Interesting that they gave Novikov, a 6th round pick, $57K in performance bonuses.

Curious if that is part of what it took to get him to sign.

https://www.capfriendly.com/forums/thread/711449

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/nikita-novikov
- kingcong39

Maybe. Took a bit longer than expected to get his Herby Hancock. He also has a full year of experience playing against men in the second best league in the world.

Smart post!
Exactly where they should be going.
Roll 4 lines
- IonSabres

You really think donnie changes his concept this season?

Do you go head to head with tage vs Matthews/ stammer/ McDavid ect.

Or do you go with the new 4th line with rookies?

Maybe. Took a bit longer than expected to get his Herby Hancock. He also has a full year of experience playing against men in the second best league in the world.
- TheSabresTaco

Sabres meet and greet with KA, he absolutely raed about novokov. Mentioned nhl player a few times.

Wheres he start next season? Can he jump to the nhl as a bottom pairing with boosh?

KA is quickly coming to a point where he will be able to pull young players on their ELC's to replace higher cost veterans on a selective basis.
The question is who are those players to be replaced.

This upcoming season, it would be reasonable to expect Savoie and Rousek to graduate to the big team, albeit for different reasons.
-Savoie will need alot of breaking time, pretty much like what Krebs and Quinn went through with a rotational play-a-couple, sit-a-couple.
-Rousek looked capable in a very short sample when playing up.
Savoie on L3 and Rousek on L4 seems like a reasonable place to start.
I think they naturally replace 2 of Olofsson (Savoie) and Okposo/Jost (Rousek)
I do think that Girgenson is a target IF they truly believe Greenway can deliver something in the range of 15/15/30 through added physicality in bringing a hard to play against style the team needs.

In the following 1 or 2 seasons, targets to be replaced include
-Mitts is a prime target to replace and eliminate a relatively costly contract and term length. His new found top 6 play could make him a highly attractive trade target
-Krebs, depending on what he develops into, or not
-Jost if he is brought back
-Greenway if he proves to be a meh player

I, like nearly all of us believe acquiring a true 2nd pairing partner for Power is critical.
That locks up the 1st and 2nd Pairings and enables the FO to source 3rd pairing guys for PK, physicality roles.
-Lyubushkin is a target in the '24-'25 season...will Novikov be the guy tthere? He has 90 games of playing in a very good league against men. Thanks to 36 for sharing that article earlier.
-Stillman, is he ok as 3rd pair on the left? He looked pretty good in short stints with Lyubushkin. His contract at $1.35 is ideal for 3rd pair.

Goalie is the very interesting position.
I'd prefer a guy with some term on a reasonable contract to become the back-up when Levi is ready to play 50 games at a consistently high level.

Goalie is the very interesting position.
I'd prefer a guy with some term on a reasonable contract to become the back-up when Levi is ready to play 50 games at a consistently high level.
- IonSabres

Adin Hill
Antti Raanta
Semyon Varlamov

I think overusing Hellebuyck is a temptation that would need to be resisted.

I don't agree with your wanting him to start 65 games statement.

55 games as Hank said, is the sweet spot.

Keeps Hellebuyck, at 30, fresh for the playoff drive, and playoffs, if that somehow happened.

Zero wrong with easing Levi in to his first full NHL season to the tune of 25-30 games.
- kingcong39

You're more or less saying he's been overused his entire NHL career with nothing to base that on.

You really think donnie changes his concept this season?

Do you go head to head with tage vs Matthews/ stammer/ McDavid ect.

Or do you go with the new 4th line with rookies?
- Boss34

Well, if you were trying to have a decent conversation rather than using that ultra-left strategy in discussions by presenting only 2 less attractive options when there are plenty more, you would see the highly probable answer is a ??-Cozens-Quinn line, and a good dog 3rd line with ??-Krebs-Savoie.
The "??" Could be Mitts, Peterka, Rousek, Greenway.

They still have $20M in space for next year with adding ~$12M in Thompson and Cozens' deals. And with the covid escrow likely being paid off this year, haven't heard anything yet; the cap is going up $4M, if not, $1M and then "significantly" for 24-25 when they'll need their deals. There will be plenty of money to go around so long as they don't spend any of it on Gargelsons or Okposo
- Wetbandit1

Curious what impact the regional network bankruptcies are going to have.

KA is quickly coming to a point where he will be able to pull young players on their ELC's to replace higher cost veterans on a selective basis.
The question is who are those players to be replaced.

This upcoming season, it would be reasonable to expect Savoie and Rousek to graduate to the big team, albeit for different reasons.
-Savoie will need alot of breaking time, pretty much like what Krebs and Quinn went through with a rotational play-a-couple, sit-a-couple.
-Rousek looked capable in a very short sample when playing up.
Savoie on L3 and Rousek on L4 seems like a reasonable place to start.
I think they naturally replace 2 of Olofsson (Savoie) and Okposo/Jost (Rousek)
I do think that Girgenson is a target IF they truly believe Greenway can deliver something in the range of 15/15/30 through added physicality in bringing a hard to play against style the team needs.

In the following 1 or 2 seasons, targets to be replaced include
-Mitts is a prime target to replace and eliminate a relatively costly contract and term length. His new found top 6 play could make him a highly attractive trade target
-Krebs, depending on what he develops into, or not
-Jost if he is brought back
-Greenway if he proves to be a meh player

I, like nearly all of us believe acquiring a true 2nd pairing partner for Power is critical.
That locks up the 1st and 2nd Pairings and enables the FO to source 3rd pairing guys for PK, physicality roles.
-Lyubushkin is a target in the '24-'25 season...will Novikov be the guy tthere? He has 90 games of playing in a very good league against men. Thanks to 36 for sharing that article earlier.
-Stillman, is he ok as 3rd pair on the left? He looked pretty good in short stints with Lyubushkin. His contract at $1.35 is ideal for 3rd pair.

Goalie is the very interesting position.
I'd prefer a guy with some term on a reasonable contract to become the back-up when Levi is ready to play 50 games at a consistently high level.
- IonSabres

This is very good, tiny 😉

I like provorov as a 2nd pairing defenseman.
Also stillman as a 7th...

Hope you're having a great afternoon

Adin Hill
Antti Raanta
Semyon Varlamov
- homiedclown

Yup, Hill would be a high target for me, but also like Tristan Jarry as an option. Georgiev? Doubt he would leave, but hey, one never knows.

Sabres meet and greet with KA, he absolutely raed about novokov. Mentioned nhl player a few times.

Wheres he start next season? Can he jump to the nhl as a bottom pairing with boosh?
- Boss34

I personally doubt it as he will likely need to acclimate to NA. Sabres have enough guys who can play the role he would, next year.

Adin Hill
Antti Raanta
Semyon Varlamov
- homiedclown

Yas.

I'd put Andersen #4

You're building this team the right way 👍

Its definitely tough though, I know you mentioned having to speed up decision making on these prospects, that's gonna be tough.

Probably need to make a big trade.

I can see why my buddy wants to make some room by selling mitts and olofsson.

Jost has very little chance to return IMO
- Boss34

Pick your future middle 6. Anyone else is a potential trade chip.

Cozens, Quinn, JJ, Mitts, Krebs, Greenway, VO, Savoie, Kulich, Ostlund, Rosen

If Mitts is part of it, that's fine, but it bumps someone out.

Pick your future middle 6. Anyone else is a potential trade chip.

Cozens, Quinn, JJ, Mitts, Krebs, Greenway, VO, Savoie, Kulich, Ostlund, Rosen

If Mitts is part of it, that's fine, but it bumps someone out.
- Lunaion

Or you can roll a 4th line that can have as much talent as other teams 3rd lines and be a 4 line force.

I think we need to erase the stigma that the 4th line needs to be guys that only play 6-8 minutes a night.

Also need to erase the stigma that the 4th line can only be a shutdown line.

Roll 4 lines that have a bit of everything on it.

The only thing Kreuger said in his tenure here that I agree with is that we don’t need to number lines 1-4.

With the talent we are accumulating, that can actually be a reality for Buffalo.

Pick your future middle 6. Anyone else is a potential trade chip.

Cozens, Quinn, JJ, Mitts, Krebs, Greenway, VO, Savoie, Kulich, Ostlund, Rosen

If Mitts is part of it, that's fine, but it bumps someone out.
- Lunaion

I personally like mitts attitude and the way he dogs on the puck. Just a bit concerned that anyone could play center effectively in donnie's system. Donnie whispers softly ,but pounds a hard fist.

I kinda have cozens quinn and peterka top/middle 6 , maybe peterka can slide down and play effective bottom 6 minutes?

I'd be a bit surprised if olofsson's on the team past this draft. #12 is a direct replacement IMO.

Just curious on the rookies , they need to replace others in key roles, as I think 36 mentioned 👍

Or you can roll a 4th line that can have as much talent as other teams 3rd lines and be a 4 line force.

I think we need to erase the stigma that the 4th line needs to be guys that only play 6-8 minutes a night.

Also need to erase the stigma that the 4th line can only be a shutdown line.

Roll 4 lines that have a bit of everything on it.

The only thing Kreuger said in his tenure here that I agree with is that we don’t need to number lines 1-4.

With the talent we are accumulating, that can actually be a reality for Buffalo.
- Swedish_Jesus

Who you using agaisnt Matthews on the opening faceoff of the season?

What 3 forwrds can help play defense next season, you cant completely disregard matchups? Can you?

Or you can roll a 4th line that can have as much talent as other teams 3rd lines and be a 4 line force.

I think we need to erase the stigma that the 4th line needs to be guys that only play 6-8 minutes a night.

Also need to erase the stigma that the 4th line can only be a shutdown line.

Roll 4 lines that have a bit of everything on it.

The only thing Kreuger said in his tenure here that I agree with is that we don’t need to number lines 1-4.

With the talent we are accumulating, that can actually be a reality for Buffalo.
- Swedish_Jesus

Sure, to an extent. I'd say limiting 1st round talents to 4th line opportunities doesn't work long term.

Just something I'm sure they are thinking about before handing out any big extensions.

Curious what impact the regional network bankruptcies are going to have.
- Lunaion

Me too. It is THE 2 ton Gorilla in the room.

You're more or less saying he's been overused his entire NHL career with nothing to base that on.
- Lunaion

Try less, as I mentioned his age right in the comment.

Better to be proactive about load management now then be too late with it.

Who you using agaisnt Matthews on the opening faceoff of the season?

What 3 forwrds can help play defense next season, you cant completely disregard matchups? Can you?
- Boss34

Can also look at it the other way, which line are you putting your matchup line against ?

Skinner-Mitts-Tuch
Greenway-Tage-Savoie/Quinn
Peterka-Cozens-Quinn/Savoie

Also keep in mind one of Dahlin or Power will be on the ice 80% of the time one of those forward lines are on the ice too

Try less, as I mentioned his age right in the comment.

Better to be proactive about load management now then be too late with it.
- kingcong39

Any reason to suggest his workload was an issue last season?

Not a fan of the 1 year rental idea, but I'm planning on a full workload if I had to go that route. If there's reason to pull back during the season, then you do of course.

This is very good, tiny 😉

I like provorov as a 2nd pairing defenseman.
Also stillman as a 7th...

Hope you're having a great afternoon
- Boss34

Provorov isn't high on my list being a lefty playing big minutes on the left and a fairly big contract for 2nd pair ( idealy would hope for a bit more economic and efficient, while being more effective). His play next to York isn't great, in fact York 's metrics without him are better.

Or you can roll a 4th line that can have as much talent as other teams 3rd lines and be a 4 line force.

I think we need to erase the stigma that the 4th line needs to be guys that only play 6-8 minutes a night.

Also need to erase the stigma that the 4th line can only be a shutdown line.

Roll 4 lines that have a bit of everything on it.

The only thing Kreuger said in his tenure here that I agree with is that we don’t need to number lines 1-4.

With the talent we are accumulating, that can actually be a reality for Buffalo.
- Swedish_Jesus

I personally like mitts attitude and the way he dogs on the puck. Just a bit concerned that anyone could play center effectively in donnie's system. Donnie whispers softly ,but pounds a hard fist.

I kinda have cozens quinn and peterka top/middle 6 , maybe peterka can slide down and play effective bottom 6 minutes?

I'd be a bit surprised if olofsson's on the team past this draft. #12 is a direct replacement IMO.

Just curious on the rookies , they need to replace others in key roles, as I think 36 mentioned 👍
- Boss34

Focus a year or two out. I think you have to project that before you can extend Mitts.

If Peterka is a 4th liner, he's a really nice trade chip today and less so after he's stuck on a 4th line for a year or two. If you want to trade to upgrade the D, maybe he's the guy.

Or you can roll a 4th line that can have as much talent as other teams 3rd lines and be a 4 line force.

I think we need to erase the stigma that the 4th line needs to be guys that only play 6-8 minutes a night.

Also need to erase the stigma that the 4th line can only be a shutdown line.

Roll 4 lines that have a bit of everything on it.

The only thing Kreuger said in his tenure here that I agree with is that we don’t need to number lines 1-4.

With the talent we are accumulating, that can actually be a reality for Buffalo.
- Swedish_Jesus

His implementation of that plan broke the Sabres organization.

How do you see that approach translating to playoff hockey?

What team left has any resemblance of this roster make up?