Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[Beerz]

Hypothetical: Edmonton decides to tear down. They ask for 5-6 firsts of equivalents for McDavid.

You in?

Instant rectification of the PP.
Could inflate production of lesser players.

All over it.

 

[Irie]

Krebs looked pretty great at the world's last summer, so I don't think the ceiling is the issue.

Hockey IQ is really about reading the ice. Decision making with the puck and hockey IQ are not the same thing. Low hockey IQ players can make the smart, simple play with the puck regularly, that does not mean they have high hockey IQ - and vice versa.

Krebs has a high hockey IQ, he sees the ice and his teammates well(hockey IQ), he just makes poor decisions with the puck (not hockey IQ, the decision making is more a common sense issue here.) - learning that something that worked well in junior and well on the big international ice does not work in the NHL, and not continually trying to force it to "work".... That is more about common sense than hockey IQ.

Learning what you can and can't get away with in the NHL is more about experience and not hockey IQ, but the lessons are not really sticking with Krebs for some reason. But he's still only 22, and has been getting his head punched a lot the past season, so maybe this is going to take a bit longer than normal....

It's fine if you want to move on, but I strongly believe he has a lot more growth to show at this level, and I think he may be one of those players that will eventually just one day in the foreseeable future "get it" and be a valuable asset.

The push to rush all these teenagers into the NHL on this board is mind boggling given the recent history of this team. Let the kids percolate and be patient with the Krebs and the Mitts and the Jokers in the cap era NHL and see what you got before cutting bait.

 

[old kummelweck]

I was watching the Leafs talk post-game coverage on youtube after the Saturday win, and Sam McKee, that also produces Kipper and Bourne described the Sabres as 'gritty'. Leafs have lowered the bar I guess.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Hypothetical: Edmonton decides to tear down. They ask for 5-6 firsts of equivalents for McDavid.

You in?

The more likely scenario is Draisaitl becomes available next summer. Would likely be Cozens+++ but it's almost certainly worth doing.

 

[Zman5778]

Hypothetical: Edmonton decides to tear down. They ask for 5-6 firsts of equivalents for McDavid.

You in?

We're one of the few (only?) team(s) that could do this and not completely and utterly decimate the team moving forward.

That said....................I can't imagine Edmonton trading McDavid and NOT getting a high-caliber Dman back.

If we trade Power (or Dahlin) plus plus plus.......we basically become Oilers 2.0 -- all offense, little-to-no defense.

 

[Fly Boy]

Hypothetical: Edmonton decides to tear down. They ask for 5-6 firsts of equivalents for McDavid.

You in?

I mean I'd like to pair McDavid with Thompson, so I guess we start with Cozens and work from there.

 

[old kummelweck]

We're one of the few (only?) team(s) that could do this and not completely and utterly decimate the team moving forward.

That said....................I can't imagine Edmonton trading McDavid and NOT getting a high-caliber Dman back.

If we trade Power (or Dahlin) plus plus plus.......we basically become Oilers 2.0 -- all offense, little-to-no defense.

I think you could send Krebs, Jost, Olofsson, Bryson, and like a 3rd for McD.

 

[Djp]

I don't understand the goal of your argument here. Your making up a hypothetical to what? Excuse KA failure to obtain a bottom six possession center?

He has had multiple offseasons to fill that gap via UFA, Trade, or development. None of those paths have yielded any fruit. AND....... that is assuming this regime has even identified it as a need. For al we know, they don't even have it on their radar, and never even tried at all. Now that really would be a failure.

No need to run thru hypothetical scenarios. We don't have one. We might not even be looking for one. KA didn't get one. I believe we really need one. Therefore, the fact, not hypothetical, IMO, is KA has failed to get it done.

isn’t your claim Adams is sitting on hands doing nothing a hypothetical explanation or do you have inside info?

there is a difference in he wasn’t successful vs not trying. You are saying he wasn’t trying But his post UFA press conference and other sources says otherwise

did he have limits on money and term…probably.

Hypothetical: Edmonton decides to tear down. They ask for 5-6 firsts of equivalents for McDavid.

You in?

I said on main board….

Cozens
Samuelson
— cap hits are close
2025 protected 1st ( top 10)
2026 2nd
Rosen
Poltapov
2022 2nd round goalie buffalo drafted

Krebs looked pretty great at the world's last summer, so I don't think the ceiling is the issue.

Hockey IQ is really about reading the ice. Decision making with the puck and hockey IQ are not the same thing. Low hockey IQ players can make the smart, simple play with the puck regularly, that does not mean they have high hockey IQ - and vice versa.

Krebs has a high hockey IQ, he sees the ice and his teammates well(hockey IQ), he just makes poor decisions with the puck (not hockey IQ, the decision making is more a common sense issue here.) - learning that something that worked well in junior and well on the big international ice does not work in the NHL, and not continually trying to force it to "work".... That is more about common sense than hockey IQ.

I agree ..adjustment to NHL games has bern harder where things he did in juniors hasn’t worked as well.

Learning what you can and can't get away with in the NHL is more about experience and not hockey IQ, but the lessons are not really sticking with Krebs for some reason. But he's still only 22, and has been getting his head punched a lot the past season, so maybe this is going to take a bit longer than normal....

I think part of it is finding the players test fit / click with him.

maybe it be beneficial to send him down to the AHL to get confidence

It's fine if you want to move on, but I strongly believe he has a lot more growth to show at this level, and I think he may be one of those players that will eventually just one day in the foreseeable future "get it" and be a valuable asset.

The push to rush all these teenagers into the NHL on this board is mind boggling given the recent history of this team. Let the kids percolate and be patient with the Krebs and the Mitts and the Jokers in the cap era NHL and see what you got before cutting bait.

I don’t believe in letting them sit in the minors because you brought in vets. There is benefit to learn how to play at the nhl you can’t get in AHL.

Krebs was not rushed for a 1st round late teen pick. He did do 2 yrs in CHL and was traded early in his first ELC year at 20. It’s usually expected yr 1 you might split Ahl and NHL but yr 2 could be full time nhl.

buffalo has a bunch of forwards and some will need to be traded. It could be Krebs.

 

[Matt Ress]

Hypothetical: Edmonton decides to tear down. They ask for 5-6 firsts of equivalents for McDavid.

You in?

What would it look like? Next 2 1sts + Power+ Kulich+ Rosen+ Benny/Savoie. Still have a pretty good stable of Benny/Savoie, Ostlund, Paltapov, Cozens, JJ, Quinn, the entire top line and other possible bottom 6 players along with Johnson, Novikov and some good not great depth at defense.

It would barely touch the current roster even if you swapped in Cozens for a prospect with a solid farm and in need of a top 4 Dman. They'll get near futures and just do a 2 year tear down. It's kind of a move that they should do just for some spring cleaning.

E: geez really confusing use of pronouns

 

[K8fool]

Part of it seems to be (still) personnel related. Skinner is simply not a good PP player. He's a chaos agent at 5-on-5 but in set piece puck moving, he continues to struggle.

One thing that has gone away that was really, really delicious for them at the start of last year and in Tuch's first games with them was how he cut through the zone off-puck as a short rush option going to the net. The puck would cycle back to the left point area and he would too, then presenting a forehand option going back to the net as the puck moved back into the zone. That gives the point man on that side or Thompson on the half-wall a target, while introducing movement and decisions for the defenders that can lead to mismatches and mistakes on their part. That? It's gone. He stands around now, slightly off crease mostly, without moving to open space or cutting through coverage.

So we have Tuch stationary, Skinner having issues with moving the puck promptly or accurately, and that leaves Dahlin, Thompson and Cozens to play catch until one of them shoots the puck.

I was hoping for more bumper play since a couple teams do it so well (Boston and Tampa in particular) to create the little triangle 2-on-1's low near the net and we saw Benson creating out of that spot in preseason. But it just hasn't been there in the regular season and I don't think it will be with the five who are currently PP1. IMNSHO, swapping Skinner off PP1 for Mittelstadt might work to create better puck movement. Savoie or Benson might give them a better slot shot or shot/pass option as well, but that's putting a lot of pressure on a kid.

As for unit 2... move the puck to open man and don't dust things off for f***'s sake. People at this level don't just open up because a player is doing a stickhandling drill while standing still.

Probably not wrong about all aspects of power play , except skinner. His chaos is whats needed until the kids take an F U attitude like skinner and possible negative outcomes . And Dahlin has had a very rough defensive start (only when we are inside their blue line on turnovers)
Donny needs all to be cocky Fs and hold and carry toward net until two defenders bite and move out of structure and create chaos that gives tage and opposite side the open spaces needed to hurt people w the puck if it doesn't find netting.
When skinner and oloffson miss it certainly comes back the other way. A coach can't say much as their young Or tweaked out and too hard on themselves being asked to cover fir skinners misses or miss better themselves. These are just early season crapfest before it flows into the net fir tage and the rest of our high % shooting all stars getting that millimeter post that goes in and doesn't find its way 200 ft on 2 on 1 . I think this do nothing will pay off as Donny hides them in his bubble taking shite til the team gets its eye and confident nonchalance.

 

[K8fool]

isn’t your claim Adams is sitting on hands doing nothing a hypothetical explanation or do you have inside info?

there is a difference in he wasn’t successful vs not trying. You are saying he wasn’t trying But his post UFA press conference and other sources says otherwise

did he have limits on money and term…probably.




I said on main board….

Cozens
Samuelson
— cap hits are close
2025 protected 1st ( top 10)
2026 2nd
Rosen
Poltapov
2022 2nd round goalie buffalo drafted



I agree ..adjustment to NHL games has bern harder where things he did in juniors hasn’t worked as well.


I think part of it is finding the players test fit / click with him.

maybe it be beneficial to send him down to the AHL to get confidence


I don’t believe in letting them sit in the minors because you brought in vets. There is benefit to learn how to play at the nhl you can’t get in AHL.

Krebs was not rushed for a 1st round late teen pick. He did do 2 yrs in CHL and was traded early in his first ELC year at 20. It’s usually expected yr 1 you might split Ahl and NHL but yr 2 could be full time nhl.

buffalo has a bunch of forwards and some will need to be traded. It could be Krebs.

These are depressing posts. We are finally Really Good. And the boards have No patience with a precise skating and shooting team finding its way also winning plus minus shifts and STOPPING thinking w goalie injuries and new flow.

C'mon Erik johnson is awesome

Levi will stop thinking and play w all the film on him, if a slower Upl can adjust to his film weakness Levi will, quickly Can both adjust to sabre cell telephony antenna brainfarts and stop nhl shooters point blank while everyone besides Erik 6 , stands around

 

[K8fool]

isn’t your claim Adams is sitting on hands doing nothing a hypothetical explanation or do you have inside info?

there is a difference in he wasn’t successful vs not trying. You are saying he wasn’t trying But his post UFA press conference and other sources says otherwise

did he have limits on money and term…probably.




I said on main board….

Cozens
Samuelson
— cap hits are close
2025 protected 1st ( top 10)
2026 2nd
Rosen
Poltapov
2022 2nd round goalie buffalo drafted



I agree ..adjustment to NHL games has bern harder where things he did in juniors hasn’t worked as well.


I think part of it is finding the players test fit / click with him.

maybe it be beneficial to send him down to the AHL to get confidence


I don’t believe in letting them sit in the minors because you brought in vets. There is benefit to learn how to play at the nhl you can’t get in AHL.

Krebs was not rushed for a 1st round late teen pick. He did do 2 yrs in CHL and was traded early in his first ELC year at 20. It’s usually expected yr 1 you might split Ahl and NHL but yr 2 could be full time nhl.

buffalo has a bunch of forwards and some will need to be traded. It could be Krebs.

These are depressing posts. We are finally Really Good. And the boards have No patience with a precise skating and shooting team finding its way also winning plus minus shifts and STOPPING thinking w goalie injuries and new flow.

C'mon Erik johnson is awesome

Levi will stop thinking and play w all the film on him, if a slower Upl can adjust to his film weakness Levi will, quickly Can both adjust to sabre cell telephony antenna brainfarts and stop nhl shooters point blank while everyone besides Erik 6 , zombie like, stands around.

We are 6 and 4. Last ten

Dominated Colorado
Blew the leafs off w Toronto helping along w zebras.

Yet you all seem to want to break up w the sabres and trade them all, c'mon. Its like 5th grade.

They totally didnt hit the freaking leafs. That pissed me off.

Krickets Key to Brats and No patience arena. Land of no fun , judgement and silent brooding over early goals. You all Manifest bad luck pucks and unreal outcomes the phone scum and zebras are happy to help. We are Good. Get on Board. Both us and the Targeted Bills are making the freaking playoffs.

We and they need your belief! Let's kick some asz As we're all out bubble gum. - Roddy P .


F everyone

 

[HaNotsri]

Hypothetical: Edmonton decides to tear down. They ask for 5-6 firsts of equivalents for McDavid.

You in?

My suggestion would be a game of roulette if we miss the playoffs again. Winner makes the optimal roster out of Buffalo/Edmonton, loser gets the cap dumps.

But Edmontons team is so bad now it wouldn't really make sense for us...

 

[debaser66]

Hypothetical: Edmonton decides to tear down. They ask for 5-6 firsts of equivalents for McDavid.

You in?

I rather have someone a tier below Mcdavid but still up 1-2 tiers of what we have, someone like Hughes or Pettersson.
In hockey I think its not worth it to gut your team to a certain level because one guy can just do so much.
you need those elcs and cheap guys flowing in to remain successful, that being said we can afford a Pettersson but probably not a Mcdavid.

 

[K8fool]

Cant watch tomorrow. , big game. Hopefully start of a five game winng streak. Sabremike and the other diehard nuts, like myself, can you pick me up as i must miss this big homecoming for KA as okposo and crew go the high road to roll over his teammate, Rod the intense.
Only family and emergency could take me from this one and I have both as my other tries to help her young squad peak at the right time.
Hopefully you all will have Kevyns back as his squad is ready for this homecoming.

 

[Chainshot]

Watching the Oilers unravel and the Flames struggle has me sifting through their lineups for choice morsels - and no, that does not mean McDavid or Draisaitl.

Oilers have the classic Ken Holland problem... all of those full NMC's. Eek.

 

[Archie Lee]

Krebs is a terrible winger and there is no scoring line center spot available when everyone is healthy. His best chance is right now with Cozens out. But if he doesnt show out…it’s time to think about what the plan is long term. And if he does…it still doesn’t solve the 4th line and there isn’t a place for him as a top 3 C

Sabre fans, almost universally, think that Olofsson single-handily drags down our most talented offensive centres (Thompson, Mitts, Cozens).

Fans are so down on Okposo that some are hoping he will step aside when he gets to 1000 games.

For clarity, the best opportunity Krebs can hope for is to produce offensively with players that most fans have concluded are anchors?

 

[LetsGoBuffalo1126]

Sabre fans, almost universally, think that Olofsson single-handily drags down our most talented offensive centres (Thompson, Mitts, Cozens).

Fans are so down on Okposo that some are hoping he will step aside when he gets to 1000 games.

For clarity, the best opportunity Krebs can hope for is to produce offensively with players that most fans have concluded are anchors?

Agreed. Krebs seems to be in a tough spot with this current roster. He hasn't shown enough at this level offensively to consistently be put with the high-caliber offensive players. However, he's also been with the least-offensive (or most-offensive, depending on where your thoughts lie) players, so is the problem Krebs, his linemates, or something in-between?

 

[joshjull]

Sabre fans, almost universally, think that Olofsson single-handily drags down our most talented offensive centres (Thompson, Mitts, Cozens).

Fans are so down on Okposo that some are hoping he will step aside when he gets to 1000 games.

For clarity, the best opportunity Krebs can hope for is to produce offensively with players that most fans have concluded are anchors?

I don’t expect much offense from Krebs in the usage he’s had. But I do expect him to not make so many poor decisions with the puck. It frequently gets us into trouble and his linemates aren’t the cause of that.

 

[Matt Ress]

I don’t expect much offense from Krebs in the usage he’s had. But I do expect him to not make so many poor decisions with the puck that get us into trouble. His linemates aren’t the cause of that.

Krebs seems very replaceable atm. The problem is that they'll have to look outside of the organization to fill that role unless I'm missing someone.

Mersch? Bigger body with some tread left. Could fit well with the vet line and get some NHL paychecks.

Cederqvist? Another big body with some offense if they want to stay young.

 

[joshjull]

 

[OkimLom]

I mean I'd like to pair McDavid with Thompson, so I guess we start with Cozens and work from there.

Thompson for sure would be the big piece going back the other way.

I'd venture to guess it would be Thompson + Power + Multiple 1st Rounders to at least start the discussion.

 

[VaporTrail]

It's happening!!!

Next time please use the meme with that...thanks

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Sabre fans, almost universally, think that Olofsson single-handily drags down our most talented offensive centres (Thompson, Mitts, Cozens).

Fans are so down on Okposo that some are hoping he will step aside when he gets to 1000 games.

For clarity, the best opportunity Krebs can hope for is to produce offensively with players that most fans have concluded are anchors?

Agreed. Krebs seems to be in a tough spot with this current roster. He hasn't shown enough at this level offensively to consistently be put with the high-caliber offensive players. However, he's also been with the least-offensive (or most-offensive, depending on where your thoughts lie) players, so is the problem Krebs, his linemates, or something in-between?

Girgensons and Okposo are not top-six offensive players anymore (Girgs probably never was), but both those guys have recorded a total of five pts...and Krebs wasn't even on the ice for any of them. Krebs, regardless of linemates or usage, has one secondary assist on an EN goal. We could easily conclude that it's KREBS dragging down HIS linemates.

Next time please use the meme with that...thanks

I'll try to be better...

 

[LetsGoBuffalo1126]

Girgensons and Okposo are not top-six offensive players anymore (Girgs probably never was), but both those guys have recorded a total of five pts...and Krebs wasn't even on the ice for any of them. Krebs, regardless of linemates or usage, has one secondary assist on an EN goal. We could easily conclude that it's KREBS dragging down HIS linemates.


I'll try to be better...

View attachment 764408

It's absolutely possible. That's why I said earlier that he's in a weird spot on the roster. Barring injuries, he's not going to play over the current top 6 and even future top 9. I don't think Buffalo is a good organization for his development, to be honest.