Depends. Is the “top line” together from day 1?
- sbroads24

Of the Sabres top line for the majority of the season, only Eichel was on the 1st pp...completely crushes their raw point total in a completely irrelevant way.

Of the Sabres top line for the majority of the season, only Eichel was on the 1st pp...completely crushes their raw point total in a completely irrelevant way.
- Lunaion

Agreed.

Again too, it speaks to how poor our other centers were 5 on 5.

They put Eichel with scrubs to hopefully generate any offense with O’Reilly, Josefson, Larsson etc, and Eichel was still almost a PPG with those guys at times

Agreed.

Again too, it speaks to how poor our other centers were 5 on 5.

They put Eichel with scrubs to hopefully generate any offense with O’Reilly, Josefson, Larsson etc, and Eichel was still almost a PPG with those guys at times
- sbroads24

Sheary and Thompson aren't my dream additions on wing, but I want to see them both with Eichel in the pre-season. If it does work out, it still might not put up a ton of points if Sheary + Thompson don't see first line PP time. I really don't care about the PP point padding, especially if it leads to better 5v5 production.

So we obviously don't know what the PP structure will be. I would advocate for a 1-3-1, with Risto up top, Eichel and Dahlin on their off wings, Mittelstadt in the middle, and Reinhart down low for the tip stuff.

PP2, I would go umbrella with Sheary and Okposo down low, Erod, Guhle and Bogo up top. Bogo has an underrated slapper

So we obviously don't know what the PP structure will be. I would advocate for a 1-3-1, with Risto up top, Eichel and Dahlin on their off wings, Mittelstadt in the middle, and Reinhart down low for the tip stuff.

PP2, I would go umbrella with Sheary and Okposo down low, Erod, Guhle and Bogo up top. Bogo has an underrated slapper
- jcragcrumple

If Thompson is dressed, with his shot he’s on a unit

If Thompson is dressed, with his shot he’s on a unit
- sbroads24

He'd probably take Erod's spot. I actually liked ERod on the PP when Eichel was hurt though. His shot seems to be improved

So we obviously don't know what the PP structure will be. I would advocate for a 1-3-1, with Risto up top, Eichel and Dahlin on their off wings, Mittelstadt in the middle, and Reinhart down low for the tip stuff.

PP2, I would go umbrella with Sheary and Okposo down low, Erod, Guhle and Bogo up top. Bogo has an underrated slapper
- jcragcrumple

Looks like you’ve some thought into this. I like it.

So we obviously don't know what the PP structure will be. I would advocate for a 1-3-1, with Risto up top, Eichel and Dahlin on their off wings, Mittelstadt in the middle, and Reinhart down low for the tip stuff.

PP2, I would go umbrella with Sheary and Okposo down low, Erod, Guhle and Bogo up top. Bogo has an underrated slapper
- jcragcrumple

I've always hated Risto at the point. Having a righty there hurts Eichel.

I've always hated Risto at the point. Having a righty there hurts Eichel.
- Lunaion

Never thought about that

I've always hated Risto at the point. Having a righty there hurts Eichel.
- Lunaion

The benefit of the 1-3-1 with Dahlin and Eichel playing opposite each other is that they could combine for nasty cross-ice one-timers, and it could open up Risto to shoot more from the point, looking for tips from Mittelstadt or Reinhart

The benefit of the 1-3-1 with Dahlin and Eichel playing opposite each other is that they could combine for nasty cross-ice one-timers, and it could open up Risto to shoot more from the point, looking for tips from Mittelstadt or Reinhart
- jcragcrumple

imo, their pp is more of a 1-2-2 and Eichel - Dahlin - Mittlestadt is my dream. Eichel's always been the focal point, and two righties in Eichel + Risto moving the puck between each other has always been awkward. It messes up their angles and passing lanes.

Let's just give sam 6 years, we need guys that score 25 while playing with eichel.

He's scored goals in 5 out of 6 (1/2 seasons.)
New statistics on here everyday

Bandit likes guys that can score - sometimes
- Boss34

No, I like guys that score almost all the time, like Sam has shown he can. He had a slump for 17% of his career, but let's not talk about the other 83%, that hurts our argument.

Give me a (frank)ing break, dude.

Let's look at Mr Toughness. Signed a massive 1 year $1.75M deal with St Louis:

He's never once played all 82, and he didn't play all 48 during the shortened season either.

Took him until he was 28 years old and playing with Jesus(the guy with 137 assists in the last 2 years, hmm I wonder how Maroon scored so many goals?) before he was anything more than a glorified 3rd liner and scored 20 goals and he ended up with 27.

"Toughness" is nigh on worthless these days. A guy that scored as many goals as Maroon did the past 2 years should've gotten like $4M a year. But he didn't, because he's not that good and teams know it and "tough" guys are a dime a dozen.

Guys that can actually score are valuable. People female dog about one bad half, but when the other 5 halves are brought up, they're "made up". Right... The line at the end of the season is what matters, and as bad as the first half was he ended up with a career year in goals and points. Other than a tiny handful of guys at the top, there's no such thing as a "consistent" hockey player in the way you deem it to be. And even then, Jesus had a 6 game stretch where he had only 2 points. That's ice cold for a guy that ended up with 108 points. Just because Sam isn't "tough" doesn't mean he sucks, or is weak.

I've always hated Risto at the point. Having a righty there hurts Eichel.
- Lunaion

Why? A lefty would be awkward passing to a righty on the LW. A righty has a better angle for passes and one-timers.

imo, their pp is more of a 1-2-2 and Eichel - Dahlin - Mittlestadt is my dream. Eichel's always been the focal point, and two righties in Eichel + Risto moving the puck between each other has always been awkward. It messes up their angles and passing lanes.
- Lunaion

Dahlin up top
Eichel and Thompson on the sides
Reinhart and Mitts down low

Why? A lefty would be awkward passing to a righty on the LW. A righty has a better angle for passes and one-timers.
- Wetbandit1

He has to turn to pass to Eichel. It telegraphs Eichel’s one timers.

He has to turn to pass to Eichel. It telegraphs Eichel’s one timers.
- sbroads24

right, it's slower and the angle is much easier to defend.

He has to turn to pass to Eichel. It telegraphs Eichel’s one timers.
- sbroads24

ehh

He doesn't have to turn, the puck should be in front of you regardless.

Would a lefty get a pass off more quickly? Perhaps, but it's a much harder angle.

Pros and cons to both.

right, it's slower and the angle is much easier to defend.
- Lunaion

That's all well and good, but taking a hard angle pass for a one-timer isn't going to work that well either. If anything the lefty would have to turn to open his body up for the pass.

Dahlin up top
Eichel and Thompson on the sides
Reinhart and Mitts down low
- sbroads24

hurts a bit that Thompson is a righty

I think Olofsson needs some time in Rochester, but once he gets his opportunity in the NHL, that right slot on the PP is his greatest strength.

ehh

He doesn't have to turn, the puck should be in front of you regardless.

Would a lefty get a pass off more quickly? Perhaps, but it's a much harder angle.

Pros and cons to both.
- Wetbandit1

Because he can pass and shoot from the same angle. His stick would be be facing Eichel

When a righty starts to pass he turns and everyone under the sun sees it a second earlier

That's all well and good, but taking a hard angle pass for a one-timer isn't going to work that well either. If anything the lefty would have to turn to open his body up for the pass.
- Wetbandit1

I just don't see it that way.

When Risto was suspended, I honestly thought the PP had a better flow to it.

We know. Best stretch of his career, when none of the games mattered. Anyone feel confident he'll keep that up?

Jack + Sam on a line has always been fine, but nothing remarkable. Tage has a completely different skill set, and I'm anxious to see it with Jack.
- Lunaion

To be fair, when have any of the games really mattered the past 3 years?

To be fair, when have any of the games really mattered the past 3 years?
- kingcong39

Fair enough, but I'd say until they are effectively out of it. I think a lot of people have forgotten just how bad the first half of the season was.

Looks like Elias Lindholm is closing in on a 5 to 6 year deal for $5M per, according to the Calgary writer.

Fair enough, but I'd say until they are effectively out of it. I think a lot of people have forgotten just how bad the first half of the season was.
- Lunaion

Nobody has forgotten that. I think many seem to have forgotten his production the prior 2 years.

I think almost all are on board with a bridge deal.

Personally, I'm all about only paying players when absolutely necessary, except for guys like Eichel and hopefully Dahlin (maybe Mittelstadt).