Woudlnt you say levi is an upgrade over 42 year old craig Anderson? And 4th year upl is better then last year (on paper with more experience and age)

Seems like the future in goal is very bright
- Boss34

Levi looks promising, I sure hope his future is bright. The Sabres are banking on it. Still doesn't change the fact its still a Question mark at this point. As is the Defense, we hope who he brought in finally works, but there's still Questions even with that.

https://twitter.com/MattP...amp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Good get by Beaner

https://twitter.com/MattParrino/status/1697251104617267459?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Good get by Beaner
- Buff36

Yup, he could have a monster year and open things up down field for Diggs and Davis as well as Cook coming out of the backfield. Let's hope Dorsey has improved and knows how to scheme all that.

Woudlnt you say levi is an upgrade over 42 year old craig Anderson? And 4th year upl is better then last year (on paper with more experience and age)

Seems like the future in goal is very bright
- Boss34

Will they perform better this year? Coin toss.

Were their first years cleaning out major players on the team?

Zito came in and instantly started acquiring vets and younger guys who hadn't panned out. And then acquired Reinhart in the deal with us.
- DirtyDan

There's no doubt Fitzgerald and Zito have done great things with their teams.

Comparing one guy to the next is at it's core a fallible practice, as every player is different.

Never mind Zito had prime Huberdeau, Barkov and Ekblad to build around. His prospect pool does not allow him to build like Buffalo is.

Tom Fitz deserves a ton of praise too, being able to acquire top prospects by losing bigly, buying Dougie Ham and trading peanuts for Timo, Marino and Siegs.

Could Adams have gone down this path and done less prospects for more established talents? Yeah, I guess so. But here we are with a billion kids and a roster 75% full of long term pieces

Levi looks promising, I sure hope his future is bright. The Sabres are banking on it. Still doesn't change the fact its still a Question mark at this point. As is the Defense, we hope who he brought in finally works, but there's still Questions even with that.
- Buff36

Isn't connor bedard a question mark?

All young rookies are questionable, but at some point you need to believe in management.

The defense is a top 5 talent in the league, so I'm not sure were on the same page.

Will they perform better this year? Coin toss.
- Lunaion

Shouldnt be worse then last year, upl should have more experience.

Levi should be able to play more then 1 game a week.

Phenom > 42 year old

There's no doubt Fitzgerald and Zito have done great things with their teams.

Comparing one guy to the next is at it's core a fallible practice, as every player is different.

Never mind Zito had prime Huberdeau, Barkov and Ekblad to build around. His prospect pool does not allow him to build like Buffalo is.

Tom Fitz deserves a ton of praise too, being able to acquire top prospects by losing bigly, buying Dougie Ham and trading peanuts for Timo, Marino and Siegs.

Could Adams have gone down this path and done less prospects for more established talents? Yeah, I guess so. But here we are with a billion kids and a roster 75% full of long term pieces
- TheSabresTaco

Adams has prime Dahlin, Power, Cozens and Tage to build around.

What are the no doubt long term pieces on the roster, beyond the 4 listed above?

I'm a big Peterka fan, and a fan of Quinn, but why are they guaranteed long term pieces?

They have quite a ways to go before being classified as such. Same for Samuelsson.

That's not even counting the prospects who have proven zippo at the NHL level so far.

Adams has prime Dahlin, Power, Cozens and Tage to build around.

What are the no doubt long term pieces on the roster, beyond the 4 listed above?

I'm a big Peterka fan, and a fan of Quinn, but why are they guaranteed long term pieces?

They have quite a ways to go before being classified as such. Same for Samuelsson.

That's not even counting the prospects who have proven zippo at the NHL level so far.
- kingcong39

Adams also had Montour, Risto, Ullmark, Skunk, and Eichel as trade peices, no other GM has had that ammunition to rebuild with.

Isn't connor bedard a question mark?

All young rookies are questionable, but at some point you need to believe in management.

The defense is a top 5 talent in the league, so I'm not sure were on the same page.
- Boss34

Goaltending and Forwards are a whole different Ball game in Hockey especially there Development. For someone who supposedly played that should be known.
And Top 5 Defense, that would be fantastic. That would be a huge jump and unless Granato changes his system or puts in a Defensive system I highly doubt that happens.

Adams also had Montour, Risto, Ullmark, Skunk, and Eichel as trade peices, no other GM has had that ammunition to rebuild with.
- washedup20

With the way Adams had handled things, the viability of the team being a cup contender hinges on the following:

- More than one of Quinn, Peterka, Kulich, Benson, Savoie, Rosen, Ostlund becoming true impact top 6 players
- At least one of the defense prospects in the ORG becoming a top 4 impact player
- We all know what is needed from Levi

Goaltending and Forwards are a whole different Ball game in Hockey especially there Development. For someone who supposedly played that should be known.
And Top 5 Defense, that would be fantastic. That would be a huge jump and unless Granato changes his system or puts in a Defensive system I highly doubt that happens.
- Buff36

Could you really name 5 more talented teams on defense in the nhl?

(2) 1st overall picks. Plus samuelsson and now Clifton.

Forwards are different, but my point : there's no guarantees at any position.

With the way Adams had handled things, the viability of the team being a cup contender hinges on the following:

- More than one of Quinn, Peterka, Kulich, Benson, Savoie, Rosen, Ostlund becoming true impact top 6 players
- At least one of the defense prospects in the ORG becoming a top 4 impact player
- We all know what is needed from Levi
- kingcong39

On top of somehow filling the bottom 6 with 0 depth in the system to fill those roles. Trades and free agency haven't been successful at filling those, the players he drafted this year are years away from even assessing if they can eventually fill those roles.

Could you really name 5 more talented teams on defense in the nhl?

(2) 1st overall picks. Plus samuelsson and now Clifton.

Forwards are different, but my point : there's no guarantees at any position.
- Boss34

Carolina
Boston
Tampa
Vegas
Colorado

Buffalo is not close, stop trolling.

One CLOWN and a lot of want to be TOUGH GUYS!
That are tough as a wet paper bag. PAPER BILLS!!!
- Rsh

Carolina
Boston
Tampa
Vegas
Colorado

Buffalo is not close, stop trolling.
- washedup20

Agree with the above, and I'd add the following: Calgary, Dallas, Florida (when healthy), LA Kings, Minnesota (??), New Jersey, Rangers, Ottawa (??), Penguins, Seattle.

Most of the above would be in the running.

On top of somehow filling the bottom 6 with 0 depth in the system to fill those roles. Trades and free agency haven't been successful at filling those, the players he drafted this year are years away from even assessing if they can eventually fill those roles.
- washedup20

Likely, a couple of:
Rousek
Kozak
Wahlberg
Cedarqvist
Nadeau
Miedema
Huglen

I wouldn't say nothing.

Likely, a couple of:
Rousek
Kozak
Wahlberg
Cedarqvist
Nadeau
Miedema
Huglen

I wouldn't say nothing.
- IonSabres

other than Rousek, who is close (1 season or less) from seeing NHL time?

Agree with the above, and I'd add the following: Calgary, Dallas, Florida (when healthy), LA Kings, Minnesota (??), New Jersey, Rangers, Ottawa (??), Penguins, Seattle.

Most of the above would be in the running.
- kingcong39

Agreed

One CLOWN and a lot of want to be TOUGH GUYS!
That are tough as a wet paper bag. PAPER BILLS!!!
- Rsh

Sure sound like your Grandfather

other than Rousek, who is close (1 season or less) from seeing NHL time?
- washedup20

Nope, probably not... 24-25 for a couple...25-26 for most.
Bottom 6 guys take longer to develop as most are Rd3+ selections.
FA is a good place to find suitable players for the bottom half of the roster though...cheep, experienced guys.

Hey 36 who won the bet ? You or 34? With Ethan Bear 🐻 and the Levitation Choo-choo?

Hey 36 who won the bet ? You or 34? With Ethan Bear 🐻 and the Levitation Choo-choo?
- Rsh

Boss did

Nope, probably not... 24-25 for a couple...25-26 for most.
Bottom 6 guys take longer to develop as most are Rd3+ selections.
FA is a good place to find suitable players for the bottom half of the roster though...cheep, experienced guys.
- IonSabres

Only 6 players are signed up to or past that season.

Name the last free agent the Sabres signed, let alone Adams, that was a success at the role they were brought in for?

I'm going to add, being a mentor during a rebuild is not success.

other than Rousek, who is close (1 season or less) from seeing NHL time?
- washedup20

Benson, Savoie, Kulich, Rosen