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

[Aladyyn]

Its not pessimistic. Its realistic. Clearly my standard is also higher than yours for what I am looking for from a player.

I said those player were possibles. They have not arrived there. I think it is disingenuous to declare them on thier way to be strong top 9 players when they haven't shown it yet. Mitts is pretty flawed but my make it to be a servicable 3rd line winger, but Greenway is likely to be a better fit for that. Krebs cieling right now looks like it is a 3rd line center, but he is undersized and has a poor faceoff percentage, so again, my be just adequate for the role. JJP is likely headed for middle six winger. Slightly undersized but should be adequate for the role.

Because they are likely adequate at best for those roles, there is opportunity to replace them with better players for the roles they would have. If you have one of them on a strong line its servicable, but make a third line of say, Mitts - Krebs - JJP, and you likely have a servicable 3rd line, not strong one, that likely is losing its matchup to a good playoff team.

Raise the bar.

Gonna use the Hurricanes as a point of comparison, as Boston is having an absolutely historic season which really isn't a realistic goal for us, while the Hurricanes are playing at strong President's Trophy winner pace which is like the upper mark of what we can realistically hope to achieve. So let's see how their players by icetime stack up to ours. Bolded the player in the pairing who rates higher by evolving-hockey's GAR.

Forwards:
1. Alex Tuch - Sebastian Aho
2. Tage Thompson - Martin Nečas
3. Jeff Skinner - Andrei Svechnikov
4. Dylan Cozens - Teuvo Teravainen
5. Casey Mittelstadt - Jordan Staal
6. Kyle Okposo - Seth Jarvis
7. Victor Olofsson - Jordan Martinook
8. Tyson Jost - Jesper Fast
9. JJ Peterka - Jesperi Kotkaniemi
10. Peyton Krebs - Paul Stastny
11. Jack Quinn - Stefan Noesen
12. Zemgus Girgensons - Derek Stepan

The big issue I can see here is that we have Okposo/Olofsson as borderline top6 players by ice-time which are slots they are vastly underperforming. The good thing is that Quinn and Jost are actually outpacing these slots on the Hurricanes roster so that's going to be a natural avenue for improvement.

Defensemen:
1. Rasmus Dahlin - Brent Burns
2. Owen Power - Brett Pesce
3. Mattias Samuelsson - Jaccob Slavin
4. Henri Jokiharju - Brady Skjei
5. Jacob Bryson - Jalen Chatfield
6. Ilya Lyubushkin - Calvin de Haan

By GAR, our top 3 is straight up better here, and our top 4 is pretty much even. Then there's obviously a massive gulf in terms of the 3rd pairing, which pretty much everyone has agreed to be an issue for most of the season.

Obviously the Canes have a really strong system that they play towards but I really don't think their middle-6 pieces are something that's significantly above what we're going to have on the roster in 2 years even without external additions.

(also fwiw Krebs is at 49% on faceoffs in 2023)

 

[Matt Ress]

Several of us have answered this many times. Just go thru the roster and ask yourself if this guy is on your cup contender team or on track to develop into one. If not, then they are on your replacement list.

Keep: Skinner, Tage, Tuch, Quinn, Cozens, Sammy, Dahlin, Power. (8)

Possibles: JJP, UPL, Krebs, Mitts or Greenway, Girgs (5)

Missed Cut: Olofsson, Mitts or Greenway, Joker, Lybushkin, Stillman, Bryson, Clague, Jost, Okposo, Hino, Comrie, Andersen (12)

So we have 13 players currently on the roster that either are playoff core, or likely to develop into.

We have 12 players that need to be traded, let go to UFA, or demoted to the AHL.

By the time we get to being a cup contender we need to replace 4 defensemen, 5 forwards and at least one goaltender.

Knowing that, you cannot keep letting trade periods pass without making changes to improve the team and fill in some of those slots, by both addition, and subtraction.

So what if the team is improving. It is not on a tragectory to achieve the goal, so we have to make changes. Thus:

Running it back is madness.

Are you saying Mitts and Greenway are redundant?

 

[Bendium]

thinking that is even possible in the cap compliant, collectively bargained NHL is the only madness

Why? Maybe not in one fell swoop, but 3-4 per trade period? Some can be let go as UFA's, some traded. Its entirely possible, and not really that hard to replace the people I listed.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

Why? Maybe not in one fell swoop, but 3-4 per trade period? Some can be let go as UFA's, some traded. Its entirely possible, and not really that hard to replace the people I listed.

well that isnt what you said, you said if they make that few changes heading into next season it would be madness, thats 1 trade period

 

[Bendium]

Gonna use the Hurricanes as a point of comparison, as Boston is having an absolutely historic season which really isn't a realistic goal for us, while the Hurricanes are playing at strong President's Trophy winner pace which is like the upper mark of what we can realistically hope to achieve. So let's see how their players by icetime stack up to ours. Bolded the player in the pairing who rates higher by evolving-hockey's GAR.

Forwards:
1. Alex Tuch - Sebastian Aho
2. Tage Thompson - Martin Nečas
3. Jeff Skinner - Andrei Svechnikov
4. Dylan Cozens - Teuvo Teravainen
5. Casey Mittelstadt - Jordan Staal
6. Kyle Okposo - Seth Jarvis
7. Victor Olofsson - Jordan Martinook
8. Tyson Jost - Jesper Fast
9. JJ Peterka - Jesperi Kotkaniemi
10. Peyton Krebs - Paul Stastny
11. Jack Quinn - Stefan Noesen
12. Zemgus Girgensons - Derek Stepan

The big issue I can see here is that we have Okposo/Olofsson as borderline top6 players by ice-time which are slots they are vastly underperforming. The good thing is that Quinn and Jost are actually outpacing these slots on the Hurricanes roster so that's going to be a natural avenue for improvement.

Defensemen:
1. Rasmus Dahlin - Brent Burns
2. Owen Power - Brett Pesce
3. Mattias Samuelsson - Jaccob Slavin
4. Henri Jokiharju - Brady Skjei
5. Jacob Bryson - Jalen Chatfield
6. Ilya Lyubushkin - Calvin de Haan

By GAR, our top 3 is straight up better here, and our top 4 is pretty much even. Then there's obviously a massive gulf in terms of the 3rd pairing, which pretty much everyone has agreed to be an issue for most of the season.

Obviously the Canes have a really strong system that they play towards but I really don't think their middle-6 pieces are something that's significantly above what we're going to have on the roster in 2 years even without external additions.

(also fwiw Krebs is at 49% on faceoffs in 2023)

Good post. Thanks for the thoughtful response. Certainly system and coaching matters. We have to massively improve our bottom 4 dmen. The real problem I have with the middle six is the lack of size and grit. Yes cozens and now greenway have size, but Quinn, JJP, Krebs, Olofsson, and Jost are all below average size, and the prospects coming in are all undersized. There are more players than slots, and NONE of them are appropriate for a 4the line role. So if even one or two bigger two way forwards were added to strengthen the middle six, you literally will have 3-4 players left over.

Kulich looks like he is on his way to be a solid middle six winger, but if Krebs takes the 3rd line center role (and yes his faceoffs have improved), then where in the lineup do you expect Savoie to slot into? I don't see it, which is why unlike KA, I am happy to trade him for a top 4 dman.

Goaltend......ooooooooff. We cannot wait around on Levi. I would like to see them trade for or UFA sign a legit #1 for with 2-3 years of term. Make UPL and or Levi have to take it. In the mean time it is somewhat hard to evaluate the rest of the roster when the net is on fire.

 

[Bendium]

Are you saying Mitts and Greenway are redundant?

Yes. We have 5 LW right now. Skinner, Quinn, Mitts, Greenway, Girgs. Greenway was unhappy and underperforming because a coaching change relegated him to a 4th line checking role. He is a middle six two way player, and that's what the Sabres traded for, not to replace Girgs. Quinn can play both sides, but the left is better because it puts his stick to the middle of the ice to shoot. So where does Mitts go? You could move him to the RW where his shot is to the middle, except he has shown a hesitancy to shoot, and thus his passing and boardplay are more effective with his stick to the boards on the LW. Most want Girgs back on a 3 yr contract (I agree) because he is a very good 4th line LW.

So....yeah, I have Greenway and Mitts fighting for the third line LW role. I will wait to see him play in Donnie's system, but likely Greenways size and physicality win out.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Yes. We have 5 LW right now. Skinner, Quinn, Mitts, Greenway, Girgs. Greenway was unhappy and underperforming because a coaching change relegated him to a 4th line checking role. He is a middle six two way player, and that's what the Sabres traded for, not to replace Girgs. Quinn can play both sides, but the left is better because it puts his stick to the middle of the ice to shoot. So where does Mitts go? You could move him to the RW where his shot is to the middle, except he has shown a hesitancy to shoot, and thus his passing and boardplay are more effective with his stick to the boards on the LW. Most want Girgs back on a 3 yr contract (I agree) because he is a very good 4th line LW.

So....yeah, I have Greenway and Mitts fighting for the third line LW role. I will wait to see him play in Donnie's system, but likely Greenways size and physicality win out.

Greenway can play both sides as well. Last season he played primarily on the right side actually in checking moneypuck lines. Seems he's bounced back and forth over the years in Minny.

 

[Bendium]

well that isnt what you said, you said if they make that few changes heading into next season it would be madness, thats 1 trade period

Yes, reading through peoples suggestions for next years lineup, running back most of the team, people are only swapping out 2-3 players. We have the draft trade period, UFA period, and then the run up to camp where some good hockey trades are made. Let all the UFA's go, so Hino, Girgs, Okposo, Andersen. Girgs consider an extension. Find a hockey trade to concentrate assets. For example, I would trade Bryson and Jost plus a middle pick for a 25-28 year old true possession 4th line center. Same with Olofsson plus something to get another player you need, or assets to do so. Get rid of the dead weight. Getting rid of players that don't cut it creates opporunities to replace them with better players, and if you have to sign UFA's to replace them for a year or two until prospects are truly ready to take that role then do so. You can trade out a good portion of the bottom half of this roster, in just this offseason.

 

[Bendium]

Greenway can play both sides as well. Last season he played primarily on the right side actually in checking moneypuck lines. Seems he's bounced back and forth over the years in Minny.

I really depends on what you want from them. They are both left shot, so if you want them in more of a shooting role then put them on the right, but if you want them in more of a checking, passing, board work role, then you put their stick to the board side on the LW. They are both in the same scenario. Right now Mitts is developing as a LW passing, checking, board battle 3rd line player. Thats also Greenway.

The only way I see it is if Quinn somehow works out in Tuchs role (who are we kidding), and then you could see a Greenway - Cozens - Tuch two-way line.

Its forcing pegs into misshaped holes to force both Greenway and Mitts into the longterm lineup.

 

[Tatanka]

I’d like to bring in a few UFA forwards like Miles Wood and JT Compher to replace Olofsson and Jost/Okposo. We need some sand paper on the back side. I’d re-sign Girgs and keep marinating Savoie and Kulich. Savoie can’t go to the Amerks? That’s a absolutely ridiculous rule if not,

Add a 4 RD and another hammer for the 3rd pair (Hakanpaa type) and we’re in business.

Skinner-TNT-Tuch
Mitts-Cozens-Quinn
Greenway-Krebs-Peterka
Girgs-Compher-Wood

This is interesting but I might consider flipping either Tuch for Quinn or Greenway for Mitts. It would distribute scoring a bit more and or defensive responsibility. Compher Wood are maybes but I do agree a well rounded FO PK center would be nice. But wo a goalie upgrade and a top 4 d, I don’t think they can score their way into the playoffs.

 

[Matt Ress]

It's tough finding good youngish 4th liners.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Several of us have answered this many times. Just go thru the roster and ask yourself if this guy is on your cup contender team or on track to develop into one. If not, then they are on your replacement list.

Keep: Skinner, Tage, Tuch, Quinn, Cozens, Sammy, Dahlin, Power. (8)

Possibles: JJP, UPL, Krebs, Mitts or Greenway, Girgs (5)

Missed Cut: Olofsson, Mitts or Greenway, Joker, Lybushkin, Stillman, Bryson, Clague, Jost, Okposo, Hino, Comrie, Andersen (12)

So we have 13 players currently on the roster that either are playoff core, or likely to develop into.

We have 12 players that need to be traded, let go to UFA, or demoted to the AHL.

By the time we get to being a cup contender we need to replace 4 defensemen, 5 forwards and at least one goaltender.

Knowing that, you cannot keep letting trade periods pass without making changes to improve the team and fill in some of those slots, by both addition, and subtraction.

So what if the team is improving. It is not on a tragectory to achieve the goal, so we have to make changes. Thus:

Running it back is madness.

This view takes almost every low end possibility, so of course it seems like madness.

Keep: there's no way Peterka and Krebs aren't in this group. They are young and the team has invested a ton of time and energy in their developments. And, they're not even close to peak form, wherever that ends up. Mittelstadt is playing his way into this group as well.

Probables: Greenway, UPL, Jokiharju, Comrie, Jost, Lyubushkin. This group is one you aren't considering. Greenway hasn't even played one game and you're already playing the either/or game with him and Mittelstadt. UPL is still developing. Jokiharju is in the Mittelstadt category, where he's been hurt so much it's hurt development.

It's easy to say that you want to replace Jost, Comrie, and Lyubushkin. But how many 4Cs, 6Ds, and back up goalies are truly better than those three? They're actually pretty good for the roles they play.

And, above all of this, ever young player on the roster has the change to improve, and likelihood to improve. The team will improve as the young players get better. It's not madness. The Sabres are better right now because of development, not trades and roster changes.

 

[Irie]

When you are 29th in faceoffs, 31st in PK, 25th in Shots against, 25th in goals against.....this is more than just a single d-man and goalie fix. Some help will come from internal development....but for substantial improvement, they need to modify multiple things, at the coaching level, system wise, and personnel wise.

It is difficult to evaluate what they need personnel wise without a legitimate defensive system in place and deploying players in those slots to see how they work.

Until this team gets away from the "just be extra aggressive to give opponents no time or space" system chaos, the PK, goals against, and high danger chances are going to be near bottom of the league.

 

[Djp]

This view takes almost every low end possibility, so of course it seems like madness.

Keep: there's no way Peterka and Krebs aren't in this group. They are young and the team has invested a ton of time and energy in their developments. And, they're not even close to peak form, wherever that ends up. Mittelstadt is playing his way into this group as well.

Probables: Greenway, UPL, Jokiharju, Comrie, Jost, Lyubushkin. This group is one you aren't considering. Greenway hasn't even played one game and you're already playing the either/or game with him and Mittelstadt. UPL is still developing. Jokiharju is in the Mittelstadt category, where he's been hurt so much it's hurt development.

for non goalies….

Long term players—- Tage, Cozens, Dahlin, Power, Sam
medium term players—( around till summer 26 or 27) skinner, Tuch, Quinn, Peterka. Krebs
short term ( potentially gone by 25/26) — mitts, greenway, joker, Jost, Lyub

out by summer 24– Bryson, Olofsson

some of the medium could be long term players. Similar some of the short term could be medium.

buffalo has a bunch of young forwards and we just don’t know which ones emerge as what. Some it might mean I can’t afford them so I trade them for something else

It's easy to say that you want to replace Jost, Comrie, and Lyubushkin. But how many 4Cs, 6Ds, and back up goalies are truly better than those three? They're actually pretty good for the roles they play.

And, above all of this, ever young player on the roster has the change to improve, and likelihood to improve. The team will improve as the young players get better. It's not madness. The Sabres are better right now because of development, not trades and roster changes.

I agree

Jost is fine as a 4C/13F role
?yubushkin is fine in that 3LD role…I coukd see buffalo keeping him 1-2 more years waiting for futures to develop.
Co tie hasn’t been thst bad this year to throw under the bus like some have.
you aren’t likely going to improve much on replacements…especially after factoring cost.

 

[Chainshot]

PKing is systems based and potentially personnel based. If they want to play a pressure style, they don't put out enough fast players with fresh enough legs. They rely upon some fairly static vets in Gus and Okposo and they are not able to pressure.

 

[Der Jaeger]

for non goalies….

Long term players—- Tage, Cozens, Dahlin, Power, Sam
medium term players—( around till summer 26 or 27) skinner, Tuch, Quinn, Peterka. Krebs
short term ( potentially gone by 25/26) — mitts, greenway, joker, Jost, Lyub

out by summer 24– Bryson, Olofsson

some of the medium could be long term players. Similar some of the short term could be medium.

buffalo has a bunch of young forwards and we just don’t know which ones emerge as what. Some it might mean I can’t afford them so I trade them for something else



I agree

Jost is fine as a 4C/13F role
?yubushkin is fine in that 3LD role…I coukd see buffalo keeping him 1-2 more years waiting for futures to develop.
Co tie hasn’t been thst bad this year to throw under the bus like some have.
you aren’t likely going to improve much on replacements…especially after factoring cost.

I don't know how we can just say that players like Tuch, Krebs, and Peterka are medium term players. Krebs is 22 and Peterka is 21. Not even close to developed yet.

I'm super glad that Adams and Granato are in charge. We'd be the team that categorized a player a certain way, trade him for a nonsense reason, watch that player get good somewhere else, and wonder why the Sabres aren't good.

Some of the ideas on here lately are 180 opposite of the plan, which has worked!

 

[TehDoak]

This view takes almost every low end possibility, so of course it seems like madness.

Keep: there's no way Peterka and Krebs aren't in this group. They are young and the team has invested a ton of time and energy in their developments. And, they're not even close to peak form, wherever that ends up. Mittelstadt is playing his way into this group as well.

You know, I like Krebs a lot. But let's consider a few things.

1. We used 3 1st round picks on centers last year. Including a top 10 pick.
2. One of our biggest needs is defensive play from our centers. Krebs is doing well on that point....but I think he's likely 1-3 years away before he's a finished product there.

IF we could find a way to flip Krebs for a finished defensive oriented at C who can mentor Cozens a bit on the defensive side of the game and faceoffs with 2-3 years left on his deal, then Cozens takes over the two way C role and one of Ostlund/Kulich/Savoie come in as a sheltered offensive center...I mean, it's not a bad idea.

Boone Jenner is the player I have in mind here, but I'm really open to any options on a medium term deal left who can improve our PK, Faceoffs, and provide some offense from a high defensive start role.

Probables: Greenway, UPL, Jokiharju, Comrie, Jost, Lyubushkin. This group is one you aren't considering. Greenway hasn't even played one game and you're already playing the either/or game with him and Mittelstadt. UPL is still developing. Jokiharju is in the Mittelstadt category, where he's been hurt so much it's hurt development.

It's easy to say that you want to replace Jost, Comrie, and Lyubushkin. But how many 4Cs, 6Ds, and back up goalies are truly better than those three? They're actually pretty good for the roles they play.

As far as 4C, I like Jost....I simply want more added utility there. Faceoffs being the key piece being added. I don't want to go full Eakin where they are good at faceoffs and terrible at everything else, but basically Jost+ faceoffs.

Lybushkin is fine as a 6D, especially since he has one year left. I guess in an ideal world I think you get a top 4 D to play with Power and push Joker to the 3rd pairing. But we have a lot of bottom pairing d signed or RFA rights for next year. I'm fine with any combo of them for bottom pair as long as they aren't in the top 4 anymore on a regular basis.

As for goalie....you don't want a backup for UPL, you want a tandem for UPL or even someone to take over on a 50/30 split.

And, above all of this, ever young player on the roster has the change to improve, and likelihood to improve. The team will improve as the young players get better. It's not madness. The Sabres are better right now because of development, not trades and roster changes.

That isn't how development works typically It's rarely on a linear line. It wouldn't be shocking to see Cozens take a step back after getting a big contract or see Peterka/Quinn or even Power to have sophmore slumps a bit. With the volume of young players we have, we are going to be subject to ebbs and flows. Our biggest improvements will come when we meaningfully address our teams shortcomings, whether that is via a systems change, external help being brought in, or, yes, internal development.

But, we can't simply bet all our chips on the kids just continuing to get better. It's finding ways to improve the team on every avenue.

 

[Ace]

The only forward move I need is Olofsson out. I don’t care if you put a replacement level placeholder there next year. The prospect pool will fill it in by the next season anyway…but I need them to move on from him ASAP.

on D…If they want to run with Stillman and Lyubushkin as a plan on the third pair..fine. Go nuts and see what happens for a year. But get a top 4 D already. Enough f***ing around.

Goal should have been addressed two years ago now while they talk about being afraid of blocking guys…one of which we traded because he wouldn’t sign and the other one who isn’t going to be the starting goalie here next year. UPL/Comrie is unacceptable as a plan. Pick one as backup. Then do what you should have done two years ago and get an NHL goalie. Theres nothing the team deserves more than that. Youve been the last dog to the bowl two years in a row on the position. The state that it’s in is the direct result of it. We’re done with that cheap ass kick the can down the road shit now. You want to sell chemistry and the room for forwards and D…I think it’s dramatically overblown as evidenced by how shit the D remains…but I’ll let you have your fantasy. Don’t mean shit for goalie. Stopping pucks does.

 

[Der Jaeger]

You know, I like Krebs a lot. But let's consider a few things.

1. We used 3 1st round picks on centers last year. Including a top 10 pick.
2. One of our biggest needs is defensive play from our centers. Krebs is doing well on that point....but I think he's likely 1-3 years away before he's a finished product there.

IF we could find a way to flip Krebs for a finished defensive oriented at C who can mentor Cozens a bit on the defensive side of the game and faceoffs with 2-3 years left on his deal, then Cozens takes over the two way C role and one of Ostlund/Kulich/Savoie come in as a sheltered offensive center...I mean, it's not a bad idea.

Boone Jenner is the player I have in mind here, but I'm really open to any options on a medium term deal left who can improve our PK, Faceoffs, and provide some offense from a high defensive start role.



As far as 4C, I like Jost....I simply want more added utility there. Faceoffs being the key piece being added. I don't want to go full Eakin where they are good at faceoffs and terrible at everything else, but basically Jost+ faceoffs.

Lybushkin is fine as a 6D, especially since he has one year left. I guess in an ideal world I think you get a top 4 D to play with Power and push Joker to the 3rd pairing. But we have a lot of bottom pairing d signed or RFA rights for next year. I'm fine with any combo of them for bottom pair as long as they aren't in the top 4 anymore on a regular basis.

As for goalie....you don't want a backup for UPL, you want a tandem for UPL or even someone to take over on a 50/30 split.




That isn't how development works typically It's rarely on a linear line. It wouldn't be shocking to see Cozens take a step back after getting a big contract or see Peterka/Quinn or even Power to have sophmore slumps a bit. With the volume of young players we have, we are going to be subject to ebbs and flows. Our biggest improvements will come when we meaningfully address our teams shortcomings, whether that is via a systems change, external help being brought in, or, yes, internal development.

But, we can't simply bet all our chips on the kids just continuing to get better. It's finding ways to improve the team on every avenue.

I don't dislike the idea of moving Krebs for someone who is more developed, like a Boone Jenner, and your idea isn't bad. It just isn't necessary. No one know what Krebs will eventually be. He's showed a ton of development this season. The entire roster is 1-3 years away from being what it eventually will be. Why not just keep Krebs and let him develop into his game? What if he ends up having a Mike Richards type career? We just traded that for Boone Jenner. Not necessary.

I'd rather work with Jost on faceoffs than pay the acquistion cost for a 4C who plays good defense and wins faceoffs.

I'm not saying that Adams should just pour everything into development and not look at other avenues. But right now, the team will get better by development, not trades. Once the team is within striking distance, you make the trades to get you there, and you do it by trading players who are developed and Adams knows what he's giving up.

 

[Djp]

I don't know how we can just say that players like Tuch, Krebs, and Peterka are medium term players. Krebs is 22 and Peterka is 21. Not even close to developed yet.

I'm super glad that Adams and Granato are in charge. We'd be the team that categorized a player a certain way, trade him for a nonsense reason, watch that player get good somewhere else, and wonder why the Sabres aren't good.

Some of the ideas on here lately are 180 opposite of the plan, which has worked!

I just mean some decisions are going to need to be made around Krebs, Peterka, Quinn and those in 21 and 22 drafts. not all of them will be on this team fir the 27/28 season.

Tuch contract ends in 26..I’d like him resigned but does he? Is it fir an amy that doesn’t handcuff buffalo

in summer 25-27 you have ELCs ending and skinner and Tuch contracts.

 

[Chainshot]

I don't dislike the idea of moving Krebs for someone who is more developed, like a Boone Jenner, and your idea isn't bad. It just isn't necessary. No one know what Krebs will eventually be. He's showed a ton of development this season. The entire roster is 1-3 years away from being what it eventually will be. Why not just keep Krebs and let him develop into his game? What if he ends up having a Mike Richards type career? We just traded that for Boone Jenner. Not necessary.

I'd rather work with Jost on faceoffs than pay the acquistion cost for a 4C who plays good defense and wins faceoffs.

I'm not saying that Adams should just pour everything into development and not look at other avenues. But right now, the team will get better by development, not trades. Once the team is within striking distance, you make the trades to get you there, and you do it by trading players who are developed and Adams knows what he's giving up.

I would assert that Krebs is the best defensive center they have right now. And I would assert that he will continue to get better with age. There is no reason to move him for anything.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

It is difficult to evaluate what they need personnel wise without a legitimate defensive system in place and deploying players in those slots to see how they work.

Until this team gets away from the "just be extra aggressive to give opponents no time or space" system chaos, the PK, goals against, and high danger chances are going to be near bottom of the league.

anyone at this point who looks at Granato's system, the best sabres system in 11 years, the system that turned dahlin into a norris candidate, has OP looking like a top pairing dman as a rookie, unleashed the freak that is the TNT-skinner-tuch line, who has the sabres in meaningful games in march while giving multiple rookies endless leash to develop, who reached their vegas win total in the first week of march, with the youngest team in the NHL, and thinks they should change it

needs to take a few deep breathes and a step back because you're missing the forest for the trees

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

I just mean some decisions are going to need to be made around Krebs, Peterka, Quinn and those in 21 and 22 drafts. not all of them will be on this team fir the 27/28 season.

Tuch contract ends in 26..I’d like him resigned but does he? Is it fir an amy that doesn’t handcuff buffalo

in summer 25-27 you have ELCs ending and skinner and Tuch contracts.

Of all the players on the roster and in the system Tuch is easily the guy who would be most likely take a hometown discount to stay in Buffalo. He'll be 30 when his next deal starts, and by then who knows what his role on the team is. It's very likely someone like Quinn replaces him as the top line RW given their ages. The same can be said of Skinner, who will more than likely be on the downside of his career when that deal ends, and could be surpassed by a younger player on the depth chart or in the system right now.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

PKing is systems based and potentially personnel based. If they want to play a pressure style, they don't put out enough fast players with fresh enough legs. They rely upon some fairly static vets in Gus and Okposo and they are not able to pressure.

Wanted Teddy Blueger as he is very good on the PK.

 

[Irie]

anyone at this point who looks at Granato's system, the best sabres system in 11 years, the system that turned dahlin into a norris candidate, has OP looking like a top pairing dman as a rookie, unleashed the freak that is the TNT-skinner-tuch line, who has the sabres in meaningful games in march while giving multiple rookies endless leash to develop, who reached their vegas win total in the first week of march, with the youngest team in the NHL, and thinks they should change it

needs to take a few deep breathes and a step back because you're missing the forest for the trees

I've repeated that I love the freedom Granato has given the kids to develop and I think it has been the perfect approach to get the most ceiling out of the young players more times than I can count on these boards the past two season.

Granato has installed a very loose defensive philosophy more than a defensive system. Players are meant to read the ice and adjust their roles and apply pressure based on where they are, where their teammates are, and where the opposition is at any given moment.

It is a lot more organic than structured, which is great for the kids to learn how to read the plays and experiment and grow, but it is not going to return top ten defensive metrics in this league at any time.

The idea that you can role out lines that just forecheck and pressure hard as the fundamental strategic focus for a D is a concept that works in junior, college, and the minors, but is not a feasible approach to euro leagues on larger ice or the NHL where the reaction time, skill and playmaking of the players is too high to not beat an aggressive system without a modicum of discipline and attention to spacing.

My take on the current system is that it works with this core on the forecheck. It has limited success in the neutral zone, with the more skilled teams taking advantage with puck movement to create large gapping issues and easily carrying the blueline, and only works consistently in the defensive zone against less talented lines and teams that poorly execute.

This team bleeds Grade-A chances. They need to adjust their spacing and work as a defensive unit. They are never going to find any playoff success until that is changed.

I am hoping Granato can adjust his plan. He talks about a plan to install a better defensive philosophy but just has not had time. I do not understand this statement. Good NHL coaching can get a defensive scheme working at a basic level in a few weeks. It feels to me like he is still developing his plan. I would like to see a hybrid of what he currently has by adding a focus on D spacing in the defensive zone and toning down the overly aggressive strategy that usually results in the team being out of position against well executing teams.