PerreaultForever

and yet, there it is, still a big part of the game whether you like it or not.

Now moving Cozens to wing is an interesting idea that I am in favour of. He's one of our better forwards along the wall and he does have some grit and two way ability so I can definitely see him as a good winger matched with a play maker. Sabres seem set on Greenway on a top line though. Cozens at wing does leave a bottom end weak at center and we're still missing that 3C shutdown guy but the top 2 lines would be pretty dangerous.

I'd take Hagel as well. I'd have signed Hathaway and then Cozens would definitely not have had to fight him. We need toughness on all levels, not just fighting. Tampa's in second place despite having no goalie, so not bad.

I don't think so. You just need to have young goalies in the system who can be called up from the AHL. It's not a big deal but there's no question Wolfe is knocking on the door there and will force his way on to the team at some point.

I think they have worked hard at developing Mitts but have to some extent taken Cozens talent for granted and have expected him to elevate his linemates. Cozens has been asked to do too much at this stage and I think his development suffers as a result. Blackhawks when? Detroit when? Definitely not the Yzerplan. Leafs went all in on speed and scoring. Top down rather than bottom up from the goal out. We can potentially do better than the Leafs because we have 2 top pick D men but the make up of the team and the system has the same flaws overall.

Is it? "Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman believes the move is being made more for injury protection, rather than a possible upcoming trade. Dan Vladar and Jacob Markstrom also are on the Flames' roster. Markstrom missed Wednesday's practice for maintenance."

You're not wrong here, they are pretty clear on their defined identity, which is why I have an issue with it and keep wasting words as if they're going to read this post and change their minds lol. Hence my endless frustration. I feel like I'm watching a railway get constructed and I look ahead and see there's no bridge over the canyon and the owner is just saying will you guys look at this shiny engine we built we are just about ready to head off down the tracks. I see the trainwreck coming. The "identity" we are working with is the Leafs. Has been for ages. It doesn't work. It won't work. It's folly. Copy Tampa, copy Vegas, copy the Bruins, etc. DON'T copy the Laughs.

Never said the second sentence. You putting words in my mouth.

Yes, that's the key, not just STP but also the net front. Without the net front you just risk losing possession or a stoppage after an easy save. Then we lose the face off and it's another 20 seconds off the clock or more. We've had the net front problem for ages though. Even Kreuger recognized it and tried to stick his biggest immovable object in there (Risto) and it worked a little, but in general most of our guys are around the goal but not in tight enough for it to matter.

You like a laugh I see. But is it? If it is, why did so many teams add that to their roster. Why did a top team like Tampa spend so much on Jeannot? I guess they enjoy laughing at the teams below them that don't make the playoffs. Now what really is laughable is the notion that Hathaway is a "top pugilist". I'd agree with you if he took on DesLauriers (a guy we discarded and yet there he is, still wrecking havoc around the league) but Hathaway is a mid level fighter at best. If you can't stand up to him, you have ZERO chance come playoff time. ZERO. Imagine what the Sabres might be like at this point if they actually valued toughness, even a little, and still had guys like DesLauriers or Foligno on the roster. Maybe then Cozens would have been in the line up. Not valuing that at all is incomprehensible. Two laughs and one incomprehensible each. I think that makes us even.

Well yes, arbitration is the most likely route. I just kind of see the possible impasse along these lines. Last year if he was mapping out the Sabres over time KA probably thought I have my 1C (Thompson) locked up on a good long term deal so I'm locking up my 2C with similar term (Cozens) and then if he grows into it Mitts can be my 3C and with that thinking he's probably projecting 4-5 million but since, Mitts has been arguably the best center, definitely second best and now the math goes out the window. idk, we will see what happens. It's all guess work at this point. Partly depends on how much Mitts wants to stay a Sabre. Again, just guess work.

We have a different view of how to structure a team but that's okay. I don't see how this constant evolving will get us to the playoffs but it is what it is.

I'm going to disagree with the STP idea. STP only works if the goalie doesn't know where it's coming from, is late to react to quick movement or can't see it. We're just not strong enough in front of the net and we rely on Dahlin too much. Yes, he's the PP QB but you need to vary things or it gets too predictable. We have to use both points and the bumper. Keep the puck moving but drive the net and get those tips and deflections.

Totally agree but I said a long time ago I didn't think there was much value out there for VO and I got the usual scoffs from (some) people claiming we could move him for first rounder cause "who doesn't want a goal scorer". 10-1 he just falls by the wayside at the end of the year and then maybe somebody like the Sharks gives him a cheap contract or PTO. I wish he had real value, but I really don't think he does. Agreed, but it also depends on how you define "playing well". Putting up AHL points is not an indicator of NHL readiness.

Ya, unless he decides to hold out. Sabres get Nylandered. I can see it happening.

That's the problem imo. There's still too much shuffling and movement all over the roster. I think it's well past time they all had clearly defined roles and positions and barring a massive amount of injuries (where you have no choice but to juggle) they need to be slotted in those spots and expected to do those jobs. If they dont' they get replaced. We have, to this point in time, done Cozens a disservice by giving him too many different linemates and sometimes inferior ones. They seem to have gone to great lengths to helps Mitts find his place, but with Cozens it's almost like they expect him to carry whoever they toss out with him.

Depends how you look at it and what parameters you use.

Nice thought, I'd like it to be true, not sure it is.

My impasse comments were just hypothetical "if" comments. We have no way to know on contract discussions but you can speculate for conversation sake. So IF there is an impasse there could be a scenario. Trade for a goalie? Top 4 D? There are possibilities. The real point for me is we have a lot of offensive players in the system and unless we just squander them somebody will get moved somewhere at some point. Assets are assets.

I'm not thinking just of the fight. The injury from the fight is the bigger issue to me but the fight is just a moment to launch the conversation. I have been thinking about his play all season. He doesn't seem to have kept progressing this year and has taken a bit of a step back in his overall play. Now that could be temporary, but I had thought he'd really come into his own this year and that hasn't happened, all fighting aside. Now as to this bold, absolutely correct. While you want those guys unafraid and ready to step up when needed, it's better if you have some bottom end guys to handle that dirty work more often. I, for example, wanted us to sign Hathaway rather than Okposo. I still think a 4th line overhaul is what this team really needs.

Well it's true, since face offs don't matter for the Sabres, they are all wings. So too many wings then. How ever you want to draw it up it's too many similar guys looking for the same spots on the roster. Something has to give. As for needing new deals, that is correct, but if you're a good GM you also have to be projecting forward and you make moves to avoid a moment with too many deals at once. You want your contracts coming on and off the books to be staggered.

I don't pay much attention to playing well in the AHL. If we get to see him play an NHL game I will be able to assess him better. Right now he remains a mystery to me.

Was talking about Mitts but anyone is a trade chip under the right circumstances. Somebody traded Gretzky remember. ANYBODY can be a trade chip. So, specifically to Cozens, what if Mitts stays good or even gets better and Thompson is locked up and is good, Mitts signs a good deal, outplays Cozens, now Cozens is 3C. Then Benson and Savoie both shine and we have too many centers. Sure, convert some to wing but Quinn and Peterka and Kulich etc. maybe we have no room at wing but maybe we still need a D man. You move a center. In that situation it COULD be Cozens. It COULD be anyone.

No, there's no "need" to do it but I still think if you are at an impasse you have to think ahead so you entertain offers and see if there's a deal that makes the team better out there. There's no need to rush but you might get your best offer now rather than waiting until you're up against the wall and other teams know it. If the offers aren't good enough you don't accept them.

Well since I haven't seen him play a single minute of a game I have no idea how "gifted" Savoie even is. Time in the NHL: is fine and that's what the 10 game window is for. Then you decide if they stay or go and that's it. To me the Sabres are monkeying around too much and it can cost the team.