Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)

[Aladyyn]

Sounds about right

Beat up the low hanging fruit while circling the wagons around a favorite.

Almost like it's the exact same story as last year and the bottom pairing is killing them by erasing all the good work Dahlin and Power do with fraction of the icetime?

 

[Jim Bob]

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

It will be interesting to see how patient Adams is. He has already been more patient with the forwards than I expected. The challenge right now is that so many of their top 6-9 forward spots are spoken for in 2024-25.

Skinner, Thompson, Tuch, Cozens, Quinn, Peterka, Mittelstadt, Greenway are all likely back. Maybe you open a second top 9 slot if they move Greenway to the 4th line.

And then there are the questions about if Adams brings back 1 or 2 of the UFA forwards. VO isn't back. But, it will not shock me (it will frustrate me a bit, though) if any combination of Okposo, Girgensons, and Jost are back.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

I have no issues with bringing back Girgs as he's effective and gives consistent effort. I'd be very ambivalent about Jost, in a 13th forward role mostly press box with the ability to step into multiple forward positions he could be useful

 

[TageGod]

VO gone, that gives a spot for Savoie/Kulich. Sign two 4th liners that aren't washed up. There is still a good chance greenway settles in as a 4th liner.... A great one though. I would like to see a true top line winger shake loose from another team to acquire. At least a top 6 that's unhappy somewhere. Tuch is unreliable and Skinner is elite when feeling it and bad when he isn't. Kulich Benson and Savoie could all play on the team, but them AND Rosen/ostlund/krebs will not. Move two plus krebs, maybe you stash Ostlund as a long term center replacement.

 

[Jim Bob]

Sabres Should Steer Clear of Patrick Kane - The Hockey Writers Buffalo Sabres Latest News, Analysis & More

Patrick Kane is still a free agent and can sign with any team, but the Buffalo Sabres should stay clear of him.

thehockeywriters.com

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

It will be interesting to see how patient Adams is. He has already been more patient with the forwards than I expected. The challenge right now is that so many of their top 6-9 forward spots are spoken for in 2024-25.

Skinner, Thompson, Tuch, Cozens, Quinn, Peterka, Mittelstadt, Greenway are all likely back. Maybe you open a second top 9 slot if they move Greenway to the 4th line.

And then there are the questions about if Adams brings back 1 or 2 of the UFA forwards. VO isn't back. But, it will not shock me (it will frustrate me a bit, though) if any combination of Okposo, Girgensons, and Jost are back.

Minimum 25% chance Okposo back. Not joking.

Sabres Should Steer Clear of Patrick Kane - The Hockey Writers Buffalo Sabres Latest News, Analysis & More

Patrick Kane is still a free agent and can sign with any team, but the Buffalo Sabres should stay clear of him.

thehockeywriters.com

Any article calling Oloffson part of solution is someone not plugged into the team. He's here because he makes $4.75 M. That said, with our PP going sour he should be on it for one-timers all game.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

It will be interesting to see how patient Adams is. He has already been more patient with the forwards than I expected. The challenge right now is that so many of their top 6-9 forward spots are spoken for in 2024-25.

Skinner, Thompson, Tuch, Cozens, Quinn, Peterka, Mittelstadt, Greenway are all likely back. Maybe you open a second top 9 slot if they move Greenway to the 4th line.

And then there are the questions about if Adams brings back 1 or 2 of the UFA forwards. VO isn't back. But, it will not shock me (it will frustrate me a bit, though) if any combination of Okposo, Girgensons, and Jost are back.

Girgensons is the only UFA FW I won't be upset about returning. The rest need to go. Jost would be fine except for the fact that at least one FW spot will be used to rotate prospects in and out of the line-up. I want them to get bigger or more physical, and the prospects won't be doing that so VO, Jost, and Okposo should go to make room for that effort.

 

[Fezzy126]

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.

Power is probably the biggest enigma of analytics vs the eye test I've ever seen. I've watched entire games thinking that he's the worst player on the ice, and when I check the stats after the game he's sitting there leading the team in CF%, GF%, and xGF% by a large margin.

I've gone back and checked some of the shift charts, he seems to have the highest variance of shifts on the team. He'll get his tail kicked in one shift, then come back two shifts later and spend the entire time in the other team's zone. The analytics crowd will say at the end of the day all that matters is that he delivers positive metrics, but that's not necessarily true. For example, if he puts the team into a early hole, the later shifts that gets him into the positive may be good for his metrics, but too little too late for the overall team. For now all we can do is wait until he gets more experience and gets some more consistency to his game (which will mostly come with improvement in his own end).

As for his "physicality", I really don't care about his size and willingness to hit, cross check, or throw fists. What I would really like to see is a higher level of engagement/conviction from him. Tie up a stick or use your ass to box guys out, more often than not he's just not engaged, standing around puck watching. Having watched him in college, he's pretty much been the same player for 4 years now, so I'm not super hopeful that anything changes ( I know you've been saying this for a while too).

Sometimes it just seems like he's playing flag football while everyone else is playing tackle. I don't need him to be Pronger, but can he have the same level of engagement as other perimeter defensemen? Because right now he' just not hard to play against in his own end.

 

[Mattilaus]

Power is probably the biggest enigma of analytics vs the eye test I've ever seen. I've watched entire games thinking that he's the worst player on the ice, and when I check the stats after the game he's sitting there leading the team in CF%, GF%, and xGF% by a large margin.

I've gone back and checked some of the shift charts, he seems to have the highest variance of shifts on the team. He'll get his tail kicked in one shift, then come back two shifts later and spend the entire time in the other team's zone. The analytics crowd will say at the end of the day all that matters is that he delivers positive metrics, but that's not necessarily true. For example, if he puts the team into a early hole, the later shifts that gets him into the positive may be good for his metrics, but too little too late for the overall team. For now all we can do is wait until he gets more experience and gets some more consistency to his game (which will mostly come with improvement in his own end).

As for his "physicality", I really don't care about his size and willingness to hit, cross check, or throw fists. What I would really like to see is a higher level of engagement/conviction from him. Tie up a stick or use your ass to box guys out, more often than not he's just not engaged, standing around puck watching. Having watched him in college, he's pretty much been the same player for 4 years now, so I'm not super hopeful that anything changes ( I know you've been saying this for a while too).

Sometimes it just seems like he's playing flag football while everyone else is playing tackle. I don't need him to be Pronger, but can he have the same level of engagement as other perimeter defensemen? Because right now he' just not hard to play against in his own end.

I think in this case (and most cases) you employ both the eye test and analytics to determine that he hasn't been as good as the analytics say, but also hasn't been as bad as the eye test seems to indicate. He is a sophmore D man who is struggling with consistency is what I take away from combining the eye test and analytics. I know, shocking conclusion. But the analytics give hope that if he can string together the good parts of his game, he will be very good once he finds said consistency.

 

[Fezzy126]

I think in this case (and most cases) you employ both the eye test and analytics to determine that he hasn't been as good as the analytics say, but also hasn't been as bad as the eye test seems to indicate. He is a sophmore D man who is struggling with consistency is what I take away from combining the eye test and analytics. I know, shocking conclusion. But the analytics give hope that if he can string together the good parts of his game, he will be very good once he finds said consistency.

He reminds me very much of Dougie Hamilton, in the sense that I believe his analytics will always be elite, but his warts will be noticeable enough that he will be a whipping boy for a large amount of the fanbase.

 

[Chainshot]

I think in this case (and most cases) you employ both the eye test and analytics to determine that he hasn't been as good as the analytics say, but also hasn't been as bad as the eye test seems to indicate. He is a sophmore D man who is struggling with consistency is what I take away from combining the eye test and analytics. I know, shocking conclusion. But the analytics give hope that if he can string together the good parts of his game, he will be very good once he finds said consistency.

Yeah, it's just raise his engagement around the net and such around the net to use his stick and positioning to not be exploited in his own zone. The offensive and transition part of his game is likely to get better too, so can he mitigate his weaknesses and that will tip the ice in the team's favor even more.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[debaser66]

He can already settle in his retirement home there

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

No the biggest fan of Laine but with Tage and Quinner out, I am curious what his value would be....

but at the same time, I'd bet were on his 10 team no trade list

 

[Jim Bob]

No the biggest fan of Laine but with Tage and Quinner out, I am curious what his value would be....

but at the same time, I'd bet were on his 10 team no trade list

I still stand by this take that is almost 24 hours old:

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.

 

[Dubi Doo]

I still stand by this take that is almost 24 hours old:

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.

Yeah. I want harder players to play against. Not the Laines and Kanes of the world, though Laine does hold more value.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

I still stand by this take that is almost 24 hours old:

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.

My apologies for not knowing the topic was already brought up.

 

[Chainshot]

Laine hasn't been right since he took that head hit earlier in the year. He's probably a long way off from being close to normal. And then as was touched on, his normal isn't exactly something that fills a lot of longer term needs. He doesn't make them harder to play against and that's a big area of need now and in the future.

 

[joshjull]

 

[Zman5778]

Gotta imagine he's at least a month out at this point. Still needs to get into hockey shape.

 

[sabremike]

Here is the infuriating thing: After last season the narrative on Buffalo being an NHL penal colony everyone would refuse a trade to was quickly fading away. Did KA take advantage of this by using his absurd superabundance of prospects to get the upgrades needed? Nope. Now the team is nosediving straight into the abyss and the "I don't want to go to Buffalo" mentality has come back with a vengeance and when KA is asked why he couldn't make a move he will be able to use NTC's as an excuse.

 

[HOOats]

Nope. Now the team is nosediving straight into the abyss

LOL. Seems like my mental health sabbatical from the board is still fully warranted. "Nosediving straight into the abyss" is hyperbole that would make cable news blush.

the "I don't want to go to Buffalo" mentality has come back with a vengeance

Huh?

 

[BuffaloGooner]

Here is the infuriating thing: After last season the narrative on Buffalo being an NHL penal colony everyone would refuse a trade to was quickly fading away. Did KA take advantage of this by using his absurd superabundance of prospects to get the upgrades needed? Nope. Now the team is nosediving straight into the abyss and the "I don't want to go to Buffalo" mentality has come back with a vengeance and when KA is asked why he couldn't make a move he will be able to use NTC's as an excuse.

This could not be a more incoherent post Jesus Christ what are we even doing

 

[Ace]

Granato can’t find 12 forwards to play every night but there’s an actual debate on whether they keep Benson.

10-8 probably isn’t it

 

[MOGlLNY]

This could not be a more incoherent post Jesus Christ what are we even doing

I don't mind posters being negative on the team but some posters have gone completely off the reservations in their reasoning for why.