Hoo boy did you all come through for this mailbag. We are so back.

Peyton Krebs

Anth wrote about Krebs last month in this role-searching context, and I’d have to agree with him that this is where he can best hold a firm roster spot. The fact of the matter with the concept of a Girgensons-Krebs-Okposo line is that it can have the most flexibility with future iterations of the Sabres. If Krebs continues to get more acclimated to the “defensive role”, with the modern checking line not typically being deprived of offense, especially on a contender, AND with the number of prospects on the outside looking in to take those Okposo and Girgensons spots eventually, the teammates he ends up playing with if he has a permanent spot in the core will ideally end up being guys who can shoot well enough to optimize his ability to set guys up. His vision has been notable his entire time in the organization.

I don’t think this is the make-or-break season simply because of his age, as he’s still younger than both Brandon Biro and Lukas Rousek who are at the top of the next-up Rochester guys that would have that fourth-line profile. A worse season could change things, but stagnant at “worst” just means maybe he will become a common name in trade packages. Regardless, though, I think a solidifying season is on its way from #19.

Roster Bridges

I think that the 53-72-89’s chemistry keeps them together for the time being, and even a year or two down the road, no matter what the rest of the roster looks like, you can keep Skinner playing at least with Tage. Maybe (?) Peterka as the successor? 4 more contract years puts him at 34, so as long as he stays relatively healthy there is a path to that stability, and then once that contract is off the books, the next LW1 could very well be a UFA target that summer.

As for the trade targeting, it’s a lousy market right now because the teams that need to blow it up don’t want to blow it up, and so many of the other guys who were expected to move last summer also stayed put to the extent that for me it’s not even worth it to dig too deeply into those targets until we hear otherwise. (I’ll be checking in on Calgary and St. Louis when the calendar flips to January and forward).

Connor Clifton

Now I wouldn’t say that it’s a luxury of any kind, but I think just based on the core guys still being so young on the blue line there is a little bit of wiggle room to try some things out until they figure out what guys play together the best. The floor got low enough at points last season that while the pressure to win is higher, bad defense isn’t something they haven’t had to account for in the recent past. I think Clifton will get better acclimated as this first month goes on, so compatibility could very easily grow alongside that. November is probably when things get revisited if it’s not looking great. (Of course, injuries could change things)

Another instance of lots of room to rise. Increased PK composure could be something that helps out the whole 4 man unit. A little bit of power killing with more steady foundations from the D men might now hurt either.

Zzzzz

Is it too many missed games to call Jack Quinn a sleeper candidate for a breakout? Cozens and Peterka don’t feel slept on enough to put them in the running for a breakout, but with Quinn being out of the mix for a little bit, a good return from him could be a midseason jolt that’s like a free pre-deadline acquisition.

Speaking of Breakouts

I’ve probably looked at this card a dozen times this summer.

The defense being right at the 50th percentile is such a pleasant surprise to go with the offensive jump that Mittelstadt took in 2023. He’s deserving of an extension. The next piece is what player comp will that deal get. What does the rest of his aging curve look like? Do both sides want him to stay at center? How do Savoie and Benson affect that (or even Wahlberg too)? There’s probably a 4-year version of that contract that would probably get signed midseason, while a 2 or 3-year deal probably goes all year.

Speaking Of Savoie

Shane Wright’s journey around the continent wasn’t ideal, but neither is the CHL-NHL agreement structure. I think everyone agrees that Savoie needs to play as many games as possible, so he might need to go back, but if he goes another month before being cleared for contact before getting to have conditioning games it could head right into the lead to the World Juniors, if he’s standing out enough in practices, he might have a case to stay up the whole year (and as always injuries could play into that too). I think it’s way more possible than it was for Wright last year because I don’t think the Sabres want Savoie or Benson anywhere near Wenatchee.

More Roster Building

These two kind of go together. I think the answer is quite unclear and will come down to durability before other movement. I think they are going to give 3 goalies a go as much as they can because it seems Cooley is meant to be the guy this year for the Amerks with Tokarski and Houser backing him up. I’m going to take a stab and say Jacob Bryson not necessarily because of play but because of the guys in front of him — if he plays well it could very well be Erik Johnson too.

As for the reinforcements? Stillman, Doc Johnson, Rousek, and one of Kulich or Rosen (hot hand probably). Maybe Clague too but there are already so many D-men rotating around right now.

And it all comes down to your definition of a sub. If a sub is a sandwich, then hot dogs go in that category too.

Backup Plans

I don’t think it’s an answer anyone wants to hear, but if things go poorly, the “How does this happen” scenarios mostly come down to their youth, which means that they’ll just need to keep taking their lumps and growing as a core. I think the staff of both Kevyn Adams and Don Granato have a pulse of the roster to keep things at expectations. But again, a remediation plan also depends on what teams may want to make a move after a very close-to-vest summer.

I don’t know how worried I am per se, but regardless of how much they matter or not, I hope that they have one of their centers take a faceoff step this year to have fewer worries late in games.

The Important Things

It has to be related to his roots, and I have two frontrunners who have left the rest of the options in the dust. If he wants to dig into the Bills fandom, it’s the solo of that one Seven Nation Army remix. If he wants to dig into being a Sabres fan growing up, and this is my choice, head right back to his appearances in the HSBC Arena as a lad with Song 2. And if he wants to take that a step further with a deep cut?

Can you just explain the horse thing already?

Fine.

<Places ball on tee> <inhales> Too easy

The answer doesn’t change (if you’re not in Discord you’re missing out on heated debates such as this)

Am I getting peak boxing shape, Anthony? I cannot answer without that knowledge as someone who hasn’t been under 6 feet tall since before high school.

Going for 2 creates a scenario you don’t need to address yet. Take the PAT and go for 2 when you get the second touchdown.

Photo Credit: USA Today Sports