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I mean I guess strike while the iron is hot. It’s seems like weird timing immediately after his best game as a professional you want to move Malenstyn. I’m still trying to figure out what the love fest with Kozak is. He’s alright, I just don’t see much more than a 12th or 13th forward in him.

Wahlberg is not a center IMPO and he is 2+ years away at this rate. Helenius is and should be a middle 6 C at some point.

We have 6 centers (when Norris can play) of varying abilities. Tage and Krebs also play wing regularly and I can see any of the others also moving to wing when expedient. I have my worries about the durability of Norris (as many of us do), but I kind of like our center corps and depth right now. And duh: I forgot all about Kulich. And don't we have another C or 2 in Rochester that are approaching NHL readiness? Wahlberg, Helenius? I like Kozak but I think he might still be in the honeymoon phase. I'm not sure I take him over Krebs. Possibly, but I'm not there yet.

I like Malenstyn better than greenway. He is faster and has more endurance. Greenway seems to last about 35 seconds on a shift then he is standing straight up. You can always tell when he is gassed by that vertical posture.

Krebs, Malenstyn, Kozak, and Greenway are all contributing. Kozak being the best of the bunch. Malenstyn cleanly hits everything in sight, Greenway is playing the game he can play. Both help on the PK. Every team needs players like this.

Right but you need 7 Dmen on the roster. When Kesselring returns, that will prompt Metsa's move back to Rochester. If Dunne is waiver exempt then yeah, demote him. He's fine but nothing more than a 4th liner. He's a little slow but seems to think the game well and is hard to move off the puck along the boards.

Eh. Not sure I agree. One or more of them may have to go, but Malenstyn played probably his best game as a Sabre last night while Greenway was just kind of okay.

On last nights game. Nice to see more than 3 goals again. Sabres seemed to have good control of the game. You have to like the beginning of the third period when you expected an Oilers push the Sabres seemed to still control play and when they got the 4th goal it was pretty much over. Ellis played his best game and sent Leon D back to the bench snarling after that chance in the third. Ellis is quick side to side to side, seems to absorb the puck well and has a good glove. Sure looks promising. We can dump on Adams for a lot of things but claiming this guy when he had 4 other goalies on 1 way contracts might be one of his best moves. Certainly if our forwards return to health Östlund and Rosen are going back. Kind of wonder about the order of things. You would think Dunn goes back first then Rosen as Östlund can play on the bottom lines to replace Dunn. People were quick to write these guys off based on limited reps in the NHL but go back and look at Thompson or Mitt's path to the NHL. Both were almost written off as busts until they were sent down. One's a lot better than the other but they are both NHL players. The Oilers have no forward depth at all. You have to wonder in 2 years when McDavid hit's the eject button how Leon D. is going to deal with the pressure of having to deal with this all by himself. This team is not going back to the finals this year.

Thompson has been very good lately. Two things I see are much more physical play and better attention to details in his two way game. He is not just getting in the way by waving his stick, he is winning puck battles and physically overpowering opponents. He can be a complete beast if he wants to be. He could be taking another step in the maturation of his game.

Who is 1C versus who is 2C and this team doesn't really matter to me. I'm sure they'll both play in the power play, and it's not like you are going to put two All-Star wingers with one of them and not with the other. The lines are always changing anyway. If you want to call one of them 1C and one of them 2C then fine... But to me when they're both in the lineup, theuir lines will pretty much be interchangeable. I'd expect if or when Norris is fully up to speed, there might be some days where Tage at center and his line would get more ice time, and other days where Norris would. Maybe you simply say Norris is 2c because you want to bring him back slowly, and maybe even for the rest of the year, You don't want him getting the most ice time simply to reduce wear and tear on the body/injury chance. I understand your point but for me Greenway would be the first guy out. I really don't see him doing much positive other than eating up ice time. He's just a very expensive "filler" at wing to me.

How much does the poor play in front of these goalies affect the stats ? Sabres still give up a lot of shots where the team D was absolutely terrible. Last night, the only goal allowed was being caught on a line change. Other games, getting back on D was too often optional and killed us. Much better last night.

Krebs and Malenstyn don't offer anything that can't be supplied by Kozak and Greenway. If I'm in charge, I'm chopping Malenstyn first, Krebs 2nd.

Would be nice to know before the draft if this team actually has center depth because the draft is wing and defense heavy.

Players get singled out to become the symbols for the frustration (understandably) of this team. Samuelsson is a classic example of that where he became vilified and demonized. Now look at him! I would say he is playing very well and more importantly has become one of our consistent performers on the unit. I, like you, have been disappointed in Quinn relative to my expectations for him. But let's put things in context when evaluating any young Sabre. Usually, they are rushed in their roles. Instead of playing on a lower line and working their way up, they often are prematurely elevated for a higher line playing against the better players on other teams. That's a franchise failure in the handling of players. I do see Quinn getting better. It's not a grand leap but from what I have seen there is an incremental progression. I'll gladly accept that steady improvement which is more of the norm on how young players develop in comparison to the few who almost right from the start demonstrate that they are high-end players. I recommend more patience when evaluating him.

One last thought: This is why teams want centers over wingers. Centers can shift over to the wing and shift back to center; it seems like this is the way Tage operates best- moving back and forth. I think the change in responsibilities sharpens his focus. And having Norris (maybe eventually) and McCleod, and Kozak and Krebs and Östlund all ready to play C, but filling in at wing if need be, makes the team stronger. If one of the center spine has a rough game, you and push him out to the wing and take the pressure off; there are other centers that can step in.

Is Dunne waiver exempt? Don't forget Metsa is up with the Sabres now too.

Don’t harsh my vibe. Outstanding.

They're kind of where Kozak was last year: You know they're gonna be roster regulars, but right now they're tweeners. I as especially impressed by the work Östlund put in last night on a checking line that chipped in offensively. And Kozak looked great at 3C. He's really starting to control play out there.

But they're gonna need several rosters spots soon.

On the other hand, do you want Östlund and Rosén riding the pine if everyone else is healthy and they have to be scratched? Would it be better to give them reps in Rochester? I'm not making any implications either way, just asking the question. Thought the same. Can they maintain that level of fight every game? I hope. Wasn't that the game where Dahlin said, "This is the way we play every night from now on" or words to that effect?

Shavers again showed some potential. He at least got separation regularly.

I’m not sure how many times you can spam a GDT with anti Kevyn Adams rhetoric before you get put on everyone’s ignore list. We all hate him. Terry doesn’t. End of story.

Thought the same. Can they maintain that level of fight every game? I hope.

Rosen and Östlund are playing pretty good as well. I hope they stay in the line up.