The only one that wakes sense and works when moved from the first line is Tuch. Skinner is incapable of carrying a line and Tage needs to be 1c. I’d put someone with better defense on the first line

Skinner/Tage/Mitts
Tuch/Cozens/Jj or newly acquired player
Olofsson or new/Krebs/ Greenway
Larry’s
- lulags

I don't think Mitts is better defensively nor would he fill the role Tuch fills on that line. Don has pulled off bolder moves than that before though and they worked out.

The Sabres had a full season (sold as development in the NHL) of minimal changes and players that are still up in the air for roles:

Mitts
Greenway
Olo
Krebs
Peterka
Joker
LA-Busch-Can
Comrie
UPL

Coaches all got extensions this off season too lol

I don't think Mitts is better defensively nor would he fill the role Tuch fills on that line. Don has pulled off bolder moves than that before though and they worked out.

The Sabres had a full season (sold as development in the NHL) of minimal changes and players that are still up in the air for roles:

Mitts
Greenway
Olo
Krebs
Peterka
Joker
LA-Busch-Can
Comrie
UPL

Coaches all got extensions this off season too lol
- washedup20

My only argument, as other have noted is the top line is a massive defensive liability. Mitts played some of the better defense for us down the stretch. Krebs too. Tuch seems to have a knack for improving lines and Cozens is over due for a real winger. If we are not finished with the roster and GMKA gets us a top 6 winger, then top line stays as is. If we are finished with roster moves, I’d say try Tuch with Cozens

My only argument, as other have noted is the top line is a massive defensive liability. Mitts played some of the better defense for us down the stretch. Krebs too. Tuch seems to have a knack for improving lines and Cozens is over due for a real winger. If we are not finished with the roster and GMKA gets us a top 6 winger, then top line stays as is. If we are finished with roster moves, I’d say try Tuch with Cozens
- lulags

Good post, Krebs at 1rw would be interesting to see, his tenacity could be useful for that line.

Good post, Krebs at 1rw would be interesting to see, his tenacity could be useful for that line.
- washedup20

Might get Krebs a little offensive confidence going too.

Per EF:

"Hearing Carolina will be signing Brendan Lemieux to one year and $800K"

https://twitter.com/Fried.../1678777489852870659?s=20

Another team in the east investing in toughness.

Per EF:

"Hearing Carolina will be signing Brendan Lemieux to one year and $800K"

https://twitter.com/Fried.../1678777489852870659?s=20

Another team in the east investing in toughness.
- washedup20

TO, NJ, Carolina, TB, Boston, all going to be very tough to play with off season moves

Might get Krebs a little offensive confidence going too.
- lulags

He can bring all his defensive learnings from the best in the game up to the 1st line, are the Dad's ready to let him go?

TO, NJ, Carolina, TB, Boston, all going to be very tough to play with off season moves
- lulags

Signing bad hockey players who will fight might make them tough, but not tough to play against.

Nothing makes Carolina harder to play against than Sebastian Aho and their insufferable system.

Signing bad hockey players who will fight might make them tough, but not tough to play against.

Nothing makes Carolina harder to play against than Sebastian Aho and their insufferable system.
- Michael Ghofrani

The games within the game still need to be won, ignoring them is a bad approach.

The games within the game still need to be won, ignoring them is a bad approach.
- washedup20

Those games are? Special teams, board battles, rush chances?


Two meatheads punching each others visors hasnt affected the outcome of an NHL game in 20 years.

Signing bad hockey players who will fight might make them tough, but not tough to play against.

Nothing makes Carolina harder to play against than Sebastian Aho and their insufferable system.
- Michael Ghofrani

Those games are? Special teams, board battles, rush chances?


Two meatheads punching each others visors hasnt affected the outcome of an NHL game in 20 years.
- Michael Ghofrani

Brendan Lemieux and Zack MacEwen are garbage hockey players that consistently allow other players to steamroll them defensively and offensively.

Just because you have a picture of a 1967 Chevy Camaro doesn't mean you own a 1967 Chevy Camaro

Brendan Lemieux and Zack MacEwen are garbage hockey players that consistently allow other players to steamroll them defensively and offensively.
- TheSabresTaco

I also don't get the praising thats gone on here for teams making these signings when the Sabres last 3 major adds were all guys who can not only throw the body but, don't suck?

I also don't get the praising thats gone on here for teams making these signings when the Sabres last 3 major adds were all guys who can not only throw the body but, don't suck?
- Michael Ghofrani

because the picture of the Camaro is worth more than the car itself

there's this weird notion that guys who fight, and can only fight, make your team better.

john scott did not make the buffalo sabres better. and neither will zach or brendan.

Those games are? Special teams, board battles, rush chances?


Two meatheads punching each others visors hasnt affected the outcome of an NHL game in 20 years.
- Michael Ghofrani

It's a reactionary game, when those players are on the ice, their goal is to make opponents second guess and open the ice for their team.

After the whistle rough stuff - drawing penalties - getting into opponents heads - the game changes - the east is investing in those players you deem irrelevant while the Sabres ignore it.

Brendan Lemieux and Zack MacEwen are garbage hockey players that consistently allow other players to steamroll them defensively and offensively.
- TheSabresTaco

I would take either one at league minimum over both Okposo and Girgs

because the picture of the Camaro is worth more than the car itself

there's this weird notion that guys who fight, and can only fight, make your team better.

john scott did not make the buffalo sabres better. and neither will zach or brendan.
- TheSabresTaco

John scott was on a team that was tanking

I would take either one at league minimum over both Okposo and Girgs
- washedup20

then prepare to lose more games.

you'd rather look tough than win games?

It's a reactionary game, when those players are on the ice, their goal is to make opponents second guess and open the ice for their team.

After the whistle rough stuff - drawing penalties - getting into opponents heads - the game changes - the east is investing in those players you deem irrelevant while the Sabres ignore it.
- washedup20

Again, this hasnt happened in like 20 years. Every time those guys are on the ice, their respective teams are far worse.

They dont draw penalties, they take them. Guys who actually successfully sucker teams into bad penalties, like skinner or tkachuk, are legitimately good players.

Im all for adding those guys.

John scott was on a team that was tanking
- washedup20

john scott was a reactionary signing to fight lucic.

the sabres were not tanking in 2012

then prepare to lose more games.

you'd rather look tough than win games?
- TheSabresTaco

That's not a guarantee they lose more, the Sabres current 4th line is composed of 2 players who have spent their entire tenure with the Sabres losing, what are you arguing?

Again, this hasnt happened in like 20 years. Every time those guys are on the ice, their respective teams are far worse.

They dont draw penalties, they take them. Guys who actually successfully sucker teams into bad penalties, like skinner or tkachuk, are legitimately good players.

Im all for adding those guys.
- Michael Ghofrani

Aho, ~9M player, soft

Lemieux - 800k, tough

Someone = Olofsson
- SABRES 89

🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃

That's not a guarantee they lose more, the Sabres current 4th line is composed of 2 players who have spent their entire tenure with the Sabres losing, what are you arguing?
- washedup20

This isn't a path I'd like to walk again because you're steadfast in your opinion. My argument is and will always be, these players provide an actual svalue, a statistical and non statistical positive value and a value you disagree with.

MacEwen and Lemieux provide no positive statistical or non statistical value