GASabresIUFAN

Despite the season being “over,” guys are still playing for something. Admittedly the games are meaningless from a Sabres playoff point of view, but they aren’t meaningless to the guys playing or for the Sabres from an evaluation standpoint. How many RFAs and UFAs do we have? How many of those guys want to prove they are still NHL players like Rieder or Sheahan. How many kids are up trying to prove they are NHLers like Mitts, Asplund, Thompson, Byron and Fogarty. There is clearly a great deal to play for from a players point of view. Also KA is evaluating these guys as well. He needs to know if Thompson could be part fo the team long term. He needs to know if Reinhart and Mitts are his 2 and 3 centers next year or does he have to try another 2C next season.

Hall traded?

Finally

I was looking at the last 5 since Granato returned from Covid and got his feet under him. They have scored 2 or more even goals in each of those 5 games.

There is a simple way to judge if they are better. Just look at even strength goals. Under RK were were averaging about 1.19 5 on 5 goals. In the last 5 games they have scored 13 5 on 5 goals. That’s 2.5 5 on 5 goals per game. That’s a different hockey team.

Anyone who has looked at Hall in recent years should know that he is a playmaker. His career shooting % is like Jack’s 10%. In recent years with the exception of his MVP year, is 7-8%. He has brought in IMHO to generate offense from our scorers Jack, Reinhart and VO. He has done some of that just not enough. Honestly he is a lesser version of Jack. What I’m surprised about is that he is still here. I figured the Leafs would have already moved to get him.

The one that doesn't make sense is Borgen. 8 NHL games. He played well in the 4 this season, but that isn't exactly a large enough sample size to know what he really is. He could end up being more Weber then McKee.

It's not just Ullmark. He is a big part of this and his injury history and the compressed season made getting a good backup a priority in the off-season. His return certainly added confidence to the room. However guys like Thompson, Mitts, Dahlin, Jokiharju, KO plus the addition of Bryson have really stepped up despite being without Jack (our best forward), McCabe (our best D) and Cozens. This team is far from good, but they are playing competitive hockey now and that is a huge improvement.

No he didn’t. He was a rookie two years ago and his production was a little better in the second half. Last season RK beat him up for 31 games destroying his confidence. He went down and Chris Taylor fixed him in 39 games. In 22 games this year Casey has been solid since game one and has improved as the season has progressed. Once RK was fired Casey has been in the lineup more consistently and has blossomed.

Casey has 2 goals (and 3 points) in his last 3 games (plus 2). Granato is now skating him 17-18 minutes a game most nights. He is getting some PP time and occasional PK time. Is there any doubt any longer that he has matured into a fulltime NHL player and forced his way back into the team's long-term plans? I really like his play at center. He looks much more comfortable and like the kids I saw at the World Jrs and in college. He is driving offense, but what I like most is his developing two way play and his willingness to both forecheck and backcheck. He said last night that Granato is asking all the forwards, especially after a give away, to make 3 hard strides and get back into the play. Mitts is doing that plus more.

It was a case of building one excellent line. He has been moved off the line periodically to try to create secondary offense, but that hasn't worked as a RW. As I said to start the season, that whole season was a 56 game long evaluation camp because it was doubtful that we'd make the playoffs in a stacked division. I also said play the kids. Now that the RK experiment is done, we are finally there playing the kids and experimenting with promising early returns. Sam as center is honestly the most reasonable solution. Who are we going to find in free agency or trade that has anywhere near his skill and IQ without paying an arm and a leg? I agree play him (and Mitts) the remainder of the season at center, even when (if) Jack returns.

With each passing game, the following spine looks more and more like a long-term reality Jack, Samson, Mitts, Lazar. Ullmark looks more and more like the goalie of the present and near future. Thompson is showing life. Fogarty has been a nice addition. KO is actually looking like a hockey player again. Sorry for doubting you, I should have realized that the RK effect hurt everyone. Asplund is looking like he has NHL potential. Obviously Cozens is part of the plan and we are stuck with Skinner. On Defense Bryson, Jokiharju and Dahlin are here to stay. So what's KA's gameplan? Obviously RFAs Samson, Dahlin, Mitts, Asplund, Borgen (if not lost to Seattle), and Jokiharju will be re-signed. UFAs Ullmark, Fogarty and possibly McCabe will be on the list to retain. Fogarty should be easy, but there will be demand for the other two. I'm assuming Hall and Montour will be traded. Sheahan and Rieder are also UFAs The real roster questions come down to what to do about Eakin, Girgensons, Olofsson, Miller and Ristolainen. All have 1 year left except Girgensons who has two. I'm going to assume for a minute that none of these guys return except Risto and assume we retain the 3 UFAs listed above. Skinner Jack Cozens ?????? Reinhart KO? R2? Mitts Thompson Asplund Lazar Fogarty McCabe Risto Dahlin Jokiharju Bryson Borgen Ullmark ??????? That is a surprisingly few openings. Is this enough change for everyone if we get a new coach or even keep Granato? What do we get for Olofsson in trade? Will KA have the guts to trade our most dangerous shooter?

split hairs much?

He was given various limited shots at center and it didn’t work out. I’d have to check to find out how many and then after ROR was acquired it wasn’t necessary as he was succeeding as Jack’s wingman. When ROR left he seemed entrenched as Jack’s RW. Now desperate times deserve desperate measures and a much more mature Reinhart is succeeding there. Maybe we have our spine for next year of Jack, Sam, Mitts and Lazar and that’s a good thing. Cozens is very raw and he’ll get to develop like Sam did before moving over. This isn’t the first time we have gone this route. Hecht was a LW when acquired and successfully switched to center as a Sabre.

They are playing like they should have been playing all season. RK simply refused to loosen the reigns and allow his skill players to be skill players. Honestly I don’t know what Hall ever saw in him. These last 4 games show what decent coaching and good goaltending mean.

I just got around to reading the article. No, just no.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/devils-nikita-gusev-assigned-to-taxi-squad/amp/ Gusev clears.

But look what Montour did to the perception of him with 30 amazing seconds (ok and some solid play). Why deny Hall that same opportunity. Honestly, he has looked better recently playing with Mitts.

it would hurt his value by taking him out of game shape and also making him look like locker room issue.

Average housing cost in Tampa is significantly higher, but at the upper end, say 5000 to 6000 sq ft, the price difference shrinks unless one is on the beach in Tampa. About 900K for 5000 in Clarence/Willamsville vs 1.25 in Tampa Area.

I guess each new GM deserves a tank year.

Yes and no. Right now with interest rates so low it does make some sense, but for many of these guys with their careers limited in scope they tend to want the security of having the home paid for. It may not be the best way to maximize wealth, but many value security and simplicity of not having a mortgage. I know this from experience representing some NFL players here in the ATL.

Look what RK did to the games of all of our skilled skating D. He decimated Dahlin, Joker, Miller and Montour. He kept trying to pound square pegs into round holes because he had zero idea on how utilize the skills they have while teaching them to improve in their own zone. Granato, who was on RK's staff, obviously knows how to utilize his players. This angers me a little. Either Granato and Smith knew what was wrong and didn't speak up (or were bullied not to speak up) or RK was to hard headed to listen. Either way it was a significant problem. Thus another wasted asset and the near ruination of two key kids. I don't think keeping a core of Reinhart, Eichel, Dahlin, Jokiharju, Risto and Ullmark is a mistake. I also don't think it implies that there won't be significant change to the roster. Kids like Bryson and Borgen replacing Montour and Miller is not a bad thing. Also moving out VO, Staal, and Hall is also significant change. We probably won't keep McCabe. The question is who takes their place. Certainly Lazar returns and Mitts and Cozens seemed locked in to jobs next season. I'm trading VO this off-season. That leaves top 9 forwards Reinhart, Skinner, Mitts, Cozens and Eichel. That leaves openings for 4 top 9 wingers. Could some internal guys like Thomspon and R2 earn a few of those jobs? Absolutely, but even still KA has a ton of flexibility to remake this roster in the off-season while maintaining our most talented players.

No one is a sure thing, but UPL is developing similarly to Ullmark and look at those results. 3 years from now Ullmark will be 30 and if he's great he can remain the man but if UPL is ready (and cheaper) then you trade one of them for assets. That's how good franchises work. Look at Pitt, MAF was pushed by Murray who got pushed by Jarry who is now getting pushed by DeSmith. Hopefully we'll have a similar problem here with Ullmark getting pushed by UPL who gets pushed by Portillo. Can't have enough good goaltending.

Not that it matters, but I'm a little surprised how many people are against adding a skill player for nothing. Oh well.