I hope “he” is Zay not RocketMan
- Der Kaiser

you've outlived your purpose, old man!

it's not that far-fetched to use a group that includes fourth-line/bottom-sixers and depth d-men coming out of a powerplay...it allows the lines and pairings to fall into place after that out shift is over
- Michael Pachla

It happens a lot, but it's rarely a 4th line, solely.

Problem is our #1 unit was like, the only 5 guys with offensive talent on the roster.

you've outlived your purpose, old man!
- TheSabresTaco

It still salutes in the morning and when properly motivated.

I hope everyone is enjoying the following:

https://deadspin.com/tag/why-your-team-sucks-2018

It happens a lot, but it's rarely a 4th line, solely.

Problem is our #1 unit was like, the only 5 guys with offensive talent on the roster.
- sbroads24

Stack a PP line to provide most of the offense the team was able to generate, or spread the talent, score less on the pp and still suck 5v5?

That's what this team had to deal with.

Despite the #1 pp 2 years ago, we missed the (frank)ing playoffs. That's almost impossible. And by that, I mean to have all that scoring talent, and suck at 5v5.

I know Garth likes to say we had the 31st ranked PP, which is only true for like the months of October or November, but we were so deep in the hole that it's actually pretty spectacular we were able to come back to.. what.. 23rd?

Right, and I posted that knowing that the final 10 seconds are for that purpose if you're not already set in the ozone,but still, you should never want to see them out during any percent of the pp time, even though it makes practical sense.
- TheSabresTaco

got it

It happens a lot, but it's rarely a 4th line, solely.

Problem is our #1 unit was like, the only 5 guys with offensive talent on the roster.
- sbroads24

true dat...

Bylsma had gus and Foligno coming out of the pp a lot but to taco's point, Girgensons averaged :04 of ice time and Foligno :09 that season

Michael Pachla: Buffalo Sabres get five games on NBCSN
- Michael Pachla

NBCSN has the ability to pick up and drop games mid-season (see 3 years ago when they dropped Buffalo-Edmonton for Washington-Pittsburgh). If the Sabres become good enough where they move the needle in national ratings, they will pick them up. Until then, five games seems rather generous for this team.

NBCSN has the ability to pick up and drop games mid-season (see 3 years ago when they dropped Buffalo-Edmonton for Washington-Pittsburgh). If the Sabres become good enough where they move the needle in national ratings, they will pick them up. Until then, five games seems rather generous for this team.
- buffalofan19

not sure if they'd do it for a team not in the playoff hunt...and most don't expect the Sabres to be in the hunt when NBC flexes games

not sure if they'd do it for a team not in the playoff hunt...and most don't expect the Sabres to be in the hunt when NBC flexes games
- Michael Pachla

That's what I'm saying. If Buffalo were to catch lightning in a bottle, and they're in the thick of a playoff race with a match up with Boston or something, they could get picked up if the current schedule shows two non-playoff teams.

That's what I'm saying. If Buffalo were to catch lightning in a bottle, and they're in the thick of a playoff race with a match up with Boston or something, they could get picked up if the current schedule shows two non-playoff teams.
- buffalofan19

maybe that's what they're thinking...all buffalo games are pre trade-deadline

blackhawks are on 19 times


- Michael Pachla

Guarantee you at least 40% of those games will simply be simulcast by the local Comcast affiliate, just like the past few years. Same goes for Washington, Philadelphia, and San Jose.

Or Philly Corp also owns the channel.

This is a good thing though. That is 5 less possible times I have to listen to the unsufferable Pierre and The period break dim bulbs. Based on the Pens NOT being a part of it.
- Doogs

Yes, that's a big part of it. Philly and Chicago and D.C. are Comcast/NBC local feeds which NBC can cheaply piggyback onto. Same reason why the west coast games are pre-dominantly San Jose games.
Edit: Doh! Late

Maybe Sam & Berglund can find the chemistry he had with ROR...?

Sheary/Skinner-Eichel-Okposo
Skinner/Sheary-Mittelstadt-???????
Wilson-Berglund-Reinhart
Bailey-Rodrigues-Baptiste

*need a top6 RW (go get Stone!)


EDIT
I forgot Pominville
He’s gonna figure in somewhere

Maybe Sam & Berglund can find the chemistry he had with ROR...?

Sheary/Skinner-Eichel-Okposo
Skinner/Sheary-Mittelstadt-???????
Wilson-Berglund-Reinhart
Bailey-Rodrigues-Baptiste

*need a top6 RW (go get Stone!)


EDIT
I forgot Pominville
He’s gonna figure in somewhere
- jdfitz77

just move reinhart up and put Pominville in his place

I think it's 15

Casey, 9, 23,
53, Sheary, 21,
Wilson, Berglund, 29,
28, 22, Sobotka,
Erod, Bailey, Baptiste
- jcragcrumple

And that’s not counting Thompson

Seems like the easy way to go is Thompson in AHL, then some combo that see 2 of these 4 either traded or sent through waivers to Rochester:
Girgensons, Larsson, Bailey, Baptiste

Maybe Sam & Berglund can find the chemistry he had with ROR...?

Sheary/Skinner-Eichel-Okposo
Skinner/Sheary-Mittelstadt-???????
Wilson-Berglund-Reinhart
Bailey-Rodrigues-Baptiste

*need a top6 RW (go get Stone!)


EDIT
I forgot Pominville
He’s gonna figure in somewhere
- jdfitz77

What's a deal look like where you can get stone and lose Okposo? Is it possible? Because that's the only scenario I see it working out with an extension. And now thanks to Ottawa's bonehead contract, he's a UFA in 10 months

just move reinhart up and put Pominville in his place
- Michael Pachla

Right,
but that eliminates the Sam/Berglund combo
I also forgot about Sobatka

One thing i fear about our 3rd line this season is that there could be very, very little offensive production

Sobatka-Berglund-Pommer
could be a very responsible defensive unit
But can they help out on the scoresheet?
If not...
we are gonna need our top6 & PP to be doing the majority of the scoring
And that could put us back into the same type spot we were in last year

That’s why i was thinking Sam at RW3
Better chance for consistent scoring (possibly) from that line then

Right,
but that eliminates the Sam/Berglund combo
I also forgot about Sobatka

One thing i fear about our 3rd line this season is that there could be very, very little offensive production

Sobatka-Berglund-Pommer
could be a very responsible defensive unit
But can they help out on the scoresheet?
If not...
we are gonna need our top6 & PP to be doing the majority of the scoring
And that could put us back into the same type spot we were in last year

That’s why i was thinking Sam at RW3
Better chance for consistent scoring (possibly) from that line then
- jdfitz77

why not have an Eichel/skunk?

I'm more concerned about top-six scoring...baby steps

What's a deal look like where you can get stone and lose Okposo? Is it possible? Because that's the only scenario I see it working out with an extension. And now thanks to Ottawa's bonehead contract, he's a UFA in 10 months
- jcragcrumple

Idk that Okposo is tradable right now?
That’s why i keep putting him at RW1 w Jack
Get his points back up
Something like 25-35-60pts
Then maybe we can move his contract next offseason?

As far as Stone being UFA after this year...
I’m not any more worried about that than i am with Skinner’s pending UFA status
I think we could get a deal done with both

Then we’d (finally) have a legit top6
Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart
Sheary-Mittelstadt-Stone
-a line of kids (Nylander, Thompson, etc)
-checking line (Berglund, Sobatka, etc)
*above lineup for NEXT season

What's a deal look like where you can get stone and lose Okposo? Is it possible? Because that's the only scenario I see it working out with an extension. And now thanks to Ottawa's bonehead contract, he's a UFA in 10 months
- jcragcrumple

Yeah, Stone and their 2nd for Okposo and Buffalo's 1st. Have fun with that one.

why not have an Eichel/skunk?

I'm more concerned about top-six scoring...baby steps
- Michael Pachla

I’m not against Eichel/Sam
But again,
the whole point of the proposed lineup was to get scoring from line 3

How much better is the top6 upgrade we actually have this season?
IN- Skinner, Sheary, Mittelstadt
OUT- Kane, O’Reilly

So we really only upgraded 1 spot

For me, that means we are gonna need the bottom6 to score a lot more than last year

Sobatka-Berglund-Pominville
Wilson-Rodrigues-(whoever)

How much can we really count on that bottom6 to consistently help out on the scoreboard?

If they aren’t...
it’s going to be very hard for us to be legitimate playoff contenders

Yeah, Stone and their 2nd for Okposo and Buffalo's 1st. Have fun with that one.
- TheSabresTaco

Exactly
I’m thinking more like either the SJ or StL 1st, plus... for Stone

Exactly
I’m thinking more like either the SJ or StL 1st, plus... for Stone
- jdfitz77

I bet you are.

It's either Skinner or Stone. This team does not have the cap space to take him without trading Reinhart +, and, long term either.

I see that spamming poopwagon is back.