Randall Flagg Posted March 15, 2017 Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 He did indeed slip my mind. Seems like we have a fair few forwards to work with, and are completely lacking on the defensive end. Girgensons - Eichel - Baptiste Carrier - O'Reilly - Okposo Kane - Reinhart - Bailey Foligno - Larsson - Gionta Injury call-ups: Rodrigues, Fasching, Asplund/Nylander (hopefully both are in Rochester) Never see again: Moulson, Deslauriers, Grant, Ennis Line 1: Eichel gets his Sheary/Hornqvist. This is contingent on Baptiste's continued growth. Line 2: This line posted ridiculous possession numbers while together, give them slightly easier minutes with Larsson back. Line 3: They passed the eye test, Kane and Samson are a pairing I really like. Bailey needs to get better with decision-making and consistency. Line 4: Will get toughest matchups and still spend a lot of time on the attack. Or, O'Reilly - Eichel - Okposo Kane - Reinhart - Baptiste Carrier - Girgensons - Gionta Foligno - Larsson - Bailey One killer top line and piece together the rest. Defensively, bleh. Make something happen with all of the forwards we have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted March 15, 2017 Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 I like the way those lines are constructed, I just don't think they are likely, given who's putting them together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brawndo Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Bailey day to day with an UBI Falk out with an injury as well. Fedun call up or does D Lo attempt to play D again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Just play Risto more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robviously Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Just play Risto more. And that was the day we realized dudacek's real identity was Dan Bylsma... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Can we roll four lines next year? Okposo ROR Carrier Girgensons/Fasching Eichel Nylander/Rodrigues Kane Reinhart Bailey/Rodrigues/Baptiste Foligno/Larsson/Girgensons/Gionta Any of the slash guys plus our first pick for a good D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfreeman Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 I don't see Nylander in the NHL next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Can we roll four lines next year? Okposo ROR Carrier Girgensons/Fasching Eichel Nylander/Rodrigues Kane Reinhart Bailey/Rodrigues/Baptiste Foligno/Larsson/Girgensons/Gionta Any of the slash guys plus our first pick for a good D I certainly like this idea. I wouldn't hesitate to trade our 1st in this draft at all if it meant a return of a top pair d-man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robviously Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 I don't see Nylander in the NHL next year. I'd love to sign Asplund and let him and Nylander play a full season together in Rochester next year and let them learn the North American game together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Am I the only one that doesn't get a warm fuzzy over Carrier, Baptiste, E-rod, or Bailey in the top 6 next year? To me, that's not improvement. I'd add Fasching too but haven't seen enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Am I the only one that doesn't get a warm fuzzy over Carrier, Baptiste, E-rod, or Bailey in the top 6 next year? To me, that's not improvement. I'd add Fasching too but haven't seen enough. No you are not alone, and you feel that way because they aren't top 6 talent. I was just contemplating starting a roster thread, but this is as good a place to discuss our roster holes. Top 2 centers: ROR and Eichel - no enhancements needed Top 2 RW: Okposo and....... Top 2 LW: Kane and ..... So where does everyone else fit, and where do they belong? Reinhart - Natural position center. Best role on the Sabres; 3rd line center or top 6 RW? Personally, because of our lack of legit top 6 wingers, I think his best use is as a Top 6 RW. Foligno - Arguably our 2nd best LW, but that isn't saying much. Best role? IMHO 3rd line LW. Gionta - Arguably our 2nd best RW if Reinhart plays center. Best role? 3rd line RW for 12 more games. Ennis - talent and contract says Top 6 winger. Player since concussions; overpaid 4th liner Moulson - Contract says top 6 LW. Performance says 3rd line LW at best, but really an overpaid 4th liner Delauriers - current role 13th utility forward and sometime D. Future role, not in the NHL Girgensons - Talent, size and speed to be an effective 3rd line forward and Pker, performance to date? Current role 3rd line center, but should be our 4th line center. Larsson - injured, but projects as a 4th line center and Pker going forward Bailey, Baptiste and Facshing = all interchangeable RW that aren't quite ready for the NHL. All potentially could be RW versions of the current Foligno or Gionta, but I don't see any of them as long term top 6 forwards. Bailey has the speed to play with the best, but clearly isn't ready. Carrier - looks like a 4th line checking LW with limited offensive potential. Erod - look like a 4th line energy guy with a little offense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwksndmonster Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Am I the only one that doesn't get a warm fuzzy over Carrier, Baptiste, E-rod, or Bailey in the top 6 next year? To me, that's not improvement. I'd add Fasching too but haven't seen enough. That's part of having such an excellent center spine. Also, most teams run a balanced top 9 rather than a skill heavy top 6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Am I the only one that doesn't get a warm fuzzy over Carrier, Baptiste, E-rod, or Bailey in the top 6 next year? To me, that's not improvement. I'd add Fasching too but haven't seen enough. I'd be fine with it, if that guy is added to a group of 5 that contains a healthy O'Reilly, Okposo, Eichel, Reinhart, and Kane (has been a fair few times this season that hasn't been the case). We'll have to hope that Nylander claims that top 6 spot sometimes relatively soon, to really help solidify the unit, provided he reaches his potential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 That's part of having such an excellent center spine. Also, most teams run a balanced top 9 rather than a skill heavy top 6. Our about-ready prospects not being top 6 players is because we have good centers? Esplain. OK, if we are talking balanced top 9, I don't get a warm fuzzy out of them on our top 9 either. Frankly, we don't have the depth for a good top 6. No way we have the depth for a balanced top 9. Then again, I don't get a warm fuzzy about our prospects in general. I'm just not seeing breakout talent here. Guhle might be the only one, and he has yet to play as a pro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 (edited) Our about-ready prospects not being top 6 players is because we have good centers? Esplain. OK, if we are talking balanced top 9, I don't get a warm fuzzy out of them on our top 9 either. Frankly, we don't have the depth for a good top 6. No way we have the depth for a balanced top 9. Then again, I don't get a warm fuzzy about our prospects in general. I'm just not seeing breakout talent here. Guhle might be the only one, and he has yet to play as a pro. Certainly the 5 current fixtures of our top 6 are good and worthy top 6 players? There is debate about who has the ability to take that last spot, but for my money nearly all of the pieces required for a good top 6 are already here, so I'll disagree that we don't have depth for a good one. Edited March 16, 2017 by Thorny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Certainly the 5 current fixtures of our top 6 are good and worthy top 6 players? There is debate about who has the ability to take that last spot, but for my money nearly all of the pieces required for a good top 6 are already here, so I'll disagree that we don't have depth for a good one. I think Evander Kane should be on our 3rd line, which leaves us with a top 4. If you want Sam at center we are looking at a top 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwksndmonster Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 Our about-ready prospects not being top 6 players is because we have good centers? Esplain. OK, if we are talking balanced top 9, I don't get a warm fuzzy out of them on our top 9 either. Frankly, we don't have the depth for a good top 6. No way we have the depth for a balanced top 9. Then again, I don't get a warm fuzzy about our prospects in general. I'm just not seeing breakout talent here. Guhle might be the only one, and he has yet to play as a pro. Having great centers means that we can afford to have just acceptable talent in some wing spots. We'll find the Kunitz to Jack's Crosby, or perhaps the Moulson to Jack's Tavares. Dudacek suggested giving Rodriguez a shot with Jack in this dead season to see if there's something there. That would be smart, but Dan's gonna Dan. Bailey, Baptiste, and Fasching will continue to grow. I think it's a very acceptable gamble to count on one of them to step up for top 6 duty next year. Honestly, our forward depth is already in a pretty good spot. I think Dan's system has you underestimating our talent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 I think Evander Kane should be on our 3rd line, which leaves us with a top 4. If you want Sam at center we are looking at a top 3. It's true that if Sam is moved to where he should be, and ROR isn't moved to LW, it becomes all that much more important that Nylander projects out to a top 6 player. Adding another piece to the top 6 could become necessary depending on Kane's viability there, but right now I'm in the camp that sees him as a good top 6 player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Flagg Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 Yeah, Sheary turned from Baptiste into Sheary because of Sid. Rust turned from, uh, Baptiste into Rust playing with Malkin. We need our wingers to be able to do this - with Jack, it shouldn't be too hard for one of them to. Keep up, learn how he works, do all that gritty skate hard work hard crap, find space, and you don't need to be Pat Kane to play in the top 6. And then the depth being spread out punishes the other team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 Yeah, Sheary turned from Baptiste into Sheary because of Sid. Rust turned from, uh, Baptiste into Rust playing with Malkin. We need our wingers to be able to do this - with Jack, it shouldn't be too hard for one of them to. Keep up, learn how he works, do all that gritty skate hard work hard crap, find space, and you don't need to be Pat Kane to play in the top 6. And then the depth being spread out punishes the other team. ERod can easily do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) Flagg nailed it: we've got five legit top six forwards and Nylander was picked to be the sixth. It's better than a lot of teams. Carrier will never be a top-six wing, but he is a forechecking demon who helped ROR and KO drive possession better than pretty much any combo we've seen this year. Use him and those other young guys even strength to wear people down and open space. Perfect world it plays out something like this Eichel 18 minutes ROR 18 Samson 17 Kane 17 Okposo 17 Nylander 14 Girgensons 14 Larsson 13 Foligno 12 Bailey 12 Fasching 12 Carrier 12 Edited March 17, 2017 by dudacek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robviously Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 Flagg nailed it: we've got five legit top six forwards and Nylander was picked to be the sixth. It's better than a lot of teams. Carrier will never be a top-six wing, but he is a forechecking demon who helped ROR and KO drive possession better than pretty much any combo we've seen this year. Use him and those other young guys even strength to wear people down and open space. Perfect world it plays out something like this Eichel 18 minutes ROR 18 Samson 17 Kane 17 Okposo 17 Nylander 14 Girgensons 14 Larsson 13 Foligno 12 Bailey 12 Fasching 12 Carrier 12 FWIW, I'd rather have 6 "top 6" forwards across three lines with guys like Carrier, Baptiste, and Bailey that are fast and physical filling in the other spots and making room for the other guys. I'm also hoping we move on from Girgensons and Larson this summer. Out with the old... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 FWIW, I'd rather have 6 "top 6" forwards across three lines with guys like Carrier, Baptiste, and Bailey that are fast and physical filling in the other spots and making room for the other guys. I'm also hoping we move on from Girgensons and Larson this summer. Out with the old... Idike to give Girgensons a chance in a system that does that confuse HoF players Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 FWIW, I'd rather have 6 "top 6" forwards across three lines with guys like Carrier, Baptiste, and Bailey that are fast and physical filling in the other spots and making room for the other guys. This is what I want to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robviously Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 Idike to give Girgensons a chance in a system that does that confuse HoF playersMaybe he'll come back to life when we move on from Professor Disco but he comes off like he's barely interested in hockey these past 2 years. I'm fine moving on if our crummy team broke his spirit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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