That's all fine, but you still need a good partner, capable of handling top line minutes. That's not Miller.

I love Dahlin, but he's simply not a true #1D right now.
- Lunaion

How do we know it’s not Miller? Honest question. They never gave him the opportunity until late, and when he got it he flourished.

How do we know it’s not Miller? Honest question. They never gave him the opportunity until late, and when he got it he flourished.
- SDSabre

Miller struggled at first but he’s a legit #4 D man IMO.

Terrible on the PP despite a hard shot though.

He’s never gonna score 40 again. Might not even hit 30 again let alone 3 of the years
- Fattony1187

He will score 30 -40 lol ... your hate for skinner is strange he's elite

Miller struggled at first but he’s a legit #4 D man IMO.

Terrible on the PP despite a hard shot though.
- sbroads24

I'd say 4/5. Every time he's asked to play too high up and too much, it's shown.

He will score 30 -40 lol ... your hate for skinner is strange he's elite
- gerbe75pts

He’s scored 40 once, the year he peaked.

He has never scored back to back 30 goal seasons.

I wouldn’t call that elite.

He generates chances though at a high level. However if he doesn’t get the puck luck he does not offer anything defensively and has below average playmaking skills as shown by his average of 24 assists a year playing in a top 6 role over the course of his career.

He’s a good player, however one that is replaceable (ask Carolina).

He’s Sabres property though for another 7 years so hopefully they either play him with Eichel or get him a 2C so that way he can score his 25-30 goals and we don’t completely waste cap dollars

I mean is it though? Where do shots come from on the PP? Usually the open man (think VO). Who’s guy is that. Not usually a dman, and really your defensive strategy is zone when on the PK.
- SDSabre

I don't think it's nearly that simple. Not trying to pin it all on the D or anything, but they do deserve some of the blame.

Miller struggled at first but he’s a legit #4 D man IMO.

Terrible on the PP despite a hard shot though.
- sbroads24

Miller might be a 4D man on Buffalo, but these playoffs teams : He would be watching from upstairs.

The Sabres have maybe 3 or 4 playoff type guys.

Eichel
Skinner

Maybe 2 instead

I don't think it's nearly that simple. Not trying to pin it all on the D or anything, but they do deserve some of the blame.
- Lunaion

Sure they all do, but really its a tall ask to kill off penalties. Playing down a man just isn’t something someone really “excels” at imo. Your gonna have your guys who do it better than others but most often it’s the guys willing to eat pucks and that have a high motor. Your goalie has to be your best pker to have a good pk, that I think is very simple. Hard to do, but simple concept that is

Miller might be a 4D man on Buffalo, but these playoffs teams : He would be watching from upstairs.

The Sabres have maybe 3 or 4 playoff type guys.

Eichel
Skinner

Maybe 2 instead
- Boss34

Last I checked neither of these two have done anything in the playoffs that the rest haven’t...

Sure they all do, but really its a tall ask to kill off penalties. Playing down a man just isn’t something someone really “excels” at imo. Your gonna have your guys who do it better than others but most often it’s the guys willing to eat pucks and that have a high motor. Your goalie has to be your best pker to have a good pk, that I think is very simple. Hard to do, but simple concept that is
- SDSabre

I'm right with you there. Ours was not.

Miller might be a 4D man on Buffalo, but these playoffs teams : He would be watching from upstairs.

The Sabres have maybe 3 or 4 playoff type guys.

Eichel
Skinner

Maybe 2 instead
- Boss34

I get your point here, and agree with it. On Miller though, he's played enough playoff games to say otherwise. I think he's 3rd pair on a good defensive team.

Miller might be a 4D man on Buffalo, but these playoffs teams : He would be watching from upstairs.

The Sabres have maybe 3 or 4 playoff type guys.

Eichel
Skinner

Maybe 2 instead
- Boss34

That’s a pretty big exaggeration
Take a look at the teams’ actual lineups...
seems like you’d be surprised

That's all fine, but you still need a good partner, capable of handling top line minutes. That's not Miller.

I love Dahlin, but he's simply not a true #1D right now.
- Lunaion

I don't think you really do, you can rotate guys through. At least that's what the Ducks did when they won. They had Pronger and Beauchemin playing 30 minutes a night, Niedermayer at 29:51 and no other defenseman over 20:20, so someone else was playing with Niedermayer 10 minutes a night.

That's all fine, but you still need a good partner, capable of handling top line minutes. That's not Miller.

I love Dahlin, but he's simply not a true #1D right now.
- Lunaion

I don't think he is yet either.

I don't think you really do, you can rotate guys through. At least that's what the Ducks did when they won. They had Pronger and Beauchemin playing 30 minutes a night, Niedermayer at 29:51 and no other defenseman over 20:20, so someone else was playing with Niedermayer 10 minutes a night.
- Wetbandit1

Not sure what you're trying to point out here. All three of those guys were capable of handling top line+ minutes well. Do we have anyone at that level? We go crazy ranting about overuse when Risto hits 25.

Not sure what you're trying to point out here. All three of those guys were capable of handling top line+ minutes well. Do we have anyone at that level? We go crazy ranting about overuse when Risto hits 25.
- Lunaion

My point is if you have a true number 1, the number 2(on the top pairing) is irrelevant. But there are only a handful of those guys at any one time. I think Dahlin and Jokiharju could become a great top pairing once they get some more experience. Both show flashes of greatness, but still some, too many arguably for a top pairing, mistakes borne of inexperience. And hopefully Dahlin blossoms into a true number 1 like a Doughty, Keith, Pronger, and Hedman, and they can put any bumhole with him, and Jokiharju can anchor the second pairing.

I rather trade one and keep three good ones on the right.

I know we are starved now but I remember when we needed D and said wings are easily found. Good RD are worth way more then an average Wing
- Fattony1187

Generally, I'd agree.
However, among the 4 of them, there is not one 1st Pairing RhD, and paying a 3rd Pairing $4 -$5m is bad Cap Management.
So yes, in a vacuum I could agree with your general statement. On this team however, it just doesn't hold true...IMO of course.

they need to let dahlin open it up

hughes looks like everything dahlin was suppose to be
- homiedclown

I agree.
To do so however, they need a defensively reliable partner to which they do not yet have.
Hence why they unequivocally need a UFA signing. I get the difficulty in doing so, it IS real.
That said, using the Draft AND making a couple of smart moves can help them to paint a much better picture of the future.
Get a viable 2C, and 2RW. Draft Rossi or Holtz. The team suddenly looks more promising to UFA's.
Would it be enough? No one knows.

A Kenny Rogers CD?
- Michael Pachla

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xuh36OEglM0

I don't think he is yet either.
- Wetbandit1

Is he better than most teams first D? Yes. He isn't Hedman yet, but keep in mind that it took Hedman many years to be where he is now. Dahlin is right where we want him to be.

Miller is soooooo underrated. He was a very good middle-pairing D on Boston and Vegas.

In news that really isn't news, Pens GM says there's a 'very, very good chance' that they trade one of their goalies.

In news that really isn't news, Pens GM says there's a 'very, very good chance' that they trade one of their goalies.
- TheSabresTaco

bye bye murray

In news that really isn't news, Pens GM says there's a 'very, very good chance' that they trade one of their goalies.
- TheSabresTaco

Hutton and a 4th for Bgwarfstatt and Murray

Hutton and a 4th for Bgwarfstatt and Murray
- jcragcrumple

We know JuiceBarr makes this team infinitely better, but does Murray?

We know JuiceBarr makes this team infinitely better, but does Murray?
- TheSabresTaco

Could be worth seeing if a change of scenery sparks something. He's an RFA right? 1 or 2 year deal. Pretty sure you'd basically get him for free if you take Barfsad