Speculation: Meet the Core! Wait . . . who we talkin' 'bout, now?

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

Not when they produce at > ppg

This team scores plenty and has another team worth of offensive prospects coming.

I’ll take a 6mil defense partner for power and a 3mil pk specialist 3rd liner today over 31yr old skinner. Hell I’d take those over a 26yr old skinner.

 

[OkimLom]

Thompson, Cozens, Power, Sammy are treated as core players. We’ll see how management handles Dahlin. With the way they have pretty much pushed aside the other goaltenders that were/are in the organization, I’d say Levi is core.

I think Tuch, Peterka, Quinn, Krebs are guys that they would like to keep here for as long as possible, but I feel like if serious sacrifices need to be made, they would be the first to go.

 

[Diaspora]

Thompson, Cozens, Power, Sammy are treated as core players. We’ll see how management handles Dahlin. With the way they have pretty much pushed aside the other goaltenders that were/are in the organization, I’d say Levi is core.

I think Tuch, Peterka, Quinn, Krebs are guys that they would like to keep here for as long as possible, but I feel like if serious sacrifices need to be made, they would be the first to go.

Interesting takes on Dahlin and Tuch.

I'm thinking Tuch is probably the player who should receive the most credit for this team's turnaround through his leadership. If his body holds out, I think he'll be here another six or seven years.

Unless Dahlin goes scorched-earth mercenary during his contract negotiations, which I'd bet against, both of those guys will be here ahead of the up-and-coming players who might get bridged and alienated, or squeezed out.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I guess it depends how you define core. But as far as young elite talent, we have Dahlin, Power, and Samuelsson on defense, and Thompson, Cozens as forwards. That is absolutely a core, that if it keeps progressing, can win a cup.

It would be nice if Quinn can become an elite player as well, just to throw in a winger. Though, I’d be good with adding Tuch in depending on how you’d define core!


So Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson, Thompson, Cozens, and Tuch. With Quinn, Levi, Savoie, Kulich as hopefuls down the road.

 

[Diaspora]

At the Athletic, they occasionally do a "contender checklist" bit. For giggles, here's how they evaluated cup winners from the last decade (take it with however much salt you want).

Gold is elite, black is above average, grey is below average, red is relatively weak.

And here's where they had the Sabres in March -- right toward the end of the 2-8-2 stretch (showing actual evaluation vs. early season prediction):

Even with all the holes they identified, last year's Sabres were ranked about on par with the 2012 Kings Cup-winning team. Growth and a couple of roster moves (esp. on D) could quite easily move this core into contention.

 

[allsilverdreams]

If we shore up the D I can live with Levi and UPL for this year. If things don't trend up then we make a trade during the season for a proven G.
We should do it prior to the deadline or before we hit a wall.

 

[Jim Bob]

If we shore up the D I can live with Levi and UPL for this year. If things don't trend up then we make a trade during the season for a proven G.
We should do it prior to the deadline or before we hit a wall.

In-season goalie trades are tough unless you trade for a goalie that has experience changing teams mid-season.

Most guys that go through it for the first time struggle with their new team.

 

[Fjordy]

If we shore up the D I can live with Levi and UPL for this year. If things don't trend up then we make a trade during the season for a proven G.
We should do it prior to the deadline or before we hit a wall.

I would prefer to go with a more proven goalie + Levi and UPL. It's much easier to get a goaltender in the off-season than during the season.

 

[TageGod]

At the Athletic, they occasionally do a "contender checklist" bit. For giggles, here's how they evaluated cup winners from the last decade (take it with however much salt you want).

Gold is elite, black is above average, grey is below average, red is relatively weak.

View attachment 711110

And here's where they had the Sabres in March -- right toward the end of the 2-8-2 stretch (showing actual evaluation vs. early season prediction):

View attachment 711114

Even with all the holes they identified, last year's Sabres were ranked about on par with the 2012 Kings Cup-winning team. Growth and a couple of roster moves (esp. on D) could quite easily move this core into contention.

This is such an odd representation. Why not just evaluate the lines and pairs? Elite center is going to be the #1 center. Cozens isn't top line and greenway isn't top 6. I guess if you ignore it all and just look at the GSVA its fine.