In this nightcap some thoughts on what I believe is still needed to really secure this summer..thanks for watching 😎
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29 Comments
The 6’4 Russian Defensemen is impressing at development camp. Can’t wait to see what he does for Rochester this fall. He’s my dark horse to make the team 24-25
I'm over upl. He's 25. He's had his chance to take the starter role and I feel he hasn't. Move him before it's too late
I would 100% keep Lybushkin over Joki. Starting to become frustrated with Joki last season.
Inconsistency was a problem for UPL with the Amerks too
Wayne your Power Forwards are Greenway and Tuch Thompson upfront. Now Tuch and Thompson dont bring the big time physicalness so the projected guy to be is Greenway. He can score he does hit but needs to hit more . Will see how he forms up in Preseason. Hart Demko and Gibson they have the most friendly contracts. Hellebuyck is too much money wanting 9$ million per year. Those other 3 have good contracts that are no more than 4 years each so its good enough to have levi slowly ascend to the #1 spot. He is still a kid. UPL had his chance and he didnt totally live up to par. His side to side post to post is Atrocious. Olofsson is nothing but a 1 dimensional PP specialist. No Quinn til January Oloffson gets moved so who steps in Mittlstat? Move krebs up to the 3rd line center. Jost 4th line center. Soo as of Right now lines would be . Tuch Thompson Skinner. Cozens Peterka Mittlstat. Krebs Greenway Kulich? Savoie? . Girgensons Jost Okposo.
We are indeed only two players away … Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr!
My real concerns with UPL started late in the season when he suddenly became "Lehner-bad" during shoot outs. Couldn't stop a beachball and was getting faked out of every jock strap he was wearing at the time. Once that gets in your head it's almost impossible to get it out. It's like a good pitcher who suddenly can't find the strike zone and starts aiming the ball, throwing the ball in the dirt, throwing it over the catcher to the backstop, hitting batters, etc. Their done like dinner when that bug gets in their head.
love you wayne, never stop making vids.
UPL is a question mark.. he at least stayed mostly healthy this year.. I don't think Adams is done.. just because I believe he's going to be moving Victor Olofsson.. and maybe more. Victor is a scorer and many teams could use that.. but only on the PP is he effective. My also hope is that Clifton's style of play rubs off a bit.. gets the players on the team to see that hitting helps.. Would I love to see a banger RW… HELL YES.. but just a few guys starting to hit even as littler guys can help too. Put some more meat on Tage's frame and can you see what he would do.. eeeks.. Makes me think of a Forward version of that big guy that just retired last year.. Time will tell though… This team is young.. and have come up together.. that means, they've not been exposed to the hitting as much as the older guys… it's something they need to learn.. but also something you said last year rings true.. more often than not.. the team doing the most hitting.. is losing.. but I also see the need to bang around guys to maintain a lead as well.
Our defensive effort and breakdowns last year. Did our goaltending no favors. But with that said we definitely need a mentor for Levi. Share the crease and lose no ground.
Unfortunately I feel like were not going to get a goalie, we still might trade Ollie for a power forward though.
Go for a cup this year, trade for Hellebuyck play him just one year and who cares what we have to give up. Darcy was so cheap and never picked up spare D men for cup run, Adams better not make same mistakes. UPL wouldn’t even be a top goalie in 1980s with his stats.
Where do you play this power forward? It's maybe a little easier finding a spot with Quinn out a while. But especially if you want to use some amount of Rousek, Kulich, Savoie, Kozak, it's hard to see an obvious spot. Plus we have some grit and/or size throughout the lineup. Tuch, Cozens, Greenway, Tage, Zemgus, plus a big overall defense (with grit added in Clifton).
Wayne, what happened to the days, when it seemed every guy on the team could hit, drop em, and score ?
You got to package UPL , Olofsson, and Bryson for a goalie. Then trade a second round pick for a power forward. Then we are playoff competitive.
With the natural progression of Dahlin, Power, and Samuelsson coupled with bringing in Clifton and Johnson, I expect Buffalo's defense to be much better overall this season. So it's now or never for UPL to show he can be one of the goalies with Levi. This is going to be the best blueline he's ever played behind. If he has another sub-par season, then I would be convinced he's not the right goalie for us. But I hope he and Levi can take off on this team with a better defense.
Wayne, how likely is it that so many players having career years arent going to have regression next season?
We may miss the playoffs for that alone…..before Quinn was hurt.
There only a few generational goalies currently in the NHL. The rest are good/very good which means they can potentially have fluctuating years statistically or have a good regular season/ bad post season or bad regular season/ good post season. Conor of the Jets is not a generational goalie & hence is not worth more than $6mil per but at 30yo there is no way I would give more than 5 years on a extension. Stay the course with our current goalies unless the Sabres can acquire John Gibson (VO, UPL, 2024 2nd, conditional 2nd if Buffalo makes the conference finals in the next 2 seasons. Anaheim retains $1.4mil per). If Buffalo can move out VO even reacquiring Ullmark for a UPL & a 2024 2nd could be considered (that means 50/50 at best).
Upl is fine for a 1b goalie
Not making any excuses for UPL but remember he had double hip replacement ! With Quinn out I’m not sure Olafsson is traded yet. Might be worth waiting until the trade deadline
Well, you know. Last time I checked, the second coming of Bobby Clarke (in terms of playing style & overall greatness) aka Buffalo’s own Patrick Kane is still out there for the taking. A player I personally would sign in a heartbeat. Just putting it out there, though I know most of my fellow Sabres fans would disagree. Anyway to each his/her own, right? Thanks for the platform, Sir. Look forward to the tweaks you continue to make in order for this channel to grow, as well. All the best. Cheers!!!
if peterka works on his finishing ability this summer we will be fine, he average atleast 1 prime scoring chance every game and scored maybe 1:20. i also would like to see the first PP unit get be the prime unit getting close to 2 min. enough with the 60 second each.
Jokiharju has value on teams that need that first pass guy, bundle him up with Olofsson in a trade and adress your needs.
I totally get the concerns with UPL, consistency and injuries. He was still a rookie and maybe a late bloomer. A decent veteran starter with UPL as backup might help ease him in. Then Levi can step in and Buffalo can trade UPL for a decent return. 🤔 Someone like Gibson or Hart would be a good addition without ludicrous wages to match. 😊
Nick Ritchie?? Gawd no the leafs signed him a few years ago and he couldnt keep up with Tavares Matthews and Marner.
Greenway is suppose to be our power forward yes he didnt hit alot last spring but he was battling an injury. Hopefully the coaches will get Greenway and Tuch to be more physical this season ! I know Michael peca would get him to hit more but Adams let him go to the Rags! 🤬🤬.
Im wondering what Adams is doing with Olofsson ( last yr of a contract – work harder?) He was a spare forward late last yr, you cant pay a spare forward 4 plus million! So adams is either going to give him a chance now that Quinn is out until dec or he will trade him ,( my choice) in a package for a goalie or maybe Lawson Crouse?
Agreed , jokiharju and bryson have to go now that we have 9 d men now!
Thanks for the video wayne !
Jokiharu is too soft. We need more 40 grit sandpaper like players…e.g. Tuch
Go Sabres!!
Time to move on from UPL and get a veteran netminder.
Carolina was way better than us this year and they are adding to the team. Why should we settle with guys like Greenway when we could get a real player we already know can score and play tough?
Was just at sabres development camp and Mats Lingren really stood out he was better offensively than most forwards 😮 and always in the right place a real phenominal hockey player he looked better than Johnson a 1st rounder