Would think Pilut is 1st to go, but probably shouldn't assume anything here.
- Lunaion

Do you think that their previous decision on who to send down was impacted by the 1 guy who could be sent down without fear of losing him?
If so, does the fact he now needs to be exposed would also impact this decision?
If not, why not?

So, in other words when he was sent down before, he did not have to go through waivers?
- IonSabres

Right, have to assume it was a factor. Stall before the rules force you to make a real decision on players.

This scenario is why I yell about not drafting enough D. They put themselves in a situation where they are going to have to expose a D that they really need for depth.

Right, have to assume it was a factor. Stall before the rules force you to make a real decision on players.

This scenario is why I yell about not drafting enough D. They put themselves in a situation where they are going to have to expose a D that they really need for depth.
- Lunaion

Good Post

Do you think that their previous decision on who to send down was impacted by the 1 guy who could be sent down without fear of losing him?
If so, does the fact he now needs to be exposed would also impact this decision?
If not, why not?
- IonSabres

They decided to waive the better player last time by sending him down instead of other obvious candidates.

They no longer have that luxury.

Geezer, I wonder why he was the one to be sent down previously?
- IonSabres

Well he'd only shown his prowess in the preseason, he was able to fly under the radar considering the rest of the players who also hit waivers at that time.

Now, scouts have seen his elevated play. Combined with his minimum cap hit, opposing teams would be ignorant to not take a shot on him.

He has history of fair to poor play in his previous two stops, so this system clearly works for him. There's also the possibility that he's taken a step in his development.

Most teams I assume don't like Mike Reilly's cap hit, otherwise he'd likely be claimed.

Geezer, I wonder why he was the one to be sent down previously?
- IonSabres

Because they cared more about other things aside from winning...?

Do you think that their previous decision on who to send down was impacted by the 1 guy who could be sent down without fear of losing him?
If so, does the fact he now needs to be exposed would also impact this decision?
If not, why not?
- IonSabres

1000%.

I have no clue what they are going to do, but they can't dismiss performance anymore. Pilut hasn't been great and is a pending UFA. He likely isn't in their plans. Clague is RFA and should now be in their plans....but that means waiving a guy they seem to love in Fitz and risk losing him.

Because they cared more about other things aside from winning...?
- kingcong39

Bryson was definitely the better player at the start the year. Over Pilut and Clague.

Clague showed preseason prowess but I think it's difficult to just say well this kid was good in a couple preseason games so we're going to demote you, Jacob, in favor of this tweener.

1000%.

I have no clue what they are going to do, but they can't dismiss performance anymore. Pilut hasn't been great and is a pending UFA. He likely isn't in their plans. Clague is RFA and should now be in their plans....but that means waiving a guy they seem to love in Fitz and risk losing him.
- Lunaion

Just trade Pilot or Bryson and be done with it.

Just trade Pilot or Bryson and be done with it.
- TheSabresTaco

I'd move Bryson of the two. He's very fasy. After that, I don't know what he brings.

Right, have to assume it was a factor. Stall before the rules force you to make a real decision on players.

This scenario is why I yell about not drafting enough D. They put themselves in a situation where they are going to have to expose a D that they really need for depth.
- Lunaion

Which we all struggled with as well, so no disputing that ... except the old adage of "draft best person available not for positional need", that plays a very important part as well, right?

I remember a fair number of poster who didn't wa t to use the 1OA on Powers. That now looks pretty silly too. That kid is a friggin stud, so glad they selected him.
Also, with Portillo and Levi not giving assurances of signing, they then used their 2nd rounder on another position of need (funny how that BPA doesn't hold up under scrutiny though, lol)

Bryson was definitely the better player at the start the year. Over Pilut and Clague.

Clague showed preseason prowess but I think it's difficult to just say well this kid was good in a couple preseason games so we're going to demote you, Jacob, in favor of this tweener.
- TheSabresTaco

I recall Bryson being terrible in preseason. Maybe I remember poorly.

They've been evaluating Bryson and Fitz for a long time. Eventually, you have to make a decision other than to just keep on evaluating. They haven't been better than guys who pass through waivers frequently. That's frustrating part of the bottom of the roster of a cap floor team. They've had countless opportunities to improve, but chose to keep on evaluating.

Because they cared more about other things aside from winning...?
- kingcong39

Yup, they cared about the long term health of the team, especially at a position with very, very limited depth. It is quite possible, maybe even likely that RhD is picked up. The possibility existed.

Let's see what they do no when the field is level. If the send Clague down then, I'll be right there with you. Before was premature, but I get the narrative prese Ted by some that everything Adams and team does is the wrong move, lol.

Which we all struggled with as well, so no disputing that ... except the old adage of "draft best person available not for positional need", that plays a very important part as well, right?

I remember a fair number of poster who didn't wa t to use the 1OA on Powers. That now looks pretty silly too. That kid is a friggin stud, so glad they selected him.
Also, with Portillo and Levi not giving assurances of signing, they then used their 2nd rounder on another position of need (funny how that BPA doesn't hold up under scrutiny though, lol)
- IonSabres

I'll admit I was team Beniers. Now, Power is probably my favorite Sabre. If Tage doesn't become Tage, just think of where they'd be...

They drafted 8 forwards this year and 9 the previous year. You have to find a little balance. What are they going to do with all these F's???

I'll admit I was team Beniers. Now, Power is probably my favorite Sabre. If Tage doesn't become Tage, just think of where they'd be...

They drafted 8 forwards this year and 9 the previous year. You have to find a little balance. What are they going to do with all these F's???
- Lunaion

trade for defense

Which we all struggled with as well, so no disputing that ... except the old adage of "draft best person available not for positional need", that plays a very important part as well, right?

I remember a fair number of poster who didn't wa t to use the 1OA on Powers. That now looks pretty silly too. That kid is a friggin stud, so glad they selected him.
Also, with Portillo and Levi not giving assurances of signing, they then used their 2nd rounder on another position of need (funny how that BPA doesn't hold up under scrutiny though, lol)
- IonSabres

I was BPA, and thought Power was the best player hands down. That said, if they had gone Matty Beniers I think we'd have all been very happy with TNT, Cozens, and him down the middle for the next 8 years.

I'll admit I was team Beniers. Now, Power is probably my favorite Sabre. If Tage doesn't become Tage, just think of where they'd be...

They drafted 8 forwards this year and 9 the previous year. You have to find a little balance. What are they going to do with all these F's???
- Lunaion

I think either of them could have been a favorite here. Both are fun to watch (only have seen a few Kraken games, but Beniers is a star in the mold of Cozens, but he's getting there faster)

Yup, they cared about the long term health of the team, especially at a position with very, very limited depth. It is quite possible, maybe even likely that RhD is picked up. The possibility existed.

Let's see what they do no when the field is level. If the send Clague down then, I'll be right there with you. Before was premature, but I get the narrative prese Ted by some that everything Adams and team does is the wrong move, lol.
- IonSabres

The takes us way back to my original comment here: Their top 3 D are L, the next 3 are R. A 3LD is a huge upgrade, but only if you take Bryson out. If an RD isn't a significant upgrade over Joker/Clague, it doesn't help much.

I recall Bryson being terrible in preseason. Maybe I remember poorly.

They've been evaluating Bryson and Fitz for a long time. Eventually, you have to make a decision other than to just keep on evaluating. They haven't been better than guys who pass through waivers frequently. That's frustrating part of the bottom of the roster of a cap floor team. They've had countless opportunities to improve, but chose to keep on evaluating.
- Lunaion

I don't know, point I was making was, he was a pretty good defender last year for this team and at the point of the preseason, I would assume the team wasn't making major judgements. Kevo and Don are patient.

I'd move Bryson of the two. He's very fasy. After that, I don't know what he brings.
- lacaprup

is bryson really tradable? doesnt he make like 1.75 mil and provide about 750k worth of value?

1000%.

I have no clue what they are going to do, but they can't dismiss performance anymore. Pilut hasn't been great and is a pending UFA. He likely isn't in their plans. Clague is RFA and should now be in their plans....but that means waiving a guy they seem to love in Fitz and risk losing him.
- Lunaion

Solidvpost.
We'll see what happens.

I don't know, point I was making was, he was a pretty good defender last year for this team and at the point of the preseason, I would assume the team wasn't making major judgements. Kevo and Don are patient.
- TheSabresTaco

At some point, you have to break out of the evaluation cycle or you'll be forced to. We're right at the brink of being forced to. Just wish they were more proactive on things.

is bryson really tradable? doesnt he make like 1.75 mil and provide about 750k worth of value?
- SabresFaninIndiana

3rd round pick?

The Sabres need to start trading some of their prospects for a proven NHL defenseman who will be under contract for at least 2 years. I'd trade M Savoie in a second for a player who can really help our defense now.

trade for defense
- jochfr

Exactly.
We must look at Prospects as Assets...to be used to improve the team through eventually playing, or moved to acquire a player at a position of need.

I find it very exciting that the Sabres' holes in their roster, outside of G are Bottom 6 and Bottom 3.
So much easier to find upgrades rather than say at 1 and 2 C's