They may be “alright”
But not 85% defensive zone start alright

Doesn’t that seem like the EXACT OPPOSITE of what you’d wanna do with Mitts this year???

Crags thinks (apparently) that E Rod can take on Larsson’s 85% defend role & be better
It’s literally one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen on here
It’S BEYOND OBVIOUS that E rod’s stats would drip in that situation

But freaking MORONS, and yeah...
i do mean MORONS...
actually think a Sheary-E Rod-Okposo 4th line is tolerable
Yeah... sure...
if u wanna give up way more goals!!!
aAnd then their scoring would dramatically decrease bc they can’t get out of our own end
JFC... this is literally beyond obvious

Like, wtf...
do u a$$holes even f#cking watch hockey?!!!
- jdfitz77

I see both sides of this argument and part of the problem is that you are comparing how our 4th line was used last year to how a 4th line should be used. Last years 4th line played way more minutes than they should’ve in a defensive role only because our middle six was weak. They started games/periods against other teams top lines and would play critical minutes late in close games. In this case I agree that not just any forward can fill that 4th line role. But in the perfect world, and hopefully with the final roster Botts assembles, our middle six will be decent then the 4th line should only be playing against other teams bottom six. And if any of the guys on our 4th line can’t handle defensive responsibilities against the bottom six, they should be in the press box. And if any of them can produce some offense while not giving up anything defensively, even better.

I see both sides of this argument and part of the problem is that you are comparing how our 4th line was used last year to how a 4th line should be used. Last years 4th line played way more minutes than they should’ve in a defensive role only because our middle six was weak. They started games/periods against other teams top lines and would play critical minutes late in close games. In this case I agree that not just any forward can fill that 4th line role. But in the perfect world, and hopefully with the final roster Botts assembles, our middle six will be decent then the 4th line should only be playing against other teams bottom six. And if any of the guys on our 4th line can’t handle defensive responsibilities against the bottom six, they should be in the press box. And if any of them can produce some offense while not giving up anything defensively, even better.
- Chris16

This is a reasonable and mature post.

It inspires me to a more conciliatory tone.

I fell off a roof nothing was broken but I’m (frank)ing sore holy hell Feels like I went 4 rounds in a boxing match

So what did I miss in the last couple days

Any good Fantasy rumors

I fell off a roof nothing was broken but I’m (frank)ing sore holy hell Feels like I went 4 rounds in a boxing match
- gerbe75pts

So. Many. Questions...

So what did I miss in the last couple days

Any good Fantasy rumors
- gerbe75pts

Gravity still exists.

Fantasy rumors. Do you not know how the English language works?

So. Many. Questions...
- Gr8daygo

Well we know he wasn’t up there to shingle it or do any manual labor. So it was probably some drug/male Hooker thing or he made it up. You choose.

Patrick Laine

Friedman: Laine and Jets top guys not on the same page

Marek asked Friedman how he expected Winnipeg to do next season and followed this up with the question “How much of it revolves around Patrik Laine bouncing back?”.
Freidman replied “Laine is a whole big discussion right because he’s the one guy who seems to want a short bridge (contract) of all these guys. He didn’t leave happy last year and we’ve talked about this, some of that was his own fault, he wasn’t as good as he could be and I think he chafed under some of the leadership there. The guys at the top of that food chain are hard driving guys. They expect you to buy into the program and I think that they felt he didn’t buy in enough and I think he felt that some of the things that they wanted were ridiculous. So you got to bridge that too.”


https://illegalcurve.com/...e-on-31-thoughts-podcast/


Trade for the beast Please

Gravity still exists.

Fantasy rumors. Do you not know how the English language works?
- IndianaSabresFan

Netu

Well we know he wasn’t up there to shingle it or do any manual labor. So it was probably some drug/male Hooker thing or he made it up. You choose.
- IndianaSabresFan

Hockey Puck was up there

Monster trade brewing for Sabres ?

James O’Brien of NBC Sports believes the Sabres aren’t done dealing and might pull the trigger on a monster trade, which would include defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. The veteran blue liner has been a frequent subject of media trade chatter and could be on his way out shortly.

According to the insider, it is believed that the Sabres might be dangling Ristolainen in front of two Canadian teams. While he believes the defender could be dangled in front of the Winnipeg Jets for winger Nikolaj Ehlers, or perhaps a package of young forward Jack Roslovic and veteran Mathieu Perreault, the other rumour is more of a shocker.

It is rumoured that the Sabres could be trying to convince the Edmonton Oilers to pull the trigger on a Ristolainen-for-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins swap.

RNH has frequently popped up in Oilers trade conjecture for several years. Edmonton is in dire need to a strong upgrade on the back end, but it remains to be seen if they’d be willing to move the top forward.

But we know Botterhill is planning a monster move

https://www.hockeyfeed.co...WPzvYwlb45iA6F-6V6_xRZJlY

I was talking about playing our 4th line for 3rd line minutes
- jcragcrumple

Larsson was 8th and Girgs was 12th for even strength TOI among forwards. They averaged 2:20 PK TOI which affects their total TOI.
If the rest of the team could maintain some sort of Ozone pressure maybe we wouldn't have to have two guys getting 84% Dzone starts.
Also, Girgs and Larsson were 9th and 10th for average length of shift.
The only three regulars with less total TOI were Mitts (very sheltered minutes), Pommers (old) and Tage (no excuse needed). Okposo had more than Girgs but less than Larsson.
Complaining about Girgs and Larsson is futile, while they may not be the best players on the ice, they certainly are not the reason we've had such poor results.

Monster trade brewing for Sabres ?

James O’Brien of NBC Sports believes the Sabres aren’t done dealing and might pull the trigger on a monster trade, which would include defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. The veteran blue liner has been a frequent subject of media trade chatter and could be on his way out shortly.

According to the insider, it is believed that the Sabres might be dangling Ristolainen in front of two Canadian teams. While he believes the defender could be dangled in front of the Winnipeg Jets for winger Nikolaj Ehlers, or perhaps a package of young forward Jack Roslovic and veteran Mathieu Perreault, the other rumour is more of a shocker.

It is rumoured that the Sabres could be trying to convince the Edmonton Oilers to pull the trigger on a Ristolainen-for-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins swap.

RNH has frequently popped up in Oilers trade conjecture for several years. Edmonton is in dire need to a strong upgrade on the back end, but it remains to be seen if they’d be willing to move the top forward.

But we know Botterhill is planning a monster move

https://www.hockeyfeed.co...WPzvYwlb45iA6F-6V6_xRZJlY
- gerbe75pts

Risto for Ehlers or rosvolic/perreault is not a monster trade just a bad trade. Risto for RNH - now that interests me

I am one that would like to keep Risto, however Elliotte Friedman suggested this:

"He could see them targeting somebody like Anthony Mantha from Detroit," said Friedman on the podcast. "No idea if Detroit is willing to do anything like that, but they could see that being the kind of player Buffalo is targeting."

Now that is a trade I would not mind, and looking at Detroit's defense (only 6 signed and their top 4 are 33, 35, 35 and 29 y/o), they could certainly use Risto. Think Yzerman was the one who really wanted Risto in TB? If so, maybe this is something that could actually happen.

Mango Gatorade is foul, I thought it was the classic orange 😭

They may be “alright”
But not 85% defensive zone start alright

Doesn’t that seem like the EXACT OPPOSITE of what you’d wanna do with Mitts this year???

Crags thinks (apparently) that E Rod can take on Larsson’s 85% defend role & be better
It’s literally one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen on here
It’S BEYOND OBVIOUS that E rod’s stats would drip in that situation

But freaking MORONS, and yeah...
i do mean MORONS...
actually think a Sheary-E Rod-Okposo 4th line is tolerable
Yeah... sure...
if u wanna give up way more goals!!!
aAnd then their scoring would dramatically decrease bc they can’t get out of our own end
JFC... this is literally beyond obvious

Like, wtf...
do u a$$holes even f#cking watch hockey?!!!
- jdfitz77

You're arguing with people you've never met, in a (frank)ing HOCKEY CHAT ROOM, over something NO ONE WILL HAVE CONTROL OVER ONCE THEY DROP THE PUCK IN OCTOBER.

Why are we getting so riled up about it? (and not just you).

I fell off a roof nothing was broken but I’m (frank)ing sore holy hell Feels like I went 4 rounds in a boxing match
- gerbe75pts

You’d feel the same way if you just waded through 4 pages of Fitz and Jcrags debating our 4th line scrubs.

Ristolainen for Andy Copp and first....take it and run

Ristolainen for Andy Copp and first....take it and run
- Pet.m.d.

Pass

Ristolainen for Andy Copp and first....take it and run
- Pet.m.d.

I’d do that.

Copp is criminally under rated as a 3C

I am one that would like to keep Risto, however Elliotte Friedman suggested this:

"He could see them targeting somebody like Anthony Mantha from Detroit," said Friedman on the podcast. "No idea if Detroit is willing to do anything like that, but they could see that being the kind of player Buffalo is targeting."

Now that is a trade I would not mind, and looking at Detroit's defense (only 6 signed and their top 4 are 33, 35, 35 and 29 y/o), they could certainly use Risto. Think Yzerman was the one who really wanted Risto in TB? If so, maybe this is something that could actually happen.
- adambuffalo

If the Sabres need at 2C wasn’t so big .... I would agree with you about trading Risto

The reality is ..... we need a 2C badly. Even if mitts steps up at 2C this year. You can’t have erod Sobotka Larsson as your 3rd or 4th line centers.

I’d do that.

Copp is criminally under rated as a 3C
- sbroads24

We need a 2C .... botts can’t trust mitts yet.

Ion- Glad to hear you're feeling better. Scary sh!t.

Get well soon👊

RJ (probably):
This is this lines first offensive zone draw this year (32nd game). Larsson wins draw. Girgensons down the wall, falls, scoots it over to Thompson with an open net. Thompsoooon, spin move, backhand wide!

I am one that would like to keep Risto, however Elliotte Friedman suggested this:

"He could see them targeting somebody like Anthony Mantha from Detroit," said Friedman on the podcast. "No idea if Detroit is willing to do anything like that, but they could see that being the kind of player Buffalo is targeting."

Now that is a trade I would not mind, and looking at Detroit's defense (only 6 signed and their top 4 are 33, 35, 35 and 29 y/o), they could certainly use Risto. Think Yzerman was the one who really wanted Risto in TB? If so, maybe this is something that could actually happen.
- adambuffalo

Good post

Normally a gm would be worried a out trading someone like risto to a divisional opponent.

Maybe botts has seen enough risto, feels like it may help the Sabres when they play against detroit?