Top five Sabres training camp battles featuring Zach Benson, Devon Levi, and Jiri Kulich

[@bretthaller2096]

I think Benson needs to be on the #1 line. With high hockey IQ, vision and high end play making Id love to see him play with Tuch and Thompson. Kid is a rare talent just to make the club at 18 is off the charts. I think is mature beyond his years and just like Levi. I think Sabres are crazy to not have Levi play as full time back up and I'm still not 100 sold on Ukka being #1 guy. If he takes a step back it's Levi all day to take over that role. Plus id love to Levi take advantage of this new ramped up 3 and 4th line. They played zero D almost when he first game into the NHL and kid was getting shelled out there. I think he is the only guy for the back up role period! And I really want to see Rasmus and Bowen again. They were red hot duo that first 10 games they played together before Granato moved Power into the role and killed all of Bowen hotness 😮 a move I still can't understand why he would tamper with chemistry like they had when he first got here after the trade from the Avalanche.

[@chrismdb5686]

UPL had the best stats in the league after the all-star break, FYI

[@heartoftexas8092]

How about Ryan Johnson ?

[@bretthaller2096]

I love Johnson too!!!! I'd love to see him and Power together

[@mortal_gaming89]

Love the black and red border.

[@grumpyscott17]

I’m curious how Lindy puts the d-corps together. I have no idea how the pairs will shake out. A lot to like talent wise, but the pairings look wonky to me. We can’t have another disastrous 3rd pair like we did at the start of last year with the E.Johnson/Clifton fiasco.

[@gootvansquid]

Same, super interested to see how D pairings line up. Loaded on D but also awkward seeming pairs to work out lol. My guess has been: Dahlin/Byram Power/Clifton Samuelsson/Jokiharu (or Samuelsson instead of Clifton on pair 2, but having two L/L lines and an R/R line seems extra goofy, and i see Power pairing better with Clifton than Joki. And i feel like Clifton is more solid than people give him credit for.)

[@grumpyscott17]

@@gootvansquidThe Baker/Fairburn show has: Byrum-Dahlin Power-Jokiharju Samuelsson-Clifton Not sure about that 3rd pair, but in Lindy I trust.

[@DavidProulx-o1b]

I agree with Donnie did kill Krebs career I think

[@zzzzrvidoes365]

Where’s the episode with the Senators and Red Wings guys?

[@neilkennington2397]

So I guess with Krebs signing , Adams is planning on carrying 14 forwards ( Krebs & Greenway spare ) , 7 D and 2 goalies? Or hopefully CBJ might be interested in either Greenway or Krebs in a trade?? I cant see Krebs or Greenway making the top 12 forward group over Kulich , who offers more speed and offence . With Samuelsson making the top 4 D with Dahlin, Byram and Power I think there could be a battle between Jokiharju and Dennis Gilbert to make the third D pair with Connor Clifton ,the loser then becomes the 7th D man aka spare D man.

[@grumpyscott17]

I hope you’re right but I’d put my money on Kulich starting in Rochester unless there’s an injury. He’s only 20 and I think they want him to dominate in the AHL first. Plus they always do the safe move of sending the guy down who doesn’t have to clear waivers. I think they’ll go 8 defensemen with Bryson.

[@codyge18]

Id assume that CBJ and Buffalo have already talked about Krebs tbh

[@ronpeacock9939]

last year for us was a bad year with scoring stats. Granato had too much defense focus and just assumed the offense would be there.. I think Krebs got caught in that. I think this is a good deal for both, because it's short. That said, it's also possible that both sides had the basic parameters and just waited to sign when he got to town for TC. As far as Samualsson vs Joki..Joki loses the battle. Samualsson has allowed Dahlin to get offensive knowing Matty would be back there and cover his backside if he gets caught. We just have to keep him healthy. Our D-Core is DEEP... with Dahlin, Samualsson, Power and Byram being our top 4 with Joki, Clifton, Johnson battling for the last 2 spots... with Bryson also knocking on the door.. This team looks like it could surprise more than a few..

[@HappyWolverine]

LFG BOYS!!!!

[@trh8201]

Yes, just give Levi the job because he handled that so well last year…not to mention Ryan Miller is a perfect reason why he should go to Rochester, to develop with a young team full of kids his age. 🤦🏻‍♂️ These thoughts that Devon Levi is the second coming of Dominik Hasek are wild.

[@bretthaller2096]

Why isnt Ryan Johnson a possibility to play wih Owen? Id love to see those two paired up and line one blue line be Rasmus and Bowen

[@SabresGuy87]

I'm surprised this Krebs contract wasn't signed Day 1 of FA. He is lucky to get more than 825k and a 1 year 2 way contract IMO

[@TheCasualMark]

I can only assume they were shopping him around before deciding.

[@billsfan7883]

Joe, is Tage really a Center? Do you think there is a world where Tage is a RW in Lindy’s Eyes? Maybe something like… Peterka - McLeod - Tage Quinn - Cozens - Tuch Zucker - Benson - Greenway Malestyn - Lafferty - Aube-Kubel Just seems like Lindy type lines, IMO… Flip flopping Benson and McLeod, as Benson develops…

[@scottpeterson9958]

Zomg

[@codyge18]

Thompson was considered a bust when he played on the wing, they moved him to center and now hes a top line player. That should be all you need to know. Benson is also a winger

[@jasonbornne7767]

I’m worried about Krebs blocking a Rochester player that deserves a spot more so than the cap hit

[@jamesmiller6217]

If he played too long on the 4th line with a simplified game, then give him the option of going back to ROC to play an offensive role in the first line. I don't think he'd like that. Put up or shut up..

[@kooshari]

Sorry, that’s a stupid idea. Krebs would need to clear waivers to go to Amerks this season, some other team would claim him based on his potential, and Sabres would get nothing in return.

[@jamesmiller6217]

@@kooshari yeah, good point. I didn’t know he’d have to clear waivers. Bottom line is he’s not producing and his lineup spot is in jeopardy

[@billybobhobnob101]

KREBS NEEDS MORE STRENGTH LIKE CASEY

[@elmo6620]

Krebs contract is ok to see what happens.

[@AurorJeffrey]

It’s strange to see Krebs as ruined. We simply have learned that he is not as good as we had hoped. Happens all the time, the margins are so thin.

[@gilles11dupuis]

Yoki for me

[@TheDarthmalstrom]

No Joe Levi won't get better backing up UPL, he needs playing time and being the number one in Rochester is best for his development.

[@brianvanwyk9425]

Nah they really need to do a 50/50 split between them.

[@chrismdb5686]

​@@brianvanwyk9425That was a disaster last season. UPL won the net

[@brianvanwyk9425]

@@chrismdb5686 yeah and then Levi went down and found his game. Long term Levi is the man.

[@chrismdb5686]

@@brianvanwyk9425 Long term, but not this season unless UPL takes a large step back.

[@AurorJeffrey]

There is a 0% chance Kulich is 1LW.

[@gootvansquid]

it's really a waste keeping him on and putting him on bottom 6 lines. he needs to get an actual shot at top 6. i see they were running him with what, Kulich and Rosen? that's nice, but put him on with Benson and Tuch or something, ffs. What he's had in Buffalo is not fair to him, and honestly demeaning. It's starting to make me angry.

[@scottpeterson9958]

Levi will be in Roch. No hurry.

[@tallesttreeintheforest]

i do not care about ovechkin scoring record, and do not understand why an entire franchise and its players is being held captive to it..

[@jtsmith1863]

Because it is hockey history. Happening before our eyes and one of Gretzkys most praised accolades. It's important to hockey as a whole, but you don't have to care, that's your prerogative 😊

[@tallesttreeintheforest]

​@@jtsmith1863 its not that important

[@captainahab4325]

Levi not only will START the season as UPL's backup BUT by the end of the season AND going into the playoffs it will be Levi as the starter. Let's face it Levi has already surpassed UPL at this point in the UPL's development. Levi is a special goalie a once in a lifetime goalie and it will be a big mistake of Ruff if he plays around with Levi and his development. Levi has ALREADY blew up the AHL and he can learn nothing more playing in Rochester HE NEEDS NHL SHOTS period end of report.

[@brianvanwyk9425]

Yeah Levi will get nothing out of more time in the ahl.

[@TheCasualMark]

I’m interested in what you think the ratio will be in regards to goalie starts. 50-32 favoring UPL? Levi?

[@brianvanwyk9425]

@@TheCasualMark I am sure the plan will be 50/30 but when a young goalie turns in a dominating performance he is rewarded with another start. That happens enough and before you know it upl is getting flipped for draft picks

[@captainahab4325]

@@TheCasualMark UPL is going to start the season as the starter and knowing Ruffs history with goalies he will play Levi as a backup. So yeah 50-32 sounds about right. It's going to be up to Levi to PROVE to Ruff that he can be trusted. If UPL has a bad stretch I think Levi will pounce on the opportunity and never look back.

[@codyge18]

If Levi is replacing UPL as the number 1 goalie, theyre not making the playoffs. Levi only supplants UPL if UPL drops off