I think it's time to give a line - any line - bonafide 2nd line minutes. The balancing act isn't allowing any line to get on a roll and really contribute offensively

One other thought - Bylsma used to occasionally throw Eichel out on a different line in a non double shifting scenario to confuse the other coach and create mismatches. It might be interesting to occasionally swap Mittelstadt and Eichel within a game see if something opens up. It would at least give the opposition something to think about
- jcragcrumple

I approve both of these approaches. Unless and until Botts brings up one of the young kids, the bodies on the ice are not changing. All options for generating secondary scoring should be considered.

I'm not disputing the logic that ending up lower in the standings = better chance at getting better players. That is irrefutable. All I'm saying is that it's time for us to all collectively leave that in the past.

Where do you draw the line between loosing for future assets and learning to win, loving that, and hating to lose no matter what. The leafs are in pretty great shape right now and I would think that going to the playoffs in 16, despite the early exit and not winning the cup, was very important for the development of the young players that they did have and are their core moving forward.

Your original post suggested we should make the playoffs as a wild card, and then loose in the first round (since you seem to think a first round loss is inevitable) so that we will draft lower. You're walking an awfully fine line there. Like I said, I did root for the tank, but it is time to leave that mentality in the past.

We have an awesome young core, a bunch of picks coming up and more than a handful of prospects that should be NHL players within the next year-three years. The future of this organization has probably never looked better than it does right now. Time to root for winning and nothing else.
- Angler

Great Post

If they make the playoffs, which is a very good possibility I just don't want to jinx it, I would definitely hope they win the cup just like every other fan. Maybe I should have more positivity of them winning a playoff round, just finishing in a wild card spot does provide for a better chance of selecting a better player in the case that we do lose to one of Washington or Tampa/Toronto.

IMO #37 is not ready as of yet for 2nd line duty let alone 1st.
- SABRES 89

I'm saying once or twice within a game, throw Eichel on Mittelstadt's line. Say there's a neutral zone draw, put Mittelstadt out there with 53 and 23, and vice versa. I'm sure the opposition has their intentions as to who matches against whom, and occasionally swapping them might create an advantageous mismatch. Getting a little creative is a necessity at this point imo. The Sabres are very predictable

Some talking but it's all about Skinner for right now. I heard a name but may be the time to mention it yet.
- SABRES 89

Very interesting. Quite the tease though

I'm saying once or twice within a game, throw Eichel on Mittelstadt's line. Say there's a neutral zone draw, put Mittelstadt out there with 53 and 23, and vice versa. I'm sure the opposition has their intentions as to who matches against whom, and occasionally swapping them might create an advantageous mismatch. Getting a little creative is a necessity at this point imo. The Sabres are very predictable
- jcragcrumple

Seriously, why change ?

Girgs - larry - erod

53-9-23


Keep mixing and match the rest, until we start losing.

Seriously, why change ?

Girgs - larry - erod

53-9-23


Keep mixing and match the rest, until we start losing.
- Boss34

We've done that, and we are losing

We've done that, and we are losing
- jcragcrumple

We had 7 out of 8 points before the florida game.

In d.c. and at Boston

We're 10 games over fake .500.

I hardly say "we are losing".

Arthur Zero

Mera Undisclosed


- gerbe75pts

too much filter

We had 7 out of 8 points before the florida game.

In d.c. and at Boston

We're 10 games over fake .500.

I hardly say "we are losing".
- Boss34

Since the winning streak:

3-5-3

Since the winning streak:

3-5-3
- jcragcrumple

If I told you we'd go 13-5-3 over a stretch of 21 games in September would you have believed me ? The secondary scoring is non-existent but I think we're only going to improve. Its only been 35 games. Reinhart got hot in the 2nd half of last year. Maybe Mitts turns it on in January and Sheary starts producing again at a reasonable level.

IMO #37 is not ready as of yet for 2nd line duty let alone 1st.
- SABRES 89

a lot of positives for him, but still very raw...he's been slowly getting accustomed to the nhl, most notably how quickly a defender is on him...his last goal from the slot was a quick-release snipe...

he's got five goals and five assists in his first full season and he's done so with wingers who can't seem to get open consistently and/or finish...not that he's been perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but we've seen what buffalo's wingers have done outside of skinner and skunk

Since the winning streak:

3-5-3
- jcragcrumple

Points in 6 out of 11.


After winning 10 straight.

Trade everyone.


Last year they were losing. This year as an overall scope-


We're winning!

Check out the standings. They are accurate

I think getting McCabe and Pilut back tonight is going to help our secondary scoring as well. We have been getting a good amount of points from our backend this year.

I think getting McCabe and Pilut back tonight is going to help our secondary scoring as well. We have been getting a good amount of points from our backend this year.
- Pegullaville

McCabe is secretly an offensive defenseman.

Jake is huge part of our "core"

This miss him in both zones

Points in 6 out of 11.


After winning 10 straight.

Trade everyone.


Last year they were losing. This year as an overall scope-


We're winning!

Check out the standings. They are accurate
- Boss34

That's not what i said at all. My point was, what they're doing isn't working lately, so maybe it's time to get creative with in-game strategy.

I think getting McCabe and Pilut back tonight is going to help our secondary scoring as well. We have been getting a good amount of points from our backend this year.
- Pegullaville

This ^

I just hope with the numbers crunch that Pilut doesn't get sent down. He's been the best of the bunch to me (outside Jake and the Rasmi of course)

Some talking but it's all about Skinner for right now. I heard a name but may be the time to mention it yet.
- SABRES 89

O yeah? Is it a FUN name or a name that will make me go, "Ehh.."

Some talking but it's all about Skinner for right now. I heard a name but may be the time to mention it yet.
- SABRES 89

the suspense is killing me

I think getting McCabe and Pilut back tonight is going to help our secondary scoring as well. We have been getting a good amount of points from our backend this year.
- Pegullaville

Agreed. Going to be great to get McCabe back.

And to follow up on our previous conversation, yeah I think you (we) all should be optimistic about the possibility of the team winning a round.

When healthy, the team has a great first line. A strong checking/fourth line, a defensive that is better that most, and two goalies that have come up huge for us. Either of those goalies can steal us games.

What we are lacking, as we are all aware, is a true second, starting with a true second line center. But overall, this is a good team that is playing all the other strong teams very tough. While certainly not perfect, I think this team could cause some damage in the playoffs.

Agreed. Going to be great to get McCabe back.

And to follow up on our previous conversation, yeah I think you (we) all should be optimistic about the possibility of the team winning a round.

When healthy, the team has a great first line. A strong checking/fourth line, a defensive that is better that most, and two goalies that have come up huge for us. Either of those goalies can steal us games.

What we are lacking, as we are all aware, is a true second, starting with a true second line center. But overall, this is a good team that is playing all the other strong teams very tough. While certainly not perfect, I think this team could cause some damage in the playoffs.
- Angler

The playoffs is all about opportunistic goal scoring and goaltending. Fleury won the Knights three playoff rounds due to his obscene save%. If Hutton can carry the team on his back we can very well surprise a team. We'll also have next to no pressure as nobody would expect us to win any playoff series we are in. Recipe for strong underdog.

Most Multi-Goal Games Since Start of 2016-17:

#ALLCAPS Ovechkin - 19
#LeafsForever Matthews - 18
#GoJetsGo Laine - 18
#Isles Lee - 17
#Sabres Eichel - 16
#Sabres Skinner - 16
#NHLBruins Pastrnak - 16

Most Multi-Goal Games Since Start of 2016-17:

#ALLCAPS Ovechkin - 19
#LeafsForever Matthews - 18
#GoJetsGo Laine - 18
#Isles Lee - 17
#Sabres Eichel - 16
#Sabres Skinner - 16
#NHLBruins Pastrnak - 16
- Pegullaville

Sign. Him.

That's not what i said at all. My point was, what they're doing isn't working lately, so maybe it's time to get creative with in-game strategy.
- jcragcrumple

They lost 1 in a row.

Hardly constitutes losing lately

so here is my take.....

This years Sabres are an average team with a 10 game winning streak to make us look falsely better. IMO that is totally fine, it is giving the young kids confidence. At the end of the year I fully expect the sabres to be in the 6-8th spot. But this team still has large holes in it.

I like the Defense small changes needed there, #1 Line is really good, Mitts will be good, just not for a year or 2, everyone else Meh.... Jbotts needs to find depth scoring somehow, someway.

With that said, This years Sabres team is light years a head of any team in recent history and I am so happy for that. I look so forward to watching them play again. I have missed that....

Can only argue about Larsson so many times amirite
- jcragcrumple

Read like Hemingway.

Larsson, yes.

What about Reinhart though, right? I mean, c'mon. What's his problem?