LGR4GM

Owen Power never played in the NHL at 18. That's straight up bs. His agent has almost 0 leverage especially with Dahlin in Buffalo. Think about it, the agent ways Power deserves 9 mill for 35pts when Dahlin gets 10.5 for 73? And on top of that the Sabres have more leverage than Ottawa because we have Dahlin. Power is from southern Ontario and is probably very happy his family gets to see him. Being a 1st versus a 5th overall pick is almost negligible in its importance 3 years after your draft. +/- needs to die. Power if he signs an 8 yr deal is going to get maybe 8.25 because that's about all being taken 4 picks earlier and being a year younger is probably worth. It's not going to be 10% nor should it. Also, Ottawa overpaid. Owen Power never played in the NHL at 18 as you wrote. That's not true and it's factually inaccurate. Rasmus Dahlin did. Also had 73pts. Hard to argue that Dahlin is only worth 1.5 million more than Power.

This isn't even factually accurate. Power isn't getting over 9 million.

You're welcome to become a Redwings fan.

You're in here asking if I think chili's is better than Applebee's. They both are mediocre dumpster fires. Boosh had trade value, that's true, but he's just as meh as the other 3 and very shortly we're going to see Johnson and Novikov overtake them. It just doesn't matter and I think Stillman has the potential to be better than Boosh. Really says something when we're bitching about the 7th defender.

I love Levi but it's a lot to ask him to be better than Anderson over more games. We'll have to see what happens but Adams approach is certainly risky. The Sabres roster isn't inexperienced. Being young doesn't mean inexperienced.

I'll say it again. If the Buffalo Sabres miss the playoffs this season because of goaltending, Kevyn Adams was 100% wrong. Those 2 backups have to play 30-40 games.

If the Sabres miss the playoffs and goaltending was bad, Adams didn't make the right decision.

I believe those players are as good or better than Boosh. No, we need David Jiricek.

I don't. Bush was bad for most of the year except for about a 3 week window near the end.

Krebs is going to be the 3rd line center. He'll get lots of pk time but just get to 40 points. 14g 26a.

Ryan Johnson already can do everything Lyubushkin did. Novikov will be there shortly as well.

I'll make a bet right now. Buffalo will finish the regular season with a better record than Boston.

True but Northtown center is across the road from Alumni arena.

Pretty sure Skinner ranked near the top of the league in penalties drawn.

It doesn't because you aren't comparing the same things for Tage. Why? Simple, there are a lot more better forwards and a lot more forwards close to Tage than there are Dahlin. Dahlin was 3 points shy of being the 2nd highest scoring defender in the NHL. There is about 8 defenders in a top tier and then a big dropoff. Tage is great and I love him but there's probably 15-20 guys in that ballpark or better. So it comes down to how hard it is to acquire a true #1 defender versus trying to get a Tage. Also Tage signed essentially 2 years ago. I don't really understand what you are arguing if I am being honest. If the Sabres make the playoffs, the Norris votes go up. The problem with any of the trophies is they are based on team perception and player perception.

Connor Clifton will be fine.

Norris voting doesn't tell us anything.

Rossi had covid to the point of hospitalization in his DY+1. We will literally never know how that impacted him or still impacts him. https://theathletic.com/4215993/2021/04/27/wilds-marco-rossi-opens-up-about-heart-condition-that-forced-him-off-the-ice/

I dont think there is any issue with Tage or Cozens. They didn't have an issue with making less than Skinner. The other thing I will say about Thompson is that for several years he was on the edge of not being an NHL player. He had a great season and then the GM was like, "wanna sign a 7 year deal" and that deal basically sets up his family for life even if he is only getting about 25-30mil when all is said and done (taxes and escrow). He and his wife were starting a family and it was a big jump up from "almost out of the league and making just over a million" to "7yrs and 50mil". Tage decided to take the money and I don't think he regrets it at all, in fact I think he feels he has to earn that deal.

The Sabres core is better but it is closer than I would like. Stutzle and Tkachuk are really good and Batherson and Norris also have chances to be really good. That said, Chabot and Sanderson aren't Dahlin whereas I could argue that Tage and Cozens are Stutzle and Tkachuk (yes they play different styles). Sanderson and Power are similar but I think Power is underrated and this comes from a guy who didn't love Power in his draft year. As you also note, the Sabres have a ton of depth still to come and some of that will be very good including Quinn, JJP, Kulich, and Benson.

How can Power ask for 9 when he's basically Sanderson at this point? Also pay the consequences? You're talking about a GM that pays Tage and Cozens 14 million a year, combined.

There's always been a reason Adams hasn't spent a ton in UFA and it isn't because Pegula won't let him. Dahlin and Power are going to eat around 20-22% of the Sabres cap (at first) and that's gotta be budgeted for.

Cozens had 2 rookies on his line and even though Quinn and JJP are good, he still was held back slightly by that. I expect great things this year from Cozens. 80pts+

Levi is a rare breed. He charts his own path and is unstoppable.

Conn Smythe