Derrico

I don't watch a ton of Canes games but I know the year before he was traded he was playing most of his time with journeyman Derek Ryan. Top 6 I should have said.

I realize he mainly played on their third line and did just fine. I also know that he played on a top line last year and scored 14 goals and 9 assists. That's 9 assists in 59 friggen games played!! Woof. I also realize the Sabres missed the playoffs with him playing in said top line when the friggen playoffs were expanded to almost every team in the league. No I'm not going to cry for Skinner because RK has him on the 4th line. A lot will change and I suspect Skinner will end up on the third line with a guy like Cozens. I also suspect he will be playing the second power play and his minutes will probably end up very close to 17 minutes per night.

JFC. I know I haven't watched much camp (not sure any of us have been able too). He looked horrendous in the last scrimmage. He looked vintage 2019 Hutton.

Skinner plays a unique game. He's not a set up man in the least. He will get his regardless of where he plays in the lineup. Again, they did the exact same thing in Carolina and he got his just the same. We needed him scoring goals last year and he didn't do that in the top 6 either......

Yep. If this were to drag on (which I don't think it will) then you absolutely expose him and hope Seattle takes him. Something will get worked out. The style Skinner plays I'm fine with him on a third line but was hoping he got a Cozens to play with.

Good points Taro. He must know Ullmark is the starter though right? I know there will be a ton of back to backs and the second string will play a lot. But if we go near a 50/50 split there's no way this team has a chance at the playoffs. Hutton is terrible.

No it's not. He can start doing what the coach asks regardless of what line he plays on. RK knows what Skinner does well, score goals. He needs him doing the other things it takes to win hockey games.

Excellent looking top 6 but their bottom 6 doesn't exactly look dominant on paper. We know what Sheary is all about....

I'm not as pissed about Skinner as most. But this? There are no words. Is there room in the fire RK bunker? Only explanation I can think of is they are playing back to back so Hutton would get a game anyways so it won't matter who plays which game. I really really hope that's the case and he doesn't actually think we should be riding Hutton over Ullmark.

I thought last year was coaches and I assumed the same but could easily be wrong.

Yep, captain on that wjc team I believe. Same as others, wish Okposo would give it to Hall.

Skinner played on the third line in Carolina as well.

If they make the playoffs it will hardly be squeaking anything out in this division. It will have been a hell of a job done by all if they get in.

What in the actual ***** Trying to create a third scoring line (which we haven't had in forever) may just work pairing Skinner with Cozens. But this? What are those lines??

Cozens going to be playing with the big boys. I like the idea of giving him a guy like Skinner to play with rather then starting him on a typical Sabres third or fourth line usually comprising of all scrubs.

Who?

Not surprising as I'm not sure where else he would play with no OHL season. I think with the huge number of games in short timeframe he will get a couple of games in. Very much doubt it goes over the prorated 9 (do we know how many they are allowed? I'm guessing 6?).

I was really hoping for Borgen, glad he made the cut.

Unfortunately I agree. But didn't they have all last seasons real games as evidence that it didn't work? Again, what a chance they are taking wasting another Eichel year, Hall year, Dahlin year. You can't sign Hall to finally go for it this year and stick with such unproven goaltending can they? It appears they can. Hope it works out but this is almost as disastrous as JBOT not replacing 2nd line C when it too was so obvious. Everyone and their grandmothers have major concerns about goaltending yet here we are on the eve of the season going with these two again. For what it's worth I really do like Ullmark.

Good points. The coach is the coach and I don't want someone who's focus is more on keeping players happy then keeping players motivated and in the best position for the team to win. If you don't like your ice time or line mates then work harder at playing the system and moving up in the lineup. You shouldn't be happy based on what you've shown from last November to today. Blame RK all you want, the guy is too talented to be completely invisible for long stretches like he was last year. Ya this should be an interesting waiver list I would think. Anyone know what the cap situation looks like? I assume Girgs salary is coming off the books so there should be atleast that to add if necessary?

You’re going to sit there and explain to me how skinner was anything but a disappointment last season?

Maybe, just maybe, Skinner needs to get his head out of his ass. Why do we have to caudle these players? He wasn't good enough last year and by all accounts isn't good enough in this years training camp either. I'm assuming RK has tried over the past year tactics to get Skinner playing like he wants. If Skinner isn't playing the system and they've had this discussion for awhile and nothing has changed then I have no problem RK calling him out as a wake up call.

The alternative is wasting the one year you have with Hall, Dahlin still on his ELC and yet another prime Eichel year.

While I agree, I thought I read somewhere from canes fans saying skinner played on their third line there because he essentially did better with guys that would play more grind it out type hockey then high skill. The potential options are not great but I’m fine him being used out of the top 6. I was hopeful Cozens would be showing more to join skinner and make a great third line.

I can’t believe we didn’t upgrade our goaltending. In a condensed season backups will be playing a ton. This decision could easily cost us into missing the playoffs. We tried it. It didn’t work. Move on.