Grit Rankings 2: The 4th Line Strikes Back (2024 Ed.)

[LGR4GM]

On June 14th before Skinner was bought out or the draft had happened, when we were all bemoaning the complete lack of vertebrae this team seemed to have, I asked a question about who on this team was actually a gritty player. Well, 1 month later it is time to revisit that because the times, they are a changin. 

The defense stayed the same for the most part so I won't rehash that but how have the forwards changed? Last month the grittiest guys were:

1. Zach Benson
2. Jordan Greenway
3. Dylan Cozens

But now that Buffalo has added a bunch of new faces, how do you feel now? Is Buffalo going to be able to play a more gritty playoff style of hockey? 

Edited July 9, 2024 by LGR4GM

[...]

Can someone provide evidence of Greenway being a "gritty" forward?

[triumph_communes]

It’s all the new guys. Telling in more ways that one

[PASabreFan]

[Weave]

19 minutes ago, ... said:

Can someone provide evidence of anyone being a "gritty" forward?

Fixed for me.

[Pimlach]

The grittiest Sabres forwards were Benson, Cozens, and Greenway.   Now you can add Aube-Kubel, Lafferty, and Malenstyn.  

I want to see the last 3 be gritty as a Sabre.  

No players are going to go out swinging without top cover from teammates.  On defense Clifton and Dahlin and Gilbert have toughness and grit.  If these guys stick together they will finally have enough grit to more than hold their own.  

[matter2003]

I thought Benson was consistently highest in that category in TOO many games last year for an 18 year old rookie. Kinda inexcusable really.

[Night Train]

Fan of True Grit.  

 

[mjd1001]

If only the Sabres had this guy instead of Philadelphia

[Green lightning]

1 hour ago, matter2003 said:

I thought Benson was consistently highest in that category in TOO many games last year for an 18 year old rookie. Kinda inexcusable really.

5'10" and 170lbs and 19, he shouldn't be our grit team leader. Tough to play against? Yes, but let's let him grow up, fill out and protect him a bit in the interim.

[matter2003]

2 minutes ago, Green lightning said:

5'10" and 170lbs and 19, he shouldn't be our grit team leader. Tough to play against? Yes, but let's let him grow up, fill out and protect him a bit in the interim.

There really is no reason for it when you have big guys who play physical at times like Greenway, Tuch, Robinson, Girgensons, etc...but it's like they only chose to do it once every 4 or 5 games.

[kas23]

4 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

If only the Sabres had this guy instead of Philadelphia

Can we trade for this guy? Definitely grittier than Sabretooth. 

[...]

29 minutes ago, kas23 said:

Can we trade for this guy? Definitely grittier than Sabretooth. 

Everything changed when Sabretooth stopped grappling down from the rafters.

[PerreaultForever]

On a related note, here's a different highlight look for last season. Some of you will enjoy this almost as much as I did. 

Peterka, Tuch and Dahlin all come off well in it. Cozens, not so much. 

The Rempe DesLauriers fight is just on a whole other level.