Michael Pachla: Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--The fourth line LW, Marcus Foligno, C, Johan Larsson, RW, Nic Deslauiers

Thats a solid fourth line. Team wise I just had mcginn and moulson switched. Also gonna be interesting what they do with reinhart/legwand. IMO reinhart should be sent to the ROC, just for a couple months. Good Work/Nice Job.

thx...things will change when Eichel moves to the top line...what they do with o'reilly both line-wise and positon-wise will be interesting...I really don't have a problem with gus/o'reilly/mcginn and Moulson/reinhart/gionta...

I really don't know how this will all shake out, but I do know that murray's done an almost miraculous job transforming the forward group

thx...things will change when Eichel moves to the top line...what they do with o'reilly both line-wise and positon-wise will be interesting...I really don't have a problem with gus/o'reilly/mcginn and Moulson/reinhart/gionta...

I really don't know how this will all shake out, but I do know that murray's done an almost miraculous job transforming the forward group
- Michael Pachla

I think it'll only be a short time before we know.

Last night Bylsma gave last opportunities to impress to the guys who haven't yet solidified their spot on the team. Tonight I think we see the decisions he's made on tough calls.

thx...things will change when Eichel moves to the top line...what they do with o'reilly both line-wise and positon-wise will be interesting...I really don't have a problem with gus/o'reilly/mcginn and Moulson/reinhart/gionta...

I really don't know how this will all shake out, but I do know that murray's done an almost miraculous job transforming the forward group
- Michael Pachla

The transformation from 2 years ago is crazy. The team is barely recognizable, save for a handful of guys.

I love it!!

I think it'll only be a short time before we know.

Last night Bylsma gave last opportunities to impress to the guys who haven't yet solidified their spot on the team. Tonight I think we see the decisions he's made on tough calls.
- Der Kaiser

Agreed. I felt bad for Girgensons last night. I'm starting to wonder if Bylsma has something against him. Seems to only have really put him out there with scrubs most of preseason.

Agreed. I felt bad for Girgensons last night. I'm starting to wonder if Bylsma has something against him. Seems to only have really put him out there with scrubs most of preseason.
- HonkFortheGoose

Nah.

Through his career Gus has shown that he can play with, and succeed with, anyone. Bylsma doesnt have to worry about finding who Gus will have chemistry with. So his preseason - til now - is just getting in ice time and staying fit while Bylsma puts all the rest of the pieces of the puzzle together.

Once he has found the right spot for everybody else, he'll put Gus in whatever spot is left over, because Gus has demonstrated that he can fit in just about anywhere in the top 9.

Nah.

Through his career Gus has shown that he can play with, and succeed with, anyone. Bylsma doesnt have to worry about finding who Gus will have chemistry with. So his preseason - til now - is just getting in ice time and staying fit while Bylsma puts all the rest of the pieces of the puzzle together.

Once he has found the right spot for everybody else, he'll put Gus in whatever spot is left over, because Gus has demonstrated that he can fit in just about anywhere in the top 9.
- Der Kaiser

I hope you're right. It just seems that other than the first game when he was with Eichel and Moulson, he's been out there with guys like Kaleta, Akeson, etc. Gross.

Mines similar, in that we have the same 20 starters but I don't think Buffalo is paying Moulson 5 mil per year to be a 3rd liner. He was 4th for TOI/GP & 3rd for PP TOI/GP last season & was Buffalo's 2nd highest scorer.

Kane, O'Reilly, Ennis.
Moulson, Eichel, Girgensons.
McGinn, Reinhart, Gionta.
Foligno, Legwand, Deslauriers/McCormick.

I hope you're right. It just seems that other than the first game when he was with Eichel and Moulson, he's been out there with guys like Kaleta, Akeson, etc. Gross.
- HonkFortheGoose

Kane - 41(15) - Ennis
Moulson - Reinhart - ROR
McGinn - Gus - Gionta
Deslauriers - Larsson - Foligno

Risto Bogo
Franson Pysyk
Gorges Weber
McCabe

Lenner
Johnson

43 - 39 to make the playoffs and be eliminated in the first round.
The team will gel in January and February and make an incredible late run.

{i drank the kool-aid because I wanted to. Hell, I chugged it!]

Mines similar, in that we have the same 20 starters but I don't think Buffalo is paying Moulson 5 mil per year to be a 3rd liner. He was 4th for TOI/GP & 3rd for PP TOI/GP last season & was Buffalo's 2nd highest scorer.

Kane, O'Reilly, Ennis.
Moulson, Eichel, Girgensons.
McGinn, Reinhart, Gionta.
Foligno, Legwand, Deslauriers/McCormick.
- striker777

Where is Larsson?
Larsson has to make this team, right?
I thought he did anway.

Kane - 41(15) - Ennis
Moulson - Reinhart - ROR
McGinn - Gus - Gionta
Deslauriers - Larsson - Foligno

Risto Bogo
Franson Pysyk
Gorges Weber
McCabe

Lenner
Johnson

43 - 39 to make the playoffs and be eliminated in the first round.
The team will gel in January and February and make an incredible late run.

{i drank the kool-aid because I wanted to. Hell, I chugged it!]
- Der Kaiser

If that top line does gel, it's going to be a hell of a lot of fun to watch.

Your lineup doesn't look too different from what I would probably do, though you need to reverse Pysyk and Franson. Franson can't play on the left (as evidenced by his struggles in Nashville) and Pysyk is more than comfortable on that side.

Where is Larsson?
Larsson has to make this team, right?
I thought he did anway.
- BuffaloHardHat

I think so as well. I'd take Legwand out and put Larsson in. Legwand can be the 13th forward, IMO.

If that top line does gel, it's going to be a hell of a lot of fun to watch.

Your lineup doesn't look too different from what I would probably do, though you need to reverse Pysyk and Franson. Franson can't play on the left (as evidenced by his struggles in Nashville) and Pysyk is more than comfortable on that side.
- HonkFortheGoose

You're correct.

I think it'll only be a short time before we know.

Last night Bylsma gave last opportunities to impress to the guys who haven't yet solidified their spot on the team. Tonight I think we see the decisions he's made on tough calls.
- Der Kaiser

schaller stepped up

The transformation from 2 years ago is crazy. The team is barely recognizable, save for a handful of guys.

I love it!!
- HonkFortheGoose

incredible isn't it

schaller stepped up
- Michael Pachla

He'll be in Rochester and will be first in line for call up I would think. Really like how he's developed.

incredible isn't it
- Michael Pachla

Gonna be at the opener?

Gonna be at the opener?
- HonkFortheGoose

hope to be up in the pressbox

This is how I see it playing out.

Kane - o'Reilly - Ennis
Moulson - Eichel - Gionta
McGinn - Girgersons - Larsson
Deslauriers - Legwand - Foligno

Ristolainen - Bogosian
Gorges - Franson
Pysyk - Weber

Lehner
Johnson

He'll be in Rochester and will be first in line for call up I would think. Really like how he's developed.
- HonkFortheGoose

yeah, you're probably right, although I think he might make the team in a reserve role with mccormick out...

yeah, you're probably right, although I think he might make the team in a reserve role with mccormick out...
- Michael Pachla

I think he'd be better off getting top minutes in Rochester though. He can't continue to develop if he's sitting in the Press Box every night.

This is how I see it playing out.

Kane - o'Reilly - Ennis
Moulson - Eichel - Gionta
McGinn - Girgersons - Larsson
Deslauriers - Legwand - Foligno

Ristolainen - Bogosian
Gorges - Franson
Pysyk - Weber

Lehner
Johnson
- mattsox

So you're sending Reinhart to Rochester?

So you're sending Reinhart to Rochester?
- HonkFortheGoose

"I'm not a very smart man"
- Forrest Gump

I wonder if all the talk of the skunk on the wing, leads to these lines


kane-ror-ennis
moulson-jack-skunk
larsson-girgens-gionta
deslauriers-foligno-mcginn-legwand