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

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

I never said he would step in and play. Some people here like to make arguments up that don't exist.

or some people walk into a thread that has an existing discussion going on, quote nothing for context, put no context in their post, make a post that is almost identical to the discussion going on, and then chose to be offended when others interpret it as part of the existing conversation

 

[Zman5778]

The problem was not leaving spots for young players…it was failing to upgrade the talent around them. Particularly on defense. They should have acquired two better D than they’re skating out there.

When fully healthy, it's being shown that the TALENT on D isn't really a problem. Yes, we have depth issues. That's been noted and beaten to death.

But our defensive issues do not arise from a lack of talent on D. They arise from a lack of defensive intelligence and awareness from the forwards. Even our most talented forwards.

We could be running Fox, Dahlin, Hedman, Chychrun, Ekholm and Power out there and we'd STILL be letting in a bajillion of back-door goals, giving up a mega-asston of odd man rushes against AND leaving the slot guy wide open.

Our tactical defensive issues are because the forwards don't know how to D yet. They're learning. I'll concede that maybe a high-end defense-first 3rd line center might have had a pretty solid effect..........but getting 2 better defenseman wouldn't have had the effect you think it would

 

[Der Jaeger]

To be our 3rd center? Pass.

Not a fan of the numbering lines. He'd get ice time that would be around what a player of his caliber deserves. That wouldn't be an issue.

 

[Jacob582]

Bjork absolutely, positively got beat out. No question.

Hino......a case can be made that he "tied" with the kids.......but the tie was clearly going to the kids. So in Hino's case, I think it's a touch better to say that he didn't beat the kids out of a spot.

I'm glad they replaced Bjork. I'm not sure why they didn't buy him out. I can't imagine that they imagined him being in the lineup. I guess they hoped he could improve over the summer?

 

[Djp]

Bjork absolutely, positively got beat out. No question.

Hino......a case can be made that he "tied" with the kids.......but the tie was clearly going to the kids. So in Hino's case, I think it's a touch better to say that he didn't beat the kids out of a spot.

injuries to the forwards hasn’t much happened this year. Thrn you have UPL doing well thus needing to carry 3 goalies.

 

[Dingo44]

The problem was not leaving spots for young players…it was failing to upgrade the talent around them. Particularly on defense. They should have acquired two better D than they’re skating out there. Everyone looks a lot better if Power has a partner who can do something more than be carried by a rookie and Bryson never sees the ice.

People can argue with me forever about Olofsson’s production but he should have been gone too. Get players in the lineup that would actually benefit the young guys to play with…not take half a season to figure out who they can even play with.

They say it’s about development…and then don’t put the pieces in place to help them develop.

Won’t change until ownership does

The young guys aren't developing?

 

[Jacob582]

I've started to think that being near the lower limit has less to do with being cheap and more to do with having a roster of young players who are coachable (growth mindset) by Don Granato.
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Granato and KA have talked less about "Development" lately. I think that players like Dahlin, Tage and Cozens are probably as sick of hearing that as some fans. They want to make the playoffs.

 

[old kummelweck]

So are you saying Johnson doesn't help solve problems on the roster? I don't understand why people would think he wouldn't.

I never said he would step in and play. Some people here like to make arguments up that don't exist.

I really do not see him on an NHL roster until 24-25 at the earliest, at least not an playoff roster. If he signs in Buffalo, he starts in Rochester and if dynamic, maybe forces the Sabres to make a decision on Bryson/Clague, but that doesn't happen quickly.

My ideal scenerio is they upgrade 4/5/6/7 slot defenseman, something really good, this season. They also sign Johnsson after NCAA season is over with him accepting he can compete in training camp for bottom pairing, but will be playing big minutes in Rochester next season.

If I were Johnsson, I would be looking at the Sabres and wondering where I fit. If he has any PP ambitions, we can kiss him goodbye in UFA, because those point positions are locked up for the next 10 years.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

If Dylan Larkin was truly available (he'll very likely not available), I'd be in on that for a Horvat-like price.

Been going back on forth on this one in my mind too. Simultaneously makes Buffalo stronger while hobbling a near peer which is gravy.

 

[TehDoak]

Gifting?

If you missed it, Bjork and Hinostroza got waived because they -- as vet player place holders -- got beat out as NHL regulars.

The Card says "Not NHL level forwards"

 

[BFLO]

Kraken picked up Jaycob Megna for a 4th.

Seems like he would have been a cheep upgrade on our Jacob.

And he's signed for 762k next season.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Been going back on forth on this one in my mind too. Simultaneously makes Buffalo stronger while hobbling a near peer which is gravy.

I'd make a Horvat trade pretty easily.

2023 1st (conditional)
Olofsson
Rosen

I'd probably throw in one more B prospect to make it work.

 

[Chainshot]

The Card says "Not NHL level forwards"

Over 500 NHL games between 'em.

For those who like the graphic side of things, a representation of how Quinn and Peterka stack up vs. Hinostroza:

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

Over 500 NHL games between 'em.

For those who like the graphic side of things, a representation of how Quinn and Peterka stack up vs. Hinostroza:
View attachment 646493

View attachment 646488

View attachment 646496

im terrible at interpreting these things, turgid and blue is good, limp and red is bad?

 

[Irie]

Kraken picked up Jaycob Megna for a 4th.

Seems like he would have been a cheep upgrade on our Jacob.

And he's signed for 762k next season.

A Megna-Lyubushkin third pairing looks sub-optimal to me on paper. So in terms of roster building, I feel that would not be a great fit.

I think both players are best complimented with someone that skates well and can create some space/carry the puck when needed.

 

[Chainshot]

im terrible at interpreting these things, turgid and blue is good, limp and red is bad?

That is correct. The further from the middle, the better or worse from league average in those categories. Comparing guys across the same team and since Hino has 60-ish minutes in place of Quinn but with markedly lower results in those things, it's not without merit in comparing the directly.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

Did they? It seems like we all knew last summer that Quinn and Peterk were going to be in the lineup and Hino was going to be the extra (barring injury).

I remember it differently, in fact I think there's a pretty long thread somewhere around here arguing the point that there weren't necessarily free roster spots laying around if Granato didn't like what he was seeing

 

[Chainshot]

A Megna-Lyubushkin third pairing looks sub-optimal to me on paper. So in terms of roster building, I feel that would not be a great fit.

I think both players are best complimented with someone that skates well and can create some space/carry the puck when needed.

The Bryson-Lyubushkin pair has grown as they've been together. It's weird that Boosh is the one who is making the stretch passes or filling lanes on net drives more (though that second is probably more due to Bryson's size) while Bryson is the defensively responsible one.

 

[Chainshot]

I remember it differently, in fact I think there's a pretty long thread somewhere around here arguing the point that there weren't necessarily free roster spots laying around if Granato didn't like what he was seeing

It was part of why they talked about bringing Hinostroza back last summer so they wouldn't have to just walk them into spots.

 

[Irie]

Stop simping for the ownership.

Two straight years below the cap floor. It's more than just a 'choice' to go young. It's being stupidly cheap. They could have gotten assets for taking on salary. They could have overpaid short term. They could have looked at short term rentals. I'm not taking time out of my day to post some hypothetical lineup. They've needed a goalie for THREE years. All years Adams was a GM. You want to go through 3 years of goalie transactions and tell me how none of them were a fit for the Sabres? Go right ahead. You want to tell me all the faceoff winning centers who and PKing forwards/D-men they could have gotten and why they were smart to avoid them? Also on you. There have been ample.

You want to avoid bad long term deals? That's fine. You want to let the young kids grow at the NHL level? Also no problem there, though, I'd argue some of the kids could have benefitted from more AHL time. The issue is having glaring issues (for multiple seasons) and doing nothing to resolve them when you have more more draft picks than you can develop and essentially unlimited short term cap space.

We're are probably going to be the 1st team in NHL history with a Norris Nominee and a Hart Nominee at the same time that misses the playoffs in a league where half the teams make the playoffs. Why? Because the ownership refused to address obvious issues and opted for the cheapest possible route.

You post the same argument in every thread, and a lot of posters keep asking you, "what upgrade UFAs were available to sign that would come to Buffalo?", and you never respond.

The only quality UFAs that would have signed with the Sabres recently were guys on the wrong side of 30 that were asking for 7 year deals and would demand premium compensation. All those contracts would have aged worse than Skinners or Okposo's.

Guys that are available with term around the league are typically flawed, and they still cost a ton if they are effective.

Trading away a lot of picks and prospects for immediate help is what this team had been doing for a decade and created the mess they are slowly climbing out of now, yet you seem to want to see them do the same thing again. It's kinda insane.

 

[TehDoak]

Over 500 NHL games between 'em.

For those who like the graphic side of things, a representation of how Quinn and Peterka stack up vs. Hinostroza:
View attachment 646493

View attachment 646488

View attachment 646496

You aren't really helping your case that Hinostroza is an obstacle to overcome in terms of a roster spot.

Both Bjork and Hino are serviceable 12/13th forwards....but nothing more. Neither were going to challenge for a middle six roster spot when the roster is fully healthy.

 

[Zman5778]

I've started to think that being near the lower limit has less to do with being cheap and more to do with having a roster of young players who are coachable (growth mindset) by Don Granato.
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This is going to come out WAY more sarcastically than what I want it to, so I want you to know I mean no offense:

Congrats on coming over to the side of logic. This is absolutely and positively the truth of the matter.

 

[Zman5778]

Not a fan of the numbering lines. He'd get ice time that would be around what a player of his caliber deserves. That wouldn't be an issue.

But at the same time he (and Horvat who you championed for, but now that ship has sailed) aren't really what we're looking for at all.

We've got our two high-talent centers, one of which who will become a high-end 2-way center. We don't need another high-talent, high-cap guy down the middle.

What we need is a guy who knows his role -- win faceoffs, PK, be defensively responsible (teach the kids that too) and don't be a black hole of suck offensively.

 

[jcbeze]

I've started to think that being near the lower limit has less to do with being cheap and more to do with having a roster of young players who are coachable (growth mindset) by Don Granato.
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Granato and KA have talked less about "Development" lately. I think that players like Dahlin, Tage and Cozens are probably as sick of hearing that as some fans. They want to make the playoffs.

Just started to think that? It was pretty clear from the onset the reason for a low cap number

 

[Chainshot]

You aren't really helping your case that Hinostroza is an obstacle to overcome in terms of a roster spot.

Both Bjork and Hino are serviceable 12/13th forwards....but nothing more. Neither were going to challenge for a middle six roster spot when the roster is fully healthy.

Your complaint has steadily been about NHL competition and you made a claim on just the last page about players being gifted spots. They didn't gift anyone a spot.