Sabres recall Noah Ostund and Zac Jones

[Pimlach]

4 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

What the $&@k is happening in here?😂

We lost another game 

[Pimlach]

The league changes and then you see it. 

The top teams all have a very physical aspect to the roster, the ones that have the least amount do not win the Cup.  Winning the Cup is about talent, unity, and survival of the fittest.  

 

[GASabresIUFAN]

22 hours ago, tom webster said:

3) do you really think the coaches would purposefully keep a player down if they thought that player would help them win?

I responded to this earlier, but after last night we have proof this happens.  Ruff had Geertsen and Dunne in the lineup over Östlund.  Östlund is clearly the better player and should have played as the Sabres needed his speed and playmaking to compete with the Habs.  Ruff should have the inserted Östlund as the 3rd line center and dropped Krebs to the 4th line with Kozak and Dunne.  

Edited 10 hours ago by GASabresIUFAN

[LGR4GM]

The Sabres should find a way to pry Nathan Gaucher out of Anaheim. He's the type of middle 6 player that we need developing. I'd be willing to send Quinn for Gaucher and a 2nd. Is that to rich? Maybe, Anaheim might bulk but they have forwards and we could add a rhd from the prospects to help. Obviously not Mrtka.

[Pimlach]

16 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

I responded to this earlier, but after last night we have proof this happens.  Ruff had Geertsen and Dunne in the lineup over Östlund.  Östlund is clearly the better player and should have played as the Sabres needed his speed and playmaking to compete with the Habs.  Ruff should have the inserted Östlund as the 3rd line center and dropped Krebs to the 4th line with Kozak and Dunne.  

Yes, and I said this same thing several times.   

I do not recall Xhekaj or any other guy on Montreal playing in fear either.  

What I recall is Thompson out there playing without a playmaker, which is the wrong way to utilize him.  

 

[tom webster]

1 hour ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

I responded to this earlier, but after last night we have proof this happens.  Ruff had Geertsen and Dunne in the lineup over Östlund.  Östlund is clearly the better player and should have played as the Sabres needed his speed and playmaking to compete with the Habs.  Ruff should have the inserted Östlund as the 3rd line center and dropped Krebs to the 4th line with Kozak and Dunne.  

I do not necessarily disagree, however, you are assuming because he’s the better player he enhances your chances to win and that’s not necessarily the case. It’s more likely that a rookie mistake costs them rather than helps them.

FWIW, I have no use for Geersten. Hopefully Greenways return puts that experiment to an end.z

Edited 9 hours ago by tom webster

[GASabresIUFAN]

22 minutes ago, tom webster said:

I do not necessarily disagree, however, you are assuming because he’s the better player he enhances your chances to win and that’s not necessarily the case. It’s more likely that a rookie mistake costs them rather than helps them.

FWIW, I have no use for Geersten. Hopefully Greenways return puts that experiment to an end.z

I completely disagree.  Östlund’s upside and skill level would have enhanced the lineup and given us a better chance to win than 6 minutes of Geertsen and Dunne.  

[LGR4GM]

Östlund allows Buffalo to deploy the lines better. 

It also gives you another center to flip with McLeod in certain situations. It's tactically flexible. 

[K-9]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

Yes, and I said this same thing several times.   

I do not recall Xhekaj or any other guy on Montreal playing in fear either.  

What I recall is Thompson out there playing without a playmaker, which is the wrong way to utilize him.  

 

Are you suggesting Benson isn’t a playmaker or am I misunderstanding the context here?

[inkman]

What’s the consensus on Metsa?  Anyone like what they saw last night?

[GASabresIUFAN]

36 minutes ago, inkman said:

What’s the consensus on Metsa?  Anyone like what they saw last night?

Good question.  I’d take Metsa over Bryson, but hard to evaluate one game.  I’d prefer to try one of the Russians over both.

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, K-9 said:

Are you suggesting Benson isn’t a playmaker or am I misunderstanding the context here?

Benson is not a pure passer/playmaker but he can create offense, which is why he has so many assists right now. 

I am suggesting our top 6 is below average, as you saw against Montreal, and we need a playmaking center to maximize what Tage can do, which is finish plays, not create them.   I also saw Benson play on other lines in an effort to get offensive zone time for the other lines.  

[Doohickie]

44 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Benson is not a pure passer/playmaker but he can create offense, which is why he has so many assists right now. 

I am suggesting our top 6 is below average, as you saw against Montreal, and we need a playmaking center to maximize what Tage can do, which is finish plays, not create them.   I also saw Benson play on other lines in an effort to get offensive zone time for the other lines.  

We have a playmaking 1C

 

on IR.

1 hour ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Good question.  I’d take Metsa over Bryson, but hard to evaluate one game.  I’d prefer to try one of the Russians over both.

I'd take Metsa over Bryson, but I'd play him several more games to make sure.  Would also like to see the Russians thought too.

[shrader]

17 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

 

I'd take Metsa over Bryson, but I'd play him several more games to make sure.  Would also like to see the Russians thought too.

As long as we’re willing to admit that this decision is based solely on bias. 

[Thorny]

24 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

We have a playmaking 1C

 

on IR.

I'd take Metsa over Bryson, but I'd play him several more games to make sure.  Would also like to see the Russians thought too.

Norris is one of the worst assist getters in the league statistically 

[Doohickie]

Just now, Thorny said:

Norris is one of the worst assist getters in the league statistically 

I know, right?  It's hard to record assists while on IR.

[Thorny]

3 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

I know, right?  It's hard to record assists while on IR.

Ya I mean I would have gone with “we have a goal scoring 1C on IR” if wanting to be nice

I can’t remember the exact stat but I believe this primary assist rate per ice time was bottom of the barrel league relative 

Oh here it is:

Josh Norris had 2 primary assists at 5v5 his last 103 games in Ottawa

2 primary assists in over a full season’s worth of games. If anything is comfortably not a “playmaker” it’s him. Absurd stat

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

Benson is not a pure passer/playmaker but he can create offense, which is why he has so many assists right now. 

I am suggesting our top 6 is below average, as you saw against Montreal, and we need a playmaking center to maximize what Tage can do, which is finish plays, not create them.   I also saw Benson play on other lines in an effort to get offensive zone time for the other lines.  

I think you're splitting hairs on Benson. His passing and manipulation is elite levels

[Pimlach]

44 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I think you're splitting hairs on Benson. His passing and manipulation is elite levels

I love Benson.  But even with Benson, this team needs a center that can consistently carry and possess the puck, create space for others, and pass the puck to players with scoring opportunities.   This does not describe Tage.   Our top 6 is missing a key piece, and this person would help the PP too.  

Norris - his best season is 35G + 20A,  55 points.  That is his only 20 assist season. 

Kulich - still a work in progress. 

Östlund  - is more of a natural playmaker and deserves the next shot.

Helenius  - his time will come. 

 

 

[Pimlach]

1 hour ago, Doohickie said:

We have a playmaking 1C

 

on IR.

 

Norris is a good player when healthy.  He would be our 1C if healthy.  But he is far from a bigtime playmaker.  Look at his stats.  

[LGR4GM]

5 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

I love Benson.  But even with Benson, this team needs a center that can consistently carry and possess the puck, create space for others, and pass the puck to players with scoring opportunities.   This does not describe Tage.   Our top 6 is missing a key piece, and this person would help the PP too.  

Norris - his best season is 35G + 20A,  55 points.  That is his only 20 assist season. 

Kulich - still a work in progress. 

Östlund  - is more of a natural playmaker and deserves the next shot.

Helenius  - his time will come. 

 

 

I think where I disagree is that the player has to be a center. You can drive play from the wing. I agree our top 6 is missing a piece and I'd prefer to add at center, I just don't know who or where that player is. 

It's a reason I started the Power thread. He's a player you could trade for a center. 

[Pimlach]

10 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I think where I disagree is that the player has to be a center. You can drive play from the wing. I agree our top 6 is missing a piece and I'd prefer to add at center, I just don't know who or where that player is. 

It's a reason I started the Power thread. He's a player you could trade for a center. 

It does not have to be a center, but it might be even harder to find a Mitch Marner type of winger that sets up a lot of goals, so I think of centers first. 

 

[K-9]

4 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Benson is not a pure passer/playmaker but he can create offense, which is why he has so many assists right now. 

I am suggesting our top 6 is below average, as you saw against Montreal, and we need a playmaking center to maximize what Tage can do, which is finish plays, not create them.   I also saw Benson play on other lines in an effort to get offensive zone time for the other lines.  

I think Benson’s vision is superior and his passing is sublime; the two most important attributes for a playmaker. 
 

I agree Tage should be on the wing and is in need of a center, but the Norris injury certainly derailed that plan. 

[LGR4GM]

2 hours ago, Pimlach said:

It does not have to be a center, but it might be even harder to find a Mitch Marner type of winger that sets up a lot of goals, so I think of centers first. 

 

I think Zach Benson is what you're describing. Tage doesn't go to the slot often enough and tends to take perimeter shots.

[Thorny]

4 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I think you're splitting hairs on Benson. His passing and manipulation is elite levels

He’s a playmaker for me 

2 hours ago, Pimlach said:

It does not have to be a center, but it might be even harder to find a Mitch Marner type of winger that sets up a lot of goals, so I think of centers first. 

 

An Eichel-like player

 

 

if you will 

39 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I think Zach Benson is what you're describing. Tage doesn't go to the slot often enough and tends to take perimeter shots.

Yes, we need another playmaker lol