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rktkt66

rktkt66
Member Since
Jun. 11, 2018
Favourite Team
Buffalo Sabres
2nd Favourite Team
Edmonton Oilers
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Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 13 at 3:30 p.m.
Thread: Opening Night Roster
The defense pairings will be a hot topic all summer leading to training camp - at least, the bottom 2 pairings since Samuelsson-Dahlin looked perfect together last season. Granato loves Jokiharju so it's hard to see him drop to the 3rd pair ice time but, at same token, Power will get tested by other teams as a rookie they try to be physical on (like happened with Dahlin as a rookie) so having a physical partner like Lyubushkin to defend him has some logic. Leafs were hesitant to use Lyubushkin in top 4 role so it seems he'd be just as good a partner for the smaller, faster Bryson on 3rd pairing. Defensively, Bryson showed a lot more signs of needing someone to cover for his play than Power did.

Rest of the lineup looks realistic and what will likely happen (though I suspect, given his great showing at World Championships, Cozens may slot at LW rather than RW and, with his defensive awareness, be a better linemate for Krebs-Quinn. A 3rd line of Peterka-Mittelstadt-Olofsson looks good to me.

Depending on how camp goes, I do think we'll see UPL up fairly quick in NHL. Signing Anderson to be his mentor does no good when UPL is in Rochester; by Christmas, it could well be UPL-Comrie in the regular rotation and Anderson only filling in as spot duty (if he's healthy then).
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 13 at 3:23 p.m.
Thread: Opening Night Roster
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Buffalove</b></div><div>Then it would be a SMART move

Makes no sense at all to have Routsalainen sitting in the Press box in Buffalo when he could be PLAYING in Rochester</div></div>

I do worry what Ruotsalainen's (and Pilut's) mindsets will be now if the Sabres approach each for new deals - with Hinostroza and Bryson signed, it seems that Ruotsalainen would be destined to stay in the AHL, which he's said isn't his goal. Pilut apparently is OK with a 2-way deal and time in Rochester but I can't believe he'd want that to be forever - the best he seems likely to get now is being the 7th guy in Buffalo and press box resident. Hope neither walks away because both seem capable of making an impact at Sabres roster eventually.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 13 at 3:20 p.m.
Thread: Opening Night Roster
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Archarte</b></div><div>I don't think Kevin Adams is done yet. I think we have a slight chance of seeing James van Riemsdyk being traded over from Philly with a 1st round pick in 2023. Johnny G is still in the works for the Flyers and they will need to move that cap space. Buffalo is one of three potential trade partners to get that done.</div></div>

Like the failed trade with Ottawa that would have netted the 7th overall pick, I don't see the dream scenario of the JVR+1st rumor happening - especially with the Flyers right now at only $3M cap space left. If Gaudreau is seeking $10M+ as rumored, even if the Flyers dump JVR, they'd be right at the cap by adding him. But, heck, I'll take their 23' 1st anyday if they gift it to Buffalo for JVR's cap dump. Sabres would probably retain 50% on JVR and try to turn around and deal him elsewhere for a lower pick - they sure don't want to have him eat a roster spot that Quinn and Peterka should get.
Forum: Armchair-GMJul. 10 at 10:13 p.m.
Thread: Buffalos Big Leap Forward Take II
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Hockey_Hippy</b></div><div>Ok have not seen said Gibson rumours.

My feeling is that Buffalo is emerging from their rebuild and fast approaching the 'we really need to take them seriously' stage.

In terms of the Captaincy my feeling is Girgensons is the higher value vet there. He's a career Sabre.

Davidson takes Okposo because he gets rid of Kane's entire cap hit and gets Petrerka.</div></div>

While Girgensons has the longer tenure, he himself has pointed to looking up to Okposo's leadership.

One other note on the Gibson theories - Kypreos reported today that Gibson's agent said he won't play for Toronto either; Gibson wants to stay in Anaheim and will apparently use his NTC to force that just like Getzlaf did a few times.
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