dudacek

I am surprised by Kulich’s showing. I was thinking he was Sabrespace’s current “it girl”.

Baker called him Dylan Cozens 2.0. Instantly elevated him in my head in a way multiple scouting reports did not. There seems to be a lot of players worth being excited about in this draft. For one day I will be jealous of Arizona at 6 and 12.

Baker said he absolutely loves Simashev, but he also thinks that on talent he probably better slots later in the middle of the first.

Adams uses “he’s a Sabre” all the time when he talks about Savoie: competitive guys who skate fast, play fast and live and breath hockey.

Baker seems to be saying Simashev is best fit and Moore is the best “Sabre,” but Sandin-Pelikka is the best player, as in has the best chance to be a star. So he seems to be suggesting BPA. ASP is kinda weird to factor for me because RHD is a big position of need, but offensive defenceman is not. That said Adams seems to have consistently gone for upside (as defined by talent+competitiveness) in his picks so why should we expect him to change?

Kris Baker’s mock on Sabres Live makes a ton of sense to me as he explains his reasoning: Chi Bedard Ana - Fantilli Cbs - Carlsson SJ - Michkov Mon - Smith Ari - Reinbacher Phi - Leonard Was - Dvorsky Det - Wood Stl. - Danielson Van - Willander Ari - Benson Buf - Sandin-Pelikka He says there are 5 or 6 guys you can make a case for the Sabres: Perreault, Barlow, Yager and Moore. But there are also 2 defencemen worthy of the pick: he loves Simashev, but he thinks Pelikka’s upside and skill on the right side will be too much for the Sabres to ignore. He says if they don’t go for a D, Moore will be the pick: his compete, speed and role versatility fits the Sabres philosophy to a T. Says choosing between the 3 was making him feel sick. I think I’d be happy with any of the three, or even most of the 6. This was from Sabres Live today. Great listen. https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/hosts/sabres-live

Oh thank god. (Seriously, Davies did well in his role.)

Chicago is like Buffalo last year: needing to add some big short-term deals in order to get to the cap floor. Even after nabbing Hall, they still have $31 million cap space with only 6 spots to fill. Hall’s deal expires next year. Plus he helps them; probably their 2nd best forward after Bedard. Their roster is putrid. And maybe this too.

If the Bruins use Hall’s money to sign Bertuzzi, who are they trading to re-sign or replace Bergeron, Krecji, Orlov, Hathaway, Nosek, Orlov and Clifton? They now have $10 million under the cap to fill nine roster holes, including resigning RFAs Swayman and Frederic. Bertuzzi would probably eat up 6 or 7 on his own.

And, unfortunately, not really.

This makes sense. Hopefully it’s a price that hurts the Bruins.

And no one who watches should think Skinner or JJP are weak. They’re both 190-pounders with thick lower bodies. I really think it’s coming from people lusting for a face-puncher while forgetting Mitts and Tage aren’t skinny 20-year-olds any more. With Vic and Vinnie likely moving on, the only Sabre forwards I see getting overpowered are Quinn and Krebs. Each has a frame to get stronger and the competitive spirit to battle through. Each is better in traffic than they were a year ago.

People tend to ignore the fact the Sabres core players - Thompson Power Tuch Dahlin Mule Cozens - are a full degree bigger than the vast majority of other team’s best players. They also tend to complain about size while saying the Sabres should move on from 6’2” 215 Girgensons and 6’0” 220 Okposo. Its kinda weird.

I agree he’s getting traded but until he is, he belongs on that list, particularly when his presence - directly or indirectly - as an asset that can be used to improve the defence. I think his presence actually strengthens your argument.

I get the contract aspect when it comes to Krebs, but he’s two years into a 12-year career. He’s moving up the roster, not out. The only way his contract next summer becomes an issue is if he has the type of season those OK with trading him think he won’t have.

I don’t think it’s the only way, but it’s the most likely way and a price we can afford to pay given our depth in that area. I hope Olofsson can get it done. Not sure it’s likely.

Pretty much everyone acknowledges that trades are needed. Very few seem to want to make them yet.

Like @PASabreFan I’ve been watching us overrate our prospects for years. Unlike him, I do let myself get hyped and enjoy reading about peoples projections. They’re not all going to be Dylan Cozens or Rasmus Dahlin. I’m trying to spark some conversation around that. I’m not saying Savoie will be Ennis, but I am saying a small, exciting offensively skilled player is more likely to be Ennis than, say, Mitch Marner, who might be his best case scenario. At 19, Savoie probably has 25 pounds on Ennis, so he does have that going for him.

Archie got it. Cozens might still get better, but he’s emerged in a way these others have not. The polls are mostly inspired by posts about “I’d trade…” and “we’re not trading…” and reflect my perceptions of what I’m reading.

Those weren’t ceilings, just what I’m kinda expecting. Some of them are going to be better, some worse. To your point: also Dahlin, Tuch, Power, Thompson and Levi.

And for the 2nd tier: Krebs: Andre Savard Neuchev: Luke Adam Östlund: Curtis Brown Poltopov: Vaclav Varada Rosen: Jason Dawe Rousek: Jiri Novotny Big asterisk next to Neuchev - that’s purely based on his profile. Also, Östlund will produce more points than Brown and definitely be a centre, it’s more about the reliability, smarts and hustle there.

Most likely outcomes: Kulich = Kotalik Peterka = Max Quinn = Vanek Savoie = Ennis I will say I see the same it factor others do in Peterka and I would not be surprised if ends up the best of them all.

Talk in another thread got me wondering: With all the exciting young forwards on the Sabres, which ones are we most excited about? Who is your favourite? The most overrated? The most overlooked?

Is a good 2nd line player on a productive 2nd line more important to this team than a legitimate shutdown defenceman? Especially on a team that has Mittelstadt, Quinn, Peterka, Olofsson, Kulich, Savoie and Rosen?

I think you guys are just trying to pull @PASabreFan away from his tomatoes.