gotta get mccabe out of that lineup
- navinrjohnson

Following.

Samuelsson, Davidsson, Johnson, and Laaksonen all had less than stellar seasons.
- kingcong39

Baker disagrees. Laaksonen didn't fare too well this year.

that is true.. in the short period of time he was here i think he did more than RamRod and Sheary did the whole season. Not sure what Pitt was thinking on that one.
- SabresFaninIndiana

very much agreed

Rutherford threw him a much needed lifeline?
Must have felt bad for unloading Hunwick on him 2 years ago.
- IonSabres

who cares?...right?...i'd hazard to guess that there are a lot of transactions based upon similar, not exact, circumstances...in fact, i'd go as far to say that the Sabres have been frowned upon in front office circles for the way the tanked and that no one was going to give them anything unless they paid handsomely, or in the case of ror and kane, were given little in return

Samuelsson had a very good, not great, 19-20 season as he was named captain of the U.S. WJC team and was a finalist for NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the year as a sophomore. He had a meh WJC and that's what everyone seems to be focusing on. Laaksonen apparently has had a lot of trouble in his own zone.
- Michael Pachla

Samuelsson was much more mediocre than great from the various sites I read.

Laaksonen had an injury plagued season.

gotta get mccabe out of that lineup
- navinrjohnson

I suppose Borgen would be the replacement?

Murray was handed the keys to Fort Knox and Botts came into Fort Courage.
- adambuffalo

Let's not act botts had nothing he basically got rid ROR for free and he continues to keep players like ristolainen when they dry up in value

Samuelsson was much more mediocre than great from the various sites I read.

Laaksonen had an injury plagued season.
- kingcong39

I won't dispute what you read...just pointed out that he was captain of the wjc team and was named as a finalist for that award...he was lambasted for his wjc performance and I think people have the tendency to crap on his entire season based upon those handful of games

Of the 4th rounders and lower, Bryson and Weissbach are still in play from '17 with Bryson possibly being a nice surprise. From '18 you've got Pekar who looks like a solid fourth-liner with limited bottom-six upside. Prior to that, Johansson is still alive from 2014, and Borgen from 2015 looks to be a solid bottom-pairing d-man with possible mid-pairing upside. There also are many on long development curves overseas
- Michael Pachla

Bryson is the least talked about, most promising prospect, and he quite possibly is NHL ready starting next season.

Based on this past season in the AHL, he has also passed Borgen in terms of promise.

Let's not act botts had nothing he basically got rid ROR for free and he continues to keep players like ristolainen when they dry up in value
- gerbe75pts

according to many here, risto's value dried up before he even got here

Guys I would target
Alex Tuch, trade
Josh Anderson, trade
Dylan Strome, trade
Kevin Shattenkirk, UFA
Aaron Dell, UFA

Draft
Holtz

Available for Use in Trades
Risto
Montour
Rhino
Miller
Mojo
Thompson
Mitts
2021-1st

Compliance Buyout
Okposo

Skinner - Eichel - Holtz
Olofsson - Strome - Tuch
Kahun - Cozens - Anderson
Asplund - Larry - Lazar

Dahlin - Shattenkirk
McCabe - Joker
Pilut - Miller

Ullmark
Dell
- IonSabres

Shattenkirk on the top pair playing all the 5v5 minutes you ideally want Dahlin playing starting next season? I have doubts he would last with those minutes.

I would add Henrique as a trade target. His contract ends at the point one or all of Cozens, Mittelstadt, and this year's pick will be ready for raises.

Baker disagrees. Laaksonen didn't fare too well this year.
- TheSabresTaco

That is good he disagrees.

He is also far from the only source who has in depth knowledge on prospects.

Laaksonen did take a step back, and he also dealt with injuries.

Saying he didn't fare too well while ignoring he had injury issues is only sharing part of the story.

I won't dispute what you read...just pointed out that he was captain of the wjc team and was named as a finalist for that award...he was lambasted for his wjc performance and I think people have the tendency to crap on his entire season based upon those handful of games
- Michael Pachla

From what I read, it had little to do with his world junior performance, and more to do with his lack of foot speed, his inability to produce any offense, and his questionable decision making, i.e. lack of hockey sense.

Bryson is the least talked about, most promising prospect, and he quite possibly is NHL ready starting next season.
- kingcong39

he has some great attributes including speed, hockey sense and some excellent puck-moving abilities whether it's hitting on the outlet or carrying it up ice...he also has an elite sense to avoid danger from players much bigger than him and he really leverages his body well...

Bryson finished the year very well and he could very well see the nhl for a call-up or two next season

Guys I would target
Alex Tuch, trade
Josh Anderson, trade
Dylan Strome, trade
Kevin Shattenkirk, UFA
Aaron Dell, UFA

Draft
Holtz

Available for Use in Trades
Risto
Montour
Rhino
Miller
Mojo
Thompson
Mitts
2021-1st

Compliance Buyout
Okposo

Skinner - Eichel - Holtz
Olofsson - Strome - Tuch
Kahun - Cozens - Anderson
Asplund - Larry - Lazar

Dahlin - Shattenkirk
McCabe - Joker
Pilut - Miller

Ullmark
Dell
- IonSabres

Who did you trade for the people? Strome is a stud but I really feel he should be the 3rd center until he's ready to captain his own line imo

That is good he disagrees.

He is also far from the only source who has in depth knowledge on prospects.

Laaksonen did take a step back, and he also dealt with injuries.

Saying he didn't fare too well while ignoring he had injury issues is only sharing part of the story.
- kingcong39

his biggest problem was that he couldn't play defense...and lest we hammer on baker too much, over the 10-plus years he's done sabresprospects, he's watched a lot of hockey from overseas and, maybe more importantly, has a lot of connections

he has some great attributes including speed, hockey sense and some excellent puck-moving abilities whether it's hitting on the outlet or carrying it up ice...he also has an elite sense to avoid danger from players much bigger than him and he really leverages his body well...

Bryson finished the year very well and he could very well see the nhl for a call-up or two next season
- Michael Pachla

I think he should be the 7th D for the Sabres next year, and be given a real chance to contend for the bottom pairing.

Dahlin, Pilut, McCabe, and Bryson can handle the left side.

according to many here, risto's value dried up before he even got here
- Michael Pachla

His value was pretty high 1-2 years ago now I think its low which sucks

We always wait to long to trade players

his biggest problem was that he couldn't play defense...and lest we hammer on baker too much, over the 10-plus years he's done sabresprospects, he's watched a lot of hockey from overseas and, maybe more importantly, has a lot of connections
- Michael Pachla

Where did I hammer on Baker?

I indicated he is not the gospel when it comes to prospects. He is a source of knowledge, like many others are.

Laaksonen was also a completely our of nowhere, who is that guy pick. A true high risk high reward pick, and one I think the Sabres should be making more of.

From what I read, it had little to do with his world junior performance, and more to do with his lack of foot speed, his inability to produce any offense, and his questionable decision making, i.e. lack of hockey sense.
- kingcong39

you could be right...I haven't seen him personally and i'm just going on what I've read and heard

Where did I hammer on Baker?

I indicated he is not the gospel when it comes to prospects. He is a source of knowledge, like many others are.

Laaksonen was also a completely our of nowhere, who is that guy pick. A true high risk high reward pick, and one I think the Sabres should be making more of.
- kingcong39

sorry, when I read this: "He is also far from the only source who has in depth knowledge on prospects" I interpreted it wrong

sorry, when I read this: "He is also far from the only source who has in depth knowledge on prospects" I interpreted it wrong
- Michael Pachla

Based on reading Baker for years, he has a similar accuracy in terms of prospects as many others do, meaning I like to read from several sources, and not just Baker, to see where there is a consensus, where there is not, and where he or another may be outliers in their opinions.

Baker is an outlier on his Samuelsson opinion compared to others, and I sure hope Baker is correct.

I think he should be the 7th D for the Sabres next year, and be given a real chance to contend for the bottom pairing.

Dahlin, Pilut, McCabe, and Bryson can handle the left side.
- kingcong39

he just started to come on late last season and the way they want to develop d-men is have them play more with more minutes with more responsibility...being 7th really doesn't seem like it would be beneficial in that regard

Based on reading Baker for years, he has a similar accuracy in terms of prospects as many others do, meaning I like to read from several sources, and not just Baker, to see where there is a consensus, where there is not, and where he or another may be outliers in their opinions.

Baker is an outlier on his Samuelsson opinion compared to others, and I sure hope Baker is correct.
- kingcong39

fair enough...not gonna get into a discussion over writers when it comes to prospects

he just started to come on late last season and the way they want to develop d-men is have them play more with more minutes with more responsibility...being 7th really doesn't seem like it would be beneficial in that regard
- Michael Pachla

I think he could easily be part of the bottom pairing next year and not be the 7th D.

Problem is you have Pilut, McCabe, and Bryson fighting for that role.

They badly need to make trades.

They could keep Bryson down in the AHL for one more year while McCabe's contract expires, but I would rather get something for McCabe, either as part of a deal during the offseason or at the trade deadline then lose him for nothing.