Wilson’s career high before this season was 7 goals.

Why is he so popular all the sudden? He scored 14 goals playing with two highly skilled line mates. That’s actually a bad season for a regular top 6 player
- sbroads24

I think it's mostly to do with the hot playoff performer perception and the inflated value that goes along with it.

I think we are contending for the 7th or 8th spot.
Why wouldn't we be?
I agree on sobotka, I'm just thinking the kids are going to be targeted.
3 x 3 with mekar and mitts is proof. And that's 2 teammates in camp
- Boss34

Someone trying to stand out in rookie camp is hardly PROOF that teams are gonna take runs at Mittelstadt & our other young stars

Guys who can play tough, ok
Tough guys who can’t play, no thanks

Wilson’s career high before this season was 7 goals.

Why is he so popular all the sudden? He scored 14 goals playing with two highly skilled line mates. That’s actually a bad season for a regular top 6 player
- sbroads24

Mmm didnt you hear, wilson protected OV, and allowed him to focus on hockey.

Someone trying to stand out in rookie camp is hardly PROOF that teams are gonna take runs at Mittelstadt & our other young stars

Guys who can play tough, ok
Tough guys who can’t play, no thanks
- jdfitz77

Wrong. The assistant coach told him to target Mitts since the head coach didnt put anyone on Mitts line to protect him.

Mmm didnt you hear, wilson protected OV, and allowed him to focus on hockey.
- Mentalorgasm5

I mean, for a bottom 6 player he’s ok, but he certainly isn’t that good

Wrong. The assistant coach told him to target Mitts since the head coach didnt put anyone on Mitts line to protect him.
- Mentalorgasm5

Lol

I mean, for a bottom 6 player he’s ok, but he certainly isn’t that good
- sbroads24

apparently he is going to cost more than reinhart this year.

If it’s Wilson, sure
Bc he can actually play hockey too
I’d take 2 of him

There’s a difference between playing tough, and just being a tough guy who offers little else
Besides others that have been mentioned,
Bailey & Baptiste stoke me as guys who can play tough

It’s not that I’m shunning the “toughness” factor, but the guy has to be able to play as well

The time for 4th line tough guys that play 6min a night is over
- jdfitz77

I agree, I'm just not sure if it's in bailey or baps dna?

I want them playing their game. Not sure what it is though?

I only brought up reaves, because someone said there is no place for him in the nhl. The gm of the the year signed him a week ago, so there is a place for him. 3 teams were bidding for his service.

I agree with you on tom wilson, he would be ideal.

Maybe Thomson or sobokatka bring some physical

Hopefully Patrick maroon signs with St Louis so I don't have to hear about him anymore
- gerbe75pts

Hopefully alex nylander gets traded soon, so we do not have to hear about him

U can get away with a Tom Wilson type on a top6 line, IF, the other 2 guys are Ovi & Kuznetzov... or the Sedins... etc

I think Gerbe is saying we should be focused on getting our “Ovi” before we worry about finding a “Wilson” to protect him

I agree, I'm just not sure if it's in bailey or baps dna?

I want them playing their game. Not sure what it is though?

I only brought up reaves, because someone said there is no place for him in the nhl. The gm of the the year signed him a week ago, so there is a place for him. 3 teams were bidding for his service.

I agree with you on tom wilson, he would be ideal.

Maybe Thomson or sobokatka bring some physical
- Boss34

I get your point about being physical...
but it’s 3rd (at best) on my list of desirable attributes behind:
scoring & skating
hockey sense & defensive play are at least equal with toughness as well

We have some guys that can be scrappy
Maroon would be “ok”
We could do without him too though

U can get away with a Tom Wilson type on a top6 line, IF, the other 2 guys are Ovi & Kuznetzov... or the Sedins... etc

I think Gerbe is saying we should be focused on getting our “Ovi” before we worry about finding a “Wilson” to protect him
- jdfitz77

Well that should be easy , "getting our ovi"

Hopefully alex nylander gets traded soon, so we do not have to hear about him
- Boss34

Hey now he’s The truth

I get your point about being physical...
but it’s 3rd (at best) on my list of desirable attributes behind:
scoring & skating
hockey sense & defensive play are at least equal with toughness as well

We have some guys that can be scrappy
Maroon would be “ok”
We could do without him too though
- jdfitz77

Don't we have skating and potential scoring
Were past that in my opinion.
You would have to trade one of the big 3 to get a top winger

"Ennis was a part of Botterill's first big trade and so far that one has gone well with both Scandella and Pominville still a part of the Sabres."

Wait. Huh? Gone well?
Pominville started fast the first ~10 games and then disappeared...truly showing his age and lack of speed...it'll likely be a worse performance this season..esp factoring production vs majorly bloated contract.
And Scandella showed some promise but certainly looked overwhelmed for most of the year playing big minutes and trying his best to look like a real nhl defenseman on a squad full-o-clowns. I hold out hope that when he is properly slotted as a 3/4 dman his play will improve. If not, the Wild got the best player in Foligno in this deal. The meat of this trade was Foligno and Scandella....the rest was bantha fodder.

Looking forward to Ennis getting crushed when the Sabs play the Leaves.

Well that should be easy , "getting our ovi"
- Boss34

I don’t think anyone said “easy” sir
Come on now

Someone else made a point about Maroon keeping a spot from Nylander, Olofsson, etc
That’s fine for this year
But i don’t wanna give him a 3year deal either

"Ennis was a part of Botterill's first big trade and so far that one has gone well with both Scandella and Pominville still a part of the Sabres."

Wait. Huh? Gone well?
Pominville started fast the first ~10 games and then disappeared...truly showing his age and lack of speed...it'll likely be a worse performance this season..esp factoring production vs majorly bloated contract.
And Scandella showed some promise but certainly looked overwhelmed for most of the year playing big minutes and trying his best to look like a real nhl defenseman on a squad full-o-clowns. I hold out hope that when he is properly slotted as a 3/4 dman his play will improve. If not, the Wild got the best player in Foligno in this deal. The meat of this trade was Foligno and Scandella....the rest was bantha fodder.

Looking forward to Ennis getting crushed when the Sabs play the Leaves.
- siket71

Marcus Foligno and his annual 20 points? Woof.

Don't we have skating and potential scoring
Were past that in my opinion.
You would have to trade one of the big 3 to get a top winger
- Boss34

Can u ever have enough?
I think we have enough guys who can be scrappy enough to protect our guys so to speak
If that even happens anymore
(I think those days are over)

Guys that can play & agaitate the hell out of other teams like Wilson...
sign me up
I’ve been saying for years that we should trade for him

Other than that,
I’ll pass on the “tough” guys

EDIT
If we didn’t have 14/15 forwards already,
u could sign a Zack Kassian type
But we already have about 12 bottom6 guys
Where is Kassian now a days?

I don’t think anyone said “easy” sir
Come on now

Someone else made a point about Maroon keeping a spot from Nylander, Olofsson, etc
That’s fine for this year
But i don’t wanna give him a 3year deal either
- jdfitz77

That's a good point, I wouldn't want to hold back part of the future.

That's a good point, I wouldn't want to hold back part of the future.
- Boss34

Not for Maroon anyways

Alright, I’ve repeated myself enough for now

Later guys

Can u ever have enough?
I think we have enough guys who can be scrappy enough to protect our guys so to speak
If that even happens anymore
(I think those days are over)

Guys that can play & agaitate the hell out of other teams like Wilson...
sign me up
I’ve been saying for years that we should trade for him

Other than that,
I’ll pass on the “tough” guys

EDIT
If we didn’t have 14/15 forwards already,
u could sign a Zack Kassian type
But we already have about 12 bottom6 guys
Where is Kassian now a days?
- jdfitz77

My hole point is we need balance. I felt we were short on toughness. Not goons, but tough playoff type guys.

I feel like we have the speed and upcoming scoring

My hole point is we need balance. I felt we were short on toughness. Not goons, but tough playoff type guys.

I feel like we have the speed and upcoming scoring
- Boss34

We’ve barely replaced Kane & O’Reilly...
and WITH them we needed MUCH more scoring

If the young kids come through, then maybe we are “ok”
Not even close to having enough scoring imo

My hole point is we need balance. I felt we were short on toughness. Not goons, but tough playoff type guys.

I feel like we have the speed and upcoming scoring
- Boss34

I’m confused by this we added 1 speed guy then traded for 2 including 3 if you add Thompson

Add now you want to add Patrick maroon another slow guy

Botts better have a ace up his sleeve because right now I’m confused at The direction..

He said the goal was to get younger and faster and we have done none of that

We’ve barely replaced Kane & O’Reilly...
and WITH them we needed MUCH more scoring

If the young kids come through, then maybe we are “ok”
Not even close to having enough scoring imo
- jdfitz77

Kane’s EV goal production is tough to replace. But Sheary has done well there.

O’Reilly really won’t be missed offensively if Mittelstadt is just average and Rodrigues is in the lineup day 1

Kane’s EV goal production is tough to replace. But Sheary has done well there.

O’Reilly really won’t be missed offensively if Mittelstadt is just average and Rodrigues is in the lineup day 1
- sbroads24

Ok... but did we significantly improve?
I don’t think so
Maybe 20-30 goals better on paper
We need much better than that imo

We’ll see how much a decent group of defensemen (finally) can help push the offense

There’s potential there
But we still need more scoring imo