Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[Irie]

One wonders if the Sabres will need upgrades to reach that contender phase.

They have all their draft picks, and cap space, at least in the immediate future. It needn't be prospects only.

Upgrades that better balance the roster would definitely help. I also worry the cap may actually be an issue next off-season, especially if Adams tries to bring in those upgrades.

They will have 25 million free but have to replace/re-sign two top six D, a top 9 forward, an entire fourth line, plus a goalie, and whatever other depth players they want to fill out the roster, (Mitts, Joker and Krebs will need raises if they stick around).

Mitts may be looking at a huge raise. If they add a UFA goalie, they might be looking at only having enough cap to have ELC players or bargain bin UFAs filling a lot of the holes. Not ideal for a team that is hoping to make the post season and who's top players are maybe not playing at the level of other teams top players.

This team is still ridiculously young, so the growth from within narrative is a very real thing with a ton of potential, but learning to play defensively sound hockey and cutting the bad habits out of their game is going to take time and adjustments. Expecting them to be firing on all cylinders may be unrealistic until the young kids all come into their own.

 

[toddkaz]

I really miss the Quinn Cozens Peterka line.

Who doesn't right now?

 

[Jim Bob]

I really miss the Quinn Cozens Peterka line.

Who doesn't right now?

I miss Skinner-Thompson-Tuch cooking waaaaaaay more.

 

[Ciao]

What's up with Tage Thompson?

I took him as a high pick in my hockey pool, and he's letting me down.

I've even resorted to watching or listening to Sabres games and cheering for the whole team to score. Desperate measures for this Leafs fan

Be well, and score much!

 

[rylt]

No way we are making playoffs with this roster thread title, it's just asking for trouble. Something must be done quickly

 

[Aladyyn]

What's up with Tage Thompson?

I took him as a high pick in my hockey pool, and he's letting me down.

I've even resorted to watching or listening to Sabres games and cheering for the whole team to score. Desperate measures for this Leafs fan

Be well, and score much!

He'll explode any moment now, keep him at all costs and do not sell low

 

[Jim Bob]

What's up with Tage Thompson?

I took him as a high pick in my hockey pool, and he's letting me down.

I've even resorted to watching or listening to Sabres games and cheering for the whole team to score. Desperate measures for this Leafs fan

Be well, and score much!

He is having bad puck luck as he is getting shots and his Shooting% is in career low territory at sub-7% when it has been 15% over the past two seasons.

 

[Sabre Dance]

My therapist has recommended I avoid the Sabres. She believes they’re toxic for me.

 

[debaser66]

NHL future rosters: Projecting Atlantic Division teams in 5 years

Which teams are likely to be contenders, based on their current pool of talent?

theathletic.com

If I use this model Without changing the players:
L1 Zach Benson, Thompson, Cozens
L2 Quinn ,Mittelstadt, Peterka
L3 Kulich , Noah Ostlund, Tuch (Tuch will be 32 in 5 seasons)
L4 Anton Wahlberg, Peyton Krebs, Olivier Nadeau (I didnt touch that but I could think that Tuch could move down there if he stays longer, as he is approaching his mid 30s)

 

[Duddy]

My therapist has recommended I avoid the Sabres. She believes they’re toxic for me.

But don't you just want them even more, now that they're the forbidden fruit?
No drug is as addictive as watchting those chumps skate around and crush our dreams.

 

[TageGod]

What is there to really complain about after last game? Getting goalied by the usual suspect? Not scoring enough? Sabres dominated all game. This was a luck based loss and it will flip the other way somewhere.

 

[Mattilaus]

What is there to really complain about after last game? Getting goalied by the usual suspect? Not scoring enough? Sabres dominated all game. This was a luck based loss and it will flip the other way somewhere.

The numbers do not agree that we dominated. Additionally, the team deflated after the bad 2nd goal. How about some battle? How about someone goes to the net? 37 shots is great and all but it means little if they are low danger chances. There is plenty to complain about when looking deeper than the shot totals.

 

[start winnin]

What is there to really complain about after last game? Getting goalied by the usual suspect? Not scoring enough? Sabres dominated all game. This was a luck based loss and it will flip the other way somewhere.

I commend your optimism.

If we lose tonight, who honestly thinks we will win against the Devils and Colorado? The latter of which who is on an absolute heater right now. Very strong possibility we start the season 2-7, I don't see this team pulling out of a hole like that the way other teams in the Atlantic are playing unless we go on a run and other teams falter. What a disappointing season thus far.

 

[TageGod]

The numbers do not agree that we dominated. Additionally, the team deflated after the bad 2nd goal. How about some battle? How about someone goes to the net? 37 shots is great and all but it means little if they are low danger chances. There is plenty to complain about when looking deeper than the shot totals.

You can find a statistic to complain about every hockey game. Sabres dominated. 9 times out of 10 that game is over midway through the third.

I commend your optimism.

If we lose tonight, who honestly thinks we will win against the Devils and Colorado? The latter of which who is on an absolute heater right now. Very strong possibility we start the season 2-7, I don't see this team pulling out of a hole like that the way other teams in the Atlantic are playing unless we go on a run and other teams falter. What a disappointing season thus far.

You mean the massive hole they almost got out of to end last season? this team is not capable of that?

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I commend your optimism.

If we lose tonight, who honestly thinks we will win against the Devils and Colorado? The latter of which who is on an absolute heater right now. Very strong possibility we start the season 2-7, I don't see this team pulling out of a hole like that the way other teams in the Atlantic are playing unless we go on a run and other teams falter. What a disappointing season thus far.

They absolutely need to win over a good team once in a while, especially if they aren't going to show up against bottom feeders like Columbus. They need to win one of those two games or else the confidence is gonna hit 2020 levels.

 

[Sabretooth]

This prophetic gem need an update

 

[Mattilaus]

You can find a statistic to complain about every hockey game. Sabres dominated. 9 times out of 10 that game is over midway through the third.

Granato himself emphasized they need to go to the net more right after the loss, but I guess he doesn't know what he is talking about.

You asked what there is to complain about. I say what I see as flaws in our game. Then you say "well yea you can always find something to complain about!"

 

[TageGod]

Granato himself emphasized they need to go to the net more right after the loss, but I guess he doesn't know what he is talking about.

You asked what there is to complain about. I say what I see as flaws in our game. Then you say "well yea you can always find something to complain about!"

As I said, no game will be perfect. Next game is too many shots blocked with players going to the net. There is always SOMETHING not working perfectly in hockey. They aren't playing pylons. Montreal did not allow them inside.

 

[Mattilaus]

As I said, no game will be perfect. Next game is too many shots blocked with players going to the net. There is always SOMETHING not working perfectly in hockey. They aren't playing pylons. Montreal did not allow them inside.

Then why bother asking what there is to complain about if you have no interest in the answer?

 

[TageGod]

Then why bother asking what there is to complain about if you have no interest in the answer?

They played an excellent game, they just couldn't score. Here we all are nitpicking just because they lost. They got goalied that's it. Any other game doing the same thing they score at least 3

 

[Mattilaus]

They played an excellent game, they just couldn't score. Here we all are nitpicking just because they lost. They got goalied that's it. Any other game doing the same thing they score at least 3

What does this have to do with my question?

 

[TageGod]

What does this have to do with my question?

Rhetorical. They played a GOOD game. It's like the Bills threw for 400 yards and only rushed for 3.0 yards per carry and you are like "but the run game though".

 

[Mattilaus]

Rhetorical. They played a GOOD game. It's like the Bills threw for 400 yards and only rushed for 3.0 yards per carry and you are like "but the run game though".

I mean if they kept passing to get within 1 yard of a TD but could never run the ball in and score, causing them to lose the game, you don't think that would be a valid critique?

 

[Zman5778]

Rhetorical. They played a GOOD game. It's like the Bills threw for 400 yards and only rushed for 3.0 yards per carry and you are like "but the run game though".

Did the Bills win or lose? Because that plays a BIG role in any hypothetical narrative you're creating.

Same here. Sabres lost, so the narrative is bound to focus on the negative rather than the positive.

 

[TageGod]

I mean if they kept passing to get within 1 yard of a TD but could never run the ball in and score, causing them to lose the game, you don't think that would be a valid critique?

That implies nothing was working. Not a fan of this analogy.

Back to reality- 2-4. Sky is intact. They have played quite a few good games collectively and are playin hockey that wins games. Be patient, sky will fall at 2-6

Did the Bills win or lose? Because that plays a BIG role in any hypothetical narrative you're creating.

Same here. Sabres lost, so the narrative is bound to focus on the negative rather than the positive.

Vaccum, no win or loss. Evaluating the offense. A loss should not impact what was a good performance and be called a bad one.