GASabresIUFAN

Each new GM finishes last in his first season. Now that’s a streak.

I’ve seen a variety of projections listing him as the target for Seattle, because they need some contracts, he can run their PP initially, is only on a one year deal and would bring assets back at the trade deadline. They might even be able to convince KA to give them something to take the contract.

Another ownership Yes Man running a team? At least Drury has some training.

@dudacek and @PerreaultForever when I ran a status quo scenario as few weeks ago including the return of McCabe, Ullmark, Miller and all the RFAs I came out at about 75 mill. Using the Evolving Wild Contract Projections, I come up with 77.5 but with McCabe returning for 3 years @ 3.5, Ullmark back 4 years @ 4.5 plus, $2 mill for a backup goalie and keeping 8 D (including Samuelsson) and Eakin If we demote Eakin (Saving 1.1) and lose Miller to expansion (saving 3.875) that opens up two roster spots and nearly 5 mill in Cap, bring us down to 72.6. I'd also demote Samuelsson to maximize his PT and replace with someone like Irwin just hopefully better). 8.5 should be enough to work with to get the middle 6 physical winger. A trade for such a winger would likely involve someone like Thompson or Asplund heading the other way.

What was Ullmark's projection?

Agree. See Skinner two years ago, Jack last year and Hall's MVP year. Sam is a center and should be one. It's amazing but it took such a crappy season to finally give our most talented players a chance to play at their natural center. It makes me so angry how management has handled things for a decade.

Can you say contract year? 😉

Not a better shooter, but a better overall player.

I agree he has been better, but he couldn’t have been worse. Yes he is better then Reider, Bjork and Caggiula but he is paid to be a top producer and his production is marginal for a 3rd line player.

Do you think 3 goals from Skinner is good production? He is being paid to be our top goal scorer and he has less goals then all the guys I mentioned including R2. Scoring 8 points in his last 20 or so games is awful. That’s a 30 PT season. That’s contributing virtually nothing for a guy playing on the top line with a center who is on fire.

Actually the prudent way to run a franchise properly is to develop your own talent. For the first time in a decade we actually have a team of home grown talent and they are vastly superior to the big name acquisitions and retreads KA (and the GMs before him) added to this roster. I think we are also getting beyond the small sample size argument. I believe we are over 20 games (or 25% of a regular season)since RK was sent packing.

So far this group of kids has been competitive against everyone but the Bruins. Is it really so outlandish to think that 5 kids will continue to develop with full time roles next season? Is it really so outlandish to think that this group with the return of Eichel, the addition of a good middle six winger, the development of the kids, the return of Girgensons plus an upgrade at 4c will be even more competitive next season. Yes they need to be stronger on the puck and more physical as a unit to stay with the Bruins, but they can skate with anyone. Also the biggest issue with the current group hasn’t been the kids, it’s been guys like Bjork, Cagguila, Reider Skinner and Eakin who do nothing. You also seem to forget this is a team game and that we have zero goaltending and 5 additional kids playing defense. The results of the last 10 games aren’t all issues with the offense.

As he should. Asplund. Mitts, Cozens and R2 bring effort every night. We need as many really effort guys as we can get and it's great that all four have decent or better skill. Not sure how the pieces come together, but those 4 plus Reinhart, VO and Eichel are 7/9 of my top 9 for next season. One note: We have 13 forwards under control or contract for next season right now with Skinner, Thompson, Bjork, Girgensons, Eakin and KO on the roster. At least two of these guys need to go to make room for a good 4th line center and a physical scoring middle 6 winger. Skinner is returning and I'd like Thompson back as well, but the other 4 can move on.

Just finished watching the game. We seem to be able to play with everyone but the Bruins. What a magical night for Houser. Thompson stepped up and Reinhart is probably the Captain of this team. R2 is growing each night and I agree that KA shouldn't protect Bjork and risk losing either Asplund or Thompson. I'm not ready to pronounce Samuelsson NHL ready. I also don't want to start next season with 5 NHL D 24 and under with Borgen the oldest with only 14 games of NHL experience. That isn't a recipe for success IMHO. I'd rather start Matt in the AHL to get more experience and have him as the first callup. That said he does look solid and he clearly has a long NHL future ahead of him. Think Borgen will register a point this season? As to Cozens is it really a surprise that he is struggling some late. Between the World jrs, the quarantine and being a 19 year old in the toughest men's league in the world, I'd be surprised if he wasn't a little worn out. It's also clear he isn't as ready as Mitts to be a full time NHL center. That said he could be the Sabre who makes the biggest jump next season after a full off-season of training and a full training camp next fall. I do love R2. He might go down as Jbot's best acquisition outside of the draft. PS can we give Jbot at least some credit for the youth movement we are seeing succeed? R2, UPL, Mitts, Cozens, Samuelsson, Dahlin, Jokiharju, Thompson, and Bryson are all Jbot draftees or prospect acquisitions.

If Houser plays this will be the 6th Sabres goalie this season

Obviously we need more help in the front office. However there are pressing roster questions. The team is fading some with goalie injuries and 6 recent games against at vastly superior Bruins team. Those games revealed to me how much we miss some veteran leadership on D and how we need more physicality on our top 9. 1) Goaltending: This is our most pressing problem. When Ullmark was healthy we are competitive. Without him we aren’t. However given his injury history, we need more then just him. UPL showed long term promise until he got hurt and Tokarski is a solid AHL vet. Those two will be a fine AHL tandem next season and showed they can spot start but that’s not enough. If Ullmark walks we need two goalies. My thought is re-sign Ullmark 4 year 4.5 per season and then sign one of Bernier, Raanta or Mrazek. 2. Young D group needs serious help as well. I love the future on the backend. With the 5 kids up and Laaksonen and Johnson coming the future looks secure. However they are also showing they aren’t ready as a group to carry us without more vets. If we lose Miller to expansion, McCabe walks and Risto ends up getting trading, KA will need to find at least two solid vet D who play well in the D zone and are also physical players. This is a tough asks. Signing McCabe is a priority for me, especially if Risto is traded to supplement the forwards or goaltending. Luke Schenn for depth interests me as does Oleksiak for a top 4 role. 3. Wingers - We have plenty of wingers but no one who can play in the middle six who also plays a physical game. Acquiring such a player is the 3rd priority for me after goaltending and vet D. I’m not worried so much about scoring as I think Asplund, R2, Cozens, and Thomspon have more to give and the return of Z should also help. No idea who we should target for the middle six role but I think a trade is the most likely way we are going to get such a player. 4. Center - This has been our biggest worry since ROR was traded. However this is my least worry now. Reinhart, Mitts and Cozens have stepped up since RK was dumped and have given us 3 possible guys to anchor lines behind Eichel. I’m signing Reinhart for 6 years at 6.5 to 7 and moving forward with him as the long term 2c. He has earned the job. Mitts is my 3C. He to has earned that opportunity and a contract at least as big as the one Thompson got. Cozens might have to wait his turn but knowing he is there for injuries is a great problem to have. That leaves the 4c job. We need Larsson (or similar) back with Lazar now gone and Eakin crapping out. Eakin needs to be sent to the A to clear half his cap and remove him from the depth chart. Haula is a perfect UFA option IMHO.

Sure it's possible in theory, but what are you giving up to get a D better then Risto? Olofsson plus? Samuelsson plus? Picks, others prospects? How much cap will this possible player take up? 5 mill, 6, 7 more? It's easy to say trade Risto and I agree he has good value, but someone needs to say who we might upgrade him with and what is the price to acquire that player. Here are some of the UFA available under 30 Hamilton, Larsson, Ryan Murray, Gudbranson, Montour, Gustafsson, Oleksiak, Cody Ceci, and Ben Hutton. Which of these guys would sign here and is an upgrade on Risto or even McCabe?

I'll take those projections, but the McCabe deal is way off. What does he have to prove? I'd also try to lock up Mitts longer then 2 years.

Let's assume that we trade Risto for a physical middle six winger, Miller is taken in the expansion draft, and McCabe walks as an UFA. Your returning D group is (age when next season begins) 1) Dahlin - 21 - 193 games of NHL experience 2) Jokiharju - 22 - 149 games of NHL experience 3) Bryson - 23 - 34 games of NHL experience 4) Borgen - 24 - 13 games of NHL experience 5) Samuelsson - 21 - 8 games of NHL experience I like a youth movement possibly more then anyone here, but even this is to far for me. Samuelsson isn't ready and IMHO Bryson and Borgen are nothing more at this point then a 3rd pairing. This team would then need to acquire two or three veteran D. My guess is we won't be anyone's first choice to come as a UFA and a trade would like cost us all the assets received in the Ristolainen trade. How is this a step forward?

We certainly can’t stand up to a physical Bruins club. Some of that is the youth movement and some is clearly not enough physical players up front especially with Girgensons and KO out of the lineup.

Beane picked three guys with tons of upside but all of them need development. 1. Gregory Rousseau, DL - Only one year of college football. 265 lbs 6'7." 15.5 sacks in his one season (2019). Raw player. 2. Boogie Basham, DE - 281 lbs, 6'3" Wake Forest DE - Plays run well and can get to the QB 3. Spencer Brown , OL - 311 lbs 6'8" Small School OL who is a converted basketball player. Another Raw player. This looks like a boom or bust draft. Would really like to have seen a CB. Still need TE help as well.

Bills are getting their Boogie on. Misters Addison, Hughes, and Phillips thank you for your efforts here in Buffalo. Your replacements have just been drafted.

How good was the Bills D when Edmunds was out or limited by injury?

This is good news for Portillo and the Sabres. Maybe worth signing Mann as well. He kept Portillo on the bench. There must be some talent there.

I feel like I'm more of a GM type. I know how to work well with others, conduct good research, hire good people, make decisions efficiently and understand financial and legal issues. Those are more GM skills, but thanks for the thought.