Now if Nylander can do it for the remainder of the season and playoffs then I’ll change my tune on him being a bust. Would also speed up our timeline of competing if we could graduate a player into a top 6 role without giving up any more assets (apart from the pick we used to draft the kid).
- Pegullaville

I agree. I'm still on the fence with him. Let's see what he can do the rest of this year. They have an afternoon game today so maybe he can keep it going. He just turned 21 and he's still young.

What is the attraction with Ralph Krueger? He's only coached 1 season in Edmonton and that was only 48 games. I would rather have an experienced NHL HC with SC experience.
- mhp

It looks like he's not an obsessive gun chewer and shows something resembling human emotion on the bench. The bar is pretty low.

It looks like he's not an obsessive gun chewer and shows something resembling human emotion on the bench. The bar is pretty low.
- ManitouSabres

I agree. I'm still on the fence with him. Let's see what he can do the rest of this year. They have an afternoon game today so maybe he can keep it going. He just turned 21 and he's still young.
- mhp

Asplund can replace Larsson once he’s ready as the 4th line C. Olofsson, like Nylander, is the other wildcard that can possibly be a top 6 contributor for the Sabres at one point or another. The rest to me are 4th liners at best. CJ Smith doesn’t have the top end speed to be a top 6 player in the NHL but can end up being a serviceable bottom 6 player.

And all Botts has said is he likes the coaching staff. Maybe he's just saying it and wants to be careful but he has to realize Housley is no HC and he needs to make a change. At the very least and I said it many times that Payne and Hajt should have been fired after last season but stayed on. If Housley is retained for next year it will get worse, regardless of what player changes are made.
- mhp

Botts is very controlled in what he says. I don’t think he’d throw his coach under the bus in public. Need to ride out another crappy season and hope he cans him the day after it’s over.

No way Skinner signs on to stay with this crappy team.

He sounded like he can't wait to go play for a winner after the game today.

Too bad our GM didn't trade him at the deadline. Could have got a trove of futures for him.
- Losman

I dunno man. He's still scrappy every night and was one of the first in to defend Eichel after the late hit. This tells me he is still emotionally engaged with this team. Casey Nelson on the other hand is dead to me. He pulled a Gaustad yesterday.

My mock draft

1. Jack Hughes, C, US18 NTDP 5'10" 160
2. Kaapo Kakko, RW, TPS (Liiga) 6'2" 194
3. Vasily Podkolzin*, RW, Vityaz Poldosk 6'0" 185
4. Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge 6'2" 174
5. Trevor Zegras, C, NTDP U18 5'11" 165
6. Peyton Krebs, C, Kootenay 5'11" 168
7. Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon 6'4" 185
8. Bowen Byram, D, Vancouver 6'1" 191
9. Matthew Boldy, RW, NTDP 6'0" 184
10. Alex Turcotte, C NTDP 5'11: 194

* Podklozin is the wild card here. He has openly admitted to his misgivings about coming to North America and that could scare off a few teams in the top 5. The Russian factor can sway teams away from him but make no mistake, he has top end talent.

Asplund can replace Larsson once he’s ready as the 4th line C. Olofsson, like Nylander, is the other wildcard that can possibly be a top 6 contributor for the Sabres at one point or another. The rest to me are 4th liners at best. CJ Smith doesn’t have the top end speed to be a top 6 player in the NHL but can end up being a serviceable bottom 6 player.
- Pegullaville

I would like to see Asplund spend another year in Rochester but agree, he is Larsson's replacement as 4C. I think CJ will be here next year and he would fit in that 3rd or 4th line LW. Olofsson gets a long look at camp next year and I think he makes it but might start on the 3rd line.

I would like to see Asplund spend another year in Rochester but agree, he is Larsson's replacement as 4C. I think CJ will be here next year and he would fit in that 3rd or 4th line LW. Olofsson gets a long look at camp next year and I think he makes it but might start on the 3rd line.
- mhp

asplund has more upside IMO, should be the 3rd line center

they are making a point, where he is on pp, and pk in rochester


3rd liner to start, at least until davidsson is ready

something is wrong with the sabres web page, it has housley as head coach still

a third and a 5th for a brown

My mock draft

1. Jack Hughes, C, US18 NTDP 5'10" 160
2. Kaapo Kakko, RW, TPS (Liiga) 6'2" 194
3. Vasily Podkolzin*, RW, Vityaz Poldosk 6'0" 185
4. Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge 6'2" 174
5. Trevor Zegras, C, NTDP U18 5'11" 165
6. Peyton Krebs, C, Kootenay 5'11" 168
7. Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon 6'4" 185
8. Bowen Byram, D, Vancouver 6'1" 191
9. Matthew Boldy, RW, NTDP 6'0" 184
10. Alex Turcotte, C NTDP 5'11: 194

* Podklozin is the wild card here. He has openly admitted to his misgivings about coming to North America and that could scare off a few teams in the top 5. The Russian factor can sway teams away from him but make no mistake, he has top end talent.
- mhp

Yea 3-9 could be a wash depending on which teams are picking where and the preferences. Mine would look like this right now.

1) Hughes “C”
2)Kakko “RW/C”
3)Cozens “RW/C”
4)Turcotte “C”
5)Zegras “C/LW”
6)Byram “D”
7)Dach “C”
8)Podkolzin “RW”
9)Boldy “LW/RW”
10)Krebs “C/LW”

A lot of high end Centres in this draft. Boldy is a pure winger and like Podkolzin is a Top 5 talent that gets pushed down the board due to the amount of really strong centreman in this years draft. The centreman could be interchangeable depending on who is picking and what their preferences are. Byram is a stud as well as a LHD man. The top 10 in this draft is pretty strong.

asplund has more upside IMO, should be the 3rd line center

they are making a point, where he is on pp, and pk in rochester


3rd liner to start, at least until davidsson is ready
- homiedclown

He needs more time in Rochester to be considered for a 3C. I like him as the 4C when he's ready. Davidsson could pull a Gustav Possler but I hope he signs his ELC and comes to Rochester next year.

asplund has more upside IMO, should be the 3rd line center

they are making a point, where he is on pp, and pk in rochester


3rd liner to start, at least until davidsson is ready
- homiedclown

Asplund has 3rd line upside I think as well but if he’s your 4th line C we have a darn good lineup down the middle and ideally that’s what Cup Contenders have.

Yea 3-9 could be a wash depending on which teams are picking where and the preferences. Mine would look like this right now.

1) Hughes “C”
2)Kakko “RW/C”
3)Cozens “RW/C”
4)Turcotte “C”
5)Zegras “C/LW”
6)Byram “D”
7)Dach “C”
8)Podkolzin “RW”
9)Boldy “LW/RW”
10)Krebs “C/LW”

A lot of high end Centres in this draft. Boldy is a pure winger and like Podkolzin is a Top 5 talent that gets pushed down the board due to the amount of really strong centreman in this years draft. The centreman could be interchangeable depending on who is picking and what their preferences are. Byram is a stud as well as a LHD man. The top 10 in this draft is pretty strong.
- Pegullaville

Good post. Lots of good centers in the top 10 and Byram is far and away the best D man. A team like Anaheim might like Dach over Zegras, as an example.

Good post. Lots of good centers in the top 10 and Byram is far and away the best D man. A team like Anaheim might like Dach over Zegras, as an example.
- mhp

Yea you’re picking up what I’m putting down. I’ll be excited for whoever we add as long as we are picking in the top 10. Even Peyton Krebs plays on a horrendous Kootenay team and has like 30 more points then the next closest player on his team. He could be the hidden gem in this draft becuase he has essentially no help and plays a good 200ft game. I think there is a drop off around the 10th pick. However there is some still really good talent in the 11-20 range so I hope we are able to obtain the Blues pick. Adding one of Caufield, Newhook, Kaliyev, Tomasino, Soderstrom, Seider could be great for us as well.

I just don't see much improvement coming next year if Phil is back.
- mhp

Pilut in place of Scandella
Smith in place of Sobotka
Stralman signed
Risto+ for Huberdeau

That would signal improvement to me.

a third and a 5th for a brown



- homiedclown

And we offered a first [/img]

keep tanking , get into the top 5!

keep tanking , get into the top 5!
- wingz4life

That’s the plan. If we get Turcotte I’ll splooge. He’s the 200ft Centre we need. Eichel-Turcotte-Mittelstadt down the middle and we are off to the races.

keep tanking , get into the top 5!
- wingz4life

2 jacks are better then one

And we offered a first
- gerbe75pts[/img]

2nd and a 4th.

Deal got nixed because the Bills wanted him to play on his current deal. They weren’t willing to renegotiate.

At least that’s what was told to me.

That’s the plan. If we get Turcotte I’ll splooge. He’s the 200ft Centre we need. Eichel-Turcotte-Mittelstadt down the middle and we are off to the races.
- Pegullaville

Has a team won the cup with three American centers as their top three?

And we offered a first
- gerbe75pts[/img]

Source?

stinklander recalled