Ya, can't argue with the dip after the trade deadline if they trade away guys like Kohnson, McGinn, Ennis (although he hasn't contributed anything this year), Weber and others. My hope is they resign McGinn....don't need to risk losing him, that said...don't overpay either.
- IonSabres

McGinn is doing what we paid Moulson to do for this team.

I'd keep McGinn here on a cheaper deal and try to trade Moulson and if not could even buy him out at year's end.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/ne...797907&navid=nhl:topheads

Article on Ristolainen. 31 points in 46 games, -8 on the year. Does he make the World Cup of Hockey team for Finland this summer?

Edit: Btw, Risto is 8th in scoring for a defenseman. He is 2 points away from being tied for 4th. Of the top 10, only 3 players have a positive +/- rating. They are
3. John Klingberg +10 (DAL)
7. PK Subban +11 (MTL)
9. Brent Seabrook +8 (CHI)
- Zschalberg

Klingberg typically has offensive zone starts and plays often with Benn and Seguin. It'd be incredible if he DID have a minus rating. Seabrook's an all situations guy but has the benefit of usually playing with the top 2 offensive lines. Can't go wrong there.

As for PK Subban, that's incredible. An all situations guy on a floundering Habs team.

Upon further investigating, He's a +1 since December 1st, when the Habs fell from grace. They've been getting slaughtered, so that's still a testament to his talent.

I think that they are definitely young and were trying to play "from the hip" but now I think they are playing with confidence with eachother finally.

Doesn't hurt that CJ is HOT right now in net. I don't even want to give Lehner starts unless it is back to backs with CJ this hot. .936 GAA in his last 9 games and .963 in his last 3 games.
- JVince11

He's the only guy I see who can be that hot and still look bad at points in every game he plays. I would be fine keeping him as a backup, he's proven he can win games and would be a serviceable 2nd. If Ullmark is the future I'm good with him too.

I give Lehner starts just because he needs his timing back. If CJ is on a roll play the hot hand but I'd still let Lehner play some.

I think that they are definitely young and were trying to play "from the hip" but now I think they are playing with confidence with eachother finally.

Doesn't hurt that CJ is HOT right now in net. I don't even want to give Lehner starts unless it is back to backs with CJ this hot. .936 GAA in his last 9 games and .963 in his last 3 games.
- JVince11

I have noticed FolignoFoligno a lot more as well, seems to be playing faster, smarter...physical when needed. And Larson, same way...although I would like to see him pump in a goal or two occasionally.

Idk, if he's on your 3rd pair is it that big of a loss? The way I see it is you need that top 2. You get those and the rest you can fill out. We have (most likely) half of it with Ristolainen. Now need to get that other guy. Get that and then plug the rest in.

If we drafted top 5 as much as I want Puljujarvi I wouldn't be upset if we got the defenseman instead.
- Zschalberg

Did I say anywhere that getting rid of Weber would be a huge loss?
Nope
I said that THIS year, he's been good in his role & that the hate on him has gone too far

But to answer your question...
I think bottom pair defenseman & how solid they are contribute more to a winning team than you seem to
U can "plug the rest in" to a degree, but you've gotta do it the right way, with the right guys
For example,
Look how the Hawks manage to do it the right way
And look at what a mess Boston has become

Of course,
Finding those top pair guys is more important
But I do believe u need to balance out your roster all the way down as well

He's the only guy I see who can be that hot and still look bad at points in every game he plays. I would be fine keeping him as a backup, he's proven he can win games and would be a serviceable 2nd. If Ullmark is the future I'm good with him too.

I give Lehner starts just because he needs his timing back. If CJ is on a roll play the hot hand but I'd still let Lehner play some.
- Zschalberg

I don't get to watch all games in their entirety so I'll take your word for it.

Lehner needs starts yes... and I do think Ullmark is the goalie of the future.

I can honestly see it going two ways... CJ stays hot and they get offered something like a 2nd or 3rd rounder for him at the deadline and they take it and call up Ullmark to pair with Lehner.

Or..

They think Ullmark needs a full year in the A before transitioning to being on an NHL roster every day instead of a call-up and they keep CJ the rest of the year and try to resign him next year on a short term deal.

Nice.... I love how this team is hitting its stride right now. Going good. Showing some grit and fight. Not backing down.

Oh and beating the #1 team in hockey last weekend.. HANDILY as well.

What the hell was Duclair thinking.. that 5'11 185 frame starting fights with grown men.
- JVince11

I dunno man, Bogo is a cave man and is the one that escalated that whole situation with the little sucker punch jab.

What a goof

Klingberg typically has offensive zone starts and plays often with Benn and Seguin. It'd be incredible if he DID have a minus rating. Seabrook's an all situations guy but has the benefit of usually playing with the top 2 offensive lines. Can't go wrong there.

As for PK Subban, that's incredible. An all situations guy on a floundering Habs team.
- TheSabresTaco

No doubt. Risto has been a workhorse with a career high in ice time (24:48 per game), points (31), and goals (8). He's had his rough stretches this year but he's also been a star in his own right.

Did I say anywhere that getting rid of Weber would be a huge loss?
Nope
I said that THIS year, he's been good in his role & that the hate on him has gone too far

But to answer your question...
I think bottom pair defenseman & how solid they are contribute more to a winning team than you seem to
U can "plug the rest in" to a degree, but you've gotta do it the right way, with the right guys
For example,
Look how the Hawks manage to do it the right way
And look at what a mess Boston has become

Of course,
Finding those top pair guys is more important
But I do believe u need to balance out your roster all the way down as well
- jdfitz77

What? I never brought up Weber. I meant McNabb.

And yeah, you gotta do it the right way. Those top 2 are what you build out of.

Did I say anywhere that getting rid of Weber would be a huge loss?
Nope
I said that THIS year, he's been good in his role & that the hate on him has gone too far

But to answer your question...
I think bottom pair defenseman & how solid they are contribute more to a winning team than you seem to
U can "plug the rest in" to a degree, but you've gotta do it the right way, with the right guys
For example,
Look how the Hawks manage to do it the right way
And look at what a mess Boston has become

Of course,
Finding those top pair guys is more important
But I do believe u need to balance out your roster all the way down as well
- jdfitz77

Weber is the only player on this team to have played more than 15 games this season and have a plus rating.

Weber leads this team with a +3 on 28 games played and avg of 15 TOI per game.

Moulson is next at -1
Reinhart is -2
Pysyk in 20 games is -2

I don't get to watch all games in their entirety so I'll take your word for it.

Lehner needs starts yes... and I do think Ullmark is the goalie of the future.

I can honestly see it going two ways... CJ stays hot and they get offered something like a 2nd or 3rd rounder for him at the deadline and they take it and call up Ullmark to pair with Lehner.

Or..

They think Ullmark needs a full year in the A before transitioning to being on an NHL roster every day instead of a call-up and they keep CJ the rest of the year and try to resign him next year on a short term deal.
- JVince11

Yes and yes. I'll take either one. If you get a good offer for Johnson (which I don't see happening unless a goalie gets hurt, the market is a bit saturated right now and a lot of teams are set) then you take it. Otherwise you stick with him and see how Ullmark does in the AHL.

Murray talked on Friday about how he thinks Ullmark could be a top goalie in this league and said the main thing he needs is more shots on him and more time in the smaller ice. He'll get that in Rochester.

No doubt. Risto has been a workhorse with a career high in ice time (24:48 per game), points (31), and goals (8). He's had his rough stretches this year but he's also been a star in his own right.
- Zschalberg

he is as close to a Star true #1 Dman this team has seen in a very long time... maybe Soupy was the last true star dman and that was mainly only because his offensive game not well rounded game.

(Myers in his best year was not this good because it was his rookie year on limited ice time if I remember right. He wasn't even over 20 TOI I thought.)

So, after 46 games played, the Sabres have 42 points. That is 11 points more than last year at the 46 game mark, and projects to 77 points during the 82 games season which would be an improvement of 23 points.

How is everyone feeling now with that?

Personally, I had projected between 75 - 80 points, with an outside chance at 85 if they played well.
- IonSabres

I think the only way you could've realistically expected much more was IF we had just about EVERYTHING go right...
Mostly, Lehner being a really good #1
But also,
All the new players gelling together quickly- which still hasn't happened yet
and Bylsma being able to plug everyone into a role in his system effectively- which some guys are obviously struggling with

I think we're still in the right path
A 20+ point increase is a big deal, and sets us up to really make some noise next year

Weber is the only player on this team to have played more than 15 games this season and have a plus rating.

Weber leads this team with a +3 on 28 games played and avg of 15 TOI per game.

Moulson is next at -1
Reinhart is -2
Pysyk in 20 games is -2
- JVince11

Jack Eichel is last with a -13. Just thought that was interesting.

Yes and yes. I'll take either one. If you get a good offer for Johnson (which I don't see happening unless a goalie gets hurt, the market is a bit saturated right now and a lot of teams are set) then you take it. Otherwise you stick with him and see how Ullmark does in the AHL.

Murray talked on Friday about how he thinks Ullmark could be a top goalie in this league and said the main thing he needs is more shots on him and more time in the smaller ice. He'll get that in Rochester.
- Zschalberg

He has been down for almost a whole week and still hasn't gotten a start though I don't think. Its been all Leuiwen I think?

(says on HDB that he is 1-3 in the AHL with a .305 GAA and a .916 S%.. I don't know if that is recent)

he is as close to a Star true #1 Dman this team has seen in a very long time... maybe Soupy was the last true star dman and that was mainly only because his offensive game not well rounded game.

(Myers in his best year was not this good because it was his rookie year on limited ice time if I remember right. He wasn't even over 20 TOI I thought.)
- JVince11

He's also 21, so he's still young enough where he could be even better. We get a true top pairing partner for him and the sky could be the limit.

Jack Eichel is last with a -13. Just thought that was interesting.
- Zschalberg

Well his lines have been mostly defensive lacking IMO... the likes of Gionta, Ennis, Sam, and Moulson for most of the season. Now Girgnesons there some should be nice.

What? I never brought up Weber. I meant McNabb.

And yeah, you gotta do it the right way. Those top 2 are what you build out of.
- Zschalberg

Gotcha
My bad. The previous discussion was centered around Weber

And yes,
I think McNabb was a big loss
He's playing on the top pair with Doughty on a team many feel can win the Cup again
For some reason he was never really given a chance to play here
Idk why, and that's frustrating
(Not the end of the world though...
Let's see how Fasching turns out)

He's also 21, so he's still young enough where he could be even better. We get a true top pairing partner for him and the sky could be the limit.
- Zschalberg

Besides Seabrook and Keith.... Most top caliber D-men on the same team are usually split between the top pairings IMO.

EDIT: Seabrook and Keith are split up in their lineup too with Hjalmarsson and TVR.

He has been down for almost a whole week and still hasn't gotten a start though I don't think. Its been all Leuiwen I think?

(says on HDB that he is 1-3 in the AHL with a .305 GAA and a .916 S%.. I don't know if that is recent)
- JVince11

I'm thinking that's the coach's call. Leuiwen has been the guy for them and hasn't done poorly. Let Ullmark get some practices in with the team before he gets into a game perhaps. I would be upset if Leuiwen was still the number 1 down there, especially since Rochester hasn't been a good team this year and it isn't like they're doing well enough that you don't change anything.

Besides Seabrook and Keith.... Most top caliber D-men on the same team are usually split between the top pairings IMO.

EDIT: Seabrook and Keith are split up in their lineup too with Hjalmarsson and TVR.
- JVince11

Good point. My thought process was a Weber - Suter or Chara - Boychuck type pairing. Maybe he's not a top 2 guy but he can play with that top 2 guy and keep up. Bogosian did it the last 2 games but 2 games a career doesn't make.

Gotcha
My bad. The previous discussion was centered around Weber

And yes,
I think McNabb was a big loss
He's playing on the top pair with Doughty on a team many feel can win the Cup again
For some reason he was never really given a chance to play here
Idk why, and that's frustrating
(Not the end of the world though...
Let's see how Fasching turns out)
- jdfitz77

I think them having McNabb there is only to not have your best 2 guys on the same pairing being Muzzin. I don't think he is widely thought of as a top pairing guy.

he has 7 point sin 47 games, leads the team in PIM, and is actually 4th in DMEN for ice time

http://bleacherreport.com...e-never-found-in-colorado

Nice article on ROR and his Avs life/contract.
In a way the flames were the ones that started the downfall

Good point. My thought process was a Weber - Suter or Chara - Boychuck type pairing. Maybe he's not a top 2 guy but he can play with that top 2 guy and keep up. Bogosian did it the last 2 games but 2 games a career doesn't make.
- Zschalberg

I honestly think that Risto is just fine as our top pairing guy and then stick him with someone who is good enough there but maybe not viewed as top pairing guy. Then BoGo is good enough to do the same on the 2nd line. Could Bogo be better absolutely. Would I love to add another elite ceiling dmen to our top 4... absolutely..

but...

McCabe - Risto
Bogo - Pysyk

Is a PRETTY SOLID top 4 going into the future. Its not.. ELITE.. but its pretty good.

He has been down for almost a whole week and still hasn't gotten a start though I don't think. Its been all Leuiwen I think?

(says on HDB that he is 1-3 in the AHL with a .305 GAA and a .916 S%.. I don't know if that is recent)
- JVince11

Lieuwen has played really well for Rochester all week, even though it hasn't translated into too many wins. I think that's probably why Ullmark hasn't gotten a chance in net there yet since being sent back down.