The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[DapperCam]

It's crazy people are still saying this after this board went through this same exact song and dance with Dahlin. I'm not paying Byram 8-9 million a year long term which is exactly what his number projects to be in a rising cap.

Dahlin's biggest issue was he would pinch at the dumbest times and his shot needed work. Power's problem is he is way too soft in his own zone and has zero willingness or ability to take care of the front of the net (and his shot also needs work).

Dahlin learned to pick his spots better, can Power learn how to play in his own zone? I prefer to keep Power and trade Byram for the record.

 

[Chainshot]

It's crazy people are still saying this after this board went through this same exact song and dance with Dahlin. I'm not paying Byram 8-9 million a year long term which is exactly what his number projects to be in a rising cap.

'Tis not the same - as someone who defended Dahlin vigorously during the time when he was catching flak for his play, Power's issues are so much a product of Power not having basic competence at his position in his own zone... and it seems to be getting worse. Dahlin would get aggressive on a rush or pinch - that's actually one of Power's best assets from his Michigan and Chicago Power days - but the ignition to get to his man in his own zone was there. Power has not shown it in going on five years of viewing. f***, Dahlin at 16 in the SHL was a better player in his own zone than Power is after 237 NHL games.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Same issues Hedman had his start to his career. Pronger himself has said it’s way too early to give up on Power and has plenty of runway to add that dimension to his game.

What happened to Pronger after he got traded too early? I’d say that guy knows what the development path of a huge offensively capable defenseman looks like.

 

[Jim Bob]

Same issues Hedman had his start to his career. Pronger himself has said it’s way too early to give up on Power and has plenty of runway to add that dimension to his game.

What happened to Pronger after he got traded too early? I’d say that guy knows what the development path of a huge offensively capable defenseman looks like.

The Sabres need to do two key things if that is to happen:

1) Hire an assistant coach that runs the D that can get through to Power about improving not just the play in his own zone, but his transition defense, as well.

2) Get Power a quality partner.

Who knows if the Sabres can get those two things done anytime soon...

 

[TehDoak]

With regards to Byram, I'm open to all options. I think Dahlin can, essentially, carry any competent top 4 d-man on the top pair. Byram/Power doesn't really work.

Curious how Dahlin looks with and without Byram. My guess is they are similar.

My ideal summer (on defense)

Out: Byram, Samuelsson, Clifton
In: Two complementary d-men to play with Dahlin, Power.

XXXX-Dahlin
Power-YYYY
Johnson-JBD

I'd probably try to find a Byram for D-man trade and add another via UFA. Fine with buyouts for both Samuelsson/Clifton.

 

[Jim Bob]

With regards to Byram, I'm open to all options. I think Dahlin can, essentially, carry any competent top 4 d-man on the top pair. Byram/Power doesn't really work.

Curious how Dahlin looks with and without Byram. My guess is they are similar.

My ideal summer (on defense)

Out: Byram, Samuelsson, Clifton
In: Two complementary d-men to play with Dahlin, Power.

XXXX-Dahlin
Power-YYYY
Johnson-JBD

I'd probably try to find a Byram for D-man trade and add another via UFA. Fine with buyouts for both Samuelsson/Clifton.

 

[GameMisconduct]

The Sabres need to do two key things if that is to happen:

1) Hire an assistant coach that runs the D that can get through to Power about improving not just the play in his own zone, but his transition defense, as well.

2) Get Power a quality partner.

Who knows if the Sabres can get those two things done anytime soon...

This one all day, everyday, ASAP. I think both defense (and goaltending) are the areas that clearly suffer from the people we have directly overseeing and supporting them.

 

[CowbellConray]

I know the team is on an unsustainable shooting % heater, but I did go back and look at every goal scored over the last 5 games. It's very interesting:

1) 3 of their 26 goals in the past 5 games were from outside of the face-off dots. They are getting to the middle of the ice and getting prime chances. That was the opposite at the beginning of the year, where their offense was coming from the edges of the offensive zone.
2) Players are going to the crease. It's obvious. Get the puck in, cycle, get multiple bodies to the net, and try to get the puck on net. It's working, and it shouldn't be a surpise.
3) Transition play has improved. We were one of the worst transition teams to start the year. Hopefully they have figured it out under Ruff's system.

I dont expect them to score 5.5 goals a game moving forward. However, they are scoring right now by putting themselves in good positions to score. Let's hope that continues.

 

[Jim Bob]

This one all day, everyday, ASAP. I think both defense (and goaltending) are the areas that clearly suffer from the people we have directly overseeing and supporting them.

Bales and Kotyk are a pretty good goalie coach duo.

My only issue with the goalie coaching situation is that the Sabres have not invested in a "goalie department" like many other teams. I believe that they are leaving some scouting and development on the table with putting as much on Kotyk's plate as they have. Seamus is expected to work with the AHL, ECHL, and drafted goalies PLUS scout the goalies in the upcoming draft class.

My dream scenario would be hiring Ryan Miller to head up a goalie department and add a goalie specific scout, a goalie specific analytics person (ideally paying for ClearSight's stuff, too), and adding a goalie specific S&C coach for the organization (they have invited Maria Mountain to Dev Camp in the past to work with goalies).

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[OkimLom]

Same issues Hedman had his start to his career. Pronger himself has said it’s way too early to give up on Power and has plenty of runway to add that dimension to his game.

What happened to Pronger after he got traded too early? I’d say that guy knows what the development path of a huge offensively capable defenseman looks like.

I don't see Power being close to Hedman's level. I see him being more in line with Hanifin and having that ceiling. He's more akin to being 1st Overall pick like Erik Johnson was, than a "generational" level player.

But I question the quality of coaching and their capabilities to help Power grow. Sure as hell know management doesn't have the slightest clue of how to bring along prospects, and give them the veteran support they need to develop and grow players' games.

 

[Chainshot]

Bales and Kotyk are a pretty good goalie coach duo.

My only issue with the goalie coaching situation is that the Sabres have not invested in a "goalie department" like many other teams. I believe that they are leaving some scouting and development on the table with putting as much on Kotyk's plate as they have. Seamus is expected to work with the AHL, ECHL, and drafted goalies PLUS scout the goalies in the upcoming draft class.

My dream scenario would be hiring Ryan Miller to head up a goalie department and add a goalie specific scout, a goalie specific analytics person (ideally paying for ClearSight's stuff, too), and adding a goalie specific S&C coach for the organization (they have invited Maria Mountain to Dev Camp in the past to work with goalies).

Nothing I have seen indicates Bales is a good coach. Kotyk has helped restore Sandstrom and Malcolm Subban at the AHL level for sure but I do not see Bales as getting anything out of anyone he's coached that haven't been better elsewhere.

As for the goalie department, totally agree. But that's spending money for an unknown result. I don't see them doing that.

 

[Jim Bob]

As for the goalie department, totally agree. But that's spending money off the ice. I don't see them doing that.

Fixed it for you.

 

[TageGod]

View attachment 1006075

Dahlin Samuelsson has me dead. Maybe just run Dahlin and Power for 30m a night....

 

[TageGod]

Nothing I have seen indicates Bales is a good coach. Kotyk has helped restore Sandstrom and Malcolm Subban at the AHL level for sure but I do not see Bales as getting anything out of anyone he's coached that haven't been better elsewhere.

As for the goalie department, totally agree. But that's spending money for an unknown result. I don't see them doing that.

Sabres goaltenders have been erratic this entire drought. Bales just sits there immune to everything.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Sabres goaltenders have been erratic this entire drought. Bales just sits there immune to everything.

I don't disagree but there's more to the story.

Pre-2015, goalies were brought in just to play. It was a tank.

2015 brought the team Lehner, who was battling his own personal demons. That's more to do with Murray for bringing in a player with so much baggage and expecting him to not only figure it out and play well. Korn couldn't have fixed that.

After Lehner, Ullmark came up and played relatively well. The defense and team in front of him was also poor. But he's excelling in other places.

UPL is having similar issues.

Part of it is coaching. Part of it is personnel. Part of it is scheme. Part of it is the mental aspect of goaltending and confidence.

The Bruins play a goalie friendly system, fill the roster with high IQ players, and maintain discipline. Thomas to Rask to Ullmark to Swayman. They are a machine.

So there's a lot more to it than Bales, but he's definitely part of the equation.

 

[TageGod]

I don't disagree but there's more to the story.

Pre-2015, goalies were brought in just to play. It was a tank.

2015 brought the team Lehner, who was battling his own personal demons. That's more to do with Murray for bringing in a player with so much baggage and expecting him to not only figure it out and play well. Korn couldn't have fixed that.

After Lehner, Ullmark came up and played relatively well. The defense and team in front of him was also poor. But he's excelling in other places.

UPL is having similar issues.

Part of it is coaching. Part of it is personnel. Part of it is scheme. Part of it is the mental aspect of goaltending and confidence.

The Bruins play a goalie friendly system, fill the roster with high IQ players, and maintain discipline. Thomas to Rask to Ullmark to Swayman. They are a machine.

So there's a lot more to it than Bales, but he's definitely part of the equation.

I don't argue the Sabres are not goalie friendly. The issue is UPL either plays out of his mind or forgets to show up for the dance. There is no consistency in the goaltender himself. How can you be dialed in one game, then forget your fundamentals completely the next.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I don't argue the Sabres are not goalie friendly. The issue is UPL either plays out of his mind or forgets to show up for the dance. There is no consistency in the goaltender himself. How can you be dialed in one game, then forget your fundamentals completely the next.

Ever played goalie?

 

[ValJamesDuex]

I know it's just a end of season call up, but what does the Ostlund call-up say about acquiring another center this summer ?

I really like the player , but first thought when I seen it was here we go again

 

[Der Jaeger]

I'll put this a different way. We watch baseball hitters go on hot streaks for periods, and then times when they couldn't hit a beach ball. Why? It's not like they forgot how to swing a bat.

I've wrote this a ton of times: it's mental and probably confidence. Same person, different day, different confidence level.

Being a goalie requires a state of focus which most people don't do in their daily lives, and most players in sports don't do either. Hitters can have a bad at-bat, and it's relatively no big deal. Pitchers can't. Forwards and defenseman can have bad shifts, bad periods, and bad games, and the team survives. The goaltender cannot.

Combine the level of focus and level of confidence required to be effective together, and you get a recipe for inconsistency. Think Matt Murray won two Cups and just forgot how to play? His focus and confidence went.
It has almost nothing to do with the physical ability to play the position. That's why if I ever owned a team, I'd have a cognitive performance team. 2-3 people who did nothing but talk to players and work on their mental focus and confidence.

 

[TageGod]

Ever played goalie?

Every goalie has stinkers. Consistently having them is the problem. Usually, goalies go on hot and cold streaks. UPL's streaks last a game. Yes, I have played goalie.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Every goalie has stinkers. Consistently having them is the problem. Usually, goalies go on hot and cold streaks. UPL's streaks last a game. Yes, I have played goalie.

Can a smaller goalie make it in today's NHL ? Saros has really struggled this season, but Wolf has been good as a examples.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Every goalie has stinkers. Consistently having them is the problem. Usually, goalies go on hot and cold streaks. UPL's streaks last a game. Yes, I have played goalie.

Read below

I'll put this a different way. We watch baseball hitters go on hot streaks for periods, and then times when they couldn't hit a beach ball. Why? It's not like they forgot how to swing a bat.

I've wrote this a ton of times: it's mental and probably confidence. Same person, different day, different confidence level.

Being a goalie requires a state of focus which most people don't do in their daily lives, and most players in sports don't do either. Hitters can have a bad at-bat, and it's relatively no big deal. Pitchers can't. Forwards and defenseman can have bad shifts, bad periods, and bad games, and the team survives. The goaltender cannot.

Combine the level of focus and level of confidence required to be effective together, and you get a recipe for inconsistency. Think Matt Murray won two Cups and just forgot how to play? His focus and confidence went.
It has almost nothing to do with the physical ability to play the position. That's why if I ever owned a team, I'd have a cognitive performance team. 2-3 people who did nothing but talk to players and work on their mental focus and confidence.

 

[TageGod]

Can a smaller goalie make it in today's NHL ? Saros has really struggled this season, but Wolf has been good as a examples.

Smaller goalies are typically better for the chaos in front of them than big goalies. They lose advantage on screens/ 1 on 1 shots. Good team D-UPL. Bad team D- Someone like Quick.

 

[Chainshot]