We are gonna have to make some room. So many contracts and 11? Draftees coming in. RFA's UFAs ..There will be some shuffling draft day and at the end of the season.
- cabin

46 contracts now with a likelihood of Fasching being added. 22 RFA/UFA once the season ends.

We aren't gonna have 9 "top6" forwards though
Can't afford that with the Cap
Doesn't hurt to spread talent out over 3 lines, instead of loading up your top6

almost all good teams have the kind of balance I'm talking about
- jdfitz77

We need to upgrade on the wings. Drafting one will be a year of 2 before we see him. Trading for one could be instant.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Colin Kaepernick "wants" to play in Cleveland.


Well, I have seen it all now

We aren't gonna have 9 "top6" forwards though
Can't afford that with the Cap
Doesn't hurt to spread talent out over 3 lines, instead of loading up your top6

almost all good teams have the kind of balance I'm talking about
- jdfitz77

But where is he going to maximize his return? It's not potting put away goals by jack because really that's the only type of goal he's going to get on a consistent basis playing on that line. To get the best out of him you have him shutting down 1st lines on the 3rd and playing a crash the net type game. That's not Jacks game, no Sams, not Kane's, not ROR's.

So yes, spread your talent around. If you want Foligno near Jack then fine. If you want Larrson jumping a line then sure. But your BEST return is Girgensons doing what he does best.

We are gonna have to make some room. So many contracts and 11? Draftees coming in. RFA's UFAs ..There will be some shuffling draft day and at the end of the season.
- cabin

And we will im sure there are a couple of UFA's will will simply say bye to.

We need to upgrade on the wings. Drafting one will be a year of 2 before we see him. Trading for one could be instant.
- cabin

If you get one of the top 4 guys that's debatable.

Abdelkader 17 goals 19 assists

Helm 8 goals 11 assist

don't compare the Wings to the Sabres and Helm is there due to injuries.
- SABRES 89

I think what he's saying is that the talent can be spread out to create matchup problems.

Which is fine. I don't disagree. I'd actually love having a 3rd line of Kane/Larsson/Foligno next year if we add a few pieces.

If he goes on Jack's wing what is his ceiling? I still think it's less than 20 goals. he might get 20-20-40 playing with Jack with top-6 minutes. Is that enough to take that top-6 spot from a player that is better suited for that position and might get 30 goals?
- Zschalberg

Idk?
He was on pace for 20 goals last year playing with Moulson & Ennis...

If u play your 6 best guys together,
Then I think we're easier to defend against...

But if we have 3 lines that can all score...

That only happens if u move a guy or 2 like Girgs up though

Remember the last time we were good?
Vanek was on the 3rd line
Hecht was on the 1st
Kotalik & Grier were on the 2nd with Drury
And our offense was pretty awesome

I believe that's the best way to build your team

46 contracts now with a likelihood of Fasching being added. 22 RFA/UFA once the season ends.
- stashu

Have I ever mentioned you are my favorite numbers person?

I think what he's saying is that the talent can be spread out to create matchup problems.

Which is fine. I don't disagree. I'd actually love having a 3rd line of Kane/Larsson/Foligno next year if we add a few pieces.
- sbroads24

Kane on the 3rd line ??

Jesus Christ......i'm done you people are high

I think what he's saying is that the talent can be spread out to create matchup problems.

Which is fine. I don't disagree. I'd actually love having a 3rd line of Kane/Larsson/Foligno next year if we add a few pieces.
- sbroads24

Kane won't be on the 3rd line next year.

Still firmly believe that people expected too much out of this team this year... should of known it was going to be the year of experimentation. Next year will be similar but slightly better with possible additions. Might sneak into a playoff spot but most likely finish around 10th year after that no excuses why we shouldn't be in the playoffs.

As for why players weren't moved at TDL... any players worth any weight coaches and GM's are keeping for playoff runs come off-season/ FA knowing who you want or can resign and then having to make space for escalated contracts opens up new doors... perhaps GMTM had some offers for something but declined knowing that something better this off-season, but why get rid of guys just for the sake of doing so? let em finish out the year, give em a chance to raise their stock and then see where we truly are.

Everyone is all about trading 3guys and a pick for something... maybe its me but the shelves are looking thin and unless we want to pull up lame and only give ourselves 2-3 years of a really good team then you have to address that as well and cant trade away everything
- Havic3814

I think schaller will be fine on 4th line with deslaurers
I think larsson will be fine on 3rd line


fasching and bailey can easily be plugged in 3rd line winger roles


goalie depth in the pipeline

I think the way pysyk is playing, we would be fine, maybe better if ruhwedel replaces him on the bottom pair


the big thing is the next few moves needs to be the right moves

Abdelkader 17 goals 19 assists

Helm 8 goals 11 assist

don't compare the Wings to the Sabres and Helm is there due to injuries.
- SABRES 89

And zemgus had close to those #s last season in a top 6 role... but let's pretend like that didn't happen

But where is he going to maximize his return? It's not potting put away goals by jack because really that's the only type of goal he's going to get on a consistent basis playing on that line. To get the best out of him you have him shutting down 1st lines on the 3rd and playing a crash the net type game. That's not Jacks game, no Sams, not Kane's, not ROR's.

So yes, spread your talent around. If you want Foligno near Jack then fine. If you want Larrson jumping a line then sure. But your BEST return is Girgensons doing what he does best.
- Zschalberg

That's fine too
But you'll find the same ppl saying that Larsson & Foligno have no business in the top6 also
All I'm saying is that it's still tbd exactly where Girgs will end up slotting in

Kane on the 3rd line ??

Jesus Christ......i'm done you people are high
- SABRES 89

He played well with Larsson on the 3rd line earlier in the season. It creates matchup problems for the other teams.

Kane on the 3rd line ??

Jesus Christ......i'm done you people are high
- SABRES 89

It's unreal the stuff I read on here sometimes.

If you get one of the top 4 guys that's debatable.
- Zschalberg

True.

Sam took a year . It's a 50:50 chance.

Kane won't be on the 3rd line next year.
- mhp

Yet he was put on the 3rd line at times this year, when we presumably have less talent

It's unreal the stuff I read on here sometimes.
- mhp

Read the posts backwards. Like country songs

And zemgus had close to those #s last season in a top 6 role... but let's pretend like that didn't happen
- Smittyx36

He's not a top 6 player and you would have 15 goals on that team with Nolan as your coach

Idk?
He was on pace for 20 goals last year playing with Moulson & Ennis...

If u play your 6 best guys together,
Then I think we're easier to defend against...

But if we have 3 lines that can all score...

That only happens if u move a guy or 2 like Girgs up though

Remember the last time we were good?
Vanek was on the 3rd line
Hecht was on the 1st
Kotalik & Grier were on the 2nd with Drury
And our offense was pretty awesome

I believe that's the best way to build your team
- jdfitz77

Yeah but you're saying take the 3rd line guy who can't score goals and place him in a spot where he can only score put away goals so that your better winger can play on the 3rd line.

Vanek was on the 3rd line because he was a rookie and was playing with Roy who was a 2nd year player. This wasn't the case of putting better guys who have more experience and better track records below guys who have done next to nothing, .35 p/g did we say, just to spread the lines.

I'm not saying you can't put him there but you're squandering his talent, you're squandering Jack's talent, and you're squandering another players talent by trying to put players where they don't belong and make them do things they aren't supposed to do. If we had 1 guy who looked like Jack's #1 winger and we just needed another guy to play next to them then sure but we don't and Girgensons will not be that guy.

If Girgensons was a rookie I would agree but he's not. You know what you have with him. He's not a sniper, not a playmaker, and not a power forward that can create a ton of space. He's a jack-of-all-trades that can do a little of everything but isn't particularly great at any one thing on offense.

Jack reminds me in this sense (and relax because I'm not comparing them directly just in this) to Crosby where he can take a bad player and make him better because of how good he is. So yes, putting Girgs with him will make him look better. But putting a better player with Jack will make him look even better.
- Zschalberg

It's his 2nd year!
It's not like he's been in the league 5 years
He's still very young

He played well with Larsson on the 3rd line earlier in the season. It creates matchup problems for the other teams.
- sbroads24

Just stop already

Kane played on the checking line in Winnipeg at times too.....

Read the posts backwards. Like country songs
- cabin

and people wonder why this team can't move forward