Michael Pachla: Building the 2017-18 Buffalo Sabres roster--RW, Kyle Okposo

im glad to hear after everything thats been rumoured (true or not) we can pencil him in the lineup.

im glad to hear after everything thats been rumoured (true or not) we can pencil him in the lineup.
- Sabresfan-365

yeah...it will probably take him a little while to feel game ready

yeah...it will probably take him a little while to feel game ready
- Michael Pachla

yeah really dont know how much hes put in already on being game shape so i figure it might take a little while. no big deal not a high pressure season

yeah really dont know how much hes put in already on being game shape so i figure it might take a little while. no big deal not a high pressure season
- Sabresfan-365

he said he did a lot of skating, more than normal, and that the summer tourney he played in was to help get his timing back

he said he did a lot of skating, more than normal, and that the summer tourney he played in was to help get his timing back
- Michael Pachla

so maybe not as much time needed as thought. he'll be on ROR's wing i guess so wont be too hard to settle in.

so maybe not as much time needed as thought. he'll be on ROR's wing i guess so wont be too hard to settle in.
- Sabresfan-365

hope not...as for where he'll play, we'll see what Housley does, but being on a wing with a center who's pretty easy to play with, and one whom he's very familiar with seems ideal

hope not...as for where he'll play, we'll see what Housley does, but being on a wing with a center who's pretty easy to play with, and one whom he's very familiar with seems ideal
- Michael Pachla

if you want to run a 5 man unit that can really keep it together defensively it makes sense to have ROR and okposo together matching up against other teams top units.

if you want to run a 5 man unit that can really keep it together defensively it makes sense to have ROR and okposo together matching up against other teams top units.
- Sabresfan-365

speaking of five-man unit, was reading about Ristolainen coming back from his three-game suspension...this is what gorges said, of being w/o risto:

"You look at those three games knowing who we were missing, I think collectively as a team, we played a better all around game.

“I thought our forwards did an unbelievable job of hunting down loose pucks on the forecheck and keeping pucks in the offensive zone, which means we do less work and it makes our job so much easier.

“And then when it came to us, I think we really tried to keep the game simple, we tried to keep our shifts short and just roll.”

Wondering, what the hell they were doing while Ristolainen was playing?

When Buffalo signed Okposo last year a lot of people were not excited, and thought Buffalo should have spent the money somewhere else. I was for the signing and enjoyed watching him play last year. He was one of the most consistent players and that is what the Sabres need. He isn't great in any single area but pretty solid in most, also it seems like other players in the locker room like him a lot, which is always a big plus for the player and team. However, still not a power forward.

speaking of five-man unit, was reading about Ristolainen coming back from his three-game suspension...this is what gorges said, of being w/o risto:

"You look at those three games knowing who we were missing, I think collectively as a team, we played a better all around game.

“I thought our forwards did an unbelievable job of hunting down loose pucks on the forecheck and keeping pucks in the offensive zone, which means we do less work and it makes our job so much easier.

“And then when it came to us, I think we really tried to keep the game simple, we tried to keep our shifts short and just roll.”

Wondering, what the hell they were doing while Ristolainen was playing?
- Michael Pachla

yeah id like to know why they didnt do this when he was in the lineup for the other 70+games.

yeah risto's great, hes not going to do it all by himself lol

When Buffalo signed Okposo last year a lot of people were not excited, and thought Buffalo should have spent the money somewhere else. I was for the signing and enjoyed watching him play last year. He was one of the most consistent players and that is what the Sabres need. He isn't great in any single area but pretty solid in most, also it seems like other players in the locker room like him a lot, which is always a big plus for the player and team. However, still not a power forward.
- doppelthat

good luck w/Irma...have a brother in Brandon

yeah id like to know why they didnt do this when he was in the lineup for the other 70+games.

yeah risto's great, hes not going to do it all by himself lol
- Sabresfan-365

*shrugs*

coaching? maybe?

*shrugs*

coaching? maybe?
- Michael Pachla

probably but you'd think the players would be aware of this too. oh well hopefully less of it this year

probably but you'd think the players would be aware of this too. oh well hopefully less of it this year
- Sabresfan-365

me too...much less of it

Anyone go the the prospects game last night? From what I heard on the radio some of our notables included CJ Smith, Pu and Florentino but of course it's hard to tell w/o being there.

good luck w/Irma...have a brother in Brandon
- Michael Pachla

Thanks, I will be heading into Brandon for the storm. Tampa hasn't been hit by a major hurricane in a century and now old granny Irma is going to do us in

Anyone go the the prospects game last night? From what I heard on the radio some of our notables included CJ Smith, Pu and Florentino but of course it's hard to tell w/o being there.
- LandlordTom

Sloppy game:

If you have ever been to a junior tryout camp game, that's what it looked like


Nylander, Fasching and Guhle looked bad

Hischer, Quenville, didn't stand out

Butcher looked smooth but tiny

Pu and Bailey looked good,even though Bailey gave up the odd man rush to lose the game in OT

Harbor center is sweet

Edit: I didnt even notice Smith playing

Sloppy game:

Nylander, Fasching and Guhle looked bad


- washedup20

Fasching probably won't develop into anything more than a 4th liner/extra forward.

Still waiting to see a sign that Alex might be more talented than his older brother. I heard that a few times when he was drafted, but haven't seen it yet.

Guhle will be fine.

*shrugs*

coaching? maybe?
- Michael Pachla

Dan Bylsma > Ted Nolan, Ron Rolston.

You'd think it's the other way around with how he's talked about.

Rex Ryan was the worst coach in Buffalo last year, and I'm not sure it's remotely close

Sloppy game:

If you have ever been to a junior tryout camp game, that's what it looked like


Nylander, Fasching and Guhle looked bad

Hischer, Quenville, didn't stand out

Butcher looked smooth but tiny

Pu and Bailey looked good,even though Bailey gave up the odd man rush to lose the game in OT

Harbor center is sweet

Edit: I didnt even notice Smith playing
- washedup20

Pu, Bailey, and Glotov were very good.

I have serious doubts about Nylander. He floats, is always waiting for the play to come to him instead of the other way around.

Pu, Bailey, and Glotov were very good.

I have serious doubts about Nylander. He floats, is always waiting for the play to come to him instead of the other way around.
- sbroads24

Just has a little semin in him

Pu, Bailey, and Glotov were very good.

I have serious doubts about Nylander. He floats, is always waiting for the play to come to him instead of the other way around.
- sbroads24

one prospect game granted i only saw the first period

Just has a little semin in him
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Nothing wrong with this post

one prospect game granted i only saw the first period
- Sabresfan-365

It is one game but this was what he did in the two biggest WJ games.

There's no way he's an NHL'er right now. Needs another year at least