So when you were saying there is a lot of question marks about the Bills yesterday I am not allowed to question this?

You're banking on an awful lot going right for the third line to be that productive, I mean if the third line is producing like that this team should score close to 280 goals then...

There are a lot of options but it all depends on players developing.

One of Bailey/Baptiste is not going to work out
One of Pu/Fasching is not going to work out
Middlestat can be really good or he can be that guy that can't put it all together
- Stripes77

ABSOLUTELY
Yes u do, 100%

There is a difference though
We are discussing more of a philosophy of how to set up our lines

Whether or not these young guys develop into players who can pull off 3 scoring lines like the Pens...
hell yes that's up for debate
And I absolutely agree that they're "questions" that we don't know the answers to year

This is the big difference though
If our 1st round CB busts, we are hurting in the secondary BIG TIME
Or if Sammy or McCoy get hurt, etc etc
I think u see what I mean here

But if Bailey gets hurt, or doesn't perform...
can Rodrigues or Fasching come up & perform on the wing w/ Nylander & Sam?

With all the talent the Sabres have at forward,
I think we are in good shape to still succeed without EVERYONE working out
But the Bills do need EVERYONE to work out

Sabres forwards-

Sure things (to different degrees of course)
Jack, O'Reilly, Okposo, Sam & Kane if we keep him

High likelihood to be productive top9 guys
(in a 3 scoring line set up)
Nylander, Mittelstadt

So that's 6 or 7 guys I think we can all agree on

Which means, we need 2 or 3 more guys to work out...
Baptiste, Bailey, Fasching, Rodrigues, Cj Smith, Pu, Asplund, Davidsson

That's 8 guys

I feel very strongly that at least 3 of them can work out


So while I hear ya...
and do agree there's still questions to be answered for the Sabres

I also believe we are in a good spot to get very positive results with the current & upcoming forward talent we have

I don't think so (it reverting back) the lockout is probably coming though

There is a reason the game is called like it is now, it's what the league and players want.

Those two years out of the lockout were kind of a joke when it came to penalties.

The 90's style is gone but you're not going to see that ticky tacky stuff called again like it was in 2006-2008
- Stripes77

I think all people want is a balance between the most power plays in NHL history and the least in recorded history (last year)

ABSOLUTELY
Yes u do, 100%

There is a difference though
We are discussing more of a philosophy of how to set up our lines

Whether or not these young guys develop into players who can pull off 3 scoring lines like the Pens...
hell yes that's up for debate
And I absolutely agree that they're "questions" that we don't know the answers to year

This is the big difference though
If our 1st round CB busts, we are hurting in the secondary BIG TIME
Or if Sammy or McCoy get hurt, etc etc
I think u see what I mean here

But if Bailey gets hurt, or doesn't perform...
can Rodrigues or Fasching come up & perform on the wing w/ Nylander & Sam?

With all the talent the Sabres have at forward,
I think we are in good shape to still succeed without EVERYONE working out
But the Bills do need EVERYONE to work out

Sabres forwards-

Sure things (to different degrees of course)
Jack, O'Reilly, Okposo, Sam & Kane if we keep him

High likelihood to be productive top9 guys
(in a 3 scoring line set up)
Nylander, Mittelstadt

So that's 6 or 7 guys I think we can all agree on

Which means, we need 2 or 3 more guys to work out...
Baptiste, Bailey, Fasching, Rodrigues, Cj Smith, Pu, Asplund, Davidsson

That's 8 guys

I feel very strongly that at least 3 of them can work out


So while I hear ya...
and do agree there's still questions to be answered for the Sabres

I also believe we are in a good spot to get very positive results with the current & upcoming forward talent we have
- jdfitz77

2 roll 3 lines (and get that type of production)

Bailey Baptiste and Nylander all have to work out

Then Middlestat has to turn pro next year and light the league on fire

Crosby and Malkin are more important to the Pens than Kessel
Eichel and at the moment ROR are more important to the Sabres than Reinhart,e specially if you move him to center
- Stripes77

Completely agree
Yet,
the Pens roll 3 lines that score

And just bc Kessel isn't on the same level as Crosby & Malkin,
doesn't mean he's not important to the success of that 3rd line
Which is important to the team success of the Pens

Kessel doesn't have to be Crosby or Malkin
Just like Sam won't have to be Jack or O'Reilly

Heck, if it makes u guys feel better...
MITTELSTADT AT 3C

I know, not this year... but just for years to come
As part of a 3rd scoring line
Does that name work better for you?

The only reason I suggest Sam,
is bc right NOW, he's obviously the best option to help a 3rd line bump up its offensive potential

But next year...
keep Sam with Jack & roll out
Nylander-Mittelstadt-Baptiste

Something like that is all I'm saying

2 roll 3 lines (and get that type of production)

Bailey Baptiste and Nylander all have to work out

Then Middlestat has to turn pro next year and light the league on fire
- Stripes77

U probably missed where I said I don't expect that type of production for
THIS SEASON
I'm talking going forward

I'm just ready to start to transition to a 3 scoring line type system NOW
As guys like Bailey, Baptiste, Fasching develop...
and Mittelstadt, Nylander, Pu, etc are ready and work their way into the lineup...

Then we start to see the production rise on line 3
(and lines 1&2 as well)

This.

Also, Kessel is a much better scorer than Sam right now.
- sbroads24

He has an interesting side gig in the offseason.

http://www.philipkesslerphotography.com/about.php

I just want the skunk and pu on the same line

nylander-eichel-okposo
middlestat-ror-baptiste
asplund-reinhart-pu
e-rod-davidson-bailey


f@ck it, roll 4 lines
- homiedclown

I'm drooling at the possibilities

And u left some guys with potential out too

In 19-20, our forward lineup could be amazing

I don't think so (it reverting back) the lockout is probably coming though

There is a reason the game is called like it is now, it's what the league and players want.

Those two years out of the lockout were kind of a joke when it came to penalties.

The 90's style is gone but you're not going to see that ticky tacky stuff called again like it was in 2006-2008
- Stripes77

I agree on the "league" (for some stupid reason?)
But not the players
They wanna be able to skate & score
Not get held up & interfered with

If the NFL can make changes to highlite OFFENSE...
why the f#ck can't the dumba$$ NHL owners see it's a good idea?!

I mean, what do we all wanna see...
Eichel getting interfered with,
or having a scoring chance?

Seems obvious to me

Mittelstadt will be fine. No better. No worse. Fine.

Mittelstadt will be fine. No better. No worse. Fine.
- TheSabresTaco

Mittelstadt & Nylander should both develop into (at least) 20-30-50pts type players in the future

We have some really good offensive talent guys

I know Eichel is our only "star"
But as these other guys develop,
we are gonna have GREAT depth that contributes nightly

What this team should be doing is what the Islanders did in Oct of 2014. Look to poach talent from a cap strapped team right before the deadline to get under the cap.

Again...
play around with the number how u want

I'm just saying...
something like Nylander-Sam-Bailey
Looks a lot better to me than
Girgs-Larsson-Pominville

15-16 Pens 3rd line
Hagelin, 27pts in 37games, works out to 60pts full season
Bonino, 29pts in 63games, equals 38pts in 82games
Kessel, played a full season with 63pts

So yeah,
60pts-38pts-63pts

Something along those lines could happen with a
Mittelstadt-Reinhart-Baptiste unit


*i keep switching up the names to point out all the versatility & options we have coming
- jdfitz77

Kessel wasnt on the HBK line until the post season

What this team should be doing is what the Islanders did in Oct of 2014. Look to poach talent from a cap strapped team right before the deadline to get under the cap.
- dadeadhead

agreed

Mittelstadt & Nylander should both develop into (at least) 20-30-50pts type players in the future

We have some really good offensive talent guys

I know Eichel is our only "star"
But as these other guys develop,
we are gonna have GREAT depth that contributes nightly
- jdfitz77

Fine.

What this team should be doing is what the Islanders did in Oct of 2014. Look to poach talent from a cap strapped team right before the deadline to get under the cap.
- dadeadhead

In a very short time we will be the cap strapped team

What this team should be doing is what the Islanders did in Oct of 2014. Look to poach talent from a cap strapped team right before the deadline to get under the cap.
- dadeadhead

Mikko Koivu, wild retain 2.5 mil for a 3rd

move him to LW

In a very short time we will be the cap strapped team
- sbroads24

yup

In a very short time we will be the cap strapped team
- sbroads24

Kane will be the reason

Kessel wasnt on the HBK line until the post season
- sbroads24

Are u sure...
I don't think that's true

But regardless...
if it can work for 25games, it can work for 82

I think u guys are getting a little hung up on exact point totals
Where I'm just trying to show that a 3rd scoring line will help outlet team

Whether it's Sam or Mittelstadt at 3C,
Idk... whatever...

It's still a line that would end up producing a lot more than
Foligno-Larsson-Gionta
Or
Pouliot-Larsson-Pominville

Kane will be the reason
- cabin

racist

yup
- homiedclown

Caught up with a few episodes of blood drive last night

What this team should be doing is what the Islanders did in Oct of 2014. Look to poach talent from a cap strapped team right before the deadline to get under the cap.
- dadeadhead

We kind of did that in the way we acquired Scandella by taking Pommer
I know they got Ennis, but that's 1 year...
and Pommer's cap hit is for 2

I totally agree with you though

There's teams in Cap trouble we should try to take advantage of
Detroit of all teams has issues right now
I doubt they'd move him...
but the speed & potential scoring of Anthasiou would look nice in our top9

Caught up with a few episodes of blood drive last night
- cabin

I think I'm on episode 4 or 5
It's weirdly awesome

in 2007

vanek had 84 points as 3rd line winger and roy had 63 points as 3rd line center


next topic please
- homiedclown

Times have changed

racist
- homiedclown

The slink is my new favorite character on TV now