Well, we've established that joker is no better then a bottom pair defenseman.

We've = you

Clague's next to get waived.
- Boss34

Why would they waive another D-man... they roll with an extra at each position now....

Clague is "hockeybuzz " good.

You know, couple posters have him as #4 , in front of joker.

The rest of us, watch the games. Power makes everyone look good.

Clagues 2 points in 19 games (both assists) That's not impressive IMO
- Boss34

I do believe he had two good ganes (with Power) where he logged a fair amount of minutes. Two games. I believe the entire NHL has shltty bottom pair D though. This isn't a Sabre-specific issue. How many teams have a solid 5/6? I would even question a team like Boston. They have the best defensive forwards in the league as a group. They could make our guys look decent for 15 minutes a night. Maybe 5 teams have what we would all agree are a good bottom pair is my guess.

It's improvable, but it's gonna take a Chychrun level defenseman so Joker gets pushed down. We certainly have the warchest to do it. poop, go trade for Weegar. We have the ammo to make that trade happen without bliking an eye. We could do it with all prospects if we wanted.

I'd still rather UPL just come back F the Jets in the A tonight and makes us all happy again. This team is such a GD roller coaster, and they're so (frank)ing lovable. You can't not go up and down with them. They owe us all for this trauma.

All I know is we need a Top 4RD asap
- DirtyDan

I probably think about this more than I should. *In theory*, all that is keeping us from the playoffs is convincing the Coyotes that Ostlund is the center piece to the trade.

You need great goaltending to win. I think what we've seen so often over the years is a guy standing on his head for a few weeks and then reverting back to reality the next years after that. Like Joe Flacco, but for goalies.
- Slump Buster

I'm not making excuses :

How do you explain henry lundquist not having a Stanley cup ring? Dom only got 1, and if dom didnt poison McCabe's shin pad, he would have 7 or 8 cups.

I'd go average goalie, good defense and run the puck up the ice, instead of passing it.

I understand the argument, players are peaking earlier than people once thought (new data, new style of hockey) but as good as public models are they can only capture so much of the context.

The way I interpret them is, here is player X's impact in his current role. Can't assume that their impacts will hold with an increase (or even a decrease really) in usage or line.

Call it the Colin Miller hypothesis.
- Michael Ghofrani

oh I like this a lot

Clague is "hockeybuzz " good.

You know, couple posters have him as #4 , in front of joker.

The rest of us, watch the games. Power makes everyone look good.

Clagues 2 points in 19 games (both assists) That's not impressive IMO
- Boss34

Is he good enough for a 5/6 spot….

If 4th liners are the Larry’s what are the 5/6 d-men? Jerry’s?

Dahlin - samuelsson
Power - upgrade
Jerry - Joker.

Pick the best Jerry between Bryson, Pilut, Clague, Boosh…
Sit the 2nd best as the 7th.
Send the last 2 Jerry’s to the AHL, heck one is already there.

A 2-RD could solve lots of issues but slotting the d accordingly.

Why would they waive another D-man... they roll with an extra at each position now....
- DirtyDan

They won't.

They'll balance UPL, Quinn and Peterka for the time being. Until an injury allows them to carry all 3.

It's improvable, but it's gonna take a Chychrun level defenseman so Joker gets pushed down. We certainly have the warchest to do it. poop, go trade for Weegar. We have the ammo to make that trade happen without bliking an eye. We could do it with all prospects if we wanted.


- lacaprup

Would you look at that.. another poster who thinks we need Joker pushed down to 3rd pair... Crazzzzyyyy

They won't.

They'll balance UPL, Quinn and Peterka for the time being. Until an injury allows them to carry all 3.
- TheSabresTaco

Yes.. I know.... Boss does not

All I know is we need a Top 4RD asap
- DirtyDan

I think the second half of the season will go a long way in determining that. Jokiharju's health has made it tough to evaluate him but his impacts thus far aren't /bad/.


He's 23 and cost controlled. And there's an argument to be made that the damage caused by the defense is more driven by having a third pair granato doesn't trust to play more than 5 mins a night than anything else.

Is he good enough for a 5/6 spot….

If 4th liners are the Larry’s what are the 5/6 d-men? Jerry’s?

Dahlin - samuelsson
Power - upgrade
Jerry - Joker.

Pick the best Jerry between Bryson, Pilut, Clague, Boosh…
Sit the 2nd best as the 7th.
Send the last 2 Jerry’s to the AHL, heck one is already there.

A 2-RD could solve lots of issues but slotting the d accordingly.
- Gr8daygo

Jerry is an amazing name for bottom Ds.

I'm not patting myself on the back, name one more team carrying 3 goalies, and I am still correct about the rotation.

Craig Anderson was and is still not pegged to play a majority of the games, and with the emergence of UPL, him and Comrie are probably headed for an evenish split.

I know this is a troll, but there's your response.
- TheSabresTaco

Despite the troll job, I appreciate your post.

Everyone knew Anderson wasnt starting the majority of the games. If you want some credit .... nice sleuth work

Would you look at that.. another poster who thinks we need Joker pushed down to 3rd pair... Crazzzzyyyy
- DirtyDan

He's still below average. Get him to the third pair this offseason.

I think the second half of the season will go a long way in determining that. Jokiharju's health has made it tough to evaluate him but his impacts thus far aren't /bad/.


He's 23 and cost controlled. And there's an argument to be made that the damage caused by the defense is more driven by having a third pair granato doesn't trust to play more than 5 mins a night than anything else.
- Michael Ghofrani

So having a real top 4 RD and having Joker moved down to 3rd pair duties would go a LONG way IMO.

Joker can handle the spot with Power I have no doubt about that, he would just we way more useful on the 3rd pair.

oh I like this a lot
- TheSabresTaco

Looking back (hindsight and all) this burned botterill more than once. Frolik being the other big example that sometimes gets forgotten.

Is he good enough for a 5/6 spot….

If 4th liners are the Larry’s what are the 5/6 d-men? Jerry’s?

Dahlin - samuelsson
Power - upgrade
Jerry - Joker.

- Gr8daygo

Wow Boss would you look at that another poster.... ain't that something

So having a real top 4 RD and having Joker moved down to 3rd pair duties would go a LONG way IMO.

Joker can handle the spot with Power I have no doubt about that, he would just we way more useful on the 3rd pair.
- DirtyDan

I dont disagree with this, and eventually they may have to do that, but Im thinking if the goal next year is to simply get in, you may not have to do it right away if you address the depth.

I think the second half of the season will go a long way in determining that. Jokiharju's health has made it tough to evaluate him but his impacts thus far aren't /bad/.


He's 23 and cost controlled. And there's an argument to be made that the damage caused by the defense is more driven by having a third pair granato doesn't trust to play more than 5 mins a night than anything else.
- Michael Ghofrani

All I know is that keeping Joker away from the top has made him suck so much less.

He's still below average. Get him to the third pair this offseason.
- TheSabresTaco

Crrraaazzzyyy

I understand the argument, players are peaking earlier than people once thought (new data, new style of hockey) but as good as public models are they can only capture so much of the context.

The way I interpret them is, here is player X's impact in his current role. Can't assume that their impacts will hold with an increase (or even a decrease really) in usage or line.

Call it the Colin Miller hypothesis.
- Michael Ghofrani

A lot of it is simple chicken or the egg theory.

Was LA bad for a few years because Doughty wasn’t playing well, or was LA bad therefore Doughty looked bad?

Or more than likely, it’s a bit of both

Looking back (hindsight and all) this burned botterill more than once. Frolik being the other big example that sometimes gets forgotten.
- Michael Ghofrani

The Colin Miller defense ground my gears into oblivion.

I do believe he had two good ganes (with Power) where he logged a fair amount of minutes. Two games. I believe the entire NHL has shltty bottom pair D though. This isn't a Sabre-specific issue. How many teams have a solid 5/6? I would even question a team like Boston. They have the best defensive forwards in the league as a group. They could make our guys look decent for 15 minutes a night. Maybe 5 teams have what we would all agree are a good bottom pair is my guess.

It's improvable, but it's gonna take a Chychrun level defenseman so Joker gets pushed down. We certainly have the warchest to do it. poop, go trade for Weegar. We have the ammo to make that trade happen without bliking an eye. We could do it with all prospects if we wanted.

I'd still rather UPL just come back F the Jets in the A tonight and makes us all happy again. This team is such a GD roller coaster, and they're so (frank)ing lovable. You can't not go up and down with them. They owe us all for this trauma.
- lacaprup

Very good post
Few teams have a solid bottom pair.

Comrie was probably scheduled for tonight vs his old team? Upl getting sick set it forward.

Any report on who's starting tonight?

A lot of it is simple chicken or the egg theory.

Was LA bad for a few years because Doughty wasn’t playing well, or was LA bad therefore Doughty looked bad?

Or more than likely, it’s a bit of both
- sbroads24

Different coaches and personnel can have huge impacts on players.

Granato has Jost and Clague playing like NHL players. Dallas Eakins has Klingberg as a train wreck other trainwrecks drink beer and watch. Gallant had Miller playing exceptionally well and Lousy crushed him.

Very good post
Few teams have a solid bottom pair.

Comrie was probably scheduled for tonight vs his old team? Upl getting sick set it forward.

Any report on who's starting tonight?
- Boss34

UPL is starting tonight because Quinn was loaned.

I dont disagree with this, and eventually they may have to do that, but Im thinking if the goal next year is to simply get in, you may not have to do it right away if you address the depth.
- Michael Ghofrani

I look at is as, what better way to address the depth with getting a better guy to slot Joker down a pair. Then if someone gets injured Joker can slot up for the time being and the chemistry is already there.

This way you've essentially "fixed" the D problem with (lets say) one move and can focus on the forward depth