Anyone hearing anything on Mitts and a extension. Got a text saying there closing in on a 5yr deal.
- Buff36

Nothing other then what Chad said on Twitter a week or so ago.

Willander is a late riser so I’m always skeptical.

A lot of guys really like his game, I can’t say I am too familiar with him though.

I think every d-man in this draft has their flaws, and that the BPA will be a forward, however, I can rationalize picking a d-man at 13.

I trust the front office and their evaluations to date and will trust whatever they do.
- Swedish_Jesus

Ah yes, I've seen this post before.

Anyone hearing anything on Mitts and a extension. Got a text saying there closing in on a 5yr deal.
- Buff36

this kinda blows my mind. yes i saw what he did on the ice for half a year, yes i see what the analytics say, but it's still an odd feeling.

Willander is a late riser so I’m always skeptical.

A lot of guys really like his game, I can’t say I am too familiar with him though.

I think every d-man in this draft has their flaws, and that the BPA will be a forward, however, I can rationalize picking a d-man at 13.

I trust the front office and their evaluations to date and will trust whatever they do.
- Swedish_Jesus

Willander's profile, via Scott Wheeler

One of the better-skating defencemen in the draft, Willander, who is committed to Boston University for the fall, was a horse for the Swedish national team and Rogle’s junior team this year. He’s a strong-in-all-three-zones two-way defenceman who plays a confident and decisive game that uses his beautiful, balanced skating to push forward or fall back onto his heels and outlet the puck. He pulls away or retreats from pressure with ease and excels on exits. His head is always up. He gets his shots through. And then on top of the pro frame, and the skating, and the general athleticism, he also just plays the game with an intentionality that is rare in players his age. He looks and operates like a pro out there, his passes are quick and firm, he’s aggressive on pinches and closing gaps, and rarely mistimes them, swallowing up play defensively. Willander doesn’t have dynamic skill or creativity on the puck, but he projects safely as an NHL defenceman and might be a two-way transition monster in a second-pairing role with the right development. I expect him to step right into the college game and be impactful.

Nothing other then what Chad said on Twitter a week or so ago.
- kingcong39

Seems like they want the basics of there Cap laid out in 2yrs. They could have a bunch of there young Core signed long term by then.

this kinda blows my mind. yes i saw what he did on the ice for half a year, yes i see what the analytics say, but it's still an odd feeling.
- TheSabresTaco

I thought they would wait and see, we shall hear soon enough.

I thought they would wait and see, we shall hear soon enough.
- Buff36

feel like he's a 'bargain contract' guy and they expect him to tage out of his contract in the next year or two.

5 years, 5M

otherwise they wait till arb next year and are forced to add on another 1.5-2M

Looks like Sabres Leafs playing Hockeyville in the preseason.

feel like he's a 'bargain contract' guy and they expect him to tage out of his contract in the next year or two.

5 years, 5M

otherwise they wait till arb next year and are forced to add on another 1.5-2M
- TheSabresTaco

Yeah, I would think it would have to be a "bargain contract" for them to do it at this point.

Willander's profile, via Scott Wheeler

One of the better-skating defencemen in the draft, Willander, who is committed to Boston University for the fall, was a horse for the Swedish national team and Rogle’s junior team this year. He’s a strong-in-all-three-zones two-way defenceman who plays a confident and decisive game that uses his beautiful, balanced skating to push forward or fall back onto his heels and outlet the puck. He pulls away or retreats from pressure with ease and excels on exits. His head is always up. He gets his shots through. And then on top of the pro frame, and the skating, and the general athleticism, he also just plays the game with an intentionality that is rare in players his age. He looks and operates like a pro out there, his passes are quick and firm, he’s aggressive on pinches and closing gaps, and rarely mistimes them, swallowing up play defensively. Willander doesn’t have dynamic skill or creativity on the puck, but he projects safely as an NHL defenceman and might be a two-way transition monster in a second-pairing role with the right development. I expect him to step right into the college game and be impactful.
- TheSabresTaco

Low-bar.

I still think forward is the best option, but I support what they do

I’m very confused as to why Adams and Donny think Okposo and Girgensons make us better?

I’m very confused as to why Adams and Donny think Okposo and Girgensons make us better?
- lulags

Vibes and Leadership

Low-bar.

I still think forward is the best option, but I support what they do
- Swedish_Jesus

All that profile and you focus on an ambiguous stating comment?

I’m very confused as to why Adams and Donny think Okposo and Girgensons make us better?
- lulags

That 4th line was very impactful in the defensive zone. 5v5 ZG was one of the best defensive forwards in the league.
Like I said yesterday, if his name is anything but Zemgus Girgensons, we'd be satisfied with the acquisition.

I can understand people not wanting him back, but unfortunately it makes sense.

I got two minutes into the mock offseason by DBTB before having to turn it off. Just completely ruined trying to do ridiculous voices. I don’t get it

That 4th line was very impactful in the defensive zone. 5v5 ZG was one of the best defensive forwards in the league.
Like I said yesterday, if his name is anything but Zemgus Girgensons, we'd be satisfied with the acquisition.

I can understand people not wanting him back, but unfortunately it makes sense.
- TheSabresTaco

Just burb puked a bit, but unfortunately you make good points.

Just burb puked a bit, but unfortunately you make good points.
- Buff36

it is what it is. like i said if his name isnt zemgus, people probably like the move.

it is what it is. like i said if his name isnt zemgus, people probably like the move.
- TheSabresTaco

Probably

All that profile and you focus on an ambiguous stating comment?
- TheSabresTaco

The year of the defenceman was last year.

This year is the year of the forward.

Willander with the right development can very well be a second pairing defender, however, you’re passing up on a forward that probably has a higher ceiling.

Time will tell.

Guess we'll see if the rumor of him leaving was accurate.
- Lunaion

Excellent rumor.

Funny! Arizona has more picks in the 2023 Draft than they have Contracts signed this year.

I’m very confused as to why Adams and Donny think Okposo and Girgensons make us better?
- lulags

just wait until they role out UPL and Levi.

The year of the defenceman was last year.

This year is the year of the forward.

Willander with the right development can very well be a second pairing defender, however, you’re passing up on a forward that probably has a higher ceiling.

Time will tell.
- Swedish_Jesus

I'm a BPA guy. But I'm also working with 36 and Ion on a mock draft. So there's going to be personal bias involved here, especially with how weak our defensive system is.

If you gave me a list of 12 players to be taken ahead of the Sabres, and told me what do you think Kevyn is going to do here, I would absolutely consider as many factors as possible, some of those being the shallowness of the defensive pool and the absolute logjam of young top 6 forwards organizationally.

Tom Willander is every bit the prospect that many of those forwards in the teens range are.

Being 'forward heavy' or 'defense heavy' draft is a nonsense argument.

just wait until they role out UPL and Levi.
- hehateme

they (frank)in won't my guy

The year of the defenceman was last year.

This year is the year of the forward.

Willander with the right development can very well be a second pairing defender, however, you’re passing up on a forward that probably has a higher ceiling.

Time will tell.
- Swedish_Jesus

Let's say high end forwards project to play top 9 in the NHL, for the Sabres, the NHL core that is signed or will be signed long term:

Skinner
Tuch
Tage
Peterka
Cozens
Quinn
Mitts (?)
Krebs (?)

That leaves 1 maybe 3 open slots...already in the system:

Kulich
Savoie
Ostlund
Rosen

The Sabres dcore:

Dahlin
Power
Samuelsson
(?)
?
?
?

In the system:

Johnson
Novikov
Komarov

Depth forwards signed long term:

0

In the system:

Rousek
Kozak
Nadeau

Goalies:

Levi
UPL (?)

In the system:

0



At what point as an organization do you take BPA at a position of need rather than the ranking high end forward?