Randall Flagg Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 (edited) Fair. Botterill disagreed, largely because he made a determination that you and Flagg are stubbornly resisting: that O’Reilly -as a Sabre - was lost. ROR isn't lost with baseline organizational competence. I can't even imagine the dead look in Jack's eyes if he played that role on this team as a 9 year vet that's seen the playoffs once. I'm just a fan with a hobby and this team has taken away from the quality of my life. Edited July 2, 2018 by Randall Flagg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfreeman Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 I'd like to see: Sheary - Eichel - Thompson ERod - Casey - Reino Sobotka - Berglund - KO CJ Smith - Zemgus - Baptiste (Probably a bit ambitious for Thompson though. Ideally KO would return to peak form and earn that #1 RW spot.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueBlueGED Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 I think there is some truth to this. The bottom six last year were terrible before the season started, we really had no goaltending, we lacked enough good wingers and had only half a D group. Despite the hysteria in the ROR trade thread, the organization is so much deeper then a year ago. I mentioned this in the Thompson thread and should have put it here; go compare the bottom 6 last season to start the year (Pouliot, Larsson, Nolan, Josefson, Griffith and Moulson), and compare it to the projected one this year. This one is light years better. Now compare D depth this year vs last. Last season we had guys like Falk, Gorges, Tennyson, Baloo and Antipin playing significant minutes on our D. This season all but Baloo is gone and talented players like Pilut may not even make the team. Looking at last year's team, it's pretty hard to say they should have been considerably better. They iced 3 top-6 forwards (one of whom, Reinhart, only played that way for half the season), had two second pairing defensemen playing top pair minutes, had 3rd pairing playing 2nd pairing, and AHLers playing on the 3rd pair, had bottom-5 goaltending in the league, and a collection of wingers so bad we were actually impressed by Wilson. But somehow, they should have been notably better. And since they weren't notably better, it's obviously a chemistry problem. This whole things still just makes me insane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drunkard Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 (edited) I'd like to see: Sheary - Eichel - Thompson ERod - Casey - Reino Sobotka - Berglund - KO CJ Smith - Zemgus - Baptiste (Probably a bit ambitious for Thompson though. Ideally KO would return to peak form and earn that #1 RW spot.) I like this projected lineup better than the others I've seen, mostly because it remove Pominville and Larsson and bumps Okposo down to the 3rd line. Sign me up. Edited July 2, 2018 by Alkoholist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Flagg Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 Sheary - Eichel - Reinhart Mitts - E-Rod - Okposo until they stop showing the downright good hockey they showed down the stretch Girgensons - Berglund - Sobotka will give you limited offense but better than what we've seen from a bottom six probably, and they ALL dull all events considerably, so chase every top line you possibly can with these guys And you have to go youth here. going vet trash:Wilson - Larsson - Pominville Will ensure 50-60 points AGAIN. We'd better hope that Asplund/Olofsson/Baptiste/Nylander/whoever are ready to do some things with heavy sheltering. I don't think I'd put these lines together any other way, at least to start. It's a pretty fugly group.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 The idea of running a spine of Jack Sam and Casey intrigues me. Who gets what roles? Sheary - Eichel - Reinhart Mitts - E-Rod - Okposo until they stop showing the downright good hockey they showed down the stretch Girgensons - Berglund - Sobotka will give you limited offense but better than what we've seen from a bottom six probably, and they ALL dull all events considerably, so chase every top line you possibly can with these guys And you have to go youth here. going vet trash: Wilson - Larsson - Pominville Will ensure 50-60 points AGAIN. We'd better hope that Asplund/Olofsson/Baptiste/Nylander/whoever are ready to do some things with heavy sheltering. I don't think I'd put these lines together any other way, at least to start. It's a pretty fugly group.. I’ve been talking a lot about off-ice chemistry being improved, but it is hard to see the on-i e chemistry in that clump. Remember the stated goals are more even strength scoring, more speed, and more production from the bottom of the lineup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drunkard Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 (edited) The idea of running a spine of Jack Sam and Casey intrigues me. Who gets what roles? I’ve been talking a lot about off-ice chemistry being improved, but it is hard to see the on-i e chemistry in that clump. Remember the stated goals are more even strength scoring, more speed, and more production from the bottom of the lineup. I think with O'Reilly gone Eichel will now get the tough matchups because he has to. Reinhart hasn't even shown he can play center in the NHL at a productive level and Mittelstadt is a rookie so Eichel will get the tough matchups by default. I also predict it will make his offense suffer and everyone who thought O'Reilly was overpaid at $7.5 million for 55-60 points is going to lose their ###### when Eichel ends up scoring 60 points for $10 million because he'll now be forced to carry the load defensively. Edited July 2, 2018 by Alkoholist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 (edited) Changes from opening night last year: Back: Ristolainen, McCabe, Eichel, Girgensons, Scandella, Reinhart, Okposo Gone: Kane, Josefson, Lehner, Nolan, Johnson, Antipin, Pouliot, O’Reilly, On the bubble: Pominville, Beaulieu, Larsson, Griffith, Tennyson, In: Sheary, Sobotka, Berglund, Hutton, Dahlin, Rodrigues, Wilson, Mittelstadt, Ullmark On the bubble additions (guys we acquired, or may have graduated from the Amerks) Pilut, Thompson, O’Regan, Nelson, Guhle, Baptiste Edited July 2, 2018 by dudacek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ho-Chi-Sock Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 I'd like to see: Sheary - Eichel - Thompson ERod - Casey - Reino Sobotka - Berglund - KO CJ Smith - Zemgus - Baptiste (Probably a bit ambitious for Thompson though. Ideally KO would return to peak form and earn that #1 RW spot.) Pretty good. My changes in bold: Sheary - Eichel - Reinhart ERod - Casey - KO/ideally a quality FA or Trade acquisition Sobotka - Berglund - KO (if not on 2nd line)/Thompson/Baptiste in an emergency CJ Smith - Zemgus - Baptiste/Pominville in a Plan Z scenario. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatorman0519 Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 This is an upgraded “patch a raft” lineup that’s temporary. There is a slew of kids in the system that much more fit JBots vision. If half of them turn out in Rochester expect another turn over like this next year, another trade and we might start seeing JBots true vision coming together. Unfortunately that means 2 more years until we think playoffs. If this is our roster 80-85 points max in my opinion but Improvment and development. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 This is whipping boy PHam's lines. these look to be about what I expect right now. Sheary Eichel Reinhart Thompson Mittelstadt Okposo Rodrigues Berglund Pominville Wilson Girgensons(Larsson) Sobotka Scandella Ristolainen Dahlin Bogosian Guhle Nelson McCabe Hunwick Beaulieu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 I still say flip Reinhart, Okposo, and Mittelstadt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallawaySabres Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 I still can't believe we will have the New England Maple Leafs for the next 10 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 I still say flip Reinhart, Okposo, and Mittelstadt. I have no interest in continuing the Reinhart at center experiment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 (edited) I have no interest in continuing the Reinhart at center experiment. We barely saw it though I have little interest in seeing a 19 year old Mittelstadt center our 2nd line Edited July 3, 2018 by WildCard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkman Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 Brian Duff just posted this depth chart on the Sabres website. It’s a mess but this is what the team-paid “journalist” thinks... Buffalo Forwards: Conor Sheary - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart Victor Olofsson / C.J. Smith / Evan Rodrigues / FA/Trade? - Casey Mittelstadt - Kyle Okposo Vladimir Sobotka - Patrik Berglund - Tage Thompson / Justin Bailey / Nick Baptiste Scott Wilson / Zemgus Girgensons - Rasmus Asplund / Johan Larsson / Sean Malone / Andrew Oglevie - Jason Pominville Defense: Rasmus Dahlin - Rasmus Ristolainen Marco Scandella - Zach Bogosian Brendan Guhle - Jake McCabe Matt Hunwick - Casey Nelson Nathan Beaulieu Goalies: Carter Hutton Linus Ullmark Rochester Forwards: C.J. Smith - Rasmus Asplund - Justin Bailey Danny O'Regan - Sean Malone - Nick Baptiste Alex Nylander - Kyle Criscuolo - Cliff Pu Kevin Porter - Andrew Oglevie - Eric Cornel Pascal Aquin / Vaclav Karabacek Defense: Lawrence Pilut - Zach Redmond Brandon Hickey - Will Borgen Matt Tennyson - Taylor Fedun Nathan Paetsch - Andrew McWilliam Devante Stephens - Arvin Atwal Brycen Martin - Tobie Paquette-Bisson Goalies: Scott Wedgewood Adam Wilcox Jonas Johansson Well the Amerks look good on paper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 (edited) We barely saw it though I have little interest in seeing a 19 year old Mittelstadt center our 2nd line I think we saw enough. He showed absolutely nothing whenever he centered in every pro season he's had. I don't want Casey centering our #2 line either. I think he'll get sheltered minutes. Edited July 3, 2018 by We've Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 I think with this mix, you build a legitimate first line around Jack, a sheltered second line around Casey and a old-fashioned checking line. So: Xxx Eichel Reinhart Yyy Mittelstadt Okposo Girgensons Sobotka Berglund Right now, Sheary is Xxx and Rodrigues is Yyy. But I’d rather Rodrigues centre the fourth line and move up as needed and Sheary to play with Kyle and Casey Ideally Xxx is Smith, Thompson, Olafsson or Nylander Baptiste and Bailey could also be in the mix for Xxx, but ideally I see them flanking Erod on a fast fourth line that may actually be able to pop a few. Wilson and Larsson are the spares. That is easily the deepest forward group we’ve iced in years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 I still say flip Reinhart, Okposo, and Mittelstadt. Where is Mittelstadt going here? To the wing? I’ve got zero interest in forcing him to the wing for the sake of mythically protecting him. He’s a Center. Keep him there and focus solely on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 Where is Mittelstadt going here? To the wing? I’ve got zero interest in forcing him to the wing for the sake of mythically protecting him. He’s a Center. Keep him there and focus solely on that. Well he's fast too. Didn't we do the same thing with Reinhart? To protect him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 (edited) @SabresStats Even Strength goals over the last two seasons: Ryan O’Reilly - 20 Patrik Berglund - 32 @SabresStats And if you’re wondering, Conor Sheary had 37 ESGs over that timeframe. So, let's see what we have here, as a net gain based on last year Out: Evander Kane: 14-14-28 Benoit Pouliot: 10-6-16 Ryan O'Reilly: 9-25-34 Jordan Nolan: 4-4-8 Total: 86pts Those are the official ones so far. In: Patrik Berglund: 13-6-19 Vladimor Sobotka: 10-17-27 Connor Sheary: 16-11-27 Thompson: 3-5-8 Total: 81pts Looking at those per game, we have: Out: 61 + 74 + 81 + 69 = 285 gp. So .302 EV pts/game Out: 57 + 81 + 79 + 41 = 258 gp, So .314 EV pts/game Well, that turned out pretty negligible. So let's see what else we have CF% Out: Evander Kane: 50.9 Benoit Pouliot: 46.2 Ryan O'Reilly: 50.8 Jordan Nolan: 42.8 Avg: 47.66 In: Patrik Berglund: 52.8 Vladimor Sobotka: 49.4 Connor Sheary: 52.1 Thompson: 49.6 Avg: 50.98 Edited July 3, 2018 by WildCard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASabresIUFAN Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 Wild, are you saying losing ROR wasn’t the end of the world after all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 Wild, are you saying losing ROR wasn’t the end of the world after all? Losing him never was. Getting what we back however is a different story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASabresIUFAN Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 Losing him never was. Getting what we back however is a different story The stats seems to indicate our lineup without should be faster, better in the faceoff circle (now with more then one option to take a big faceoff), better on the PK, similar on the PP and better goal scorers at even strength. Sounds like a faster deeper team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 (edited) The stats seems to indicate our lineup without should be faster, better in the faceoff circle (now with more then one option to take a big faceoff), better on the PK, similar on the PP and better goal scorers at even strength. Sounds like a faster deeper team. Well I don't know about speed, and certainly not about special teams. Those aren't the most comprehensive stats ever posted, but a brief glance would indicate that yes, we seem to get better at even strength It should be noted though that really most of that is just losing Nolan and Pouliot, which we could have done anyways Edited July 3, 2018 by WildCard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.