Agree. This is/was a prime year to make a move, especially with many top guys settle it for 1 year deals. Could have added 2 big names on short term deals and positioned our selves as legitimate contenders. Roster as it sits is marginally better, which puts us at fringe wildcard
- lulags

the worst part


there is only 1 spot for a kid to try to claim on the big club once training camp opens, quinns

Samuelssons injury history worries me in the scenario, but surly Clifton is capable of handling an extra few minutes a game if he gets hurt
- lulags

Yeah, so is Johnson’s with his head. That's why I think you will see a lot of rotation in the 1st Part of the year until they figure out Clifton.

the worst part


there is only 1 spot for a kid to try to claim on the big club once training camp opens, quinns
- homiedclown

I mean we wouldn’t be using a kid in a shutdown role regardless.

So the only player you can realistically be upset that is taking a role from a kid is Greenway (who incidentally is the one buy transaction Adams has made).

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t

the worst part


there is only 1 spot for a kid to try to claim on the big club once training camp opens, quinns
- homiedclown

Yes, there was zero reason to sign Okposo, Jost. Think of the guys who got signed for $3-4mil on one year deals.
We could have had MAJOR upgrades

I mean we wouldn’t be using a kid in a shutdown role regardless.

So the only player you can realistically be upset that is taking a role from a kid is Greenway (who incidentally is the one buy transaction Adams has made).

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t
- Swedish_Jesus

I disagree. We are not a shutdown team. Worst PK in the league is not shutdown, and Okposo, Jost, Girgensons played most of the time on Pk. Girgensons I’m fine with. Plenty of young guys who could fill 4th line time and PK min. Also plenty of guys who were available for not much more money that would have been substantial upgrades from Okposo and Jost

Yes, there was zero reason to sign Okposo, Jost. Think of the guys who got signed for $3-4mil on one year deals.
We could have had MAJOR upgrades
- lulags

Who were the major upgrades ?

The free agent market was the worst in decades.

Bertuzzi and Duchene were never going to sign here.

The major upgrades would come in the trade market that hasn’t really materialized

I disagree. We are not a shutdown team. Worst PK in the league is not shutdown, and Okposo, Jost, Girgensons played most of the time on Pk. Girgensons I’m fine with. Plenty of young guys who could fill 4th line time and PK min. Also plenty of guys who were available for not much more money that would have been substantial upgrades from Okposo and Jost
- lulags

That doesn't get pointed out enough. Donnie doesn't really use them as a shutdown line. He's not that into matchups.

Who were the major upgrades ?

The free agent market was the worst in decades.

Bertuzzi and Duchene were never going to sign here.

The major upgrades would come in the trade market that hasn’t really materialized
- Swedish_Jesus

Players who signed 1 year deals 5ish mil or less

Bertuzzi, Zucker, Tarasenko, pacioretty, Brown, Domi, Duchene, Sprong, Blueger, Yamamoto, Lucic,McLeod, Poehling

Top half are more than Jost, Okposo. Second half are less

That doesn't get pointed out enough. Donnie doesn't really use them as a shutdown line. He's not that into matchups.
- Lunaion

We also have the highest paid 4th line in the league, still. And we could have fixed that.
You would think with a 7plus million 4th line we would have an expectation of not being bottom 1/4 of the league in PK

Calf tear for burrow? That’s a tough injury. You’re like hey everything feels great, get a 1/4 mile into your run and pop.

not sure why this is not the norm, per espn

For the first time in his six-year NFL career, Jackson is no longer wearing a wristband with all the Ravens offensive plays written on it. Todd Monken, who is in his first season as the team's offensive coordinator, wanted Jackson to make the change.

"One of the most important things is your ability to communicate the calls, and the best way for that to happen is to not start with wristbands," Monken said Friday. "He [Jackson] has to hear what I say; he has to process the call; he has to regurgitate to the players; he has to get the cadence."

This is the latest wrinkle under Monken, who joined the Ravens after calling plays for two-time national champion Georgia. During this offseason, Jackson said the new offense will allow him to throw the ball more and give him more freedom to change plays at the line of scrimmage.

Earlier this week, Jackson revealed that he's not wearing a wristband because Monken wants him to "call it and haul it."

https://buffalowdown.com/...raining-camp-01h6fxwm1gmw
Good stuff!

in the 4 games the sabres allowed 31 goals to the pred, bruins, bruins and stars

bush was -1


I bet adams sits on his hands and donnie rotates joker, bush and clifton in and out for those 2 spots

they all want to be here
- homiedclown

Possible. I see him wanting Clifton to be FT with Power while rotating Joker/Boosh and Johnson at the 5/6. The 8 D we have (not counting Bryson) also gives us much better depth when injuries occur. I actually like Stillman more than most.

Possible. I see him wanting Clifton to be FT with Power while rotating Joker/Boosh and Johnson at the 5/6. The 8 D we have (not counting Bryson) also gives us much better depth when injuries occur. I actually like Stillman more than most.
- turbo044

That's 3 right shots.

Think there's some merit to the idea that they might run a right shot on all 3 pairs and they care about R/L a lot more than they let on.

That's 3 right shots.

Think there's some merit to the idea that they might run a right shot on all 3 pairs and they care about R/L a lot more than they let on.
- Lunaion

Dahlin Clifton
Power Johnson
Samuelsson Lyubushkin/Joker
Samuelsson can take shifts with Dahlin to lesson Clifton's minutes, should be 2 shifts a period which is about 3 minutes a game. And then Power and Dahlin can help with Johnson.

Dahlin Clifton
Power Johnson
Samuelsson Lyubushkin/Joker
Samuelsson can take shifts with Dahlin to lesson Clifton's minutes, should be 2 shifts a period which is about 3 minutes a game. And then Power and Dahlin can help with Johnson.
- Buff36

It's Buffalo, don't discount Dahlin-Joker. If you keep some of these guys around, Donnie will play them more than you'd like.

Dahlin Clifton
Power Johnson
Samuelsson Lyubushkin/Joker
Samuelsson can take shifts with Dahlin to lesson Clifton's minutes, should be 2 shifts a period which is about 3 minutes a game. And then Power and Dahlin can help with Johnson.
- Buff36

I get the RHD/LHD thing but I don't see him splitting up sammi and Dahlin. Also, rotating in Sami with Dahlin isn't as easy as saying "he can just play 2 or 3 shifts with Dahlin a period." In doing that you have to make sure Sammi skips his shift with Boosh and Joker so he can play with Dahlin. But....who knows what KA and Granato are thinking?? I'd like them to trade Joker for something but KA seems to like him more than he should.

It's Buffalo, don't discount Dahlin-Joker. If you keep some of these guys around, Donnie will play them more than you'd like.
- Lunaion

Did Granato play Joker at all with Dahlin last year, I can't remember? Maybe when Sammi was hurt?

I get the RHD/LHD thing but I don't see him splitting up sammi and Dahlin. Also, rotating in Sami with Dahlin isn't as easy as saying "he can just play 2 or 3 shifts with Dahlin a period." In doing that you have to make sure Sammi skips his shift with Boosh and Joker so he can play with Dahlin. But....who knows what KA and Granato are thinking?? I'd like them to trade Joker for something but KA seems to like him more than he should.
- turbo044

Really not that hard, just start them together after a whistle or TV Commercial break.

It's Buffalo, don't discount Dahlin-Joker. If you keep some of these guys around, Donnie will play them more than you'd like.
- Lunaion

Well until I am highly surprised and Adams moves one, I hope I don't see that.

It's Buffalo, don't discount Dahlin-Joker. If you keep some of these guys around, Donnie will play them more than you'd like.
- Lunaion

last 2 years under donnie

joker got 21 and a half minutes of ice time per game


people act like he got 16 minutes per game

last 2 years under donnie

joker got 21 and a half minutes of ice time per game


people act like he got 16 minutes per game
- homiedclown

A big part of that is because he played with Power and he didn’t trust the third pair.

A big part of that is because he played with Power and he didn’t trust the third pair.
- Swedish_Jesus

I would hope trusting the 3rd pair would not mean less minutes for Power.

I would hope trusting the 3rd pair would not mean less minutes for Power.
- kingcong39

I mean shaving a couple minutes wouldn’t be the end of the world. He was around tops in the league in even strength minutes in the league the past year IIRC.

I mean shaving a couple minutes wouldn’t be the end of the world. He was around tops in the league in even strength minutes in the league the past year IIRC.
- Swedish_Jesus

first overall picks on D should be playing 23 minutes a night, not 20

unless your name is erik johnson