Which Young Sabre Will Make The Biggest Stride Forward This Year?

[bob_sauve28]

Which one? 

[French Collection]

I’m thinking Quinn with Power a close second.

This is Levi’s first full year so we don’t really have a large body of work from him. I think he will be a ROY candidate.

Krebs will be interesting. If he is 3C his numbers will improve but if he is with KO and Girgs there will only be a small bump. I loved his game at the World Championship and think he will be a lot better, it just may not show up in points.

[bob_sauve28]

If Dylan keeps getting better he will be moving into Super Star ranks 

[The Jokeman]

If we do ship out VO then I'd think Peterka or Quinn could find more PP time. I think Peterka's a more complete player so voted for him yet Quinn definitively has the offensive upside too. 

[kas23]

While Quinn or JJP would be nice, they are still young. I’m going with Mitts. He needs to do what his did in his last 30 games for an entire season. He’s yet to do this, but I think he’s ready. It would be a big jump for him. 

[dudacek]

I love me some Jack Quinn, but the answer has to be Owen Power.

He's going to go from 'damn that kid's going to be so good,' to 'damn, that kid is good!"

[Weave]

I’m voting the longshot.  Not because I am confident he will, rather because if he doesn’t show the most improvement the season will be disappointing.  He simply MUST show terrific improvement.

UPL. I am dead convinced KA is rolling with the 3 headed goalie monster, therefore it is absolutely critical that UPLs development is leaps and bounds over last season.

[GASabresIUFAN]

I choose JJP.  I think this board underestimates his upside potential.  His showing at Worlds was impressive and that could be his launch point for greater NHL success.

I also think Krebs is one to watch.  If he plays on the 3rd line, I can see him taking a huge stride forward.   

[North Buffalo]

I too chose JJP, think we saw a bit of what he will become towards the end of the season... seemed like the light bulb was going on... see Quinn as a steady improver... Krebs could take a big step as well but doesnt have the size yet to not talking height more strength to  take a huge jump but given how hard he works could see that jump late in the year... to me Power is an unknown as far as how much he truly jumps because he is so good now... I see as he gains strength his physicality could jump big time like Dahlin's did..  gonna be fun to watch!

[dudacek]

I think this thread and the fact there are so many legitimate choices underscores the fact that the Sabres don't need to have a splashy off-season to get better.

They just need to fill the holes.

[LGR4GM]

56 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

If we do ship out VO then I'd think Peterka or Quinn could find more PP time. I think Peterka's a more complete player so voted for him yet Quinn definitively has the offensive upside too. 

I would argue that JJP's defensive game is a full level below what Quinn brings. Offensively I think JJP has started closing the gap though. 

[LGR4GM]

I picked Power. A sophomore slump is possible but I really felt that late in the year, Owen was starting to understand that he could really lean on guys. I also felt that the offensive game was getting more and more complex, where he would layer fakes and deceptions into his passing but also was attacking more. 

[Taro T]

Went with Power because of externalities.  HE is the only one of these listed players that the GM is ACTIVELY looking to find a better partner / linemate for.  Once he and the new partner settle in, he should be able to just be himself on the ice and that should be a very good thing.

[matter2003]

Quinn is on the verge of breaking out like Cozens did

[SHAAAUGHT!!!]

28 minutes ago, North Buffalo said:

I too chose JJP, think we saw a bit of what he will become towards the end of the season... seemed like the light bulb was going on... see Quinn as a steady improver... Krebs could take a big step as well but doesnt have the size yet to not talking height more strength to  take a huge jump but given how hard he works could see that jump late in the year... to me Power is an unknown as far as how much he truly jumps because he is so good now... I see as he gains strength his physicality could jump big time like Dahlin's did..  gonna be fun to watch!

I voted Power but I’ve loved watching JJP develop.  I don’t know if we have anyone that works along the boards the way he does and once he adds some more weight to his frame I think in 2-3 years he could be a combo Jochen Hecht/Vaclav Varada type player - effective puck possession in the corners and on the wall, but can also chip in 20+ a year. 

Edited June 22, 2023 by SHAAAUGHT!!!

[Night Train]

After watching the World tourney a month back, it's JJP.  Cozens flashed there last year and took the big jump. 

[sabresparaavida]

Im thinking its going to be one of Quinn/ JJP. They both are going to be more settled into the league next year with more strength built up. Cozens may take another step this year, and each of them being better is going to reflect in each other's stats sheets. JJP just won the best forward at the world championships and put up a stat line nearly identical to Cozens from the year before. Quinn's development path so far also indicates he has the potential to explode in his second year. If all goes right, they could produce like an average first line. 

[Buffalonill]

Quinn 40 goals 

[nfreeman]

I chose Power, but it could easily be Quinn or Levi.

[irregularly irregular]

I did not vote because I believe the jump will be JJP/Cozens/Quinn on the 2nd line. All 3 step up this year and many teams in the league would love to have them as their first line. They may actually draw the oppositions best defenders like they are the Sabres top line, thereby getting Skinny/Tage/Tuch even better opportunities. 

[RochesterExpat]

I'd bet money on Power because he'll (hopefully) have a competent compliment on D. Granted, measuring "biggest stride" when we're talking about a defenseman who is already 21st in the league for share of all possible ice time last season (Dahlin is 3rd for those curious) is going to be difficult to quantify. We can't simply look at points which is more or less what everyone will be pointing to a year from now when we revisit this.

Basically, just looking at last season, Quinn had 37 points last season, JJP had 32, and Power was in the middle at 35. Despite being in the middle for points, Power had more impact than either JJP or Quinn on the ice. I have no idea how I'm going to defend my take a year from now that Power made the biggest leap beyond "didn't you watch the games???" because I fully expect JJP and Quinn to both pass him on the scoresheet.

EDIT: Just a thought, but I don't think putting Levi on this list is fair to him since he only played in 7 games last season.

Edited June 22, 2023 by RochesterExpat

[msw2112]

This is a great thread.  One of the best.  Positive dialogue from everyone and sets the tone for a promising upcoming season.

For what it's worth, I went with Peterka.  Mid-season, I thought he needed to sit, because he just couldn't finish, and the team really needed that production.  I thought he may have hit the rookie wall.  That said, he came on strong down the stretch and had a great tournment at the Worlds.  If he continues on this trajectory, he should show a great season-over-season improvement.  Obviously, there are a ton of other candidates, all of whom have the potential to break out.  Exciting times ahead!

[Sabres73]

I voted Quinn

[GASabresIUFAN]

I’d like to add another name.  What about Greenway?  Donnie wanted him badly. He will likely start the year on our 3rd line.  His career numbers are pedestrian, but Donnie seem to think he has 20 goal potential (he scored 4 goals in 17 games for us; a 19 goal pace).  If he bounces back from last year and puts up 15-20 and 40 points+ wouldn’t he have to be a candidate for making the biggest stride year over year?

[Randall Flagg]

JJP will put up 70 points this year