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

[Bendium]

The only move I’m expecting over the offseason is for a middle pairing defenseman, and maybe an upgrade in goal. Maybe a Girgs/Okposo replacement if one of them leave.

They should be able to make the playoffs next year by mostly just developing what they have, and solidifying the defense. Even with a UPL/Comrie tandem.

Watch the playoffs this year. Really watch them and what the different lines bring. See the role players and utility people. See the full game of the top six on most playoff teams. See the size and physicality. See the hard play and comittment.

Then go back and look at our roster and see if you still want to stick with your bolded above. I think you will find it won't cut it.

 

[Bendium]

I think you put way too much behind which guy plays which wing. Quinn has scored maybe half his goals on the right side of the O-zone. Mitts doesn't care which side boards he is dominating. Greenway is a complete work in progress and if you think there is actually a choice between keeping him or Mitts...

I think people don't give it enough thought. Can most wingers play both sides? Sure they can. However, they are more efficient at different roles depending on the side. Its physics. You just have to decide what a player is good at, and what you need for them, and efficiently match up the side and role with the player.

The higher up the chain of skill level and linemate chemistry, the more the players can roam for sure. However, what I see here is people who really like Mitts (which is just fine), trying to stick him into suboptimal roles in order to find a place for him, because they like him, not because he is the best option, or best suited.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Watch the playoffs this year. Really watch them and what the different lines bring. See the role players and utility people. See the full game of the top six on most playoff teams. See the size and physicality. See the hard play and comittment.

Then go back and look at our roster and see if you still want to stick with your bolded above. I think you will find it won't cut it.

I’ve probable been watching playoffs longer than you’ve been alive so spare me the dramatic speech.

My comment wasn’t even about succeeding in the playoffs, it was about getting there, which is what next year is about.

 

[old kummelweck]

The second PP unit looks better than the first. I wonder if they should swap Power and Dahlin with the latter banged up?

 

[Gabrielor]

 

[Bendium]

I’ve probable been watching playoffs longer than you’ve been alive so spare me the dramatic speech.

My comment wasn’t even about succeeding in the playoffs, it was about getting there, which is what next year is about.

I wouldn't bet on it. But if so then you have to know that this team doesn't have the right makeup. and just patience isn't going to filll in the gaps. Half these players are, and half are not. There is no point in waiting to replace the ones that are not.

As far as just getting to the playoffs, I think that is a low bar to set, especially when used to excuse the inaction on the part of management to fill and fix obvious holes. We could have made the playoffs this year, but didn't/won't. You run it back with this group and it will not be much better.

Its time to stop excusing soft play. Its time to raise the bar and expect more. This is F-ing Buffalo, not some Pansy arse hippie town.

 

[Der Jaeger]

The Sabres desperately need some power forwards. The problem with most of them (not named Tkachuk) is they take longer to develop. So you’re taking a flier on them and hoping.

Here’s some power forwards I’d take a look at trading for:

Podkolzin
Comtois
Max Jones
Bellows

Just two of them could really re-shape the forwards….. if they pan out.

 

[Chainshot]

The Sabres desperately need some power forwards. The problem with most of them (not named Tkachuk) is they take longer to develop. So you’re taking a flier on them and hoping.

Here’s some power forwards I’d take a look at trading for:

Podkolzin
Comtois
Max Jones
Bellows

Just two of them could really re-shape the forwards….. if they pan out.

And sometimes they wind up coming out of strange circumstances like being UFA - Jeannot was a UDFA but Maroon was an AHL UFA signing from Philly's farm team to Anaheim's who worked his way up into the Ducks' lineup. I imagine the Sabres will keep trying to mold Murray into something due to his size and hands but so much of it is temperament.

It's damned hard to predict who will wind up turning out. And a team has to try to find that sort of player. Thus far, Adams hasn't shown a willingness to dabble there to grow something from the farm outside of retaining Murray who is also one of their better AHL wingers.

 

[Irie]

I wouldn't bet on it. But if so then you have to know that this team doesn't have the right makeup. and just patience isn't going to filll in the gaps. Half these players are, and half are not. There is no point in waiting to replace the ones that are not.

As far as just getting to the playoffs, I think that is a low bar to set, especially when used to excuse the inaction on the part of management to fill and fix obvious holes. We could have made the playoffs this year, but didn't/won't. You run it back with this group and it will not be much better.

Its time to stop excusing soft play. Its time to raise the bar and expect more. This is F-ing Buffalo, not some Pansy arse hippie town.

I will agree that the makeup of this team is not designed for playoff success, as it is something I have brought up the past year and a half.

But... I also understand that this was a development year in the front office and coaching staff's mind. They told me what it was, so I can't really complain that they didn't make changes when they told me 8 months ago that they weren't going to make changes, but spend the year doing evaluation to figure out what changes they needed to make after the season.

I am not saying it was the right decision by Adams and Granato, just that it was the plan.

Building a strong core that attracts quality supporting players is the goal. They don't need to fill all the little holes yet or try to build the most competitive team they can by overpaying not-ideal UFAs which are the only ones willing to join the team. Doing that puts them on the hook for some bad contracts.

I think the plan is, and I hope it works, is to develop the kids so that they aren't physically immature push-overs. We have to assume that Quinn, Peterka, Power, Dahlin, Sameulsson, Krebs, and even Tuch and Thompson are going to learn new aspects and develop into more complete players. Once they do, it is important that there aren't a bunch of over-paid under-performing contracts on the roster.

Becoming a playoff team and avoiding that contract pit-trap is the balancing act they have to navigate.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Chad playing the hindsight game

 

[Der Jaeger]

Chad playing the hindsight game

Always wanted Ekholm over Chychrun. I balked at the price. If I could go back and match it, with what I know now, I would gladly pay it.

 

[Zman5778]

Chad playing the hindsight game

I don't think that's much of the hindsight game. Quite a few people here wanted Ekholm over Chychrun as he was more what we needed. And like DJ above, I gladly match EDM's price.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Always wanted Ekholm over Chychrun. I balked at the price. If I could go back and match it, with what I know now, I would gladly pay it.

His age and contract would give anyone pause in regards to paying the premium. The fear has always been how quickly he'll detoriate.

On the flip side, he's everything we need in Power's partner and on the blueline in general. That's what made him so enticing.

I think it's safe to say that the top-4 would've been set for at least the next two years if Adams traded for Ekholm. That holds a lot of value in its own right.

 

[Ace]

Their biggest problem isn’t that they didn’t get Ekholm or Chychrun. It’s that they didn’t bother to get anybody.

a trend that has been a continuing feature of Adams’s defensive construction

 

[HaNotsri]

Their biggest problem isn’t that they didn’t get Ekholm or Chychrun. It’s that they didn’t bother to get anybody.

a trend that has been a continuing feature of Adams’s defensive construction

Stillman, Baby!!!

 

[VaporTrail]

And sometimes they wind up coming out of strange circumstances like being UFA - Jeannot was a UDFA but Maroon was an AHL UFA signing from Philly's farm team to Anaheim's who worked his way up into the Ducks' lineup. I imagine the Sabres will keep trying to mold Murray into something due to his size and hands but so much of it is temperament.

It's damned hard to predict who will wind up turning out. And a team has to try to find that sort of player. Thus far, Adams hasn't shown a willingness to dabble there to grow something from the farm outside of retaining Murray who is also one of their better AHL wingers.

Do you think Murray can improve his speed to the Sabres' level?

 

[Jim Bob]

Always wanted Ekholm over Chychrun. I balked at the price. If I could go back and match it, with what I know now, I would gladly pay it.

I wonder what it would have taken to top the Oilers offer, especially since like Chad pointed out, the Sabres did not have a Barrie to send the other way.

The only way the Sabres could have easily topped it was if Nashville viewed Barrie as just a cap dump and the Sabres offer would have been better by not needing to send a contract back?

The challenge would likely have been Nashville wanting Savoie or Kulich in the deal.

 

[nickdawg95]

Jokiharju for Garland
Oloffson For Borgen
Sign Johnson



Mitts-Krebs-Garland
Girgenson-Jost-Greenway

Samuelsson-Dahlin
Power-Borgen
Johnson-Bush

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Why TF would anyone want to take on Garland with his 4.95 cap hit for 3 more seasons? He's undersized, gives you middling production and isn't exactly a defensive stalwart.

 

[joshjull]

I don't think that's much of the hindsight game. Quite a few people here wanted Ekholm over Chychrun as he was more what we needed. And like DJ above, I gladly match EDM's price.

I don’t get the Elkholm takes. Chad in particular should know better since in theory he covers the team.

Adams has said about 1000x the players they were looking to add are ones who fit with the ages of the core group. Ekholm at 32 isn’t close to that.

The Oilers are obviously in a very different place than we are from a team building pov.

 

[Chainshot]

Do you think Murray can improve his speed to the Sabres' level?

He's faster than he was last year, but I don't think he's got NHL level skating. I also don't think he's got the temperament for it. I don't see someone who is as angry and combative as guys who play the role who've come up through the AHL either. Not a knock on Mur, he's a great story for how he's earned an AHL and then NHL deal and how he plays in the AHL. I'm just not seeing the contact nor the battle. He's a big offensive winger.

 

[Bendium]

Do you think Murray can improve his speed to the Sabres' level?

One of the things the Sabres did this year that I didn't like, is they did not leave a spot on the roster available to rotate AHL prospects thru when they earned a look. I think it is important to development to get a loook at the next level, and have that availability as a reward for hard work, good play, and especially listening to coaching and executing the coach's system. Instead they had non-waiverable players on the bottom of the depth chart and were completely unwilling to send down Krebs, JJP, or Quinn for a few games when they were struggling and needed some coaching and practice time.

I was really hoping to see Murrey get 5-10 games this year and see what we have there before he ages out of our control. He absolutely has the size, and unlike most Sabres will stand in front of the net and has the hands to tip point shots and redirect passes. I think his speed is deceptive, as it can often be with big guys. I would have liked to have seen him some this year to find out.

 

[Bendium]

I don’t get the Elkholm takes. Chad in particular should know better since in theory he covers the team.

Adams has said about 1000x the players they were looking to add are ones who fit with the ages of the core group. Ekholm at 32 isn’t close to that.

The Oilers are obviously in a very different place than we are from a team building pov.

I understand this for the most part, but I also believe that KA has gone to far the other direction leaving the "kids" learning from other "kids." There is a real lack of true veteran leadership on this team. Kyle and Andersen are too far removed from winning hockey. The ONLY one we have is Tuch. Ekhlom is a man among boys and brings leadership in spades. His play style is exactly what we needed and could have paid dividends in his effect on the rest of the dmen. He was the perfect fit to mentor Power. His contract was also a perfect length, to give us time to find/develop his replacement, while placeholding the AAV to pay for his replacement. Just seemed like the perfect scenario and fit that justified the price.

 

[Chainshot]

One of the things the Sabres did this year that I didn't like, is they did not leave a spot on the roster available to rotate AHL prospects thru when they earned a look. I think it is important to development to get a loook at the next level, and have that availability as a reward for hard work, good play, and especially listening to coaching and executing the coach's system. Instead they had non-waiverable players on the bottom of the depth chart and were completely unwilling to send down Krebs, JJP, or Quinn for a few games when they were struggling and needed some coaching and practice time.

I was really hoping to see Murrey get 5-10 games this year and see what we have there before he ages out of our control. He absolutely has the size, and unlike most Sabres will stand in front of the net and has the hands to tip point shots and redirect passes. I think his speed is deceptive, as it can often be with big guys. I would have liked to have seen him some this year to find out.

I agree that getting a look at some of their younger AHL vets would help sort out if they have something or not and with how they've used their roster, that did not happen. That's a lost opportunity.

As for Murray, his last set of games in the NHL, he was well behind the play not just from a processing adjustment but due to low acceleration and top speed. He seems faster in Rochester this year and it would be interesting to see if he has made up that gap in his ability to get to pucks and be involved in the play. Appert has praised his improved footspeed in some of his press huddles previously, it would be interesting to see.

The flip side to Buffalo having not managed their roster to make that happen is that Rochester is in the throws of a playoff race that is seeing them stagger down the stretch (again) and they didn't get them much scoring help (again), Murray is a key player for them to make a post-season push that they are also bound by not having a body to replace him that can produce what he brings.

 

[RefsIdeas]

Watch the playoffs this year. Really watch them and what the different lines bring. See the role players and utility people. See the full game of the top six on most playoff teams. See the size and physicality. See the hard play and comittment.

Then go back and look at our roster and see if you still want to stick with your bolded above. I think you will find it won't cut it.

This is a really important point that worries me more than anything about the current Sabres roster.