Are they going to be willing to concede Greenway to the 4th line, with Donnie pounding his fist for him and all?
- kingcong39

Im not sure it matters. They genuinely roll all 4 lines pretty well. 4th line got anywhere between 11-13 mins EV per game. And I would think at some point, Kulich would get looks on the PP.

I don't think he'll have a problem finding ice time based on who is here. The trouble may be that he wont have the same rope Quinn and Peterka had because the expectations will be higher next year.

Im not sure it matters. They genuinely roll all 4 lines pretty well. 4th line got anywhere between 11-13 mins EV per game. And I would think at some point, Kulich would get looks on the PP.

I don't think he'll have a problem finding ice time based on who is here. The trouble may be that he wont have the same rope Quinn and Peterka had because the expectations will be higher next year.
- Michael Ghofrani

Think it gets forgotten than Quinn + JJ were effectively 4th line for a big portion of the season.

I'll be shocked if Savoie makes the team next year. He's way to petite to play at the NHL level right now. Another year in the WHL is what he needs. I'm actually surprised he's playing in the AHL playoffs. He looks out of place.

Think it gets forgotten than Quinn + JJ were effectively 4th line for a big portion of the season.
- Lunaion

yeah their minutes look like that because midway through the year there were several instances where they'd get benched in the third in tight checking/elbow flying panthers ass hockey games.

yeah their minutes look like that because midway through the year there were several instances where they'd get benched in the third in tight checking/elbow flying panthers ass hockey games.
- Michael Ghofrani

They also struggled really bad for large parts of the season despite what underlying Cozens dragged them too.

People have to temper expectations going forward with our draft picks and be more open to trading them.

I have a feeling fans are going to start over rating our 1sts not really realizing we’re no longer picking top 7-8 or even 1st overall anymore

I think it's either him, JJ, or Mitts. The idea that they see Krebs at 3C over Mitts, Savoie, or Kulich (+ Ostlund soon) is tough to imagine.
- Lunaion

I think this is correct.

They also struggled really bad for large parts of the season despite what underlying Cozens dragged them too.

People have to temper expectations going forward with our draft picks and be more open to trading them.

I have a feeling fans are going to start over rating our 1sts not really realizing we’re no longer picking top 7-8 or even 1st overall anymore
- sbroads24

Well in fairness to them, it really has been a while since we've regularly not drafted in the top 10 lol.

The other thing is, even if these guys (like say Kulich) do hit, their offensive ceiling will be limited simply due to the volume. There are only so many lines, power play units, 3 on 3 time etc. for the next wave to produce. It's entirely possible Kulich caps out at 50 pts here simply because, six other guys are getting somewhere around that as well. That's without factoring in the two first overall picks on the blue line.

Well in fairness to them, it really has been a while since we've regularly not drafted in the top 10 lol.

The other thing is, even if these guys (like say Kulich) do hit, their offensive ceiling will be limited simply due to the volume. There are only so many lines, power play units, 3 on 3 time etc. for the next wave to produce. It's entirely possible Kulich caps out at 50 pts here simply because, six other guys are getting somewhere around that as well. That's without factoring in the two first overall picks on the blue line.
- Michael Ghofrani

Right, and not every 28th overall pick the Sabres make will come close to Kulich. They’ll most likely pick a few Justin Bailey’s at some point soon. Which is why I want them to trade some picks. They’re on a heater and that luck won’t last forever

Right, and not every 28th overall pick the Sabres make will come close to Kulich. They’ll most likely pick a few Justin Bailey’s at some point soon. Which is why I want them to trade some picks. They’re on a heater and that luck won’t last forever
- sbroads24

Yeah exactly, and the smart teams know to move those guys before that happens so that buy the time we figure it out it's someone else's problem.

Drouin/Sergachev is my go to example for that. Even the best drafting teams swing and miss, but they're able to correctly assess who the misses appear to be before it is too late.

My hope is that given how strong they've been with the development side, they'll also be able to tell who isn't going to get to where they need them to be.

Yeah exactly, and the smart teams know to move those guys before that happens so that buy the time we figure it out it's someone else's problem.

Drouin/Sergachev is my go to example for that. Even the best drafting teams swing and miss, but they're able to correctly assess who the misses appear to be before it is too late.

My hope is that given how strong they've been with the development side, they'll also be able to tell who isn't going to get to where they need them to be.
- Michael Ghofrani

Then you see Bryson 2x1.85m and wonder.

Then you see Bryson 2x1.85m and wonder.
- Lunaion

Its a hot take but he earned that contract. sub 2 mil and he was way better than most 3rd pair d-men.

It wasnt a great year for him this year, but he was also like dead last in PDO.

Also they did try to move him before they signed him.

Its a hot take but he earned that contract. sub 2 mil and he was way better than most 3rd pair d-men.

It wasnt a great year for him this year, but he was also like dead last in PDO.

Also they did try to move him before they signed him.
- Michael Ghofrani

Don't think he's a fit for what they need on a third pair at all. Settling for what they have instead of trying to improve, imo.

Don't think he's a fit for what they need on a third pair at all. Settling for what they have instead of trying to improve, imo.
- Lunaion

I dont think thats the case any more after adding stillman and now Johnson. And if they acquire someone above jokiharju that pushes him down to the 3rd pair as well.

He's likely gone but my point was more that it wasnt really a mistake in talent evaluation. Bryson had a higher wins above replacement than Brandon Montour in 21-22. Him being re-signed for the third pair at under 2 mil was at absolute worst inconsequential compared to having Jokharju play all those minutes, or the revolving door of goaltenders who couldn't tend to the goal.

Its a hot take but he earned that contract. sub 2 mil and he was way better than most 3rd pair d-men.

It wasnt a great year for him this year, but he was also like dead last in PDO.

Also they did try to move him before they signed him.
- Michael Ghofrani

It’s not a hot take, it’s a horrible take. Yikes.

I dont think thats the case any more after adding stillman and now Johnson. And if they acquire someone above jokiharju that pushes him down to the 3rd pair as well.

He's likely gone but my point was more that it wasnt really a mistake in talent evaluation. Bryson had a higher wins above replacement than Brandon Montour in 21-22. Him being re-signed for the third pair at under 2 mil was at absolute worst inconsequential compared to having Jokharju play all those minutes, or the revolving door of goaltenders who couldn't tend to the goal.
- Michael Ghofrani

You just discussed figuring this out before it's too late. Extending him and letting him play his way out of the lineup is figuring it out too late. He's just one recent example. They've been very slow on these decisions.

You just discussed figuring this out before it's too late. Extending him and letting him play his way out of the lineup is figuring it out too late. He's just one recent example. They've been very slow on these decisions.
- Lunaion

Im mostly referring to the first round picks, not the guys on the margins. They signed a #6 d-man to a short term deal after he posted good numbers. That's what you'd want from them. It didnt work out, some of it is his fault, some of it isn't. Ultimately not consequential.

Figuring out which of the latest crop of first rounders has it or doesn't is far more consequential than whether a #6 dman can cut it. Every team, even the ones in the conf finals, are icing at least one goober of a d-man.

You just discussed figuring this out before it's too late. Extending him and letting him play his way out of the lineup is figuring it out too late. He's just one recent example. They've been very slow on these decisions.
- Lunaion

How can you predict someone having the worst puck luck imaginable ?

How can you predict someone having the worst puck luck imaginable ?
- Swedish_Jesus

Also who cares? It's not my intention to be glib but like, these arent the decisions that matter, or are the ones preventing the team from making the playoffs or winning. Jack freaking Johnson has a stanley cup.

You just discussed figuring this out before it's too late. Extending him and letting him play his way out of the lineup is figuring it out too late. He's just one recent example. They've been very slow on these decisions.
- Lunaion

Him, Fitzgerald and Montour was a mistake.

Also who cares? It's not my intention to be glib but like, these arent the decisions that matter, or are the ones preventing the team from making the playoffs or winning. Jack freaking Johnson has a stanley cup.
- Michael Ghofrani

Eh, disagree there. You aren’t ever going to have a perfect roster, but the decisions within the margins can absolutely be a reason you miss the playoffs, and Adams has frankly been bad at those decisions.

Bryson ended up playing with Dahlin for a time because of an injury or two. That’s a massive liability

Eh, disagree there. You aren’t ever going to have a perfect roster, but the decisions within the margins can absolutely be a reason you miss the playoffs, and Adams has frankly been bad at those decisions.

Bryson ended up playing with Dahlin for a time because of an injury or two. That’s a massive liability
- sbroads24

Not consequential, or inconsequential is a wild word to use there.

I'll rephrase. Henri Jokiharju is Casey Nelson or Chad Ruhwedel

Eh, disagree there. You aren’t ever going to have a perfect roster, but the decisions within the margins can absolutely be a reason you miss the playoffs, and Adams has frankly been bad at those decisions.

Bryson ended up playing with Dahlin for a time because of an injury or two. That’s a massive liability
- sbroads24

All of those for this year would be moot if the goaltending was simply mediocre and not catastrophic.

You could certainly argue that not addressing the depth was a key mistake, thats not a marginal issue thats a glaring hole in the roster. But then it'd come back to, he probably wasn't all that huffed about making it this year back in july 2022.

Also who cares? It's not my intention to be glib but like, these arent the decisions that matter, or are the ones preventing the team from making the playoffs or winning. Jack freaking Johnson has a stanley cup.
- Michael Ghofrani

I do think they matter. Even if you think the are minor, they add up.