[Buffalo News] Sabres mailbag: Is Ryan McLeod the last offseason addition for Lindy Ruff?
July 14, 2024
[Buffalo News] Sabres mailbag: Is Ryan McLeod the last offseason addition for Lindy Ruff?
2 comments
>**Dave Mason asks:** What is the team’s plan for Ryan Johnson after it re-signed Henri Jokiharju and Jacob Bryson?
>**Lysowski:** Johnson isn’t physically ready for the NHL. He looked overmatched and overwhelmed late in the regular season with Rochester, as well as the Amerks’ playoff series against the Syracuse Crunch. The Sabres need to give the 22-year-old more time to gain strength and learn how to defend in tight areas around his own net. He was thrust into Buffalo’s lineup sooner than he should have because Erik Johnson struggled at 5-on-5, but the Sabres were wise to re-sign the two defensemen you mentioned and add Dennis Gilbert.
>**Kevin Palmer asks:** Do prices on the trade market come back to earth or do they remain high with so few teams rebuilding?
>**Lysowski:** It depends on the situation. Cap-strapped teams eventually are going to need to lower prices to create financial flexibility if they don’t have a player to place on long-term injured reserve. You won’t see the Winnipeg Jets, Carolina Hurricanes or Philadelphia Flyers alter their asking price for top-six forwards such as Nikolaj Ehlers, Martin Necas or Joel Farabee because there isn’t a pressure point to move those players.
>**Jake asks:** Will Kulich or Isak Rosen make the Sabres’ roster out of training camp?
>**Lysowski:** Neither unless there’s an injury. The Sabres don’t need to rush either player. Kulich is just 20 years old and endured a challenging second half last season in Rochester, and the club brought Rosen to North America a year sooner than expected because he wasn’t getting ice time in Sweden. They are almost ready to be everyday NHLers, but it’s an ideal scenario to not have to rush either one. They will both get games in Buffalo this season.
>**Alex Jones asks:** Could you see any Russian prospects making the NHL roster in the coming years?
>**Lysowski:** Defensemen Vsevelod Komarov and Nikita Novikov and winger Viktor Neuchev have the best odds among the Russian players who will be in Rochester this season. Each of the three needs to improve their skating to realize their potential. Aleksandr Kisakov, on the other hand, seems to have gotten lost in the Amerks’ mix. The 2021 second-round draft pick was a healthy scratch throughout the Calder Cup playoffs in each of the past two years. He wasn’t at the team’s development camp this month, either.
>Keep an eye on 2021 second-round pick Prokhor Poltapov. He can sign with the Sabres after the Kontinental Hockey League’s season. The power forward should be close to NHL-ready, but will need time in Rochester to adjust to North American pro hockey.
2 comments
>**Dave Mason asks:** What is the team’s plan for Ryan Johnson after it re-signed Henri Jokiharju and Jacob Bryson?
>**Lysowski:** Johnson isn’t physically ready for the NHL. He looked overmatched and overwhelmed late in the regular season with Rochester, as well as the Amerks’ playoff series against the Syracuse Crunch. The Sabres need to give the 22-year-old more time to gain strength and learn how to defend in tight areas around his own net. He was thrust into Buffalo’s lineup sooner than he should have because Erik Johnson struggled at 5-on-5, but the Sabres were wise to re-sign the two defensemen you mentioned and add Dennis Gilbert.
>**Kevin Palmer asks:** Do prices on the trade market come back to earth or do they remain high with so few teams rebuilding?
>**Lysowski:** It depends on the situation. Cap-strapped teams eventually are going to need to lower prices to create financial flexibility if they don’t have a player to place on long-term injured reserve. You won’t see the Winnipeg Jets, Carolina Hurricanes or Philadelphia Flyers alter their asking price for top-six forwards such as Nikolaj Ehlers, Martin Necas or Joel Farabee because there isn’t a pressure point to move those players.
>**Jake asks:** Will Kulich or Isak Rosen make the Sabres’ roster out of training camp?
>**Lysowski:** Neither unless there’s an injury. The Sabres don’t need to rush either player. Kulich is just 20 years old and endured a challenging second half last season in Rochester, and the club brought Rosen to North America a year sooner than expected because he wasn’t getting ice time in Sweden. They are almost ready to be everyday NHLers, but it’s an ideal scenario to not have to rush either one. They will both get games in Buffalo this season.
>**Alex Jones asks:** Could you see any Russian prospects making the NHL roster in the coming years?
>**Lysowski:** Defensemen Vsevelod Komarov and Nikita Novikov and winger Viktor Neuchev have the
best odds among the Russian players who will be in Rochester this season. Each of the three needs to improve their skating to realize their potential. Aleksandr Kisakov, on the other hand, seems to have gotten lost in the Amerks’ mix. The 2021 second-round draft pick was a healthy scratch throughout the Calder Cup playoffs in each of the past two years. He wasn’t at the team’s development camp this month, either.
>Keep an eye on 2021 second-round pick Prokhor Poltapov. He can sign with the Sabres after the Kontinental Hockey League’s season. The power forward should be close to NHL-ready, but will need time in Rochester to adjust to North American pro hockey.
Who knew bonkers Alex jones was a Sabs fan?!