21/22 Roster Speculation Thread Part VIII

[Matt Ress]

I completely forgot about his existence until now, but what is the deal with Colin Miller?

I think mid March if I remember correctly. Should be back just in time for the deadline.

 

[HaNotsri]

Wonder if Adams is noticing that we need help on defence and goaltending. Maybe that high end analytics department can share some data with him.

We upgraded from two to a total of four eyes on our goaltenders this season. Last year when Hutton was mixing the protein shakes he put detergent in and the whole team was down for twenty games, Tokarski has been solid with the l-arginine this season. Stacking small wins.

 

[TehDoak]

Things to remrmber

summer 23 RFAs are Thompson, Cozens, Asplund,Samuelson
summer 24 RFAs are Mitts, dahlin, Joki, Power, Krebs.

buffalo will need future cap space to use.

they don’t need to spend big in UFA and they shouldn’t.
This off season it’s about spending to get to the cap floor.

I expect their top pick to be a RD who would play in 23/24 season.

While I don't think the Sabres should go out and spend to the cap next year (it frankly would be nearly impossible without trading out a few ELC players to get higher salaried bodies, which is doubtful to happen), the goal of the team shouldn't be to get to the cap floor. It should be about utilizing every asset the team has to improve. And part of that IS cap space. What they should be doing is looking at immediate term (next year) and short term (next 2-3 years) pieces without getting locked into bad long term contracts. And if they do sign a long term contract, ensure it is buyout friendly to potentially get out of that deal if they need cap flexibility down the road.

 

[Chainshot]

I think mid March if I remember correctly. Should be back just in time for the deadline.

The report was "at least 6 weeks" on January 20th. Hopefully it's closer to 6 than longer.

 

[Bendium]

Since 10 people told me I am wrong I will make a general response. I get that Powers is a #1 pick and has the size to play in the NHL. I still hold to my argument that ALL draft picks, no matter where you are taken need to go through the full development process. Some may get through it quicker than others, but there are so many things, not just hockey skill related, that young players need to experience and develop. It is more about how the total product looks 3-4 years from now. There is no doubt in my mind that, Mittelstadt's development was hindered by being brought up to fast. I think Cozens, while physically developed enough to handle it, could have used at least one more year at the AHL level, learning to dominate as a center at that level. ZERO doubt that Dahlin would have been better served by having to go up through the development system. You have to remember that these are very young men, who's physical and phsycological development are still adolescent. Skipping the development of tools they will need the rest of their lives and careers, is more likely to hinder them, not accelerate them. Take the development time now, and they will accelerate more later, and likely become a better more complete end product. Thats just my opinion on the matter.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Fjordsen]

Since 10 people told me I am wrong I will make a general response. I get that Powers is a #1 pick and has the size to play in the NHL. I still hold to my argument that ALL draft picks, no matter where you are taken need to go through the full development process. Some may get through it quicker than others, but there are so many things, not just hockey skill related, that young players need to experience and develop. It is more about how the total product looks 3-4 years from now. There is no doubt in my mind that, Mittelstadt's development was hindered by being brought up to fast. I think Cozens, while physically developed enough to handle it, could have used at least one more year at the AHL level, learning to dominate as a center at that level. ZERO doubt that Dahlin would have been better served by having to go up through the development system. You have to remember that these are very young men, who's physical and phsycological development are still adolescent. Skipping the development of tools they will need the rest of their lives and careers, is more likely to hinder them, not accelerate them. Take the development time now, and they will accelerate more later, and likely become a better more complete end product. Thats just my opinion on the matter.

Look at the situation in LA, they have too many prospects and they probably keep them out of the NHL for too long, it doesn't look good for them. If Power is ready for the NHL, then he will play, if not, maybe they will give him some time in the AHL, but I think he is ready, we'll see.

 

[Fjordsen]

Decent goalies + a couple of top 4 RDs can solve this problem, it's up to Kevyn.

 

[Jim Bob]

Decent goalies + a couple of top 4 RDs can solve this problem, it's up to Kevyn.

That tweet is saying the goaltending has been good and it is the play in front of the goalies that has been the issue. And it is bigger than just their top 2 RHD.

 

[Fjordsen]

That tweet is saying the goaltending has been good and it is the play in front of the goalies that has been the issue. And it is bigger than just their top 2 RHD.

Defense coach? Or is it on the Granato? We don't have the most physical defenders that can clear the crease.

 

[Chainshot]

Gus' last full game? January 13th.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Gus' last full game? January 13th.

Definitely a factor. He's always eating (and winning) defensive matchups when he's in the line-up.

 

[joshjull]

Since 10 people told me I am wrong I will make a general response. I get that Powers is a #1 pick and has the size to play in the NHL. I still hold to my argument that ALL draft picks, no matter where you are taken need to go through the full development process. Some may get through it quicker than others, but there are so many things, not just hockey skill related, that young players need to experience and develop. It is more about how the total product looks 3-4 years from now. There is no doubt in my mind that, Mittelstadt's development was hindered by being brought up to fast. I think Cozens, while physically developed enough to handle it, could have used at least one more year at the AHL level, learning to dominate as a center at that level. ZERO doubt that Dahlin would have been better served by having to go up through the development system. You have to remember that these are very young men, who's physical and phsycological development are still adolescent. Skipping the development of tools they will need the rest of their lives and careers, is more likely to hinder them, not accelerate them. Take the development time now, and they will accelerate more later, and likely become a better more complete end product. Thats just my opinion on the matter.

I get what you’re saying but each of those players circumstances were different. Only one was really rushed to the NHL.

Mitts —> I agree he shouldn’t have started in the NHL. His NHLe in his D+1 year at Minny was 27. Not really a guy performing at level that screams NHL ready, especially for a high skilled offensive player. The front office should have known better. It took him finally getting denied the NHL for him to wake up and put in the offseason training in he needed.

Cozens -> He had a NHLe of 41 in his D+1 season and was someone showing they were ready to make the jump. Unfortunately the pandemic had other ideas. He didn’t play any hockey until the world juniors and then came to us. Based on his play this season his development has gone well.

Dahlin -> He had a very good rookie season. We were all hoping for him to take more steps forward in the following seasons. Unfortunately Krueger happened.


Now we get to Power —> He is taking a pretty measured pathed for a #1 overall pick. Another year of college before jumping into the NHL. He’ll also be stepping into a very good situation next year. He wont have to be the man like many #1 overall players are expected to be because Dahlin is here. He’ll also have Dahlin as a resource for advice. Not very often a #1 overall dman as a rookie has another young #1 overall dman on his team to talk to. He will also have a very good development coach in Granato to work with.


I’m not worried about Power in the NHL next season for the reasons stated. Its about as favorable as it gets for a player drafted that high.

 

[joshjull]

Defense coach? Or is it on the Granato? We don't have the most physical defenders that can clear the crease.

Outside the top line, we don’t have enough forwards in the lineup to put together lines that can control possession. Because of that we end up hemmed in our zone more often than we should. It leads to a lot more scoring chances and shots against.

We could use some upgrades on defense don’t get me wrong. But the forwards have been a problem. On top of not being great at possession, they frequently leave the dmen hanging because they blow the zone too early. It puts enormous pressure on the dmen to make perfect, and at times impossible, passes to get out of the zone. That leads to turnovers in our end or the neutral zone.

 

[Matt Ress]

Since 10 people told me I am wrong I will make a general response. I get that Powers is a #1 pick and has the size to play in the NHL. I still hold to my argument that ALL draft picks, no matter where you are taken need to go through the full development process. Some may get through it quicker than others, but there are so many things, not just hockey skill related, that young players need to experience and develop. It is more about how the total product looks 3-4 years from now. There is no doubt in my mind that, Mittelstadt's development was hindered by being brought up to fast. I think Cozens, while physically developed enough to handle it, could have used at least one more year at the AHL level, learning to dominate as a center at that level. ZERO doubt that Dahlin would have been better served by having to go up through the development system. You have to remember that these are very young men, who's physical and phsycological development are still adolescent. Skipping the development of tools they will need the rest of their lives and careers, is more likely to hinder them, not accelerate them. Take the development time now, and they will accelerate more later, and likely become a better more complete end product. Thats just my opinion on the matter.

I agree with you. But some guys are good enough and physically developed enough to step right in. Teams and players are motivated financially to push guys in. We've been pretty patient with Quinn and JJ and the extra year for Power has seemed to treat him well.

So the system is set up against it but developing kids is almost always better when they don't skip steps.

 

[TehDoak]

Outside the top line, we don’t have enough forwards in the lineup to put together lines that can control possession. Because of that we end up hemmed in our zone more often than we should. It leads to a lot more scoring chances and shots against.

We could use some upgrades on defense don’t get me wrong. But the forwards have been a problem. On top of not being great at possession, they frequently leave the dmen hanging because they blow the zone too early. It puts enormous pressure on the dmen to make perfect, and at times impossible, passes to get out of the zone. That leads to turnovers in our end or the neutral zone.

100% this. We have a lot of good young forwards. I don't think we have a good makeup in the top 9 especially.

If you want to keep "Skinner-Thompson-Tuch" together as a line, that's fine given their production. I think on a good team, they are a secondary scoring line. I also think you probably want Girgesons/Okposo as your bottom line group with 4th line center. I also think Bjork has likely played his way out of the top 9, and maybe the NHL entirely at this point.

But, looking at what is left:

C: Cozens, Mittelstadt, Krebs
LW: Olofsson, Asplund
RW: Quinn

Peterka, Biro, Murray are all left shot forwards, but Peterka has played his off wing a bunch historically. Not sure what he is playing in Rochester though.

So if you are building two remaining lines, Asplund is really the only forward who isn't getting sheltered deployments. Cozens, Krebs, Mittelstadt and Olofsson are all getting high % o-zone even strength.

No one is good at faceoffs. Asplund plays a little PK, nobody else in that group really touches it.

I think if we are looking for a specific role moving forward, I think a middle six center who is good at faceoffs and can PK a bit is probably the biggest priority.

If you could run:

Asplund-2 Way C -Cozens (if you want to transition him to a two way center eventually....) as a bit of a matchup line, assuming Cozens is amenable to a more two way role on the wing with him going back to the middle eventually.

Olofsson-Mittelstadt/Krebs-Quinn as your secondary scoring line.

I wouldn't be against moving out Olofsson this summer and having a Mittelstadt-Krebs-Quinn line as well. That, assuming the other major roster issues are at least addressed at some level, could be a team that could win more games than it loses next year.

 

[Fjordsen]

Outside the top line, we don’t have enough forwards in the lineup to put together lines that can control possession. Because of that we end up hemmed in our zone more often than we should. It leads to a lot more scoring chances and shots against.

We could use some upgrades on defense don’t get me wrong. But the forwards have been a problem. On top of not being great at possession, they frequently leave the dmen hanging because they blow the zone too early. It puts enormous pressure on the dmen to make perfect, and at times impossible, passes to get out of the zone. That leads to turnovers in our end or the neutral zone.

100% this. We have a lot of good young forwards. I don't think we have a good makeup in the top 9 especially.

If you want to keep "Skinner-Thompson-Tuch" together as a line, that's fine given their production. I think on a good team, they are a secondary scoring line. I also think you probably want Girgesons/Okposo as your bottom line group with 4th line center. I also think Bjork has likely played his way out of the top 9, and maybe the NHL entirely at this point.

But, looking at what is left:

C: Cozens, Mittelstadt, Krebs
LW: Olofsson, Asplund
RW: Quinn

Peterka, Biro, Murray are all left shot forwards, but Peterka has played his off wing a bunch historically. Not sure what he is playing in Rochester though.

So if you are building two remaining lines, Asplund is really the only forward who isn't getting sheltered deployments. Cozens, Krebs, Mittelstadt and Olofsson are all getting high % o-zone even strength.

No one is good at faceoffs. Asplund plays a little PK, nobody else in that group really touches it.

I think if we are looking for a specific role moving forward, I think a middle six center who is good at faceoffs and can PK a bit is probably the biggest priority.

If you could run:

Asplund-2 Way C -Cozens (if you want to transition him to a two way center eventually....) as a bit of a matchup line, assuming Cozens is amenable to a more two way role on the wing with him going back to the middle eventually.

Olofsson-Mittelstadt/Krebs-Quinn as your secondary scoring line.

I wouldn't be against moving out Olofsson this summer and having a Mittelstadt-Krebs-Quinn line as well. That, assuming the other major roster issues are at least addressed at some level, could be a team that could win more games than it loses next year.

So we need the better forwards, in addition to RD and goalie.Olofsson might be redundant if we could replace him with a player who is good at 5v5 and maybe even physical. Copp? Nichushkin? It is unlikely that Adams will go to the UFA for a big fish like Gaudreau or Forsberg.

 

[Zman5778]

So we need the better forwards, in addition to RD and goalie.Olofsson might be redundant if we could replace him with a player who is good at 5v5 and maybe even physical. Copp? Nichushkin?. It is unlikely that Adams will go to the UFA for a big fish like Gaudreau or Forsberg.

Bringing in Copp and re-bringing in Larsson would absolutely solidify the bottom 6.

Asplund-Copp-someone
Girgensons-Larsson-Okposo
X: Jankowski

That's a fantastic bottom 6. Of course then we're overstacked for the top 6 with: Skinner, Tuch, Tage, Mitts, Olofsson, Cozens, Krebs, Quinn, Peterka (who could ostensibly play RW on that "3rd" line)

Maybe use one of them with one of our late firsts to go get a RHD? Or pray that Bryson and/or Samuelsson can transition to the right side???

 

[Zman5778]

Defense coach? Or is it on the Granato? We don't have the most physical defenders that can clear the crease.

I think it's more due to the fact that we're running so many younger forwards who are thinking more offense than defense. Currently....the only defensively "responsible" guys on the roster would be Asplund, Jankowski, Okposo and Eakin.

Guys like Cozens, Mitts, Tage, Olofsson, Krebs and Tuch aren't terrible defensively......but that's not where they put in the most effort. All of the aforementioned are MUCH, MUCH better on the backcheck than they are once the puck is established in the D-Zone. The loss of Girgensons and Hinostroza hurt here the most.....those 2 are solid in their own zones once the puck is established.

 

[Fjordsen]

Bringing in Copp and re-bringing in Larsson would absolutely solidify the bottom 6.

Asplund-Copp-someone
Girgensons-Larsson-Okposo
X: Jankowski

That's a fantastic bottom 6. Of course then we're overstacked for the top 6 with: Skinner, Tuch, Tage, Mitts, Olofsson, Cozens, Krebs, Quinn, Peterka (who could ostensibly play RW on that "3rd" line)

Maybe use one of them with one of our late firsts to go get a RHD? Or pray that Bryson and/or Samuelsson can transition to the right side???

Copp is a versatile player, he seems to be playing LW now, meaning he could be our 2LW, 2C (if Granato thinks Cozens/Mitts needs a more protected role at this stage), he could be 3C like you said. Basically I realized that we need the best players to play 5v5, Copp is probably great for that.

 

[Zman5778]

Copp is a versatile player, he seems to be playing LW now, meaning he could be our 2LW, 2C (if Granato thinks Cozens/Mitts needs a more protected role at this stage), he could be 3C like you said. Basically I realized that we need the best players to play 5v5, Copp is probably great for that.

Maybe he's been playing LW after taking faceoffs? Winnipeg basically uses 4 guys to take FOs, and Copp is CLEARLY one of them.

 

[Fjordsen]

Maybe he's been playing LW after taking faceoffs? Winnipeg basically uses 4 guys to take FOs, and Copp is CLEARLY one of them.

Maybe it's just that I've always seen him on LW on Capfriendly when Jets fans were creating their threads. Well, Winnipeg has Scheifele, PLD, Stastny and Lowry, maybe that's why he played LW, but we know that he has a lot of experience playing in the center, since he used to play there all the time.

 

[Zman5778]

Maybe it's just that I've always seen him on LW on Capfriendly when Jets fans were creating their threads. Well, Winnipeg has Scheifele, PLD, Stastny and Lowry, maybe that's why he played LW, but we know that he has a lot of experience playing in the center, since he used to play there all the time.

Stastny's the one that's been playing wing this year, largely.

 

[Fjordsen]

Stastny's the one that's been playing wing this year, largely.

But and Copp also has an LW/C , weird, maybe Lowry played 3C for them?

 

[TehDoak]

But and Copp also has an LW/C , weird, maybe Lowry played 3C for them?

Looks like they are splitting their faceoffs between Schefiele, Copp, Dubois, and Lowry, with Lowry taking the most of them. Dubois is terrible at faceoffs though.

Copp is definitely a center though, and he would be on this team.