Not sure if posted.

https://theathletic.com/4...ailyemail&campaign=601983

Buffalo Sabres
2022-23 record: 42-33-7, 91 points

The best case for major improvements: Buffalo is the second straight team to make this list due to its potential to meet the “young players aging into greatness” criterion. Consider the following:

Tage Thompson showed what a unique force he can be two seasons ago. Then, when we doubted the sustainability of Thompson’s 38-goal season in last year’s piece, he scored 47 and added 47 assists to take things to another level.
Dylan Cozens is still only 22 but scored 68 points in 81 games last year while generating a ton of scoring chances.
Rasmus Dahlin is only 23 and drives play at both ends of the rink.
Owen Power is 20 and scored 35 points as a teenager without getting caved in scoring-chance-wise at his end of the rink.
Thompson is fun to talk about because of his unique combination of size, hands and creativity but it’s tough to see him pushing past the 94-point production he already hit one year ago. Cozens, Dahlin and Power are still very much on the upswing, though — as are Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka and Peyton Krebs, if you’re looking for a second wave of talent after the potential elites. (Quinn tore his Achilles in June, mind you, and will miss the start of the season.)

It also seems fitting that the youngest team in the NHL will turn to a 21-year-old goaltender, Devon Levi, in an attempt to cut down on the 297 goals it gave up last season. Offensive breakthroughs are one thing but the single best thing that could happen to the Sabres would be Levi arriving as an impact player in goal in his first full season. It’s a big ask but Levi is a phenomenal prospect. He’s also joining a team that got 52 games of sub-.900 save percentage goaltending from Eric Comrie and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen last season. Levi could swing things in Buffalo’s favour just by matching his own seven games’ worth of performance at the end of last season.

Just normal criticism.

The over the top defense is more ridiculous to me.
- Lunaion

Normal criticism 😀😀😀

Over the top defense?

We improved 16 points after gutting our team of the captain and other "core" guys. The return picks havent even had a chance to play yet.

epic fail


seems some people are use to participation trophies


- homiedclown

Well these are the same people who expect a Stanley cup at some point but don't want to admit it takes more than stockpiling high picks to get there

The core is pretty much set with plenty of prospects to slide in on ELC over the next few years. Too many in fact

It surely will be an interesting trade deadline if we are in the mix. There can be no excuses for adams to let the team flounder in March again

If dahlin doesn't sign a max extension, expect him to be shopped.

Maybe dahlin for petterrsson plus


You're in or out

Overstacked lol you're one of the ones who pretends there aren't upgrades to be made on this roster too I see

Its a young man's game and I expect them to be better this year because that's how sports works. If they aren't better it is 100% because the GM didn't do enough
- ieetbred

Last time I tried this exercise, the biggest names that were moved this offseason that we didn't acquire were Jeff Petry and Casey DeSmith. Unless something has changed, Adams didn't miss out on many upgrades, no. There are certainly upgrades to be had, but none that I've seen that would've turned us into a guaranteed playoff team. I'm happy to be corrected if I missed someone, Karlsson is the only one that potentially could've helped and he was not coming here, his agent even said the list of "contenders" he was considering was short.

If dahlin doesn't sign a max extension, expect him to be shopped.

Maybe dahlin for petterrsson plus


You're in or out
- Boss34

I'm okay with 6 years. I understand KA is digging in his heals a bit, but what makes you think it's all or nothing out of curiosity?

If dahlin doesn't sign a max extension, expect him to be shopped.

Maybe dahlin for petterrsson plus


You're in or out
- Boss34

Dahlin signs a 5yr 52.5mill deal to stay with Buffalo is my take.

Last time I tried this exercise, the biggest names that were moved this offseason that we didn't acquire were Jeff Petry and Casey DeSmith. Unless something has changed, Adams didn't miss out on many upgrades, no. There are certainly upgrades to be had, but none that I've seen that would've turned us into a guaranteed playoff team. I'm happy to be corrected if I missed someone, Karlsson is the only one that potentially could've helped and he was not coming here, his agent even said the list of "contenders" he was considering was short.
- QuinnFan

Somebody loves kyvyn adams........

Good post. Very reasonable

Normal criticism 😀😀😀

Over the top defense?

We improved 16 points after gutting our team of the captain and other "core" guys. The return picks havent even had a chance to play yet.
- Boss34

You're inventing a scenario to defend the the GM from complaints over. It's been happening regularly here. It's next level white knighting.

Can't defend the summer he had, so create a way to deflect and defend.

I'm okay with 6 years. I understand KA is digging in his heals a bit, but what makes you think it's all or nothing out of curiosity?
- QuinnFan

I heard it's not going well, the contract extension.

5 years is not "I love the city of buffalo ".
Not vibey at all....


And I completely understand why dahlin would want 5 years. He's uniquely has so much upside vs the tage deal.

Last time I tried this exercise, the biggest names that were moved this offseason that we didn't acquire were Jeff Petry and Casey DeSmith. Unless something has changed, Adams didn't miss out on many upgrades, no. There are certainly upgrades to be had, but none that I've seen that would've turned us into a guaranteed playoff team. I'm happy to be corrected if I missed someone, Karlsson is the only one that potentially could've helped and he was not coming here, his agent even said the list of "contenders" he was considering was short.
- QuinnFan

Guys traded, or players linked to the Sabres. Does this include FA's

You're inventing a scenario to defend the the GM from complaints over. It's been happening regularly here. It's next level white knighting.

Can't defend the summer he had, so create a way to deflect and defend.
- Lunaion

Grab a bogo of tissues with ieatbread.

Nobody has made significant moves that I'm jealous of.

It's been a boring summer

Dahlin signs a 5yr 52.5mill deal to stay with Buffalo is my take.
- Buff36

I'm not sure if I'm seeing a 5 year deal. Just my opinion.

No way it hits 10 million if so....

5 for 42.5

I heard it's not going well, the contract extension.

5 years is not "I love the city of buffalo ".
Not vibey at all....


And I completely understand why dahlin would want 5 years. He's uniquely has so much upside vs the tage deal.
- Boss34

If Adams loses Dahlin because of 5 years isn't Vibey enough for the City. He should be fired.

Well these are the same people who expect a Stanley cup at some point but don't want to admit it takes more than stockpiling high picks to get there

The core is pretty much set with plenty of prospects to slide in on ELC over the next few years. Too many in fact

It surely will be an interesting trade deadline if we are in the mix. There can be no excuses for adams to let the team flounder in March again
- ieetbred

We went from nothing in the cupboards to not having enough cupboards...

Grab a bogo of tissues with ieatbread.

Nobody has made significant moves that I'm jealous of.

It's been a boring summer
- Boss34

Wasn't this the summer of no excuses?

I'm not sure if I'm seeing a 5 year deal. Just my opinion.

No way it hits 10 million if so....

5 for 42.5
- Boss34

That's not even 9mill Avv

Dahlin signs a 5yr 52.5mill deal to stay with Buffalo is my take.
- Buff36

8 year contracts shouldnt even be allowed. To frankin long.

5-6yrs should be the max. A lot more movement would do the nHL some good

That's not even 9mill Avv
- Buff36

Why would he take that kind of discount?

Grab a bogo of tissues with ieatbread.

Nobody has made significant moves that I'm jealous of.

It's been a boring summer
- Boss34

The other side of the aisle likes to forget the work that has had to be put in. Like we werent a pile of rubbish when KA took over.

You just suggested 95 points, which could easily miss the playoffs.
- Lunaion

Outside of last year you needed to be 100+ to get in.

Boston steamrolling everyone in the regular season lowered that number.

Why would he take that kind of discount?
- Lunaion

🤷‍♂️

The other side of the aisle likes to forget the work that has had to be put in. Like we werent a pile of rubbish when KA took over.
- DirtyDan

Nope we see that. We’ve all admitted Adams has done great at stockpiling prospects.

He’s also had chances to make upgrades and has failed to do so.

It’s the same roster that everyone says “overachieved” last year. So if they overachieved as y’all say, shouldn’t there be a regression to the norm?

Wasn't this the summer of no excuses?
- Lunaion

Maybe for you.

It was the summer of expected, for anyone that pays attention.


All the sudden you thought KA was gonna gut the team 😀

If dahlin doesn't sign a max extension, expect him to be shopped.

Maybe dahlin for petterrsson plus


You're in or out
- Boss34

Makes sense. Allows KA to milk the rebuild another few years.

He’s in the business of job security. Not winning.

Gonna be great when the new owner cans him