Sabres Training Camp Thread

[#freejame]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

I respect this view too, but you can't really compare what the Sabres are trying to do with the majority of playoff teams

This is not a contender looking to add a missing piece, or an established team trying to hold on to a playoff spot, or climb back into one. This is a downtrodden franchise attempting to rebuild from within with youth.

Who has had success with that method and what did they look like?

When Toronto took its step from doormat to perennial contender, these were the ages of its 6 highest-scoring forwards

• Matthews 18
• Van Reimsdyk 27
• Kadri 25
• Nylander 20
• Marner 19
• Bozak 30

When Carolina switched from 9 consecutive playoff misses to 6 consecutive playoff appearances, these were theirs

• Aho 21
• Teravainen 23
• Williams 36
• Ferland 26
• Svechnikov 18
• Neiderreiter 25

Colorado

• MacKinnon 22
• Rantanen 20
• Landeskog 24
• Kerfoot 23
• Soderberg 31
• Comeau 31

New Jersey's leap 2 years ago

• Hughes 21
• Hischier 23
• Bratt 24
• Mercer 20
• Tatar 31
• Haula 31

This is how the Sabres compare

• Tuch 28
• Thompson 26
• Peterka 22
• Cozens 23
• Quinn 22
• Benson 19

If you want to follow in the footsteps of those teams, age should not be an excuse anymore. If our guys are going to be good enough, they're old enough to show it.

I appreciate the analysis, but one thing that’s missing is it wouldn’t be a surprise if any of the bolded players made the hall of fame. I wouldn’t say that about any of our guys yet. 

[LGR4GM]

36 minutes ago, #freejame said:

I appreciate the analysis, but one thing that’s missing is it wouldn’t be a surprise if any of the bolded players made the hall of fame. I wouldn’t say that about any of our guys yet. 

It's not missing at all. Look at all the bolded players. You thought all them would be HoF candidates when they were those ages? I doubt that. 

So you're biasing your own analysis because you have years of more data to make your claim. 

[Taro T]

2 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

If this becomes how the team plays all year, we are all going to be very happy Sabres fans.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5782938/2024/09/21/sabres-training-camp-byram-reimer-2024/  
 

What do you think the plan is if Reimer gets claimed or even traded.  Sandstrom is probably fine as an AHL goalie and rare NHL callup.  Houser is the 5th goalie right now, but 4th if Reimer is moved or leaves.  Is this good enough insurance without Reimer?

Can't see Reimer getting traded, though technically anything is possible.

Not sure what the plan will be for Reimer possibly getting claimed.  Does anybody know WHEN the Sabres officially have to send players 24-27 down to the AHL / juniors?  If they don't have to waive them until after the team comes back from Europe they should already have a good idea of what teams could possibly make a claim on him.  If they have to waive them early because they play before everybody else (other than Joisey) plays, then they'd have an opportunity to reclaim him should he get waived a couple days later or they'd have the option to grab somebody else that gets waived at the waiver wire for everybody else.

And if they have to cut down to 23 players on Monday October 7 like everybody else, guess they wait for somebody to get waived a little later in the season and see if they feel he's better than Sandstrom.  Guessing they have their full cutdown on the same day the rest of the league cuts down.

And if some team has a major injury or they are afraid Boston could claim him due to fun with Swayman, guess either Levi starts the year in Ra-cha-cha or the 3 headed goalie monster lives another day.  (It's almost like the hydra, just one head doesn't grow back into 2 new heads; it only grows back into 1 new head.)

Edited September 21 by Taro T

[GASabresIUFAN]

39 minutes ago, Taro T said:

And if some team has a major injury or they are afraid Boston could claim him due to fun with Swayman, guess either Levi starts the year in Ra-cha-cha or the 3 headed goalie monster lives another day.

Teams must set their opening rosters by 5 pm on Oct 7th.  The Sabres play NJ in Czechia on Oct 4th & 5th.  I can't find any reference if the Sabres and Devils must cut down prior to their Euro games.  

They really can't do the 3 headed goalie monster unless they want to cut Gilbert or Krebs.  

The Levi to Rochester is the easiest solution, as I suspect that certain promises were made to Reimer.  He hasn't played in the AHL since 2010.  I doubt he wants to go back to the AHL even temporarily.  If he isn't going to make the team, I suspect the Sabres will accommodate him and trade him to a team that needs a goaltender. 

 

[Derrico]

Great Reimer article.  My wings buddy says he was the most reliable of their three. Goes a bit to my point on better depth.  Comrie was a tire fire last year.  Horrendous numbers by any metric.  Levi wasn’t ready.  Not saying he’s ready this year but does have a full AHL season under his belt and by all accounts was pretty good.  Obviously has a lot of potential.  UPL finally took that step and should be good.  Just need one of those other two to play well under hopefully a tighter Lindy Ruff D with those D specialists we added, I see an argument that goaltending may end up being a strength of this team.  It’s been a long time since we’ve had that.  

[dudacek]

1 hour ago, #freejame said:

I appreciate the analysis, but one thing that’s missing is it wouldn’t be a surprise if any of the bolded players made the hall of fame. I wouldn’t say that about any of our guys yet. 

Agreed.

I think it shows that the Sabres forwards are theoretically old enough to make a jump this season.

Good enough is an entirely different question.

[mjd1001]

8 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Agreed.

I think it shows that the Sabres forwards are theoretically old enough to make a jump this season.

Good enough is an entirely different question.

Tage I truly believe was hampered by his injury last year. He didn't have just 'one' career year shooting at 15%, he did it both years since he was made a center, only last year with his injury was he lower.  And guess what? As the year went on and he got further away from that injury (healed later in the year) he finished up the last 2 months shooting at almost 17%.  2 years at over 15%, an injury bringing it down (that is what I'm going with) and toward the end of the injured year back above 16%.  I'm betting without a major injury, Tage is at least at 15%, with close to 300 shots give you a 40-50 goal scorer.

Cozens, This year we will see, I guess, if he is a 16-22 goal guy, or a 30-35 goal guy like he played as 2 years ago.

Quinn, if he plays a full season, can he be a 30 goal guy?

Peterka we already think of as 'almost' a 30 goal guy' (he ad 28 in his 2nd year). ANY improvement gets him over 30.

Tuch, he was almost a 40 goal guy 2 years ago (36 goals with a handful of missed games).  I personally thin of all the players above, THAT was his career year and will be hard to repeat, but with him and Tage healthy, maybe?

Every one of those players has a realistic potential to be 30-40 goal guys, Tage closer to 50. Will they all do it?  Well, if they don't this team is struggling to make the playoffs.  If more of them do than don't, this IS a playoff team.  

[Brawndo]

Per NHL.com the Sabres Game versus Red Bull will be on MSG and NHL Network. 

[#freejame]

4 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

It's not missing at all. Look at all the bolded players. You thought all them would be HoF candidates when they were those ages? I doubt that. 

So you're biasing your own analysis because you have years of more data to make your claim. 

I posit that if any of the listed Sabres were future hall of famers, we would have made the playoffs either of the last two years. The fact those teams made a jump is due to the exceptionally high quality of their offensive talent. 

We may have very, very high-end forwards on our team, but so do those other teams. The difference is they are in support of future hall of famers. 

[PerreaultForever]

6 hours ago, Thorner said:

No you can’t start all over again. That’s what got us into this mess 

I'm not going to disagree with that but hypothetically if these players suck under Lindy what do you do???

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, #freejame said:

I posit that if any of the listed Sabres were future hall of famers, we would have made the playoffs either of the last two years. The fact those teams made a jump is due to the exceptionally high quality of their offensive talent. 

We may have very, very high-end forwards on our team, but so do those other teams. The difference is they are in support of future hall of famers. 

Oh idk, I have a sneaky suspicious feeling that there might be a 19yr old our team with a hof chance.

[Flashsabre]

JJ Tage Tuch

Benson Cozens Quinn

Zucker McLeod Greenway

Malestyn Lafferty NAK

Krebs

Dahlin Joker

Byram Power

Muel Clifton

Bryson Gilbert

 

UPL Reimer

with Levi going back and forth and playing both NHL and AHL games

is my best bet to start the season until injuries hit.

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

JJ Tage Tuch

Benson Cozens Quinn

Zucker McLeod Greenway

Malestyn Lafferty NAK

Krebs

Dahlin Joker

Byram Power

Muel Clifton

Bryson Gilbert

 

UPL Reimer

with Levi going back and forth and playing both NHL and AHL games

is my best bet to start the season until injuries hit.

Yes, but it'll be Levi not Reimer to start the season unless Levi sucks bad in Lindy's mind. 

I don't like those D pairings though. It's those 6 guys but Byram Power worries me and I don't see Joker getting Dahlin minutes. A lot depends on where Muel's at as I've said before. He looked rusty tonight. 

We have more guys who play like men this year though and I think that will be infectious. 

[SABRES 0311]

4 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Yes, but it'll be Levi not Reimer to start the season unless Levi sucks bad in Lindy's mind. 

I don't like those D pairings though. It's those 6 guys but Byram Power worries me and I don't see Joker getting Dahlin minutes. A lot depends on where Muel's at as I've said before. He looked rusty tonight. 

We have more guys who play like men this year though and I think that will be infectious. 

I too do not like Byram and Power together. Muel better step up and stay healthy. 

[Archie Lee]

1 hour ago, SABRES 0311 said:

I too do not like Byram and Power together. Muel better step up and stay healthy. 

I like:

Dahlin/Power

Byram/Clifton

Samuelsson/Jokiharju

The 2nd and 3rd pairing could be flipped and Byram and Clifton could be considered pair 3. I just think it is the best balance of skill, d-zone play, experience and physicality. 

Edited September 22 by Archie Lee

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

I like:

Dahlin/Power

Byram/Clifton

Samuelsson/Jokiharju

The 2nd and 3rd pairing could be flipped and Byram and Clifton could be considered pair 3. I just think it is the best balance of skill, d-zone play, experience and physicality. 

I simply can't see Clifton in a second pairing role. (Aware you conditioned your projection.) I see him slotted as either a third or fourth pairing player. 

[Flashsabre]

8 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Yes, but it'll be Levi not Reimer to start the season unless Levi sucks bad in Lindy's mind. 

I don't like those D pairings though. It's those 6 guys but Byram Power worries me and I don't see Joker getting Dahlin minutes. A lot depends on where Muel's at as I've said before. He looked rusty tonight. 

We have more guys who play like men this year though and I think that will be infectious. 

I’m not thrilled with it either.

I think Byram- Dahlin

or Power- Dahlin will be the ultimate pairing when Dahlin is back.

 

Power Dahlin

Byram Joker

Muel Clifton

Lindy has always liked his shutdown pair and Muel Clifton will probably be that.

Joker needs to step up or they need to find a strong defensive minded RD for the second pairing.

[JoeSchmoe]

Any updates on Dahlin? Is the few day thing legit?

[Broken Ankles]

4 hours ago, SABRES 0311 said:

I too do not like Byram and Power together. Muel better step up and stay healthy. 

I do not like Owen and Bo.

I would not like to see them grow.

I WOULD NOT LIKE THEM HERE OR THERE.

I WOULD NOT LIKE THEM ANYWHERE.

Would you like them away from our house?

Would  you play them against Lawson Crouse?

Will they skate themselves into the Box?

Can they shut down Adam Fox?

Would you could you against the Stars?

Play them, play them, there they are.

Would you, could you wearing the Goat?

I will not,  please don’t is my quote. 
 

I would not could not under Lindy’s reign

Do you have a beef with Owen’s Mane? 
 

I do not like Owen and Bo.

split them, split them, that’s fo-show.

 

 

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, JoeSchmoe said:

Any updates on Dahlin? Is the few day thing legit?

Waiting for Dahlin.

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

I’m not thrilled with it either.

I think Byram- Dahlin

or Power- Dahlin will be the ultimate pairing when Dahlin is back.

 

Power Dahlin

Byram Joker

Muel Clifton

Lindy has always liked his shutdown pair and Muel Clifton will probably be that.

Joker needs to step up or they need to find a strong defensive minded RD for the second pairing.

Power-Dahlin is an interesting pairing. Not sure it would work, but it's interesting to try and see. 

We don't have a shutdown pair. Cliffy is not a shutdown D man. I think for us to have success Muel has to be a top 4 guy. Ultimately, we have a lot of offensive skill on D but not enough defensive D. It still will rely too much on quick exit and I think it might break down under a heavy forecheck. 

I guess the Byram trade still bugs me, because we already had that guy and didn't need another one. We needed a defensive guy. Preferably a big defensive guy.

[Weave]

2 hours ago, Broken Ankles said:

I do not like Owen and Bo.

I would not like to see them grow.

I WOULD NOT LIKE THEM HERE OR THERE.

I WOULD NOT LIKE THEM ANYWHERE.

Would you like them away from our house?

Would  you play them against Lawson Crouse?

Will they skate themselves into the Box?

Can they shut down Adam Fox?

Would you could you against the Stars?

Play them, play them, there they are.

Would you, could you wearing the Goat?

I will not,  please don’t is my quote. 
 

I would not could not under Lindy’s reign

Do you have a beef with Owen’s Mane? 
 

I do not like Owen and Bo.

split them, split them, that’s fo-show.

 

 

[SABRES 0311]

Looking forward to seeing Greenway, McLeod, and Zucker. At this point the biggest unknown is which of Zucker or Benson goes to 2LW and the other goes to the third line. 

Benson looked good last night and his highlights were stick checking, positioning, and tenacity. All quality traits of a defensive forward but help create O-zone time. 

I know pretty much nothing of Zucker and would like to see a game with him at 2LW to compare. Same with Benson on the third line. Maybe one where the two each play half the game at each position.

Edited September 22 by SABRES 0311

[Taro T]

49 minutes ago, SABRES 0311 said:

Looking forward to seeing Greenway, McLeod, and Zucker. At this point the biggest unknown is which of Zucker or Benson goes to 2LW and the other goes to the third line. 

Benson looked good last night and his highlights were stick checking, positioning, and tenacity. All quality traits of a defensive forward but help create O-zone time. 

I know pretty much nothing of Zucker and would like to see a game with him at 2LW to compare. Same with Benson on the third line. Maybe one where the two each play half the game at each position.

With so little time to get ready for the season, and with Benson looking so good in the game last night and apparently in the scrimmages too, would be surprised if Ruff did swap them anytime soon.

[JustOneParade]

If Benson goes to the 3rd line with McLeod and Greenway how much scoring can we expect from that line?