Huckleberry Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 (edited) http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/could-cody-franson-make-the-buffalo-sabres-a-playoff-team/ Just don't see Franson lifting us up i the standings like this writer does. Edited August 29, 2015 by Huckleberry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woods-racer Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/could-cody-franson-make-the-buffalo-sabres-a-playoff-team/ Just don't see Franson lifting us up i the standings like this writer does. I with you. If Franson is on the ice enough to get us 5 points in the standings our top 4 are a lot worse than we are assuming right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueBlueGED Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 (edited) http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/could-cody-franson-make-the-buffalo-sabres-a-playoff-team/ Just don't see Franson lifting us up i the standings like this writer does. Franson's rep is unfairly tarnished because he was a Leaf and he's just one of those guys who people obsess over what he isn't rather than appreciating what he is. Yea, he's poor defensively and slow footed, but he's legit offensively and there's absolutely room for an offensive defenseman on this team. Edited August 29, 2015 by TrueBlueGED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJFIVEOH Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 I'm not sure Franson helps to get us more points, but I think he does help in that Gorges and Bogosian WILL miss time. With their style of play you have to count on them missing 20 games. If/when the top 4 get depleted, then Franson will help get some points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huckleberry Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 I'm not sure Franson helps to get us more points, but I think he does help in that Gorges and Bogosian WILL miss time. With their style of play you have to count on them missing 20 games. If/when the top 4 get depleted, then Franson will help get some points. Also still think he is holding out for a multiyear deal. If he wanted to be here I believe he would have signed already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doohickie Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 Also still think he is holding out for a multiyear deal. If he wanted to be here I believe he would have signed already. Or it could be just lawyers haggling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueBlueGED Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 Also still think he is holding out for a multiyear deal. If he wanted to be here I believe he would have signed already. Another way to look at it is if a team wanted to commit 3+ years to him they would have by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Crotch Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 The Preds have a good Dcore but it concerns me he was a healthy scratch some during the playoffs last year. Still an upgrade over who our third pairing would be and we won't run into cap problems on a two year deal so I wouldn't mind it. If anything he will help the PP. I saw every game he played with the Preds and he was awful in his own zone. I think he fits a need for a veteran who can play the point on the power play. But, he needs to be on the third pair IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 I saw every game he played with the Preds and he was awful in his own zone. I think he fits a need for a veteran who can play the point on the power play. But, he needs to be on the third pair IMHO. If you had to pick between Franson playing the left side on the second pairing, or Gorges, who would you pick? Serious question, I am not sure who I'd pick.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Gorges. He can play defence. Healthy, he is a much better player than you saw in December. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 (edited) Gorges. He can play defence. Healthy, he is a much better player than you saw in December. Good point. I have to keep reminding myself he is only 31. I like Gorges and if he can somehow remain heathly, I think he can contribute effectively for several more years. I am really hoping Pysyk can transition effectively to the left side, if that is indeed the plan. That would leave us with hopefully two solid pairings and a third pairing that would actually be pretty decent with a verteran presence like Franson. Edited August 30, 2015 by Thorny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
French Collection Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Could fetch something decent at the trade deadline, if we end up as sellers. Teams are always looking for RHD depth for a deep playoff run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Crotch Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 If you had to pick between Franson playing the left side on the second pairing, or Gorges, who would you pick? Serious question, I am not sure who I'd pick.. Late in the year a lot of guys are playing hurt, so it is possible that Franson's lack of mobility had something to do with injury... but he was giving way too much time and space to opposing forwards. I think Cody definitely fits a need for the Sabres as a power play guy. I'm not a huge Gorges fan. But, I'd give Gorges more 5-on-5 minutes than Franson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjd1001 Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 I go back and forth on whether I'd want him on this team..at any price. He is slow, I don't think he can be a guy who is an 'everday d-man' without being a liability. And, I would rather have the ice time given to someone else who is not like that. On the other hand, as a 'low minute', #5 or #6 guy who gets extra minutes on the powerplay, I'm ok with him in that role if only for 2 years. But then again, if you are going to play his as a #5 or #6 guy....is he going to accept a contract that justifies that lack of icetime? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewookie1 Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Honestly with Franson I'd use him as a 3rd pairing PP specialist. Risto-Bogo 20to25min Gorges-Pysyk 20min Colo/Weber-Franson 15to20min Then PP pairings: Risto-Franson Pysyk-Bogo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Honestly with Franson I'd use him as a 3rd pairing PP specialist. Risto-Bogo 20to25min Gorges-Pysyk 20min Colo/Weber-Franson 15to20min Then PP pairings: Risto-Franson Pysyk-Bogo I think as far as pairings go, our top 4 is already set, something like: Pysyk - Bogosian Gorges - Ristolainen Pysyk will probably be the one to play on the left, as he had, if I am not mistaken, a lot of playing time there last year in Rochester. The 3rd pairing is where an addition like Franson will have it's effect, as well as on the powerplay, as you say. The 3rd pairing left D is up for grabs between Donovan, Colaiacovo, and Weber. On the right side, as is, I think Ruhwedel is penciled in there. So if we were to add Franson, I think he would be replacing Ruhwedel. I'd call that an upgrade. The third pairing would then be something like: Donovan - Franson I'd keep Weber as the 7th D-man. Colaiacovo, Ruhwedel and Sanguinetti in Rochester would result in a solid D-corps on the farm, with McCabe there too fine-tuning his game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfreeman Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 I think Weber will be top-6 all season, regardless of whether they get Franson, unless they both get Franson AND get lucky with a good vet popping loose at the last minute like the isles did last year. I also think a lot of posters here are being awfully optimistic about Pysyk being ready for a top-4 role right out of the gate. We should remember that he has done essentially nothing at the NHL level and hasn't set the AHL on fire either. Finally, I think a Franson signing would be a good move for depth if nothing else, but I think he will add a respectable contribution on top of that anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwksndmonster Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 (edited) I think Weber will be top-6 all season, regardless of whether they get Franson, unless they both get Franson AND get lucky with a good vet popping loose at the last minute like the isles did last year. I also think a lot of posters here are being awfully optimistic about Pysyk being ready for a top-4 role right out of the gate. We should remember that he has done essentially nothing at the NHL level and hasn't set the AHL on fire either. Finally, I think a Franson signing would be a good move for depth if nothing else, but I think he will add a respectable contribution on top of that anyway. I disagree with this. Pysyk would've been on the roster all of last season if we weren't trying to lock up Eichel. The season before that, he played 44 games (notched 1 goal and 6 assists). His offense was nonexistent (that one goal was the butt goal), but on these last place Sabres squads it was pretty much impossible for our D-men to get set up in the offensive zone due to how terrible our forwards were. Ehrhoff logged a bunch of points somehow (probably because he was on the ice for half of every game, and every PP), but Pysyk was a solid player with a crisp first pass. I recall reading from one of the board's sages that Hot Daniel's system relies on 1 touch passes up ice from D-men, so Pysyk would seem to be a great fit. Edited August 30, 2015 by immerman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 (edited) I think Weber will be top-6 all season, regardless of whether they get Franson, unless they both get Franson AND get lucky with a good vet popping loose at the last minute like the isles did last year. I also think a lot of posters here are being awfully optimistic about Pysyk being ready for a top-4 role right out of the gate. We should remember that he has done essentially nothing at the NHL level and hasn't set the AHL on fire either. Finally, I think a Franson signing would be a good move for depth if nothing else, but I think he will add a respectable contribution on top of that anyway. Lots of good points here, I agree that Weber's usage on this team probably isn't affected much by an addition of Franson, as assuming Franson is playing on the right, Weber is still going to be competing against the likes of Donovan and Colaiacovo. To the bolded. this is absolutely correct and something I am guilty of, I need to keep reminding myself he hasn't exactly proven anything in terms of a large sample size yet at the NHL level. I can't speak for other posters, but Pysyk's play at the NHL level, although to this point limited, has exuded confidence and maturity and this is what has probably led me to be so confident in his ability to slide right in to a top 4 role. The confidence in his ability to do this immediately may very well be unfounded, it could take some time. If Pysyk isn't playing in the top 4 on the left side in short order, we are exceptionally short on left side top 4 D. Who the heck did we have on the left last year?! Benoit and Meszaros I guess.. Edited August 30, 2015 by Thorny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwksndmonster Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Who the heck did we have on the left last year?! Benoit and Meszaros I guess.. And Zadorov. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 And Zadorov. Ya, him too. He was in and out of the line-up, but he actually played more games then I remembered, 60. For the record, I agree with your analysis of Pysyk's abilities, I am very high on him as a player and I'm excited for him to play full time this year. But nfreeman's point about tempering expectations for Pysyk to immediately jump into a top-4 role is a prudent one. I still have him starting at #1 left D. Can't see it being anyone else at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwksndmonster Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Ya, him too. He was in and out of the line-up, but he actually played more games then I remembered, 60. For the record, I agree with your analysis of Pysyk's abilities, I am very high on him as a player and I'm excited for him to play full time this year. But nfreeman's point about tempering expectations for Pysyk to immediately jump into a top-4 role is a prudent one. I still have him starting at #1 left D. Can't see it being anyone else at this point. Pshhh. nfreeman and his lack of optimism doesn't sound like the cold ring of truth to me, innit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfreeman Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Pshhh. nfreeman and his lack of optimism doesn't sound like the cold ring of truth to me, innit? Hoisted on my own petard. Not even any lube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Pysyk has already proven himself an NHL defenceman to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two or less Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Pysyk has already proven himself an NHL defenceman to me. Same. Small example size but his advanced stats are pretty solid. Essp for a guy who was just starting his NHL career. I feel good about Pysyk being a top contributor for the Sabres and having a solid season as early as next season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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