Let’s just say we are set next year in the Top6 with something like:
Sheary-Jack-Tage
Skinner-Mitts-Sam

And the 4th line with a combo of:
Larsson, Girgs, Sobotka, E Rod

Wtf do we do with line3?
Especially if we can’t get rid of Okposo
And even moreso if Sobotka is on the line too
Nylander, Smith & Olofsson are all wingers
And none of them make a line that’s 2/3 of Sobotka & Okposo productive

He can play on any line. It’s not like he’s been bad defensively, at all.

Again, the Sabres control play when he’s on the ice. He fits anywhere
- sbroads24

Yeah, i guess
But if he isn’t gonna be a scorer for us,
then we should maximize his trade value

We have more than enough decent forwards who don’t score

Let’s just say we are set next year in the Top6 with something like:
Sheary-Jack-Tage
Skinner-Mitts-Sam

And the 4th line with a combo of:
Larsson, Girgs, Sobotka, E Rod

Wtf do we do with line3?
Especially if we can’t get rid of Okposo
And even moreso if Sobotka is on the line too
Nylander, Smith & Olofsson are all wingers
And none of them make a line that’s 2/3 of Sobotka & Okposo productive
- jdfitz77

That’s why I don’t hate a Charlie Coyle trade idea.

I just wouldn’t give up a lot.

Jake McCabe for Sam Bennett.

Let’s just say we are set next year in the Top6 with something like:
Sheary-Jack-Tage
Skinner-Mitts-Sam

And the 4th line with a combo of:
Larsson, Girgs, Sobotka, E Rod

Wtf do we do with line3?
Especially if we can’t get rid of Okposo
And even moreso if Sobotka is on the line too
Nylander, Smith & Olofsson are all wingers
And none of them make a line that’s 2/3 of Sobotka & Okposo productive
- jdfitz77

The more I think about it, the less likely it seems that he'll be back. Botterill talks about speed on the wing, and the dude is clearly shot. Idk if it's a buyout, trade with salary retained, or if they Hossa his situation, but I don't see any way he's back next year

That’s why I don’t hate a Charlie Coyle trade idea.

I just wouldn’t give up a lot.
- sbroads24

3C now though
So yeah, a 2nd tops

Yeah, i guess
But if he isn’t gonna be a scorer for us,
then we should maximize his trade value

We have more than enough decent forwards who don’t score
- jdfitz77

Tage definitely needs to be more accurate with his shots. The guy has grown like 7 inches in the last 3 years. An offseason of putting on 15 pounds will do wonders for him.The first 15-20 games he did not play well at all, had trouble adjusting, and played on the 4th line a majority of the time. The last 15 games he has been almost as effective as Rhino and Skinner in terms of generating chances. Good scorers know that if you’re at least creating chances you’re doing something right. It’s when you aren’t creating chances is when it’s time to worry.

The more I think about it, the less likely it seems that he'll be back. Botterill talks about speed on the wing, and the dude is clearly shot. Idk if it's a buyout, trade with salary retained, or if they Hossa his situation, but I don't see any way he's back next year
- jcragcrumple

He said that last offseason & then brought in some not fast guys
Hopefully he can make that transition this year
But in Okposo’s case, it’s gonna cost us

Tage definitely needs to be more accurate with his shots. The guy has grown like 7 inches in the last 3 years. An offseason of putting on 15 pounds will do wonders for him.The first 15-20 games he did not play well at all, had trouble adjusting, and played on the 4th line a majority of the time. The last 15 games he has been almost as effective as Rhino and Skinner in terms of generating chances. Good scorers know that if you’re at least creating chances you’re doing something right. It’s when you aren’t creating chances is when it’s time to worry.
- Pegullaville

That all fair
But “good scorers” know that bc they’ve had the puck go in for them
We don’t “know” that yet about Tage

He said that last offseason & then brought in some not fast guys
Hopefully he can make that transition this year
But in Okposo’s case, it’s gonna cost us
- jdfitz77

He specifically mentioned getting faster on the wing and brought in Skinner and Sheary. Sobotka is a center, and I believe his initial intention was to use Berglund as a center as well. Regardless, the RW position is below average in terms of speed

That all fair
But “good scorers” know that bc they’ve had the puck go in for them
We don’t “know” that yet about Tage
- jdfitz77

We do know that he moves well for someone his size, has good hands, and a good shot. As long as he finds himself in the right areas and someone can get him the puck I like his chances more then anyone else on the roster not named Eichel or Skinner. I think he can be our Alex Tuch tbh.

We do know that he moves well for someone his size, has good hands, and a good shot. As long as he finds himself in the right areas and someone can get him the puck I like his chances more then anyone else on the roster not named Eichel or Skinner. I think he can be our Alex Tuch tbh.
- Pegullaville

Again, he has 0 goals this year of the deflection, empty net, wide open tap in variety like McCabes last night. He has 2-3 of those and Sobotka cashed in on a few of his chances all the sudden Tage is on pace for 15-ish points over his last 30 games which is great for third line minutes and limited PP

THIS !

Did anyone go to the skills comp?
I thought those jerseys were pretty sweet

https://mobile.twitter.co...901021931380%2Fframe.html
- jdfitz77

They were uglier than your avatar and that's saying a lot

Jake McCabe for Sam Bennett.
- sbroads24

Dude Myers is gone stop

But I honestly think we should sign him this summer

Tage definitely needs to be more accurate with his shots. The guy has grown like 7 inches in the last 3 years. An offseason of putting on 15 pounds will do wonders for him.The first 15-20 games he did not play well at all, had trouble adjusting, and played on the 4th line a majority of the time. The last 15 games he has been almost as effective as Rhino and Skinner in terms of generating chances. Good scorers know that if you’re at least creating chances you’re doing something right. It’s when you aren’t creating chances is when it’s time to worry.
- Pegullaville

This measures the wrong metric.

Goals win games. Winning games is how to climb the standings, make the playoffs, and win the Stanley Cup.

This measures the wrong metric.

Goals win games. Winning games is how to climb the standings, make the playoffs, and win the Stanley Cup.
- Der Kaiser

You’re right, and not close to 100% of goals are based on skill or a great shot.

A large perfentage are luck or just plain tap in’s. And Tage has had 0 puck luck.

This measures the wrong metric.

Goals win games. Winning games is how to climb the standings, make the playoffs, and win the Stanley Cup.
- Der Kaiser

Chances lead to goals. Goal scorers also go through streaks. If Tage played like this from day 1 he’d have 10-12 goals right now. Tage is the least of my worries right now cause once we have an established 2C he’ll be just fine. Sobotka, Sheary, Pominville, Okposo, Mitts (until he develops) are the problems with this team right now.

I shake my head in amazement on some of the things posted on here, They need to use Thompson as a trade chip? while he's got value? too who? if he's not scoring here to your satisfaction, who is going to give us something of value for him? He's 20 freaking years old, 42 games into his first season in Buffalo, what ever happened to giving players time to mature. Same goes for Mittlestadt, he's been out of High School for a year and a half, but he's a disappointment, not to me, but to plenty of the posters on here. People need to lighten the Hell up and let things play out this year and probably next year as well. I know everybody getting sick of being told to "Trust the Process", but that is what it is, A Process to make this team into a perennial contender. That is GMJB's goal.

I shake my head in amazement on some of the things posted on here, They need to use Thompson as a trade chip? while he's got value? too who? if he's not scoring here to your satisfaction, who is going to give us something of value for him? He's 20 freaking years old, 42 games into his first season in Buffalo, what ever happened to giving players time to mature. Same goes for Mittlestadt, he's been out of High School for a year and a half, but he's a disappointment, not to me, but to plenty of the posters on here. People need to lighten the Hell up and let things play out this year and probably next year as well. I know everybody getting sick of being told to "Trust the Process", but that is what it is, A Process to make this team into a perennial contender. That is GMJB's goal.
- macman9

I wouldn’t read too much into it.

Fitz hates the Oreilly trade and would be happy if Sobotka and Thompson never played another game as a Sabre

I shake my head in amazement on some of the things posted on here, They need to use Thompson as a trade chip? while he's got value? too who? if he's not scoring here to your satisfaction, who is going to give us something of value for him? He's 20 freaking years old, 42 games into his first season in Buffalo, what ever happened to giving players time to mature. Same goes for Mittlestadt, he's been out of High School for a year and a half, but he's a disappointment, not to me, but to plenty of the posters on here. People need to lighten the Hell up and let things play out this year and probably next year as well. I know everybody getting sick of being told to "Trust the Process", but that is what it is, A Process to make this team into a perennial contender. That is GMJB's goal.
- macman9

Good post. If we judged Eichel and Reinhart based on their first 80 some odd games we would have established Jack as a 60 point player at best and Sam as a 40-45 point guy. Players develop slower then others. Thompson and Mittelstadt both need to be better, Thompson has started to get the memo over the past 10 games. Both Mittelstadt and Thompson have elite raw ability in their own ways. They need to get experience and adjust from boys to men in the ways that they prepare, eat, train. Botts will also be able to surround them with better players in the coming years.

I shake my head in amazement on some of the things posted on here, They need to use Thompson as a trade chip? while he's got value? too who? if he's not scoring here to your satisfaction, who is going to give us something of value for him? He's 20 freaking years old, 42 games into his first season in Buffalo, what ever happened to giving players time to mature. Same goes for Mittlestadt, he's been out of High School for a year and a half, but he's a disappointment, not to me, but to plenty of the posters on here. People need to lighten the Hell up and let things play out this year and probably next year as well. I know everybody getting sick of being told to "Trust the Process", but that is what it is, A Process to make this team into a perennial contender. That is GMJB's goal.
- macman9

If Mitts finishes with 13-15 goals with his most common linemate being the walking corpse of Kyle Okposo, it's a success

I think it’s fair to at least question the lack of scoring by him
It’s one thing if he’s not getting the chances,
but he is

Is it just bad luck & it’ll start going in?
Hopefully
But we’ll have to see

The type player he is just worries me bc i saw a lot of similarities in Armia as a prospect
And while he’s turned out to be an ok player,
we need Thompson to be more than that
- jdfitz77

Your patience level with Tage is totally contrary to your patience level with Josh Allen? I know they are different sports, but I find this interesting as it's similar in terms of both being rookies

Chances lead to goals. Goal scorers also go through streaks. If Tage played like this from day 1 he’d have 10-12 goals right now. Tage is the least of my worries right now cause once we have an established 2C he’ll be just fine. Sobotka, Sheary, Pominville, Okposo, Mitts (until he develops) are the problems with this team right now.
- Pegullaville

I agree with your view of Tage

I disagree fundamentally with the underlined basic premise of the advanced stats crowd. It’s proven wrong in games night after night after night. Great chances don’t go in, and teams that dominate 5v5 possession lose 2-1 on a fluke and a power play goal.

I think Tage will be ok. I think if people measure the wrong metric they’ll come to bad conclusions.

I agree with your view of Tage

I disagree fundamentally with the underlined basic premise of the advanced stats crowd. It’s proven wrong in games night after night after night. Great chances don’t go in, and teams that dominate 5v5 possession lose 2-1 on a fluke and a power play goal.

I think Tage will be ok. I think if people measure the wrong metric they’ll come to bad conclusions.
- Der Kaiser

Wait, so are you telling me the strategy shouldn’t be to outshoot and out chance teams?

I agree with your view of Tage

I disagree fundamentally with the underlined basic premise of the advanced stats crowd. It’s proven wrong in games night after night after night. Great chances don’t go in, and teams that dominate 5v5 possession lose 2-1 on a fluke and a power play goal.

I think Tage will be ok. I think if people measure the wrong metric they’ll come to bad conclusions.
- Der Kaiser

The basic premise of advanced stats in all sports is over the course of a season or longer, not an individual game.