JJBuffalo

To add to your point, other moves we made should help out the offensive output. We added goals when we traded Kassian for Hodgson(CoHo 15-20 goals total). Also we added goals by replacing Gaustad with (whoever 3rd line Center is). Also a full season of Foligno should add goals to the lineup.

I love the Leopold for Malone trade even if we have to add a pick(2nd) or prospect(Adam). We will lose Leopold at yr end and also have too many NHL dman, we could lose Brennan/Weber/ Pardy if we try to send them down. Dont think the Stafford for Filpulla trade will happen. Im hoping we land Doan but dont think it will. I would keep Sekera unless we traded for a big #1C. Our lines after Malone trade- Vanek-Hodgson-Malone Foligno-Ennis-Stafford Ott- Grigorenko/Leino-Pommer Ott will take faceoffs. Lindy will switch Malone and Pommer after a few periods. I like this lineup and we only gave up Leopold and Adam/or pick. Each line is balanced with a banger(Malone, Foligno, Ott)-a creator(Hodgson-Ennis- Grigs)- and a finisher(Vanek, Stafford, Pommer).

IN: Konopka, Penner Out: Hecht, Boyes, Lineup- Vanek, Hodgson, Penner Foligno, Ennis, Stafford Leino, Roy, Pommer Kaleta, Konopka, Tropp extra; Gerbe/McCormick Myers, Regehr Ehrhoff, Leopold Mcnabb, Sekera Sulzer, Weber

My feelings exactly. As i posted this in another thread I think the Sabres can learn something from the Flyers. Looking at their top 2/3 lines they consist of a shifty playmaker(Briere, Giroux), a talented scorer(Jagr, schenn/van riemsdyk), and a big physical winger(Hartnell/Simmons). Even their third line of Read, Couterier and Schenn when van riemsdyk is healthy. This is exactly how our line of Ennis, Stafford and Foligno flourished. The Flyers just have 3 lines like this! So we may have already added one shifty playmaking center in Hodgson but I'm hoping we can have 3 lines in this mold next yr. Ennis, Foligno, Stafford. Hodgson, Vanek and XXXXX?. Roy(trade), Leino, Pominville. We are only 2 moves away from having 3 lines in this makeup and improving overall toughness, which everyone knows we need to improve. #1 is get a winger in the mold of (Simmons/Hartnell) maybe Ryan Malone?? 2. Get rid of Roy and get a bigger physical Center to play with Leino Pominville. I like Ott to Center Pommers line. And the more I watch Dustin Brown, the more I want him with Vanek and Hodgson... How were they(reportedly) shopping him? Would Adam, Pysk, and a 1st get Dustin to Buffalo??