October 29th, lineup/practice notes

[LGR4GM]

Looks like Östlund might be out. 

 

 

 

 

[ponokasabre]

3 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Looks like Östlund might be out. 

 

 

 

 

Very interesting, I cant remember anytime that Greenway played center before, if he could play it well that would be a big help to the team untill Norris comes back

[Porous Five Hole]

19 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Looks like Östlund might be out. 

 

And deservedly so.  No doubt I am all-aboard the Östlund train, but he’s not ready for the NHL. Hopefully it makes him hungrier in Rochester to engage more physically and continuing to strength train. 

[Mr. MVP]

They are really keeping the defensive pairs together? 

[Taro T]

28 minutes ago, Mr. MVP said:

They are really keeping the defensive pairs together? 

Why wouldn't they?  Samuelsson gives Dahlin some help down low when out with the Thompson line as Kulich doesn't give much help there.  Timmons is their best (only?) purely defensive defenseman at this point and Power tends to play better when he's out there with him.  Kesselring has only had 1 RS game under Ruff's system and, except for a couple of major brainfarts (a breakaway that Byram and Lyon rendered pretty harmless being the biggest of those) played well on the 3rd pairing and having Byram ready to jump up into the play seemed to help the 4th line really keep pressure in the other team's end.

Were Norris available (yeah, right) or McLeod bumped up to Thompson's line might be inclined to go with the pairings that were most expected heading into camp (Byram-Dahlin, Power-Kesselring, and Samuelsson-Timmons); but when looking at the down low units as a 3 man unit rather than just 2; actually like the logic of having a presumably defensively responsible guy on each pair and an offensive guy on each pair.

Edited 15 hours ago by Taro T

[LGR4GM]

Just now, Taro T said:

Why wouldn't they?  Samuelsson gives Dahlin some help down low when out with the Thompson line as Kulich doesn't give much help there.  Timmons is their best (only) purely defensive defenseman at this point and Power tends to play better when he's out there with him.  Kesselring has only had 1 RS game under Ruff's system and, except for a couple of major brainfarts (a breakaway that Byram and Lyon rendered pretty harmless being the biggest of those) played well on the 3rd pairing and having Byram ready to jump up into the play seemed to help the 4th line really keep pressure in the other team's end.

Were Norris available (yeah, right) or McLeod bumped up to Thompson's line might be inclined to go with the pairings that were most expected heading into camp (Byram-Dahlin, Power-Kesselring, and Samuelsson-Timmons); but when looking at the down low units as a 3 man unit rather than just 2; actually like the logic of having a presumably defensively responsible guy on each pair and an offensive guy on each pair.

How is Timmins their only defensive defense when you listed Samuelsson the sentence before?

[Taro T]

Just now, LGR4GM said:

How is Timmins their only defensive defense when you listed Samuelsson the sentence before?

Well, 1st off, meant to put a "?" in the parenthesis after the "only," so thanks for catching that.

But why even say "only?"  Well, because would say Samuelsson is pretty much a two-way guy so far this season.  When not paired with Dahlin, he's been doing a very effective job the past few games of jumping up into the rush.

Wouldn't consider Kesselring to be a defensive D-man either based on what we've seen so far, though he may turn into one.

[bob_sauve28]

2 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

How is Timmins their only defensive defense when you listed Samuelsson the sentence before?

Mule, the guy tied with Zucker and Quinn for points, the guy who is ahead of our "top center" Kulich in points and second in defenseman scoring only behind Dahlin? 

 

Ya, he contributes to the O! 

[inkman]

4 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

How is Timmins their only defensive defense when you listed Samuelsson the sentence before?

He falls into the vaunted category of no offense no defense defenseman.  

[LGR4GM]

7 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Mule, the guy tied with Zucker and Quinn for points, the guy who is ahead of our "top center" Kulich in points and second in defenseman scoring only behind Dahlin? 

 

Ya, he contributes to the O! 

He got 2 goals in 1 game. He's not a 2way defensive player and has never played like one. 

9 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Well, 1st off, meant to put a "?" in the parenthesis after the "only," so thanks for catching that.

But why even say "only?"  Well, because would say Samuelsson is pretty much a two-way guy so far this season.  When not paired with Dahlin, he's been doing a very effective job the past few games of jumping up into the rush.

Wouldn't consider Kesselring to be a defensive D-man either based on what we've seen so far, though he may turn into one.

I'll disagree and we'll check back in December to see how his points look. Considering his on ice play, he's not doing anything other than what Timmins is offensively. I'm referring to style of play. 

[matter2003]

Greenway should help in a lot of situations...I've always really like his game.

[Taro T]

10 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

He got 2 goals in 1 game. He's not a 2way defensive player and has never played like one. 

I'll disagree and we'll check back in December to see how his points look. Considering his on ice play, he's not doing anything other than what Timmins is offensively. I'm referring to style of play. 

Again, thus the reason for the question mark after "only."

BUT Samuelsson HAS been jumping up into the rush, sometimes even being the Sabre going to the net, which is not something defensive defensemen do on a regular basis (other than his OT goal, did Lybushkin EVER join a rush while wearing B&G?).  Don't consider him to be a true 2-way guy; but he's been playing the sort of game than Ruff expected from him when he signed on to replace Granato.  But for RIGHT NOW, he's playing that way.

And, yes, he is playing differently than Timmons is at present.  Will that continue?  No data.  But hope it does, because right now, both of those guys are helping the team win games and stay competitive in the ones they don't win.

[matter2003]

1 hour ago, ponokasabre said:

Very interesting, I cant remember anytime that Greenway played center before, if he could play it well that would be a big help to the team untill Norris comes back

I mean does it really matter in terms of faceoffs?  Outside Norris who was legitimately excellent at them until seriously injuring himself by taking one inexplicably, nobody on this team is good at them.  Perhaps his length could be an asset and help shut down passing lanes?

[That Aud Smell]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Looks like Östlund might be out. 

1 hour ago, Porous Five Hole said:

And deservedly so.  No doubt I am all-aboard the Östlund train, but he’s not ready for the NHL. Hopefully it makes him hungrier in Rochester to engage more physically and continuing to strength train. 

Agreed with this. When I've seen him, he's mostly looked over-matched and a half step behind the play. I don't fault his effort, though -- he seems to have been working hard.

[SABRES 0311]

I think Östlund at 3C provides more offensive potential. I would put Greenway in for Dunne on the fourth line but whatever.

[GASabresIUFAN]

I'd send Östlund down, bring up Helenius to play center and move Greenway to the 4th line where he belongs.

[SABRES 0311]

40 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

I'd send Östlund down, bring up Helenius to play center and move Greenway to the 4th line where he belongs.

Oh yeah. I forgot about Helenius. I wonder how he’d look as 3C.

[Doohickie]

11 hours ago, Porous Five Hole said:

And deservedly so.  No doubt I am all-aboard the Östlund train, but he’s not ready for the NHL. Hopefully it makes him hungrier in Rochester to engage more physically and continuing to strength train. 

He's held his own but really hasn't shown he belongs even in a middle six role to this point.  I think he might be solid middles six when he's ready but he's just not ready yet.

[Doohickie]

10 hours ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Mule, the guy tied with Zucker and Quinn for points, the guy who is ahead of our "top center" Kulich in points and second in defenseman scoring only behind Dahlin? 

 

Ya, he contributes to the O! 

I don't care how much O Muel contributes, this will always be my favorite interview moment (to about 2:10).

Edited 5 hours ago by Doohickie

[Pimlach]

12 hours ago, Porous Five Hole said:

And deservedly so.  No doubt I am all-aboard the Östlund train, but he’s not ready for the NHL. Hopefully it makes him hungrier in Rochester to engage more physically and continuing to strength train. 

He had no desire to possess the puck in the NHL.  He filled gaps but he didn’t add a thing. 

Still young and needs to keep working at it.