dudacek

Cozens with 4 goals and 5 assists in 3 games, second to Zegras with 10. Looks like they took away Quinn’s PP assist on the Byfield tip, but he’s still 1/3/4 in 3 and leads all tournament forwards at +8. This is an interesting stat line: Byfield 2/5/7/+7 Stutzle 3/2/5/-5 Raymond 1/2/3/+1 Sanderson 0/1/1/+2 Drysdale 0/2/2/+12 Holtz 0/1/1/+1 Quinn 1/3/4/+8 Rossi 0/0/0/-5 Perfetti 1/4/5/+3 Lundell 2/1/3/+3 Holloway 0/1/1/+3 Mercer 2/3/5/+6 Zary 0/1/1/+4 Jarventie 0/0/0/-1 Peterka 1/4/5/-6 Colangelo 1/0/1/+1 Gunler 3/0/3/+2

Byfield’s line again, this time Pelletier. Quinn didn’t get an assist, but carried the puck in on the rush and threw the check that caused the turnover

Quinn gets his 2nd assist on a Byfield PP goal. Byfield has 4 points. Quinn back on the Byfield line. And he sets up Byfield for his fifth point, Quiinn’s 3rd apple. Very nice pass.

Now Quinn on the 1st line with Cozens and McMichael, sets Dylan up for a good chance. Cozens really looking good.

Looks like Quinn now riding the pine, replaced by Zary. Cozens with the steal and an apple.

Cozens on the PP. Really like him down in the Reinhart spot.

Not sure if he’ll get an assist, but Quinn forces the turnover for Canada’s first. And yes, assist.

I don’t there is any question Zegras is better in the finer skills (hands, IQ) and Cozens in the strength areas (feet and power). It will be interesting to see how their relative strengths and weaknesses translate.

Watching RJ in this tourney, it is very easy to picture him playing 10 years in the NHL as reliable second pair guy. It’s hard to see a guy who skates and protects the puck that well not translating.

We get the cap savings, but he doesn’t get the salary hit? That's a different story then. Is it because of the NMC? And who else might it apply to?

Krueger said they were hoping Quinn and Cozens would play in the 2nd infra squad. Does this mean that’s not the case?

I just wonder what hiding players this way does to team morale? You are taking money out of people’s pockets and not because of their play.

Interesting to hear from Adams and Krueger about Casey this morning. Apparently if COVID hadn’t happened he had earned himself a recall last spring by his play in Rochester. Sounds like they felt he was headed in the right direction, was told he had to earn a spot on the team this year and given the tools to take advantage this summer. Adams emphasized how young Casey was (is?) and really gave me the impression he thinks Casey was given a free pass and needed to be challenged. It seems like he very much in the mix for this year’s roster, and they are as anxious as we are to see what he will bring to camp. Also, he was open to the idea of giving him a shot on the wing, which I know has been suggested on here.

I can’t see Okposo on the taxi squad, because I can’t see Okposo (pending off-season commitment) not being one for the 12 best forwards. That goes double for Skinner.

Wrong thread I guess, but this morning Ralph took some responsibility for Skinner’s problems last year before going on about the need for defensive commitment. He said he and Skinner have had good talks about what needs to be different this year, but didn’t elaborate.

Teams have to pay players who opt out due to legit medical concerns, but not otherwise. Not sure how it would be decided if he is to be paid NHL or AHL rates, if he is being paid.

Does any one have any idea what Ralph’s issue with Larry was? He used him heavily last year, but has made it clear, if indirectly, he didn’t want him back.

I remember the Sabres desperately wanting Sheahan in the 2010 draft, then settling for Pysyk when the Wings grabbed him. I have no idea what his analytics are, but in terms of counting stats, role and play style, he is Johan Larsson. In terms of track record, he would logically slot as our 4C ahead of Lazar. Supports the idea that they want NHL players on the taxi squad.

The context was the relative youth of the group. If I remember correctly, he listed the mobility as a reason they like the group and added the strength as an area where they can, and did, grow. Ralph singled out how well he’s been doing overseas, and how well Bryson and Mittelstadt finished with the Amerks.

Fresh Ralph interview on an NHL podcast today. Among the highlights: Some of their acquisitions were made specifically to address their inability to match up tactically with the Lightning The taxi squad and the 7 game trial will allow them until February to get a feel on Cozens despite the fact he is missing camp. They kept every player they wanted to keep (in case anyone was still wondering about Larsson) Thinks Irwin will add something but said the team kept the same starting six deliberately because they like the mix and believe they have more to offer; quickly mentioned Montour. Said physically the D corps has all added size and muscle and singled out Dahlin. Intimated that Miller’s early issues were that his heart was still in Vegas. Said Ullmark isn’t getting his due around the league, suggesting his injury last year was a big blow. Was also positive about Hutton’s recovery from his eye issue and about his attitude, but (IMO) didn’t give a ringing endorsement of his ability. Said communication, teaching and culture building has been happening steadily behind the scenes, player to coaches, and player to player. Said Eichel and Hall have been communicating regularly and mentioned Hall’s workouts with Skinner. Seems to treating the taxi squad like an expanded roster rather than a group of starters and emergency fillers; indicating they will be a full part of the team and will have to plug in and out of the lineup on a regular basis. Said we should be adding an extra line to our typical perception of 12 forwards and 7 D. Thinks tactics mean a heckuva lot more in a set-up where you play 7 teams 8 times, then indicated he knows the coaches in our new division very, very well. Goal is to win the majority of their 8-game seasonal series. He has been using his contacts with Premier League soccer, Euro hockey, and the Bills to learn COVID protocols; the Sabres will be using stricter guidelines than those being implemented by the NHL. will be two full-on regulation intrasquad games to make up for the lack of exhibition games.

Damn, Tourigny really loves his musical chairs, don’t he? That said, I don’t know if if I’ve seen great chemistry from any of Canada’s lines so far.

He was buried in the minors. They addressed that by the rule where you could only bury a portion.

Dea, Dawson Dipietro, and of course Nelson not there. And as expected the Euros with no NHL shot - Davidsson, Pekar, Lukkonnen, etc. - not there either. Any other notable omissions?

I disagree. There has been plenty of outcry about “retiring” players to LTIR. The fact that Canucks are eating Luongo’s cap hit when he retired from Florida, while Philly hid Chris Pronger’s similar backdiving contract on LTIR while he was working in the NHL office was a joke.

Except Tampa has not managed the cap poorly at all. Because they have managed it exceedingly well, they have more good players than they can afford. If they can’t trade players for cap space, what happens to RFA players like Cirelli and Sergachev? Do they just sit out? Unless the OP is strictly talking about this. This is a better conversation.