The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[joshjull]

They took a gamble on "potential" and it bit them in the ass.

Maybe Quinn still turns it around, but passing on more refined players for a guy that might have a slightly higher ceiling during a 10 year playoff drought wasn't the move. Also think I remember hearing Ralph liked quinn

In all recent years this is still the thing that fries me the most. Apparently under qualified decision makers thinking they knew better

Other than the pick not working out so far. I’m not sure how much it “ bit them in the ass”.

They’ve needed experienced established players for some time. No one Quinn’s age is that, regardless of what they’ve done since getting drafted.

If anything “bit them in the ass”, it was thinking Quinn was ready to be a top 6 forward. Which goes back to the GM constantly making team building mistakes. He was relying on 3 kids to be top 6 wingers.

 

[Fjordy]

How things have changed. I was pretty high on Cozens and Quinn a few years ago, and pretty low on Rossi.

It's just that some people know how to develop young players, and some don't. Some have a more or less normal GM, and some always have idiots in this position, who are hired by the same idiot owner.

 

[jc17]

How things have changed. I was pretty high on Cozens and Quinn a few years ago, and pretty low on Rossi.

To be fair, we'll never know how it would play out if they drafted differently. Maybe it would be different guys, same issues

 

[jc17]

Other than the pick not working out so far. I’m not sure how much it “ bit them in the ass”.

They’ve needed experienced established players for some time. No one Quinn’s age is that, regardless of what they’ve done since getting drafted.

If anything “bit them in the ass”, it was thinking Quinn was ready to be a top 6 forward. Which goes back to the GM constantly making team building mistakes. He was relying on 3 kids to be top 6 wingers.

I think other guys had more predictable/reliable skill sets.

Lundell and Rossi were high floor guys that I think most people had confidence would at least be contributing in a middle 6 capacity by now, and they are. People still have this perception that Rossi as a short, high scoring player was boom/bust, but it just wasn't the case

My opinion is they swung for the fences and missed guys that could have been pretty helpful right now, even if the upside wasn't there.

I agree that the team needs established players, but disagree that one young player is the same as another. Benson has been a prime example of that. I think there are plenty of u23 players that could help this team right now. Maybe not complete the puzzle, but get us a lot closer.

 

[debaser66]

I also liked Rossi more than Quinn but who knows they might have become of him around here.

 

[Beerz]

Only thing holding Jack back right now is his skating.. not sure if it's injury related or lack of conditioning or just not developing it.. doesn't really matter. If he works on his leg strength and skating he is going to be a star.
He will be better than Rossi.

I really he hope he puts in that work this offseason.

 

[joshjull]

I think other guys had more predictable/reliable skill sets.

Lundell and Rossi were high floor guys that I think most people had confidence would at least be contributing in a middle 6 capacity by now, and they are. People still have this perception that Rossi as a short, high scoring player was boom/bust, but it just wasn't the case

My opinion is they swung for the fences and missed guys that could have been pretty helpful right now, even if the upside wasn't there

I get what you’re saying about their respective draft status/projections. I don’t think those things matter much now for comparisons. A better guide would be looking at their respective development situations since joining the NHL.

Take Rossi’s situation. Since became a full time NHLer last season, his primary linemates have been Zuccarello/Kaprizov over that 1 1/2+ seasons.

1) Zuccarello —-> 1044mins
2) Kaprizov ——-> 827mins
3) Johansson —-> 478mins
4) Boldy ————> 456mins
5) Hartman ——-> 393mins
6) Foligno ———-> 247mins

Rossi is always the youngest on his line and, outside of Boldy, is playing with older to much older linemates. He’s also had a level of consistency playing so much with the top two.


Now compare that to Quinn’s situation over the same time frame. His top linemates…...
1) Cozens ———> 489mins
2) Peterka ——-> 310mins
3) Benson ———> 243mins
4) Krebs ————> 175mins
5) Kulich ————> 139mins
6) McLeod ———> 69mins

We try to develop youngsters with other youngsters. We also have a lot of volatility with the lines outside of the top line. Even that changed recently with the top line broken up.

Cozens list is similar with his top 3 being Peterka, Benson and Quinn. Which would make him the oldest player on his line the majority of the time. Which is crazy for a 22/23yr old center you’re using as your 2C.

I was looking at Rossi vs Cozens before you posted your response. I was trying to see why, or if, Minny would really be interested in that trade. When you look at who they can put Cozens with it makes sense. They feel they could put him in a much better situation and get much more out of him. Hard to argue with that.

I don’t think there’s a chance in hell we would get the Rossi that Minny is getting at the moment. He’d be stuck playing with the same bunch of kids that Cozens is. I really hate Adams.

 

[joshjull]

Breaking down who Cozen/Quinn have played with vs somebody like Rossi shows the utter stupidity of Adam’s approach the last two seasons. If he doesn’t bring in more experience, we are doomed to keep sucking. We can’t have all these kids in the top 9 and keep hoping for better. The defense is a whole other mess

 

[Fjordy]

Breaking down who Cozen/Quinn have played with vs somebody like Rossi shows the utter stupidity of Adam’s approach the last two seasons. If he doesn’t bring in more experience, we are doomed to keep sucking. We can’t have all these kids in the top 9 and keep hoping for better. The defense is a whole other mess

I have said for a long time that I want to see only 2-3 young players in the top 9, no more. We need experienced and proven players.

 

[jc17]

I get what you’re saying about their respective draft status/projections. I don’t think those things matter much now for comparisons. A better guide would be looking at their respective development situations since joining the NHL.

Take Rossi’s situation. Since became a full time NHLer last season, his primary linemates have been Zuccarello/Kaprizov over that 1 1/2+ seasons.

1) Zuccarello —-> 1044mins
2) Kaprizov ——-> 827mins
3) Johansson —-> 478mins
4) Boldy ————> 456mins
5) Hartman ——-> 393mins
6) Foligno ———-> 247mins

Rossi is always the youngest on his line and, outside of Boldy, is playing with older to much older linemates. He’s also had a level of consistency playing so much with the top two.


Now compare that to Quinn’s situation over the same time frame. His top linemates…...
1) Cozens ———> 489mins
2) Peterka ——-> 310mins
3) Benson ———> 243mins
4) Krebs ————> 175mins
5) Kulich ————> 139mins
6) McLeod ———> 69mins

We try to develop youngsters with other youngsters. We also have a lot of volatility with the lines outside of the top line. Obviously thats changed recently with the top line broken up.

Cozens list is similar with his top 3 being Peterka, Benson and Quinn. Which would make him the oldest player on his line the majority of the time. Which is crazy for a 22/23yr old center you’re using as your 2C.

I was looking at Rossi vs Cozens before you posted your response. I was trying to see why, or if, Minny would really be interested in that trade. When you look at who they can put Cozens with it makes sense. They feel they could put him in a much better situation and get much more out of him. Hard to argue with that.

I don’t think there’s a chance in hell we would get the Rossi that Minny is getting at the moment. He’d be stuck playing with the same bunch of kids that Cozens is. I really hate Adams.

I think that plays a factor, but I guess I'm still not convinced there's not an overall ability factor.

It's all subjective obviously, but I followed the 2020 draft pretty closely and the 2019 a bit as well. The issues cozens and Quinn are having are things that have plagued them since they were drafted. Understandably Quinn's injuries are brought up as an impediment to his game (fairly), but he's been weak on the puck since 2020, it's not something really new. Cozens decision making wasn't the strongest and we're still seeing it. It feels a bit Risto-y to me, how long do we give them? And Risto is a guy that did look a bit better after leaving, but he never hit that potential. I understand its painful every time we trade a guy and he does well, but a majority of the instances the guys we've lost were certifiably good while they were here (jack, sam, ROR).

The roster's construction hasn't helped, but again you see a player like Benson who manages, and has also been stuck with other youth. Cozens hasn't really shown much even when playing with older guys and his most productive season was with younger guys.

In terms of Cozens/Rossi specifically, it does seem like a red flag if Minnesota was interested, and looking to dump rossi. My guess is that it's probably contract-related, which could be a legitimate concern. However, I wouldn't dismiss it just because the other team seems to operate more intelligently and might see something we don't. A playmaking center has been on the wish list of a lot of sabres fans. But of course, that shouldn't be considered a solution. more work to be done

 

[SabresNorth]

Not sure what chaffed me more, the headache I have from being sick, the 2 hour delay for Amtrak getting my daughter to the nearest station, or that Buffalo had Bobby McMann at a Dev Camp in 2017.

Nah, probably more annoyed that I just dug through an old thread to point out that Brandon Hagel was on the ice for both Sabre Dev camps when he was still on their reserve list.

I always wonder if TM would have signed Hagel. Wasn't one of Botterils picks maybe was too easy to cut him loose. Botts had that shift against later round CHL kids at that time too.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Some chatter that the Isles are going after Pettersson. Perhaps KA will make one last effort ?

 

[jc17]

Getting to the point of wondering if we really want him if they're trying to move him this badly. Idk maybe over reaction

 

[Chainshot]

I always wonder if TM would have signed Hagel. Wasn't one of Botterils picks maybe was too easy to cut him loose. Botts had that shift against later round CHL kids at that time too.

Maybe Tim would've. He was his pick and he was a dogged worker at the CHL level. Even in dev camp, his work ethic was top notch.

 

[Zman5778]

I'd hope that Cozens/Byram is still on the table here.

 

[Fjordy]

Getting to the point of wondering if we really want him if they're trying to move him this badly. Idk maybe over reaction

There is no other 1C that can suit us. Dahlin is familiar with EP40 and he can tell Adams about it if necessary.

Some chatter that the Isles are going after Pettersson. Perhaps KA will make one last effort ?

It's going to be tough to beat the Islanders' offer if Dobson is there, they already got M. Pettersson for the second pair of LDs and they're missing a second top 4 RD.

 

[Dubi Doo]

There is no other 1C that can suit us. Dahlin is familiar with EP40 and he can tell Adams about it if necessary.


It's going to be tough to beat the Islanders' offer if Dobson is there, they already got M. Pettersson for the second pair of LDs and they're missing a second top 4 RD.

That trade makes too much sense, unfortunately.

 

[Fjordy]

That trade makes too much sense, unfortunately.

Yeah, we had a chance until they got M. Pettersson, now they need RD and top 6 C more. Also the Islanders have someone like Barzal who could go to the Canucks with Dobson. It would be funny if EP40 and Horvat were top 6 C for the Islanders.

 

[Beerz]

Idk if that is a great fit. Dobson's primary strength is PP duty and I'm not sure if Hughes comes off the ice during PP .