It's not just about doubts. If one of those 2 go down with injury, and I will throw Tuch in there too, where's the replacement offense coming from? The only one who remotely has the ability to score at that clip is Olofsson and he's incredibly streaky.
- buffalofan19

Yeah, speaking of injuries........
Olofsson was clearly injured , still think he's not a top 9 forward on the Sabres?

Olofsson
4th in goals
4th in assists
4th in points

On the Sabres. But still not a top 9, let alone a top 6 ?




No way

Matthew Tkachuk absolutely fits the bill of a top 6 impact forward that the Sabres need for next year.
- buffalofan19

this summer tom wilson's ntc goes down from 10 teams to 7

Right, I don't have any concerns about Cozens at all. I don't know what his ceiling is - I like the idea of him being a Peca-ish player (25 goals, strong 2-way player that is tough to play against and works his tail off).

I also don't agree with the claim that he turns the puck over a lot. If memory serves me his defensive fancy stats are very good.
- Slump Buster

Even if he does turn the puck over a lot, that will decrease with age, as it tends to do with players of his skillset. He's still very young, and is still figuring out what he can and can't get away with in this league.

My "problem" with him is that a player of his skillset is an ideal fit as a 3rd center on a team that rolls 3 scoring lines. You need to find a center that can at least slot between him and Thompson if you want him to be fully effective. Ideally, you would get a guy to slot above Thomspon, but that's difficult to do, unless you draft him.

this summer tom wilson's ntc goes down from 10 teams to 7
- homiedclown

Buffalo and the six Canadian markets not named Toronto.

Buffalo and the six Canadian markets not named Toronto.
- buffalofan19

oh my

Matthew Tkachuk absolutely fits the bill of a top 6 impact forward that the Sabres need for next year.
- buffalofan19

Yes, Matt tkachuk is a great fit on any nhl team.

What would you pay him?
More than jack's 10 million?

Probably looking 8 x 11.5 = 92 million + buffatax IMO

oh my
- homiedclown

In all seriousness, he might be an okay stopgap for a year or two, but not much longer than that. There's no way he can play the style he plays without his body breaking down sooner rather than later. His production is going to fall off a cliff in the next few years, if not sooner.

Yes, Matt tkachuk is a great fit on any nhl team.

What would you pay him?
More than jack's 10 million?

Probably looking 8 x 11.5 = 92 million + buffatax IMO
- Boss34

This team has no business tying itself to any new player for 8 years at this stage of the franchise.

Right, I don't have any concerns about Cozens at all. I don't know what his ceiling is - I like the idea of him being a Peca-ish player (25 goals, strong 2-way player that is tough to play against and works his tail off).

I also don't agree with the claim that he turns the puck over a lot. If memory serves me his defensive fancy stats are very good.
- Slump Buster

Good post
I'd take a solid 20 goals / 40 points with size , speed and grit.

Type of guy that probably feels at home in buffalo, considering his artic upbringing.

Very likeable guy IMO

thats where hopefully Quinn can be another one.. but i dont know that we have any others that can join that list and i would like more
- SabresFaninIndiana

The record setting Panthers have 8 guys with 15+ goals and another 7 with 7-11 goals each.

Buffalo has 4 15+ goal scorers with Cozens and Tuch right outside so lets say 6. (Tuch only has played 44 games) and another 4 with 7+.

Add in Quinn Peterka and Mitts playing a full season and were pretty solid for goal scoring.

We have to decrease the amount goals scored against us.

In all seriousness, he might be an okay stopgap for a year or two, but not much longer than that. There's no way he can play the style he plays without his body breaking down sooner rather than later. His production is going to fall off a cliff in the next few years, if not sooner.
- buffalofan19

Tom Wilson just broke his own personal high goals for a season with 24 and 28 assists as well.

Generally guys dont drop off immediately, he's finally playing the game properly

I'm fully convinced that Tuch could turn into an absolutely terrible hockey player but People would be like "But he loves it here stop complaining"
- ImThatGuy

Has he done much since game 20?

The record setting Panthers have 8 guys with 15+ goals and another 7 with 7-11 goals each.

Buffalo has 4 15+ goal scorers with Cozens and Tuch right outside so lets say 6. (Tuch only has played 44 games) and another 4 with 7+.

Add in Quinn Peterka and Mitts playing a full season and were pretty solid for goal scoring.

We have to decrease the amount goals scored against us.
- DirtyDan

Are we really sure we want to rely on that? His durability isn't the strongest part of his game.

Tom Wilson just broke his own personal high goals for a season with 24 and 28 assists as well.

Generally guys dont drop off immediately, he's finally playing the game properly
- Boss34

I just don't think his body will be able to maintain it.

This team has no business tying itself to any new player for 8 years at this stage of the franchise.
- buffalofan19

So:

Sabres could absolutely use matt tkachuk for our top 6

And

This team has no business signing a guy for 8 years at this stage


You have all the bases covered 😉

I just don't think his body will be able to maintain it.
- buffalofan19

That's fair, today's hockeybuzz concern is injuries.

Did you stub your toe this morning? 🙂

So:

Sabres could absolutely use matt tkachuk for our top 6

And

This team has no business signing a guy for 8 years at this stage


You have all the bases covered 😉
- Boss34

Why do I need Matthew Tkachuk for 8 years? He's a guy they could use, but he's definitely not the only one. Getting a guy you need and not signing him to a dumbass contract don't have to be mutually exclusive.

Are we really sure we want to rely on that? His durability isn't the strongest part of his game.
- buffalofan19

Hernia has nothing to do with durability

Hernia has nothing to do with durability
- DirtyDan

His career high in games played in a season is 77. After that, it's 41 (albeit in a shortened season). Until he actually plays a full season in this league, I'm not willing to bank on the fact that he can.

The record setting Panthers have 8 guys with 15+ goals and another 7 with 7-11 goals each.

Buffalo has 4 15+ goal scorers with Cozens and Tuch right outside so lets say 6. (Tuch only has played 44 games) and another 4 with 7+.

Add in Quinn Peterka and Mitts playing a full season and were pretty solid for goal scoring.

We have to decrease the amount goals scored against us.
- DirtyDan

If you want to look at Fla, the gap isn't just about depth of scoring. Their top line is miles ahead of ours. That's always going to be a concern.

His career high in games played in a season is 77. After that, it's 41 (albeit in a shortened season). Until he actually plays a full season in this league, I'm not willing to bank on the fact that he can.
- buffalofan19

I'm gunna say 77 is a pretty full of season and then 2 shortened seasons... and then he gets a hernia this year.... Its really nothing to be worried about at this point.

Has he done much since game 20?
- sbroads24

In his last 20 games (3 with Skinny boy and chubby boy) he has 4 goals 9 assists about 17 minutes a night -5. Nothing special but not like he fell off the Earth, and he plays in late game critical situations.

In his last 20 games (3 with Skinny boy and chubby boy) he has 4 goals 9 assists about 17 minutes a night -5. Nothing special but not like he fell off the Earth, and he plays in late game critical situations.
- lacaprup

What you're getting from Tuch right now, is what you're pretty much always going to get: consistent production, but never anything head-turning. He has his place on a contending team, but you need at least a couple more forwards better than he is, and there's nothing wrong with that.

I've really been watching Cozens closely.

One thing I've noticed is his great ability to turn the puck over!
- sgk56

How about boeser ( van )
And what would be cost ?

I'd imagine close to 7 million a year

I think guys in the nhl still get "anxious " on break always, cozensons is still very young.

Despite a recent posters proclamation about players easily learning how to skate at the nhl level.....

Scoring can indeed be practiced and perfected.

Maybe ror could host a shooting camp for cozensons.
Maybe cozensons just shows for a few and moves on?
- Boss34

Yes, there are a long list of players who couldn't produce points at the lower levels that turned into points producers in the NHL.