I hope for the best, prepare for the worst
- homiedclown

Very true homie, just with this team you don't ever know what to prepare for other then being let down

I also envision Olofsson taking a step forward as well in his second season.

I would like to see Cozens on the opposite side of Skinner and for us to address the 2C role and I think that in itself would go a long way.

Mojo-Larsson-Kahun would be a really strong third line that can take the defensive zone matchups leaving a more o-zone starts for Skinner and Cozens
- Pegullaville

I could see that with Olofsson to Pegs, if they can fix that 2nd line would go a long way in making them a tougher team to play against.

Really? One was offered a contract that is seldom offered because he was really wanted, the other had to still show that he could play.
- GilPerreault11

Not that
Your original post about how we’ve been losing with Sam

We need to add more good players

For example, who would u like to trade Sam for?
No matter who it (reasonably) is...
we are still gonna lose games you’re just swapping 1 good player for another

You talk about Sam like he’s hot garbage
If that’s true, what are u even gonna get for him in a trade???

We saw this same kind of thinking with ROR
Got rid of a good player instead of adding to him
It was dumb then
And it’s dumb now


*and I’m not comparing Sam & ROR,
I’m comparing a situation where we are shipping out good players bc (apparently) they aren’t great

Well if u can trade Sam for Draisaitl, then great!
But we all know something like that isn’t happening

So who would u wanna trade him for?

Competent organizations can find wingers easily.

Centres are a harder to come by.

If a team values Sam enough to give us a similar quality player who can handle playing the middle that is a good trade off.
- Pegullaville

No team is trading a center of equal talent for a winger, it's just not happening, you'd have to way overpay. The only way they're getting a 2C is overpaying in UFA, waiting for a pick to pan out, or a package with a defenseman. The latter being the most obvious given the roster construction.

Looking at their roster from last season, I think he does get the same ice time because he was better than any winger on that team not named Tarasenko.

I think 99% of people on here would trade Sam if the deal made the team better. I think the likelihood that such a deal exists is very, very low.
- JetpackJesus

The only way I could see Sam being dealt for a center is in a three team trade. Which, to me, is even more unlikely than Sam for a center. Sabres trade Sam to Team A, Team A sends a defenseman to Team B, Team B sends a center to the Sabres.

Ok, but Blues are a deep team that spreads its scoring out.

Blues had 11 players with double digit goal totals (Sabres had 5), and yeah, Sam would've been up there. But is he getting the same ice time on that Blues team as he does here? No way.

Again, I don't mind the player, but if he's part of a deal to make this team better, I'm all for it.
- Powerslave

Well isn’t the goal to build depth like StL though?
The way i do that isn’t just by swapping 1 good player for another

And Sam would’ve gotten around the 18+ minutes of icetime that Perron got imo, so about 2min less
I’m sure he still would’ve put up good numbers

O’Reilly’s icetime is down a minute,
and he’s putting up even better numbers
That’s what happens when you’re on a good team

Sam is not a GREAT player
But he is a GOOD one
And we need good players

Maybe we just sign Haula to play C, and hope he can stay healthy, the kid has a lot of talent. Contact Vegas and see what they want for Tuch and the rights to Stephenson.

Maybe we just sign Haula to play C, and hope he can stay healthy, the kid has a lot of talent. Contact Vegas and see what they want for Tuch and the rights to Stephenson.
- Buff36

A lot.

I don't mind Reinhart the player, but he is NOT a 1RW on a Cup caliber team.

Just saying.
- Powerslave

sure he is, go look at the last 10 winners, most didnt have a RW that was worlds better than Reinhart.

A lot.
- Wetbandit1

Think you might be surprised, they won't be given away, but Vegas is another team pretty tight to the cap.

Well isn’t the goal to build depth like StL though?
The way i do that isn’t just by swapping 1 good player for another

And Sam would’ve gotten around the 18+ minutes of icetime that Perron got imo, so about 2min less
I’m sure he still would’ve put up good numbers

O’Reilly’s icetime is down a minute,
and he’s putting up even better numbers
That’s what happens when you’re on a good team

Sam is not a GREAT player
But he is a GOOD one
And we need good players
- jdfitz77

If Skunk could drive a second line on his own I’d say sign him but for the money we would spend signing him long term, we could get someone to drive the second line. Any one can put up decent numbers playing with Jack

Competent organizations can find wingers easily.

Centres are a harder to come by.

If a team values Sam enough to give us a similar quality player who can handle playing the middle that is a good trade off.
- Pegullaville

Debatable...
bc we don’t have much coming on the wings,
particularly RW
But we do have Cozens coming at 2C
And i haven’t given up on Mitts

If you’re gonna say we can’t depend on the for sure as Centers, that’s fine. I see your point there
But then i don’t think u can say we can just move them to the wing & they’ll definitely be good there either

So while i agree that Center is more important than Wing... our situation isn’t that cut & dry

If Skunk could drive a second line on his own I’d say sign him but for the money we would spend signing him long term, we could get someone to drive the second line. Any one can put up decent numbers playing with Jack
- lulags

The problem there is there really is no decent UFA C in FA this year, we have to hope we can get one in a trade, which could also be very tough. Think we better prepare for Cozens at 2C, the kids not ranked number 1 for nothing.

The problem there is there really is no decent UFA C in FA this year, we have to hope we can get one in a trade, which could also be very tough. Think we better prepare for Cozens at 2C, the kids not ranked number 1 for nothing.
- Buff36

Don’t need a UFC if you trade

I also envision Olofsson taking a step forward as well in his second season.

I would like to see Cozens on the opposite side of Skinner and for us to address the 2C role and I think that in itself would go a long way.

Mojo-Larsson-Kahun would be a really strong third line that can take the defensive zone matchups leaving a more o-zone starts for Skinner and Cozens
- Pegullaville

Interesting idea
I agree it could be a good defensive unit
What do we do with line4 then?
Some combo of Okposo ++
I suppose a Routsalainen-Asplund-Okposo line could be ok
But idk what we do with Mitts & Tage then?
Mitts is probably better off 1C in Rochester,
than 4C here
And Tage would have to clear waivers,
so would we just trade him?
Idk what we’d get for him

jesus christ

Maybe we just sign Haula to play C, and hope he can stay healthy, the kid has a lot of talent. Contact Vegas and see what they want for Tuch and the rights to Stephenson.
- Buff36

If we did that,
I’d still wanna get a Henrique, Bonino, etc type
Bc at this point,
I think you’ve gotta assume he’s gonna miss some time

If we did that,
I’d still wanna get a Henrique, Bonino, etc type
Bc at this point,
I think you’ve gotta assume he’s gonna miss some time
- jdfitz77

the whole league is gonna miss some time.

how'd your woke protest go in.D.C. for you?

If Skunk could drive a second line on his own I’d say sign him but for the money we would spend signing him long term, we could get someone to drive the second line. Any one can put up decent numbers playing with Jack
- lulags

It’s actually been proven year after year that very few can do so consistently for a full season

Good players like Skinner, Sam & Olofsson have
Kane was good but didn’t mesh with him
Guys like Pominville could only do it for relatively short stretches

Here’s the thing...
If we KEEP Sam, then we need:
-2C, RW2

Let’s say we can somehow move Sam for that 2C...
then we still need:
-RW1, RW2

No here is saying keep Sam no matter what
Just that he’s a good player & trading him opens up another hole we’d have to fill

Interesting idea
I agree it could be a good defensive unit
What do we do with line4 then?
Some combo of Okposo ++
I suppose a Routsalainen-Asplund-Okposo line could be ok
But idk what we do with Mitts & Tage then?
Mitts is probably better off 1C in Rochester,
than 4C here
And Tage would have to clear waivers,
so would we just trade him?
Idk what we’d get for him
- jdfitz77

after 9 years out of the playoffs you're worried about the 4th line.

unreal.

It’s actually been proven year after year that very few can do so consistently for a full season

Good players like Skinner, Sam & Olofsson have
Kane was good but didn’t mesh with him
Guys like Pominville could only do it for relatively short stretches

Here’s the thing...
If we KEEP Sam, then we need:
-2C, RW2

Let’s say we can somehow move Sam for that 2C...
then we still need:
-RW1, RW2

No here is saying keep Sam no matter what
Just that he’s a good player & trading him opens up another hole we’d have to fill
- jdfitz77

give him 8x8 then. jesus christ

the whole league is gonna miss some time.

how'd your woke protest go in.D.C. for you?
- TheHank

Thanks Hank
I really missed your trolling for no reason
Can’t wait to meet up for that beer...
that is if u ever find the bet like you said u were gonna

We must have different definitions of “soon” though, bc it sure has been a while

Don’t need a UFC if you trade
- lulags

Of course, but you have to find that trade partner. I hope they find one, but easier said then done.

Thanks Hank
I really missed your trolling for no reason
Can’t wait to meet up for that beer...
that is if u ever find the bet like you said u were gonna

We must have different definitions of “soon” though, bc it sure has been a while
- jdfitz77

you will be gone by then. no worries.

btw... you are the biggest troll here.

give him 8x8 then. jesus christ
- TheHank

Well Hank, i didn’t say that either...
don’t think it’ll take that much

Great talk though