LGR4GM

To nitpick slightly, this is Jack Quinn's 3rd NHL season starting just now. You can't count playing 2 as a season. I also don't think you should say "4th season" for any guys that are starting their 4th (or whatever number) when this season is yet to be played. The Sabres are very young and have less experience in games played at the NHL level than most if not all other teams. We'll just wait and see how they handle it.

Where would you put him on this team? Why should he be better than Dahlin, Power, Byram? Since you used his draft pedigree earlier as part of your reasoning, which of the 1st, 1st, 4th, 29th, 32nd overalls picks do you think he is better than and should replace? Your argument is basically that LHD Ryan Johnson should somehow be better than at least 1 of these 4 LHD, Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, Bowen Byram, Mattias Samuelsson, or RHD Henri Jokiharju. With the exception of Samuelsson, all the rest were drafted in 2018 or after and drafted higher. Also of note, Johnson was a 2019 draft pick, not a 2018. FTR, I wouldn't have signed in Buffalo if I were Johnson. The lineup is stacked against him and honestly he might just be a tweener. You miss on about half your first round picks give or take. Missing on Johsnon and Rosen wouldn't surprise me in the least.

It's the opposite almost of Östlund.

My buddy just sent me this: Note it's from 2023 but still, lolz

Do you like anything the Sabres do?

If your smoking gun is face wins, idk what to tell you. That is just such a terrible metric to use as some sort of "gotcha" when looking at NHL centers. It would be like looking at Zach Benson and using penalty minutes against. Also, stop using +/- for any comparison outside of a team. It is useless once you leave your own team for anything like this.

Nah, Rasmus Dahlin is well within the top 10 of NHL defenders. If he didn't play on a team that was total trash last year in terms of generating offense at 5v5 and the PP, Dahlin would be thought of as better.

Yes, this is year 1 of Power's 7 year deal. His 8.35mil is probably the salary of a 50pt, 10g, top defender with good defensive metrics. Depending on his development over the summer, he could be that. I think having Dahlin around helps because it is another 1st overall defender he can not only lean on but share experience with. Lots to prove from our young Power.

Curious to see Helenius in this since he has pro experience.

Here's all I'll say about who we've played. You gotta win the games you play. The Jags lost by 3 to Miami and 6 to the Browns. They lost by 37 to Buffalo. Cardinals, smoked the rams and lost by 7 to the Lions. What I'm saying is I think Jacksonville is probably better than just their record although, they have major problems. The cardinals are probably better than a 1-2 team but again, win the games you play. If we look at buffalo's 3 wins, I think they are against 2 weak opponents and a potential wild card team. They dismantled all 3 on offense and only had issues with 1 on defense... for 1 half. We'll know in 3 weeks who Buffalo is I think. Ravens, Texans, Jets all road games and then we also have a resurgent Seattle on the road. If you go even 3-2 in the next 5 games, we're doing good. We manage somethin better like 5-0... I don't even know but I'd be open to saying Buffalo is the best team. One game at a time. Next up, Baltimore.

Sabres rolling out the AHL lineup for this away tilt against the Pens.

To me, and this a personal thing not a this is how it was, the best part of the Benson assist is how he initiates contact with the defender which prepares the space Benson wants to pass through. Engages the defender, uses his smaller stance to get leverage and initiate a tight turn, adjust as he slips the pass across to make it accurate. I love Zach Benson. He should not have dropped to the teens, he's too damn good at too damn much.

Sometimes I think how Torrence fell to Buffalo last year, then I smile.

Josh. Allen.

Yes these are both AHL teams Buffalo should level. But they are actually winning by wide margins, that's nice. Lots of work still to go but at least we aren't asking why they weren't able to beat AHL guys.

Let it be known, Benson is coming.

Suggesting Rasmus Dahlin of all people doesn't show up consistently and compete, is a choice. I disagree wholeheartedly with that notion.

The only solution currently would be to put Quinn at center and move Cozens to RW.

There's more to being good than having a good shot.

Man, I just love Zach Benson. Really my favorite player at this point.