Speculation: Sabres Roster Speculation - Pre-season 2023 Edition

[ValJamesDuex]

I wouldn't be surprised if Adams trades Olofsson right after or even before Kane sign.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

The Sabres have interest in every, but always seem to back out in the end.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

Hmm..

 

[Fjordy]

Hmm..

Maybe, or maybe it will be someone like Vladar.

 

[Dingo44]

Hmm..

We can take money back which they would need us to do to make room. Maybe buy out Bogo?

Seriously what could they offer to make us give them Comrie or UPL and help them with their cap?

I'd rather let them suffer with JJ.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

We can take money back which they would need us to do to make room. Maybe buy out Bogo?

Seriously what could they offer to make us give them Comrie or UPL and help them with their cap?

I'd rather let them suffer with JJ.

They also don't have picks either...

I guess I'm just eager to have one of UPL or comrie off the team. Tired of holding onto 3 goalies

 

[Dingo44]

They also don't have picks either...

I guess I'm just eager to have one of UPL or comrie off the team. Tired of holding onto 3 goalies

I get that but Tampa is the last team we should help. I think they are our best bet to pass them and make the playoffs.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

I get that but Tampa is the last team we should help. I think they are our best bet to pass them and make the playoffs.

Idk how much help UPL or Comrie would be but you're right. Let them try to float with JJ

 

[MarkusKetterer]

We can take money back which they would need us to do to make room. Maybe buy out Bogo?

Seriously what could they offer to make us give them Comrie or UPL and help them with their cap?

I'd rather let them suffer with JJ.

The only prospects they have that interest me are Eamon Powell, Jack Harvey and Nick Malik.

 

[Zman5778]

They also don't have picks either...

I guess I'm just eager to have one of UPL or comrie off the team. Tired of holding onto 3 goalies

I get that.......but Comrie can be quite serviceable behind a good D (which Tampa has) and UPL has the potential to be more than that.

The price for either isn't going to hurt Tampa at all.

So therefore, I pass on helping a division foe.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

If it's coming from Dreger or Friedman it's coming from agents, which are trying to raise interest imo.

 

[Mattilaus]

Is there any reason for them to not just sign halak? He said he still wants to play and the odds of him being decent are just as good as comrie or upl.

 

[Djp]

Hmm..

Should we call him half head now?

If it's coming from Dreger or Friedman it's coming from agents, which are trying to raise interest imo.

That or…..buffalo offers a low contract with incentives while they want a flat figure of certain money.

 

[Sabreality]

If it's coming from Dreger or Friedman it's coming from agents, which are trying to raise interest imo.

Not to mention every year Dreger becomes more and more like Eklund. Guy doesn't know squat.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Is there any reason for them to not just sign halak? He said he still wants to play and the odds of him being decent are just as good as comrie or upl.

Given how Halak felt about being traded to Buffalo in 2014, I doubt he's going to want to sign here now.

 

[Mattilaus]

Given how Halak felt about being traded to Buffalo in 2014, I doubt he's going to want to sign here now.

i was referring to Tampa losing vasi. No reason for Tampa to trade for comrie or UPL when they can probably sign halak without using assets.

 

[Jim Bob]

Every NHL team’s defense ranked from best to worst

Which NHL teams are positioned for success on the blue line heading into the 2023-24 season?

theathletic.com

Tier 2: High-end​

Buffalo Sabres​

Mattias Samuelsson–Rasmus Dahlin
Owen Power–Connor Clifton
Henri Jokiharju–Erik Johnson

Other defense options: Jacob Bryson, Riley Stillman

It might be a hot take to have the Sabres this high given how much they struggled to defend last year, but hear me out.

1. Buffalo’s poor defensive results had a lot to do with bad goaltending and the forwards’ lackluster defensive play, it can’t solely be pinned on the blue line.
2. When I spoke to other teams, there was a strong belief that Power can take a huge step defensively as a sophomore this season. Dahlin and Power could be one of the best 1/2 punches in the NHL.
3. I’m probably higher than most people on Clifton. And when I asked around, there were people who also had time for him as a top-four defender.
4. Samuelsson is an underrated defensive defenseman and deserves more recognition outside of Buffalo.

Buffalo’s blue line certainly has more to prove than others in this tier, but its potential this season is worth betting on.

Babcock, Dubas, Laviolette and more: The offseason Bizarro-meter heads East

When it comes to bizarro offseasons, can any Eastern teams surpass the West’s meager efforts?

theathletic.com

Buffalo Sabres​

The offseason so far: They barely did anything other than adding Connor Clifton and Erik Johnson, because when you’ve been this good for a decade you don’t need to make major changes.

But their strangest story was: Not adding a goaltender, meaning a whole lot is going to be resting on rookie Devon Levi.

Bizarro-meter ranking: 5.4/10. I’m having a bit of fun with the Sabres — they’re a good, young team that’s ready to see the rebuild finally pay off, so we shouldn’t have expected GM Kevyn Adams to suddenly start making blockbusters. Still, if they start slow, there will be questions about just how little they did. And Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin still need extensions before next summer, too.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Matt Ress]

What, no game tonight?????

 

[Dubi Doo]

https://x.com/engelheather/status/1707766341799662000?s=20

These are interesting lines, and I'm fine with them outside of Olofsson playing. But, while I'm intrigued in the lines, I'd prefer something like this:

Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
I like Tuch bringing that physical, two-way game to this line. Don't get me wrong, Benson has looked great, but while he's looking the part of a good two-way player, I can't say he's better than Tuch in that regard (yet).

Greenway-Cozens-Benson
I'd prefer Peterka on Cozens' LW, but I'm not at all opposed to giving Greenway a shot with Cozens. It spreads the wealth throughout the lineup. This line could be a strong defensive line if Cozens takes a step forward defensively. I'm intrigued to see how Benson's relentless forecheck would impact this line.

Peterka-Krebs-Mitts
Mitts provides some sounds defensive play to this line. Peterka's speed would add an interesting element. Krebs gets a shot with more offensive players.

Girgs-Jost-Okoposo
Grind! Grind! Grind! And tilt the ice in Buffalo's favor.


Dahlin-Clifton
Hey, if Granato thinks they look good so far, then let's see what they have. If Clifton can play top pairing minutes on the heels of Dahlin, then Samuelsson is free to help elsewhere.

Power-Samuelsson
I'm DONE with Joki on Power's pairing. Let's see if Samuelsson can play his offside effectively, and give Power a stable presence.

Joki/Stillman-E Johnson
I'm open to the idea of giving Joki a chance playing 3rd pairing minutes with a solid defensive player who brings a great veteran presence.

As other have mentioned in the past, I think R Johnson is going to Samuelsson his way onto the roster at some point this season.

Levi
Comrie

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Friedman spitballing kind of what most of us our thinking today on the Goalies

 

[Dingo44]

https://x.com/engelheather/status/1707766341799662000?s=20

These are interesting lines, and I'm fine with them outside of Olofsson playing. But, while I'm intrigued in the lines, I'd prefer something like this:

Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
I like Tuch bringing that physical, two-way game to this line. Don't get me wrong, Benson has looked great, but while he's looking the part of a good two-way player, I can't say he's better than Tuch in that regard (yet).

Greenway-Cozens-Benson
I'd prefer Peterka on Cozens' LW, but I'm not at all opposed to giving Greenway a shot with Cozens. It spreads the wealth throughout the lineup. This line could be a strong defensive line if Cozens takes a step forward defensively. I'm intrigued to see how Benson's relentless forecheck would impact this line.

Peterka-Krebs-Mitts
Mitts provides some sounds defensive play to this line. Peterka's speed would add an interesting element. Krebs gets a shot with more offensive players.

Girgs-Jost-Okoposo
Grind! Grind! Grind! And tilt the ice in Buffalo's favor.


Dahlin-Clifton
Hey, if Granato thinks they look good so far, then let's see what they have. If Clifton can play top pairing minutes on the heels of Dahlin, then Samuelsson is free to help elsewhere.

Power-Samuelsson
I'm DONE with Joki on Power's pairing. Let's see if Samuelsson can play his offside effectively, and give Power a stable presence.

Joki/Stillman-E Johnson
I'm open to the idea of giving Joki a chance playing 3rd pairing minutes with a solid defensive player who brings a great veteran presence.

As other have mentioned in the past, I think R Johnson is going to Samuelsson his way onto the roster at some point this season.

Levi
Comrie

Ryan Johnson is going to be this season's Samuelsson or Pysyk - better than some guys on the NHL roster, but in Rochester by circumstance.

 

[Matt Ress]

Let's say Benny gets 9. Does a healthy Savoie get 9 also? Does Benson even factor into the decision?

Ryan Johnson is going to be this season's Samuelsson or Pysyk - better than some guys on the NHL roster, but in Rochester by circumstance.

I was ragging on the guy just a few short weeks ago. Couldn't be more happy to see him out playing my expectations.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Friedman spitballing kind of what most of us our thinking today on the Goalies

Lance and Joe were laughing at the idea of UPL not making the team just last week in their podcast. They acted like they had insider info of some kind imo…turns out that the local reporters still don’t know any more than the average fan with regards to inside stuff.

I had a feeling at the time that their reaction wouldn’t age well and here we are only 6 days later and they sound kinda silly already. I still will always enjoy the podcast regardless.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

Lance and Joe were laughing at the idea of UPL not making the team just last week in their podcast. They acted like they had insider info of some kind imo…turns out that the local reporters still don’t know any more than the average fan with regards to inside stuff.

I had a feeling at the time that their reaction wouldn’t age well and here we are only 6 days later and they sound kinda silly already. I still will always enjoy the podcast regardless.

Both Lance and Joe do a great job covering the team and providing updates but they don't have an inside source. Especially Lance but like you said most of the local reporters don't.

Joe never really claims to have a source (at least that I know of) but just always seems to go along with Lance. There podcast can get annoying at times they almost never disagree. Or at least when they do, one of them will flip flop on there take.

Joe would have an opinion

Lance would disagree

Joe changes his mind.