Speculation: Sabres Roster Speculation - Pre-season 2023 Edition

[OkimLom]

Because players arent capable of improving aspects of their game from season to season

More worried about the coaching staff that hasn’t shown any sort of defensive competence of structuring the team defense at full strength or in the PK work, and we don’t have the players to make up for that level, or lack thereof.

 

[Gras]

More worried about the coaching staff that hasn’t shown any sort of defensive competence of structuring the team defense at full strength or in the PK work, and we don’t have the players to make up for that level, or lack thereof.

The staff did say the defensive side of the puck wasnt their focus last season, they wanted the players to take risks.

 

[HOOats]

To this point, is it standard practice that the staff would provide the boys with video and literature on improving our team D as summer homework? I've been assuming this is the case, but now I'm curious.

 

[Jim Bob]

Isn't there a designated thread for this kind of gossip column clutter?
If I were interested in anything related to WAGS I'd have tea with my neighbor's grandma.

I think the question was not gossip related, but asking if Dahlin was back in Buffalo and then why haven't they announced an extension yet.

So, I tried to use the available resources on the internet to come up with an answer. Neither Dahlin nor his GF have posted anything over the past few weeks and that was the latest info I could find.

If answering that question was a problem for you, you could just scroll on by...

Running back nearly the same exact non playoff team sans 2 Dmen is a little puzzling. Especially when we get brutally dominated at the face off dot every game.

It's not puzzling given how Adams approached both last offseason and the TDL.

It is pretty much what I expected. And honestly, signing two RHD that likely play in the top 6 was one more than I expected.

To this point, is it standard practice that the staff would provide the boys with video and literature on improving our team D as summer homework? I've been assuming this is the case, but now I'm curious.

I wonder how much Xs & Os work they give the players in the off season. That might be stuff that is more of a focus once guys are back for training camp.

 

[Duddy]

Will be interesting to see how they handle going from all offense all the time to a more balanced approach and how long that will take to translate.

 

[elchud]

Don't see them adding any more forwards. I think they want Kulich (or!) Savoie to have a legit shot to make the roster.

Olofsson and/or Joker could be moved before the season starts for better pick(s) than now pending injuries on other teams

 

[Jim Bob]

Don't see them adding any more forwards. I think they want Kulich (or!) Savoie to have a legit shot to make the roster.

Olofsson and/or Joker could be moved before the season starts for better pick(s) than now pending injuries on other teams

I think that will be way easier said than done given the lack of cap space around the league.

Jokiharju (or Lyubushkin or Bryson) to Anaheim makes sense given that Anaheim has cap space and the need for NHL D. But, there are not a ton of options out there, especially given VO's cap hit.

 

[HOOats]

I wonder how much Xs & Os work they give the players in the off season. That might be stuff that is more of a focus once guys are back for training camp.

Yeah I'd be shocked if they didn't have at minimum light summer tactical reading, if not biweekly zoom meetings to keep new concepts alive in their minds. Coming in cold to a 2-3 week training camp seems crazy to me. These guys aren't teachers, they make too much damn money to work 8 months of the year.

 

[Tatanka]

It's tough and would depend on what metrics are used. Savoie is the best skater. Quinn has the best overall skillset. Benson is a pure dog after a bone defensively, with a plus offensive skillset.

IMO I lean towards Quinn but wouldn't be surprised if Benson took it

I agree with this reasoning and lean that way. But if used appropriately, Peterka has a lot of potential to simply put up numbers, i.e. counting stats. He doesn’t have the complete toolset but he uses what he has very effectively. He is also going to get bigger and be a terror in the cycle. Kulich has a better shot, but JJ is much more creative offensively. Similar skillsets. Interesting to see how it plays out.

 

[Jim Bob]

Yeah I'd be shocked if they didn't have at minimum light summer tactical reading, if not biweekly zoom meetings to keep new concepts alive in their minds. Coming in cold to a 2-3 week training camp seems crazy to me. These guys aren't teachers, they make too much damn money to work 8 months of the year.

Given that hockey is such a flow game, I would be surprised if there was any sort of reading.

If they tried to give them stuff to study, my guess is that video lectures with clips from games that tried to get across points of emphasis for each player.

The challenge is that players and coaches do get time off this time of the year to recharge as they have very little time off in-season. They call it cottage time for a reason.

 

[HOOats]

Given that hockey is such a flow game, I would be surprised if there was any sort of reading.

If they tried to give them stuff to study, my guess is that video lectures with clips from games that tried to get across points of emphasis for each player.

The challenge is that players and coaches do get time off this time of the year to recharge as they have very little time off in-season. They call it cottage time for a reason.

For sure, I just called it summer reading to relate to "work" we've all had to do while on "vacation."

And honestly, "cottage time" sounds like a vestige of the past from before guys made in a year what fans make in a lifetime. With defensive coverage as bad as ours, they can put down the Stock Ale and take an iPad into the raft every now and then.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I know the general consensus is Savoie may/should get a cup of tea for at least his 9 games. But any reason why Benson shouldn’t either? Why not roll with both of them as two extra forwards for their tryouts. Rousek should come up once one of them is sent back, and Kulich has the luxury of developing more in the AHL

 

[Jim Bob]

For sure, I just called it summer reading to relate to "work" we've all had to do while on "vacation."

And honestly, "cottage time" sounds like a vestige of the past from before guys made in a year what fans make in a lifetime. With defensive coverage as bad as ours, they can put down the Stock Ale and take an iPad into the raft every now and then.

Given the flow nature of the game, I doubt there is a ton of video study that would make things markedly better. It is something that needs to happen on the ice way more than anything else.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Pure and simple, Benson needs to add strength so outside of preseason shouldn't be close to the roster. Savoie gets the leg up as no options and really not much to gain from another season in the Dub

 

[HOOats]

Given the flow nature of the game, I doubt there is a ton of video study that would make things markedly better. It is something that needs to happen on the ice way more than anything else.

Not a big deal but we just have a minor but fundamental disagreement on the matter I guess.

Guys watch video on the plane after games. Sure it's not as effective as on-ice, but studying video of optimal or suboptimal coverage situations, followed by discussion reinforcing principles is the next best way to internalize system improvements. Versus just showing up at camp cold and trying to figure it out.

Our guys should be thankful to have earned "extra credit" opportunities in Team D 101.

 

[TageGod]

I know the general consensus is Savoie may/should get a cup of tea for at least his 9 games. But any reason why Benson shouldn’t either? Why not roll with both of them as two extra forwards for their tryouts. Rousek should come up once one of them is sent back, and Kulich has the luxury of developing more in the AHL

Benson is a year younger. He is 18 currently. 18 year olds just don't start in the NHL anymore. No matter what he does, he will be back in juniors to develop. Kulich can safely start in AHL to work on his all around game. That leaves Savoie starting, maybe Rousek (definitely first callup). If savoie struggles, he can be Shane Wrighted and bring Kulich up.

 

[Jim Bob]

Not a big deal but we just have a minor but fundamental disagreement on the matter I guess.

Guys watch video on the plane after games. Sure it's not as effective as on-ice, but studying video of optimal or suboptimal coverage situations, followed by discussion reinforcing principles is the next best way to internalize system improvements. Versus just showing up at camp cold and trying to figure it out.

Our guys should be thankful to have earned "extra credit" opportunities in Team D 101.

In-season video study is inherently different than offseason video study. The window to go from video study to on-ice implementation is smaller in-season and makes video study more valuable.

I am not saying that they are not doing anything to prepare for camp. I just doubt there is as much to do during the off season as you seem to think there is.

And we are both just guessing at what they might be giving the players in this regard.

I could talk about what my son's coaches gave him to work on this summer for college lacrosse. None of it was specific video study stuff and all about physical and skill development.

 

[HOOats]

In-season video study is inherently different than offseason video study. The window to go from video study to on-ice implementation is smaller in-season and makes video study more valuable.

I am not saying that they are not doing anything to prepare for camp. I just doubt there is as much to do during the off season as you seem to think there is.

And we are both just guessing at what they might be giving the players in this regard.

I could talk about what my son's coaches gave him to work on this summer for college lacrosse. None of it was specific video study stuff and all about physical and skill development.

Yeah I guess we just disagree. In my athlete's mind, I wouldn't have to get on the ice soon after to internalize concept reinforcement like "stop blowing the zone before we have possession," "safe exits are better than no exits," etc.

Sure some stuff like stick detail can only be practiced on-ice. But the philosophical systemic defensive failures we had call for a fundamental recoding of our guys hockey IQ. And that's work that takes multiple years imo, so it doesn't afford us three months of dead time. Especially at the impressionable point many are at in their careers.

As we're both guessing what summer work if any is like for these professional athletes, I hope someone might chime in with some informed insight.

 

[Jim Bob]

Yeah I guess we just disagree. In my athlete's mind, I wouldn't have to get on the ice soon after to internalize concept reinforcement like "stop blowing the zone before we have possession," "safe exits are better than no exits," etc.

Sure some stuff like stick detail can only be practiced on-ice. But the philosophical systemic defensive failures we had call for a fundamental recoding of our guys hockey IQ. And that's work that takes multiple years imo, so it doesn't afford us three months of dead time. Especially at the impressionable point many are at in their careers.

As we're both guessing what summer work if any is like for these professional athletes, I hope someone might chime in with some informed insight.

And with my coaching hat on, I don't know how much value basics on "stop blowing the zone before we have possession" & "safe exits are better than no exits" have from a playbook/video in the off-season POV.

I think the big thing that will change is the emphasis on correcting these things in practices and games moving forward than stuff the players need to study in the offseason.

 

[Gras]

And with my coaching hat on, I don't know how much value basics on "stop blowing the zone before we have possession" & "safe exits are better than no exits" have from a playbook/video in the off-season POV.

I think the big thing that will change is the emphasis on correcting these things in practices and games moving forward than stuff the players need to study in the offseason.

Things like faceoffs, passing and stick work can be worked on though.

 

[HOOats]

And with my coaching hat on, I don't know how much value basics on "stop blowing the zone before we have possession" & "safe exits are better than no exits" have from a playbook/video in the off-season POV.

I think the big thing that will change is the emphasis on correcting these things in practices and games moving forward than stuff the players need to study in the offseason.

Eh, mantras are useful have been around for millennia, mostly in the absence artificial ice surfaces. Our guys could use some repetitious reinforcement, our guys could use some...

Overall, I'm not really understanding when the growth we all are counting on is supposed to be happening in your scenario. When does the magical corrective on-ice work take place? Practices became few and far between during the season last year due to schedule and physical maintenance. Did we have 30 full practices in 365 days? Honestly curious.

If this were the case, guys should be on the ice a bunch more in the summers, but we've seen the trend going the other way of late. Strategy, tactics, and philosophy seem like obvious things to be studied during summers focused on dry land training. We absolutely did it in college soccer.

 

[elchud]

I think that will be way easier said than done given the lack of cap space around the league.

Jokiharju (or Lyubushkin or Bryson) to Anaheim makes sense given that Anaheim has cap space and the need for NHL D. But, there are not a ton of options out there, especially given VO's cap hit.

We can half retain on players

 

[Jim Bob]

Things like faceoffs, passing and stick work can be worked on though.

That is more on-ice skillwork than video and reading stuff, though.

We can half retain on players

If ownership OKs it. And even at $2.375M, VO could be a hard guy to move given his limitations at 5 on 5.

 

[Jim Bob]

Eh, mantras are useful have been around for millennia, mostly in the absence artificial ice surfaces. Our guys could use some repetitious reinforcement, our guys could use some...

Overall, I'm not really understanding when the growth we all are counting on is supposed to be happening in your scenario. When does the magical corrective on-ice work take place? Practices became few and far between during the season last year due to schedule and physical maintenance. Did we have 30 full practices in 365 days? Honestly curious.

If this were the case, guys should be on the ice a bunch more in the summers, but we've seen the trend going the other way of late. Strategy, tactics, and philosophy seem like obvious things to be studied during summers focused on dry land training. We absolutely did it in college soccer.

The CBA limits what teams can do on-ice during the offseason. It is largely up to the individual players with what they do on the ice. That is why the most you see are the "captain's practices", skills camps, and then summer leagues like Da Beauty League.

I think the approach is much more about setting expectations with the players at the exit interviews, players putting in their own work throughout the offseason, and then coaches changing their approach of "play free" vs "tightening this up" when they get back together and throughout the season.

Stuff like "don't fly the zone" isn't stuff that coaches can do a whole heck for during the offseason. That is on the players.

 

[brian_griffin]

Isn't there a designated thread for this kind of gossip column clutter?
If I were interested in anything related to WAGS I'd have tea with my neighbor's grandma.

Who is your neighbor's grandma dating? Assuming her age is up there, I'm assuming a former player or current coach, and not a current player.

That is more on-ice skillwork than video and reading stuff, though.


If ownership OKs it. And even at $2.375M, VO could be a hard guy to move given his limitations at 5 on 5.

I think a team with cap space would gladly take Olofsson for $2.4M for 1 season, give him PP time and the majority of his ES time with a defensively responsible vet center. Victor averages 25 goals for a full 82-game season. He scored 28 goals for 56th place last season. So assuming 25 +/- 3 goals, then 25 goals would have been 80th. 22 goals ~105th. Divide by 32 teams and that's an average of ~3 such players equal or higher goal-scorers on each team. I'm intentionally ignoring TOI and deployments and +/- and his knack for both scoring and being responsible for a HDSC against and/or GA in the same game. 25-goal scorers don't grow on trees.

If I'm Kevyn, I dangle #71, and tell any team who calls / talks seriously that the Sabres retention - whatever the percentage is, because it should vary with each potential trade partner team's cap space and what they are offering in return - will decrease as the season progresses.