That and the center prospects we have already.

IMO Girgensons will be too good to be a 3rd liner. He reminds me of Dustin Brown (before he fell off this year statistically)

I think he will be the hard working winger that will create space, play responsibly and in every situation.
- sbroads24

I think in 2 years he will be the best 3rd line center in the league on the best 3rd line in the league. Right now with the prospect pool the Sabres have, they will have very solid and deep 3rd and 4th lines. Its the top two line talent they need to work on now. If Armia doesnt work out, they are going to have some RW shortages and if Grigorenko cant adjust to the LW they will have some shortages there. Unless Murray makes some trades who do the Sabres really have that are good enough quality to play with McEichel?

Grigorenko McEichel Armia?
Hodgson Reinhart Ennis?
Compher/Lemieux Girgensons Baptiste/Fashing
Take your pick of the solid 4th line talent in the stables.

That third line looks more complete and exciting than the other two. It almost looks like 3 solid 2nd lines and a solid 4th line with under two top centers who are under utilized.

I think in 2 years he will be the best 3rd line center in the league on the best 3rd line in the league. Right now with the prospect pool the Sabres have, they will have very solid and deep 3rd and 4th lines. Its the top two line talent they need to work on now. If Armia doesnt work out, they are going to have some RW shortages and if Grigorenko cant adjust to the LW they will have some shortages there. Unless Murray makes some trades who do the Sabres really have that are good enough quality to play with McEichel?

Grigorenko McEichel Armia?
Hodgson Reinhart Ennis?
Compher/Lemieux Girgensons Baptiste/Fashing
Take your pick of the solid 4th line talent in the stables.

That third line looks more complete and exciting than the other two. It almost looks like 3 solid 2nd lines and a solid 4th line with under two top centers who are under utilized.
- Themomentgood

The problem is assuming they're getting one of the two golden boys...I don't think they do unless they win the lottery.

The problem is assuming they're getting one of the two golden boys...I don't think they do unless they win the lottery.
- stashu

Sub Mceichel for Barzal,Konecky,Strome,white,rantanen or via trade. Still end up rolling three solid lines.

I don't usually follow signings of draftees, so I'm reaching out to see if this is normal:

However, speaking to MiHockeyNow, Milano said contract talks between the two sides haven’t even started.

“Maybe a strong start or a strong season will get me that contract, but there hasn’t been any talks yet,” Milano said.

(http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...-milano-and-blue-jackets/

16th overall pick hasn't even been offered a contract yet?

Sub Mceichel for Barzal,Konecky,Strome,white,rantanen or via trade. Still end up rolling three solid lines.
- Sabresfan-365

Well, yeah, regardless it'll be 3 nice lines hopefully. But they've had that in the past...I just hope it turns out better in the future if they can't land some superstar or one develops.

Ive been watching the Amerks paly for 30 yeaes and I know Girengsons isnt a captain lol he was 41% on his faceoffs last year and you guys want him too be a center? lol kid cant even score 10 goals and youre already naming him captain. Like matthew coller on wgr. Hes a bust just like soft euro Jeol Armia lol
- CaptainRivet

lol

My apologies.. Thought by saying peca ha speed you were insinuating girgensons didn't.
- Carubba-Kaleta

We hope he is a mash-up of Peca and Drury...... Druca if you will....

We hope he is a mash-up of Peca and Drury...... Druca if you will....
- RynoBull

That would be great... He will be good one no matter who he's comparable to IMO. I can see him top out as a guy who is a sob to play against that averages 40-50pts.

The problem is assuming they're getting one of the two golden boys...I don't think they do unless they win the lottery.
- stashu

Come on. Look at the list of teams in the entire league and honestly ask yourself who the Sabres are better than. Calgary? Most teams that are perennial bottom feeders are due for a break out season, or at least a wild card potential run. Edmonton, Florida, etc. Buffalo is one of the few teams that isnt built to win, but to lose and to teach their young guys to handle the ups and downs gracefully. Even if the roster stays the way it is now opening night, which it may not, come the trade deadline there will be another max exodus potentially including the top two RWs and both goalies. Thats a month and a half of losing. And honestly as long as they win 4/4/15, I am okay with that.

I think in 2 years he will be the best 3rd line center in the league on the best 3rd line in the league. Right now with the prospect pool the Sabres have, they will have very solid and deep 3rd and 4th lines. Its the top two line talent they need to work on now. If Armia doesnt work out, they are going to have some RW shortages and if Grigorenko cant adjust to the LW they will have some shortages there. Unless Murray makes some trades who do the Sabres really have that are good enough quality to play with McEichel?

Grigorenko McEichel Armia?
Hodgson Reinhart Ennis?
Compher/Lemieux Girgensons Baptiste/Fashing
Take your pick of the solid 4th line talent in the stables.

That third line looks more complete and exciting than the other two. It almost looks like 3 solid 2nd lines and a solid 4th line with under two top centers who are under utilized.
- Themomentgood

Which could absolutely happen, however I also think he could be too good to be relegated to 3rd line duties. IMO if we were to end up with say Eichel, and we had Eichel/Reinhart/Grigorenko/Compher/Girgensons/Larsson/Kea all in position to play center in the NHL, some guys will get moved around.

I also have more faith in Girgrensons to be an effective winger than I do Grigorenko. IMO Grigo is a natural center.

I just don't want a situation comparable to Jordan Staal and Pitt. Where someone is too good to play 3rd line minutes, and ends up moved.

New harbor center pics
http://www.wgr550.com/HarborCenter/19790677

I don't usually follow signings of draftees, so I'm reaching out to see if this is normal:

However, speaking to MiHockeyNow, Milano said contract talks between the two sides haven’t even started.

“Maybe a strong start or a strong season will get me that contract, but there hasn’t been any talks yet,” Milano said.

(http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...-milano-and-blue-jackets/

16th overall pick hasn't even been offered a contract yet?
- stashu

If they have no plans on him being with the team this year, there's really no point to it. They have a certain amount of years after he's drafted to get him under contract. It's fairly normal.

Which could absolutely happen, however I also think he could be too good to be relegated to 3rd line duties. IMO if we were to end up with say Eichel, and we had Eichel/Reinhart/Grigorenko/Compher/Girgensons/Larsson/Kea all in position to play center in the NHL, some guys will get moved around.

I also have more faith in Girgrensons to be an effective winger than I do Grigorenko. IMO Grigo is a natural center.

I just don't want a situation comparable to Jordan Staal and Pitt. Where someone is too good to play 3rd line minutes, and ends up moved.
- sbroads24

It really depends on the team they build. I could see them relying more on their 3rd line more than most teams with that line they could have.

Grigorenko is not a 3rd line center like Girgensons can potentially be. So if they arent planning on making him a winger, they are going to have to trade him because they have no room for him down the middle.

Girgensons is a guy you can put almost anywhere on the lineup in a pinch and count on him not to mess it up too much.

In a way i see Zemgus as a mike fisher (ottawa days) type of player. North south strong engine

It really depends on the team they build. I could see them relying more on their 3rd line more than most teams with that line they could have.

Grigorenko is not a 3rd line center like Girgensons can potentially be. So if they arent planning on making him a winger, they are going to have to trade him because they have no room for him down the middle.

Girgensons is a guy you can put almost anywhere on the lineup in a pinch and count on him not to mess it up too much.
- Themomentgood

Roy was a 3rd line center not too many years ago with Vanek and Maxim on the wing so it all depends on just how good your top and 2nd line centers are. Grigo can be a third line center if Reinhart and whoever they get next year are your 1 & 2. That puts Girgs on the 4th line and quite frankly that would be one heck of a team to watch. I would rather have a line like Grigo-Reinhart-Armia work out with all of the pomp and circumstance of the three of them but Grigo on the thrid line sounds like a pretty good problem to have...

If they have no plans on him being with the team this year, there's really no point to it. They have a certain amount of years after he's drafted to get him under contract. It's fairly normal.
- HonkFortheGoose

Gotcha. Thanks Goose.

I don't know who this guy "Roosh" is, but it's hard to argue with his hypothesis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoS8bA_Tb8E

Roy was a 3rd line center not too many years ago with Vanek and Maxim on the wing so it all depends on just how good your top and 2nd line centers are. Grigo can be a third line center if Reinhart and whoever they get next year are your 1 & 2. That puts Girgs on the 4th line and quite frankly that would be one heck of a team to watch. I would rather have a line like Grigo-Reinhart-Armia work out with all of the pomp and circumstance of the three of them but Grigo on the thrid line sounds like a pretty good problem to have...
- hammatoe

Its a fantastic problem to have. A bigger 'problem' the Sabres face is what to do with all these prospects that are not signed yet. Whether it is because they were just drafted or are college players. 28 picks in the last 3 drafts is a lot of players to sift through. Plus the ones they picked up in trades like Fasching.

In the next year or so they are going to have to buckle down and start trading away prospects en masse once they get a clear vision of what they want to make room for all the signings. I imagine it will start at the next draft.

Like you said though, a great problem to have.

I think in 2 years he will be the best 3rd line center in the league on the best 3rd line in the league. Right now with the prospect pool the Sabres have, they will have very solid and deep 3rd and 4th lines. Its the top two line talent they need to work on now. If Armia doesnt work out, they are going to have some RW shortages and if Grigorenko cant adjust to the LW they will have some shortages there. Unless Murray makes some trades who do the Sabres really have that are good enough quality to play with McEichel?

Grigorenko McEichel Armia?
Hodgson Reinhart Ennis?
Compher/Lemieux Girgensons Baptiste/Fashing
Take your pick of the solid 4th line talent in the stables.

That third line looks more complete and exciting than the other two. It almost looks like 3 solid 2nd lines and a solid 4th line with under two top centers who are under utilized.
- Themomentgood

Solid 2nd lines? If Grigs and Armia pan out (and I firmly believe they will) that would be one of the best 1st lines in the league, and even the 2nd line could be a 1B. Very solid bottom six. Add to that our soon to be stud defense.

Grigorenko - McEichel - Armia
Hodgson - Reinhart - Ennis
Compher - Girgensons - Baptiste
Lemieux - Foligno - Fasching

Zads/McCabe - Risto
Zads/McCabe - Myers
??? - Pysyk

This is without the Isles or Blues 1st pick, ours or the Isles 2nd round pick, as well as some notable prospects we already have.

Well, yeah, regardless it'll be 3 nice lines hopefully. But they've had that in the past...I just hope it turns out better in the future if they can't land some superstar or one develops.
- stashu

I think the biggest difference now comes down to the people in charge and just the overall depth. And I'm not going to rule out the whole superstar thing either. Lot's of talent at the top this year and we're still bad enough to be in the discussion for top 2(bottom 2).

I think the biggest difference now comes down to the people in charge and just the overall depth. And I'm not going to rule out the whole superstar thing either. Lot's of talent at the top this year and we're still bad enough to be in the discussion for top 2(bottom 2).
- Sabresfan-365

Well maybe I should throw out my prediction that we won't be bottom 3 again....it "worked" last season.

Its a fantastic problem to have. A bigger 'problem' the Sabres face is what to do with all these prospects that are not signed yet. Whether it is because they were just drafted or are college players. 28 picks in the last 3 drafts is a lot of players to sift through. Plus the ones they picked up in trades like Fasching.

In the next year or so they are going to have to buckle down and start trading away prospects en masse once they get a clear vision of what they want to make room for all the signings. I imagine it will start at the next draft.

Like you said though, a great problem to have.
- Themomentgood

It's going to be fun to watch what they can pull off with their embarrassment of riches. I am not one that thinks they get the 1st or 2nd pick in 2015. I see them finishing bottom 6 for sure but more 4-6 range and utilizing this log jam of prospects & picks to get the player they want. Of course that all depends on what happens at the deadline which could take them from bottom 6 to dead last in no time. Regardless of where they finish, they have the ammunition to get what they want in the draft and TM knows it...

Go to the Harbor Center Website and check out everything. 716 Bar has a 36 Foot Screen for the double decker establishment. Even the Tim Horton's looks cool.


- RynoBull

Cant wait to visit home next year

bills stream>?

Hey All,

I've been reading these forums got to be at least two years. Only commented once or twice. Mostly cause of my username. I'm a huge sabres fan living in Edmonton. But after I created it I realized it sounds really homosexual (not that there's anything wrong with that). Going outside hockey talk for moment, I need some ff advice.

Lynch + E. Sanders for A. Foster + L. Fitz

Who wins?

Thanks!