Skinner is driving the 4th line today.

Hall-Eichel-Thompson
Olofsson-Staal-Reinhart
Rieder-Eakin-Cozens
Skinner-Asplund-Sheahan

Quinn and Mittelstadt rotate in.

Highest paid 4th liner in NHL history if that sticks?
- GilPerreault11

kreuger's gotta dump sheahan to a reserve role...those top two lines look strong with thompson being a third-wheel on the top line and the second line looking dangerous...reider - eakin - okposo is ralph's third line and he seems set on skinner with lazar...there's no room for sheahan if he really wants to roll four lines...cozens should be there...

period

kreuger's gotta dump sheahan to a reserve role...those top two lines look strong with thompson being a third-wheel on the top line and the second line looking dangerous...reider - eakin - okposo is ralph's third line and he seems set on skinner with lazar...there's no room for sheahan if he really wants to roll four lines...cozens should be there...

period
- Michael Pachla

My guess is it won't take long for Sheahan to replace Rieder on the Eakin line as the clock will strike 12 sooner rather than later on Rieder.

Yeah.

My reasoning is I want one of them to beat KC and give us the home AFC Championship game if we win
- sbroads24

I like this angle.

Pit beats cleve
Baltimore beats tenn
Balt beats kc
Buffalo beats Pittsburgh

Buffalo hosts Baltimore

Bong36 is back at the game .
Easy peasy

My guess is it won't take long for Sheahan to replace Rieder on the Eakin line as the clock will strike 12 sooner rather than later on Rieder.
- kingcong39

ralph knows reider from the world cup of hockey team...they also like his speed...i think he takes his chances with reider over sheahan and unfortunately at this point, sheahan over cozens

Rasmus Ristolainen, Kyle Okposo and Curtis Lazar aren’t practicing today with the Sabres.

https://twitter.com/LLyso.../1348303524140969986?s=19

Looking at the roster today with 28 players in group 1 I bet that’s your roster going into Thursday.

23 on the active roster and 5 on the taxi squad.

Group 2 goes to Rochester soon for camp on 1/15.

This is just my hunch fwiw.

https://twitter.com/CMDeD.../1348303991566983172?s=19


- kingcong39

I'd rather have Johansson in Rochester, playing alot, and have Tokarski up here.

Ruostolainen to Rochester so that Riley Sheehan who’s been bad his whole career can play.

Nothing changes with this organization, ever.

kreuger's gotta dump sheahan to a reserve role...those top two lines look strong with thompson being a third-wheel on the top line and the second line looking dangerous...reider - eakin - okposo is ralph's third line and he seems set on skinner with lazar...there's no room for sheahan if he really wants to roll four lines...cozens should be there...

period
- Michael Pachla

I'll wait and see what the opening night lines are. I have always liked Thompson's skills, skating, hands, size, shot I just hope the game has finally slowed down for him and he becomes productive.

I think Cozens is going to be a bit underwhelming offensively this year. It's his first one, and when I saw him play the USA, the best team he faced in the WJC he was held under control. I also don't think he is a great finisher, he had many chances in the WJC and he didn't find the back of the net when he could have. I think he will be more of a playmaker and 200 ft player in the NHL.

I am not surprised that Ruusto is on team 2 now. There is a lot more time and space in European leagues not to mention it isn't the NHL. I hope he develops into a productive player.

With regard to Skinner and if he is on line 3 or 4 we will hear about it all season from fans. The coach should come out and say why he has him there. Why he likes Thompson on the top line and VO on the 2nd over Skinner. I can see why. I can really see why if VO was still on the top line since Duff said last night during the broadcast that Jack said he loved VO's shot and finding him, playing with him; how that Thompson is there what is it that they like? I am sure they like his size and skills but say why.

It’s hard to see the top 6 not Hall, Eichel, Oloffson, Skinner, Staal, Reinhart.

I guess Tage and Cozens are the 2 wild cards right now for Top 6 potential. It would be nice to see at least one piece of the ROR deal pay dividends.

Grew up in Nova Scotia, but still beyond awesome to see the Bills win!

I'll wait and see what the opening night lines are. I have always liked Thompson's skills, skating, hands, size, shot I just hope the game has finally slowed down for him and he becomes productive.

I think Cozens is going to be a bit underwhelming offensively this year. It's his first one, and when I saw him play the USA, the best team he faced in the WJC he was held under control. I also don't think he is a great finisher, he had many chances in the WJC and he didn't find the back of the net when he could have. I think he will be more of a playmaker and 200 ft player in the NHL.

I am not surprised that Ruusto is on team 2 now. There is a lot more time and space in European leagues not to mention it isn't the NHL. I hope he develops into a productive player.

With regard to Skinner and if he is on line 3 or 4 we will hear about it all season from fans. The coach should come out and say why he has him there. Why he likes Thompson on the top line and VO on the 2nd over Skinner. I can see why. I can really see why if VO was still on the top line since Duff said last night during the broadcast that Jack said he loved VO's shot and finding him, playing with him; how that Thompson is there what is it that they like? I am sure they like his size and skills but say why.
- GilPerreault11

all good points, but based upon what you said, that cozens is a 200' player and might be more of a playmaker, what better forward could there be to line up with skinner, a player whose defensive liabilities and finishing ability seem to fit perfectly with cozens' attributes?

The sad part is, this organization is one trade away from being really dangerous hockey club.

Dubois wants out of Columbus. I don’t know if we are the “bigger market” he is looking for but that is a guy you move multiple firsts and prospects for.

Hall-Eichel-Thompson
Olofsson-Staal-Reinhart
Skinner-Dubois-Cozens
Who cares.

That is a not only a playoff caliber forward corps but one that could push for much more.

The sad part is, this organization is one trade away from being really dangerous hockey club.

Dubois wants out of Columbus. I don’t know if we are the “bigger market” he is looking for but that is a guy you move multiple firsts and prospects for.

Hall-Eichel-Thompson
Olofsson-Staal-Reinhart
Skinner-Dubois-Cozens
Who cares.

That is a not only a playoff caliber forward corps but one that could push for much more.
- Pegullaville

oh my!!!

all good points, but based upon what you said, that cozens is a 200' player and might be more of a playmaker, what better forward could there be to line up with skinner, a player whose defensive liabilities and finishing ability seem to fit perfectly with cozens' attributes?
- Michael Pachla

It's only his 3rd practice in the NHL, and Skinner is not known for his D skills. Maybe Ralph doesn't want a rookie who isn't yet a 200 ft NHLer but a rookie and Skinner on the same line due to their possible D liabilities? Not sure.

The sad part is, this organization is one trade away from being really dangerous hockey club.

Dubois wants out of Columbus. I don’t know if we are the “bigger market” he is looking for but that is a guy you move multiple firsts and prospects for.

Hall-Eichel-Thompson
Olofsson-Staal-Reinhart
Skinner-Dubois-Cozens
Who cares.

That is a not only a playoff caliber forward corps but one that could push for much more.
- Pegullaville

Goalie and Vet D-man would be our hurdle after that.
We would have one of the best, if not best l, top 9 in the game however.

It's only his 3rd practice in the NHL, and Skinner is not known for his D skills. Maybe Ralph doesn't want a rookie who isn't yet a 200 ft NHLer but a rookie and Skinner on the same line due to their possible D liabilities? Not sure.
- GilPerreault11

would you take cozens over sheahan for that line?

would you take cozens over sheahan for that line?
- Michael Pachla

I need to see Sheahan play in a few real games and the same with Cozens. From what I hear Sheahan is a good PKer. He has been in the league 9 years so he probably won't kill them defensively and maybe let Skinner do his thing.

Would be a strong defensive forward to pick up with a little offense who plays all 3 forward positions, but the Sabres already have 37 forwards.

There's a massive group of players on the NHL waiver wire today, including Louis Domingue (CGY), Adam Cracknell (EDM) and Seth Griffith (EDM), Noah Juulsen (MTL), Alex Belzile (MTL), Charlie Lindgren (MTL), Xavier Ouellet (MTL), Jordan Weal (MTL) and Josh Ho-Sang (NYI).

https://twitter.com/repor.../1348315177515708424?s=19

Would be a strong defensive forward to pick up with a little offense who plays all 3 forward positions, but the Sabres already have 37 forwards.

There's a massive group of players on the NHL waiver wire today, including Louis Domingue (CGY), Adam Cracknell (EDM) and Seth Griffith (EDM), Noah Juulsen (MTL), Alex Belzile (MTL), Charlie Lindgren (MTL), Xavier Ouellet (MTL), Jordan Weal (MTL) and Josh Ho-Sang (NYI).

https://twitter.com/repor.../1348315177515708424?s=19


- kingcong39

Ouellet IMO is an upgrade over Irwin

Yes, there is a disconnect between the two, Ralph stated as much in an interview...that they had several zoom meetings over the months focused on Skinners play away from the puck. Raph said they had good conversations and believed Skinner had committed to focus on that better.

I'm very shocked, given Ralph's reputation of developing strong relationships with his players, and general positive attitude. Surprised in that apparently he hasn't broken through with Skinner.

Skinner was a "0" in Plus/Minus the year before last season. Eichel and Sam were -10.
He was a 52.4% CF but had 67% Ozone starts....Jack and Sam were slightly less CF and about 62% Ozone starts.

Can/should he focus more...Yes, but to aggressively punish him and lose that many goals on a goal starved team is bordering preposterous, IMO.
- IonSabres

Good stuff ion 👍

When everyone considers ralph a players coach , maybe it's on the player.

Although, erod, bogo and a few others asked for trades last year. So maybe it's both guys.

For 9 million, you should get a %1000skinner effort out of skimmer.

I was part of the pay him whatever to keep him, doesnt look to smart currently

brown pushed off


guess they are letting them play

Good stuff ion 👍

When everyone considers ralph a players coach , maybe it's on the player.

Although, erod, bogo and a few others asked for trades last year. So maybe it's both guys.

For 9 million, you should get a %1000skinner effort out of skimmer.

I was part of the pay him whatever to keep him, doesnt look to smart currently
- Boss34

you don't pay a 40 goal scorer to play with guys like e rod or sobotka though

Still early, but the Titans look good.

Still early, but the Titans look good.
- buffalofan19

Lamar had a terrible pass for a pick, and the Titans ars using their tight ends big time.

Seth Griffith on waivers

you don't pay a 40 goal scorer to play with guys like e rod or sobotka though
- homiedclown

https://twitter.com/buffa.../1348323084869259268?s=21

There’s a huge disconnect

Ralph is going to strong arm a $9 million player and former 40 goal scorer.

It’s officially a problem.

A big one at that.

Players are who they are especially a 10 year veteran. You don’t try to develop him at this point. You put him in the best position to succeed.

That is poor coaching.

Still early, but the Titans look good.
- buffalofan19

I want nothing to do with the Titans unless it’s in the AFC Championship game, even then they’re not my first or second choice there.

Their defense is bad but their offense with those playmakers are a huge problem.