Prospect Info: General Discussion of Prospects

[MarkusKetterer]

 

[Zman5778]

After watching Rochester last night, I seriously have no idea what KA is going to do with all these guys. You've got Quinn and Peterka already disrupting the NHL lineup, and the Sabres are going to have to find room for a hand full of these players as soon as next season.

They are going to have to trade some of these F's into D's. Chychrun makes so much sense not only from a roster standpoint (sorry, fitzy, bryson, joker), but from a tactical standpoint of keeping him off of Ott or Tor's roster.

I think the answer is, as always -- it depends.

Do we really need to trade Fs for Ds? We've got Dahlin, Power and Sammy. Joker is still young. Johnson may yet still sign and anchor the 3rd pair (or hell, might pair with Power on the 2nd pair and give us 2 pairs full of lefties who can play the right better or equally well). Also, I don't think Chychrun is a fit for what we want. He's kinda more of the same where what he provides offensively is better than what he provides defensively.

We MIGHT need to trade Fs for Power long-term pair....maybe. All depends on how Joker and Johnson go.


My thinking is that we're eventually going to package some of the young Fs for an elite-level F to go around the kids that will stick around. I don't think it'll be worth it value-wise to turn the Fs into Ds as I think we're going to be looking for 3rd-pairing types.

We shall see though.

 

[Ace]

I think the answer is, as always -- it depends.

Do we really need to trade Fs for Ds?

I’ll stop you right there.

Yes.

 

[Zman5778]

I’ll stop you right there.

Yes.

We all know your opinion of Jokiharju.

But I think it's still way too early to say that definitively. Especially if/when Johnson signs. He is certainly capable of being Power's steady partner.

 

[Fjordsen]

We all know your opinion of Jokiharju.

But I think it's still way too early to say that definitively. Especially if/when Johnson signs. He is certainly capable of being Power's steady partner.

The problem is we just don't have enough place for all our attacking prospects. So the option to trade F for D might make sense.

 

[Zman5778]

The problem is we just don't have enough place for all our attacking prospects. So the option to trade F for D might make sense.

Or trading some Fs for a more elite-level F. That might be a better use of our pool.

 

[Fjordsen]

Or trading some Fs for a more elite-level F. That might be a better use of our pool.

Yes, this option is also possible. But the depth of our attacking prospects is very good, the centers and wingers are for every taste, and we have almost no one in defense. It would be nice to add a few already now, especially on the RD.

 

[itwasaforwardpass]

Yes, this option is also possible. But the depth of our attacking prospects is very good, the centers and wingers are for every taste, and we have almost no one in defense. It would be nice to add a few already now, especially on the RD.

Right. We have depth at forward. We dont have depth on defense. But we also don't have anything close to a Dahlin or Power at forward. On defense we have two of them already.

We could use (not necessarily need) an elite established forward at some point. Not that one is likely to become available and obviously not Dahlin level. Either way, we have so many prospects that a quantity for quality trade might be in order in the future.

 

[Fjordsen]

Right. We have depth at forward. We dont have depth on defense. But we also don't have anything close to a Dahlin or Power at forward. On defense we have two of them already.

We could use (not necessarily need) an elite established forward at some point. Not that one is likely to become available and obviously not Dahlin level. Either way, we have so many prospects that a quantity for quality trade might be in order in the future.

Well, I don't mind adding some very good striker. Although, there are prospects that I do not want to trade. It can also be a problem to add a forward due to salary. Usually such players get a lot of money, but at a reasonable price, of course.

But when there are situations like we have now with injuries, our depth of defense makes itself felt.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

This is why I’d over pay to CBJ for Jiricek. He fits what they need, their timeline, and Columbus needs good center prospects

 

[Zman5778]

This is why I’d over pay to CBJ for Jiricek. He fits what they need, their timeline, and Columbus needs good center prospects

Why would Cbus trade their most recent #1 pick when they could have taken a center just as easily????

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Why would Cbus trade their most recent #1 pick when they could have taken a center just as easily????

Because they couldn't take 2 centers with that pick

 

[Fjordsen]

This is why I’d over pay to CBJ for Jiricek. He fits what they need, their timeline, and Columbus needs good center prospects

I'd rather try to get Peeke from them. He is ready to help now, signed a reasonable contract and will cost less than Jiricek.

 

[Ace]

I’ll stop you right there.

Yes.

YES.

 

[Fly Boy]

YES.

WTF are you trying to prove here? Read the room.

 

[Djp]

I think the answer is, as always -- it depends.

Do we really need to trade Fs for Ds? We've got Dahlin, Power and Sammy. Joker is still young. Johnson may yet still sign and anchor the 3rd pair (or hell, might pair with Power on the 2nd pair and give us 2 pairs full of lefties who can play the right better or equally well). Also, I don't think Chychrun is a fit for what we want. He's kinda more of the same where what he provides offensively is better than what he provides defensively.

We MIGHT need to trade Fs for Power long-term pair....maybe. All depends on how Joker and Johnson go.


My thinking is that we're eventually going to package some of the young Fs for an elite-level F to go around the kids that will stick around. I don't think it'll be worth it value-wise to turn the Fs into Ds as I think we're going to be looking for 3rd-pairing types.

We shall see though.

purely looking long term I see the team being

Samuelsson-Dahlin
Power-xxx

is Johnson signed?
do they pick someone with 23 1st that you could project being on the Sabres in 24/25 or 25/26

Mokiharju…a decision on him will need to be made with him due a third contract. If Buffalo does draft a D with their first snd sign Johnson, that likely puts him on the market. Power can play on right snd they draft a LD for top 4. Thr other factor is cap space to think about. Do you sign Joki to a $4M contract pkaying hotyom pair or do you instead sign a vet at $2M Or play an ELC.


i do have real concerns on the D pipeline given they drafted only 3 in the last 2 years In mid rounds which makes thrm longer term projects you don’t see until 25/26 at nhl level if they are good enough.

id like to get some ELC D depth sooner via prospect trades or college UDFA signings. They don’t have to mortgage the future to get one.

long term F on this club look like
C-Thompson, Savoie
C/W-Cozens, Krebs, Kuilch, Ostlund, Asplund( if 4-5 yr ext is signed in off-season)
W-Quinn, Peterka, Rosen, Tuch, Skinner ( I see Tuch getting resigned, Skinner coukd retire or get bought out if cap is going to $90M)

there are other prospects. There are a lot of Fs.

i see Mitts, Olofsson traded. Both of them could return a D prospect with 2+ yrs of ELC time

 

[Peachkings1922]

Bloom picks up his 6th goal of the year in OT over Sarnia

 

[Chainshot]

Bloom picks up his 6th goal of the year in OT over Sarnia

Good on him, hope that starts things going in for him after the drought he's had.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Sounds like UND is prepping Huglen very well to be a Sabre

 

[Ace]

WTF are you trying to prove here? Read the room.

The room is on an 8 game pointless streak for the exact reasons I’ve laid out for two years.

Maybe it’s time for the room to read me.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

The room is on an 8 game pointless streak for the exact reasons I’ve laid out for two years.

Maybe it’s time for the room to read me.

*reads you* Meh.

 

[Chainshot]

Sounds like UND is prepping Huglen very well to be a Sabre

Huglen is at Minnesota.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Huglen is at Minnesota.

Then who is at UND? Constantini?

 

[Chainshot]

Then who is at UND? Constantini?

Google

And yes. And he'll be there for probably a few more years.

 

[Zman5778]

Great article here on an under-the-radar pick: Stiven Sardarian:

Why a recent Sabres draft pick made a bold move from Russia to NCAA hockey

Stiven Sardarian, a 2021 third-round pick, is on a learning journey at the University of New Hampshire.

theathletic.com

Sardarian’s development path is not a common one. After getting drafted, he could have stayed and played in Russia until he got an entry-level contract and then made his way to North America to play in the NHL or AHL. But education is important to Sardarian’s family, and he saw this challenge as an opportunity. He’s serious about playing hockey here and wants to get a jump start on acclimating himself.

“First reason, I want to play in the NHL,” Sardarian said. “I want to be smarter, too. It’s a good decision to be in NCAA because I can have good studies and play really good hockey. When UNH invited me, I was in Russia and I was thinking but I decided correctly. I’m happy to be here.”

As of now, Sardarian plans to go to Spain in May, Buffalo in July for development camp and back to UNH to get time in the gym. That could change, but Sardarian isn’t banking on being able to take a trip home. He said since he’s been at school he’s been speaking to his parents “not a lot, but enough.”

Sardarian’s raw skills are obvious on the ice. He needs more power in everything that he does, including his skating. But he’s confident with the puck on his stick and is showing signs of becoming a setup artist. When you choose the path Sardarian has chosen, patience is paramount. He’s shown growth on and off the ice since the Sabres drafted him, but the bulk of his work is in front of him.

“The biggest thing for us with him is just marrying himself to our strength coach,” Souza said. “His game is going to transform once he gets stronger. His brain and his stick are really good. He just breaks down easy because he’s not that strong. We’re excited and I know he’s excited to be here next summer. Not that I want to write off this year because he could still be productive this year. But I think his game will go to another level when he gets stronger. I think he understands that which is the best part.”