Broken Ankles

In his first two full years in the NHL Marchand averaged 80 hits (bias stat -maybe), 24 goals and a shooting percentage of almost 16. But Benson has a three year head start on these numbers, so 25/26 wouldn’t even factor in based on age. So from a development perspective, it’s about getting physically stronger, and executing offense at a higher level. * adding an asterisk to my comments as the OP question was how good will he be this year. I am fully on board Benson meeting these numbers 3 years from now. Also, did the PC police vet your question using Brad as a comparable…..based on what, his size? Because I never mentioned height or weight in my posts. Benson towers over Marchand by 1 inch, so why would you not use a 5’11’ forward to compare?

Tage and Tuch are bonefide top line players. Zuck and Norris are legit top 6. Zucker is an option on #1 based on available choices. Quinn, Kulich and Benson are not legit top 6 but I rank them in that order as options based on arguments provided before. Quinn and Kulich have shown better acumen at scoring. We all can be wrong about our projections. Kevyn was wrong keeping him as a top 13 player two years ago, and that’s his f$&king job. I’m using history to determine where he is slotted.

…..With better players - throughout the season, which you fail to acknowledge. Your take that his points will increase by playing on the first line is based on nothing. It’s a fallacy and wishful thinking. Could they increase? Maybe? But it’s more probable than not Zucker is a better option to start the season. Please don’t force us to create a Concept of Benson.

Tage, Tuch, zuck and Norris are bonafide. After that, Quinn and Kulich each rank higher of who I think is a top 6. Based on overall age, experience and scoring ability. I understand the desire to have someone with a defensive skill set “compliment” the other two players. Sometimes a player with zero defensive capabilities can complement a line by scoring 40 goals. In a previous post I shared that I went through last years line combinations and zero teams had a top line winger with less than 28 points and 10 goals for an entire season. It doesn’t meet the standards. FWIW, Zucker Tage Tuch was my “first line” under a different topic. I also acknowledged that maybe Benson is middle six and based on his age and with growth could become a “legit top 6”, but you & LGR are not acknowledging that he played more minutes, with better players and regressed in goals/assists/point per 60. That’s not deserving of top line. His size will not prevent him from excelling in the league. But his lack of scoring and shooting percentage will. If you have Quinn with Norris on Line #2 then I can see Benson supporting in a top six role. But it’s not my definition of Legit. YET.

By shooting impaired players, you mean guys like Tage and Juri? His even strength line combinations don’t fit this narrative. Others include Quinn/Krebbs, Cozens/Quinn, Tage/Tuch and McLeod/Zucker. The guys mentioned score points. You don’t see Lafferty/Greenway/Beck until you get to 11 minutes of ice time. The fact is his ATOI increased last year, but his production in Points per 60 decreased, as did his goals per 60 even though he wasn’t stapled to Greenway and was given ample opportunity to actually score goals. His shooting percentage is anemic at 9% and I just haven’t seen enough for me to think he is anything other than a third line Defensive winger, until he isn’t. Which is completely plausible as he’s only 20. I voted #2 because options were limited, but I was closer to 2 than 1. I find myself aligned with this statement from Thorny -“all 3 of my first liners are bonafide first liners, not 2 guys who are and 1 who may be because of them.” (You see Thorny, some people do read your $hit) So let’s slow down on the coronation to first line winger, and see if his offensive game matures this year. https://frozenpool.dobbersports.com/frozenpool_linecombo.php?select=F&forward=BUF%3A7111%3AZACH%3ABENSON&games=2024-2025%3AR%3A99&period=ALL&situation=EV

382 with 296 without https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=BUF&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2024-10-04&td=2025-04-17&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8479359&p2=8478043&p3=0&p4=0&p5=0

Thank you for sharing. 21 out of 30 is below average (which we all might have assumed and meets the eye test). But your larger point about medium and high danger being an even bigger struggle is validated by the 40 game filter. 26 and 29 is just plain unacceptable. Perhaps his percentages in medium/high danger areas improve slightly, but the only sure fire way to improve the numerator (high danger goals) seems to be to reduce the denominator ( HD chances). These underlying numbers you shared make me feel more and more like the season rests on a strong start by Six-K.

You are using 30 as average (based on games played and most likely a two man rotation at the position * teams) and I would consider 15-20 to be average. My definition is his rank amongst other “starting players”. I guess some teams have embarrassments of riches in the position (2 inside top 30) and others teams have better defensive structure that can place two goalies inside the top 30-35. But if your starting goalie is ranked below others second string net-minders, I consider that player below average.

Isn’t that a bigger problem? Hopefully a change in personnel coupled with improvement with age/experience can reduce some high danger chances, but if you’re ranked 30 something at the basics of the position, then it’s a lost cause, no?

Great for the city of Rochester and the Seneca Nation (if true). Seems right that Seneca should own a NLL franchise, considering the origins of the sport. Can TPegs yield positive Karma from this genuinely positive development. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1204946438317251&id=100064057172774&mibextid=wwXIfr

They played at City Hall in Kenmore (Delaware Ave/Delaware Rd) during my visit in June. Big crowd too. 💯 agree. Gord was beloved and missed by many. Strictly was smart to fill that void.

If Tuch is not on the Sabres in 26/27, it’s his choice, and an indictment on this train wreck of an organization. It’s not due to an internal cap.

I think tribute bands still qualify as a 'concert', right? Came across this band (Start Making Sense) while attending the OC Fair in Costa Mesa last weekend. I love the Talking Heads, but obviously, they never tour, so it seemed like a great alternative. They were fantastic. I know David Byrne is touring in 2025, but he is playing the Dolby Theatre out here in Hollywood, which has tickets running ~ $600 for Orchestra and $200 for Mezzanine. And with that, you are probably only going to get 8 or 9 Talking Head songs in the set list. These cats are from Pennsylvania and do a bunch of shows near Buffalo. I think one is in Rochester around Thanksgiving. For $25.00, it's well worth the cost of a ticket. https://www.startmakingsenseband.com/new-events

On #1 - Agree. I think Quinn is probably due for a breakout year. Healthy, and we saw snippets of elite play last year. But if you assume you are moving a contract like his and Kadri would replace him in the starting 12 - it's more probable than not, Kadri in the short term delivers better results. If you remove Quinn from your CAP number and add Kadri, there is still $1.5M in space, assuming there is no retention. #2 - Beat the drum. More vet experience is a good thing for "one of the youngest" rosters in the league. #3 - The Only issue I see would be next year, assuming Tuch signs for $9M. If you have $27.6M in space in '26 (23.4 + Quinn or equivalent 3.3), and you subtract $9M for Tuch and $7M for Kadri, you have $11.7 to bridge Kesselring/Doan/Benson. A 'real' GM would be able to navigate this challenge by moving Mr. Glass, or another high-priced asset like Byram/Power if there was a desire to lock up Kesselring for a higher AAV. But we don't have that luxury....yet.

The OP asks how you would line them up. Not how a dysfunctional group of unqualified coaches and administrators would. Let’s just accept that statement as Gospel from an organization where decision‑making is glacial, accountability is evasive, and each season becomes an epilogue to the last disappointment.

The logic for Line 1 is experience while keeping the chemistry from Tage and Tuch. I know others like balance, hence Alex slotted on FL#2. I like prefer they stay together. FL2 is more defensive in nature, but certainly capable of scoring. FL#3 could be potent against other teams bottom six. Again, I know Kulich is slotted at Center for most, but I think he should focus on scoring goals. If he was sheltered slightly (3rd line wing vs Top line Center), I think he can score 30. And finally, the hope is Quinn could outperform against grinders. Based on what we saw from him in Rochester, he should be 25+. Especially against lesser talent.

Stop living in fear.

Zuck Tage Tuch Benson McLeod Greenway Kulich Norris Doan Quinn Krebs Danforth Byram/Rasmus Power/Kesselring Mr.Glass/Timmins UPL/Lyon

What is the point in signing before arbitration unless you think the results would yield a potentially higher AAV award? So was he somehow going to get MORE than $2.2M annually if they let it play out? Or just bad negotiating by Adams…again? If I assume he was a portion of the second round pick collateral to Pittsburgh (Clifton cap dump being the other), and if JBD would have gone to arbitration and that process yielded say $1.5m- $1.8m, are the Sabres better off with Timmons at $2.2m or with JBD, the draft capital (whatever it may be) plus the additional cap space (not that it would be used)?

Angry is over.

Maybe late 80s Ozzy but not during the Diary of A Madman tour in ‘82. His show at the Aud was legendary. It was Mid April, just weeks after Randy Rhoades untimely death. A few before Rhoades death in Iowa, he bit the head off a bat 🦇. The concert was so hyped. Rest in peace Great Ozz!

Elite defensive forwards play on FL2 against an another teams first line (when at home and you can matchup better). I have no issues with him moving up to a second line role (assuming Greenway/Zucker aren’t both injured or producing). I also know he is an analytics darling and loved by the masses on SS. But you need your best talent on the first line. Tage/Norris/Tuch. These are known quantities. Men who score goals.

How can you say in sequential posts how crazy the fan base is to even consider Kulich starting on FL1, then follow it up with penciling in Benson there? I think the fact either starting there is equally egregious. In fact it kind of explains the impotence of the organization, doesn’t it?. There are zero 10 goal/28 point forwards slotted on the first line around the league. Benson had the same point total as Krebs, with better line mates, and a higher ATOI. No one is clamoring for Krebs to play alongside Tage. Until Benson puts up a 20 goal season like JJP, then first line LW should not be a consideration. In terms of age and pedigree, why would Quinn not supersede Benson in the overall hierarchy? I think it’s more probable than not he out points both Kulich and Benson.

This. One notch above JAG. Noah waits in the wings. Played solidly in his 8-game tryout last year.