GASabresIUFAN

There are only 20 games left. What if he isn’t a bad guy? What if he brings a ton of speed and skill? What if he is a fit here? If he does work out then you’ve added a top 6 RW for nothing. That doesn’t happen very often. If he had 3 years left on his deal I’d be right with you, but his contract is only 20 games and we are desperate for talent at RW. It really should be a no brainer if we can get the cap right.

Finally a future Sabre who knows how to convert an odd man rush.

This is the forwards we have to work with right now plus a few guys like Beniers and Gusev who reasonably could be Sabres next year. This is far from what we’ll see in the Fall. For example I have Reinhart at center. This is where he is current playing and if continues to thrive there for the rest of the season then the odds he plays there next year rise dramatically. If not he is still our top RW. I also have VO on the roster, but I think he’ll get traded in the off-season. We are also playing a very mobile group of D right now and they seem to be playing better. This group consists of Risto, Bryson, Dahlin, Montour, Miller and Jokiharju. Only Risto, Bryson and Miller are under contract for next year. Except Montour, who is gone soon and Bryson, who is a mainstay going forward, I can see arguments for or against the remaining guys returning. This evaluation camp will go along way to help with those decisions.

The best thing about last night was that they played hard to the final whistle. They are learning to be competitive without Eichel and that can only help long- term. They have now held a lead 4 games in a row and points in the last 3. PS Dear SS can y’all say in one voice, “GA was right about Mitts!” 😃😎

This is an evaluation camp. We are trying to find guys for the future. We are finding out things already such as Mitts is ready for a bigger role and maybe at center. Reinhart also seems comfortable at center. That Ullmark is a legit No 1 goalie. That a more open style fits out personnel. Etc. Adding Gusev, who is a legit NHL RW on a expiring contract, is a reasonable part of that process.

I don’t know if Granato is the coach of the future, but after reading the article in TBN today, the changes he’s making are clearly on the right track. The article also made despise RK even more if that is possible. https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/observations-don-granatos-changes-making-big-difference-for-sabres/article_0af0824a-9268-11eb-aa40-c7a43418b9e1.html Changes: Focused practice and using on ice drills to reinforce film study. Letting players use their skill set and focusing on team speed. Allowing the D to take calculated risks. A blend of structure with freedom. Guys going to the net. Smart puck decisions etc. The Great Motivator must have been the Bully Dictator.

That's fair, but this isn't exactly a long-term commitment. His contract expires at year's end. If he doesn't work out, he doesn't work out. This isn't Ghost with another 2 year commitment. Given our lack of RWs, we should look at every RW that becomes available.

He is looking better each game. Looks good at center. He is skating hard and back checking well.

Are the Bills better then last year on paper? Swapped Sanders for Brown, Powell or McKenzie for Roberts, replaced the punter, replaced Yeldon with Breida, and swapped Hollister for Lee Smith at TE. The only real significant upgrade with Trubisky replaced Barkley. Unless the get an impact player in the draft and or Gabe Davis and Epenesa take a huge leaps forward, this team looks status quo. Not a bad thing, but it's hard to see this team beating KC.

It's funny I remember people here telling me how much better Andersen was then Ullmark. Demko vs Ullmark Demko (25) Career: 62gms 30w 2.92 gaa and .911 save % 2020/21 25 gms 12w 2.77 and .917 Ullmark (27) Career: 112 gms 47w 2.76 gaa and .913 save% 2020/21 15 gms 6w 2.49 and .920 5 for 5 looks about right

Have they signed on yet?

Who knows, but he clearly needs a change of scenery and Buffalo is a wide open opportunity. Play well and he'll earn a solid new deal here or somewhere else. He put up 40+ last season for a mediocre NJD last season. He and many others (Hall, Staal, Debrusk etc) are struggling this season. Other then Reinhart, what RWs do we have that have his scoring potential? Other then some cap, no risk in adding him. I'm sure we can make this work with some creative accounting.

You are forgetting that he is a late birthday. He'll be 20 in Sept.

Depends on what a staff wants out of their 3rd line. He is more then just an energy center, although I have him penciled in as the 4C next season over Eakin and behind Eichel, Reinhart and Mittelstadt. I don't mind the idea of Cozens as the 3C either. I've been advocating for it all season, but I like what I've seen from Mitts at center since RK departed.

Maybe, I certainly don't have him penciled in the lineup for next year, but something about this kid seems to defy expectations. They said going into the draft that he was a one dimensional scoring forward. Then in the Wjr we saw a smart gifted 2 way player who skating was above average and was a good passer as well. He looked nearly ready in camp this year and while not dominating in the AHL, he hasn't looked out of place. Add some muscle this summer and who knows what happens in camp. Would we be smart to take our time with him. Probably, but he could force the issue.

I don't necessarily disagree. Skinner Eichel Cozens Mitts Reinhart ????? Gusev R2 Beniers Olofsson Girgensons Lazar Okposo Eakin

Absolutely. This kid is just fine and could force his way on to the Sabres next season.

No, just no How about Skinner Eichel Cozens Olofsson Reinhart ???? (Gusev)? R2 Mitts Thompson/Fogarty Girgensons Lazar Okposo Eakin

I'd rather offer NJ a 6th for him if they eat at least 2 mill of his deal, but I have zero problem with claiming him.

I thought last season when he was signed that Lazar was a AAAA player, but he (until injured last night) has been a bright spot and a legit NHL player. Not a top 6 player but I've seen worse 3C's in the NHL. There is nothing wrong with his game. He has speed, wins draws, is positionally sound, can play up and down the lineup and has some scoring ability. He was just a late developing kid who needed an opportunity and he is making the most out of it. Honestly I'd rather have 5 Lazars then half the guys on this crappy team.

Good! Lets build a team around Mitts, Cozens, Turcotte, Dahlin and Byfield perfect. Lets go! (Yes I know it's an April Fool's joke)

So are you calling Eichel, McCabe, Hall, and Staal plus Montour borderline AHL players? Staal maybe at this point, but the rest certainly aren't.

We are becoming an AHL team. That is why I have said we need to bring a body back when we deal some of these guys. Interesting team with Reinhart and Mittelstadt at center. I know we have tried Samson there before, but I wouldn't mind trying it for the rest of the season to see if he has matured into the role. If he has, a spine of Eichel, Reinhart, Mitts/Cozens is very interesting long-term.

https://www.tsn.ca/insider-trading-buffalo-sabres-mulling-a-variety-of-trade-scenarios-involving-taylor-hall-1.1615908 Dreger suggests that some teams want Hall only if he signs a new deal. (Fools). That said, It sounds like the perfect scenario for a conditional 1st plus. The conditions will probably be the 1st becomes a 2nd if he doesn't re-sign or the new team doesn't make the Conference Finals (similar to the Kane trade). I think now that Bos, Tor, Stl and the NYI are probably the most likely destinations We've seen DeBrusk and a 1st discussed with Boston. I like 2 2nds from Toronto plus Liljigren and Kerfoot. Not sure what Stl and the NYI have to offer. I wouldn't mind snatching Kiefer Bellows from the NYI.

Well things are definitely moving in the right direction. Step 1 - Interim Staff is making a difference. The guys are looser and playing using their skills, especially the offensive oriented D, who have 4 goals and 5 assists in the last 3 games. Step 2 - Fixing the front office seems to be underway. Yeah! Scouting Dept changes have started (although firing and not replacing a scout seems the wrong direction), but the good news is the rumor of Rutherford and AGM Karmanos about to be hired. If this happens, it changes the professionalism of the front office from terrible to good and gives the team instant credibility. Step 3 - The kids are playing. Mitts, Bryson, and Thompson are playing every night. Adams said today that Samuelsson, Quinn, and UPL will all get a look see soon. UFA look to be packing their bags. Staal traded. Jo Jo traded. A Hall deal looks to be on the horizon soon. Montour, Sheahan, and Rieder all seem on the market. 3 draft picks acquired so far, but we need fresh players as well. KO has obviously read the writing on the wall and is making a case that he isn't done with a 5 game pt streak and 7 points in his last 9 games. Step 4 - The deadline is approaching and as discussed above, KA has already started moving assets out. Get what you can KA. I'm expecting 50% turnover from this year's roster to next year. Please don't be afraid to be a buyer if the right asset comes along. Step 5 - I'm undecided on KA as the GM. Hall, and Staal didn't work out and I'm not sold on Eakin either. Rieder and Sheahan have been fine but don't exactly move the needle. He didn't fix the goaltending, get a RW or 2 and didn't balance the D. He also should have fired RK two weeks earlier. Still he seems to genuinely want to get better and seems to have found himself as well since firing RK (Maybe TP finally let him off the leash?). Step 6 - ?????