Off-Season Roster Thread #2 -- Nothing to do but wait

[Der Jaeger]

But you see where the comparison breaks down right? The Seals are the peak aspirational goal for a lot of career military types. They don't really compete much for elite army talent, they get to take their pick and build as they choose.

Professional Sports teams don't have that luxury. There are only so many elite talents available and 32 teams are vying to get them. The true elite talent, high character guys might play for 1 team in their career, maybe 2. You have to make choices about what players to pursue after that, and not every one is going to be a boy scout at the end of the day.



Not to dig in the Patriots history too much, but Belicheck won 3 super bowls in his first five years and was gifted with a HOF QB in his 2nd year. None of his proteges have been able to replicate his success because it was based around 2 key tenants.

1. Belicheick's defensive genius
2. Brady

Success (and luck) begat the 'Patriot way' not the other way around. If there was some magic formula Bill used for culture, it would have been replicated elsewhere already by people who saw it up close. It hasn't been, because they lack 1 and 2.

Culture, character, etc. They all matter. But, in the environment of a professional sports team, culture alone isn't enough. And the idea you can craft culture in some lab and build it is false. It's almost entirely about the players you have and getting success to reinforce it.

You don’t seem to understand selection processes, or what you’re seeing in the NHL.

There are 1,000-1,500 SEALs, depending on wars and other requirements. There’s about 1,000 Delta operators. So it’s not like each service is fielding some small team of ninjas led by Chuck Norris or Arnold Schwarzenegger.

They do look for the qualities the organizations want, and then train the people, both physically and technically.

And what you see on TV is the elite of the hockey world. My kids got to skate with Mason Marchment recently. He’s insanely skilled. Any 13/14 forward or 7/8 D on any NHL team could come to any adult league anywhere and simply dominant. There’s plenty of elite talent, not just the Crosby’s or McDavid’s. We just see them in comparison to the upper crust of talent and think that they aren’t talented. They are.

Joe Quinn tells PEP academy kids that in McDavid’s PEP academy class, Josh Ho-Sang was easily his most talented kid. But low character. So he got drafted but has still struggled to make the highest levels.

Are their d-bags who make teams? Sure. But that’s an organizational decision.
There’s plenty of talent with character out there.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I’m not going to go into it on here but from the eyes of someone who worked as a fed fir the army has a very different POV on it.

as for special ops stuff..some of what they go thru does not build trustst all. In some ways it’s more of a glorifiedfrat house.

From the eyes of someone who’s worked in that world for 22 years, I don’t understand your first point and disagree with the second. Vehemently.

 

[Professor Chaos]

I would like Palat on the Sabres. But, adding him creates some interesting roster and line construction challenges.

Palat in and VO out...money and term won't be too far off...problem solved

 

[Chainshot]

Lekhonen channeling his inner Nystrom again.

 

[beerme1]

Buffalo Sabres: Jack Campbell would make a huge upgrade

The Buffalo Sabres desperately need a goaltender and they may look to free agency to fill the void. Jack Campbell may be hot on their radar.

sabrenoise.com

I wouldn't mind giving Campbell 3 yrs @ $5M AAV.

I think it's 6+ for him to come here. Unless he hates the Leafs then it might be 4.5

Another goalie who's locked in at $5m for three years is Linus Ullmark. Bruins need cap pretty desperately and have Swayman as a number one. Save pct of .917 over 40+ games isn't too shabby. He was deemed to be popular in the room, IIRC.

Maybe send a third rounder to Boston for Ullmark and Foligno? Assuming there's no bad blood, of course.

I personally will take any other goalie than Linus. I never liked him to begin with, and he bailed on us even after KA kept him at the deadline. Linus should never wear a Sabres uni again. There's better guys at that money as well.

The Bruins aren't going to trade Linus to a division rival that will make the rival more competitive and the Bruins less competitive.

Good.

Oh yeah - a big stretch for sure. I didn't realize he had a full NMC this year. He has a 16-team NTC for 23-24.

But if you ask me today who I'd rather have at 3x5M between Ullmark or Campbell, I think I'd prefer Ullmark.

Bwahahahahaha No. Not a chance thanks. I would take Campbell all day everyday over Linus please.

Subban was rumored to be an ass in Montreal. Hearsay? Possibly. Willing to chance it with our roster and what they’ve finally started to build on for an old 3rd-pairing Defenseman? f*** no.

Hmmm, I know he held out for a bit and then when he got paid, he donated $20 Million dollars to Montreal Childrens Hospital if recall correctly. Seems like a real asshole huh?

 

[Grinder44]

If we're talking UFA's, I'd like to see the Sabres make pitches for, Lazar (C), Gudbranson (RHD), and either Campbell or Holtby (G). No contract for more than 2 seasons, but overpays not an issue. No huge changes, but some good players to solidify positions of need as they continue to build.

 

[Jim Bob]

Palat in and VO out...money and term won't be too far off...problem solved

If I agree with this, I will be accused of trying to run VO out of town.

All I will say is that I doubt Adams goes down that path unless VO is pushing to sign a one year deal that walks him to UFA next summer.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Hmmm, I know he held out for a bit and then when he got paid, he donated $20 Million dollars to Montreal Childrens Hospital if recall correctly. Seems like a real asshole huh?

A guy can be great in the community while still being a terrible teammate. Hasek is a good example of this to some degree. He had plenty of issues with coaches (Nolan in particular) and was known for giving up in games at times yet he was also great in the community. Even Eichel who gets lambasted on here routinely by some of the fan base did a lot of good things for the Buffalo community.

 

[Fezzy126]

I think it's 6+ for him to come here. Unless he hates the Leafs then it might be 4.5

I don't think they're going to be as concerned about salary as they are about term.

It only takes one team to offer Campbell a 6 or 7 year deal, it would offer the sort of career stability that Campbell has never had.

 

[Matt Ress]

I think it's 6+ for him to come here. Unless he hates the Leafs then it might be 4.5




I personally will take any other goalie than Linus. I never liked him to begin with, and he bailed on us even after KA kept him at the deadline. Linus should never wear a Sabres uni again. There's better guys at that money as well.



Good.



Bwahahahahaha No. Not a chance thanks. I would take Campbell all day everyday over Linus please.



Hmmm, I know he held out for a bit and then when he got paid, he donated $20 Million dollars to Montreal Childrens Hospital if recall correctly. Seems like a real asshole huh?

Maybe splitting hairs here but it was $10M. Still a significant amount of course.

 

[TehDoak]

Circling back a bit here.

Let's assume a top line of:

Skinner-Thompson-Tuch

And a bottom line of:

Girgensons-XXXX-Okposo (With XXXX being a UFA replacement for Eakin)

That leaves:

Mittelstadt, Olofsson, Cozens, Asplund, Krebs, Peterka, and Quinn.

That's 7F for 6 spots. Is one of Krebs, Peterka, Quinn going to Rochester? Are we moving Olofsson to make it work? Is one of Krebs/Mittelstadt/Cozens playing C on the 4th line?

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Circling back a bit here.

Let's assume a top line of:

Skinner-Thompson-Tuch

And a bottom line of:

Girgensons-XXXX-Okposo (With XXXX being a UFA replacement for Eakin)

That leaves:

Mittelstadt, Olofsson, Cozens, Asplund, Krebs, Peterka, and Quinn.

That's 7F for 6 spots. Is one of Krebs, Peterka, Quinn going to Rochester? Are we moving Olofsson to make it work? Is one of Krebs/Mittelstadt/Cozens playing C on the 4th line?

I would guess one of Peterka, Krebs or Quinn start the season in Rochester until the inevitable injury occurs at which point they call said player up. I know Adams said he doesn't want to block the youth but at this point it feels like youth is blocking youth just due to the sheer number of forward prospects.

Alternatively they might run Asplund with Gus and Okposo by shifting Gus back to center full time. Though that presents it's own issues since Gus has never been over 50% on face-offs.

 

[Jim Bob]

Circling back a bit here.

Let's assume a top line of:

Skinner-Thompson-Tuch

And a bottom line of:

Girgensons-XXXX-Okposo (With XXXX being a UFA replacement for Eakin)

That leaves:

Mittelstadt, Olofsson, Cozens, Asplund, Krebs, Peterka, and Quinn.

That's 7F for 6 spots. Is one of Krebs, Peterka, Quinn going to Rochester? Are we moving Olofsson to make it work? Is one of Krebs/Mittelstadt/Cozens playing C on the 4th line?

I think those are the top 13 forwards and if all 13 are healthy, then someone is a healthy scratch. Whether that is someone who needs to watch from the press box or just needs a day off to get over a nagging injury, so be it.

If one of the waiver exempt kids is in the press box for an extended period, then I think they head back to Rochester to get games in and they are available for recall when another forward gets hurt.

I don't see them either adding forwards that increase the likelihood of pushing a kid to Rochester nor moving a vet like VO to reduce depth to increase the likelihood of a kid sticking in Buffalo.

But, we shall see.

I would guess one of Peterka, Krebs or Quinn start the season in Rochester until the inevitable injury occurs at which point they call said player up. I know Adams said he doesn't want to block the youth but at this point it feels like youth is blocking youth just due to the sheer number of forward prospects.

Alternatively they might run Asplund with Gus and Okposo by shifting Gus back to center full time. Though that presents it's own issues since Gus has never been over 50% on face-offs.

I think it is more likely that they spread Asplund, Girgensons, and Okposo across lines 2-4 than it is to put them all on the same line.

The bottom three lines could be something like this:

Quinn-Cozens-Okposo
Asplund-Mitts-VO
Girgensons-[Krebs or or TBD UFA 4C]-Peterka

 

[jc17]

Would Gudas cost any more than taking the Hornqvist contract?

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

I just don't think KA is going after a UFA checking C.

Skinner - Thompson - Tuch
Asplund - Mittelstadt - Olofsson
Quinn - Cozens - Okposo
Girgensons - Krebs - Peterka

Two of Ruotsalainen / Bjork / Hinostroza fill out the extra FWs.

If a UFA FW is acquired, Hino won't be re-signed, or Bjork is bought out. Injuries will make sure everyone gets ice time.

 

[Jim Bob]

I just don't think KA is going after a UFA checking C.

Skinner - Thompson - Tuch
Asplund - Mittelstadt - Olofsson
Quinn - Cozens - Okposo
Girgensons - Krebs - Peterka

Two of Ruotsalainen / Bjork / Hinostroza fill out the extra FWs.

If a UFA FW is acquired, Hino won't be re-signed, or Bjork is bought out. Injuries will make sure everyone gets ice time.

Who is winning a faceoff with that roster?

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Who is winning a faceoff with that roster?

I don't think that issue is going to be a major factor in KA's roster building. I personally have always been a little wary on making that a litmus test for Cs. They all have room to grow and improve on everything including faceoffs, so not a major deal for me yet.

 

[UnleashRasmus]

Palat in and VO out...money and term won't be too far off...problem solved

Or you keep Olofsson and add Palat. Why are players trading a valuable goal scorer in their 20's. We have so much flipping cap space.

Would Gudas cost any more than taking the Hornqvist contract?

Barf.

 

[Jim Bob]

I don't think that issue is going to be a major factor in KA's roster building. I personally have always been a little wary on making that a litmus test for Cs. They all have room to grow and improve on everything including faceoffs, so not a major deal for me yet.

Given how much Eakin was leaned on to take faceoffs, I would be surprised if Adams made no attempt to try and fill that need this off season.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Who is winning a faceoff with that roster?

By committee. Every faceoff becomes a dogpile

 

[TehDoak]

Given how much Eakin was leaned on to take faceoffs, I would be surprised if Adams made no attempt to try and fill that need this off season.

Seeing Trocheck and Copp as UFAs and our dire need for that style of forward and realizing that its very small chance we even give them a call is frustrating

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Seeing Trocheck and Copp as UFAs and our dire need for that style of forward and realizing that its very small chance we even give them a call is frustrating

How can you say there's a very small chance the Sabres reach out? I'm sure management recognizes the need for a competent Eakin replacement at the very least.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Given how much Eakin was leaned on to take faceoffs, I would be surprised if Adams made no attempt to try and fill that need this off season.

Seeing Trocheck and Copp as UFAs and our dire need for that style of forward and realizing that its very small chance we even give them a call is frustrating

If he signs a center that brings more than just face-off skill then I'm all for it. I just wouldn't prioritize face-offs in the hunt for a good add.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Who is winning a faceoff with that roster?

Why not just make the kids get better at faceoffs?

 

[Zman5778]

If he signs a center that brings more than just face-off skill then I'm all for it. I just wouldn't prioritize face-offs in the hunt for a good add.

See, if we're adding a C, I think we absolutely need to prioritize FO winning ability. Maybe it doesn't matter all that much over the course of a regular season.....but it absolutely matters if/when we get to the postseason. There are plenty of goals scored as a direct result of a FO win in the offensive zone in the playoffs.

At the bare minimum, I want a FO guy here if for no other reason than to teach the kids how to do it.