Around the NHL: 2024-2025 Season

[Brawndo]

I would check in on this and as NTrider pointed out on X, if Colorado retains on him even better 

[DarthEbriate]

In an odd twist, the only Eastern Conference outside of the playoffs that didn't get at least a loser point last night was the Islanders (of the teams that played). The Isles are losing their edge.

[Brawndo]

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Well that's disappointing 😞 

 

This is them under Lindy for most of last season.

[...]

Oh, look, maybe we can get him back! Surely there is a cohort here who would not protest.

 

[triumph_communes]

That was a good trade for us. Couldn’t imagine us without Byram in the back right now 

 

unfortunately we have six or seven other years of failed first round draft picks we need to address as well

Edited Friday at 04:16 PM by triumph_communes

[mjd1001]

16 minutes ago, ... said:

Oh, look, maybe we can get him back! Surely there is a cohort here who would not protest.

 

OK, not that it is likely to happen. But lets suppose its possible:

Why are they unhappy with him? what is it about his play that caused them to demote of the 2nd line, and that they are willing to trade him (meaning they must not think his play is immediatly 'fixable').

I haven't really followed him a lot recently, and haven't watched a lot of Colorado games. So to those that have, what is wrong with his play or just why do the want to move him?

[Jorcus]

Casey was on the 4th line of Colorado last night vs Jeff skinner on the 4th line of the Oilers. Not that we can throw shade at anybody but I can't imagine either of those guys changing our circumstance this year. 

[mjd1001]

At least at recently, thing don't look all that good for Players drafted in the 7, 8, or 9 overall position by the Sabres in recent memory:

-Ristolainen #8:  turned out to be a pretty bad defender.

-Alex Nylander #8:  Bust

-Mitts #8:  demoted for now, maybe less than what Colorodo expected, 2 goals in his last 36 games.

-Cozens #7:  Overrated based on goal totals for one season. A pretty bad 2 way player.

-Quinn #8:  I guess maybe coming around this year, but an awful year so far up until the last week.

-Savoie #9:  Jury's still out, but hasn't take any steps up in camp or in his limited NHL chances so far.

 

If you could choose only one of the following to have on the Sabres right now and not the other:

Mitts or Cozens?

Edited Friday at 04:28 PM by mjd1001

[Jorcus]

1 minute ago, mjd1001 said:

OK, not that it is likely to happen. But lets suppose its possible:

Why are they unhappy with him? what is it about his play that caused them to demote of the 2nd line, and that they are willing to trade him (meaning they must not think his play is immediatly 'fixable').

I haven't really followed him a lot recently, and haven't watched a lot of Colorado games. So to those that have, what is wrong with his play or just why do the want to move him?

 

If you read the last 2 pages of this thread on the Colorado boards I think you get some ideas of what is going wrong. The Colorado group can be overly harsh on players and if you want a good laugh see who they were comparing Casey to in the beginning of the season in terms of how great he is. To me he is just the same guy who left here. When he is playing well he good at puck possession and distribution. He can win faceoffs but beyond those traits he does not stand out. He has a lot of trouble scoring around the net. He had a chance for a tap in last night but got there a tad too late and muscled out of the paint. He never had much of a shot from beyond the dots.

I don't think Colorado is going to trade him. They are in a weird situation with Rantanen who really wants to be the highest paid NHL player. That would mean paying him more than MacKinnon. He reportedly has rejected a big offer. Until that issue gets resolved I can't see a lot of movement. 

https://forums.hfboards.com/threads/mittelstadt-re-signed-3-years-5-75m-aav.2969559/ 

[Jorcus]

21 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

At least at recently, thing don't look all that good for Players drafted in the 7, 8, or 9 overall position by the Sabres in recent memory:

-Ristolainen #8:  turned out to be a pretty bad defender.

-Alex Nylander #8:  Bust

-Mitts #8:  demoted for now, maybe less than what Colorodo expected, 2 goals in his last 36 games.

-Cozens #7:  Overrated based on goal totals for one season. A pretty bad 2 way player.

-Quinn #8:  I guess maybe coming around this year, but an awful year so far up until the last week.

-Savoie #9:  Jury's still out, but hasn't take any steps up in camp or in his limited NHL chances so far.

 

If you could choose only one of the following to have on the Sabres right now and not the other:

Mitts or Cozens?

 

I am still taking Cozens because of his age, He would have 2 more years to get to where Mitts is right now. Which is no better than what Cozens is right now. 

[Doohicksie]

1 hour ago, ... said:

Oh, look, maybe we can get him back! Surely there is a cohort here who would not protest.

 

I don't know that I would advocate for getting Casey back at this point, but neither would I protest, as long as we don't give up too much.

[Doohicksie]

1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:

If you could choose only one of the following to have on the Sabres right now and not the other:

Mitts or Cozens?

Would you rather have crap flavored ice cream or puke flavored ice cream?

[Thorner]

16 hours ago, Brawndo said:

 

This seems like the type of add we’d make to a T, tbh. Puck moving D lacking defensive ability are the pillars we are building this thing on, why not add one more 

[Thorner]

1 hour ago, Jorcus said:

Casey was on the 4th line of Colorado last night vs Jeff skinner on the 4th line of the Oilers. Not that we can throw shade at anybody but I can't imagine either of those guys changing our circumstance this year. 

So players can go on to great things elsewhere and win cups, but no one can be a better fit in Buffalo, actually? Would defy logic to suggest it can’t go both ways. Casey being mediocre in Colorado this year doesn’t change how good he was for us last year, nor does it diminish the possibility he would have been exactly that, here, again.

id be much more inclined to think what we saw with our own eyes on our team last year was more representative of what we’d have gotten from him, here, than the results displayed in an entirely new environment 

That may not be true, last season could have been somewhat of an anomaly, but I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to finding out if a reasonable trade presented itself 

Edited Friday at 05:57 PM by Thorner

[Thorner]

1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:

At least at recently, thing don't look all that good for Players drafted in the 7, 8, or 9 overall position by the Sabres in recent memory:

-Ristolainen #8:  turned out to be a pretty bad defender.

-Alex Nylander #8:  Bust

-Mitts #8:  demoted for now, maybe less than what Colorodo expected, 2 goals in his last 36 games.

-Cozens #7:  Overrated based on goal totals for one season. A pretty bad 2 way player.

-Quinn #8:  I guess maybe coming around this year, but an awful year so far up until the last week.

-Savoie #9:  Jury's still out, but hasn't take any steps up in camp or in his limited NHL chances so far.

 

If you could choose only one of the following to have on the Sabres right now and not the other:

Mitts or Cozens?

It would be *so* refreshing if we dealt the pick this year and saved ourselves some time, for once.

[LGR4GM]

12 minutes ago, Thorner said:

It would be *so* refreshing if we dealt the pick this year and saved ourselves some time, for once.

Not when it's top 5

 

[Thorner]

Just now, LGR4GM said:

Not when it's top 5

 

IIRC we’ve had the convo but I’m not keeping pick 5 just because it’s pick 5 on some sort of principle. It’s as on the table as any other futures asset if a reasonable price is met 

[Thorner]

Also, my priority is to de-emphasize youth, which is our biggest handcuff, along with lack of spending. 

If I get my “ask” for 5 overall and,

I get my “ask” for Jack Quinn

..between the two I like the first trade better because we are dealing the younger asset 

[Flashsabre]

15 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

I'd at very least be tempted for sure. That being said his stats this year in the NHL weren't good by any metric

Nemec is young still and has a lot of developing to do but I remember being very underwhelmed watching him at the Prospects Tournament the year prior not that it really means anything in the big picture.

Edited Friday at 06:23 PM by Flashsabre

[Jorcus]

24 minutes ago, Thorner said:

So players can go on to great things elsewhere and win cups, but no one can be a better fit in Buffalo, actually? Would defy logic to suggest it can’t go both ways. Casey being mediocre in Colorado this year doesn’t change how good he was for us last year, nor does it diminish the possibility he would have been exactly that, here, again.

id be much more inclined to think what we saw with our own eyes on our team last year was more representative of what we’d have gotten from him, here, than the results displayed in an entirely new environment 

That may not be true, last season could have been somewhat of an anomaly, but I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to finding out if a reasonable trade presented itself 

A couple of points. He was good here when Granato was here. I just don't think he would be better under Lindys system or demeanor. 

10 of his points this year were playing on a power play with MacKinnon and Makar, and sometimes Rantanen. After awhile his production on that power play fell off to the point he was removed from it. If he could not thrive playing next to 2 or possibly 3 hall of fame NHL players how is he going to move the needle here. 

Then there is the remainder of the 5.75 M per year contract. At there very least there has to be a different option than the return of Casey. 

[Weave]

28 minutes ago, Thorner said:

Also, my priority is to de-emphasize youth, which is our biggest handcuff, along with lack of spending. 

If I get my “ask” for 5 overall and,

I get my “ask” for Jack Quinn

..between the two I like the first trade better because we are dealing the younger asset 

Agree in principle, if not in totality.

The only disagreement I have is a minor one.  We have quite a few assets in the Cozens - Quinn age group, so I prefer moving one or two of those.  

I think at least two of Cozens, Quinn, Power, Byram, Kulich, Peterka, Krebs need to go and be replaced by playoff seasoned equivalents.   Understanding that pulling that off may mean sweeteners.

[LGR4GM]

40 minutes ago, Thorner said:

Also, my priority is to de-emphasize youth, which is our biggest handcuff, along with lack of spending. 

If I get my “ask” for 5 overall and,

I get my “ask” for Jack Quinn

..between the two I like the first trade better because we are dealing the younger asset 

If Edmonton calls and offers McDavid for 5, sure yea why not. Would really depend on the ask, but in reality, Adams won't do *****. 

[Thorner]

22 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

A couple of points. He was good here when Granato was here. I just don't think he would be better under Lindys system or demeanor. 

10 of his points this year were playing on a power play with MacKinnon and Makar, and sometimes Rantanen. After awhile his production on that power play fell off to the point he was removed from it. If he could not thrive playing next to 2 or possibly 3 hall of fame NHL players how is he going to move the needle here. 

Then there is the remainder of the 5.75 M per year contract. At there very least there has to be a different option than the return of Casey. 

That’s a good point on coaching, certainty a factor to think about when debating whether Casey would have continued on here as he was. Most of our other players seem to be playing more less as we’ve seen them - we just haven’t gotten the jumps from the younger players everyone including the GM was pencilling in 

so, re: point 2 - I don’t need to debate a hypothetical when I’ve already seen that Casey did in fact “move the needle” here so far as raising the overall aptitude of our F group, in so far as leading most statistical categories when we dealt him  

[Thorner]

23 minutes ago, Weave said:

Agree in principle, if not in totality.

The only disagreement I have is a minor one.  We have quite a few assets in the Cozens - Quinn age group, so I prefer moving one or two of those.  

I think at least two of Cozens, Quinn, Power, Byram, Kulich, Peterka, Krebs need to go and be replaced by playoff seasoned equivalents.   Understanding that pulling that off may mean sweeteners.

Makes sense 

I’m still sort of more in the mold of wanting to “bump everyone down a line.” I can’t muster up the energy to single out any one of the underperforming guys I just think the environment is such a schmozzle im hesitant to cast a definitive judgment on even someone like cozens.

So, I’m thinking add the best we can while leaning towards age whenever possible, lessen the responsibility of who we can by bumping who we can down the lineup and the first to pay are the 4th line guys and such. Of your list, it’s guys like Krebs and Kulich all else being equal id deal before cozens/quinn etc 

first guys off should be the Malenstyn and aube kubel’s of the world 

Edited Friday at 07:12 PM by Thorner

[Weave]

3 minutes ago, Thorner said:

Makes sense 

I’m still sort of more in the mold of wanting to “bump everyone down a line.” I can’t muster up the energy to single out any one of the underperforming guys I just think the environment is such a schmozzle im hesitant to cast a definitive judgment on even someone like cozens.

So, I’m thinking add the best we can while leaning towards age whenever possible, lessen the responsibility of who we can by bumping who we can down the lineup and the first to pay are the 4th line guys and such. Of your list, it’s guys like Krebs and Kulich all else being equal id deal before cozens/quinn etc 

first guys off should be the Malenstyn and aube kubel’s of the world 

Except Malenstyn and Aube Kubel get us nothing.  
 

I have a hard time pointing at the 4th line for blame when the 1st 3 are so underperforming generally.