Nylander and goaltending, I think you're spot on. However, Guhle has gotten the slow roll on development and I believe he can be a solid guy next year. Actually think it's more probable.

And guys like Smith, Bailey, Baptiste and Fasching MAY all be AHL players, but fortunately we have worse AHL forwards like Nolan, Criscuolo Josefson and Larsson playing for us...so either way they will be an improvement.

Mitts may or may not be here, but I'd wager he is. Everytime I watch him play I think, "Why is he in college again". He does need to get stronger to play 82, but that's probably the easiest thing to do. He's above those guys already and by a significant, noticeable margin.
- RhinoFan

Interested in knowing his weight/muscle gains since the draft. That'll all come up around Dcamp, probably. Or before if he signs.

Nylander and goaltending, I think you're spot on. However, Guhle has gotten the slow roll on development and I believe he can be a solid guy next year. Actually think it's more probable.

And guys like Smith, Bailey, Baptiste and Fasching MAY all be AHL players, but fortunately we have worse AHL forwards like Nolan, Criscuolo Josefson and Larsson playing for us...so either way they will be an improvement.

Mitts may or may not be here, but I'd wager he is. Everytime I watch him play I think, "Why is he in college again". He does need to get stronger to play 82, but that's probably the easiest thing to do. He's above those guys already and by a significant, noticeable margin.
- RhinoFan

I'm just taking the opposite side for fun. I do think there's a little too much optimism on some of the current younger players...kind of feels like desparate hope. The next group of prospects has a much higher ceiling.

I do think they'll sign Mittlestadt. I do worry about Guhle staying healthy because he exposes himself to big hits. I don't think Ullmark + CJ is likely to be NHL-average next year. If Nelson + Antipin take 4 million+ combined to bring back, I'll cringe.

Interested in knowing his weight/muscle gains since the draft. That'll all come up around Dcamp, probably. Or before if he signs.
- TheSabresTaco

Me too. I think that will be the deciding factor ultimately. If he's lax in his summer prep, he'll be back at school. Otherwise, here we go...

Gotta chime in here...

I think you're all WAY off on the Nylander front. Sure, he's put up some points recently, but they're almost exclusively insignificant second assists and garbage rebounds as a result of great plays by his linemates (Krause and Malone). If anything, his overall play has gotten much worse and he should see the AHL press box for a bit. He's being outclassed by guys like Bailey, Porter, Colin Blackwell, Justin Danforth, and DMB (DMB / Danforth / DSmith has been our best line during these last few weeks).

He's fast, but he plays like he's made of glass and is totally uninterested when he doesn't have a chance to score. He won't fight to the net, he won't go to the corners, he doesn't backcheck, he's AWFUL in the defensive zone, won't take a hit to make a play, doesn't hustle to the bench when changing, shies away from blocking shots, and more.

Every so often you see a flash of the crazy skill he was drafted for, but they are few and far between and are constantly overshadowed by an ever-growing mountain of terrible and lazy plays. The most frustrating part is that he simply looks like he doesn't want to be here. There is zero intensity to his game and it's incredibly obvious.

If the Sabres are really doing a good job watching their players in the AHL, he shouldn't see the big leagues for quite a while.

Source: Amerks STH

I'm just taking the opposite side for fun. I do think there's a little too much optimism on some of the current younger players...kind of feels like desparate hope. The next group of prospects has a much higher ceiling.

I do think they'll sign Mittlestadt. I do worry about Guhle staying healthy because he exposes himself to big hits. I don't think Ullmark + CJ is likely to be NHL-average next year. If Nelson + Antipin take 4 million+ combined to bring back, I'll cringe.
- Lunaion

I hear ya. I think unwarranted optimism for guys like Glotov or Pu may be there...they aren't saviors...and Nylander could very well spoil again. I get it. Just wanted to point out, devils advocates aside, the probabilities are we improve next year.

Antipin is RFA I believe, so can't see him getting much more than his current deal. They may have to toss Casey a bone to keep him, but he's got a spot here and we gave him a shot each year leading up to this...can't imagine the blood is too bad there. I think 1.5 x 2 is what he'll get....if it's 4M between those two, Botts is not the cap aficionado we were lead to believe he was.

Kc pick #22 traded with the darius 5th to Phili for foles
Bills receive Phili 4th rounder.
Bills get lucky and pick Griffin with that pick.
His inspiration and on field play lead us to afc conference game at jags.
9-3 bills.
Foles throws it to himself for the only td score.
Zay drops 2 point conversion
- Boss34

Shades of Ronnie Harmon. Nobody around here is fan worthy enough to get this.

Gotta chime in here...
- one14four

So he hasn't looked significantly better to you over the last 15-20 games?

So he hasn't looked significantly better to you over the last 15-20 games?
- RhinoFan

Like I said, tiny flashes of brilliance but not much else, which isn't really any different than his first half. His lack of any effort whatsoever is infuriating to watch, and he leaves his linemates out to dry more often than not.

I hear ya. I think unwarranted optimism for guys like Glotov or Pu may be there...they aren't saviors...and Nylander could very well spoil again. I get it. Just wanted to point out, devils advocates aside, the probabilities are we improve next year.

Antipin is RFA I believe, so can't see him getting much more than his current deal. They may have to toss Casey a bone to keep him, but he's got a spot here and we gave him a shot each year leading up to this...can't imagine the blood is too bad there. I think 1.5 x 2 is what he'll get....if it's 4M between those two, Botts is not the cap aficionado we were lead to believe he was.
- RhinoFan

My rule of thumb is: keep your expectations of anyone you project as a third line F, third pair D low.

Nelson is a tough deal. If he's not offered more than Beaulieu's deal, why wouldn't he test free agency?

Gotta chime in here...

I think you're all WAY off on the Nylander front. Sure, he's put up some points recently, but they're almost exclusively insignificant second assists and garbage rebounds as a result of great plays by his linemates (Krause and Malone). If anything, his overall play has gotten much worse and he should see the AHL press box for a bit. He's being outclassed by guys like Bailey, Porter, Colin Blackwell, Justin Danforth, and DMB (DMB / Danforth / DSmith has been our best line during these last few weeks).

He's fast, but he plays like he's made of glass and is totally uninterested when he doesn't have a chance to score. He won't fight to the net, he won't go to the corners, he doesn't backcheck, he's AWFUL in the defensive zone, won't take a hit to make a play, doesn't hustle to the bench when changing, shies away from blocking shots, and more.

Every so often you see a flash of the crazy skill he was drafted for, but they are few and far between and are constantly overshadowed by an ever-growing mountain of terrible and lazy plays. The most frustrating part is that he simply looks like he doesn't want to be here. There is zero intensity to his game and it's incredibly obvious.

If the Sabres are really doing a good job watching their players in the AHL, he shouldn't see the big leagues for quite a while.

Source: Amerks STH
- one14four

He will be traded at the draft in my opinion. Not a Buffalo guy and I dont see him buying in. I saw this coming since the day he was drafted

Shades of Ronnie Harmon. Nobody around here is fan worthy enough to get this.
- Hatboro_Swords

Cleveland

My rule of thumb is: keep your expectations of anyone you project as a third line F, third pair D low.

Nelson is a tough deal. If he's not offered more than Beaulieu's deal, why wouldn't he test free agency?
- Lunaion

Beau had much more experience coming into that contract than Casey. This is the first time he's been recalled and looked competent. So I don't think he's earned that contract or will get some $3M offer from another team. Also, I think that he's decent but nothing spectacular. That means he'll face a lot more competition for a spot on most other teams. He's a walk on for us. I think that will count for something when coupled with the fact we gave him a lot of opportunities.

Just my speculation. I think that's all we have. Time will tell.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...-prospect-rankings-march/


Quinn Hughes dropped to 9 here.

Id be tempted to trade down(if we don't win a lottery spot), collect a haul and grab him.

Kid looks just as good, maybe even better, than werenski.

Shades of Ronnie Harmon. Nobody around here is fan worthy enough to get this.
- Hatboro_Swords

Always thought it was a bad pass by Kelly. Over Harmon's head, hard to reach, not in the bread basket. I blame Kelly on that play. And of course, the next one too.

Reasons we might be worse next year:

Mittlestadt might not play in the NHL next season
The 8th overall pick won't play in the NHL next season
Guhle might have an up and down rookie season and can't stay healthy
Uhlmark and Johnson could be inconsistent and an injury is tough to deal with
Smith, Bailey, Baptiste, and Fasching might just be AHL players
Antipin and Nelson are inexperienced and could regress, both are still risky players

Improving takes more goals. A similar roster returning, without Kane, might score less and be worse.
- Lunaion

Mitts is %95 of playing in the nhl next year
He's better than Half of our forwards currently

I get the buffaluck , but were picking top 5
Jbotts and Phil, will not let us fall out of the bottom 3.
Plus 2 jump ahead of us = 5th

Guhle according to some, should have been here the past 2 years. He should step in and be an improvement over:
Bowl u
Antipin
Gorges
Bogo
Faulk.

Ullmark is a top ahl goalie- really how much worse can he be then lehner? Seriously, the shoot outs alone will get us more more points. Lehner sucks

The ago guys cj, Bailey, babtiste , fashing
Just need 1 of 4 to play regular nhl minutes over Larson.
And his 3 goals.

Kane, That's addition by subtraction. Where will we find his 20- 25 goals ? The lack of team unity he brought , will even out his shoot first and wide attitude.

Eichel in his 4th year, e rod, Antip in , nelson. All should be better . Hard to see any regression. It's not like they are killing it now. There average to good nhl guys

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/sportsnets-2018-nhl-draft-prospect-rankings-march/


Quinn Hughes dropped to 9 here.

Id be tempted to trade down(if we don't win a lottery spot), collect a haul and grab him.

Kid looks just as good, maybe even better, than werenski.
- Sabresfan-365

What a shock Z ranked 2nd overall
Who called this before the tournament ...

Where u at taco

What a shock Z ranked 2nd overall
Who called this before the tournament ...

Where u at taco
- gerbe75pts

MMMMmmmm tacos

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/sportsnets-2018-nhl-draft-prospect-rankings-march/


Quinn Hughes dropped to 9 here.

Id be tempted to trade down(if we don't win a lottery spot), collect a haul and grab him.

Kid looks just as good, maybe even better, than werenski.
- Sabresfan-365

Not a bad idea at all. I like him better than Boqvist.

If we aren't 1-3, I'm game. Think the Dahlin, Svech and Zadina are "must takes". He does remind me of Werenski, bit better handles. Takes a lot of risks though, at least when I watched him.

Always thought it was a bad pass by Kelly. Over Harmon's head, hard to reach, not in the bread basket. I blame Kelly on that play. And of course, the next one too.
- kritter65

But didn't Kelly just float it out there? My recollection was it should've been an easy pass to pull in.

But didn't Kelly just float it out there? My recollection was it should've been an easy pass to pull in.
- Hatboro_Swords

And in my opinion, it was a high pass. It would have been a Dwight Clark type of catch if Harmon could have hauled it in. Not an easy catch. Should have been thrown better. Harmon gets killed for this all the time, and I seem to be the only one that's defended him. Maybe I'm just an a-hole ?

And in my opinion, it was a high pass. It would have been a Dwight Clark type of catch if Harmon could have hauled it in. Not an easy catch. Should have been thrown better. Harmon gets killed for this all the time, and I seem to be the only one that's defended him. Maybe I'm just an a-hole ?
- kritter65

I wish we could go to video replay. I was like 10 years old then so I might be the a-hole.

I wish we could go to video replay. I was like 10 years old then so I might be the a-hole.
- Hatboro_Swords

It's on YouTube ! I was 24 at the time ... God I'm getting old.

Shades of Ronnie Harmon. Nobody around here is fan worthy enough to get this.
- Hatboro_Swords

Blasphemy speaking Ronnie Harmon’s name

Mitts is %95 of playing in the nhl next year
He's better than Half of our forwards currently

I get the buffaluck , but were picking top 5
Jbotts and Phil, will not let us fall out of the bottom 3.
Plus 2 jump ahead of us = 5th

Guhle according to some, should have been here the past 2 years. He should step in and be an improvement over:
Bowl u
Antipin
Gorges
Bogo
Faulk.

Ullmark is a top ahl goalie- really how much worse can he be then lehner? Seriously, the shoot outs alone will get us more more points. Lehner sucks

The ago guys cj, Bailey, babtiste , fashing
Just need 1 of 4 to play regular nhl minutes over Larson.
And his 3 goals.

Kane, That's addition by subtraction. Where will we find his 20- 25 goals ? The lack of team unity he brought , will even out his shoot first and wide attitude.

Eichel in his 4th year, e rod, Antip in , nelson. All should be better . Hard to see any regression. It's not like they are killing it now. There average to good nhl guys
- Boss34

I freely admit I was playing devil's advocate. Seeing rookies playing well, improvement from guys who looked terrible for half this season, no regression, no key injuries, etc. is a bit optimistic for me. Some things will go wrong and the depth is very weak right now.

To me, any success in the next two years rides on Mittlestadt and/or this year's pick fitting with Jack.

I wish we could go to video replay. I was like 10 years old then so I might be the a-hole.
- Hatboro_Swords

He should have caught it... was the pass high, yeah was it catchable... hell yes