I'm comparing the rosters GOING INTO the season. My original post was someone claiming this wouldn't be the worst roster we've dressed in 10 years, and I was just pointing out that, going INTO 2014-15, that roster was better. I also said I don't see this team being WORSE than that roster because several players just fell off the map.
I thought he was fine last year.....he still could use AHL time. Every single player, with rare exception, should spend time in the AHL. That's the norm for functioning teams. He does no harm to ride the bus and learning at the AHL level. That is exactly what Tampa did with almost all their players. We talk about the spoiled players and bad culture we are trying to fix? A lot of that is because they never had to fight for a spot, it was given to them. Sure, Cozens can play in the NHL, especially with our terrible forward group. What harm does playing in the AHL do him? None.
I've seen a whole lot more of Mittelstadt not being a NHL caliber player than we have of him being a legit NHL talent. You are right, he played good towards the end of last season....in a system with almost no back checking and where the games had zero consequence. It may has well been preseason for the Sabres at that point. I'm eager to see if he can take the next step, but it wouldn't be shocking at all if he struggles this year, especially with the lack of supporting cast.
What was Bjork on Boston? A 4th liner who was rotated in and out of the lineup. On a team that didn't have great LW depth. On what teams are any of these players cracking the top 9? Asplund and Thompson are similar to Mittelstadt, we saw some growth towards the end of the season. But with their career production, where would they be on a good team? They wouldn't make the team, frankly, or they'd be a healthy scratch most nights. I'm not trying to be negative, I'm just realistic what their production at the NHL level dictates. Now, could any of these players have a great year next year? Absolutely. They are still young.
The tank team was 13-16 in december that year. So, they weren't great, but they weren't the worst team in the league either. They lost a few to end December, went 0-January and the rest was history. Girgensons injury, Hodgson and Moulson dropping off the face of the planet, Murray actively sabotaging them (forcing Pysyk to play in Rochester when he was clearly an upgrade over what we had in the NHL, etc). Trading out NHL bodies (Myers/Stafford) for ones that couldn't play that year (Kane). And the endless goalie shuffle towards the end.
I don't think we are going to be a 54 point team this year. I'm just saying this years roster is comparable to that roster. I think we are probably a 60-70 point team if we don't get significant NHL pieces back for Eichel, which is a typical last place finish team.
I'm not trying to shit on this roster, the issue is that this is not a rebuild roster. This is not a tank roster. This is a cap floor roster. They are dressing it up like it's about giving the kids a chance....it's about the Pegula's cutting their losses. Every single move they have made this summer reinforces that. Now, the season is still months away, and maybe I'll be proven wrong. However, my expectation is this will be maybe 2-3M Over the cap floor, maybe less. There is zero reason for this roster to be this bad other than pure cheapness by the ownership.
