I get a lot of people want to fire Jokiharju and Bryson into the sun, but adding a top-4 guy pushes both of them into more appropriate roles on the 3rd pair and as an extra, respectively.
doctormirdock
No more Bryson
pagan-ninja
Wow Bryson gets paid a lot to suck
GoJaysBlueJays
Well said. I’m aligned
dynastyphan
Jokiharju and Bryson are the two major problems, but both are still under contract next year, so barring a trade they will be on the roster in some capacity.
I think that Jokiharju could maybe be okay with limited minutes on the third pair, but he is in way over his head playing with Power.
Finding a RHD to play with Power is the number one priority of the offseason for me. Severson seems like such a good fit that it might be too good to be true. Trading for somebody is the other route Adams could take.
I actually like Lyubushkin a lot on the third pair. Stillman is more than capable as a 7th guy who can fill in if needed. Johnson starts in Rochester and hopefully has a full time spot with the big club when Lyubushkin and Jokiharju’s contracts are up next year.
Samuelsson – Dahlin
Power – FA/trade
Jokiharju or FA/trade – Lyubushkin
Stillman
Johnson in Rochester.
ROGO27
Bryson and joker need to go lol
Rockhardwood
Biggest problem? Age. Defending in the NHL is hard, and a learned skill. Our fowards are the biggest culprits imo
Wide_right_
the only people who absolutely need to come back are Dahlin, Mattias, and Power. I don’t hate Jokiharju as much as others, I think he would be fine on a third pair. Power needs someone to compliment his game. everyone else (except clague and bryson those two suck booty cheeks and gotta go) feels replaceable or only value as a rotational/7th d
seeldoger47
X – Dahlin Samuelsson – Power Stillman/Johnson – Lyubushkin
I’d actually move Power to the right side and try and target a LHD as it’s easier to find a talented one than a RHD. Ideally he’d be good enough that you can push Samuelsson down the lineup. Move on from Bryson and Jokiharju.
CupWanted
There are a lot of people advocating for Joki and Lybushkin playing on the third pair together, but don’t they both play the right side? I suppose one of them being the 7th D would be fine, but trading one of them probably makes more sense.
Fire Bryson into the sun no matter what.
StartButtonPress
Just get a number four defender who is a good PKer. Replace Bryson. The rest is fine, Joki on third pair with Boosh for a year, Stillman 7D.
Impossibills
Bryson and Joki were the biggest issue. Neither should be getting big minutes. Bryson MAYBE you can argue as an 8th D, but that’s just a waste anyway.
I’d like to bring back Boosh, and Joki is eh as a 3rd pairing…but he might play better with lower end minutes and a not useless teammate.
26007
Power-Samuelsson
Dahlin-Jokiharju
Lyubushkin-Stillman
Maybe sign a free agent for a 7th
Kinger86
It’s unlikely whoever the Sabres draft in the first round will be a defenseman and be able to make the team out of camp but the Sabres could look to the draft for help
I’d like a little better situational awareness from Lybushkin. He tends to spin & toss the puck the slot when there’s a puck scramble. I’d like to see him put it in the corner or get out of the way so the keeper can cover. I’m sure there’s more but that’s it off the top of my head.
Yop_BombNA
Clague and Bryson into the sun.
Ideal lines:
Dahlin – Sammy
Power – new 2nd pair dman.
Stillman – Joki
Boosh, new depth dman.
Still acceptable:
Dahlin Sammy
Power joki
Stillman boosh
New depth dman x2
If Clague and bryson are our 2 depth dmen we lost the off-season….
mcchicken1899
No matter what, MAJOR overhaul of the defense as well as offense in terms of defensive capabilities is needed. We need a solid defensive group before we can even think about talking playoff hockey. Defensive forwards are also good additions, but god does the defense need an overhaul.
KitchenEquipment634
There may not be any NHL-level players among the current prospects, but what about two years from now? Who would be the most suitable for AHL/NHL debut?
19 Comments
Samuelsson – Dahlin
Power – ???
Lyubushkin – Jokiharju
Stillman/Bryson fight it out for #7.
I get a lot of people want to fire Jokiharju and Bryson into the sun, but adding a top-4 guy pushes both of them into more appropriate roles on the 3rd pair and as an extra, respectively.
No more Bryson
Wow Bryson gets paid a lot to suck
Well said. I’m aligned
Jokiharju and Bryson are the two major problems, but both are still under contract next year, so barring a trade they will be on the roster in some capacity.
I think that Jokiharju could maybe be okay with limited minutes on the third pair, but he is in way over his head playing with Power.
Finding a RHD to play with Power is the number one priority of the offseason for me. Severson seems like such a good fit that it might be too good to be true. Trading for somebody is the other route Adams could take.
I actually like Lyubushkin a lot on the third pair. Stillman is more than capable as a 7th guy who can fill in if needed. Johnson starts in Rochester and hopefully has a full time spot with the big club when Lyubushkin and Jokiharju’s contracts are up next year.
Samuelsson – Dahlin
Power – FA/trade
Jokiharju or FA/trade – Lyubushkin
Stillman
Johnson in Rochester.
Bryson and joker need to go lol
Biggest problem? Age. Defending in the NHL is hard, and a learned skill. Our fowards are the biggest culprits imo
the only people who absolutely need to come back are Dahlin, Mattias, and Power. I don’t hate Jokiharju as much as others, I think he would be fine on a third pair. Power needs someone to compliment his game. everyone else (except clague and bryson those two suck booty cheeks and gotta go) feels replaceable or only value as a rotational/7th d
X – Dahlin
Samuelsson – Power
Stillman/Johnson – Lyubushkin
I’d actually move Power to the right side and try and target a LHD as it’s easier to find a talented one than a RHD. Ideally he’d be good enough that you can push Samuelsson down the lineup. Move on from Bryson and Jokiharju.
There are a lot of people advocating for Joki and Lybushkin playing on the third pair together, but don’t they both play the right side? I suppose one of them being the 7th D would be fine, but trading one of them probably makes more sense.
Fire Bryson into the sun no matter what.
Just get a number four defender who is a good PKer. Replace Bryson. The rest is fine, Joki on third pair with Boosh for a year, Stillman 7D.
Bryson and Joki were the biggest issue. Neither should be getting big minutes. Bryson MAYBE you can argue as an 8th D, but that’s just a waste anyway.
I’d like to bring back Boosh, and Joki is eh as a 3rd pairing…but he might play better with lower end minutes and a not useless teammate.
Power-Samuelsson
Dahlin-Jokiharju
Lyubushkin-Stillman
Maybe sign a free agent for a 7th
It’s unlikely whoever the Sabres draft in the first round will be a defenseman and be able to make the team out of camp but the Sabres could look to the draft for help
2023-24:
Sammy-Dahlin
Power-NEW1
Joker-Boosh
Stillman-Johnson/Clague
Johnson in ROC, called up when needed to play. Never scratched, he has to be on the ice somewhere.
2024-25:
Sammy-Dahlin
Power-NEW1
NEW2-Johnson
Stillman-Clague
I’d like a little better situational awareness from Lybushkin. He tends to spin & toss the puck the slot when there’s a puck scramble. I’d like to see him put it in the corner or get out of the way so the keeper can cover. I’m sure there’s more but that’s it off the top of my head.
Clague and Bryson into the sun.
Ideal lines:
Dahlin – Sammy
Power – new 2nd pair dman.
Stillman – Joki
Boosh, new depth dman.
Still acceptable:
Dahlin Sammy
Power joki
Stillman boosh
New depth dman x2
If Clague and bryson are our 2 depth dmen we lost the off-season….
No matter what, MAJOR overhaul of the defense as well as offense in terms of defensive capabilities is needed. We need a solid defensive group before we can even think about talking playoff hockey. Defensive forwards are also good additions, but god does the defense need an overhaul.
There may not be any NHL-level players among the current prospects, but what about two years from now? Who would be the most suitable for AHL/NHL debut?