Him and Joker started off well together, but really think they both need different partners.
Dahlin Savard
? McCabe Joker
? Bryson Borgen
With Samuelsson Laaksonen playing big minutes for Rochester.
- Buff36

Still not comfortable giving Bryson NHL minutes.

dahlin gets the green jacket
- homiedclown

oh my...

3yr./$10M deal?

Way more concerned about the defense on this team than the offense. They really need to make some moves back there. Alternative is let them develop for a few more years and probably be bad.

you forgot, it's all risto's fault
- Michael Pachla

Yes Ristos fault but honourable mentions have to go out to every goalie who played at least a game this year. Can’t add Hall in for any blame because as we all know he was an MVP at one time.

Way more concerned about the defense on this team than the offense. They really need to make some moves back there. Alternative is let them develop for a few more years and probably be bad.
- TheSabresTaco

Amazing that the Sabres spent 3 years "fixing" the defense and yet we're still at this point

Him and Joker started off well together, but really think they both need different partners.
Dahlin Savard
? McCabe Joker
? Bryson Borgen
With Samuelsson Laaksonen playing big minutes for Rochester.
Buff36

It is painfully obvious Adams needs to overhaul the back-end IMO.
Bryson probably needs more time to bake in the AHL to shore-up his defensive play more..
Samuelson needs more time as well, it's too early in his development to cou t on him.
But, that said, those two have had good exposure to the NHL game...just need to continue to work hard.

We don't give jobs round here, we earn them. Hank's sample size is much too small, I require and entire season before I make a decision.
- TheSabresTaco

good blogs don't count, being in position to have a good blog is more important

Yes Ristos fault but honourable mentions have to go out to every goalie who played at least a game this year. Can’t add Hall in for any blame because as we all know he was an MVP at one time.
- Camel

oh...he can be blamed...and let's throw in girgensons, because...well, because...that's what we do here

Amazing that the Sabres spent 3 years "fixing" the defense and yet we're still at this point
- jcragcrumple

The "fixes" are young and not fully baked yet. Unfortunately, it takes more than 3 years for the vast majority of Dmen to play well after their draft selection.

Yet, you are correct in that the still don't have 1RhD to pair with Dahlin, among relative short-term needs for 1 or 2 years on the left for 2nd/3rd pairings.

Amazing that the Sabres spent 3 years "fixing" the defense and yet we're still at this point
- jcragcrumple

Well when you sign guys like Matt Irwin and Brandon Davidsson and keep Colin Miller and Ristolainen, you end up blocking guys like Borgen, Bryson and Samuelsson, and give the coach the option to healthy scratch good players like Jokiharju and barely play Dahlin for months.

Dahlin
Jokiharju
Johnson
Borgen
Samuelsson
Bryson
Laaksonen

Not a bad foundational defense

good blogs don't count, being in position to have a good blog is more important
- robz228

I'd say the expected blogs are more important than the blogs themselves tbh

Still not comfortable giving Bryson NHL minutes.
- TheSabresTaco

Why I have a ? mark there, have to agree, don't like him with Miller that's for sure. We have a very young defensive core when Borgen plays, gonna be mistakes. Not anything against Houser, cause he's done a decent job, but better goaltending would help out.

oh...he can be blamed...and let's throw in girgensons, because...well, because...that's what we do here
- Michael Pachla

If he's just going to sit there on the ice like he's flipping through Teen Vogue on his bed, then yeah we gon blame him too.

Great write up. Pretty obvious who is getting the job.

Hank, do you think #26's partner for next season is on the roster currently? Who would you have there ideally?

Why I have a ? mark there, have to agree, don't like him with Miller that's for sure. We have a very young defensive core when Borgen plays, gonna be mistakes. Not anything against Houser, cause he's done a decent job, but better goaltending would help out.
- Buff36

For certain. NHL caliber goalies and defensemen would do wonders.

I'd say the expected blogs are more important than the blogs themselves tbh
- TheSabresTaco

I have to dive into the analytics on this one.

The "fixes" are young and not fully baked yet. Unfortunately, it takes more than 3 years for the vast majority of Dmen to play well after their draft selection.

Yet, you are correct in that the still don't have 1RhD to pair with Dahlin, among relative short-term needs for 1 or 2 years on the left for 2nd/3rd pairings.
- IonSabres

The guy who plays pure defense the best on this team was drafted by Darcy Regier (McCabe).

That's burtal

oh...he can be blamed...and let's throw in girgensons, because...well, because...that's what we do here
- Michael Pachla

Haven't noticed him all year

Well when you sign guys like Matt Irwin and Brandon Davidsson and keep Colin Miller and Ristolainen, you end up blocking guys like Borgen, Bryson and Samuelsson, and give the coach the option to healthy scratch good players like Jokiharju and barely play Dahlin for months.

Dahlin
Jokiharju
Johnson
Borgen
Samuelsson
Bryson
Laaksonen

Not a bad foundational defense
- sbroads24

But most are still in relative early stages of their development curve.
Promising future, but at least 1 year and probably 2 years away for several.
They still need to bring in at least 2 guys, with McCabe an option for 1 of those if he is healthy enough.

If he's just going to sit there on the ice like he's flipping through Teen Vogue on his bed, then yeah we gon blame him too.
- TheSabresTaco

😂😂😂😂😂😂 almost fell out of my chair!!!

oh my...

3yr./$10M deal?
- Michael Pachla

Sounds about right. He has suffered mightily due to the lack of a veteran stay at home defenseman.

I truly believe a player like Savard would do wonders for him.

The Fan Blog : Hank on Sabres: Tracking the Young Guns: Brett Murray
- the_fan_blog

Cash for Crags

Great write up. Pretty obvious who is getting the job.

Hank, do you think #26's partner for next season is on the roster currently? Who would you have there ideally?
- lacaprup

Thanks

Too soon for me to say. Stylistically Borgen makes sense

Shifting Dahlin to the right side and playing him with McCabe intrigues me (if they decide to re-sign him)

Him and Joker started off well together, but really think they both need different partners.
Dahlin Savard
? McCabe Joker
? Bryson Borgen
With Samuelsson Laaksonen playing big minutes for Rochester.
- Buff36

that's another lottery pick IMO

Ok someone needs to start a argument, we have 2 pages and nothing yet.
Liking Caggs more and more, not the prettiest player out there, but is a good skater and does his job.