Athletic gives the Sabres (1 of 8 nhl teams) a B+ for offseason.

Bozos around here 😭😭😭
- Boss34

I didn’t know you and Slump Buster were writers

The last thing you do when you have a Dahlin and Power is try to find ways to take minutes away from. This is the most flawed strategy I've seen in a long time and literally has been employed but nobody in the history of the NHL. Dahlin and Power will get their 24 minutes and will be fine with it. Who is paired with them for those 24 minutes will be a mix and match. Sammy will get the majority with Dahlin while Power's partner will vary
- turbo044

Exactly how are you taking away minutes from Dahlin and Power, especially if you see them paired together more. Means there using those 2 to effectively manage Clifton and Johnson's ice time. If anything if Clifton and Johnson can't handle more than 17min you are probably adding even strength time to Dahlin and Power or Samuelsson which in Samuelsson case might not be a good thing with his injury issues.

Athletic gives the Sabres (1 of 8 nhl teams) a B+ for offseason.

Bozos around here 😭😭😭
- Boss34

When did Sean Duffy and Rachel Campos start writing for the Athletic?

I didn’t know you and Slump Buster were writers
- sbroads24

they guy that gave them the B+ is a sabres homer

Buffalo Sabres: B+
The Sabres added two defensemen in Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton who make them a much deeper team on the blue line. Don Granato now has a lot more options when it comes to mixing and matching his defensive pairs in certain situations. The Sabres also tried to add a forward but have been unable to do so to this point. That’s the only thing keeping this grade from being a bit higher. But defense was the priority, and the Sabres added two strong pieces. — Matthew Fairburn

I didn’t know you and Slump Buster were writers
- sbroads24

Slumps one of my alt accounts 😉

I have the Sabres at a solid "B" not a B+.

They improved 2 spots on defense and kept the defensive forwards together for another year.
Good moves. Efficient and effective off season so far.

I'd give the Sabres a "C" if they trade for gibson.

Would be a terrible move. He's useless.

They allowed hitting in Toronto…

https://twitter.com/tlndc...&t=hqR9TYIpzRsCOAnvTWKdTw

Athletic gives the Sabres (1 of 8 nhl teams) a B+ for offseason.

Bozos around here 😭😭😭
- Boss34

It was the Sabres beat writer who gave them the B+, and to use his words:

>>> The Sabres also tried to add a forward but have been unable to do so to this point. That’s the only thing keeping this grade from being a bit higher.

With no mention of goaltending being an issue that needed addressing, I'm going to disagree on the B+.

It was the Sabres beat writer who gave them the B+, and to use his words:

>>> The Sabres also tried to add a forward but have been unable to do so to this point. That’s the only thing keeping this grade from being a bit higher.

With no mention of goaltending being an issue that needed addressing, I'm going to disagree on the B+.
- kingcong39

Everyone has a different outlook. I find that I can get behind a lot of different opinions as-long as the piece is well thought out and the writer is thorough in their thought process. I just think it’s too early to be handing out grades.

In the Atlantic:

Boston - signed Lucic
Toronto - signed Reaves
Tampa - traded for Jeannot
Florida - signed Lomberg*
Buffalo - N/A - you could try to argue signing Johnson but he has concussion issues similar to Okposo
Ottawa - signed MacEwen
Detroit - N/A
Montreal - drafted Xhekaj

The narrative hockey is trending away from toughness is wrong.

They allowed hitting in Toronto…

https://twitter.com/tlndc...&t=hqR9TYIpzRsCOAnvTWKdTw
- washedup20

That worked out well

In the Atlantic:

Boston - signed Lucic
Toronto - signed Reaves
Tampa - traded for Jeannot
Florida - signed Smith
Buffalo - N/A - you could try to argue signing Johnson but he has concussion issues similar to Okposo
Ottawa - signed MacEwen
Detroit - N/A
Montreal - drafted Xhekaj

The narrative hockey is trending away from toughness is wrong.
- washedup20

I'm all for toughness but these guys stink. If they try to line em up against either of the Sabres top two lines, it's gonna be a bloodbath, and it won't be the Sabres bleeding

I'm all for toughness but these guys stink. If they try to line em up against either of the Sabres top two lines, it's gonna be a bloodbath, and it won't be the Sabres bleeding
- Hank Balling

Agreed, I’m pointing out that teams are investing and focusing on it, specifically in the division.

That worked out well
- IndianaSabresFan

It was a good hit, dumb, but good hit.

It was a good hit, dumb, but good hit.
- washedup20

Agreed. But for a development camp that is just stupid. Kids career could be over because of a camp.

In the Atlantic:

Boston - signed Lucic
Toronto - signed Reaves
Tampa - traded for Jeannot
Florida - signed Lomberg*
Buffalo - N/A - you could try to argue signing Johnson but he has concussion issues similar to Okposo
Ottawa - signed MacEwen
Detroit - N/A
Montreal - drafted Xhekaj

The narrative hockey is trending away from toughness is wrong.
- washedup20

Outside of Lomberg all those guys suck ass. Lucic is 47 years old can't skate, and is utterly washed, ditto Reaves, Jeannot filed for arbitration and turned into a pumpkin when went from 24 goals to 6 in just 5 fewer games played, who the fück is MacEwan?, WiFi is a young kid still but his numbers aren't great.

Toughness is all fine and good, but there has to be an element of skill to go with it. I'd take Lomberg on this team every day at $800K, what a steal; at least in comparison to Girglesons who makes three times as much and brings less than half what Lomberg does.

Will Borgen signs a two-year $2.7M AAV deal with the Seattle Kraken.

Outside of Lomberg all those guys suck ass. Lucic is 47 years old can't skate, and is utterly washed, ditto Reaves, Jeannot filed for arbitration and turned into a pumpkin when went from 24 goals to 6 in just 5 fewer games played, who the fück is MacEwan?, WiFi is a young kid still but his numbers aren't great.

Toughness is all fine and good, but there has to be an element of skill to go with it. I'd take Lomberg on this team every day at $800K, what a steal; at least in comparison to Girglesons who makes three times as much and brings less than half what Lomberg does.
- Wetbandit1

While correct in everything you just said, those players, whose sole objective is to insert fear into the opponents are now on majority of the divisional rivals rosters.

These players while individually bad will embolden the rest of the locker room to loosen up and play confident, at least that is the intention of said role players.

***adding to this, would you prefer a player with similar qualities in the Sabres lineup or do you feel more confident with Girgs and Okposo?

Will Borgen signs a two-year $2.7M AAV deal with the Seattle Kraken.
- Lunaion

Yeah, heard that Yesterday

While correct in everything you just said, those players, whose sole objective is to insert fear into the opponents are now on majority of the divisional rivals rosters.

These players while individually bad will embolden the rest of the locker room to loosen up and play confident, at least that is the intention of said role players.

***adding to this, would you prefer a player with similar qualities in the Sabres lineup or do you feel more confident with Girgs and Okposo?
- washedup20

The Sabres played extremely confident last season with just those 2.

The Sabres played extremely confident last season with just those 2.
- joshs

- GM admits they got bullied
- Cozens admits to playing tight
- they choke in March

All these players are cheaper the both Girgs and Okposo…and its only 1 year deals so whatever (am I doing that right). The intangibles those bring are needed in the lineup of Buffalo

The Sabres played extremely confident last season with just those 2.
- joshs

With them or in spite of them?

With them or in spite of them?
- TheHank

Dang! Good point 👍

While correct in everything you just said, those players, whose sole objective is to insert fear into the opponents are now on majority of the divisional rivals rosters.

These players while individually bad will embolden the rest of the locker room to loosen up and play confident, at least that is the intention of said role players.

***adding to this, would you prefer a player with similar qualities in the Sabres lineup or do you feel more confident with Girgs and Okposo?
- washedup20

I would take Girgensons and Okposo over all of them but Lomberg. The rest are all worse net negatives.

Edit: also, are we forgetting they signed Clifton? He threw 208 hits last year 101 more than the closest Sabres player

- GM admits they got bullied
- Cozens admits to playing tight
- they choke in March

All these players are cheaper the both Girgs and Okposo…and its only 1 year deals so whatever (am I doing that right). The intangibles those bring are needed in the lineup of Buffalo
- washedup20

Yeah that is certainly valid

Escrow has just destroyed the off-season. Had a feeling it was gonna be bad this off-season but it's really been slower than expected. See if Adams has it in him to bring in a nice piece here as the off-season ends. Might be the next time we see activity as teams figure there cap out.