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Forums :: Blog World :: Hank Balling: Storylines To Watch As The Season Winds Down
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Swedish_Jesus
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 07.02.2019

Mar 28 @ 6:52 PM ET
Not for nothing but Krebs hit the post last night with about 3 minutes left or whatever. Maybe less

I remember people laughing when I said he would maybe get to 10 goals this year before the year started.

- sbroads24


Hitting the post and fumbling the puck and not getting a shot off altogether are two completely different things.

Buff36
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 10.13.2019

Mar 28 @ 6:55 PM ET
Not for nothing but Krebs hit the post last night with about 3 minutes left or whatever. Maybe less

I remember people laughing when I said he would maybe get to 10 goals this year before the year started.

- sbroads24

He's never gonna be a goal scorer, he needs to play with guys that can shoot. Think he will be a good C for Rousek and Nadeau in a couple years. Depending on where the Sabres see Savoie I think Krebs is either your 3C or 4C.
Skinner Tage Tuch
Kulich Cozens Quinn
Mitts Savoie/Krebs JJ
Rousek Krebs/Jost Nadeau
Swedish_Jesus
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 07.02.2019

Mar 28 @ 6:58 PM ET
Remember when Dylan Cozens was going to top out as a 55 point 2C because he got next to no PP time and a good chunk, if not the majority, of his even strength minutes last year were with Drake Cagguila and Vinny ?

Pepperidge farm remembers.

Watch the point totals for Krebs increase the second he’s away from two of the worse offensive play drivers in the league next year (unless he’s going to be stapled to Girgensons and Okposo again)
Lunaion
Joined: 05.23.2016

Mar 28 @ 7:02 PM ET
For every great pass Krebs makes there’s 5 into skates that ruin an ozone possession or fail to clear the D zone. He still doesn’t know what he can get away with

He’s great in the role he’s in right now. He’s not expected to produce a lot and he doesn’t produce a lot.

He’s also played over 150 minutes with Olofsson and Mittelstadt and over 100 minutes with Peterka (and that’s just even strength or 5 on 5)

He’s got 23 points.

- sbroads24


I wouldn't hold VO + Mitts against him. It's tough to glue that line together and he's not really that guy yet.

I do wonder what they think long term. You'd think 3C and see signs of it, but do they really project Savoie, Kullich, and Ostlund all as wingers?
Slump Buster
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I root for draft picks but not the team, apparently, NY
Joined: 10.24.2006

Mar 28 @ 7:03 PM ET
Remember when Dylan Cozens was going to top out as a 55 point 2C because he got next to no PP time and a good chunk, if not the majority, of his even strength minutes last year were with Drake Cagguila and Vinny ?

Pepperidge farm remembers.

Watch the point totals for Krebs increase the second he’s away from two of the worse offensive play drivers in the league next year (unless he’s going to be stapled to Girgensons and Okposo again)

- Swedish_Jesus


This is a great point. People here have a really short memory. When we make another jump next year it is going to be on the backs of Krebs, Quinn, Peterka, Power, etc. I think we've already seen Quinn's transition to a Cozens-like level. And then we get to see it again with Kulich, Ostlund and Savoie.
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Mar 28 @ 7:04 PM ET
Remember when Dylan Cozens was going to top out as a 55 point 2C because he got next to no PP time and a good chunk, if not the majority, of his even strength minutes last year were with Drake Cagguila and Vinny ?

Pepperidge farm remembers.

Watch the point totals for Krebs increase the second he’s away from two of the worse offensive play drivers in the league next year (unless he’s going to be stapled to Girgensons and Okposo again)

- Swedish_Jesus

Dylan Cozens produces no matter who he’s played with so far.

Krebs “needs talent” around him. That’s a fundamental difference here.

Krebs right now today is a 4C on a contending team.

If he takes the next step he will be a 3C.

He’s done absolutely nothing to warrant jumping from line 4 to line 1
Slump Buster
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I root for draft picks but not the team, apparently, NY
Joined: 10.24.2006

Mar 28 @ 7:05 PM ET
Dylan Cozens produces no matter who he’s played with so far.

Krebs “needs talent” around him. That’s a fundamental difference here.

Krebs right now today is a 4C on a contending team.

If he takes the next step he will be a 3C.

He’s done absolutely nothing to warrant jumping from line 4 to line 1

- sbroads24


I don't think anyone thinks he is a 1C. But in the context of a single game without Thompson, I would have absolutely put him there instead of Mitts. To me that's a no-brainer.
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Mar 28 @ 7:08 PM ET
This is a great point. People here have a really short memory. When we make another jump next year it is going to be on the backs of Krebs, Quinn, Peterka, Power, etc. I think we've already seen Quinn's transition to a Cozens-like level. And then we get to see it again with Kulich, Ostlund and Savoie.
- Slump Buster

I think people are forgetting Krebs is already 22 years old with 130 NHL games under his belt in an offensive friendly system.

He also has a mere 2 PP points in 62 minutes of PP time this year

That anchor Okposo has 4 PP points in 61 minutes

Sometimes the narrative that players will just automatically take off with PP and better linemates don’t really bear fruit
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Mar 28 @ 7:08 PM ET
I don't think anyone thinks he is a 1C. But in the context of a single game without Thompson, I would have absolutely put him there instead of Mitts. To me that's a no-brainer.
- Slump Buster

Mitts has earned it. It’s that simple. And it’s the way Granato sees it
homiedclown
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We want 1, FL
Joined: 02.24.2008

Mar 28 @ 7:10 PM ET
Thanks again for the daily reminders. I forget by lunch time - it's good to get the knowledge back.
- Slump Buster

Showing the other side 9f the coin for when get reminded how great 28 is
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Mar 28 @ 7:12 PM ET
I wouldn't hold VO + Mitts against him. It's tough to glue that line together and he's not really that guy yet.

I do wonder what they think long term. You'd think 3C and see signs of it, but do they really project Savoie, Kullich, and Ostlund all as wingers?

- Lunaion

I think Krebs will take a small step and be a very solid 2-way 3C. I think that role fits

I don’t buy there’s this offensive explosion on the horizon by simply getting him a better winger or two.
Swedish_Jesus
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 07.02.2019

Mar 28 @ 7:14 PM ET
Mitts has earned it. It’s that simple. And it’s the way Granato sees it
- sbroads24


Mitts was a black hole for three months until he had an epiphany on January 1st.

The epiphany also happened while he was playing the wing.


Krebs’ defensive game has been propped up by Girgensons and Okposo no doubt, but his offensive metrics and point totals were also brought down by playing with those two guys.

I’m not sitting here saying he’s a better prospect/player than Cozens is/was, but to say he doesn’t put up more points in better situations is false
Lunaion
Joined: 05.23.2016

Mar 28 @ 7:14 PM ET
Mitts has earned it. It’s that simple. And it’s the way Granato sees it
- sbroads24


Always a weird decision for 1 game. Cozens earned it.
Slump Buster
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I root for draft picks but not the team, apparently, NY
Joined: 10.24.2006

Mar 28 @ 7:17 PM ET
Mitts has earned it. It’s that simple. And it’s the way Granato sees it
- sbroads24


Mitts has far exceeded what I thought he could do this year. That said.... he should never ever ever play center again.
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Mar 28 @ 7:19 PM ET
Mitts was a black hole for three months until he had an epiphany on January 1st.

The epiphany also happened while he was playing the wing.


Krebs’ defensive game has been propped up by Girgensons and Okposo no doubt, but his offensive metrics and point totals were also brought down by playing with those two guys.

I’m not sitting here saying he’s a better prospect/player than Cozens is/was, but to say he doesn’t put up more points in better situations is false

- Swedish_Jesus

Never said he wouldn’t. But saying someone would produce more with better players isn’t some hot take. It’s true for literally every player [/img]
Slump Buster
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I root for draft picks but not the team, apparently, NY
Joined: 10.24.2006

Mar 28 @ 7:20 PM ET
I think people are forgetting Krebs is already 22 years old with 130 NHL games under his belt in an offensive friendly system.

He also has a mere 2 PP points in 62 minutes of PP time this year

That anchor Okposo has 4 PP points in 61 minutes

Sometimes the narrative that players will just automatically take off with PP and better linemates don’t really bear fruit

- sbroads24



I think we've seen Krebs progress nicely. The kid has dog in him. You make an odd point - how many players are even close to their potential at 22? 130 games or not, there is more in there. At worst he is a faster version Curtis Brown.
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Mar 28 @ 7:20 PM ET
Always a weird decision for 1 game. Cozens earned it.
- Lunaion

The kid line was really good the last few games

The Krebs line was good the last few

The decision made perfect sense

He thought Tuch could drive the line. He can’t

But I know not to ever criticize anything about St. Tuch the local boy
Slump Buster
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I root for draft picks but not the team, apparently, NY
Joined: 10.24.2006

Mar 28 @ 7:20 PM ET
Always a weird decision for 1 game. Cozens earned it.
- Lunaion


He has, but I get the logic of not wanting to break up that line because it is playing so well.
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Mar 28 @ 7:22 PM ET
I think we've seen Krebs progress nicely. The kid has dog in him. You make an odd point - how many players are even close to their potential at 22? 130 games or not, there is more in there. At worst he is a faster version Curtis Brown.
- Slump Buster

My point with the 130 games comment is that we shouldn’t expect the same jump as 22 and 77 when they’ve played half that amount
Buff36
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 10.13.2019

Mar 28 @ 7:24 PM ET
Wonder how Jost would do between Skinner Tuch. The way Jost works the boards could lead to more offensive opportunities for Skinner and Tuch.
Lunaion
Joined: 05.23.2016

Mar 28 @ 7:27 PM ET
The kid line was really good the last few games

The Krebs line was good the last few

The decision made perfect sense

He thought Tuch could drive the line. He can’t

But I know not to ever criticize anything about St. Tuch the local boy

- sbroads24


Have no problem with the decision, just don't want to pretend it was about merit.
Swedish_Jesus
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 07.02.2019

Mar 28 @ 7:41 PM ET
The kid line was really good the last few games

The Krebs line was good the last few

The decision made perfect sense

He thought Tuch could drive the line. He can’t

But I know not to ever criticize anything about St. Tuch the local boy

- sbroads24


How about the winger that makes $9M a year on the left side ?

Not a single peep from you criticizing Skinner’s ability to drive a line.

At even strength while Tuch was hurt our top line was outscored 11-6 at even strength.

At least we know somewhere Rod Brind’Amour was smiling.
Swedish_Jesus
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 07.02.2019

Mar 28 @ 7:42 PM ET
My point with the 130 games comment is that we shouldn’t expect the same jump as 22 and 77 when they’ve played half that amount
- sbroads24


How much did Quinn/Peterka produce with Girgensons and Okposo ?
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Mar 28 @ 7:45 PM ET
How about the winger that makes $9M a year on the left side ?

Not a single peep from you criticizing Skinner’s ability to drive a line.

At even strength while Tuch was hurt our top line was outscored 11-6 at even strength.

At least we know somewhere Rod Brind’Amour was smiling.

- Swedish_Jesus

We have years of evidence that Skinner has dragged average centers like Derek Ryan and Victor Rask to career years and in Rasks case a hilariously bad contract.

Tuch has been very, very average away from Thompson when they tried it last year and in the very few instances this year.

Tuch is an excellent player. He also is considered a vet and a leader and should not be above being criticized when his line underperforms in a mist win game
Swedish_Jesus
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 07.02.2019

Mar 28 @ 7:49 PM ET
My point with the 130 games comment is that we shouldn’t expect the same jump as 22 and 77 when they’ve played half that amount
- sbroads24


They have also, for the most part, been put in a much better position to drive offensive results to be fair.

What Quinn is doing though this year is pretty crazy. The sky is the limit for him.
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