This team will be beautiful in a few years. Luukkonen/Levi will be the best tandem in the league one day.

Is it just me or does this feel like the Sens team just 2 years ago?


Also,

Bryson above Power and Samuelsson is odd, Id say the other 2 where better last year.

Prospect pool is finally sufficient in all three forward positions and in net. Defense pool is mega weak, but our NHL D-core will be very solid for a long time. 2023 I imagine we take a couple D-men in the first two rounds to address that.

Who is your dark horse of the organization? I personally would say Rousek, I think he is gonna do really well in the A this year and force his way onto our roster in the near future.

Is it just me or does this feel like the Sens team just 2 years ago?


Also,

Bryson above Power and Samuelsson is odd, Id say the other 2 where better last year.

Rasmus Asplund is my current dark horse. I think he will become a very solid defensive top 6 forward. Rousek is a good one as well, when players like Jack Quinn are sayign the guy is sick i'd listen. Another dark horse is Lawrence Pilut

I was high on Pilut when we signed him the first time around. He was dominating the AHL yet Botterill refused to give him a chance at the NHL level even though our team was dog. Looking at his KHL stats does not impress me much, but I think he could still be a good 3rd pair 2nd PP unit guy. He will really have to fight for an NHL spot this time around because now we don't have potatoes on defense anymore (I'm looking at you Zach Bogosian)

BuFfaLOFaN "Rasmus Asplund is my current dark horse." When he skated with Mittelstadt and Thompson he demonstrated an ability to score as well as his 7 goals in the world hockey championship.
My second choice is Ruotsalainen.
He was the best Amerk during the playoffs.
He has been a good PK center and may find a home on the fourth line making it very difficult for a new player to crack the line up.
I was extremely excited when the Sabres originally signed Pilut.
i am still excited that he has decided to return to the Sabres, but I think it will be difficult for him to find playing time in the NHL.

First, what coach would let the GM tell him who to play?
Housley was the HC, Pilut's first year with the Sabres and Lawrence played 33 games to net 6 pts and 1 goal.
Krueger was his second HC and Lawrence played 13 games without a pt, probably due to Krueger confusing him along with many other Sabres.
So 46 games with only one goal, how many games does a 23 yo defensemen need to play before it is evident he is not ready for the NHL?

Second now that he is back in Europe he has 7 goals and 39 pts in 97 games, not exactly star studded results.

You blame Botterill for the HC not playing him, for Pilut not demonstrating he was NHL ready under two different HC, and for bolting Europe because his feelings were hurt.
You will most likely disagree with me which is fine, but Kravtsov went back to Russian no one blamed the Ranger organization, Vitali was labeled a cry baby.

Let me repeat, I am really happy Pilut has grown up and realized the NHL is the only MAJOR LEAGUE ON THIS PLANET.

Rasmus Asplund is my current dark horse. I think he will become a very solid defensive top 6 forward. Rousek is a good one as well, when players like Jack Quinn are sayign the guy is sick i'd listen. Another dark horse is Lawrence Pilut

Routsalainen is a great choice. I actually would love an Asplund - Routsalainen - Okposo line. Just log minutes and help maybe take the burden off a young scoring third line, something like Krebs - Cozens - Quinn

I have 3 dark horses, 2 3rd rounders and I believe a 6th rounder. Josh Bloom, Neuchev, and Nadeau. I think all of them have strong middle 6 potential. If a bunch of these players develop as we hope, these are the kind of players that will make other teams fans ask “how do they keep finding these guys?

That would be a very interesting line.
Imagine after Murray gutted the prospect pool and threw away draft picks it was difficult to ice 18 NHL skaters.
Even last season the opening line up included Bjork, Caggiula, Eakin, Hagg, Miller and Pysyk.
Replacing them with Quinn, Tuch, Krebs, Power, Lyubushkin, and Fitzgerald will certainly make the team significantly better.
It is very refreshing to have so many viable line up choices.

All possible NHL players, but two years away as they are only 19, 18 and 19 respectively as I write this.
Even Point was 21 before he played his first NHL game and 23 before he became a standout performer.
Remember big players take longer to develop, all three of them are 6'2".
On the other hand if they could force their way into the line up, imagine how much young depth the team would have.

EDIT:
Nice to see Kulich, Östlund and Savoie have already signed their contracts.