asplund clearly outplayed sobotka and larsson
hell asplund outplayed casey
tage outplayed okposo

you can really make a case ellie outplayed girgens and wilson


but I fully expect asplund, tage gilmore to all be sent down in a day
- homiedclown

--in the case of Asplund, what's best for his development?
--you're skunkin' on mitts...he had 12 goals in Buffalo last year, Asplund had 10 in Rochester
--Okposo ain't goin' anywhere...we need to reconcile with this fact

--you're really reaching with elie

he did outscore casey, girgens, sobotka, larson, okposo, sheary and wilson combined in the preseason

but continue
- homiedclown

does the preseason really matter all that much?

"Golden Four"

"Wretched Four". Fixed
- SabreWest

good catch

So basically, you think none of Asplund, Lazar, and Gilmour have looked good this preseason?
- kingcong39

to be honest, same can be said for 90% of the other sabres trying to 'earn" a spot or has already earned a spot

--in the case of Asplund, what's best for his development?
--you're skunkin' on mitts...he had 12 goals in Buffalo last year, Asplund had 10 in Rochester
--Okposo ain't goin' anywhere...we need to reconcile with this fact

--you're really reaching with elie
- Michael Pachla

Waiving Okposo in favor of Lazar would save $300k on the cap, make the team better due to pace of play and tenacity, and might lead Okposo to consider his future if he knows he's gonna be in the minors.

It's the right thing to do, and at some point they'll have to acknowledge it, a la Moulson

--in the case of Asplund, what's best for his development?
--you're skunkin' on mitts...he had 12 goals in Buffalo last year, Asplund had 10 in Rochester
--Okposo ain't goin' anywhere...we need to reconcile with this fact

--you're really reaching with elie
- Michael Pachla

I will not tolerate any Elie bashing

Scandella can (frank) right off.

Slob last year can (frank) right off, but, believe it or not, and try to chew slowly, he's been better, this preseason.

Okposo, to me, is the guy who most deserves the boot.
- TheSabresTaco

Sobotka sounds like he has a much better attitude this year, and if we get the player that played for Boston and the Blues, then I'm good w it. He was a mother(frank)er to play against, and opposing players have said as much.

Sobotka sounds like he has a much better attitude this year, and if we get the player that played for Boston and the Blues, then I'm good w it. He was a mother(frank)er to play against, and opposing players have said as much.
- Powerslave

Sobotka was terrible his last year in St. Louis. We're hoping to get a version of him that existed more than 2 years ago? Not going to happen.

--in the case of Asplund, what's best for his development?
--you're skunkin' on mitts...he had 12 goals in Buffalo last year, Asplund had 10 in Rochester
--Okposo ain't goin' anywhere...we need to reconcile with this fact

--you're really reaching with elie
- Michael Pachla

asplund started the year on the 4th line in rochester though and was worked up

by mid season he has riding shotgun with olofsson

yeah I reached with elie, would rather see him then all three of the suck brothers, sobotka, larsson and girgens

at least elie will drop the gloved to defend a team mate

If Scandella makes the team at LD and they waive Gilmour who gets claimed by another team, that will be the biggest Eff up of them all.

Scandella is pure garbage and Gilmour has really played well.
- SabreWest

Gilmour has played 33 nhl games and 183 ahl games in his pro career...there's a reason for that

Lazar and Gilmour are upgrades over Sobotka and Scandella at the very least.

If we are going to expose anyone to waivers, let's start with the players WE KNOW shouldn't be in the league....Okposo, Girgensons, Larsson, Sobotka, Scandella.

None of the above would get claimed and would be free to go to Rochester.

Instead, we'll end up waiving Lazar and Gilmour who will get claimed by better teams and become useful depth players for them.

Then, when our start is poor our GM will call up the likes of JS Dea and Brandon Hickey who were cut before Lazar and Gilmour.

I feel sorry for coach Ralph. Botterill is going to get fired and Kreuger will go down with him because that's the way it goes.

--in the case of Asplund, what's best for his development?
--you're skunkin' on mitts...he had 12 goals in Buffalo last year, Asplund had 10 in Rochester
--Okposo ain't goin' anywhere...we need to reconcile with this fact

--you're really reaching with elie
- Michael Pachla

It's a fine line regarding best for the player versus best for the team, but based on how much the 4th line played last year, I fail to understand Asplund playing on the Sabres this year being bad for his development.

Sobotka was terrible his last year in St. Louis. We're hoping to get a version of him that existed more than 2 years ago? Not going to happen.
- kingcong39

I say it will.

Contract year, new coach, better attitude.

(btw, he set a career high in goals, along w 31 points his last year in StL. Hardly "terrible")

does the preseason really matter all that much?
- Michael Pachla

Voice of reason Mr. Pachla.

Cozens going down is best for his long term development.

Asplund and Joker playing 30 games down in the minors and dominating is better for their long term term development.

Thompson and Gilmour should make the opening night roster and will be the moves that ultimately show whether or not Botts/Kreuger have the stones to blast Sobotka into the sun and make Scandella the 7th d-man.

does the preseason really matter all that much?
- Michael Pachla

depends on the team

I am sure if you are a good team, it does not matter

if you are a losing team with losing culture, it does

super bowl bills team, preseason record did not matter, this current bills team, pretty sure the wins help with morale

Waiving Okposo in favor of Lazar would save $300k on the cap, make the team better due to pace of play and tenacity, and might lead Okposo to consider his future if he knows he's gonna be in the minors.

It's the right thing to do, and at some point they'll have to acknowledge it, a la Moulson
- jcragcrumple

how's that?

I thought the most cap relief you can get would be just shy of $1M?...meaning his hit would be $5M

asplund started the year on the 4th line in rochester though and was worked up

by mid season he has riding shotgun with olofsson

yeah I reached with elie, would rather see him then all three of the suck brothers, sobotka, larsson and girgens

at least elie will drop the gloved to defend a team mate
- homiedclown

all good points

Gilmour has played 33 nhl games and 183 ahl games in his pro career...there's a reason for that
- Michael Pachla

which one fits the gm "mold" of a fast, up beat, north south game

scandella at 18 minutes a night or gilmour, until pilut is ready

Hence the additions of Olofsson, Vesey, Miller, Joker and Johansson. And the development of Dahlin, Vesey, Olofsson, Mittelstadt, Reinhart, Eichel, Thompson, and pray to god Ristolainen.

Different coaching, time and time again, bring out different play styles, and *usually* those teams play better with a new coach. How many examples are out there? There's a real possibility, and even in your own consistent statements, that Ralph will have his team perform better than Housley's, because of how awful of a coach Gum was.
- TheSabresTaco

Yes, acquiring Jokiharju to play him on his off hand, acquiring Miller to continue to play him in a role he’s too good for, and acquiring Johansson to play a position he’s not confident with have all been super sound acquisitions already.

Wake me up when this team makes decisions that are the best for their NHL team

how's that?

I thought the most cap relief you can get would be just shy of $1M?...meaning his hit would be $5M
- Michael Pachla

Save $1m due to waiving. Lazar takes his spot for $700k.

Net savings of $300k

It's a fine line regarding best for the player versus best for the team, but based on how much the 4th line played last year, I fail to understand Asplund playing on the Sabres this year being bad for his development.
- kingcong39

consistency and offense...he scored 10 goals and added 31 assists last season...solid, but not great, numbers for a first-year north American pro

all good points
- Michael Pachla

I had a little jameson in my coffee today

and I had 3 cups

which one fits the gm "mold" of a fast, up beat, north south game

scandella at 18 minutes a night or gilmour, until pilut is ready
- homiedclown

agreed...however, I was just pointing out that he's spent way more time in the ahl than the nhl...and there's a reason for that

Save $1m due to waiving. Lazar takes his spot for $700k.

Net savings of $300k
- jcragcrumple

got it...kinda like the coupon I've got for $0.10 off two boxes of Frosted Flakes

I had a little jameson in my coffee today

and I had 3 cups
- homiedclown

well done, sir...

well done