Roster Speculation, 2018 offseason Part 4/ Post-free agency edition

[jc17]

My dark horse is Bailey but I think him getting a shot to break through might be too much of a long shot.

I think guys like e-rod, olofsson and pilut could be solid, but I don't think any of them are dark horses.

 

[sabrebuild]

I’m not sure one way or another, all we can really do is wait and see.

The dice are rolling.

 

[1972]

So Trouba might get traded..

Unless it’s a collection of picks and prospects I don’t see how we get him. I think he’s pretty overrated, so I’m not really even that interested.

 

[sabrebuild]

Who are your dark horses? Mine is Asplund.

I think one of Pilut, Baptiste and Olofsson have the ability to be real contributors.

I could see Pilut wade thru a Bogosian injury and let the Swedes play together.

I could see Baptiste getting on a line with Reinhart and them going to town on the forecheck, with Baptiste chipping in twenty.

Olofsson... If he makes the club he has a helluva chance to play with either Eichel, Reinhart or Mitts. Each guy is capable of giving him cherry setups repeatedly.

Just don’t know who will be where and how Phil will coach em up.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Dark horses: the Swedes. They’ve got pro experience. I think Olofsson sticks out of camp. Pilut is the first call up and never goes back to Rochester. Asplund takes until the TDL, then he’s up and stays.

 

[RWatson29]

Dark horse bailey? Cmonnnn. Definitely olofsson. His shot is 10/10. Him on the right side on pp1 by 19/20

 

[jc17]

Dark horse bailey? Cmonnnn. Definitely olofsson. His shot is 10/10. Him on the right side on pp1 by 19/20

Idk I think a lot of people are writing off bailey as just another fly by night prospect that had potential.

Does the guy who finished top 10 in points in one of the best pro league count as a dark horse?

 

[RWatson29]

Idk I think a lot of people are writing off bailey as just another fly by night prospect that had potential.

Does the guy who finished top 10 in points in one of the best pro league count as a dark horse?

Because everyone had him over Bailey for years, right? Maybe because people have slept on him

 

[sabrebuild]

Idk I think a lot of people are writing off bailey as just another fly by night prospect that had potential.

Does the guy who finished top 10 in points in one of the best pro league count as a dark horse?

I think he does. A guy like Mitts is just a strong light horse. We have seen him in the league and North America generally. I saw Casey shake Mike Fischer out of his jock, granted old Fischer.

Olofsson is an older guy from a league most never see. Adjustment to a new country. He has dark horse written all over him.

 

[DJN21]

Olofsson is gonna be way better than any of baptiste/bailey/fasching ever are or were (hudson). The question is immediately, half way through, or next year. His shot is to good. Bailey may have nhl caliber speed but none of our recent prospects have a plus plus attribute like Olofsson does with his shot.

 

[dkollidas]

Forwards:

Buffalo:
Rodrigues-Eichel-Okposo
Sheary-Mittelstadt-Reinhart
Girgensons-Berglund-Baptiste
Wilson-Sobotka-Bailey
Ex’s: Pominville
Traded/Waived: Larsson

*This is how I see them starting. Could see Sheary & Rodrigues flipped, or Reinhart & Okposo, but I think they’ll try to roll with 4-lines, and that would be done with putting Berglund & Sobotka at center and leveraging their minutes in the d-zone. Baptiste/Bailey will imo beat out Pominville and put Pominville on the bench to start.
I think the only thing holding Bailey back is him realizing that he isn’t a top-6 guy. He’s a grinder and he needs to just forecheck, skate and get the puck up the ice. Baptiste I feel has adjusted to that a bit more readily, and can adjust his style more readily depending on who he plays with. This is also a group that could see 4-6 of these forwards changed out by the end of the season with guys front Rochester or returns on trades as well.

Rochester:
Smith-Porter-Thompson
Olofsson-Asplund-Nylander
O’Reagan-Malone-Pu
Oglevie-Cornel-???

Rochester’s forwards could be interesting to watch this season. I would really like to see the all-Swede line get a shot. All of them can skate, and I think would compliment each other well (Nylander is the playmaker, Olofsson is the finisher, Asplund will do a little bit of everything).
I like the idea of Pu with Malone, puts a lot of speed on the wing, Pu can develop his overall game a bit more as well. I think he’ll top out as a Trevor Lewis type of guy (that’s my hope at least), and could learn a lot of the intricacies at this level.

Defense:

Buffalo:

Scandella-Ristolainen
McCabe-Dahlin
Hunwick-Bogosian
Ex’s: Nelson, Beaulieu

I think they’ll go 8-deep if they can’t find a take for Beaulieu. But the depth is nice to have. He’d probably even play behind at least two Rochester guys as well (Guhle & Pilut). Scandella-Ristolainen was decent last year. I think a few less minutes will help as well as having better pairings below them as well.
McCabe-Dahlin makes sense to me in that Dahlin played on the right most of his career, so keep him there to keep him comfortable. This also allows Ristolainen’s load to be lessened. McCabe also gets a chance at a bounce back year playing next to phenomenal player. Hunwick-Bogosian is the last of the leftover pieces. Bogosian won’t likely last more than 20games before something happens (if that even), but on a 3rd pair, he could be effective.
Not a terrible group since we’ve added Dahlin, but still, Bogosian/Hunwick and possibly McCabe could be off the squad by the end of the year.

Rochester:
Guhle-Fedun
Pilut-Borgen
Hickey-Tennyson
Ex. Paetsch

This is a pretty solid group. Guhle, Pilut, And Borgen could all be on the NHL roster by the end of the season. I think they all start in Rochester for at least 20 games or so (Guhle/Pilut battle to be the first call-up), while Borgen gets to play at least half a season, if not the entire year, in Rochester to develop. They each get o play with an AHL vet as well, which I would also assume helps.


My biggest dark horse:
Asplund: I think by mid-season he’ll be up here centering the 3rd line. He plays a very mature game and will be able to center a line that gets a heavy defensive workload and will help give the Sabres a legit shutdown line.

 

[Club]

Asplund of Olofsson

 

[Aladyyn]

Because everyone had him over Bailey for years, right? Maybe because people have slept on him

Some of us did.

 

[Icicle]

Some of us did.

There was a big consensus that Bailey had the higher ceiling, lower floor. Both players just seem to be dragging along the floor.

 

[joshjull]

I think one of Pilut, Baptiste and Olofsson have the ability to be real contributors.

I could see Pilut wade thru a Bogosian injury and let the Swedes play together.

I could see Baptiste getting on a line with Reinhart and them going to town on the forecheck, with Baptiste chipping in twenty.

Olofsson... If he makes the club he has a helluva chance to play with either Eichel, Reinhart or Mitts. Each guy is capable of giving him cherry setups repeatedly.

Just don’t know who will be where and how Phil will coach em up.

For dark horse I was thinking more along the lines of a real long shot that could surprise and either make the team out of camp or move to the head of the line for a call up. Then contribute and play much better than expected once here. Thats why I went with Asplund.

Now that I see where you're going with this I agree with most of your thoughts. Only question I'd have is Baptiste maybe getting 20 or even playing with Sam. Not that they wouldn't be good together but I think Sam may get ROR's minutes (outside of the faceoff specialist work) if he is at center. Not sure Baptiste would be trusted with that just yet.

 

[sabrebuild]

For dark horse I was thinking more along the lines of a real long shot that could surprise and either make the team out of camp or move to the head of the line for a call up. Then contribute and play much better than expected once here. Thats why I went with Asplund.

Now that I see where you're going with this I agree with most of your thoughts. Only question I'd have is Baptiste maybe getting 20 or even playing with Sam. Not that they wouldn't be good together but I think Sam may get ROR's minutes (outside of the faceoff specialist work) if he is at center. Not sure Baptiste would be trusted with that just yet.

After the last few years I feel like one of those three is a long shot.haha

I honestly have no idea what their plan is. If Reinhart centers, and Mitts is on his wing. Or 3 centers. Or Mitts at center and Reinhart at winger.

Today, I think Baptiste is our second best right winger, behind Okposo. Assuming Reinhart is at center.

 

[Husko]

My dark horse to make the team is Malone

 

[CatsforReinhart]

Idk I think a lot of people are writing off bailey as just another fly by night prospect that had potential.

Does the guy who finished top 10 in points in one of the best pro league count as a dark horse?

Wasn't Anitpin the leading scorer for defensemen in the KHL? Points doesn't equal success

I would say being drafted in the 7th round no matter how much you improve is a dark horse

 

[Zip15]

I think Oglevie could make the big club sooner than later. Notre Dame drills fundamentals and he's a well-rounded player, so I think he'll earn the coaching staff's trust quicker than other young players. I could see him being worked in slowly on the 4th line since he can be trusted in the defensive zone. I wouldn't be surprised if he's a regular by the holidays.

 

[brian_griffin]

Things I'd like to see Botterill do: Maybe deals like this:

Okposo, Bailey, STL 1st to Calgary for Brouwer, Stone, Bennett

SJ 1st, Girgensons or Larsson to Nashville for Fabbro

I'd do that because the expiration of the Brouwer and Stone contracts is perfect for when a couple younger players should be making the Sabres.

Re: Orpik. I brought him up before he was traded and bought out. He's making nice change not playing, but I'd at least pick up the phone and find out if he has interest at all in BUF. Bove suggested $3M (can't recall whether it was total for 2 years or per each). I would offer less. I'd offer a 1-year deal with promise to flip him at the deadline. He's the injury insurance policy for Bogo, and a bridge to a full-time Nelson / Fabbro / other. (Again, I expect Dahlin on the right side.)

Really want to see Botts move a pro contract or 2 out, regardless of who is coming back. Sabres will not have a 2nd buyout window in August.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

I think Oglevie could make the big club sooner than later. Notre Dame drills fundamentals and he's a well-rounded player, so I think he'll earn the coaching staff's trust quicker than other young players. I could see him being worked in slowly on the 4th line since he can be trusted in the defensive zone. I wouldn't be surprised if he's a regular by the holidays.

I’m also expecting an older player to get the first 20 games, to reward visible effort and consistency through camp. The question will be who.

 

[Reddawg]

After the last few years I feel like one of those three is a long shot.haha

I honestly have no idea what their plan is. If Reinhart centers, and Mitts is on his wing. Or 3 centers. Or Mitts at center and Reinhart at winger.

Today, I think Baptiste is our second best right winger, behind Okposo. Assuming Reinhart is at center.

Which he won't be.

 

[Aladyyn]

Which he won't be.

How can you know?

 

[LetsDoughBuffalo]

I gave it a try and came up with a few different combos.

Here's the one I'll post (to start the season):

FW:
Sheary - Eichel - Reinhart
Rodrigues - Mittelstadt - Okposo
Girgensons - Berglund - Thompson
Wilson - Sobotka - Pominville
Ex. Baptiste, Larsson

DEF:
Scandella - Ristolainen
Dahlin - Bogosian
McCabe - Nelson
Ex. Beaulieu, Hunwick

Hutton - Ullmark

PP1:
Sheary - Mittelstadt - Reinhart
Eichel - Ristolainen

PP2:
Thompson - Rodrigues - Okposo
Scandella - Dahlin

PK1:
Berglund - Girgensons
Scandella - Ristolainen

PK2:
Sobotka - Wilson
McCabe - Bogosian

3s:
Eichel - Sheary - Dahlin
Mittelstadt - Reinhart - Ristolainen
Rodrigues - Okposo - Scandella

I wonder if a body is moved out in training camp or early in the season for a pick, to free up a space for Guhle in the starting lineup. The other intriguing thing on the back end is if Housley considers using Dahlin on the right side - bumping Nelson down and creating a spot on the left for Guhle right out of camp.

 

[Reddawg]

How can you know?

Oh I don't know, how about the epic failure that the Reino at Center experiment was all of last season, combined with the fact that he's easily our best right winger? I'm just speculating that we're going to want to score some goals this year, and with Mitts on the 2nd line there's literally no reason to keep trying to force Sam into that slot.