Michael Pachla: Can the Sabres slow the Pettersson Express? Thompson in, Girgensons out

FIRST!

Lets go Sabres

Damn, they traded my boy Fedun

RAW DEAL

Damn, they traded my boy Fedun

RAW DEAL
- jcragcrumple

conditional 7th...liked him, but did nothing to separate himself from a glut of defensemen in the system

conditional 7th...liked him, but did nothing to separate himself from a glut of defensemen in the system
- Michael Pachla

Good for him. I assume he's gonna get an NHL shot with them. Underrated offensive depth defenseman

Nice write up. Not sure what they are doing with Thompson right now. Better to have him actually playing top 6 in Rochester vs eating popcorn in Buffalo or playing on the 4th line.

Hopefully Hutton has his A game today. The Canucks are flying right now.

Nice write up. Not sure what they are doing with Thompson right now. Better to have him actually playing top 6 in Rochester vs eating popcorn in Buffalo or playing on the 4th line.

Hopefully Hutton has his A game today. The Canucks are flying right now.
- SabreWest

This is a strange move for sure. I guess as long as Thompson is here, you have to get him in a bit somehow. He's a defensive liability on their best defensive line....doesn't make sense to me.

This is a strange move for sure. I guess as long as Thompson is here, you have to get him in a bit somehow. He's a defensive liability on their best defensive line....doesn't make sense to me.
- Lunaion

Housley said a few guys were banged up. Sounds like they wanted to give a 100% healthy Thompson a shot over an 80% Girgs

Hey boys. Game Time!

This is a strange move for sure. I guess as long as Thompson is here, you have to get him in a bit somehow. He's a defensive liability on their best defensive line....doesn't make sense to me.
- Lunaion

And isn’t the supposed reason he had trouble scoring last year in StL because he was being used in a defensive role on line3?

Obviously everyone knows by now how i felt about him being the main piece we received in that trade...
but we’ve gotta at least play him in a role where he’s got a chance to be successful

That line has had decent Corsi though
So maybe this AMAZING SHOT that he supposedly has can help that line produce some goals?

I didn't make this but it's amazing

Housley said a few guys were banged up. Sounds like they wanted to give a 100% healthy Thompson a shot over an 80% Girgs
- jcragcrumple

That would make more sense. Pham said he was healthy and it was just time to get Thompson in a game.

Nice write up. Not sure what they are doing with Thompson right now. Better to have him actually playing top 6 in Rochester vs eating popcorn in Buffalo or playing on the 4th line.

Hopefully Hutton has his A game today. The Canucks are flying right now.
- SabreWest

Our 4th line doesn’t play 4th line minutes, they start almost every game and they play some pretty important shifts in tight games.

Housley said a few guys were banged up. Sounds like they wanted to give a 100% healthy Thompson a shot over an 80% Girgs
- jcragcrumple

He said he just doesn’t want Tage sitting for too long & felt he needed to get him in the lineup

Understandable
But i gotta wonder if he wouldn’t be better off in Rochester getting too icetime nightly?

That would make more sense. Pham said he was healthy and it was just time to get Thompson in a game.
- Lunaion

I think he's kind of talking out of his butt

"Thompson was the first player on the ice Friday, firing shot after shot into an empty net, and proceeded to finally join one of the Sabres' four lines during rushes. That doesn't mean the 21-year-old will be in the lineup against the Canucks.

Housley told reporters that some players are dealing with "bumps and bruises." That included Patrik Berglund, who was in pain after blocking a shot Thursday night. Berglund and Girgensons both practiced, as Housley saw this as an opportunity to get Thompson involved.

"I just wanted to get him in the regular rotation because we got in a little bit late last night," Housley said. "He just got more reps.""

Good write up. One correction for you. Bo's last name is Horvat. No h at the end.

Our 4th line doesn’t play 4th line minutes, they start almost every game and they play some pretty important shifts in tight games.
- Chris16

For me...
it’s not so much the icetime,
but the ROLE that I’ve got an issue with

Idc if he’s on “line4” (or whatever line) and playing 12min a night
That would be ok if he was playing with some better offensive talent that would give him a chance to be successful

But the line he’s gonna be on...
even though they get shots on net,
there aren’t really any playmakers (maybe Berglund a little?) and none of them “create” on their own

I’m fine with how they’ve played overall
But it’s tough for me to foresee Thompson scoring on that line
Maybe if they subbed out Larsson for E Rod?

Lets Go Sabres !!!!!

Our 4th line doesn’t play 4th line minutes, they start almost every game and they play some pretty important shifts in tight games.
- Chris16

but Thompson is pretty bad defensively, can't give him those kind of starts....so something's gotta give today

but Thompson is pretty bad defensively, can't give him those kind of starts....so something's gotta give today
- Lunaion

Maybe it motivates him to work harder on his d game?

but Thompson is pretty bad defensively, can't give him those kind of starts....so something's gotta give today
- Lunaion

I think the lines would make more sense if E Rod was centering that line & they used it more offensively

Idk what they’d do for a “defensive” line then though?
I guess they’d have to use
Sobatka-Larsson-Sam/Okposo

Maybe it motivates him to work harder on his d game?
- Chris16

I’d wanna see that in practice,
not experimented in an actual game

WTF happened to Eichs & Skunk?

WTF happened to Eichs & Skunk?
- Chris16

Reinhart got hit in the mouth, Eichel?

Reinhart got hit in the mouth, Eichel?
- mattmoulson

hoping he just wanted to be with Sam