## Where will goalie Eric Comrie start the season?
Barring injury or poor performance, Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be the Sabres’ goalies to start the season……I don’t expect anyone to want to take his salary via trade or waivers, unless someone with cap space has an injury at the position, so don’t be surprised if Comrie begins the season in Rochester.
## How are the Sabres planning to replace Jack Quinn while he’s out with the Achilles injury?
First, the Sabres are unlikely to trade Victor Olofsson with Quinn out until late December or January. There’s risk in keeping Olofsson, who is entering the final season of his contract after he totaled a career-high 28 goals. General manager Kevyn Adams doesn’t like to lose a player for nothing, but he can keep Olofsson as a rental and try to work out a trade before the deadline once Quinn is back if someone such as Jiri Kulich emerges as a difference-maker.
In addition to keeping Olofsson, the Sabres will try to fill the void internally with Kulich, Lukas Rousek, Brett Murray, Linus Weissbach and Brandon Biro competing for a spot out of training camp. There’s finally enough NHL-ready talent in the pipeline to have competition. If none proves ready to contribute consistently, would Adams try to sign Patrick Kane to a one-year contract once the future Hall of Famer is cleared to return in the second half of the season?
## Which Sabres defenseman do you think will be traded?
The player to watch is Ilya Lyubushkin. Fans are speculating that it could be Henri Jokiharju on the move, but Lyubushkin is entering the final year of a contract with a $2.75 million salary-cap hit. A contending team unable to add to their blue line in free agency will be interested in adding his right-handed shot and physical approach.
## Do you expect overall team defense to improve slightly, moderately or not at all?
The Sabres will be a better defensive team because of Clifton and Johnson, as well as the experience gained by the young forwards. Coach Don Granato should be able to trust three defense pairs instead of two, plus there’s depth in case of injuries.
## Will the Sabres use their remaining cap space on a forward or defenseman?
No, I suspect the Sabres are done, aside from extending Dahlin and Power before the season begins. They’ll try to create additional cap space through a trade because, according to CapFriendly, they must be prepared to pay a maximum of $4.57 million in performance bonuses to their players on entry-level contracts.
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## Where will goalie Eric Comrie start the season?
Barring injury or poor performance, Devon Levi and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be the Sabres’ goalies to start the season……I don’t expect anyone to want to take his salary via trade or waivers, unless someone with cap space has an injury at the position, so don’t be surprised if Comrie begins the season in Rochester.
## How are the Sabres planning to replace Jack Quinn while he’s out with the Achilles injury?
First, the Sabres are unlikely to trade Victor Olofsson with Quinn out until late December or January. There’s risk in keeping Olofsson, who is entering the final season of his contract after he totaled a career-high 28 goals. General manager Kevyn Adams doesn’t like to lose a player for nothing, but he can keep Olofsson as a rental and try to work out a trade before the deadline once Quinn is back if someone such as Jiri Kulich emerges as a difference-maker.
In addition to keeping Olofsson, the Sabres will try to fill the void internally with Kulich, Lukas Rousek, Brett Murray, Linus Weissbach and Brandon Biro competing for a spot out of training camp. There’s finally enough NHL-ready talent in the pipeline to have competition. If none proves ready to contribute consistently, would Adams try to sign Patrick Kane to a one-year contract once the future Hall of Famer is cleared to return in the second half of the season?
## Which Sabres defenseman do you think will be traded?
The player to watch is Ilya Lyubushkin. Fans are speculating that it could be Henri Jokiharju on the move, but Lyubushkin is entering the final year of a contract with a $2.75 million salary-cap hit. A contending team unable to add to their blue line in free agency will be interested in adding his right-handed shot and physical approach.
## Do you expect overall team defense to improve slightly, moderately or not at all?
The Sabres will be a better defensive team because of Clifton and Johnson, as well as the experience gained by the young forwards. Coach Don Granato should be able to trust three defense pairs instead of two, plus there’s depth in case of injuries.
## Will the Sabres use their remaining cap space on a forward or defenseman?
No, I suspect the Sabres are done, aside from extending Dahlin and Power before the season begins. They’ll try to create additional cap space through a trade because, according to CapFriendly, they must be prepared to pay a maximum of $4.57 million in performance bonuses to their players on entry-level contracts.