Enough of what? 1st round picks playing against younger players and lower level prospects?

Let's see how training camp and pre-season goes...

I think Savoie could earn at least 9 NHL games.

Johnson most likely starts in the AHL, but could work his way up this season.

I think that the speed of Savoie would fit very well with that line and he could stick with them until Quinn is back.
As for Johnson, he can play 9 games and see if he can stick, too.

Johnson was a college player, I thought the 9 game thing was for guys from juniors. They can get a 9 game look, but then they either have to go back to juniors, or stay up with the big club- which burns a year off of their entry level contract. Johnson completed his 4 years at university of Minnesota, he actually could have left as a ufa, but he signed here anyways. He's eligible to go to the ahl, which is likely where he will play.

Ok, my mistake.
But as for forward position - I think it will be between Savoie or Rousek. Kulich and Rosen should remain in the AHL and dominate there.

For the offense, I'd prefer Kulich over Olofsson. Kulich possesses an equally impressive shot, but I believe he can cover the entire ice more effectively than Olofsson. The line combinations look solid. The middle six appear flexible, and honestly, even the top nine seem interchangeable. It might be a good idea to occasionally let Krebs move up and have Jost take on the role of the 4th line center. Who he replaces is who ever is having a bad couple of games.

On defense, it might be beneficial to give Johnston a taste of the NHL. However, he should gain some experience and hone his skills in the AHL for the majority of the year.

I think the Thee most likely to make the team are Kulich, Johnson and Rousek

I was hoping savoie would get an exemption so he could play in the ahl, he missed the cutoff by literally one day. Shane Wright got the exemption I believe. Its a stupid rule (it's meant to keep talented juniors players in juniors, they have to sell seats too, but I hope in 2029 they fix it so first round picks can play in the ahl), I mean savoie doesn't have anything left to prove in juniors. Of course savoie just got hurt in the prospects game, hoping it's not the same shoulder injury that (sort of) limited him last year. I can imagine rousek as 13th forward, it would be a good look for a team that wants to reward players for their work.

i think johnson should be given a look in the nhl. he needs to learn to be a 3rd pair nhl defenseman who can kill penalties. he can do that in rochester but i think he needs to get any time they were planning to give stillman or bryson. if bryson clears waivers, maybe try him at forward in rochester.

I don’t see us bringing a kid up unless that kid is actually gonna play
Kinda pointless to sit him in the pressbox

I don’t see that at all
Rochester is loaded at forward
If Bryson clears waivers, i definitely see him on defense in the AHL

Exactly.

I am guessing the Sabres start the season with 12F 8D 3G.

You can never have enough D.
I think Comrie sticks until if/when Levi & UPL prove they can carry the load. He might even stay anyway.
Levi can be a "paper transaction" when he's not playing, or even play in ROC.

And we have tons of waiver-exempt Fs that can easily come up for a cup of tea, or longer, and be sent down again if necessary.

I just don't see any room on the roster for any of our young Fs (or D) to start the season.

I don't think he would be in the press box for long. Guys get hurt, tweak things, get in the coach's doghouse, etc. It looks like rouseks minor league salary is 125k, and his nhl salary is 775k. I believe that would be a significant incentive to make the nhl roster, even as the 13th forward. Again, if the team is serious about rewarding hard work, i can see it. And he's listed as waivers exempt.

Ryan Johnson has some exceptional traits, most notably his skating ability. He also sees the ice very well.

That said, Amerks coach Seth Appert said that he won't be using Johnson on the powerplay, as that won't be his role in Buffalo with Dahlin and Power controlling the PP. He also said that Johnson needs to focus on his side of the blueline, which needs some work as shown in the Prospects Challenge, and I think they'll be using him on his off side like they did in the tournament. That will take some time for him to adjust.

There's no need to rush him. Let him get a full year in the AHL to acclimate to the Sabres and his role with some call-ups to give him a taste. If all goes well there will be a spot for him after E. Johnson is gone.

The reason he’s waiver exempt is exactly why he gets sent down
That way he can play in Rochester while he’s waiting for someone to get hurt, etc

And then can easily be called up whenever,
as Rochester is so close