Dean Letourneau isn't even in the group after that group..
- DirtyDan

Part of that is where he plays. Guys in lesser league's usually slide a bit because they're more of an unknown. Personally, I'd watched a tiny bit of him as I was hoping he'd be there in the 2nd for us. He's kind of high risk, high reward to me, what did you think?

Playing top line minutes and special teams, is he getting that in Buffalo?

What does his role look like on the third line in the NHL?
- washedup20

I could see Quinn going to 1st line if Tuch moves on/slows, and Rosen being the perfect guy for Cozens tbh.

But if he gets no PP time and is on the 3rd line, that's a really good situation for us. He will help with depth scoring, which is something we desperately need to get back.

Part of that is where he plays. Guys in lesser league's usually slide a bit because they're more of an unknown. Personally, I'd watched a tiny bit of him as I was hoping he'd be there in the 2nd for us. He's kind of high risk, high reward to me, what did you think?
- QuinnFan

High risk high reward for sure. He was playing in the U18AAA cause he got hurt his last game of the season. He'll be in the USHL this coming year which is where he should of been this year.

He doesn't look like a terrible pick if taken from 18 and beyond but at 11 thats a reeeeeeach. Especially when theres more complete/more proven players on the board at 11.

I could see Quinn going to 1st line if Tuch moves on/slows, and Rosen being the perfect guy for Cozens tbh.

But if he gets no PP time and is on the 3rd line, that's a really good situation for us. He will help with depth scoring, which is something we desperately need to get back.
- QuinnFan

do they revisit quinn at center?

This is why I like Helenius. Guys a hound, not so much a scorer but he sees the ice very well and makes plays in tight. He's good in all 3 zones, doesn't stop skating. Not afraid to get physical, he throws his body around.
- DirtyDan

Yes, but he's only 5'11, 180, so he sucks 😅🤣😂

do they revisit quinn at center?
- homiedclown

No, I think they want their Paul Gaustad at 3C..

Or you and I differ on what is considered elite...
- washedup20

You're disagreeing with the on ice product and the scouting that got him to the first half of the 2021 draft. Skills however are undeniably subjective, but it's clear he's extremely talented when you watch him play.

do they revisit quinn at center?
- homiedclown

it went so well in the AHL preseason a few years ago that they never did it again.

do they revisit quinn at center?
- homiedclown

I think that depends on their ability to bring one in. In a pinch, for sure. I'd doubt that's their first choice though. He wasn't super successful there in the AHL, not super underwhelming but struggled at the start.

High risk high reward for sure. He was playing in the U18AAA cause he got hurt his last game of the season. He'll be in the USHL this coming year which is where he should of been this year.

He doesn't look like a terrible pick if taken from 18 and beyond but at 11 thats a reeeeeeach. Especially when theres more complete/more proven players on the board at 11.
- DirtyDan

Agreed. Fortune does favor the bold though.

Yes, but he's only 5'11, 180, so he sucks 😅🤣😂
- kingcong39

Not only is Nikita Kucherov 5"11 but so is The American Nightmare. The golden boy with the golden goal. It's Miller time? No, it's Sidney's time Crosby.

Agreed. Fortune does favor the bold though.
- QuinnFan

I'd take him over Adam Jiricek who projects in the top 20. That kids going to be so mediocre.

What teams do you see regressing for the Sabres to jump?
- washedup20

I'm banking on the Sabres to simply be a better team consistently. I don't care who 'should' regress. There's surprises every year. In both directions.

Ottawa hired a coach with a pretty poor NHL record. Detroit is going to spend another year on middling free agents and be a middling team again. Tampa could certainly regress, more likely be on par with what they did this year. Florida could regress but they're on a high pedestal. So could Boston and Toronto. Carolina will have turn over. So could Philly based on where they want to go. Pittsburgh's average age is 63.

The field is pretty open.

I think the point is if they didn't get a deal done before the past season ended, he'd have been an RFA with ARB rights with one season to go before becoming a UFA.

What leverage did the team have?

Dahlin had all the leverage.
- kingcong39

It also had absolutely nothing to do with the point. Classic deflection.

It also had absolutely nothing to do with the point. Classic deflection.
- Lunaion

I'm still confused how the AAV seems high, with the cap now going up again and not being locked in stasis.

I'd say we just need to have patience with the prospects we do draft, instead of rushing them. But good teams do tend to trade picks to get over the top, which we seemingly refuse to do. So I get it. In Rosen's case, I'm just pretty bullish because I've seen glimpses of a real dominant player. Very shifty. Catches opposing teams off guard with nice moves to the net, not a perimeter player like a lot of the softer Euros. I really, really think he's going to be a good player and just needs more time. 50pts in the AHL isn't a "he's a bust" production number.
- QuinnFan

Good teams rarely trade their best prospects. Vegas has been selling their soul for years, but they're unique in that they were essentially built with veterans.

Typically when teams are trading their upper end prospects, it's like their 4th-8th ranked guy.

I'm banking on the Sabres to simply be a better team consistently. I don't care who 'should' regress. There's surprises every year. In both directions.

Ottawa hired a coach with a pretty poor NHL record. Detroit is going to spend another year on middling free agents and be a middling team again. Tampa could certainly regress, more likely be on par with what they did this year. Florida could regress but they're on a high pedestal. So could Boston and Toronto. Carolina will have turn over. So could Philly based on where they want to go. Pittsburgh's average age is 63.

The field is pretty open.
- TheSabresTaco

Touché, is removing Okposo and adding Ruff enough to eliminate the mental barrier this collective can't break through?

If the talent is there on this roster, then where do they fail? IMO Messier describing the Rangers playing w/o emotion is how this group plays. That's why I think they need muscle added, to open the ice and relax the players.

Every time they tried that last year they failed miserably, it's a weakness on this roster that other teams exploit.

I'm still confused how the AAV seems high, with the cap now going up again and not being locked in stasis.
- kingcong39

You're falling for the deflection. I'm not going down that road.

Touché, is removing Okposo and adding Ruff enough to eliminate the mental barrier this collective can't break through?

If the talent is there on this roster, then where do they fail? IMO Messier describing the Rangers playing w/o emotion is how this group plays. That's why I think they need muscle added, to open the ice and relax the players.

Every time they tried that last year they failed miserably, it's a weakness on this roster that other teams exploit.
- washedup20

Looking throughout recent history, a strong percentage of teams improved at least moderately with a coaching change. Ruff has the background that proves he makes the playoffs when his teams have the talent. I have no doubt in my mind the talent here is playoff worthy. Removing the literally useless bodies of Okposo, Girgensons, Olofsson, Johnson and Jost and (this is where Kevyn needs to do his job for the first time) replacing them with actual impact players (in their respective positions) can absolutely make this team significantly more formidable.

Good teams rarely trade their best prospects. Vegas has been selling their soul for years, but they're unique in that they were essentially built with veterans.

Typically when teams are trading their upper end prospects, it's like their 4th-8th ranked guy.
- TheSabresTaco

While that may be typical, Toronto, Boston and Vegas have found consistency despite trading away tons of picks. You imagine eventually their uppence will come, but in Boston and Vegas' cases, if you win the chip, don't mattttttta.

Good teams rarely trade their best prospects. Vegas has been selling their soul for years, but they're unique in that they were essentially built with veterans.

Typically when teams are trading their upper end prospects, it's like their 4th-8th ranked guy.
- TheSabresTaco

Once a team has it's core they ship out 1sts to improve the NHL roster.

Tampa, Colorado, Florida, NYR etc.

If the Sabres have their core (which they had 2 years ago) than trading the multiple 1sts was the stronger move vs hoarding a group of prospects.

While that may be typical, Toronto, Boston and Vegas have found consistency despite trading away tons of picks. You imagine eventually their uppence will come, but in Boston and Vegas' cases, if you win the chip, don't mattttttta.
- QuinnFan

don't open the door to prospect pool rankings, i beg you.

don't open the door to prospect pool rankings, i beg you.
- TheSabresTaco

I won't, but will say I yelled at Bader the other day for having us outside the top10. His model pisses me off lol.

Once a team has it's core they ship out 1sts to improve the NHL roster.

Tampa, Colorado, Florida, NYR etc.

If the Sabres have their core (which they had 2 years ago) than trading the multiple 1sts was the stronger move vs hoarding a group of prospects.
- washedup20

kevyn doesn't lie, and one thing he's said forever is that he wants stability in the short and long term. so here we are. can agree with his process or not.

he also stated and opened the door pretty wide that trading young assets/picks is absolutely on the table. which is something most people here are in favor of.