Roster thread: Get To Work (2022-2023 Season)

[The Blunder Years]

I think Biro, Kulich, Rosen, Rousek, and Weissbach are all call up options this season and may get some looks. Would have to take a ton for any of them to stay up for the remainder of the season because you would have to waive Vinnie or Asplund if no one is on IR. I just don’t really see that happening when they’re all fine competing in Roch.

As for next year, I assume one of Mitts/Olofsson, one of Girgs/Jost, and Vinnie to all be off the team. Maybe there’s one forward signing in free agency but would much rather those three forward spots be used for a few of the young players I mentioned above.

Kulich, Rousek, and Biro all make the most sense since they play styles that would compliment our bottom 6. Totally fine leaving Rosen down there all of this year and most of next year hoping he takes the Quinn/Peterka step in his second AHL season, if not the second half of this season.

I think Rousek is a hell of a player and probably deserves his shot in the NHL the most out of those guys. Think he’s exactly what we are lacking in the bottom 6.

 

[Jim Bob]

I think Biro, Kulich, Rosen, Rousek, and Weissbach are all call up options this season and may get some looks. Would have to take a ton for any of them to stay up for the remainder of the season because you would have to waive Vinnie or Asplund if no one is on IR. I just don’t really see that happening when they’re all fine competing in Roch.

As for next year, I assume one of Mitts/Olofsson, one of Girgs/Jost, and Vinnie to all be off the team. Maybe there’s one forward signing in free agency but would much rather those three forward spots be used for a few of the young players I mentioned above.

Kulich, Rousek, and Biro all make the most sense since they play styles that would compliment our bottom 6. Totally fine leaving Rosen down there all of this year and most of next year hoping he takes the Quinn/Peterka step in his second AHL season, if not the second half of this season.

I think Rousek is a hell of a player and probably deserves his shot in the NHL the most out of those guys. Think he’s exactly what we are lacking in the bottom 6.

I have a feeling that Rosen & Kulich get the Quinn & Peterka treatment and stay in Rochester for the entire season.

 

[threeVo]

Ya you should be pissed at yourself for something that wasn’t going to happen and you had no control over. You know this off season when we had a roster full of players who hadn’t produced at an nhl level for more than 20 games + Thompson. You all should be going home and kicking yourself for not wanting to make that nonexistent trade. I mean seriously what is wrong with you?

Risto got a first going to be the new “my trade isn’t ridiculous Gaustad got a first”

It literally made no sense for a rebuilding team to extend a 26 year old RFA that has been a 1 dimensional goal scorer. He had some value to bring in much needed depth to insulate these young players that they didnt rush but you knew had earned a NHL roster spot.

Now we have a player who really should be sitting in the pressbox every night in favor of either ASplund or Vinny because they actually bring something the team does need in their bottom 6....

This is one of those agree to disagree things I think.

Quinn is potential right now, VO is proven. Again, on PP I'm talking

The potential of Quinn is what's allowing us to move VO. It's just that for some reason, we would almost purposefully, seemingly, be selling our asset at a low, and it's not necessary imo.

That asset was never worth more than in the offseason. The only trade to be made now would simply be to clear the salary and open up a roster spot for a much more useful forward. The Sabres top 6 is set in stone for the most part and even if they have injuries VO is not the guy to fill one of those spots.

 

[Dingo44]

NHL Power Rankings: 32 NHL All-Star roster suggestions

If you’re looking for worthy candidates to vote into the All-Star Game, we’ve got 32 of them right here.

theathletic.com

This week the rankings include who made the All Star Team and who deserves one of the few spots left - and the Atlantic has yet to name a defenseman.

17. Buffalo Sabres
Last Week: 19
Record: 19-15-2
Sean rank: 15
Hailey rank: 19

First All-Star: Tage Thompson
Send him to Florida: Rasmus Dahlin

Buffalo is here to inflate the average height of the Atlantic Division squad, and Dahlin deserves it. He’s leveled up this season across the board. No Eastern Conference defenseman has played more or totaled more points. That’s easy math.

 

[joshjull]

 

[Dingo44]

With the style the Sabres play Anderson's save percentage is even more impressive.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Shayna Goldman from the Athletic with some interesting comments on the Sabres Bottom 6, L2-3, 2nd and 3rd pairings, and UPL here today.

Shayna Goldman Tage Thompson Is An All Star

Shayna Goldman Joins The Show On The Sabres And Hearing Tage Thompson Being Named To An All Star Team

www.audacy.com

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

It literally made no sense for a rebuilding team to extend a 26 year old RFA that has been a 1 dimensional goal scorer. He had some value to bring in much needed depth to insulate these young players that they didnt rush but you knew had earned a NHL roster spot.

Now we have a player who really should be sitting in the pressbox every night in favor of either ASplund or Vinny because they actually bring something the team does need in their bottom 6....


That asset was never worth more than in the offseason. The only trade to be made now would simply be to clear the salary and open up a roster spot for a much more useful forward. The Sabres top 6 is set in stone for the most part and even if they have injuries VO is not the guy to fill one of those spots.

its the combination of revisionist and just plain wrong that makes these posts so interesting

 

[toomuchsauce]

hellebucyk has been consistently good for 8 seasons in a row, but doesn't seem to be talked about much. He's really on the Ryan Miller track, right down to having played in the NAHL prior to college.

And speaking of hellebucyk, if Levi wants to be a good pro, helleybuck would be the guy to emulate with .952/.941 in two NCAA seasons. Levon had the .952 last year, but he's gotta pump those numbers up this year to get close to a .941.

 

[BuffaloSabresSword]

Would Kane sign in Buffalo this summer ? 1-3 years ?

when he know the sabres with him can make a great push ?

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

I find it ironic that in 2023, the best Sabre team in a decades foundation was laid down by Jason Botterill. There is a reason Botts is an AGM for a likely playoff team and Tim Murray hasn't even had another job since we fired him


Botts traded for Tage and Skinner and Jokiharju. Drafted Mitts, UPL, Bryson, Dahlin, Samuelsson, and Cozens. All in all Botts built us a solid team.

 

[PatLaFontaineASMR]

When was the last time Vic was featured on the PP?

How is it that the Sabres have a PP assassin like this, and they are reducing his value in any potential trade by not showing him off?

Maybe they just want Cozens to get as many points possible so his contract is through the roof ridiculous?

Cozens takes faceoffs and is a better fit with Tage.

 

[Chainshot]

Would Kane sign in Buffalo this summer ? 1-3 years ?

when he know the sabres with him can make a great push ?

Why would the Sabres need him?

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

Why would the Sabres need him?

Yeah, that train sailed

 

[DustyZ]

I find it ironic that in 2023, the best Sabre team in a decades foundation was laid down by Jason Botterill. There is a reason Botts is an AGM for a likely playoff team and Tim Murray hasn't even had another job since we fired him


Botts traded for Tage and Skinner and Jokiharju. Drafted Mitts, UPL, Bryson, Dahlin, Samuelsson, and Cozens. All in all Botts built us a solid team.

Couldn't agree more with this.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I find it ironic that in 2023, the best Sabre team in a decades foundation was laid down by Jason Botterill. There is a reason Botts is an AGM for a likely playoff team and Tim Murray hasn't even had another job since we fired him


Botts traded for Tage and Skinner and Jokiharju. Drafted Mitts, UPL, Bryson, Dahlin, Samuelsson, and Cozens. All in all Botts built us a solid team.

Yeah Botts gets all the credit for losing so bad that he got Dahlin. And he also tried to trade Tage for a 5th. And none of these players would be playing well at all if his dumb ass coach was still here.

The Murry/Botterill combo was still the worst thing to happen to this franchise ever.

 

[Djp]

Would Kane sign in Buffalo this summer ? 1-3 years ?

when he know the sabres with him can make a great push ?

its possible on a short contract Of 1-3 yrs. This is true with any free agent they look to sign in the off-season.
you figure Power is on a bridge after ELC ends. The roster has other young players on ELC/ bridge contracts.

 

[Dubi Doo]

I find it ironic that in 2023, the best Sabre team in a decades foundation was laid down by Jason Botterill. There is a reason Botts is an AGM for a likely playoff team and Tim Murray hasn't even had another job since we fired him


Botts traded for Tage and Skinner and Jokiharju. Drafted Mitts, UPL, Bryson, Dahlin, Samuelsson, and Cozens. All in all Botts built us a solid teteam.

Botts also iced the same idiotic defense year after year. Failed to build any sort of depth on the roster. Terribly mismanaged our young players including Tage. Hired Krueger. Never once finished outside the bottom-10 of teams while having Eichel, Reinhart, and ROR to work with.

He was a TERRIBLE GM. Probably my least favorite because he lacked a vision for what he was building. It seemed like he was consistently obtaining random players who never panned out in their roles. He sucked, and I wont give him any props because he wouldve had this team sucking this year as well if he were at the helm. Zero doubt in my mind.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Back to the topic-

If Adams could make two minor moves within the next few months, then Id be a happy man.

One: Upgrade the 3rd pairing. Clague may be a decent piece to try here, but if he fails- then Id like to see a trade for a middle-to-bottom-pairing defenseman to pair with Lyubushkin, who is starting to look a bit better.

Two: Replace Olofsson with a a solid top-9 winger who has a little bit of sand paper to his game. Asplund was looking the part, so giving him a stretch of games may be worthwhile, but if he fails, then hopefully a move could be made.

Now, of course- these types of players need to be made available to make the trade, so I wont get pissy if he cant find a deal. But I think those two moves would go a long way in building depth + making the team harder to play against.

Finding a more suitable option as our second bottom 6 center to replace Mitts and finding a solid top-4 defenseman to pair with Power can wait since both Mitts and Joki have shown they can be contributors on this team. Id like to see how they finish the second half of the year before moving on, but I also wouldn't be ticked if Adams wanted to upgrade them, too.

 

[Weltschmerz]

Back to the topic-

If Adams could make two minor moves within the next few months, then Id be a happy man.

One: Upgrade the 3rd pairing. Clague may be a decent piece to try here, but if he fails- then Id like to see a trade for a middle-to-bottom-pairing defenseman to pair with Lyubushkin, who is starting to look a bit better.

Two: Replace Olofsson with a a solid top-9 winger who has a little bit of sand paper to his game. Asplund was looking the part, so giving him a stretch of games may be worthwhile, but if he fails, then hopefully a move could be made.

Now, of course- these types of players need to be made available to make the trade, so I wont get pissy if he cant find a deal. But I think those two moves would go a long way in building depth + making the team harder to play against.

Finding a more suitable option as our second bottom 6 center to replace Mitts and finding a solid top-4 defenseman to pair with Power can wait since both Mitts and Joki have shown they can be contributors on this team. Id like to see how they finish the second half of the year before moving on, but I also wouldn't be ticked if Adams wanted to upgrade them, too.

Doubt there is happening much before the all star break.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Doubt there is happening much before the all star break.

I think some teams "might" try and get a jump on the Bedard sweepstakes post WJC's (Chicago, Columbus, Arizona for ie).

 

[Ace]

its possible on a short contract Of 1-3 yrs. This is true with any free agent they look to sign in the off-season.
you figure Power is on a bridge after ELC ends. The roster has other young players on ELC/ bridge contracts.

Why would I figure Power is on a bridge when the organization is about to pay for what happens when you put top young D players on a bridge? You pay what it takes to get term. Or you pay a hell of a lot more later.

 

[Weltschmerz]

I think some teams "might" try and get a jump on the Bedard sweepstakes post WJC's (Chicago, Columbus, Arizona for ie).

Maybe but is anyone ready to buy or even overpay rigth now? No reason for the teams that look to be in it and bubble teams are probably waiting to know where they are.

 

[Ace]

If teams were serious about tanking they’d trade for Olofsson and never put him on the powerplay.

 

[Fezzy126]

Ugh, I wasn't going to respond to the trolls, but I'm bored so here we go...

People continuing to talk about which GM was responsible for which players continue to miss the point: Talent identification and player acquisition are a small fraction of a GM's overall job.

Here's a list of things that (all) previous GMs failed at on a meteoric level:
- Establishing organization vision, goals, culture, and priorities
- Front office hires and structure
- Creating AND executing a successful player development program
- Coaching hires
- Scouting hires
- Scouting vision
- Analytics department
- Team building and collaboration between departments
- Empowering your staff to execute their goals
- Media communications
- Fan outreach and communications

Not saying Adams is hitting 1.000 with all of these, but he has been worlds better than anyone since... Muckler?

So please, and I mean this with all due respect, get the f*** out of here with these takes about Botts, Murray, or anyone else that failed miserably at their job while here. They are responsible for absolutely nothing good that is happening now.