2018-19 Roster Speculation Pt. 3: Started from the bottom now we're here

[Der Jaeger]

Hypothetical when Seattle enters the league...

Would you give up Guhle to get Seattle to take Okposo in the ED? I am leaning towards yes. It is a hefty price but I look at it twofold. It gets our worst contract off the books and ensures Seattle does not get one of our important players. And at this point Guhle has been passed by Samuelsson and Pilut on the long term depth chart.

Dahlin
Risto
Pilut
McCabe
Samuelsson

And I'm assuming at least one if not two of our 4 firsts will be a dman.

How do you assume Samuelsson has passed Guhle on the depth chart? He’s playing in college.

I’d trade a 1st in that year to make it happen. But the scenario is a long way off. By that time, Guhle might have figured things out.

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

How do you assume Samuelsson has passed Guhle on the depth chart? He’s playing in college.

I’d trade a 1st in that year to make it happen. But the scenario is a long way off. By that time, Guhle might have figured things out.

He was the first pick in the 2nd round. Obviously he isnt closer to playing then Guhle but he probably holds higher trade value.

 

[DJN21]

He was the first pick in the 2nd round. Obviously he isnt closer to playing then Guhle but he probably holds higher trade value.

Samuelsson will be fine. I think he's going to be a great addition to our blueline. Someone has just already written him off because he wants Tierney instead lol...I kid. I kid.

 

[Club]

Fun fact: We have 3 regulation wins in our last 12 games

 

[Dubi Doo]

Here's what I would do with the roster we have today:

Skinner-Eichel-Pommers
ERod-Reinhart-Sobotka
Thompson-Mitts-Okoposo
Girgs-Larsson-Berglund

Here's what I would like to see with a fully healthy roster that would never happen:

Skinner-Eichel-Erod
Nylander-Reinhart-Sheary
Thompson-Mitts-Okoposo
Girgs-Larsson-Berglund/Wilson

McCabe-Risto
Pilut-Dahlin
Scandella-Bogo

I cannot wait until Sobotka and Pominville are off this team. The team will be much better off.

Next year roster assuming no trades:

Skinner-Eichel-Oloffson
Nylander-Reinhart-Sheary
Thompson-Mitts-Asplund
Girgs-Larsson-Okoposo

My gut tells me Erod is gone after this season. Now, of course, not all of these kids will be ready, and that's where you slot in Berglund or Wilson. There is absolutely no room for Sobotka in a competitive lineup. The kids need to start taking over next year.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

Hypothetical when Seattle enters the league...

Would you give up Guhle to get Seattle to take Okposo in the ED? I am leaning towards yes. It is a hefty price but I look at it twofold. It gets our worst contract off the books and ensures Seattle does not get one of our important players. And at this point Guhle has been passed by Samuelsson and Pilut on the long term depth chart.

Dahlin
Risto
Pilut
McCabe
Samuelsson

And I'm assuming at least one if not two of our 4 firsts will be a dman.

If that's your plan for the offseason, get Guhle in the NHL lineup now so you know he's not one of those guys who gets better with pro teammates. If he builds on his NHL performance from last season, you probably won't want to do that by April. Scandella has been loud-bad, and while Beaulieu/Nelson have been fine in sheltered bottom pairing minutes, Guhle is working with the better toolbox, so there's some opportunity to get more from those minutes.

And personally, the team should probably be positionally agnostic for this draft, unless Skinner has re-upped and one of Reinhart/Mittelstadt/Nylander is driving secondary scoring by year's end. They're probably going to have a pick in the spot where the small 18 year old with excellent draft-year production falls. A couple years ago that was Debrincat, in 2018 it was Ty Smith. Either way, that's the circumstance that initial first should be earmarked for.

 

[Der Jaeger]

He was the first pick in the 2nd round. Obviously he isnt closer to playing then Guhle but he probably holds higher trade value.

Two different ideas. Samuelsson does hold higher trade value due to his size, high floor, and safe defensive play. He’s a much better version of Jamie Oleksiak if he fully develops.

That’s different than saying we should trade Guhle because Samuelsson passed him on the depth chart. Which, he hasn’t.

Samuelsson will be fine. I think he's going to be a great addition to our blueline. Someone has just already written him off because he wants Tierney instead lol...I kid. I kid.

Check my posts from last draft. I really liked Samuelsson and was happy with the pick. Still am. The team’s moves made the overall roster softer. Someone like Samuelsson is needed.

But you’ve got to give to get.

 

[Der Jaeger]

If that's your plan for the offseason, get Guhle in the NHL lineup now so you know he's not one of those guys who gets better with pro teammates. If he builds on his NHL performance from last season, you probably won't want to do that by April. Scandella has been loud-bad, and while Beaulieu/Nelson have been fine in sheltered bottom pairing minutes, Guhle is working with the better toolbox, so there's some opportunity to get more from those minutes.

And personally, the team should probably be positionally agnostic for this draft, unless Skinner has re-upped and one of Reinhart/Mittelstadt/Nylander is driving secondary scoring by year's end. They're probably going to have a pick in the spot where the small 18 year old with excellent draft-year production falls. A couple years ago that was Debrincat, in 2018 it was Ty Smith. Either way, that's the circumstance that initial first should be earmarked for.

Soderstrom or Newhook would be great picks if they fell. Suzuki wouldn’t be bad. I like Cam York as well.

 

[Fezzy126]

Here's what I would do with the roster we have today:

Skinner-Eichel-Pommers
ERod-Reinhart-Sobotka
Thompson-Mitts-Okoposo
Girgs-Larsson-Berglund

Here's what I would like to see with a fully healthy roster that would never happen:

Skinner-Eichel-Erod
Nylander-Reinhart-Sheary
Thompson-Mitts-Okoposo
Girgs-Larsson-Berglund/Wilson

McCabe-Risto
Pilut-Dahlin
Scandella-Bogo

I cannot wait until Sobotka and Pominville are off this team. The team will be much better off.

Next year roster assuming no trades:

Skinner-Eichel-Oloffson
Nylander-Reinhart-Sheary
Thompson-Mitts-Asplund
Girgs-Larsson-Okoposo

My gut tells me Erod is gone after this season. Now, of course, not all of these kids will be ready, and that's where you slot in Berglund or Wilson. There is absolutely no room for Sobotka in a competitive lineup. The kids need to start taking over next year.

I don't see Erod working with Jack and Jeff, he's way too much of a perimeter player. That's one of the reasons that Pommer and Reino works so well with them, they naturally drive the lane and go straight to the net front, they also work well behind the net, doing all of this before the puck/play goes to those areas. Erod tends to stay further out and reactively goes to those dirty areas after the fact. My best hope for their future complementary winger has been CJ Smith.

 

[Djp]

He was the first pick in the 2nd round. Obviously he isnt closer to playing then Guhle but he probably holds higher trade value.

Samuelson isn’t getting traded because he is expansion draft exempt in 20 or 21 while Guhke is not.

Why would Seattle take KO just to get a player they could pick on their own unless buffalo protects him.

The talk now is it appears 2921 is when the draft will br which means buffalo will have more players to protect. All pkayers currently on the roster will nit be exempt.

You have to offer a pkayer or pick they can’t take to get them to take a pkayer you want to get rid off.

 

[Dubi Doo]

I don't see Erod working with Jack and Jeff, he's way too much of a perimeter player. That's one of the reasons that Pommer and Reino works so well with them, they naturally drive the lane and go straight to the net front, they also work well behind the net, doing all of this before the puck/play goes to those areas. Erod tends to stay further out and reactively goes to those dirty areas after the fact. My best hope for their future complementary winger has been CJ Smith.

E rod played well with Eichel in the past, so that's why I put him there. I was tempted to put Asplund there as well. A smart, two-way player with good puck skills who loves to get his nose dirty could help that line out a lot.

The thing I like about our young guns coming up is they have goal scoring ability. Nylander, Thompson, Mitts, and Oloffson all have the ability to beat any goaltender clean with their shot. You add that to Eichel and Skinner, and that's a lot of goalscoring ability to spread around the line up. The team should be able to roll 3 legit scoring lines in the future assuming these kids pan out.

 

[debaser66]

Hello future, good bye dead weight

Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart
Nylander-Mitts-Oloffsson
Thompson-Asplund-Erod/Smith/Sheary
Girgs-Larsson-Berglund/Pekar

Borgen-Dahlin
Pilut-Risto
McCabe-Laarksoon/Samuelsson

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Samuelson isn’t getting traded because he is expansion draft exempt in 20 or 21 while Guhke is not.

Why would Seattle take KO just to get a player they could pick on their own unless buffalo protects him.

The talk now is it appears 2921 is when the draft will br which means buffalo will have more players to protect. All pkayers currently on the roster will nit be exempt.

You have to offer a pkayer or pick they can’t take to get them to take a pkayer you want to get rid off.

IDK, I think a LOT can happen before then, so we shouldn't be thinking too hard about it. I'm not sure I'll even be alive then...

 

[Aavvaa]

Soderstrom or Newhook would be great picks if they fell. Suzuki wouldn’t be bad. I like Cam York as well.

If we're talking unexpected fallers here I'd love if St. Louis played their way into like the 12th pick or something and a guy like Podkolzin falls.

Could be Filip Forsberg part two except don't trade him for Erat

 

[nickdawg95]

I want a bunch of Tkachuk lite players with ALL 3 OF OUR FIRST NEXT DRAFT

Mean D-Man to play with dahlin /risto

Mean Wingers to play with mittlestadt on the 2nd line and eichel on the first

Big Fast Mean

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

Two different ideas. Samuelsson does hold higher trade value due to his size, high floor, and safe defensive play. He’s a much better version of Jamie Oleksiak if he fully develops.

That’s different than saying we should trade Guhle because Samuelsson passed him on the depth chart. Which, he hasn’t.

Yes Guhle is definitely closer to a full time spot on the Sabres. Far closer. Samuelsson likely isnt playing for Buffalo until 2020 at the earliest. Guhle should be up full time next year. I just feel Okposos 6 mil per deal must be moved to keep and build a title contender. Guhle is my least valued top asset. I put the 3 1sts, Samuelsson, Nylander, Thompson, Pilut and Mittelstadt ahead of Guhle. I put Guhle in the next tier with Olofsson,Asplund, Davidsson, etc. We are going to lose a quality player this time and if it means we lose a bad contract with it then even better.

 

[DolanPlsGoSabres]

IDK, I think a LOT can happen before then, so we shouldn't be thinking too hard about it. I'm not sure I'll even be alive then...

Well, according to DJP we will have a 'Samuelson' and a 'Guhke' on the team, while an Okposo clone is still messing with our cap. Seattle will take a special teams specialist that excels on the PK, as it seems that we will have a lot. That's quite a bit of knowledge of something so far in the future!

 

[dkollidas]

Skinner-Eichel-AAAA
Thompson-Mittelstadt-Okposo
Sheary-BBBB-Reinhart
Wilson-Larsson-Girgensons
Ex’s) Sobotka, Berglund


I stated above I think we have a pretty decent group of forwards.

I think if we re-sign Skinner, the main needs will be another winger for the Eichel line (or the “2nd line” if you want to keep Reinhart there), and a 3C with hopefully a bit of offensive talent to his game.

For a winger, I’d love to see them go after a free agent like Silfverberg. He’s another guy who’s fast, defensively responsible, and has solid playoff experience. The Swede factor here might also help entice him.

For a 3C I’d look into an underappreciated young guy with upside. Sam Bennett comes to mind (I know he’s mostly played wing he’s a natural centerman). Also Andrew Copp from Winnipeg. Colton Sissons is another possibility. Guys that can hold the fort until Asplund or our 2019 & 2020 draft choices are ready to jump in.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Yes Guhle is definitely closer to a full time spot on the Sabres. Far closer. Samuelsson likely isnt playing for Buffalo until 2020 at the earliest. Guhle should be up full time next year. I just feel Okposos 6 mil per deal must be moved to keep and build a title contender. Guhle is my least valued top asset. I put the 3 1sts, Samuelsson, Nylander, Thompson, Pilut and Mittelstadt ahead of Guhle. I put Guhle in the next tier with Olofsson,Asplund, Davidsson, etc. We are going to lose a quality player this time and if it means we lose a bad contract with it then even better.

Why not just trade an out year first? It’s what Vegas accepted this past expansion draft to take on salary.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Fun fact: We have 3 regulation wins in our last 12 games

"Fun"

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

Why not just trade an out year first? It’s what Vegas accepted this past expansion draft to take on salary.

Trading 1sts for anything other then draft day maneuvering should be reserved for special players. Quite frankly I value a 1st in any draft ahead of Guhle. I just do not see him being worth a 1st. Not to mention if in 3 more seasons we have more then 40+ mil tied up in Eichel, Skinner, Dahlin, Risto and Mitts we will need every single 1st rounder for a plug and play prospect on an ELC.

Okposo is the only contract in the organization that is hurting us. Every other long term deal is up after 2020 or it is for a star player in Jack and Risto. Berglunds deal is under 4 mil and is not too bad for a 2 way 15 goal vet.

And speaking of Risto he has 3 years left after this. In 2021 I extend Risto 8/56. In 2021 7 mil will be more common then today for dmen. If we an get Rasmi signed for under 20 mil I'd be happy having my LHD1 and RHD1 signed long term. 12 for Dahlin, 7 for Risto. Risto will be 28 when his deal is done, and minute eating RHD are scarce.

In 2021 we could see ...

Dahlin-Risto
Samuelsson-Pilut
McCabe/Guhle- 1st rounder

All the D are 29 or younger. If we can avoid having to sign an external big $ FA and have a fully home grown D that will save us a ton of $ and it is very feasible to do. We got the two top end D in place with Rasmus x2 and with Samuelsson, McCabe, Borgen, Laaksonen, Pilut, Guhle and all those 1sts we can find the other 4 D from that group.

At the deadline I'd like to use the 2021 STL 2nd and a B prospect like Pekar to shore up either the middle 6 with another 2 way 15 goal vet scorer or a 2nd pairing dman for a playoff run. This team shouldnt be renting a Duchene, Stone or Panarin type player but a top 9 2 way forward or a #3/4 D rental would be great.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Trading 1sts for anything other then draft day maneuvering should be reserved for special players. Quite frankly I value a 1st in any draft ahead of Guhle. I just do not see him being worth a 1st. Not to mention if in 3 more seasons we have more then 40+ mil tied up in Eichel, Skinner, Dahlin, Risto and Mitts we will need every single 1st rounder for a plug and play prospect on an ELC.

Okposo is the only contract in the organization that is hurting us. Every other long term deal is up after 2020 or it is for a star player in Jack and Risto. Berglunds deal is under 4 mil and is not too bad for a 2 way 15 goal vet.

And speaking of Risto he has 3 years left after this. In 2021 I extend Risto 8/56. In 2021 7 mil will be more common then today for dmen. If we an get Rasmi signed for under 20 mil I'd be happy having my LHD1 and RHD1 signed long term. 12 for Dahlin, 7 for Risto. Risto will be 28 when his deal is done, and minute eating RHD are scarce.

In 2021 we could see ...

Dahlin-Risto
Samuelsson-Pilut
McCabe/Guhle- 1st rounder

All the D are 29 or younger. If we can avoid having to sign an external big $ FA and have a fully home grown D that will save us a ton of $ and it is very feasible to do. We got the two top end D in place with Rasmus x2 and with Samuelsson, McCabe, Borgen, Laaksonen, Pilut, Guhle and all those 1sts we can find the other 4 D from that group.

At the deadline I'd like to use the 2021 STL 2nd and a B prospect like Pekar to shore up either the middle 6 with another 2 way 15 goal vet scorer or a 2nd pairing dman for a playoff run. This team shouldnt be renting a Duchene, Stone or Panarin type player but a top 9 2 way forward or a #3/4 D rental would be great.

Moving Okposo will cost a first. If you don’t value Guhle as as a first rounder, he won’t get that trade done.

 

[OkimLom]

Skinner-Eichel-AAAA
Thompson-Mittelstadt-Okposo
Sheary-BBBB-Reinhart
Wilson-Larsson-Girgensons
Ex’s) Sobotka, Berglund


I stated above I think we have a pretty decent group of forwards.

I think if we re-sign Skinner, the main needs will be another winger for the Eichel line (or the “2nd line” if you want to keep Reinhart there), and a 3C with hopefully a bit of offensive talent to his game.

For a winger, I’d love to see them go after a free agent like Silfverberg. He’s another guy who’s fast, defensively responsible, and has solid playoff experience. The Swede factor here might also help entice him.

For a 3C I’d look into an underappreciated young guy with upside. Sam Bennett comes to mind (I know he’s mostly played wing he’s a natural centerman). Also Andrew Copp from Winnipeg. Colton Sissons is another possibility. Guys that can hold the fort until Asplund or our 2019 & 2020 draft choices are ready to jump in.

Why do you have Reinhart on the 3rd line, especially with Okposo in that spot?

 

[Yatzhee]

We need a 1st line speed with grit and hands winger.
We need a 2nd line true sniper for Casey.
We need a 3rd line that contributes.
We need to upgrade Girgenson on that 4th line, Larry needs more than just a throw in grinder/pk specialist to play with.

Defensively I think we're in a decent place. I'd like a replacement RHD for Bogo and some competition to push Nelson down to the 7th D, both RD situations, but not overly concerned as of yet.
Goaltending has been good to outstanding, I don't expect a change here.

To me, it comes down to the forward ranks, not just scoring more, but puck possession players as well. Puck possession is so key. Game after game over the last 3 to 4 years the Sabres have had terrible numbers in this regard, and although it's improving, they still lose the puck far to often to quickly in the neutral and offensive zones.

 

[darcyRegier]

We need a 1st line speed with grit and hands winger.
We need a 2nd line true sniper for Casey.
We need to upgrade Girgenson on that 4th line

We can’t fully depend on our prospects panning out in the future, but CJ Smith, Olfosson, and Asplund could be those players that we’re missing. Not to mention a recent 8th overall pick in Nylander down in Roch as well