SabreFinn

I think UPL realized how Adams look at him last year with them trying to push Levi forward. UPL might be a bit impatient, but he has also worked very hard to get to where he is, and I think he consider he has proven he is a winner. I am not worried about how UPL will play the coming season, but a Levi -UPL tandem can be a problem. On the other hand I think Ruff has the routine to handle it.

I am not sure how that goes. But usually Liiga contracts come with a paragraph that makes it possible to sign with a NHL team.

True. The way they play hockey in Liiga does not take him any closer to NHL than he is at the moment imo.

I really hope Tage will be back scoring 40+ goals. I just hesitate he will.

Florida went from Presidents to almost missing playoff. But I think that was extreme.

Changing the way we play too much comes with a huge risk also. Even if the change is needed.

I like both Power and Cozens, but they get way too much money to be that young and not ready. But that is something between Adams and their agents. I hope it will be worth it in the end. I do expect steps forward from both.

That is why I would have liked a trade or a signing for a RHD, to get better balanced pairs, and Byram to play more by his strenghts.

Well, what I remember from him playing in Colorado he had a creativity to create offence. Unfortunately we did not see much of that in Sabres except from a few games in the beginning. Or he just had the flow of his career during that playoff that led to their Stanley cup win. However, that is what I ment with talent.

Our most talented players are Dahlin, Power and Byram. That is why I most of all wished for a steady RH top four stay at home defenseman this offseason, to give them just a tiny bit more possibility to create offence. And what Roy and Pesce got should have been possible to match by us. I am dissapointed by that.

That was a good deal for Florida. Damn.

First, I think fans from every team in the east except from Devils feel a bit disappointed with the offseason this far. To me it seems like a status quo in roster strenght in Atlantis division. With current rosters it might be a huge thing IF for example Jack Quinn is healthy and has even taken a step forward from last season. When hiring Lindy Ruff as coach I think Ruff had a couple of positions on the roster he wanted improved in a certain way. But I also think that Adams had a couple of items that Ruff had to accept to get the job. I am ofcourse just gessing, but having a prospect pool filled with potential 3C:s then one of them becoming a 3C might be one. And what we see now can be a compromise. If he still is in on getting a middle six center by trade I think names like Pageau, Iafallo and Roy or Howden from Vegas are easiest to get. I think Lundell also might be a possibility but gessing Panthers might want att least Byram and Krebs/Savoie.

My dream of trading for Lundell is still alive! And signing Matt Roy on top of that. Just woke up 😀

Brendan Smith is a free agent, maybe Ruff want him instead as 7th D?

I think he can be a 50p player in NHL. I am pretty sure about it even. But playing as a 3C next year, no, then we can kiss playoff goodbye. Lundell took the 3C spot in Florida his first season, they made the playoffs (think for the first time in a while), and you know the rest. The difference is Lundell was a year older and came to a team with Barkov and Bennett as centers on first and second line. But Lundell and Helenius both has the responsible two way game and smartness, why I made the compere

That would be a bold move. I like it!

I think his ambitions is leading a cup contender first line. At least he could lead a Sabres first line from day one. I think it takes Savoie and a 2nd, or Savoie and another prospect to get him.

4th line player with size. One out of four accomplished.

I understand the pain you are feeling in western NY, and pro sports is about winning, and when the spirit not is winning, it makes fans pissed off. I feel pretty calm about the roster build for next season. This was the last season of dissapointment in a while. Even if there are no trades this weekend, the off season and UFA market will bring all that's needed.

My thoughts on the draft this far are that we made a good first pick in a draft that was very unpredictable. I had no clear dream choice myself and might have choosen differently, but I am happy with Helenius. e. Having a player that has been compared to Datsyuk in our system to develop properly for four years (even longer if we want) , what is not to like about that! And who knows, we might have choosen same player even if we had not traded down. I do not think we had picked Helenius if Adams not intend to use prospects in a coming trade, then again I hesitate about Adams determination to get a deal done, but there are both assetts and capspace and a new coach so something will happen.

They may not be the next former Sabre to win a cup on another team, but with Thompson, Cozens signed long-term and prospects Helenius, Savoie, Östlund being C, someone will be moved. So the guess is Östlund, but I think before him Skinner or Krebs.

If he is the next Datsyuk, we'll see about that, but it is promising. I remember a situation in IIHF WC, where he defended against Hischier, and Hischier could not have done it better himself.

You are absolutely right about the way hockey in Liiga, I don't like it at all. It is very much focus on tactic. On the other hand, to play against men in that age in a league like that demand smartness and hockeysense. Speed is easier to work on.

And if Ehlers sign an extension at same numbers as current, that is a deal to me.

And Lundell traded to Sabres!?