Lindy Ruff: if Thompson keeps this play up, he'll be #1 C

[Doohickie]

32 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Don't forget limited utility Dunne and Geertsen are still hanging around.  

I noticed that on the Amerks roster they list Dunne as a center, and Östlund as a LW.

[Flashsabre]

Östlund is a pure centre. Kulich is the one that should move to the wing when he returns.

Tage

Norris

McLeod

Östlund

Kozak

is a very good Centre spine.

[JoeSchmoe]

1 hour ago, kas23 said:

The opposite can be said too. Greenway doesn’t add anything that Malenstyn can’t do, but for cheaper. And he can play more than half the season. 

Greenway can fight. Having him in the lineup makes Geertsen waivable.

Malenstyn is one of those guys who looks good skill wise but cannot process the game at an NHL level. Guys like that are easily steered into the corner where plays go to die.

Fun fact is he has just 1 takeaway but 9 giveaways, including 5 in the defensive zone. We don't need this guy for anything.

[GASabresIUFAN]

30 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

I noticed that on the Amerks roster they list Dunne as a center, and Östlund as a LW.

As we seen forward positions in the NHL are fluid.

[DarthEbriate]

1 hour ago, Pimlach said:

What I see:

Kozak is a 4C and he can be a true shut down center.   Being defensively responsible is a natural part of his game.  He is one that helps you protect a lead, seal a game, he takes opportunities away from the opponents.  

Krebs is more like a guy that can't make it as a 2/3C and that is willing to do the dirty work of a 4th line center or wing.   

I still need to see Kozak stay healthy, but I'm on the train of him taking Krebs' role by New Year's. However, that just puts Krebs in his right spot -- he becomes the 13th F. He can mostly move up and down the lineup for spot duty. He won't wow you, but he won't be a terrible drain you and he brings energy.

If someone is out long-term, then you've got Östlund & Rosén ready in the wings.

[PickaPecaPickles]

3 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Thompson has been very good lately.  

Two things I see are much more physical play and better attention to details in his two way game.   He is not just getting in the way by waving his stick, he is winning puck battles and physically overpowering opponents.   

He can be a complete beast if he wants to be.  He could be taking another step in the maturation of his game. 

This, in a way, epitomizes the team.  In full games or parts of games, the effort or want isn't there.  I've been thinking about this regarding tomorrow's game--will they play down to the competition again?

[xzy89c1]

3 hours ago, Doohickie said:

Eh.  Not sure I agree.  One or more of them may have to go, but Malenstyn played probably his best game as a Sabre last night while Greenway was just kind of okay.

Greenway should sit before Malenstyn.  He is not physical, does not grind, is slow, does not score etc... He had a chance to go after Nurse last night atend of 2nd period. Instead it was Krebs who fought and Krebs is far more valuable than Greeway.

Thompson has been working so hard lately. Others are feeding off it.

[Taro T]

45 minutes ago, PickaPecaPickles said:

This, in a way, epitomizes the team.  In full games or parts of games, the effort or want isn't there.  I've been thinking about this regarding tomorrow's game--will they play down to the competition again?

Tomorrow's game will be a huge tell as to whether Dahlin coming back and their having faith in 2 goalies has actually elevated this roster or if it was just a 2 game mirage of what might've been.

On paper they should destroy Calgary (well, ok, maybe destroy is a bit hyperbolic, but they SHOULD beat them) but this has been true several times in the past few years, and the end result too often is a Flames victory here.  They need to not let up and lose a game they should win unlike what they did when St. Louis came to town.  Win that game and they can show that MAYBE, just MAYBE they'll be able to play well enough at home to overcome their road shortcomings and get to a point where even just going 0.450 on the road could be enough.

And Thompson continuing his aggressive play tomorrow would go a long way towards making that regulation W happen.

[DarthEbriate]

23 minutes ago, xzy89c1 said:

Greenway should sit before Malenstyn.  He is not physical, does not grind, is slow, does not score etc... He had a chance to go after Nurse last night atend of 2nd period. Instead it was Krebs who fought and Krebs is far more valuable than Greeway.

Thompson has been working so hard lately. Others are feeding off it.

Podkolzin was addressing Krebs' hit/almost-boarding on McDavid. Krebs was game to go for it and was throwing before the linesman could make up his mind to let them go. That's not a fight Greenway can (or should) step in for.

As to value, Krebs is a better 5-on-5 option, but Greenway's PK ability is his foremost skill and he has muscle that Krebs will never dream of.

Really, Greenway is the role of Geertsen on this team except he doesn't go looking to fight, but he has the strength to hold off anyone. Case in point: Greenway was the reason Tom Wilson missed half the WSH game this season. Greenway crunched a player, Wilson wanted to fight and got all the extra PIMs and Greenway simply tied him up the entire scrap. Maybe Geertsen is a better fighter, but Greenway just wore Wilson out.

[SabresBillsFan]

4 hours ago, Jorcus said:

I like Malenstyn better than greenway. He is faster and has more endurance. Greenway seems to last about 35 seconds on a shift then he is standing straight up. You can always tell when he is gassed by that vertical posture. 

This

[DarthEbriate]

11 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Tomorrow's game will be a huge tell as to whether Dahlin coming back and their having faith in 2 goalies has actually elevated this roster or if it was just a 2 game mirage of what might've been.

On paper they should destroy Calgary (well, ok, maybe destroy is a bit hyperbolic, but they SHOULD beat them) but this has been true several times in the past few years, and the end result too often is a Flames victory here.  They need to not let up and lose a game they should win unlike what they did when St. Louis came to town.  Win that game and they can show that MAYBE, just MAYBE they'll be able to play well enough at home to overcome their road shortcomings and get to a point where even just going 0.450 on the road could be enough.

And Thompson continuing his aggressive play tomorrow would go a long way towards making that regulation W happen.

This is how we play now?

 

The important thing is to go to the center of the ice and drive the net, whether it's weak-Oilers-defense, whatever Calgary has, or big-bad Zadorov and the Bruins. The Sabres need to use their speed and attack the net. If Rosén/Östlund or TNT revert to settling for perimeter shots (and there's no screen and the goalie makes it look easy), the vibes will sway right back the other direction.

[Broken Ankles]

4 hours ago, Doohickie said:

He also had probably his best game as a Sabre last night, and arguably outplayed McLeod.

It's weird:  This team seems to have new talent bubbling up and figuring out who to jettison will probably determine the Sabres' success this season.

Thank God that decision is in the hands of Kevyn.  God knows he won’t make the wrong one.