Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[CowbellConray]

We all tend to forget Chara wasn’t the most physically engaged big man until he had been in the league for a while. Hedman was “soft”. Myers was “soft”. Every big guy who was Uber physical since their junior days has been a fraction of the skill of Power. When Power is 23/24, he will be a physical piece on the blue line I have no doubt

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

We all tend to forget Chara wasn’t the most physically engaged big man until he had been in the league for a while. Hedman was “soft”. Myers was “soft”. Every big guy who was Uber physical since their junior days has been a fraction of the skill of Power. When Power is 23/24, he will be a physical piece on the blue line I have no doubt

Myers is the only one of those who had to handle pressures to carry the team right away like Power is having to do. And it arguably hurt his development and career. I'd be careful about overloading a kid like this.

 

[Ehran]

Myers is the only one of those who had to handle pressures to carry the team right away like Power is having to do. And it arguably hurt his development and career. I'd be careful about overloading a kid like this.

Huh?

Did Dahlin suddenly cease to exist?

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Myers is the only one of those who had to handle pressures to carry the team right away like Power is having to do. And it arguably hurt his development and career. I'd be careful about overloading a kid like this.

Nonsense. Myers was good, just not great. Had a great rookie on team with some vets and everyone expected more

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Nonsense. Myers was good, just not great. Had a great rookie on team with some vets and everyone expected more

Which part is nonsense? I didn't say Myers isn't good -- and he's still playing, so I'm not sure why you're using the past tense. I'm saying his development was stunted because so much responsibility and pressure was put on him so early. I feel he could've been a better player if more care was taken during his development.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Which part is nonsense? I didn't say Myers isn't good -- and he's still playing, so I'm not sure why you're using the past tense. I'm saying his development was stunted because so much responsibility and pressure was put on him so early. I feel he could've been a better player if more care was taken during his development.

I don't buy into the stunted development at all. Some guys are just only so good, and expectations get too high. Myers had a great rookie year, and his sophomore year was pretty good, too. He had some injuries, an NHL strike year and then the Sabres were just plain horrible, and he played with way lower-calibre players. He has always been good, but people had fantasies because of his height. Yes, he's still a decent player. Good for him. I think his career has been what it has been, and that's pretty good. If he played for some great clubs, he probably would be higher rated because he would have gotten easier assignments and been part of more winners. For me, he has had a respectable to very good career. Proud to own his jersey. I hate when he gets trashed in Buffalo, but a few.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

Think of the difference between say peak Tallinder vs. peak McKee. Both were good at defense but Tallinder's game was very much about smartly using his stick and positioning to deny plays rather than physically overpowering someone. McKee was much more about contact and while also good at denying plays with his stick, was the more physical of the two. Power to progress is going to need to add elements of what Tallinder did - pinning guys out, getting to and disrupting sticks, etc... He does not have the natural aggression in his game to simply become a knee breaker... it's not in his nature.

Is it reasonable to wish that Tallinder was on the Sabres staff to help groom this kid?

I mean maybe that's what Erik Johnson is here for? But I don't believe EJ really had the team assignment with the Avs to groom new players on D. My impression was that EJ was a leader on D by example versus instruction.

 

[Chainshot]

Is it reasonable to wish that Tallinder was on the Sabres staff to help groom this kid?

I mean maybe that's what Erik Johnson is here for? But I don't believe EJ really had the team assignment with the Avs to groom new players on D. My impression was that EJ was a leader on D by example versus instruction.

Some of it is technique, but this is what Girardi's on staff - and Wolford - to bring that out in the defensemen from what has been put in print about the coaching group. I do wonder if it is a technique issue though and not also mindset. There is a gap when I view Power from someone who isn't doing a good job with stick position or how they pin someone out vs. not even doing either. He's in the "not really doing it" category, not even yet in the "needs to improve his technique" category. It is an area that will help them since Power is so good in transitioning the puck and keeping plays alive in the offensive zone. If he's not getting his teeth kicked in at his end of the rink, the advantage territorially is going to be even more marked in the final score more nights than not because they are going to be out chancing and usually out scoring the opponents then.

 

[SabresFan26]

Thoughts on making a trade for Patrick Laine? He was a healthy scratch yesterday.

 

[Chainshot]

Thoughts on making a trade for Patrick Laine? He was a healthy scratch yesterday.

Kind of ultra Vic. He doesn't play in his own zone much or well.

And the attempts to make him a center are not in his best interest in terms of production.

 

[Chainshot]

I guess is more about personality, look at Chara and the fuming look he had, or dirty Pronger. Dahlin is not that tall but he got that mean streak in him.
He just seems not engaged enough in his own zone were it is required to get in contact. I remember early in the season when he tried to hit a player half of his size and bounced off him.
He just needs to get the finesse to pin down players with skill and tying down sticks as some people mentioned.

Very much so - it's temperament. And it is not Power's temperament.

 

[zenthusiast]

Thoughts on making a trade for Patrick Laine? He was a healthy scratch yesterday.

I think there’s something to the player but I don’t see the fit with the current roster construction

 

[Jim Bob]

Thoughts on making a trade for Patrick Laine? He was a healthy scratch yesterday.

A) He has a 10 team No Trade list.
B) He has an $8.7M cap hit that runs through the 2025-26 season.
C) C'Bus is going to want a sizable package back for him.
D) He has had trouble staying healthy over the past few seasons.
E) He is not good defensively.

Hard pass.

 

[dortt]

Why is it not reasonable? If a guy is showing to be behind in certain root issues in playing hockey, why is it unreasonable to keep him in leagues to work on his game until he's met levels to show he's ready before he's thrusted into a league he's not ready for?

Where did I say he needed to be in development for 5-6 years? IF it takes that long to develop him, then so be it. Guy is 20 years old. To act like asking him to be developed in a logical manner, when your organization has the time to do so, and can structure the team to allow him to do so, is somehow unreasonable, is quite weird.

We have a ton of examples of players that were developed terribly, while seeing the organization continue to rush players to the NHL roster, and thrusted into roles they are not ready for the exact same ways and decisions in deciding WHERE to develop players. Nothing has changed with this organization. They aren't patient with their prospects.

are we seriously saying Power is not ready for the NHL?

 

[Beerz]

Very much so - it's temperament. And it is not Power's temperament.

It's temperament yes... but all he needs is the basics of physicality... not Chara but you can't be Marc Andre Gragnani and expect to ever be successful in your own zone. I think Tallinder is a good example.. not a beast out there but I never considered Hank soft in general or soft on the puck. He battled.

 

[Beerz]

A) He has a 10 team No Trade list.
B) He has an $8.7M cap hit that runs through the 2025-26 season.
C) C'Bus is going to want a sizable package back for him.
D) He has had trouble staying healthy over the past few seasons.
E) He is not good defensively.

Hard pass.

He is toxic.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Kind of ultra Vic. He doesn't play in his own zone much or well.

And the attempts to make him a center are not in his best interest in terms of production.

What is it with teams trying to take Finns with similar sounding names and move them to center?

 

[Selanne00008]

Right, 12 F, 7D, 3G...correct? Am I missing a FW?

Skinner-Cozens-Tuch
Peterka-Mittelstadt-Benson
Girgensons-Krebs-Okposo
Greenway-Jost-Olofsson

Looking ahead.
With this group as is, next year we add in Tage, Quinn, Savoie, Kulich, and possibly Rosen.

Is it as simple out goes, Okposo, Krebs, Girgenson, Olofsson, and possibly Jost?

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Looking ahead.
With this group as is, next year we add in Tage, Quinn, Savoie, Kulich, and possibly Rosen.

Is it as simple out goes, Okposo, Krebs, Girgenson, Olofsson, and possibly Jost?

Nope, not at all as you need to find players that are diametrically opposite of most of your additions. You need to add at least 2 or 3 hard nosed defensively oriented as it's not a video game of shoot, score, celebrate

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Looking ahead.
With this group as is, next year we add in Tage, Quinn, Savoie, Kulich, and possibly Rosen.

Is it as simple out goes, Okposo, Krebs, Girgenson, Olofsson, and possibly Jost?

Just shipping out the old and bringing up the new...

Skinner - Thompson - Tuch
Benson - Mittelstadt - Kulich
Quinn - Cozens - Peterka
Greenway - Krebs - Rosen
Savoie

I just can't see it. Too much inexperience and even if the learning curve was high, that roster gets mauled on a regular basis. I'd rather see a few more physical vets sprinkled in...UFAs like Niederreiter, Carrier, Austin Watson, Sundqvist, or Noesen.

 

[Selanne00008]

Just shipping out the old and bringing up the new...

Skinner - Thompson - Tuch
Benson - Mittelstadt - Kulich
Quinn - Cozens - Peterka
Greenway - Krebs - Rosen
Savoie

I just can't see it. Too much inexperience and even if the learning curve was high, that roster gets mauled on a regular basis. I'd rather see a few more physical vets sprinkled in...UFAs like Niederreiter, Carrier, Austin Watson, Sundqvist, or Noesen.

Nope, not at all as you need to find players that are diametrically opposite of most of your additions. You need to add at least 2 or 3 hard nosed defensively oriented as it's not a video game of shoot, score, celebrate

I tend to agree. I suppose you could marinate Rosen another year. But if the others are pushing for NHL minutes full-time, something has to give via trade, etc.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

I tend to agree. I suppose you could marinate Rosen another year. But if the others are pushing for NHL minutes full-time, something has to give via trade, etc.

Decisions will need to be made fairly soon

 

[Selanne00008]

Decisions will need to be made fairly soon

I sense a hockey trade coming. Maybe once Quinn/Tage are back and depending how the team is doing.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Don't think they'll make any franchise altering trades during the season, but there should be turnover this off-season

 

[Gras]

Don't think they'll make any franchise altering trades during the season, but there should be turnover this off-season

VO not doing himself any favors to be enticing to any other teams