3 do’s 3 don’t s, the Buffalo Sabres Draft 2020

August 26, 2020August 30, 2020 ~ Philip Munson ~ Leave a comment

3 Don’ts:

1. Let’s start with what I do not want newly appointed general manager Kevyn Adams to do. Not make a trade before or during the draft.

Especially now that Toronto just made a move to rid themselves of money and got themselves a B level defensive prospect. (And hot E-Rod, that’s a joke). Doing nothing at either point only sinks the chances of the team truly getting what they need. A 2nd line center, a top six winger, and a goalie.

2. Do not trade your 8th overall pick for a goalie.

There are plenty of goalies that can be a 1a/b to Linus Ullmark that you do not have to trade that pick for or you can just sign in free agency. That’ll be a later post when free agency officially begins

3. Do not overpay for a winger for what you hope is a center for a 1st round pick and a prospect.

I think that was a Jason Botterill thing but let’s hope Adams does not think the same way. That could kill your cap for years to come especially with the flat cap of 81.5 million.

Why I think it was a Botterill thing are examples of Casey Mittelstadt and Marcus Johansson. Now I know Mitts was not his draft pick but he entrusted too much on him too soon. After he tried to use Patrik Berglund as the team’s number 2 center and that failed miserably. Johansson was put into that 2 center spot for a bit and that went downhill about a month into the season.

Basically in short Botts did not know what he was doing with his center depth or knew who to identify to take it over. My fear honestly if he came back for one more year was that Dominick Kahun would be the 2a/2b. And yes I know he has mainly only played wing. Has that stopped Botts from trying that before. Nope!

The 3 please do’s

1. Trade the 8th overall pick and a package of prospects for Sean Monahan.

Ok so this is a home run if it can happen. Problem is Calgary for who those of us can remember is where we got Chris Drury from for Rhett Warrener. Some may also not realize that Brian Burke/Brad Treliving of the Flames wanted Rasmus Ristolainen. They then came to find out how poor his analytical numbers were and thought better of it. Now I may be off if Burke was truly involved but I know he liked Risto that draft year.

Sean Monahan November 2019 Al Charest/Postmedia

So let’s just say the Flames probably do not want Risto. That brings me to a gently used Brandon Montour. Along with the 8th overall pick and maybe a Casey Mittelstadt. You could package that and maybe another late round pick for Monahan. Which this has to be done this league year as the 2020 new league year he has a modified no movement clause. Thank you Capfriendly!

Now it’s not money in money out but you have a stockpile of ready now defensemen in Rochester that can take Montour’s spot. Plus you need to start giving more minutes to Rasmus Dahlin and Henri Jokiharju. I would like to think Will Borgen can be moved into the Sabres line up to fill out the final pair.

I have mentioned on the Thomas Take Podcast my enthusiasm towards trading with Chicago for Dylan Strome. This would extremely help in the development of a young Dylan Cozens. I would as well use the 1st over all pick and a package for Strome.

2. Trade for a 1a 1b goaltender

This is an interesting piece because holy moly there are a ton of veteran proven goalies in free agency and on the market. Let me just focus on the trade market as the free agency period won’t start until after the draft.

Now depending on the top option you need to use a lower end draft pick for a goalie. Maybe a B level prospect. My target would be the Penguins or the Golden Knights.

What is funny both are or were the Penguins starting goalies at one point. I would go for the younger Matt Murray. I like Marc Andre Fluery but his best days I think are behind him. Murray has a bit of a chip on his shoulder coming off a tough year. I could see him and Ullmark hold it down for a couple of years. Maybe push for the playoffs? Even the play in round that the whispers of the NHL have talked about. I would maybe toss a 4th and or the 7th rounder for Murray. No prospects just picks.

3. Trade for a proven top 6 forward

Oh look this is familiar territory. A top six forward you say? Yup here we are again. Now I am going to hammer home about previously mention Josh Anderson the oft injured winger from the Columbus Blue Jackets. I would 110% go for a trade involving him.

What would you give up? Maybe that 2nd or 4th and another defenseman. I would honestly trade a prospect from the last couple of drafts that is not pro ready. Maybe you can keep out an NHL defenseman out of the trade. That would be ideal however you may have to move money out. He is a RFA that would cost you a bit of money in an extension. He also has arbitration rights.

Dominick Kubalik would be a fantastic move as well. However if Strome is already traded to the Sabres or someone else I highly doubt Chicago would trade away a young top 6 winger.

As always thanks for reading we will see if my Do’s or Don’ts come true! And yes I left out who I would want them to draft.

Three Trade deadline moves the Sabres should make, Three they should not.

February 8, 2020 ~ Philip Munson ~ Leave a comment

Alright to start off I’ll try to make this fun and not like everyone else’s three for three. Also, the Sabres have been awful as of late. Shall we say lost his their love for hockey:

Three positive moves…

Wise move 1: Josh Anderson, Right Wing, Cap hot 1.85 million according to Capfriendly.

Why it would be great: This should be a cheap RFA. He has a high ceiling and has size. 6’3” 222 lbs. Can score and in the dirty areas. You know what the Sabres do not do now?

Why it would be bad:You waste a 3rd-4th rounder that turns into someone amazing. And then Josh Anderson never gets into the teens to 20s in goals again. Both would have to happen. This would have to blow up worse than the Jimmy Vesey trade. Otherwise I do not see this being bad.

Wise move numero 2: Trade your UFA and players that want out. Now this may sound obvious but it has to be at number two. You also need players back even if it’s picks or a low end prospect to help the Rochester Americans. You know since you preach the “development” of other players.

Why this works: Sabres need assets for the draft and trades later. Clear cap and get rid of the crap. Yup it rhymed take it as you will I am a poet.

Why it won’t work: The GM who ever that is this draft, misses on each draft pick that comes back. Or makes another terrible trade for another bad forward that does not work out. Ok this may contradict the idea of Josh Anderson.

Now for three bad…

Trade for the wrong Galchenyuk: I get confused with him and another Montreal Canadian. Brendan Gallagher. Gallagher, Galchenyuk, tomato, potato, they are all the same. Actually no they are not. Gallagher is what I would like l, not Galchenyuk. See how you could get confused ? Too many Gs.

Why not to do it: In Pittsburgh where AHLers turn into 20 goal wingers thanks to Sydney Crosby. See Connor Sheary. Then there is Galchenyuk who has a lovely 17 points in 43 games. I believe a healthy scratch in some games. The Sabres have a plethora of those guys, so no. Or as Hopper would say:

Numero please no #2 : ANY OTHER DEFENSEMAN. Not for Rochester not for Cincinnati and not for Buffalo! I am going no further with that sentiment.

FINALLY number 3 and the most important one:Jason Botterill does absolutely nothing. Notta, zilch, nope, empty, etc. I know I have said I do not want him to trade for defencemen. But if he stands pat and does nothing? You have 7 unrestricted free agents and 1 who wants out. I am not naming that’s what capfriendly is for.

You get nothing if Botterill does nothing.

To summarize make moves, unload the old guard, and start to fill in the gaps. If, Botterill does not do a thing, this will be Tim Murray all over again. Now Botts:

PS: This was made with some fun and some seriousness. But it would be nice if our fine GM would do some if not all of these things I want 😉 #dosomethingbotts

Hey there, Mr. And Mrs. Pegula …

February 1, 2020 ~ Philip Munson ~ Leave a comment

So to start off I have stopped on my longer piece to start a letter. Well why? The frustration of the team and city needed a spark and I bet Duane better known as @DuaneS39 made it all happen. So I am “penning” a letter based off of the sweet song parody that Melody Martin wrote based off the hit song “Hey There Delilah”. She calls it “Hey Jason Botterill” you can see it here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HPgY_1MU9-M

Hey there Kim and Terry, Phil avid Sabres fan before you ask. No I do not have season tickets, I have two to three China knockoffs in my closet, and I use my parents MSG Go to watch all the games. But I do watch, I do support, I buy tickets to games even though my girlfriend couldn’t care less, I buy apparel other than jerseys, and I travel from Rochester to go to these games. Also, I go to a ton of Rochester American games. I am going to try to be nice but no promises.

When the team was bought over 8 years ago now I was hoping for an injection of blue and gold into my veins. An owner who would spend on the players and the arena. Alas, downtown is wonderful compared to how it was when I went to Buffalo State right down the road. However, the “pop” in the arena is gone but not buried. My passion for the Sabres is wearing. The team is well a laughingstock that even Barstool is making fun of us. Barstool loves Buffalo, but they even see this is kind of well a choke slam through a table at a Bills tailgate.

Ok, ok I am trying here. We as fans are at all-time low. Social media and in the arena. It’s a cesspool of negativity and poorly timed jokes. I am included. Even writers and radio hosts during the tank years are laughing with each other at this mess. Yes I said tank because that was what it was. Kind of still is but this time your team is kind of things it’s a winner when they are clearly far from it.

You would point to the 10 game winning streak. That’s a blip an anomaly as they say in the analytic world. Uh oh should have not brought math or spreadsheets because my good twitter friends who love the numbers will throw charts at me. Or tweet me them to tell me how pointless that streak became. I will not even bring up that small amount of time the arena had the “playoff atmosphere”. Again I am fan what do I know ?

What do we know as fans on running a business? We know the customers ya should just be shown something. Not two dollar glasses, not a small 90s goat head pennant, and not our gold ring partners hanging in the rafters with the best players in the franchise’s history. Mr. Pegula you cried about one of those players. Now he hangs with those “Gold Ring” partners. What a load of …. Nope I will not over step my bounds there sorry!

I will say the arena is not up to par. I go to Amerks game and at least there the jumbo-tron actually works in HD. Also, the seats in both arenas are terrible. They are stained, old, and some broken. Do not know why or how that can happen. Again I’m just a customer I mean fan. Wait what am I again?

I just want more effort from the organization overall. Stop putting people in positions that keep making embarrassing mistakes. Like misspelling jerseys. Stop giving out fake jerseys to alumni. That’s for fans to do. Not your own alumni.

Effort from the off ice staff. Instead of terrible give-aways and kids getting robbed in a game for naming Disney princesses from Kyle Okposo. Did you even know that happened? It was supposed to be fun but instead a little girls feeling was hurt. Bet her parents won’t come back. I’m not even a parent and that’s embarrassing.

Also, you own a dog you both love. Why does the team LIKE EVERY OTHER NHL TEAM have a dog. Or as the kids say these days doggo. You know something you can throw on social media with your head coach, maybe a few players playing soccer with the dog before the game. I don’t know I’m no social media mogul ! You have people hired for that ! Right? Or do they have to go through 20 forms of an approval to do something. Least the Bills get it right sometimes!

Ok I’m ranting I am sorry again! To put a bow on this. There is a lot of wrong with the team including the team you ice on a nightly basis. Please for the love of Buffalo sports fans who enjoy their hockey. Fix your arena, fix your banners, fix how you treat alumni, get a dog or animal or a baby yoda, and be better on social media! Just talk to us Mr and Mrs. Pegula. Unfiltered and, unedited. We don’t care if you stumble but at least let us know you hear us.

No really I’m stopping, I just would like accountability on why and what is going on at PSE. This is frustrating on all accounts I cannot imagine it is not for you both. Talk to us.

Sincerely, Phil a concerned fan for his favorite organization.

PS I don’t want you to sell the team or move it. And also beer is too expensive at the arena, just do a happy hour of cheap beer. You’ll make a killing!