How would you line them up?

[dudacek]

My opening night lineup card:

Benson Norris Thompson

Quinn McLeod Tuch

Greenway Kulich Zucker

Danforth Krebs Doan

Byram Dahlin

Power Timmins

Samuelsson Kesselring

Luukkonen

Lyon

Spares: Malenstyn, Jones

 

[dudacek]

Reasoning:

Thompson/Norris is our best offensive combo, McLeod/Tuch our best matchup pair.

Benson best elevates and complements the Norris pairing in terms of 5-on-5 all-around play and vice versa.

Quinn best elevates the offensive potential of the McLeod pairing and they best insulate his flaws.

Zucker has become a mentor to Kulich and he and Greenway flanking Jiri on a 3rd line puts him in a great position to win his matchups.

Any of the 3rd-liners can easily be bumped up to bring a different element to Quinn or Benson if needed.

The same can be said for Doan who became the odd man out from my top 9. The 4th line consists of 3 dogs, a proper energy line who can create havoc on the forecheck and score more than most 4th lines

[PromoTheRobot]

Swap Doan for Greenway.

1 minute ago, dudacek said:

Reasoning:

Thompson/Norris is our best offensive combo, McLeod/Tuch our best matchup pair.

Benson best elevates and complements the Norris pairing in terms of 5-on-5 all-around play and vice versa.

Quinn best elevates the offensive potential of the McLeod pairing and they best insulate his flaws.

Zucker has become a mentor to Kulich and he and Greenway flanking Jiri on a 3rd line puts him in a great position to win his matchups.

Any of the 3rd-liners can easily be bumped up to bring a different element to Quinn or Benson if needed.

The same can be said for Doan who became the odd man out from my top 9. The 4th line consists of 3 dogs, a proper energy line who can create havoc on the forecheck and score more than most 4th lines

I still think a move is coming and someone on the current roster is going.

[dudacek]

Byram and Dahlin is a proven NHL top pairing that can win their matchups regardless of their opponent.

I think Kesselring’s game is too aggressive (in terms of risk/reward) to make him an ideal Power partner.

It think Timmins low-risk smooth game is a better fit and I think the Sabres do too. 

I’m hoping Kesselring can help bring some edge to Mule’s game while he takes care of the offence there.

I see those 2 getting matched up against the physical lines while roughly getting similar ES minutes to the Power pair.

Power and Kesselring will get more minutes than their partners due to situational play and shortened benches.

[dudacek]

 

13 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Swap Doan for Greenway.

I still think a move is coming and someone on the current roster is going.

It’s possible, but Doan adds more of the dog to a dog pack line and Greenway more of physical and defensive presence for Kulich.

There’s also a part of me that says they didn’t sign Greenway for $4M to play on the 4th line.

Curious to see how others think Lindy will line them up.

[dudacek]

One of the things I like about my forward lines is that for the first time in recent memory each of the top 3 lines is anchored by a veteran pair.

There are no kid lines, the most inexperienced forwards are spread out and supported.

Edited 10 hours ago by dudacek

[Taro T]

45 minutes ago, dudacek said:

My opening night lineup card:

Benson Norris Thompson

Quinn McLeod Tuch

Greenway Kulich Zucker

Danforth Krebs Doan

Byram Dahlin

Power Timmins

Samuelsson Kesselring

Luukkonen

Lyon

Spares: Malenstyn, Jones

 

Like it, and do expect Norris to be with Thompson.  But for some reason just don't expect that to work.  So expect fairly early in the season we see Kulich, Norris, and McLeod all slide one spot with Kulich moving to the top line (which he ain't ready for) and the other 2 sliding down 1 spot.

And expect late in periods and the 2nd 1/2 of the 3rd to have much mixing of those lines as Ruff tries to limit Kulich's ice time.

[Mr. MVP]

I’m not saying you’re wrong.  But if we gave up Peterka for a 4th line guy and a bottom pairing defenseman, I’m gonna think we got hosed worse than I do now. 

[Big Guava]

In front of a firing squad?

[DarthEbriate]

20 minutes ago, dudacek said:

One of the things I like about my forward lines is that for the first time in recent memory each of the top 3 lines is anchored by a veteran pair.

There are no kid lines, the most inexperienced forwards are spread out and supported.

But Ruff (and Granato -- by necessity) loves some kid lines. I do not want to see Benson-Kulich-Quinn in the top 6, but it wouldn't shock me if it happens. I would put Timmins on the 3rd D-pair, because I don't see him getting more ice time than Kesselring.

Pre-preseason, I'd go:

Benson - Norris - Thompson
Quinn - McLeod - Tuch
Zucker - Kulich - Doan
Greenway - Krebs - Danforth
(Malenstyn)

Byram - Dahlin
Power - Kesselring
Samuelsson - Timmins
(Jones Bryson: he wants to be here)

Luukkonen
Lyon

[LGR4GM]

56 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Byram and Dahlin is a proven NHL top pairing that can win their matchups regardless of their opponent.

I think Kesselring’s game is too aggressive (in terms of risk/reward) to make him an ideal Power partner.

It think Timmins low-risk smooth game is a better fit and I think the Sabres do too. 

I’m hoping Kesselring can help bring some edge to Mule’s game while he takes care of the offence there.

I see those 2 getting matched up against the physical lines while roughly getting similar ES minutes to the Power pair.

Power and Kesselring will get more minutes than their partners due to situational play and shortened benches.

Kesselring is going to end up with Owen Power. It is almost all Adams has spoken about in regards to that trade, "finding a partner for Power".

[LGR4GM]

I think Doan overtakes Greenway within 2 months. 

[Eleven]

Adams?  With his back to the wall.  The rest, I'm not sure yet.

[pastajoe]

Benson Kulich Thompson

Quinn Norris Tuch

Greenway McLeod Zucker

Danforth Kozak Doan

Byram Dahlin

Power Kesselring

Samuelsson Timmins

Luukkonen

Lyon

Spares: Krebs, Malenstyn

[dudacek]

57 minutes ago, Mr. MVP said:

I’m not saying you’re wrong.  But if we gave up Peterka for a 4th line guy and a bottom pairing defenseman, I’m gonna think we got hosed worse than I do now. 

Kesselring would be the #4 in terms of ice time, 18-19 minutes a game.

Doan I see as a guy who works his way up.

i really see Doan Benson Kulich Quinn Zucker Greenway (and maybe to a lesser extent Krebs, because I think Lindy likes Krebs more than we do) as more or less on an even keel to start ice time wise.

How that unfolds will depend on their play

 

45 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Kesselring is going to end up with Owen Power. It is almost all Adams has spoken about in regards to that trade, "finding a partner for Power".

Seriously, I have not once heard Adams directly link the two but maybe I’ve missed it?

Hes talked about needing a partner for Power and separately about needing a big RHD and Kesselring fitting the bill perfectly.

I’ve not heard him link the two.

And when I’ve heard him talk about a Power partner I’ve heard him talk about that partner needing to be a calm smooth efficient quick touch puck mover, which sounds more to me like Timmins than Kesselring.

I’ve also heard them talk about “playing the big guys together” Maybe he meant Power, but I didn’t read it that way.

Im fully aware I’m on my own with this line of thought and the more obvious answer is usually the correct one.

We shall see.

43 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I think Doan overtakes Greenway within 2 months. 

The idea of Greenway getting Wally Pipped has certainly crossed my mind.

Edited 8 hours ago by dudacek

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

Byram and Dahlin is a proven NHL top pairing that can win their matchups regardless of their opponent.

I think Kesselring’s game is too aggressive (in terms of risk/reward) to make him an ideal Power partner.

It think Timmins low-risk smooth game is a better fit and I think the Sabres do too. 

I’m hoping Kesselring can help bring some edge to Mule’s game while he takes care of the offence there.

I see those 2 getting matched up against the physical lines while roughly getting similar ES minutes to the Power pair.

Power and Kesselring will get more minutes than their partners due to situational play and shortened benches.

Intriguing slotting for forwards and defenders. All your slotting makes sense except the Power pairing. I see him most likely paired with Kesseiring, as noted by@LGR4GM.

What’s interesting with all the slotting you project is the flexibility of other mixing and matching. (As you also noted.) And what is also notable is that you see fewer people slotted higher than where they should be. That’s an indication that this roster is fuller than previous years.

[PerreaultForever]

The D is almost certainly set as Dahlin-Byram, Power-Kesselring, Samuelsson-Timmins. 

The forwards idk, I see holes and too much reliance on young players in top roles. 

Health will be an issue but I'd actually consider Greenway-Norris-Thompson as the top line. Greenway to open up space for the other two and to provide net front presence. More middle six options that way as well. 

Ideally however, I'd want to add a top 6 forward we don't currently have. 

[LGR4GM]

I think Jordan Greenway is very mediocre and I wouldn't have given him 2yrs. He's a 4th guy after all the injuries. 

 

 

Edited 7 hours ago by LGR4GM

[thewookie1]

3 hours ago, dudacek said:

My opening night lineup card:

Benson Norris Thompson

Quinn McLeod Tuch

Greenway Kulich Zucker

Danforth Krebs Doan

Byram Dahlin

Power Timmins

Samuelsson Kesselring

Luukkonen

Lyon

Spares: Malenstyn, Jones

 

All I’d change is Zucker and Greenway’s wings and would expect the Sabres to at least start with Kesselring with Power. 
 

I think Doan overtakes Greenway by game 15 barring injuries. 

6 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I think Jordan Greenway is very mediocre and I wouldn't have given him 2yrs. He's a 4th guy after all the injuries. 

 

 

If not for his injury history I’d say he’s effectively in a Bot6 + PK role and Doan makes him somewhat irrelevant however I’d rather have both than neither. I do agree though I would of done 1 yr or 2x2.5/3mil 

[dudacek]

Further to the Kesselring/Timmins slotting,

Adams made no reference to Owen Power in his presser after the 1st round, but he was pretty explicit characterizing Kesselring as a top 4 right shot D

In his post-draft presser he referred to Timmins as a player with upside who could see playing higher in the lineup but  who likely initially starts on the 3rd pair.

i d said before on heirarchy on depth chart, and actual base pairings aren’t one and the same. But maybe Adams views such things the same way some of you do

[dudacek]

43 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

All I’d change is Zucker and Greenway’s wings and would expect the Sabres to at least start with Kesselring with Power. 
 

I think Doan overtakes Greenway by game 15 barring injuries. 

If not for his injury history I’d say he’s effectively in a Bot6 + PK role and Doan makes him somewhat irrelevant however I’d rather have both than neither. I do agree though I would of done 1 yr or 2x2.5/3mil 

I think Greenway was an overpay as well, but he’s hardly redundant. This team needed more players with his skillset. 

I think this team’s identity up front has quietly changed more than people are giving it credit for.

Generally how many players on the current corps would you qualify as being in the not physical or good defensively class of Olofsson, Skinner, Mitts, Peterka?

[Weave]

I still grimace every time I see Quinn in a mock lineup.  He so needed to be packaged up for a top 6 vet.

[LGR4GM]

23 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Further to the Kesselring/Timmins slotting,

Adams made no reference to Owen Power in his presser after the 1st round, but he was pretty explicit characterizing Kesselring as a top 4 right shot D

In his post-draft presser he referred to Timmins as a player with upside who could see playing higher in the lineup but  who likely initially starts on the 3rd pair.

i d said before on heirarchy on depth chart, and actual base pairings aren’t one and the same. But maybe Adams views such things the same way some of you do

Has Adams talked about Timmins playing up the lineup since he stopped actively trying to trade Byram? 

[JohnC]

3 hours ago, Mr. MVP said:

I’m not saying you’re wrong.  But if we gave up Peterka for a 4th line guy and a bottom pairing defenseman, I’m gonna think we got hosed worse than I do now. 

Would you have a more positive view if Kesseiring gets paired for Power? And if Doan becomes a lower line energy player would your view of the deal be more positive?

[dudacek]

11 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Has Adams talked about Timmins playing up the lineup since he stopped actively trying to trade Byram? 

Good question. Has Adams actually talked publicly since Byram signed?

In the postdraft presser, he referenced Timmins as a “cleaner” player, which is what they wanted “in that particular spot in our lineup”.

I think that’s what put the Power partner thought in my head because he’d used similar language earlier when talking about what Power needed in a partner and why he thought Docker did pretty well with Power.