Really? When the best thing about your goalies is the backups pads, you may have an issue…
- Gr8daygo

I think all sabres fans are fully aware that the plan for the year is to be as bad as possible while letting the kids grow and develop

When your goal is Shane Wright, the goaltending situation is perfect.
- Pegullaville

This is true….

I think all sabres fans are fully aware that the plan for the year is to be as bad as possible while letting the kids grow and develop
- dmarsden2988

So can I interest you in a olofson for wood deal? How’s your PP? I got a sniper that would help out bigly.

I’d like to see a veteran Center added to handle other teams top lines and just be out there to get caved in on a nightly basis.

We’ll see if that happens though.

Mitts and Cozens as 2C and 3C, eventually Cozens graduates to 2C within the next couple of years, is beneficial for both.
- Pegullaville

I suppose they could throw Vinnie out there to do that although it may make more sense to let Mitts and Cozens take their lumps and hopefully figure it out.

I also think Mittelstadt is ready, or at least as ready as he's ever going to be

When your goal is Shane Wright, the goaltending situation is perfect.
- Pegullaville

🏆🏆

39

"Allen was just off"

Yes , he just signed a huge 43 million per season and the "mvp" hype train was/is going full steam.

He missed 3 easy deep throws and looked overwhelmed in front of a giant home crowd.

Guys have bad games

I think we're going to see Girgs and Okposo play teams top lines most of the time.

Give the kids the lesser match ups to grow and learn a little easier.

I think we're going to see Girgs and Okposo play teams top lines most of the time.

Give the kids the lesser match ups to grow and learn a little easier.
- DirtyDan

Not sure about that. Donnie Meatballs purposefully played Cozens against Crosby two games in a row last year to get him some tough reps

Not sure about that. Donnie Meatballs purposefully played Cozens against Crosby two games in a row last year to get him some tough reps
- Hank Balling

Twas the end of the season. It's going to be a long one this year. With a lot of frustrations. I think it would be wise to let the Vets take on the big guns.

Hopefully Cozens hit the cardio cause he could barely last 40 games last year.

I suppose they could throw Vinnie out there to do that although it may make more sense to let Mitts and Cozens take their lumps and hopefully figure it out.

I also think Mittelstadt is ready, or at least as ready as he's ever going to be
- Hank Balling

I can agree with Mitts, I’d still try to shelter Cozens though.

Rolling 4 lines and letting what’s left of the “LOG” line handle heavy d-zone starts seems ideal

39

"Allen was just off"

Yes , he just signed a huge 43 million per season and the "mvp" hype train was/is going full steam.

He missed 3 easy deep throws and looked overwhelmed in front of a giant home crowd.

Guys have bad games
- Boss34

All of this. As for the deep ball, he has consistently been terrible any time he tries to throw a bomb when he has too much time. He overthrows it every time. He is much better at those throws when he is under duress and needs to throw the fastball.

Not sure about that. Donnie Meatballs purposefully played Cozens against Crosby two games in a row last year to get him some tough reps
- Hank Balling

Excellent blog Hank:

Although I've somewhat compared great28 and cozensons in the past.....

I'm worried about Dylan's actual goal.scoring ability. He has all the intangibles to be a well respected teammate and fan favorite..


The goal thing though...
Very girggie outlook, especially during ted 2 / tank2

Similar players, so far

Not sure about that. Donnie Meatballs purposefully played Cozens against Crosby two games in a row last year to get him some tough reps
- Hank Balling

Yep. Donnie has no qualms pushing those guys into hard minutes, if they show they can handle them. I do think, though, that there will be portions of the season that he eases up on them. Guess it'll depend how they're handling the schedule. There's no rookies this year so exhaustion should be less of an issue for guys like R2 and Cozens.

Maybe Eichel returns some rookies.

Not sure about that. Donnie Meatballs purposefully played Cozens against Crosby two games in a row last year to get him some tough reps
- Hank Balling

Adams hinted at that, as well. Definitely wants the kids in certain situations.

I can agree with Mitts, I’d still try to shelter Cozens though.

Rolling 4 lines and letting what’s left of the “LOG” line handle heavy d-zone starts seems ideal
- Pegullaville

Instead of LOG, how about HOG...?

Hayden, Okposo, Girgensons.

So can I interest you in a olofson for wood deal? How’s your PP? I got a sniper that would help out bigly.
- Gr8daygo

Devil's need a pure goal scorer and sniper both on the PP and 5v5 as I think it would do wonders for Hughes to have someone being able to put the puck in the net, devil's have playmakers but no one who really finishes

Problem is the devil's wouldn't really have anyone to stick up for their teammates in a fight other than graves and I guess you can include McLeod

If the devil's had others with a physical game I would be more interested

And holtz very well could be that guy on the PP soon

Yep. Donnie has no qualms pushing those guys into hard minutes, if they show they can handle them. I do think, though, that there will be portions of the season that he eases up on them. Guess it'll depend how they're handling the schedule. There's no rookies this year so exhaustion should be less of an issue for guys like R2 and Cozens.

Maybe Eichel returns some rookies.
- TheSabresTaco

Where would they be fitting with the Sabres current NHL roster?

Twas the end of the season. It's going to be a long one this year. With a lot of frustrations. I think it would be wise to let the Vets take on the big guns.

Hopefully Cozens hit the cardio cause he could barely last 40 games last year.
- DirtyDan

it's an extremely difficult transition for virtually all rookies. I'm certain he will come back in better shape. Hopefully he's on the prospect challenge roster. These guys can play on it throughout the entirety of their ELC I believe. But since Cozens basically played a 'full' season, he doesn't have to play.

Where would they be fitting with the Sabres current NHL roster?
- kingcong39

I made a big post about this the other day. In a few words.. it'll be hard.

All of this. As for the deep ball, he has consistently been terrible any time he tries to throw a bomb when he has too much time. He overthrows it every time. He is much better at those throws when he is under duress and needs to throw the fastball.
- Slump Buster

Good post.

Went to the game with my buddy , front row 50 yard line seats. The orginal #9 overall lifetime Bill's ticket holders seats. ( covid concerns).

Couldn't see everything , including punting distance and whether a field goal went thru or not. ( or whether bass pulled any of the actual field goals he made.)

What we could see: is how many defenders josh was throwing into. Plenty of triple coverage throws, some completed... seems like he had his mind made up to throw to certain receivers and not take the easy check down throw. Especially to beasley.

Steelers played great defense and their gameplan was to let josh throw for huge gains at home with a huge crowd.

He should have taken what the were given underneath.

Twas the end of the season. It's going to be a long one this year. With a lot of frustrations. I think it would be wise to let the Vets take on the big guns.

Hopefully Cozens hit the cardio cause he could barely last 40 games last year.
- DirtyDan

Very curious to see how much weight he gained. 188 last year but I assume he'll top out around 210 or 215 when he's fully developed

Where would they be fitting with the Sabres current NHL roster?
- kingcong39

From the other day:

Sabres are 2.3 under, trading jack is 12.3 under, signing Dahlin is let's say 6 under. Sending Hagg is 7.6 under. Sabres will be left with (jack not on roster today) 14F/6D/2G for 22 players. Includes R2, doesn't include MacInnis. Means they have room for 1 D. Conceivably they can send Hayden to Rochester and probably Eakin too, to make room for 2F's (one must be a C) and 1 D. However, demoting Eakin and Hayden sets you back to 10.6M, with a full roster. Bringing in those three ELCs kicks you up to -7.8. Means you need Brown, because they probably value Iafallo a lot more and it would hurt your return of prospects. The gymnastics involved here is pretty extraordinary. Keeping Eakin and Brown would let you execute the trade, but you'd have to keep whatever forwards you acquire down in Rochester until a subsequent move could be made.

Would be nice if they were actually working on something and Ek wasn't full of hot air.

I made a big post about this the other day. In a few words.. it'll be hard.
- TheSabresTaco

That's why I asked, because it's not easy and they have to contend with making the salary cap floor.

The easiest solution is taking a goaltender back in a trade with a short term, big salary.

Instead of LOG, how about HOG...?

Hayden, Okposo, Girgensons.
- kingcong39

Works with me.

Hayden can’t be any worse than Eakin

From the other day:

Sabres are 2.3 under, trading jack is 12.3 under, signing Dahlin is let's say 6 under. Sending Hagg is 7.6 under. Sabres will be left with (jack not on roster today) 14F/6D/2G for 22 players. Includes R2, doesn't include MacInnis. Means they have room for 1 D. Conceivably they can send Hayden to Rochester and probably Eakin too, to make room for 2F's (one must be a C) and 1 D. However, demoting Eakin and Hayden sets you back to 10.6M, with a full roster. Bringing in those three ELCs kicks you up to -7.8. Means you need Brown, because they probably value Iafallo a lot more and it would hurt your return of prospects. The gymnastics involved here is pretty extraordinary. Keeping Eakin and Brown would let you execute the trade, but you'd have to keep whatever forwards you acquire down in Rochester until a subsequent move could be made.

Would be nice if they were actually working on something and Ek wasn't full of hot air.
- TheSabresTaco

It's why Quick makes a lot of sense.

He only has 2 years left on his deal and he's only owed $5.5M combined in actual salary this season and next while his cap hit is nearly $6M. Plus, he has no trade clauses to worry about, and he's not very good either which won't impact the tank.