moving LHD, but if he’s there at 11, it would be hard to imagine a better player being available.

So basically the practical shift is that he’s been elevated over Crowe and the pro scouting department (which I think is only Crowe?)