Like most i'd like another top 6 player and a top 4 d man..
I do like that 4th line tho... lol
Yeah, this actually looks like an NHL team. The bottom six has been a series of castoffs and misfit toys for so long, it is nice to see some more intent. That Krebs spot is a pretty gaping hole, and an obvious spot to upgrade with some type of 2 way center.So we pretty clearly have 12 forwards and 6 defensmen.
FORWARDS - Peterka, Thompson, Tuch, Benson, cozens, quinn, Zucker, krebs, greenway, Malenstyn, lafferty, and aube-kubel.
DEFENSEMEN - Byram, dahlin, Power, joker, samuelsson, clifton
I think the most clear spot to upgrade is krebs at 3C. It really is a need. In an ideal world I’d like to upgrade joker on defense, but I don’t see that happening right now.
Gotta replace krebs. I’d move major futures pieces for a legit Center
Like most i'd like another top 6 player and a top 4 d man..
I do like that 4th line tho... lol
I wouldn't hate an upgrade there but I think in there minds Krebs is our 3C whether we like it or not.Gotta replace krebs. I’d move major futures pieces for a legit Center
A bigger hole than 3C?!?I wouldn't hate an upgrade there but I think in there minds Krebs is our 3C whether we like it or not.
I think there are bigger holes in this roster then who the 3C is.
A top 6 winger and a top 4 d manA bigger hole than 3C?!?
Like what?
The whole group doesn't look down or sad at all..
A top 6 winger and a top 4 d man
I don't usually post callbacks, but these predictions feel too on the nose to not re-share. Caveat that I like the 4th line moves a bit more than I expected I would. I hate that, barring an unexpected trade, they're gonna gift Krebs the 3C spot when he's been a black hole on offense for almost his whole Buffalo tenure.My pessimistic but, IMO, realistic view of what they're gonna do and how things are gonna go:
-Run it back with the defense and assume Lindy will unlock Byram and Power's better games and also somehow ensure Sammy will be available for more than 50 games in the season. Maybe they flip Joker in a player for player trade or move him for a pick, then trade the pick for another defenseman. I expect some progress from Bo and OP, but also assume Samuelsson will miss a shitload of time, and they'll pay for not solidifying the top 4 more.
-Massively overpay a middle of the road or aging 3rd liner to take Skinner's place as a top 6 winger and assume they don't need to do anything else. KA figures Peterka can handle line 1 duties full-time and again has zero backup plans for potential poor play or injuries to anyone in the top 6. I guess at least they'd have several kids to trot out if they need to replace forwards in the lineup.
-In a similar vein, they promote Krebs to 3C apropos of nothing other than "he's a rising young player who wants to be here." Lindy realizes this is a mistake within the first 2 weeks of the season and they sign whoever's available at that point to try and salvage the spot in their lineup. It won't work.
-Add in random, non-needle moving 4th line/AHL depth signings.
-UPL regresses slightly from the Vezina level play he offered in the back half of the year, but is generally a solid/above average goalie. Levi progresses but has some struggles as a backup.
-Pegula fires Adams at the end of the year after another wasted season. The incoming GM (assuming Forton b/c how are they gonna attract any outsider with even a smidge of credibility) still doesn't really have any idea of what he has in Kulich, Rosen, Ostlund, and Savoie at the NHL level.
I'd love to be proven wrong, but between an owner who is both absentee and a meddler, and an inexperienced GM who's in miles over his head, this team feels hopeless.
The whole group doesn't look down or sad at all..
Predict: will not make the playoffsLadies and gentlemen, your 2024-45 Buffalo Sabres:
View attachment 890804
The Gilbert and Bryson signings spell the end for Jokiharju IMO, I just don't see room for him in this group. I thought we'd move his rights for another player, but now it's probably going to be a 3rd or 4th rounder.
I suspect that Adams can't help but talk himself into leaving it open for competition (Kulich/Krebs) and think he can make a trade after training camp.I don't usually post callbacks, but these predictions feel too on the nose to not re-share. Caveat that I like the 4th line moves a bit more than I expected I would. I hate that, barring an unexpected trade, they're gonna gift Krebs the 3C spot when he's been a black hole on offense for almost his whole Buffalo tenure.
Predict: will not make the playoffs
Ruff is not a magician, he had a more balanced and experienced roster in the Devils and he only made the playoffs once. If Adams had given him a good roster I would have believed in the playoffs with Ruff, but this roster is not good enough and now I probably even agree that there was no point in buyout Skinner if you replace him with Zucker, who is also aging, gets injured, is not good at defense and does not score like Skinner.I was called out multiple times for being negative. This team is a joke under the current ownership/management and there is nothing that makes me believe it will change. I have slight slight hope in Ruff but he's 65 and a main reason he is back is Devils are paying part of his contract and the guy wants to be near family and he does truly love Buffalo. Lindy is really the best hope for Sabres. Does he have any magic? They saddled him with B level assistants likely on cheap deals too. Maybe he can do something because there is still tons of talent on roster fromn drafting high for years.
With all the signings they've made, it looks like they've frozen the roster. Maybe they'll trade Jokiharju for the futures and that's it.Man, You guys are right. This team is doomed. We hit the July 1 2:30pm roster freeze and are stuck with this team!
First 3 game win streak in the fall and they'll be scrambling onto the bandwagon.Man, You guys are right. This team is doomed. We hit the July 1 2:30pm roster freeze and are stuck with this team!
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Just nooticing some numbers, don't mind me