FrenchConnection44

Man I love this team. Not just the early season flatter to deceive as the past few years. A phenomenal game. When the crowd was booing the Jets - that was a sign of how well we played. Though perhaps the Jets were a bit flat. Was surprised they weren't as aggressive - but our offense was very aggressive early. Put them on their heels. We really seem to struggle at the end of games with the lead. Seems like our D is a bit passive. But with a young team those things will happen. That first goal the other night really seemed to have given Power some offensive confidence. His goal was fantastic. The passing on the Tage goal was great also. Good to see him get a couple of goals the past two games. Not the "special" goals where he either maneuvers past 2-3 defenders or rips a 100 mph shot. But just getting the puck into the net can help re-gain that feeling of scoring. Thought Comrie had a very good game. He was fortunate on one play with a great pass across the center and the Jets player (can't remember who) missed the net. Hope Samuelsson is okay. Joker seemed to play really well. Top two defensive pairs have such a hopeful future!

I'd trade our 1st, Mitts, and ... Rosen? (That would be great) as long as we got Meier on a reasonable deal for the next few yrs ($6 Million range) in the trade. Meier is 6'0, 210. Not tall but he's still a very physical player and getting hit by a guy 6'0 210 is tougher than say 6'3, 200. His body type is physical and solid. Two big needs are obvious: a 6th defensemen, with solid physical defensive skills (not likely this year) and a physical two way forward who adds overall physicality to the team. Meier fits the latter in the ideal.

But you just made the comparison about who played more games in the OHL "since being drafted" did you not? You're not making sense here. Prior to or after being drafted doesn't really matter. The only point of contention of any validity is one is 19 1/2; the other is 19. But you're also ignoring Bloom's experienced competition (equal to himself in his league and which is comparable to or more mature than Savoie at the top). and also that Bloom couldn't play at all in 2020-21. Whereas, Savoie, because he was in the US, was able to play competitive hockey that year. If you look at who they've played against the past two seasons - it's virtually identical in terms of games and leagues. All this goes back to the original point of contention - that you raised, not me - that Bloom had some sort of advantage in playing "against a bunch of kids you are older than in a league you are too good for" in comparison to Savoie. That simply is not so. Nor is the discussion about better prospects. Clearly Savoie is the better offensive prospect and talent at this stage. But Bloom is not that far down the rung. And scoring is not the be all end all. Defensive play is a vital factor (which is the main reason we lose games these days). So too the calibre of teammates (both for assists and being set up). Savoie has had a much better surrounding caste than Bloom has much of the past two seasons.

I mentioned Bloom for the first time in that post (other than a post or two of highlights as I have with Savoie and others). For the record: You came at me! lol. Second, who played where prior to being drafted isn't a factor. You're arguing apples to oranges. If two kids of comparable age played on the same team and one was drafted at age 16, and the other at age 18 ... none of that would make a difference in terms of their calibre of competition.

I brought up Savoie because you made the comparison of Bloom having an advantage over him in terms of age, experience and playing lesser competition. Wasn't my comp; it was yours 😊. Savoie has played in a comparable league (WHL) the past two years just as Bloom has. So there is no difference between the two in terms of either leagues or experience in those leagues. The only measurable difference is one is a few months older in age and as a result became draft eligible a year earlier by just making the cut off, where as the other didn't. If you want to say that's a big deal, fine. I don't really think that is the case. I noted also that I wasn't arguing a comp in terms of prospective talent. Simply that the other comparisons made (level of competition; experience against comparable competition; and age) are a virtual wash and therefore meaningless (though Bloom's top level competition is actually more mature than Savoie's, so there is that).

Yes, the article indicated they were conference numbers.

There is a twofold problem here on what arguing about Bloom and, say, Savoie. Not arguing Savoie may not be the better prospect. But, first, there is on going debate over which league is better - WHL (Savoie) vs OHL (Bloom). Both are comparable. And even the QMJHL (several prospects there) is somewhat comparable. Their champion won the CHL cup over the WHL and OHL champions last year, though most point to stronger depth in the OHL as the stronger league. Second, Bloom and Savoie are virtually the same age - both are 19; Bloom is 6 months older - and Bloom isn't going against younger players than Savoie. Simply because he was drafted prior to Savoie due to eligibility doesn't really mean anything. And, in fact, the vast majority of leading scorers in the OHL are drafted and in the 19-20 year old range, whereas in the WHL the top of the heap are not drafted and are age 17-18. So Savoie is often going against less mature players than Bloom. That distinction you're drawing between the two is meaningless with respect to age or experience or competition. If anything it favors Bloom as having tougher competition. And then there is Johnson who is 21 playing against a lot of 18-19-20 year olds in the NCAA - which, granted, is a stronger league than the Canadian leagues. Still, he's up there in age, relative to a lot of his competition, and yet is not dominating at that level. Good player. But not a superstar.

Agreed. Which is why I mention Komarov as a prospect at age 19 (Johnson still needs seasoning and is 21).

Gonna be a tough one. But we have won some big road games this season, sooo …. Will be interesting to see how the Sabres handle the size and physical play of the Jets. Would love to have one or two talented forwards with the kind of size / physicality the Jets bring to the table.

A lot of talk about the forwards (and Levi) - Savoie, Kulich, Bloom, Nadeau - and rightfully so; like all those guys. Defensively, there aren't as many candidates in the system. Ryan Johnson is the premier draft pick - we shall see how he does at Minnesota and he is 21 already. No big deal really, some players develop a bit later. But one player I am looking out for is Komarov - in the Quebec league. Just turned 19 a couple of weeks ago. Good size and seems to be playing quite well.

Levi gets back to back goaltender of the week: https://nuhuskies.com/news/2023/1/23/mens-ice-hockey-levi-earns-consecutive-goaltender-of-the-week-honor.aspx

Starting to see the young team develop. I like where we are. At goalie, I feel good with Luukko, especially with Levi on the rise. We really do need a 6th defenseman. Komarov (19) is looking very good (+33) although he's on a very good team. Could use a couple of forwards. This really isn't trying to be negative on Mittlestadt, but I'd like to see another forward with some size, who can be a bit physical and still be offensive alongside Jost and Krebs (and eventually getting Savoie and Kulich up will add to the center/forward position). Olofsson is a sniper. I think Nadeau (20) and Bloom (19) are great candidates for forwards on the 3rd/4th lines.

Another clutch goaltending night! UPL has really been good (can't believe some had all but given up on the guy early in the season). He's showing the potential many scouts, not just the Sabres, saw in him early on. And he is still young and has plenty of upside. If we can keep Anderson in the fold another year-plus, that may give time for Levi to come in and let UPL be the starter with the heavier load as Levi adjusts. We continue to play pretty sloppy in our own end and at center ice - giving up too many chances. Can't do that against teams with strong scorers. Gotta keep working on staying focused on puck control and crisp passing. Get some of that sloppiness shored up and it's an even better team. Great to see Tage get a goal and Power and another goal. Some great passes on our first 3 goals. Love watching this team. )

Our young team has had trouble bouncing back on back to back games without rest. Especially after a tough game. This will be tough on the road. Hard to predict. Really have to bring the energy. I don’t think it will be easy to get a W. If we do that would be another step in maturity. Would love to see Tage get a goal and get out of his funk. He’s been solid setting others up though, which is great to see. But all the lines gotta bring it.

Anderson’s extraordinary goaltending last night also puts the lie to using save percentage as the be all end all for goaltending. It is valuable over time. But given how many chances we give up it’s a bit skewed. There is no substitute for video. 31 shots, 29 saves, but it felt like 3/4 of those saves were incredible scoring chances he took away. I doubt there has been a better single game performance by a goalie this year.

Well, the best teams are able to overcome that and get free. They need to do better in breaking free and scoring on odd man rushes and that will slow down those. But when they are able to forecheck without risking much or getting burned, then it will continue. That’s the point. 🙄

The way teams are figuring out to play the Sabres is to just forecheck the heck out of them. Dallas did that quite well. We really have trouble getting free from that and clearing the zone. And we have to cut down on the turnovers. Talent wise, whether it happens this year or in the off season, along with another strong defenseman with size who can skate; and it really could use a physical, two-way forward, with size, who can score, forecheck, and play defense. If we added those two spots and if the rest of the team developed as expected … this team could be a genuine contender in another 1-2 yrs. I like the centers - still young and developing. And a few on the way.

Anderson was other worldly. Some of those onslaughts- especially at about three different junctures in the first period, were just insane. There were times it was hard to believe Dallas didn’t score. One of the best goaltending games I’ve seen.

Savioe heating up.

Both would add physicality to the team. But I would not give up much for them. Given they are loans. But I do have interest in Horvat in free agency. As long as we still get Dahlin and Cousins under long term deals. Horvat adds something the Sabres don’t have. Physicality in a two way forward. Schenn would also add that. And both are positive in the plus minus. I wonder about Schenn’s resurgence - is it the system? Or what?

Let’s Go. Gotta come to play tonight.

The prime culprit this game was zero energy. Likely emotionally drained. That is a sign of a young team. But you are right about physical teams. I don’t think anything will change that until some of these guys get stronger and more physical. Cousins, Power, Krebs, Quinn, even Mittelstadt, all need to add weight in muscle and strength in the off season (+8, +10 lb range). Power is listed at 215. He should be at 225-230 in 2-3 years and a physically intimidating force to be reckoned with (only 19 of course). And he needs to skate better and have more power in his lower half as well. Cousins is variously listed in the mid-high 180s. One listing has him in the low 190s. At 6’3 and the style of fame he plays he needs to be at least 205. If not 210. He’s only 21 still so a ways to go before his body matures. The Sabres need to spend some money off ice in terms of training staff and systems for these guys to develop faster and become not only better players in their skill sets, but stronger and more physical. The Flyers gave teams the blueprint for beating us. Granato has to see this need.

They are just taking it to us physically and we can’t match them. And their goalie has been strong.

This team is so great to watch. Incredibly exciting. Love their youth and fight. Great team win. Still give up a lot on defense but Minnesota is a good team and even though we gave up 5 goals UPL made some huge saves. How about that crowd as well? Loved the building. Six games at home in the next few weeks.