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Forums :: Blog World :: Hank Balling: In Appreciation of Kyle Okposo
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Slump Buster
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I root for draft picks but not the team, apparently, NY
Joined: 10.24.2006

Apr 18 @ 9:57 AM ET
When you combine his interview on after the whistle and his interview on the pregame show yesterday it's scary. And not scary good.
- lacaprup


I wouldn't trust anything that a GM says this time of the year about pending FAs. After all, what is he going to say?
ImThatGuy
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I AM MY OWN DAMN SOURCE!, NY
Joined: 11.04.2010

Apr 18 @ 9:58 AM ET
When you combine his interview on after the whistle and his interview on the pregame show yesterday it's scary. And not scary good.
- lacaprup

ill have to go back and listen to that.
Powerslave
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Arriving Somewhere But Not Here
Joined: 02.10.2011

Apr 18 @ 10:03 AM ET
Sabres signed Josh Bloom
TheSabresTaco
Buffalo Sabres
Location: For me. jack Eichel is bobby ryan….that's it. - Octavarium, NY
Joined: 05.05.2011

Apr 18 @ 10:05 AM ET
Which is why i say, the pressure gets turned up next year on KA and Granato.

They cant keep this draft and develope only strategy.

They need to add now, people are expecting this performance to continue into next year.

If they stay the course and come out next year and start sub .500 over the first 20 games, it wont be pretty

- ImThatGuy


I agree with that. This offseason needs to be fascinating. And that doesn't mean we need to see big splashes. I want to be comfortable on the right side and with goaltending. Without a major trade of young assets, it's very hard to believe that forwards get much. Excluding Peterquinn.
Slump Buster
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I root for draft picks but not the team, apparently, NY
Joined: 10.24.2006

Apr 18 @ 10:05 AM ET
Sabres signed Josh Bloom
- Powerslave


Was about to post the same. If memory serves he is considered to be an excellent 2-way forward?
TheSabresTaco
Buffalo Sabres
Location: For me. jack Eichel is bobby ryan….that's it. - Octavarium, NY
Joined: 05.05.2011

Apr 18 @ 10:06 AM ET
Sabres signed Josh Bloom
- Powerslave

Yeah he'll be a really nice boost to their bottom 6. Now sign RJ you cowards.
TheSabresTaco
Buffalo Sabres
Location: For me. jack Eichel is bobby ryan….that's it. - Octavarium, NY
Joined: 05.05.2011

Apr 18 @ 10:07 AM ET
Was about to post the same. If memory serves he is considered to be an excellent 2-way forward?
- Slump Buster


Has a similar game to Asplund. Probably a bit edgier.
Powerslave
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Arriving Somewhere But Not Here
Joined: 02.10.2011

Apr 18 @ 10:08 AM ET
Was about to post the same. If memory serves he is considered to be an excellent 2-way forward?
- Slump Buster



From prospectpipeline.ca ,

Josh Bloom is a talented winger who plays a high-paced game and consistently generates offence for one of Ontario’s top teams, the Toronto Nationals. Displaying high-end intelligence, Bloom is a tremendous decision-maker with impressive vision and sense of the ice. He excels in both the role of a sniper and a playmaker, making himself a dangerous offensive weapon in more ways than one.
Anderdog
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 03.17.2021

Apr 18 @ 10:10 AM ET
Little refresher

https://prospectpipeline....-scouting-report-profile/


Sorry power
lacaprup
Buffalo Sabres
Location: NY
Joined: 07.23.2006

Apr 18 @ 10:10 AM ET
Sabres signed Josh Bloom
- Powerslave


Another Ontario boy. Let's hope he develops.
Slump Buster
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I root for draft picks but not the team, apparently, NY
Joined: 10.24.2006

Apr 18 @ 10:13 AM ET
From prospectpipeline.ca ,

Josh Bloom is a talented winger who plays a high-paced game and consistently generates offence for one of Ontario’s top teams, the Toronto Nationals. Displaying high-end intelligence, Bloom is a tremendous decision-maker with impressive vision and sense of the ice. He excels in both the role of a sniper and a playmaker, making himself a dangerous offensive weapon in more ways than one.

- Powerslave


I thought I remember several videos of shorthanded goals being posted as well. The kid looked to be pretty dynamic in the videos. Anyway... a new toy.
ImThatGuy
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I AM MY OWN DAMN SOURCE!, NY
Joined: 11.04.2010

Apr 18 @ 10:15 AM ET
I thought I remember several videos of shorthanded goals being posted as well. The kid looked to be pretty dynamic in the videos. Anyway... a new toy.
- Slump Buster


Probably a 4th line and PKer in the NHL.

Always good to have those guys in the pipeline to be replace others on the cheap.
Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Apr 18 @ 10:27 AM ET
Disagree completely.
His raw numbers are up CONSIDERABLY from last season, at +32%.
His RATE from last season is up 10%.
Both of which were considerably impacted by playing through an injury that SIGNIFICANTLY affected his shooting ability for 30 games.

Furthermore, it seems disingenuous to knowly quote rate knowing said rate was impacted by the injury period. It would be interesting to break down said rate into 3 periods;
pre-injury,
injury,
post-injury
Once you do that, it is highly likely a different opinion would emerge.

- IonSabres


Good post, basically a recap of everything I was telling you the past few years.

Guys learn the game, guys learn 5 x 5 defensive awareness and .....

Ralph coached him, just like everyone else ☝️

Absolutely a 5 million $ guy, probably more longterm
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Apr 18 @ 10:28 AM ET
if KA doesn't address the goaltending this summer i would fire him on the spot
- SabresFaninIndiana

Easily.

It would be so asinine not to make a serious commitment to fixing it now
Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Apr 18 @ 10:30 AM ET
boy oh boy did the temperature really change on Vic-O.
- TheSabresTaco


Some posters still believe goaloffson to be a large part of the Sabres future.

3rd in Sabres goals
5th in assists
4th in points

One trick pony 😀😀😀
One dimensional player
Pp specialist with more even strength goals than most of the team
Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Apr 18 @ 10:33 AM ET
3yr 15m sounds good. Still gives him a chance to cash another contract.
- Buff36



Not gonna happen 36

Olofsson is/has been a very good young nhl player with a sniper shot.

He's earned 5+ million over 5 years.

Boss34
Buffalo Sabres
Location: BUFFALO , NY
Joined: 12.03.2015

Apr 18 @ 10:37 AM ET
My fear is that Adams will be tempted to continue to trust the trajectory of this group rather than make some real improvements.

My hope is that Anderson retires, only because it will force him to do something about the goaltender position. If he decides he wants to play another year, there's no doubt in my mind Adams will be content riding with UPL and Anderson, neither of whom I am confident will give you 35 healthy games next year, let alone 40.

They also need at least one, preferably two bonafide top 6 forwards. They're still very thin up front. If one of Tuch, Thompson or Skinner goes down with injury, even for a few games, they're in trouble. I don't want to put 100% of my faith in Quinn and Peterka. You have to assume growing pains with those two. Cozens-Krebs-whoever needs to be slotted down a line. Thomspon could stand to be slotted down a line too, but to get a center of that caliber will take an awful lot. Go make a Drury-type trade.

They could also stand to get another veteran defenseman, but that's a luxury item at this point. You can go into war with a top 4 of Dahlin, Power, Jokiharju and Samuelsson and survive. Focus on goaltending and up front first.

- buffalofan19



Still think olofsson isnt a top 9 forward as you stated 2 weeks ago?
DirtyDan
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Why aren't more people interrigent? Rike Me? , ON
Joined: 02.03.2021

Apr 18 @ 10:41 AM ET
Vegas now 31% chance of making the playoffs. I am still nervous about the Kings, even though they have an easy schedule. Hopefully Cal Peterson comes through for us....
- Slump Buster


Should be worried about Nashville. Dallas and LA have easier schedules. Nashville about to go through the ringer
ZiggyBuff
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 06.10.2017

Apr 18 @ 10:44 AM ET
My fear is that Adams will be tempted to continue to trust the trajectory of this group rather than make some real improvements.

My hope is that Anderson retires, only because it will force him to do something about the goaltender position. If he decides he wants to play another year, there's no doubt in my mind Adams will be content riding with UPL and Anderson, neither of whom I am confident will give you 35 healthy games next year, let alone 40.

They also need at least one, preferably two bonafide top 6 forwards. They're still very thin up front. If one of Tuch, Thompson or Skinner goes down with injury, even for a few games, they're in trouble. I don't want to put 100% of my faith in Quinn and Peterka. You have to assume growing pains with those two. Cozens-Krebs-whoever needs to be slotted down a line. Thomspon could stand to be slotted down a line too, but to get a center of that caliber will take an awful lot. Go make a Drury-type trade.

They could also stand to get another veteran defenseman, but that's a luxury item at this point. You can go into war with a top 4 of Dahlin, Power, Jokiharju and Samuelsson and survive. Focus on goaltending and up front first.

- buffalofan19


Like all of this post except about Thompson going down a line. This dude is a legit #1 center. Like maybe a skill set like no other center in the NHL has.

We got to stop the talk that we need to find out #1 center this draft. We have him. Draft BPA now and trade one of the other picks so solid top 9.

Oh and if there is ever a blueprint of how a line should be build see our 1st line…….
buffalofan19
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Wonderful things can happen when you sow seeds of distrust in a garden full of (bum)holes
Joined: 07.01.2007

Apr 18 @ 10:46 AM ET
Like all of this post except about Thompson going down a line. This dude is a legit #1 center. Like maybe a skill set like no other center in the NHL has.

We got to stop the talk that we need to find out #1 center this draft. We have him. Draft BPA now and trade one of the other picks so solid top 9.

Oh and if there is ever a blueprint of how a line should be build see our 1st line…….

- ZiggyBuff


He can play the #1 center role in this league. I'm not disputing that. I am not confident that he can be a bonafide #1 center on a championship team. I think you need another guy equal to him or better for that.
Slump Buster
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I root for draft picks but not the team, apparently, NY
Joined: 10.24.2006

Apr 18 @ 10:47 AM ET
Not gonna happen 36

Olofsson is/has been a very good young nhl player with a sniper shot.

He's earned 5+ million over 5 years.

- Boss34


In a way he reminds me of Reinhart in that I think he can be a fantastic complimentary piece because of his skill set. Unfortunately I bet he gets a similar contract to what Reinhart got.
TheSabresTaco
Buffalo Sabres
Location: For me. jack Eichel is bobby ryan….that's it. - Octavarium, NY
Joined: 05.05.2011

Apr 18 @ 10:48 AM ET
Just listened to the 4/16 KA interview. Glad they asked the point blank questions about Portillo and Johnson. Everything else was kinda known more or less. The development comments about why guys are there instead of here or vice versa was interesting though.
TheSabresTaco
Buffalo Sabres
Location: For me. jack Eichel is bobby ryan….that's it. - Octavarium, NY
Joined: 05.05.2011

Apr 18 @ 10:49 AM ET
Some posters still believe goaloffson to be a large part of the Sabres future.

3rd in Sabres goals
5th in assists
4th in points

One trick pony 😀😀😀
One dimensional player
Pp specialist with more even strength goals than most of the team

- Boss34


prior to this year, he was exactly that. but we should all know by now that there's always an opportunity to grow into something better. especially for a late bloomer like him.
buffalofan19
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Wonderful things can happen when you sow seeds of distrust in a garden full of (bum)holes
Joined: 07.01.2007

Apr 18 @ 10:51 AM ET
Still think olofsson isnt a top 9 forward as you stated 2 weeks ago?
- Boss34


On this team, sure. Don Granato coming out and defending him last week (or whenever it was) because of the injury was both very admirable and very telling. On one hand, it was nice to know that there was a very good reason that shot of his disappeared. On the other hand, it also tells us, if the kid is physically unable to shoot the puck, he's pretty much a liability. Olofsson is a luxury player. If I have 7 or 8 forwards better than he is, then I can live with him on my top 9.
SabresFaninIndiana
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Bananaville, IN
Joined: 12.16.2009

Apr 18 @ 10:56 AM ET
Just listened to the 4/16 KA interview. Glad they asked the point blank questions about Portillo and Johnson. Everything else was kinda known more or less. The development comments about why guys are there instead of here or vice versa was interesting though.
- TheSabresTaco

what was said about johnson and portillos
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