Umm, 20 goals in 75 games is a scoring winger. That's like 2nd line production.
- Wetbandit1

I don't know you could probably just play Grant more, we're still tied in career goals

Umm, 20 goals in 75 games is a scoring winger. That's like 2nd line production.
- Wetbandit1

Some of those games he's 75-85% since he was coming back from numerous injures including the initial games back this year after breaking multiple ribs.

Some are shielding Reinhart and his play/numbers because he has no one to play with - pass to but Kane, who has scored at over a 20 goal per season clip gets no excuses. Racist!! I kid, sort of

Some of those games he's 75-85% since he was coming back from numerous injures including the initial games back this year after breaking multiple ribs.

Some are shielding Reinhart and his play/numbers because he has no one to play with - pass to but Kane, who has scored at over a 20 goal per season clip gets no excuses. Racist!! I kid, sort of
- GilPerreault11

Nah, not racist. He's on pace for about 40 points over 82 games, playing 20:44 per game. That's putrid production for someone who is on the ice more than some #2 defenseman, who also gets the majority of his starts in the offensive zone.

Umm, 20 goals in 75 games is a scoring winger. That's like 2nd line production.
- Wetbandit1

And 17 assists over 75 games? Or are we just ignoring that?

Kane is a 3rd liner. It's obvious at this point.

.5 PPG would have put him around 195th in the NHL last year.

Some of those games he's 75-85% since he was coming back from numerous injures including the initial games back this year after breaking multiple ribs.

Some are shielding Reinhart and his play/numbers because he has no one to play with - pass to but Kane, who has scored at over a 20 goal per season clip gets no excuses. Racist!! I kid, sort of
- GilPerreault11

It's not racist until someone calls him a "thug".

Kane is a 3rd liner. It's obvious at this point.
- sbroads24

We have a different way of viewing it. You say his production /60 isn't great, but he gets those minutes for a reason. And regardless of the minutes he still puts them away at a pace you'd expect from a 2nd line guy. He is a force when he's out there. If he was even a little bit teachable he'd be a 40 goal guy, not a doubt in my mind, but he's not, so he's stuck at the 20-30 goals from a bunch of minutes.

And 17 assists over 75 games? Or are we just ignoring that?
- sbroads24

Not at all, I just weigh goals more than assists. And his career assist numbers are fine, 128 to 129 goals. He just struggled for a while last year to fit in, so his normal amount of assists weren't there. Would I like them to be higher? Of course, but he's a shoot first guy, he's the one taking the passes, and that's fine. He just needs to be better with shot selection.

We have a different way of viewing it. You say his production /60 isn't great, but he gets those minutes for a reason. And regardless of the minutes he still puts them away at a pace you'd expect from a 2nd line guy. He is a force when he's out there. If he was even a little bit teachable he'd be a 40 goal guy, not a doubt in my mind, but he's not, so he's stuck at the 20-30 goals from a bunch of minutes.
- Wetbandit1

Look at any other player that gets remotely the same minutes. They exceed his production by a mile.

He's not a bad Hockley player, just a really bad 1st liner.

Look at any other player that gets remotely the same minutes. They exceed his production by a mile.

He's not a bad Hockley player, just a really bad 1st liner.
- sbroads24

I think most would agree on that. He's a complimentary player. And before everyone gets all up in arms. We have Jack, ROR, and Risto so far, Reinhart may or may not turn into one -I'm certainly not ready to write him off or say what kind of player he'll be when he's barely 21- who are "put the team on their back" kind of guys. A lot of teams are lucky to have one.

I think most would agree on that. He's a complimentary player. And before everyone gets all up in arms. We have Jack, ROR, and Risto so far, Reinhart may or may not turn into one -I'm certainly not ready to write him off or say what kind of player he'll be when he's barely 21- who are "put the team on their back" kind of guys. A lot of teams are lucky to have one.
- Wetbandit1

Reinhart is a fine top 6 guy. I'm not overly impressed with him, but I think he's fine.

Kane needs to be IMO, on a line not expecting goals every game

Sportsnet has a video out projecting the initial Vegas roster and William Carrier is who they think they will take from the Sabres. He could be playing himself off the team right now with his offensively unproductive but otherwise impressive play.

Sportsnet has a video out projecting the initial Vegas roster and William Carrier is who they think they will take from the Sabres. He could be playing himself off the team right now with his offensively unproductive but otherwise impressive play.
- GilPerreault11

I like Carrier, but they're not drafting a bottom 6 tweener. Maybe Quebec will in 3 or 4 years.

I like Carrier, but they're not drafting a bottom 6 tweener. Maybe Quebec will in 3 or 4 years.
- Wetbandit1

They aren't going to draft all 1st and 2nd line flops or overpaid underachievers. They are going to draft some that are cheap and whom they project as developing as solid players, like a more mature NHL draft.

Well, we'll see.

I like Carrier, but they're not drafting a bottom 6 tweener. Maybe Quebec will in 3 or 4 years.
- Wetbandit1

Snapchat thing had me going lol

Brandon Hagel Is killing it ..

was a great pick but he's just going to be a player like
Marchand But not as good

Brandon Hagel Is killing it ..

was a great pick but he's just going to be a player like
Marchand But not as good
- GERBE!!!75PTS

So he's gonna have a big nose?

What if players can make positive contributions that don't result in assists or goals? Does that mean they aren't producing?

Fidel finally bit the dust, eh?

I hope Eichel comes back soon because we really need to see what the true offensive identity of this team is..

I'd really like "Eichel being hurt" to not be an excuse anymore for our lack of production. And I'm guilty of this myself.

But I'm starting to really think we need to clean house. I don't necessarily want to get rid of Murry. I like him, he's entertaining I believe in general he has a very smart hockey mind but not without his faults. He favors certain players despite their obvious flaws. Kane, Lehner, Bogosian etc. I'm willing to give Murray another year at least.

I'm not however willing to give Bylsma another year. He seems like a nice guy and probably is a solid hockey coach but it's just not working here... We need to model our style of play like the San Jose's or LA's of the world.

Big strong defenceman who can produce points, skilled two way centers and elite and speedy wingers.

I believe we have a few of those pieces but Bylsma's system completely constricts them to the point where I'm watching O'Riley and Okposo out there and they look shell shocked.

In addition to firing Bylsma I'd like to start the transition of getting rid of players that aren't working out here. Contracts aside I think the following players need to pack there bags before the end of this season or right after it.

Girgensons, Ennis, Gionta, Gorges, Franson.

A change of scenery at the right price for us could also be good for Bogosian, Kane and Lehner. However I think with the right depth and an offensive minded coach Kane could be a very good 2nd/3rd line tweener who scores 20 plus goals a season.

Reinhart needs to get his act together as well. I hope Jack sparks something in him and I've been his biggest fan through thick and thin since long before he was drafted and the epic Reinhart vs. Bennett debated raged on in these parts. However this year he just looks lost. No scoring touch, no chemistry with his teammates for this most part and he's constantly getting knocked off the puck. I hope a former second overall pick can do a little better without his roommate on the ice with him. If for some reason he doesn't turn things around by the end of the year I'd consider the unthinkable and trade him for a young elite Dman at the end of the year. Hopefully it doesn't come to that with him.

IMO you have 5 pieces moving forward for the top 6


player x-ROR-Okposo
Nylander-Eichel-Reinhart

you can mix or match those 5 of course

I am fine with foligno and larsson on the 3rd line movine forward

this leaves
girgens, kane, carrier, baptiste, bailey, fasching for 1 or 2 slots

on D

I see risto for top pair
mccabe for second pair

assuming bogo plays second pair, due to contract


so the big holes are a winger, and a top pair d man

girgens, kane, carrier, baptiste, bailey, fasching, franson, gorges, ullmark??, kulikov

those are your assets with draft picks to get the parts and you may have that winger of the group I have listed


we can't score for sh!t, but the assets may best be moved for the right d man
- homiedclown

I know it's early, but the way things are going for the Isles,
Athere's a good chance Tavares becomes a UFA
So, since most were ok with bringing in Stamkos...
What about Johnny T?

Roll 3 lines, with O'Reilly being our version of Drury & matches up against the top lines of other teams

_LW1_ -Tavares- Okposo
_LW2_ -Eichel- Reinhart
_LW3_ -O'Reilly- _RW3_

If we're bringing in Tavares,
then we likely need to move Kane & Ennis for salary reasons

Most would agree Nylander could fill one of those slots
Bailey & Fasching are possibles,
but anyone else would be more of a surprise than expected
Could Foligno & Larsson complete the "3rd" line with O'Reilly?
Idk if they have enough skill to also be scorers,
and I want that line to be more than just a "checking" unit

But regardless of whether or not we bring in Tavares,
As far as the 3rd line goes...
Even if it's something like Foligno-Larsson-Girgensons,
Which could be a nice checking line, probably wouldn't score much
That would also put A LOT of pressure on the top 2 lines to outscore the other teams top2 lines on a nightly basis

Pittsburgh has shown what rolling 3 lines that score can be extremely tough to match up against
Just like when we had a 3rd line of Vanek-Roy-Afinagenov

Just some thoughts

I blame last night on passing.

Coming out of our end, going into theirs: both ways were a disaster. Many people have said it for a long time, but we need a quarterback.

Our forwards are spending way too much time and energy helping out in the back end, and Risto (and to a lesser extent McCabe) can't be the only ones we feel OK about on our own blue line.

I can't count the number of times the puck was passed to a guys off hand, or a step behind him, or just plain went into areas of open ice! Last night was franking burtal

Im starting to consider geting on the "Bylsma sucks" train.
Bad passing.
Outworked on the boards.
Crumble when under pressure.
No power play.
Yeah, they scored 4 by accident once.
Something needs to change.
- seedy

I'm just about there, although I was never a big fan. I don't think we should look as bad as we do.

I blame last night on passing.

Coming out of our end, going into theirs: both ways were a disaster. Many people have said it for a long time, but we need a quarterback.

Our forwards are spending way too much time and energy helping out in the back end, and Risto (and to a lesser extent McCabe) can't be the only ones we feel OK about on our own blue line.

I can't count the number of times the puck was passed to a guys off hand, or a step behind him, or just plain went into areas of open ice! Last night was franking burtal
- Der Kaiser

100% kaiser. I still remain bitter about this 8th overall for faulk rumour back in the summer. No disrespect to homie/89 but im really hoping it wasnt true otherwise ill flip