FrenchConnection44

The most glaring feature of that list is 9 defensemen and no Ryan Johnson. First round pick in 2018 and he’s 23. He should be a starter if not 2nd line at least by now. Looking increasingly like a bust. Even when he was at Minnesota he didn’t look special or exceptional to me at that level.

Honestly I think Cozens game dropped off much of the year after his fight with Hathaway and his broken nose & black eye. A big mistake to do that. He seemed to come around late. But it appeared to take a lot out of him. He just wasn’t his same confident, aggressive self after that. But that’s why we need 1-2 solid but bruising, physical players - who can actually play, not just goons - to handle that. This below is a good sign. Wish all the young guys (esp. Power) would have this off season focus.

Exactly. Well said. This has been my point for about three years now. And I think this is everybody’s point who argues for trying to get a bigger power forward. The responses of those who don’t think it’s an issue are all straw man fallacies. Putting words into someone’s mouth with such utter nonsense as “If X is not 6’2, 220 some fans won’t want him.” No. It’s fine to have several smaller guys. But when all the taller guys are not really physical nor intimidating in some way, that’s not helpful. Many teams, including the Sabres, could use a Barkov or a Tkachuk. The Sabres perhaps more than anyone. Put one or both of those on this lineup and we are immediate contenders. You gotta draft that type or go all in with a player in free agency or trade. But those two - and others of varying abilities with that profile around the league - are big enough and physically strong enough they can annoy and skate with anyone. And agitate. And be a physical presence on the ice so that other teams are less apt to rough up smaller players. All those traits have their use.

I sure hope you are right. I am sure those who disagree would also hope you are right! We all want the team to win … I don’t see the physicality yet, nor the shooting ability, to put him anywhere near the Marchand type category. All the other intangibles are there. I think he needs a good 10-15 lbs of muscle over this and next year or two. Hopefully he added some this offseason. And work on his overall speed and shooting.

Gotta hope this guy makes the team and plays well. Last year he seemed to get off to a good start and then faded late. Hes got serious talent. But he has to come through.

Wow. He was SO great. What a coach. Not just for the Sabres. Those years with the vaunted Habs teams as well. Happy Birthday indeed.

Well said. My thoughts also. Not going to transform the team but good to have him at a good price.

I am mixed on the Casey M trade. Doesn't look like we got much for that but we'll see. I've never been a fan of early talent / drop off / reclamation projects (Byram). Those always look potentially great on paper but rarely turn out the way fans want in multiple sports (football, hockey, etc.). We shall see. The Savoie - McLeod trade ... meh. We'll see how McLeod does. Big difference playing as the 3rd C on a team with McDavid and Draisaitl 1 & 2, vs the Sabres. You just have to be close to or even a little under the +/- mark and your team will be fine. Really was hoping for more but we won't be able to judge the outcome until next year.

Giving some more thought to this, I wouldn’t have minded trading Savoie if it was for a hard nosed tough defensive forward. But we didn’t. Have to wonder if McLeod will contribute.

I recall McLeod’s name mentioned a few times in the playoffs and that’s all I know. He was listed as 71st in Lady Byng voting on hockey reference so he’s likely not a dominant physical player. But his face off wins could be big (though some don’t think that’s a thing). Disappointed to lose Savoie but who knows what he’d have become. I will defer to others on this trade. Look forward to hearing what Baker has to say. It’s very possible Adams felt his job was on the line if he didn’t make the playoffs this year, so there’s that. But making the playoffs and playing well could draw a few better free agents.

No one is arguing this, of course. Fallacy of the false dilemma. 😊 Same issue that no one is arguing only players over 6 ft tall can be physical. But size does at times come into play. I just don’t see one, let alone 5 Brad Marchands in our players. Maybe Helenius in what, 3-4 years? By then, who else will have asked out or been traded to a Cup contender, lol? One hopes these guys can play and develop into gritty, hard nosed, physical grinders. I don’t see any intimidators aside from maybe - but who knows - Walhberg. Maybe Poltapov but all we get ins a few reports. And a couple really good scorers. But it is even debatable that any will contribute big this year. Benson Has the mentality but he needs to come into camp close to 180 if I recall correctly he got up to near 170 last year. How many rookies do we expect to make the team and contribute significantly this year? If any? Seems to me the biggest hope is that the same players from last season work their butts off in the offseason and show the talent they have only flashed to date. Which would be great. But it’s only a hope at this point.

Benson is good and a talented player in digging the puck but if he’s going to be a truly difficult player to play against and become a force going to have to put on 15-20 lbs of muscle from his draft weight of 163.

They are hoping it brings the same good fortune that came to the Panthers! Lol

So we pay $5 million for Zucker (ESPN had in the category of “Rickety Investments”) And Dallas signs Duchene for $3 million. Another sign how low we have sunk as a franchise. Somehow this franchise has to regain its respect in the league. Not sure the ownership or management will produce that - have to hope that the young talent will get us to the playoffs and then perhaps we can be a franchise with at least some appeal to better players.

Even Peterka and Quinn - though not under 6 feet - are not big nor physical players. (Not arguing any of these players are not talented. Because that’s not really the point). There just is not that player on the roster, particularly at the forward position, who plays a physical two-way game and has the size and strength to do so with great effectiveness and I believe that is a necessary ingredient to win the Cup. The Marchand’s of the world come around once every generation and even he can get roughed up due to his size. Perhaps it will come with one of these. But we don’t have one, let alone two at the forward position, as yet.

I’m not pushing the 200 lb threshold as the only measure. But I don’t think it’s coaching that will make this roster a physically tough 2-way team. These players don’t play physical because they are finesse types. Even Tage and Power are that. Yes they need speed but Barkov at 214 is not slow. He's the best, of course, and if Helenius turns out to be a physical beast of a player - great. But they don’t have a single one on the team right now. I don’t think coaching will turn Savoie or Rosen or Peterka, et al, into physical two way players (though coaching is a general problem). And how long before Helenius is on the team? It’s speculation at this point. At the same time I would argue from a physical standpoint that all these guys could add 10 pounds of muscle, and still be fast, in fact, perhaps be even faster than they are. While there is a balance, players can be in great shape, add another 10 pounds to their body, and be just as fast if not faster if the weight is good weight. I have little doubt that Cozens could go 205, possibly 210, and be just as fast. Power could go 225 and be even faster. Benson could add muscle as well and be faster. And needs to if he’s to be a real factor, given the kind of game he plays. But my point is more about the kind of game and physical toughness a player brings to the ice. Nevertheless, a guy who is 6’2, 215 and fast and physical will generally wreak more havoc as a defensive forward than one who is 5’10, 185-190. Let alone 175-180. I appreciate Cozens willingness in him, but it’s just not his game. The only guy we really had in the last couple of years who had a modicum of that mentality was Krebs. But he just wasn’t big enough nor good enough. There is not one physically intimidating player on this team that opponents would say, “that guy is a pain to play against bec he will grind you into the ice.” And it doesn’t have to be a fighter.

Benson, Savoie, Östlund, Kulich, Rosen … even Quinn & Peterka are smallish and remain under 200 lbs. Casey remains under 200 and Cozens so far - depending on what is reported by various sources. Not one of those are physical forwards. That’s nine top picks that do not fit what I’m describing. And they just paid $5 million for a 5’11, 192 lb forward who is not some big intimidator In the big picture, it’s accurate. Later round talent is still in the minors and still questionable whether they will pan out. Helenius remains to be seen but expecting a 5’11 190 pound player to get to 200 and to be a physical intimidator or defensively shut down handle a big scoring center is expecting an exception. They also passed on arguably the most physical two way forward available who could be the best physical defensive forward in the draft and the Wings snatched him up. It’s not arguing a few of those players are not talented but they don’t need more of them.

When those guys are critical you know it’s bad. And all those criticisms are fair. Pegula seems more interested in spending on the Bills and seems to be doing so at the expense of the Sabres. We need a billionaire with ties to WNY to buy the team. I don’t see them going anywhere with Pegula. Unless we just get lucky with some players.

Really. If they just landed a physical, 2-way forward we’d be in a much better spot. Just no toughness on this team. Some try (Cozens) but they just aren’t made for that role. Sabres seem bent on primarily under 6 feet, 160-185 pound forwards who all look like future Lady Byng candidates.

To be fair, they are taken seriously as a talent feeder for Cup contenders. 😂 🤦‍♂️

Sure. But it’s not as if they are “lucky,” they drafted Bergeron in the 2nd, Marchand in the 3rd, as well as Pastrnak & McAvoy in the first after the Sabres drafted their players. The year they drafted McAvoy we drafted Nylander. 🙄 They get McAvoy, we draft Ryan Johnson - now 23 and still borderline NHL. As much as people talk about Buffalo’s pipeline, none of our picks have panned out to be stars. Closest is Dahlin but that’s one guy. We have been mediocre to poor evaluators, frankly. If at least one of Kulich or Savoie or Rosen and Ryan Johnson (soon to be 23) are not in the lineup playing well this year, then if not a failure yet, it will be a disappointment given all 3 were first rounders and need to start showing high talent potential. And if Power isn’t 230 and beastly then we are not instilling a work ethic and developing talent either. I don’t think Adams could draft a strong two-way or defensive forward over 200 lbs if he were paid half a mil for each one. He certainly hasn’t been able to recruit one in free agency.

Well, one draft iteration is not a legit sample size. But what happened or didn’t in the past week is neither here nor there to my comment. I’m not directly complaining about Adams (though there is plenty to complain about). Just stating that few appear willing to make a deal with us for our prospects / picks. They want our guys when they make the NHL and we are forced to trade or let them go in free agency. We have been a feeder club for playoff teams.

Watching a lot of the videos he seems like a slightly more solidly built Zach Benson. Not a fast skater, not a big shot, but good intangibles and gritty. I guess Brandsegg-Nygard was too big of a two-way forward, and too much what they don’t have for Adams to draft him (“Brandsegg-Nygard has a professional body already, at 6-foot-1, 207 pounds and is the type of prospect the Wings have focused on in recent years. He's a two-way right wing who is as responsible on the defensive end as he is offensively, with a hard shot and good playmaking ability. He's a physical player who searches for contact with that strong body and plays with an edge.” Detroit FP). Nah, don’t need a player like that! And there is your 6+ ft 200+ pounder. We shall see.

Seems like they did exactly what you didn’t want to happen. Passed on Eiserman and went with a “complete game” player. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Although it could be argued they passed on the guy with the most complete game who went one pick later, Brandsegg-Nygard