We need more scoring from the C position. It's dry outside of Jack. I'm not going to Fitz, but we do need an offensive injection for the middle 6.
- TheSabresTaco

Yea I was really pumping Mitts tires this offseason and it just hadn’t materailized yet. Maybe next year is the year he establishes himself as a legit 2C. We need a veteran stop gap for the playoff run or we don’t stand a chance.

Scandella has been out for a few games now. McCabe got hurt in the Tampa game and Nelson got hut during the Toronto game. Both McCabe and Nelson are listed on the injury report as week to week. Scandella is day to day.
- HonkFortheGoose

ok.. i didn't realize about Nelson.

When we are healthy again they should try to find a partner for Scandella.. I feel like Pilut is the better option

Yea I was really pumping Mitts tires this offseason and it just hadn’t materailized yet. Maybe next year is the year he establishes himself as a legit 2C. We need a veteran stop gap for the playoff run or we don’t stand a chance.
- Pegullaville

I don't want to mortgage anything yet.. i don't think we stand a chance period. it will be fun to finally see playoff hockey and we have legit goalies now, but we are not yet deep enough to consider ourselves one or two moves away from a deep run. stay the course

Yea I was really pumping Mitts tires this offseason and it just hadn’t materailized yet. Maybe next year is the year he establishes himself as a legit 2C. We need a veteran stop gap for the playoff run or we don’t stand a chance.
- Pegullaville

I was hoping from the get go that Mitts would be ok as long as Berglund would take his defensive minutes. I have full faith that CM will establish himself, and the underlying numbers prove that. I have no problem at all if he needs the rest of the season to really learn what is required to succeed, offensively. But if we want to be a good to great team, that void needs to be filled soon.

I don't want to mortgage anything yet.. i don't think we stand a chance period. it will be fun to finally see playoff hockey and we have legit goalies now, but we are not yet deep enough to consider ourselves one or two moves away from a deep run. stay the course
- SabresFaninIndiana

No reason to mortgage anything BIG. But I'm definitely against pure rentals, too.

I was hoping from the get go that Mitts would be ok as long as Berglund would take his defensive minutes. I have full faith that CM will establish himself, and the underlying numbers prove that. I have no problem at all if he needs the rest of the season to really learn what is required to succeed, offensively. But if we want to be a good to great team, that void needs to be filled soon.
- TheSabresTaco

I think the issue is we just don't have guys that are good enough for on Mittelstadt's wings for him to really break out. You can see he's right there. He's making plays, he's getting chances. Just hasn't quite meshed with anyone yet and I think it's a bit of a talent issue in who he's playing with. He's got great vision, but that's not going to do anything if there isn't anyone who's able to get open and help the play form.

I think the issue is we just don't have guys that are good enough for on Mittelstadt's wings for him to really break out. You can see he's right there. He's making plays, he's getting chances. Just hasn't quite meshed with anyone yet and I think it's a bit of a talent issue in who he's playing with. He's got great vision, but that's not going to do anything if there isn't anyone who's able to get open and help the play form.
- HonkFortheGoose

I agree. The failure to get the second line going is not just on CM. Some line adjustments have been suggested that could help get CM going, such as putting him with skinner. It's feasible because you could skate the fourth line with Eichel and they find success.

I agree. The failure to get the second line going is not just on CM. Some line adjustments have been suggested that could help get CM going, such as putting him with skinner. It's feasible because you could skate the fourth line with Eichel and they find success.
- Angler

I wouldnt mind CM and Skinner together. Sheary is a game changer and could work with Jack better now than at the start of the season.

I agree. The failure to get the second line going is not just on CM. Some line adjustments have been suggested that could help get CM going, such as putting him with skinner. It's feasible because you could skate the fourth line with Eichel and they find success.
- Angler

I think the problem is that you don't want to try to fix something that isn't broken though. And in moving Skinner, that's kind of what you're doing.

You have one thing that's working. Why risk having nothing that's working?

Serious question here on this slow day, is it Hookers & Blow or Blow and Hookers? asking for a friend.

I wouldnt mind CM and Skinner together. Sheary is a game changer and could work with Jack better now than at the start of the season.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Sheary is a game changer? Doesn't that imply that he can carry a line away from a super star?

Serious question here on this slow day, is it Hookers & Blow or Blow and Hookers? asking for a friend.
- hehateme

Using the Ween formula, I believe it is hookers & blow

https://youtu.be/6Gd87JmkAkE

Sheary is a game changer? Doesn't that imply that he can carry a line away from a super star?
- Lunaion

Not necessarily but if you can't see the difference from when he is in the lineup vs out, then i don't know what to tell you. He is every where on the ice.

I think the problem is that you don't want to try to fix something that isn't broken though. And in moving Skinner, that's kind of what you're doing.

You have one thing that's working. Why risk having nothing that's working?
- HonkFortheGoose

Eichel and Skinner have worked consistently whether Reinhart or Pominville have taken turns on the line. Pominville isn’t an ideal long-term solution but Reinhart has the better chance of jump starting Mittelstadt and Thompson then any of our other RW’s.

Skinner-Eichel-Pominville
Thompson-Mittelstadt-Reinhart
Sheary-Sobotka-Okposo
Berglund/Erod-Larsson-Girgensons

Sheary is a game changer? Doesn't that imply that he can carry a line away from a super star?
- Lunaion

game changer isn't maybe the right word, but I'd rather have him on this team than a lot of other guys, he's a pretty good, and he does have pretty good scoring ability.

game changer isn't maybe the right word, but I'd rather have him on this team than a lot of other guys, he's a pretty good, and he does have pretty good scoring ability.
- gordong

Yeah maybe the wrong term... but he is all over the ice on his shifts.

Not necessarily but if you can't see the difference from when he is in the lineup vs out, then i don't know what to tell you. He is every where on the ice.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

I didn't say that. You're using some pretty strong words to describe a guy producing at a third line rate on 75% ozone starts. I notice him in a way very similar to ERod, because they are quick.

I think the issue is we just don't have guys that are good enough for on Mittelstadt's wings for him to really break out. You can see he's right there. He's making plays, he's getting chances. Just hasn't quite meshed with anyone yet and I think it's a bit of a talent issue in who he's playing with. He's got great vision, but that's not going to do anything if there isn't anyone who's able to get open and help the play form.
- HonkFortheGoose

wait so what you mean to say is Kyle Okposo isn't good enough?

I think the issue is we just don't have guys that are good enough for on Mittelstadt's wings for him to really break out. You can see he's right there. He's making plays, he's getting chances. Just hasn't quite meshed with anyone yet and I think it's a bit of a talent issue in who he's playing with. He's got great vision, but that's not going to do anything if there isn't anyone who's able to get open and help the play form.
- HonkFortheGoose

IMO, Sam needs to be that guy. I wouldn't have broken that up so fast.

is that why Botts loaded up on all the D last year?
- SabresFaninIndiana

JBotts is a magician. He works the draft and turns Murray's poop into solid gold.

Yeah maybe the wrong term... but he is all over the ice on his shifts.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

I was having a conversation with a friend the other day about Sheary and the difference in the games he's missed. There's definitely a correlation.

wait so what you mean to say is Kyle Okposo isn't good enough?
- BeadyEyedDouche

Two talented players put on the same line don't always work, don't mean one isn't talented, just means they don't work well together for some reason.

Would i like to see more from Okposo? Absolutely, but I don't know that it's because he's "not good enough."

Yea I was really pumping Mitts tires this offseason and it just hadn’t materailized yet. Maybe next year is the year he establishes himself as a legit 2C. We need a veteran stop gap for the playoff run or we don’t stand a chance.
- Pegullaville

I think Brassard is a good fit. Has been really struggling in PIT(https://www.post-gazette....lson/stories/201812040099) and is UFA. Idk who/what would go back but thats a veteran presence.

Skinner-Eichel-Pommer
Sheary-Brassard?- Reinhart
Thompson-Mitts-Okposo
Sobotka-Larsson-Berglund
Wilson-Girgensons-Erod
Elie

Dahlin-Bogo
McCabe-Risto
Beaulieu-Nelson
Scandella-Pilut

IMO, Sam needs to be that guy. I wouldn't have broken that up so fast.
- Lunaion

I actually wouldn't mind this. Moving Samson down a line would give Mitts a better linemate and we know Jack will carry anyone (pretty much) that we put at 1RW. We need secondary scoring in the worst way.

Switch Okposo and Samson? I'm figuring Pommer can't be a permanent solution.

I actually wouldn't mind this. Moving Samson down a line would give Mitts a better linemate and we know Jack will carry anyone (pretty much) that we put at 1RW. We need secondary scoring in the worst way.

Switch Okposo and Samson? I'm figuring Pommer can't be a permanent solution.
- RhinoFan

They (Phil/JB, Disco Dan/GMTM) just don't like Jack with Kyle. Not sure exactly why.