Bylsma isn't of that opinion as of Tuesday...I think he has upside and in no way is this season indicative of where he'll end up production-wise
- Michael Pachla

I can't fathom breaking up the 9-15-23 line. Unless something crazy happens, that is the line i stick with going into next year. ROR is a guy who will make anyone better. Find him linemates and leave the other line alone.

Zemgus future right now: 4th line Center. Especially if we get a Top 7 pick who's a winger and a much coveted FA Center...
- mattsox

I think we have enough centers atm.

Looks like quotes arent working for me today....

I think girgensons is a low risk-high potential bridge contract situation.
If in 2-3 years he and Larssons are killing it, you have the tough decision of which one you trade when their stock is high.
I think both are way too wildly inconsistant to consider a lock right now.
But we have the cap space and room on the team to find out.

Looks like quotes arent working for me today....

I think girgensons is a low risk-high potential bridge contract situation.
If in 2-3 years he and Larssons are killing it, you have the tough decision of which one you trade when their stock is high.
I think both are way too wildly inconsistant to consider a lock right now.
But we have the cap space and room on the team to find out.
- seedy

I think this is the proper view. His performance this year makes it possible to buy low for Girgs. He is the "heavy" kind of player Murray likes, he can play up and down the lines (ala McGinn) and he seems to have found ways to overcome adversity through the years.

I think there is a wise investment to be made at a reasonable price here. I'd keep him and work on finding the proper place to plug him in.

I say trade Zemgus to Detroit for Nyquist or Tatar.

I just don't see the value of trading a guy who you're going to miss and wish you had as soon as you trade him. Get a top 6 UFA or trade some picks (we have eleventy in each of the first 2 rounds for the next 18 years) or youngins. We don't have enough room for the prospects as it is. He's an established, known commodity. I wouldn't trade him.
- Khmylev

Has this been evident this season? I think I can name on one hand the games he's had an impact on

I say trade Zemgus to Detroit for Nyquist or Tatar.
- SRam19

Why would Detroit do that though?

I think this is the proper view. His performance this year makes it possible to buy low for Girgs. He is the "heavy" kind of player Murray likes, he can play up and down the lines (ala McGinn) and he seems to have found ways to overcome adversity through the years.

I think there is a wise investment to be made at a reasonable price here. I'd keep him and work on finding the proper place to plug him in.
- Der Kaiser

Ideally, i think him/larssons/Foligno would make up a legit 3rd line that should produce and any of the 3 could slot up in an injury situation. They should all come pretty cheap, especially considering what McGinn is rumored to want. We would also have 2 centers on that line for defensive zone FO's
Moulson/Dlo/Gionta = 4th line

Bylsma isn't of that opinion as of Tuesday...I think he has upside and in no way is this season indicative of where he'll end up production-wise
- Michael Pachla

Agreed. 15 goals in 3/4 of a season last year for Zemgus. Setup for most of this season on the 3rd line in a defense-first role, of course offense is gonna be stifled. I don't think it should be THAT low to only be 5 goals through 57 games, but I could definitely see him not having the pace he did last season.

That said, if he shows signs of improvement the rest of this season and there aren't big moves this offseason, I could see Girgensons getting time in the top 6 potentially next season. I would expect a "quick" hook though if things aren't working out (15-ish games)

I think this is the proper view. His performance this year makes it possible to buy low for Girgs. He is the "heavy" kind of player Murray likes, he can play up and down the lines (ala McGinn) and he seems to have found ways to overcome adversity through the years.

I think there is a wise investment to be made at a reasonable price here. I'd keep him and work on finding the proper place to plug him in.
- Der Kaiser

I thought I had heard he was getting nearly $4M on his upcoming RFA bridge deal, which would make him too expensive to keep...

I say trade Zemgus to Detroit for Nyquist or Tatar.
- SRam19

Troll. Mad Garf is gone? Keep the comments for when he comes back please.

I can't fathom breaking up the 9-15-23 line. Unless something crazy happens, that is the line i stick with going into next year. ROR is a guy who will make anyone better. Find him linemates and leave the other line alone.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

am loving that line...the question is, when o'reilly comes back, who are his wingers?

my guess is that gus will get an opportunity on one side simply because Bylsma probably won't break up his other line of Gionta, larsson, Foligno, which, btw, makes for a pretty strong third line on the Sabres, imo

I thought I had heard he was getting nearly $4M on his upcoming RFA bridge deal, which would make him too expensive to keep...
- kingcong39

I he stops negotiating at $4M I would trade his rights for a McGinn-like return. 3rd round pick.

am loving that line...the question is, when o'reilly comes back, who are his wingers?

my guess is that gus will get an opportunity on one side simply because Bylsma probably won't break up his other line of Gionta, larsson, Foligno, which, btw, makes for a pretty strong third line on the Sabres, imo
- Michael Pachla

Honestly, put Moulson with him. Try to get him going. handful of games left this season try to see if he has anything left in the tank. Thats what i would do. And Ennis if he comes back.

I like 28 enough. The lack of production this year probably helps us keep him on the cheap to further evaluate where he fits in a good lineup.
QUESTION: why does he have to fall like 5 or 6 times a game?
He clumsily ends up on his knees or his backside almost every time he goes into a wall battle.
Tell me someone else has noticed this.

Why would Detroit do that though?
- Sabresfan-365

Their 3rd line center is Brad Richards and he won't be around forever plus they have alot of young kids coming up to play wing.

Helps the sabres cuz they get a solid 2nd liner and Detroit gets a potential 2nd/3rd line center.

Im just throwin some ideas out there.

Has this been evident this season? I think I can name on one hand the games he's had an impact on
- sbroads24

he's had his moments starting in game one when he, Eichel and kane scored the potential game-tying goal that was disallowed...

and before kane pulled his head out of his ass, Girgensons was doing for Eichel what kane's doing for him now without having reinhart on their line...

that said, Girgensons has been inconsistent and has struggled at times while also being used in way more roles than any other player on the team

I like 28 enough. The lack of production this year probably helps us keep him on the cheap to further evaluate where he fits in a good lineup.
QUESTION: why does he have to fall like 5 or 6 times a game?
He clumsily ends up on his knees or his backside almost every time he goes into a wall battle.
Tell me someone else has noticed this.
- trikkdaniels

I like this also, keeps expectations low and contract low.

So only good things can come.

I like 28 enough. The lack of production this year probably helps us keep him on the cheap to further evaluate where he fits in a good lineup.
QUESTION: why does he have to fall like 5 or 6 times a game?
He clumsily ends up on his knees or his backside almost every time he goes into a wall battle.
Tell me someone else has noticed this.
- trikkdaniels

Yes.

Also, Moulson.
#badcompany

he's had his moments starting in game one when he, Eichel and kane scored the potential game-tying goal that was disallowed...

and before kane pulled his head out of his ass, Girgensons was doing for Eichel what kane's doing for him now without having reinhart on their line...

that said, Girgensons has been inconsistent and has struggled at times while also being used in way more roles than any other player on the team
- Michael Pachla

I have no issues with Girgensons being here long term. I think he is a good bottom 6 player who could potentially be on line 2.

However....the narrative that he has been driven into the ground with defensive responsibilities is overblown. It was O'Reilly to start the year, and Larsson currently. I think that Girgensons not being able to grasp what Bylsma is trying to do might have some justification.

Larsson 40% Off. Zone start
Girgensons 46% Off. Zone start

Larsson is finding his way on the score sheet even with increased defensive responsibilities.

The game has to start to click like is has recently for Folingo. I think Girgs needs to find a new role for himself out there as a pest and general difficult guy to play against. He's not the biggest but he's certainly tough enough. He flattened the poop out of that one Rangers players Tuesday night in front of the net and just stood over him after. That was a good start.

Michael Pachla: Zemgus Girgensons is on the minds of many in Sabreland
- Michael Pachla

"During Bylsma's weekly Tuesday radio appearance on WGR, he was asked point-blank where he saw Girgensons fitting in the future and if he's decided what type of player he's going to be long-term. Bylsma said that he thinks Girgensons has played his best on the wing and that his best was on the second-line with Eichel. "I think that's where we see Zemgus at his best for our team," he told co-hosts Jeremy White and Matthew Coller. "No question I see that going forward for [him].

"[With] the injury situation to our team right now, and the [team] make-up, Zemgus is not playing with [Eichel] on the wing where he was earlier on, but I see him in the top-six on that wing and doing his best there.""

this makes no f@cking sense

I'm starting to think we got a scrub coach that rode Crosby's coat tail

We have Larrson that can do it as well
- SABRES 89

and a much higher return would be received for girgens than larsson in a trade



if the rumor is true that girgens refuses to play the system he needs to be moved


if the coach refuses to play girgens in top 6 for lack of faith, and he is trying to use the system, then we have a big problem behind the bench


I'd love to be a fly on the wall when GMTM talks to Dan in the office

he is at least a third line center
- Michael Pachla

then why is larson on the dot over girgens


this is a game of leap frog that questions many things moving forward as we turn the "corner"

Larsson is finding his way on the score sheet even with increased defensive responsibilities.
- sbroads24

Larsson has woken up the last 6 or 7 games.
The 50 before that, most peoples opinion on him was that we couldnt give him away fast enough.
Like i said in my previous comment.mthey're both young and have no business demanding any sort of real money. Keep them both and see what happens.
Bottom 6 for both of them. Fits the LA/Chi mold if even only one of the works out.