dudacek

As listed on the training camp roster. Not sure if we had these numbers confirmed yet: 4 Hall 12 Staal 13 Rieder 17 Fogarty 20 Eakin 25 Ruotsalainen 31 Tokarski 44 Irwin 88 Davidson Unlisted yet: Sheahan wore 23 last year, but has worn 15 the rest of career, last worn in Buffalo by Dea Cozens wore 42 last year, the inverse of the 24 he wears in junior, last worn in Buffalo by Pilut Quinn wears 22 in junior, last worn in Buffalo by Larsson.

The context was a question about the changes in schedule/division and his response was that they are approaching it as a series of eight game series. It seemed to me like a reasonable response to a reasonable question, so maybe you are reading things into the way I relayed it that weren’t there.

I don’t think he was pitching it as math equation, just that you aren’t going to make the playoffs if you can’t beat most of them of the eight-game series.

1) my impression was that was why he was not being given the playing time. 2) he was pitching this as the key to making the playoffs.

Who is retrieving, carrying and distributing the puck on line 2? Playing high? Being the defensive conscience? Eric Staal is not the same player he was at 27.

To become the leading scorer in the tourney? I would have been content if he scored four or five points the entire tourney, although I knew he would be in prime role and had the potential for more. 10 points in four games is ridiculous.

Theoretically, the Sabres could do this with Skinner too, or any player they think will clear waivers, as well as Dahlin, Olofsson and Jokiharju because they are waiver ineligible, right?

They’ve moved into a tie with Cozens for 2nd place in tourney scoring with nine. Cant remember the last time a Sabres 2nd rounder impressed this much in his D+1 year. Nightengale’s staff looking real good for identifying his talent and Adams for moving up to get him.

If his off-ice mirrors his on-ice, he should be good example; he fits the Adams buzzwords of earning it. As usual with most of these off-ice hires, we have no idea how good they actually are at identifying, nurturing and coaching talent. And I do like that they are slowly rebuilding the staff.

Pretty much. Chara has lost most of his shine on the ice and can get beat by speed. I don’t see him making the Capitals bottom pair any better; they need more speed and puckmoving ability and he actually hurts in that area. I don’t see them in great need of Chara’s leadership either. Boston may still sign an upgrade, but their bottom pair is worse than the Caps and would be better with Chara. More importantly, I think his loss hurts the Bruins culture.

Sound like the Bruins didn’t want him back and he signed with Washington as has perceived best opportunity to get the last laugh. I tend to lean toward the idea that this makes two division rivals weaker.

I also took his comments on Cozens as Cozens not being penciled into the starting lineup, more like at the front of line of those knocking at the door. He will get a chance, and his play will determine what the chance turns into.

Also makes reference to the Sabres 5 on 5 defence being top 10 in the NHL last year and calls it the foundation for team success. Says special teams are big focus to start (they added PK ‘specialists’) and do a better job driving the net and creating second chances. These are the areas they want to improve in order to make a jump.

Thanks for that. Krueger says he has a projected lineup pencilled in and acknowledges that the bubble guys will have limited opportunity to change minds. He is emphasizing again here that the taxi squad will be used as an extended roster - six players who can and will be injected into the starting lineup at any time. Also confirmed that the team will not be making any significant changes to its system, just “tweaking” and “sharpening”; he thinks that is an advantage given the nature of the season. Along those lines, Washington and New Jersey are the only teams in the division with a new coach.

Just coming to post the above article. The gist is that he’s an overlooked guy who just keeps quietly working and actively seeking ways to be better, and has consistently proved the doubters wrong. Really reminded me of the story of a certain Buffalo football player who wears #17.

I want to see kids emerge as much as anyone, but I would not be the least bit shocked to see an all veteran forward group on opening night: Hall Eichel Olofsson Skinner Staal Reinhart Girgensons Eakin Okposo Lazar Sheahan Rieder Sheahan/Rieder Eakin/Girgensons with Eichel/Hall tossed in late on the PK I just think that’s the way Ralph rolls. Hopefully Thompson or Cozens shows enough to force Lazar into the press box and push Girgs down to the 4th line.

The bold is true, but I think it is incorrect to chalk that up to simple due diligence, or to think the lack of action signifies contentment with the status quo. I think Adams has actively pursued a goalie upgrade and still wants to make one. I believe @tom webster when he says the heavy lifting has been done and the prospective trade partners were waiting on other potential moves to pull the trigger. I have no idea if Arizona dumped enough salary with Stepan and no longer feels the need to move Raantta, or if Columbus failed in its bid to sign Hoffman and therefore no longer needs to clear Korpisalo’s cap space, or if the GMs are haggling over draft pick sweeteners on a three way that sends Colin Miller to Winnipeg, Jack Roslovic to Calgary and David Rittich here. I do know trades are moving targets and it is indeed Ralph Krueger’s job to go with what you got. Where we differ is that I don’t think the Sabres are OK with Hutton until he falters, I just think they’ve been unable to make a deal.

If you want a good comparison of how he ranks on the team, think of Tampa, with all their weapons and how they are deployed. Cozens plays nothing like him and is primarily on the wing, but he is being used in the same situations as Point and being leaned on the same way. They had a Kucherov in Dach, but with him out Cozens is the main guy. Quinn’s role has been more like Killorn’s - a secondary guy in all situations who has bounced around the top nine. Im curious to see where he fits when the games get tighter and the bench gets shorter.

I think I will be the only one on here surprised if Rieder is not in the opening night lineup. The PK might have cost us the playoffs last year and Rieder is the primary thing they did to fix it. I think most people underestimate how much utility Ralph sees in him and how much ice he will get. I think that’s a coach trying to shore up the psyche of his team. I got the sense in the Adams interview that no matter what he says about Hutton, he wants to upgrade and is worried he won’t be able to.

What NS said. Canada is ridiculously deep and is playing everybody, so don’t picture him as always on the ice and controlling the games the way Jack does. But he is on the first PP, he is killing penalties, he is playing against the other team’s best players, and he is leading the team in goals and in assists. I think it is also pretty clear he is becoming the leader and will be the go-to guy when the games get close in a way they haven’t been so far.

This is reasonable. There is a real possibility Eakin will be as bad as he was last year, and I just think that Ralph will favour the vets until the kids are clearly better. What I like about the development of R2 and the additions of Rieder and Sheahan is it means there is both a safety net and an obstacle to guard and spur kids like Asplund, Mitts, Thompson and Cozens and vets like Okposo, Girgensons and Eakin. The worry is that Botterill tried to set up a similar situation last year and it didnt work. Thompson got hurt, Mitts and Asplund weren’t ready, Sobotka/Frolik failed and Vesey and Sheary didn’t take advantage of their opportunity. Olofsson and Lazar were the only forwards to emerge from the pack.

Think so? Now this is likely to change as the season progresses, but I’d say entering the season there are five forwards less likely to be benched: Eichel, Hall, Staal, Reinhart and Skinner More likely: Cozens, Rieder, Lazar, Mittelstadt and Thompson I’d put Kyle in a group that includes Girgs, Eakin and Olofsson, and if pushed Id have him 7th, after Olofsson. I’m not talking about where he plays on the depth chart, I’m talking how likely it is he will be made a healthy scratch. Where do you see him?

I fully admit I wanted Zegras, but Cozens has not made me second guess that pick at all. And his style fills a need better than Zegras right now. I’m convinced he can be a top six RW; I hope he can be an elite 2C. Funny you say that about York. I only casually watched today’s game, but saw he put up a good stat line. I watched the first two games more closely and thought he isn’t the 1D the Americans are using him as. Not even close. He rarely played that hard either.

The Okposo conversation is moot until he’s not one of our top 12. We hope Cozens and Thompson and Eakin and Mitts change things, but he opens the season in the top nine

Watching the games confirms that number is earned. Perfetti has one more point, and has wonderful vision and hands, but he’s been a PP specialist. You can’t overrate the WJC (especially given Rossi’s team), but it is gratifying to see how our picks are performing versus the guys rated around them.