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

[Snippit]

Look at the forward group moving ahead. Let's imagine they progress as much as possible by next year - Kulich is ready for the NHL & the current whipping boys Mittelstadt & Olofsson are both moved on - the lineup could look like:

Skinner - Thompson - Tuch
Greenway - Cozens - Quinn
Kulich - Krebs - Peterka
Girgensons - Jost - Okposo (this could be anyone since all guys are FA's)

It's going to be incredibly difficult for any of our other young guys to crack this lineup. It's very young with the top 9 all considered 'long term' pieces. You're not bringing them in to play the fourth line roles either - if the likes of Girgensons/Okposo walk then suitable replacements will need to be found elsewhere.

To optimise his available assets - Adams will HAVE to make trades which hurt anyone attached to high picks/prospects. He's backed himself into this corner by thus far employing a one dimensional approach to drafting.

I'm still very bullish on the future. We could theoretically ice the above group & comfortably have enough remaining assets to acquire a stud defenseman/legitimate #1 goalie. But these are big moves to make. I'm not 100% confident that Adams will be brave enough to get that done...

I am not even sure Mitts will be traded for next season. Kulich will probably get another year in the AHL. The writing is probably on the wall though for Olofsson with the Greenway trade. I do see your point though. Fitting in the new prospects will be tough and trades will need to be made.

I look at your young guys in 2 sort of waves
Wave 1: Cozens, Krebs, Quinn, Peterka
Wave 2: Savoie, Ostlund, Kulich, Rosen

For me it's very hard to see a future where we don't move minimum 1, but probably 2 of those guys. There just aren't enough spots, and a lot of those guys are pretty similar players. Cozens is locked in. I doubt Quinn is going anywhere either. Rosen is a guy I do see getting moved.

It won't be a problem for next year: I don't think any of our prospects are ready to make the jump. But for the 24-25 season, you have to imagine both Kulich and Savoie will be there.

We are absolutely flush with pieces, as we know. But Adams task to maximize the value in the organization is a challenging one. What I absolutely don't want to see is more forwards getting drafted with our 1st round pick and 2 2nds. Trade those picks or draft RHD. Because this is not even including any other potential prospects: Nadeau, Poltapov, Neuchev, Kisakov.

 

[Rowley Birkin]

I am not even sure Mitts will be traded for next season. Kulich will probably get another year in the AHL. The writing is probably on the wall though for Olofsson with the Greenway trade. I do see your point though. Fitting in the new prospects will be tough and trades will need to be made.

I look at your young guys in 2 sort of waves
Wave 1: Cozens, Krebs, Quinn, Peterka
Wave 2: Savoie, Ostlund, Kulich, Rosen

For me it's very hard to see a future where we don't move minimum 1, but probably 2 of those guys. There just aren't enough spots, and a lot of those guys are pretty similar players. Cozens is locked in. I doubt Quinn is going anywhere either. Rosen is a guy I do see getting moved.

It won't be a problem for next year: I don't think any of our prospects are ready to make the jump. But for the 24-25 season, you have to imagine both Kulich and Savoie will be there.

We are absolutely flush with pieces, as we know. But Adams task to maximize the value in the organization is a challenging one. What I absolutely don't want to see is more forwards getting drafted with our 1st round pick and 2 2nds. Trade those picks or draft RHD. Because this is not even including any other potential prospects: Nadeau, Poltapov, Neuchev, Kisakov.

Exactly this.

I can also see Mitts being part of the plan - in the event of that happening he's another piece you have to fit in. I omitted him in my OP simply to stop anyone replying with 'trade Mitts' as a solution.

The bolded is especially important & the crux of this arguement i am making. To maximise value he might have to move some of these guys earlier than he wants to. Both to fill other voids (D/G) & to ensure he's 'selling high'.

 

[BFLO]

Chances of it happening are near 0. But I wouldn't mind Killorn as the Okposo replacement this summer. He's old and mostly washed, but is still on pace for 20g 60 points.

Could teach our youngin's the way of the scum.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Who's coming out for Greenway vs Edm/NYI... Hino, JJ, Olofsson ??

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Who's coming out for Greenway vs Edm/NYI... Hino, JJ, Olofsson ??

I think it will be Hino. They'll keep Olofsson if only for the PP (and being the vet his leash is far longer than it probably should be). Peterka is playing better of late and Granato will probably let him continue to play his way out of the slump. Jost being a center keeps him in the lineup so he'll stay on the 4th line.

Means it will be Hino.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Who's coming out for Greenway vs Edm/NYI... Hino, JJ, Olofsson ??

Stillman. Gonna run 5 D.

 

[Gabrielor]

He isn't perfect. I imagine I'll still have plenty to say in the future....

..but similar to last summer, when I said Casey seems like an emerging leader, I'm just not seeing it on the ice...

..I'm seeing it on the ice now.


He deserves and I expect him to be a Sabre in 2023-2024.


(now 71, he's likely getting the axe, and my opening favorite for his replacement is actually Kulich)

 

[Djp]

Who's coming out for Greenway vs Edm/NYI... Hino, JJ, Olofsson ??

I think they sit Okposo given back to backs…thrn he’s rested for isles and Hino sits unless an injury occurs.

 

[Grouch]

Who's coming out for Greenway vs Edm/NYI... Hino, JJ, Olofsson ??

How bout KO? Should be him or JJP, but it will be Hino cause you know, kids blah blah

Also the downside of naming a Captain past his prime in my (unpopular) opinion….can’t bench him even when you should.

 

[BuffaloSabresSword]

Look at the forward group moving ahead. Let's imagine they progress as much as possible by next year - Kulich is ready for the NHL & the current whipping boys Mittelstadt & Olofsson are both moved on - the lineup could look like:

Skinner - Thompson - Tuch
Greenway - Cozens - Quinn
Kulich - Krebs - Peterka
Girgensons - Jost - Okposo (this could be anyone since all guys are FA's)

It's going to be incredibly difficult for any of our other young guys to crack this lineup. It's very young with the top 9 all considered 'long term' pieces. You're not bringing them in to play the fourth line roles either - if the likes of Girgensons/Okposo walk then suitable replacements will need to be found elsewhere.

To optimise his available assets - Adams will HAVE to make trades which hurt anyone attached to high picks/prospects. He's backed himself into this corner by thus far employing a one dimensional approach to drafting.

I'm still very bullish on the future. We could theoretically ice the above group & comfortably have enough remaining assets to acquire a stud defenseman/legitimate #1 goalie. But these are big moves to make. I'm not 100% confident that Adams will be brave enough to get that done...

Think team looks like :

Skinner Thompson Tuch
Quinn Cozens Peterka
Mittlestadt Krebs Olofsson
Girgensons Jost or free agent/trade Greenway

Okposo, Hinostroza, Anderson walks

Dahlin Samuelsson
Power D free agent or trade
Jokiharju Lyubuskhin

Bryson Stillman

Goalie situation
UPL

Then get Kulich some games and bringing him in fulltime season after

Also Ostlund rosen and savoie bringing them in and Johnson

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

I hope they are able to hunt up a solid defenseman who we just don't have on our radar like how Pittsburgh landed (and then played) John Marino. Or the Devils getting Siegenthaler because the Caps were up against the cap or Graves in a small move from the Avs.

Thinking about guys who might be someone who can step up into the role:

Jonathan Kovacevic from Montreal. 6'4", 208 lbs, RHD, 25 now and will turn 26 in the summer; drafted and developed by Winnipeg and they lost him on waivers at the start of this season. He has really good metrics and averages over 16 minutes a night for the Habs. He's a bit high on giveaways and modestly in the middle of the pack in hits and blocks among their defensemen, but his Corsi against and expected stuff are really strong despite the Habs problems.

Juuso Valimaki in Arizona, 6'2", 212 lbs, LHD, 24 now and will turn 25 on the eve of next season; drafted and developed in Calgary but another waiver claim this year who has broken out in Arizona who extended him for next season. He'll be on a cheap $1M AAV deal and is RFA afterward. For some reason, he has some kick ass impacts with Arizona. He looks like how he was thought to be when drafted. Also a 16 minute a night guy for Arizona, though that puts him 5th on the team thus far though three of those guys have been dealt.

Then there are the more unconventional thoughts - Jake Livingstone, UDFA RHD out of Minnesota St. (Mankato) or Grigory Dronov LHD from the KHL. Kick over some ant hills in the search, but the way a few teams have struck gold with their mid-pairing guys has been in non-standard ways.

Someone like Justin Holl could be interesting. Has been top 2 among Toronto Dmen on the PK for the past 3 seasons, 1st this season at 3 minutes a game, and Toronto has a very good PK rate the past 2 years at around 82%. He gets shit on by a lot of Toronto fans, but I think he's far better than they give him credit for.

Boston also has a glut of Dmen, and cap troubles next season. Maybe they look to move someone out, especially if they decide to try and keep Orlov.

 

[Grouch]

Just noting big matchup tonight.....Bjork vs Asplund.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Just noting big matchup tonight.....Bjork vs Asplund.

Asplund isn't playing apparently. Bjork getting lots of minutes though.

 

[Chainshot]

Asplund isn't playing apparently. Bjork getting lots of minutes though.

11:45 for Bjork, 6:37 for Asplund after 2 periods.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

11:45 for Bjork, 6:37 for Asplund after 2 periods.

Weird, Box score I'm looking at doesn't show Asplund on it for some reason.

 

[Chainshot]

Weird, Box score I'm looking at doesn't show Asplund on it for some reason.

Up to 8:16 now, wearing 71.

Bjork is at 13:04 and wearing 24.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Up to 8:16 now, wearing 71.

Bjork is at 13:04 and wearing 24.

Bjork won't amount to squat, but Asplund still has potential.

 

[Chainshot]

Bjork won't amount to squat, but Asplund still has potential.

Yeah, just chatting about the game.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Up to 8:16 now, wearing 71.

Bjork is at 13:04 and wearing 24.

Wearing 71 for his hommie?

 

[Chainshot]

Wearing 71 for his hommie?

That was what I was thinking. Not sure what number Olofsson will wear when he goes there this summer.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Yeah, just chatting about the game.

Heh, I just had to get one more shot in at Bjork before he floats away into obscurity.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Wearing 71 for his hommie?

Saros is 74, right?

 

[Der Jaeger]

That was what I was thinking. Not sure what number Olofsson will wear when he goes there this summer.

Once Kevyn trades Olofsson for Fabbro? That’s grade A thinking.

 

[Djp]

I watched most of the 2nd half of the game. Asplund just missed on a high slot shot thst got gloved.

 

[The Blunder Years]

Stillmans hip check on Cole and willingness to eat punches from Jeannot is enough for me to eat crow on my initial reaction to the trade. Was so refreshing seeing someone in a Sabres jersey giving energy to the team by putting their body on the line. Can’t wait to see Greenway steamrolling people too. Too many of our losses we don’t get the physical edge.