Good question - Call me crazy, but I think he's more NHL ready RIGHT NOW than any our prospects, including Rousek, Kulich and Savoie. Not by a lot but he'd fit in the 3rd line very well right now. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets the 9 game tryout (as Savoie will), and outperforms Savoie. Realistically, I think he's sent back to Juniors, dominates there and at the under 20s, and is a full time Sabre in 2024/25, an inch taller and 10 pounds heavier/stronger. He absolutely projects top 6. I see him on Cozens line. Imagine what a bltch it would be playing against a line of Cozens-Benson-Peterka? That line is 110% effort every shift. - turbo044
If some of the if's in Sabres prospect land go the way desired then in 2 years it will be great.
I actually agree with this, this was the 1st draft that was taken into consideration when drafting.
The past 2 drafts along with the NHL rosters that were built, were soft. The Sabres today are still in hope one of these guys turns into what they need phase. - washedup20
I mean with your first round pick you should be reaching for the stars no ?
Shouldn’t be using a top 10 or top 15 pick on a guy you only envision on playing in your bottom 6.
Benson and Savoie have top 6 caliber upside, in Bensons case I think he’s a perfect Skinner replacing on the top line in three years.
Not to mention, Tage is 6’7, Tuch is 6’4, Cozens is 6’2, Greenway is 6’6, Skinner is 5’11.
I don't know if it necessarily dawned on them this year, but they publicly stated they wanted, and have actively sought, players who are more difficult to play against. Every outside acquisition (draft, trade, UFA) since the TDL has taken this particular issue into account. - TheSabresTaco
Anal-lick-ticks should be secondary to the eye test to assess that quality.
Hence why even without Gerbe’s sources it makes too much sense that trades are coming.
The math doesn’t add up with the amount of d-men and goaltenders we have under contract.
With the forwards Rousek/Kulich/Savoie/Benson all have AHL/WHL eligibility once Quinn comes back. - Swedish_Jesus
It made sense, but here we are in mid-July. Just have to hope that a big trade or two opens up a bit of secondary market. It does not seem like they are in on anything big.
Location: For me. jack Eichel is bobby ryan….that's it. - Octavarium, NY Joined: 05.05.2011
Jul 12 @ 2:24 PM ET
He wasn't offered a QO, so I see the opposite. KA looked at the options and went back to Clague after. - Lunaion
I don't believe that. You don't not offer a QO to a player just to sign him a few days later. If he wanted him gone, it's really easy to sign one in a billion tweener NHL defensemen.
I mean with your first round pick you should be reaching for the stars no ?
Shouldn’t be using a top 10 or top 15 pick on a guy you only envision on playing in your bottom 6.
Benson and Savoie have top 6 caliber upside, in Bensons case I think he’s a perfect Skinner replacing on the top line in three years.
Not to mention, Tage is 6’7, Tuch is 6’4, Cozens is 6’2, Greenway is 6’6, Skinner is 5’11.
I don’t think the Sabres have an issue with size. - Swedish_Jesus
The Sabres also had 2 1OA's and picked defensemen, Dahlin is turning into his own version of Karlsson, wouldn't it be great if Power went full Pronger?
Location: For me. jack Eichel is bobby ryan….that's it. - Octavarium, NY Joined: 05.05.2011
Jul 12 @ 2:27 PM ET
As a tweener, it's in the player's best interest to see what's available to him in free agency. Finding a full time job on an NHL roster was his priority. No reason to sign a QO, he's pretty much getting minimum wage and a one year deal regardless.
Guarantee he said if there's no full time NHL jobs out there, I'll come back for a 2way. That process took 4 days
If some of the if's in Sabres prospect land go the way desired then in 2 years it will be great. - washedup20
Or in 2 months
Reasons for optimism:
-bottom 4 defense should be significantly better - it's hard to explain how bad Bryson was and Joker was for most of the time
-no reason for kids to take another step forward - Levi, Power, Quinn (albeit the injury) Peterka, Cozens, Kulich, Rousek or Savoie (whomever sticks), even Jost
-Dahlin, Sammy and Tage hopefully healthier this year?
-Levi
-PK has to be better, Johnson is solid on PK and Clifton was #1 in the league
-Hope there's more moves to come
Reasons for pessimism:
-We were relatively injury free last year
-Regression from the Tage line? not a sure thing but could happen as all had career years.
-UPL/Comrie
-92 points got you in the playoffs last year, it won't in most years
-Defense is vastly improved, but still no clear cut partner for Power
I don't believe that. You don't not offer a QO to a player just to sign him a few days later. If he wanted him gone, it's really easy to sign one in a billion tweener NHL defensemen. - TheSabresTaco
They didn't qualify Jost and then offered him a deal a few days later...?
I don't believe that. You don't not offer a QO to a player just to sign him a few days later. If he wanted him gone, it's really easy to sign one in a billion tweener NHL defensemen. - TheSabresTaco
That's what they did.
Seems pretty common that they just didn't want to mess around with arbitration, but I'd bet both sides looked at their options before he resigned.
I've been saying the same thing for over 6 momths now and this pretty much how it's happened up to this point, why are people still complaining. - SABRES 89
