really don't think so...unless he plays left wing, something he hasn't done very often
- Michael Pachla

Even at RW, there's 1 open spot and I think he comes into camp as the favorite for it. There's a lot of competition though, will be fun to see who lands those final spots this year.

Even at RW, there's 1 open spot and I think he comes into camp as the favorite for it. There's a lot of competition though, will be fun to see who lands those final spots this year.
- Lunaion

I doubt he would say he's getting a top6 chance unless this was discussed. Agree, he's the favorite.

Where have I seen this before.....

Even at RW, there's 1 open spot and I think he comes into camp as the favorite for it. There's a lot of competition though, will be fun to see who lands those final spots this year.
- Lunaion

There's always room for better players.

Even at RW, there's 1 open spot and I think he comes into camp as the favorite for it. There's a lot of competition though, will be fun to see who lands those final spots this year.
- Lunaion

There is?

Reinhart
Okposo

Which one of these two is he going to knock out?

You guys have not been putting in the work

Even at RW, there's 1 open spot and I think he comes into camp as the favorite for it. There's a lot of competition though, will be fun to see who lands those final spots this year.
- Lunaion

point taken...

Nicolas baptiste: 10 points (7+3) in 47 nhl games over two seasons

tage Thompson: nine points (3+6) in 41 games for St. Louis last season



baptiste fast, had short stints in top-six, spent most of his time in bottom-six

Thompson, big, takes a bit to get up to speed, said he never really got a chance in a top-six role


should be a good race...

imo, edge baptiste because of speed and because Thompson doesn't need to clear waivers

There is?

Reinhart
Okposo

Which one of these two is he going to knock out?
- Stripes77

Sam, Kyle, Pomminville, +1

To be top 6, he'd have to knock Kyle down....but again, I spend no time predicting the lines Phil will use. I think he gets time with Jack in the pre-season though.

really don't think so...unless he plays left wing, something he hasn't done very often
- Michael Pachla

Botts said he is someone who can "step right into the lineup and grow with our young centers"

That sounds like a good look on the top 6 to me

point taken...

Nicolas baptiste: 10 points (7+3) in 47 nhl games over two seasons

tage Thompson: nine points (3+6) in 41 games for St. Louis last season



baptiste fast, had short stints in top-six, spent most of his time in bottom-six

Thompson, big, takes a bit to get up to speed, said he never really got a chance in a top-six role


should be a good race...

imo, edge baptiste because of speed and because Thompson doesn't need to clear waivers
- Michael Pachla

All true. I have no clue what they'll do with Baptiste and Bailey, especially if they don't have strong camps. I don't view either of them as top 6 prospects and it seems like they're quickly being passed by the next wave of prospects.

point taken...

Nicolas baptiste: 10 points (7+3) in 47 nhl games over two seasons

tage Thompson: nine points (3+6) in 41 games for St. Louis last season



baptiste fast, had short stints in top-six, spent most of his time in bottom-six

Thompson, big, takes a bit to get up to speed, said he never really got a chance in a top-six role


should be a good race...

imo, edge baptiste because of speed and because Thompson doesn't need to clear waivers
- Michael Pachla

I think Thompson is about as fast as reinhart

All true. I have no clue what they'll do with Baptiste and Bailey, especially if they don't have strong camps. I don't view either of them as top 6 prospects and it seems like they're quickly being passed by the next wave of prospects.
- Lunaion

Yea, their time to make it was last year.

The new kids are better

point taken...

Nicolas baptiste: 10 points (7+3) in 47 nhl games over two seasons

tage Thompson: nine points (3+6) in 41 games for St. Louis last season



baptiste fast, had short stints in top-six, spent most of his time in bottom-six

Thompson, big, takes a bit to get up to speed, said he never really got a chance in a top-six role


should be a good race...

imo, edge baptiste because of speed and because Thompson doesn't need to clear waivers
- Michael Pachla

aaaaand Baptiste is 3 years older than Thompson. Bigger upside. We shall see.

Yea, their time to make it was last year.

The new kids are better
- Shadman306

You can't ask for a better chance than they had last year, and they both just completely blew it. It was frustrating to watch. It's also frustrating that the response to this will be that they didn't get a real opportunity last year.

All true. I have no clue what they'll do with Baptiste and Bailey, especially if they don't have strong camps. I don't view either of them as top 6 prospects and it seems like they're quickly being passed by the next wave of prospects.
- Lunaion

Yeah, I don’t dislike either of them, but at this point how does anyone pencil them into the top 9 on an NHL team? They’ve done absolutely nothing to instill confidence there.

And I was a big Bailey fan for a while

Yeah, I don’t dislike either of them, but at this point how does anyone pencil them into the top 9 on an NHL team? They’ve done absolutely nothing to instill confidence there.

And I was a big Bailey fan for a while
- sbroads24

They werent exactly ,anaged in a way that helped their confidence

I think Thompson is about as fast as reinhart
- Shadman306

KB: Thompson is not super explosive out of the blocks, but he is not considered slow either. His speed is more than adequate, and he’s proven that he can play fast.

“From our standpoint, we think certainly in flight he has very good speed,” Botterill added when asked about Thompson’s feet.

KB: Thompson is not super explosive out of the blocks, but he is not considered slow either. His speed is more than adequate, and he’s proven that he can play fast.

“From our standpoint, we think certainly in flight he has very good speed,” Botterill added when asked about Thompson’s feet.
- TheSabresTaco

Glad Kelvin Benjamin is on board

Glad Kelvin Benjamin is on board
- sbroads24

When I told people that McBeane was going to counsel Botts, I wasn't kidding.

Where have I seen this before.....


- TheSabresTaco

This is great

point taken...

Nicolas baptiste: 10 points (7+3) in 47 nhl games over two seasons

tage Thompson: nine points (3+6) in 41 games for St. Louis last season



baptiste fast, had short stints in top-six, spent most of his time in bottom-six

Thompson, big, takes a bit to get up to speed, said he never really got a chance in a top-six role


should be a good race...

imo, edge baptiste because of speed and because Thompson doesn't need to clear waivers
- Michael Pachla

Reinhart at center changes the dynamic of everything. And while Botterill may have an affinity for Pominville, Housley probably doesn't. If Thompson and Baptiste win the job, Pommer could end up as the extra forward

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#Isles pushing hard for Karlsson as of now. #VGK is one of the teams that the Karlsson camp has been talking an extension with. As of this tweet, the #Isles aren’t... YET

I hate this guy, and his rumors are mostly garbage, but he's right more than Ek.

But it brings up a talking point. Why the (frank) would Karlsson want to sign up for that team? They look like the 2016 Sabres now.

Yeah, I don’t dislike either of them, but at this point how does anyone pencil them into the top 9 on an NHL team? They’ve done absolutely nothing to instill confidence there.

And I was a big Bailey fan for a while
- sbroads24

Despite it all, I'm still a Bailey fan. In short spurts he looks like a great fit with Eichel...followed by longer stretches of looking like an AHL player.

Phil really needs a good start to the season, I don't know how you can count of both of them.

Reinhart at center changes the dynamic of everything. And while Botterill may have an affinity for Pominville, Housley probably doesn't. If Thompson and Baptiste win the job, Pommer could end up as the extra forward
- jcragcrumple

Can't wait to watch that experiment again.

Reinhart at center changes the dynamic of everything. And while Botterill may have an affinity for Pominville, Housley probably doesn't. If Thompson and Baptiste win the job, Pommer could end up as the extra forward
- jcragcrumple

I don’t like Sam at center.

But if they truly think that’s where he will be the O’whiney trade makes even more sense