Just heard on the radio that apparently Johansson has said that he's attributing a lot of his success this year to the work that Sobotka does. Said he's helped a lot with faceoffs and the physical play that line needs. He doesn't think he'd be as successful without that help.

6k should take over at the end of December and be our Carey Price
- gerbe75pts

Come on man... he just had hip surgery it will take him a year to get back to where he needs to be. and he is going to need time in the minors

Just heard on the radio that apparently Johansson has said that he's attributing a lot of his success this year to the work that Sobotka does. Said he's helped a lot with faceoffs and the physical play that line needs. He doesn't think he'd be as successful without that help.
- HonkFortheGoose

board explosion is 5,4,3,2,......

board explosion is 5,4,3,2,......
- gordong

I mean he's not going to say "I wish the guy had some hands." Just imagine if we had a big, physical winger who could take faceoffs on the right side and actually score a goal

I mean he's not going to say "I wish the guy had some hands." Just imagine if we had a big, physical winger who could take faceoffs on the right side and actually score a goal
- jcragcrumple

or maybe he genuinely enjoys playing with him?

I just found it interesting since so many on here harp about how Sobotka doesn't belong there. His linemate feels differently about it apparently.

But Cozens couldn't get a 9-game look?

Pick a lane
- jcragcrumple

I don’t think it would’ve hurt to give Cozens a 9 game look
But he needed to put on more weight/strength,
so it was very unlikely he was gonna stick up here all season anyways

And we had 13 NHL forwards,
contrary to the beliefs of many

It also didn’t hurt to send him down right away

or maybe he genuinely enjoys playing with him?

I just found it interesting since so many on here harp about how Sobotka doesn't belong there. His linemate feels differently about it apparently.
- HonkFortheGoose

No one is ever going to say a bad thing about their linemate

I mean he's not going to say "I wish the guy had some hands." Just imagine if we had a big, physical winger who could take faceoffs on the right side and actually score a goal
- jcragcrumple

"Marcus, you are having a great start to the year with some good numbers." There's two ways this could have gone.

1. "Well, Skinner and Sobotka are really playing well and creating space for me."

2. "Just think what I could do with two competent offensive wingers instead of 1."

He chose #1.

I mean he's not going to say "I wish the guy had some hands." Just imagine if we had a big, physical winger who could take faceoffs on the right side and actually score a goal
- jcragcrumple

I think Tage slides in on that wing by December.

or maybe he genuinely enjoys playing with him?

I just found it interesting since so many on here harp about how Sobotka doesn't belong there. His linemate feels differently about it apparently.
- HonkFortheGoose

There has to be a reason that they are keeping him there.

He's doing what he is supposed to, and doesn't really look out of place.

Until there is a better option there, keep it as it is. It's not broken, currently. It could definitely be better, but that player obviously isn't here.

I think Tage slides in on that wing by December.
- Swedish_Jesus

Skinner took faceoffs for Eichel on the left side last year (52.6%). He can do that for Mojo. Get Tage working on right side faceoffs

I never understood this rule. Is it an agreement between the Ahl and juniors based on age that won’t let them play in the Ahl? Couzens isn’t even eligible for Rochester next year.

The system hoses these kids I think. Can it be fixed in the cba? Something like each team gets a one prospect exemption to allow a kid to play in the Ahl?

6k should take over at the end of December and be our Carey Price
- gerbe75pts

The chances of this happening is nil, barring serious injury to both goaltenders.

I think Tage slides in on that wing by December.
- Swedish_Jesus

Nope.

Skinner took faceoffs for Eichel on the left side last year (52.6%). He can do that for Mojo. Get Tage working on right side faceoffs
- jcragcrumple

Homie mentioned Travis Zajac before and I think he would be a perfect fit on that line. Can take faceoffs, play well defensively, and although isn’t great offensively he can create enough to play the “stabilizing” role so to speak.

Skinner took faceoffs for Eichel on the left side last year (52.6%). He can do that for Mojo. Get Tage working on right side faceoffs
- jcragcrumple

It's just not going to happen. He'll get a call up, but clearly the player make up that Slobby provides is more of a benefit to that line than one Tage would provide, at his current skill set. He's not physical, he literally plays like a giraffe on ice and his faceoff acumen is (i).

I never understood this rule. Is it an agreement between the Ahl and juniors based on age that won’t let them play in the Ahl? Couzens isn’t even eligible for Rochester next year.

The system hoses these kids I think. Can it be fixed in the cba? Something like each team gets a one prospect exemption to allow a kid to play in the Ahl?
- Gr8daygo

Yes, there is an agreement with the CHL as to when players are eligible to move up to the AHL.

It's to protect the quality of play in the CHL so that there's skilled players there as well. Here's the general rules behind it:

There is an agreement in place between the NHL and the CHL (Canadian Hockey League, the overarching organization beneath which stand the OHL, the WHL, and the QMJHL) which exists primarily to protect the CHL. The rule is as follows:

Players drafted and playing for CHL teams are ineligible to play in the professional minor leagues (AHL, ECHL) until they are 20 years old (by December 31st of that year) or have completed four years in major juniors. A perfect example of this is Jared Knight, this year. Knight won't turn 20 until January 16, 2012. He's already completed two years in juniors, playing his third in London this season. If things continue along their course, and Knight does not make the NHL Bruins for the 2011-2012 season, he'll have to play that year in London as well, and will be eligible for AHL play in 2012-2013. Barring CHL involvement, players have to be 18 by September 15 to be eligible for the AHL at all.

In some ways, I get it. In others, its frustrating because I feel like it possibly holds guys back from there development. Some guys are ready to make the jump from Jr, but not quite ready to make the jump to the NHL yet. Reinhart was a good example of this. I highly doubt we see too much of a change to this rule overall though.

Homie mentioned Travis Zajac before and I think he would be a perfect fit on that line. Can take faceoffs, play well defensively, and although isn’t great offensively he can create enough to play the “stabilizing” role so to speak.
- Swedish_Jesus

Skinner-Zajac-MoJo would actually be a quality line. Gotta send out money though, and that's not just for this season.

I never understood this rule. Is it an agreement between the Ahl and juniors based on age that won’t let them play in the Ahl? Couzens isn’t even eligible for Rochester next year.

The system hoses these kids I think. Can it be fixed in the cba? Something like each team gets a one prospect exemption to allow a kid to play in the Ahl?
- Gr8daygo

The agreement is between the NHL and the CHL, and the idea is to keep that league, which is still the sport's top developmental league (though the gap is closing), as competitive as possible.

I go back and forth on the issue. On one hand, I agree, it kind of hampers a prospect's development. On the other hand, contrast that with basketball or football, which doesn't have a system like this, and college kids can't turn pro at all until they declare. Once they are drafted (or signed as an undrafted FA), they can't go back even if they have eligibility left.

The agreement is between the NHL and the CHL, and the idea is to keep that league, which is still the sport's top developmental league (though the gap is closing), as competitive as possible.

I go back and forth on the issue. On one hand, I agree, it kind of hampers a prospect's development. On the other hand, contrast that with basketball or football, which doesn't have a system like this, and college kids can't turn pro at all until they declare. Once they are drafted (or signed as an undrafted FA), they can't go back even if they have eligibility left.
- buffalofan19

I think that agreement was a big part of why Matthews chose to go play in Europe. He felt from a developmental standpoint it made more sense to prepare him for the NHL.

Skinner took faceoffs for Eichel on the left side last year (52.6%). He can do that for Mojo. Get Tage working on right side faceoffs
- jcragcrumple

Skinner took about 300 and Jack took almost 1300. Which is probably pretty average when you account for guys getting tossed.
Skinner took less than Jack, Mitts, Larsson, ERod and Sobotka last year and is behind all 5 again this year as well as Johansson and is tied with Okposo.
I would like to see Sobotka take a lot more on that line to help them get even more production through positive possessions.

But, at the end of the day we all know faceoffs don't matter.

Just heard on the radio that apparently Johansson has said that he's attributing a lot of his success this year to the work that Sobotka does. Said he's helped a lot with faceoffs and the physical play that line needs. He doesn't think he'd be as successful without that help.
- HonkFortheGoose

It's in the article I posted on page 1. Here it is again:

https://www.nhl.com/sabre...k.com&utm_medium=referral

It's just not going to happen. He'll get a call up, but clearly the player make up that Slobby provides is more of a benefit to that line than one Tage would provide, at his current skill set. He's not physical, he literally plays like a giraffe on ice and his faceoff acumen is (i).
- TheSabresTaco

I'm not counting on Tage.

The 2RW/Hybrid Center checklist looks like this

- physical
-right side faceoff ability
-average defensive awareness
-average offensive ability

The sabres should be able to land that fairly easily and cheaply at the TDL.

We need Dainius Zubrus. Not literally him, but you know what I'm saying

Skinner took about 300 and Jack took almost 1300. Which is probably pretty average when you account for guys getting tossed.
Skinner took less than Jack, Mitts, Larsson, ERod and Sobotka last year and is behind all 5 again this year as well as Johansson and is tied with Okposo.
I would like to see Sobotka take a lot more on that line to help them get even more production through positive possessions.

But, at the end of the day we all know faceoffs don't matter.
- adambuffalo

300 faceoffs isn't an insignificant number. I think his 52% would scale from that number. If we're talking about 25 faceoffs, sure. But if he's winning over 50% of his 300 draws, he can do that at 500 or 600

I'm not counting on Tage.

The 2RW/Hybrid Center checklist looks like this

- physical
-right side faceoff ability
-average defensive awareness
-average offensive ability

The sabres should be able to land that fairly easily and cheaply at the TDL.

We need Dainius Zubrus. Not literally him, but you know what I'm saying
- jcragcrumple

I was thinking 2014 David Backes, to be honest.