Girgensons is a symptom of the disease that results in 31st overall finishes.

Unfulfilled expectation leading to apathy and complacency.

Maybe his isn’t THE problem, but he is certainly part of the problem.
- Der Kaiser

Imo, it comes down to risk aversion. Do you want 16-19 points from Girgensons with decent defensive play, or do you give a younger guy a shot who you hope has higher upside and can hit the 30-point mark in the same role?

Imo, it comes down to risk aversion. Do you want 16-19 points from Girgensons with decent defensive play, or do you give a younger guy a shot who you hope has higher upside and can hit the 30-point mark in the same role?
- jcragcrumple

What role?

Do I want Nylander on the 4th line taking defensive zone draws? No
Do I want Girgensons getting top 6 minutes? Nope

Depends what the lineup is come October

What role?

Do I want Nylander on the 4th line taking defensive zone draws? No
Do I want Girgensons getting top 6 minutes? Nope

Depends what the lineup is come October
- sbroads24

If Nylander made the team, I'd be pleasantly shocked. I'm talking Bailey, O'Regan or Smith

Imo, it comes down to risk aversion. Do you want 16-19 points from Girgensons with decent defensive play, or do you give a younger guy a shot who you hope has higher upside and can hit the 30-point mark in the same role?
- jcragcrumple

As the team is constituted now with enough defensively capable players, I'd take tthe upside of 30...especialy on this scoring deficient team.

If Nylander made the team, I'd be pleasantly shocked. I'm talking Bailey, O'Regan or Smith
- jcragcrumple

Girgensons on the 4th line in a defensive role >>> those guys

Those guys with skill players >>> Girgensons with skill players

Girgensons on the 4th line in a defensive role >>> those guys

Those guys with skill players >>> Girgensons with skill players
- sbroads24

That world doesn't exist though. Eichel and ROR played a good deal with ZG. Lines change, and players have to adapt. We know ZG is decent defensively (I guess?), but he cannot play up and down the lineup.

Girgensons is, fundamentally, a complacency question. We'll see how risk-averse JB and Housley will be

That world doesn't exist though. Eichel and ROR played a good deal with ZG. Lines change, and players have to adapt. We know ZG is decent defensively (I guess?), but he cannot play up and down the lineup.
- jcragcrumple

Jesus dude, you’re hate is crazy with him.

You’re telling me all 4th liners should be adequate on the top line of their respective teams ?

I do think that JBotts has created a decent situation for this year, that will hopefully pay dividends in the following seasons by creating a logjam of NHL capable players to breed a very healthy competition on both Sabres and Amerk rosters.
Those who compete in camp this year will realize they need to up their compete level to get to the big club...those who are unsuccessful will have their position challenged down on the farm.
This is quite the change from past years.
Hopefully, this season they will be able to dish off some older/lesser players to open a couple of spots for next season as we see the infusion of younger/skilled players who have had to fight intensely for the promotions.

It's not just Bailey and Baptiste he's holding back, which are imo, far more intriguing options. Let's go with a depth chart:

Sheary-Eichel-Reinhart
Erod-Mitts-Okposo
Wilson-Berglund-Pominville
(Girgs spot)-Sobotka-Thompson

So for that LW spot you have

Girgs
Smith
Olofsson
Nylander
Bailey
O'Regan

Almost all of those offer higher upside than Girgs. Why keep him?
- jcragcrumple

Going off your lineup, I don't think any of those players offer a higher upside than Girgs in that role--he is a legitimate 4th liner on a real NHL roster. We've been complaining for how long now about the Sabres bringing young guys up and then dropping them in a 4th-line role playing 12ish minutes per night? Granted, Sobotka and Thompson (presumably) are upgrades over the trash on past 4th lines, but we at least expect Olofsson, Nylander, and Bailey to take top-6 roles if they pan out. I'm less clear on what to expect from Smith and O'Reagan at this point.

If those guys can't take a job from ERod or Wilson on the second or third line, thus pushing each down a line and sliding Girgs out of the regular lineup, then I'd rather play Girgs there and let those guys you listed play meaningful minutes in Rochester.

......

Jesus dude, you’re hate is crazy with him.

You’re telling me all 4th liners should be adequate on the top line of their respective teams ?
- sbroads24

I'm really not hating. Rather than take a chance with the devil I know, I'd go with the devil I don't. I'm all about upside. Girgs has very little upside on this team

I'm really not hating. Rather than take a chance with the devil I know, I'd go with the devil I don't. I'm all about upside. Girgs has very little upside on this team
- jcragcrumple

Yeah, agreed, but I’m totally fine with Girgs on a 4th line, playing an actual defined role, rather than female doging up a storm that Bailey or Smith is only getting 8 minutes a night

Yeah, agreed, but I’m totally fine with Girgs on a 4th line, playing an actual defined role, rather than female doging up a storm that Bailey or Smith is only getting 8 minutes a night
- sbroads24

You saying you “would rather not female dog up a storm” is amusing.

You saying you “would rather not female dog up a storm” is amusing.
- Der Kaiser

Awe, thanks lady

Yeah, here's what I think. While it's unlikely any of us has a clue about what's inside Darcy's head, and things like the salary cap, NTCs/NMCs, and the declining economy's impact on future revenues make it nearly impossible to trade anyone of any significance, it's not inconceivable that the Sabres could make a mid-season move.

Vanek, Roy, Miller, Pommer are probably not on the block since they represent the young core of this team and are all locked up long-term. We all know Vanek's contract is insane, but given the length and amount of the others, it seems unlikely to me there's a better deal out there. Remember Larry Quinn is a numbers guy, and 5 mil 6 years from now will be looking pretty good. Roy's deal is an especially favorable one for the club. You might even be able to throw Goose into this category b/c his value to the Sabres is high given his hustle and toughness.

Max, Kotalik, and Connolly are popular choices for a change of venue, but their UFA status would mean they'd need to go to a contender for the receiving team to be willing to assume the risk. That said, what's the likelihood of a contender sending the Sabres something worthy of a blockbuster? That's not even taking into account Max sucking for the last 2 years, Kotalik getting a reputation of being lazy, and (Tin) Connolly being more fragile than the leg lamp in A Christmas Story. This, coming from the guy who actually owns a Connolly jersey.

As far as young talent at forward goes, Stafford, MacArthur, Paille are the only roster players in that category. They're all tradable, but not enough to bring in an impact player. To me, the Sabres would need to include one of Mancari, Gerbe, or Kennedy to get another team interested. Possible, though Gerbe seems like he's got a future here.

Lastly, if they're really trying to fix the recent injury problem at defense, they're not going to trade any defensemen. Even still, it's more likely they'll do what they did last year and bring in a veteran like Nolan Pratt to temporarily fill the gap until Weber and Sekera are healthy again (a few weeks?). I haven't looked to see who like that is available, but they found someone last year and could probably do it again.

We Sabres fans have gotten used to the fact that Darcy rarely makes any moves. In fact, who really does anymore? I'd love to be wrong, but not at the expense of 26 / 9 / 30 / 29. You can have Peters. Twice.

Yeah, here's what I think. While it's unlikely any of us has a clue about what's inside Darcy's head, and things like the salary cap, NTCs/NMCs, and the declining economy's impact on future revenues make it nearly impossible to trade anyone of any significance, it's not inconceivable that the Sabres could make a mid-season move.

Vanek, Roy, Miller, Pommer are probably not on the block since they represent the young core of this team and are all locked up long-term. We all know Vanek's contract is insane, but given the length and amount of the others, it seems unlikely to me there's a better deal out there. Remember Larry Quinn is a numbers guy, and 5 mil 6 years from now will be looking pretty good. Roy's deal is an especially favorable one for the club. You might even be able to throw Goose into this category b/c his value to the Sabres is high given his hustle and toughness.

Max, Kotalik, and Connolly are popular choices for a change of venue, but their UFA status would mean they'd need to go to a contender for the receiving team to be willing to assume the risk. That said, what's the likelihood of a contender sending the Sabres something worthy of a blockbuster? That's not even taking into account Max sucking for the last 2 years, Kotalik getting a reputation of being lazy, and (Tin) Connolly being more fragile than the leg lamp in A Christmas Story. This, coming from the guy who actually owns a Connolly jersey.

As far as young talent at forward goes, Stafford, MacArthur, Paille are the only roster players in that category. They're all tradable, but not enough to bring in an impact player. To me, the Sabres would need to include one of Mancari, Gerbe, or Kennedy to get another team interested. Possible, though Gerbe seems like he's got a future here.

Lastly, if they're really trying to fix the recent injury problem at defense, they're not going to trade any defensemen. Even still, it's more likely they'll do what they did last year and bring in a veteran like Nolan Pratt to temporarily fill the gap until Weber and Sekera are healthy again (a few weeks?). I haven't looked to see who like that is available, but they found someone last year and could probably do it again.

We Sabres fans have gotten used to the fact that Darcy rarely makes any moves. In fact, who really does anymore? I'd love to be wrong, but not at the expense of 26 / 9 / 30 / 29. You can have Peters. Twice.
- Mentalorgasm5

- homiedclown

I left you a couple of gems a few pages back......

If Nylander made the team, I'd be pleasantly shocked. I'm talking Bailey, O'Regan or Smith
- jcragcrumple

Nylander is the truth

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=24173


https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=25747
- dadeadhead

I left you a couple of gems a few pages back......
- dadeadhead

F the Sens

Yeah, here's what I think. While it's unlikely any of us has a clue about what's inside Darcy's head, and things like the salary cap, NTCs/NMCs, and the declining economy's impact on future revenues make it nearly impossible to trade anyone of any significance, it's not inconceivable that the Sabres could make a mid-season move.

Vanek, Roy, Miller, Pommer are probably not on the block since they represent the young core of this team and are all locked up long-term. We all know Vanek's contract is insane, but given the length and amount of the others, it seems unlikely to me there's a better deal out there. Remember Larry Quinn is a numbers guy, and 5 mil 6 years from now will be looking pretty good. Roy's deal is an especially favorable one for the club. You might even be able to throw Goose into this category b/c his value to the Sabres is high given his hustle and toughness.

Max, Kotalik, and Connolly are popular choices for a change of venue, but their UFA status would mean they'd need to go to a contender for the receiving team to be willing to assume the risk. That said, what's the likelihood of a contender sending the Sabres something worthy of a blockbuster? That's not even taking into account Max sucking for the last 2 years, Kotalik getting a reputation of being lazy, and (Tin) Connolly being more fragile than the leg lamp in A Christmas Story. This, coming from the guy who actually owns a Connolly jersey.

As far as young talent at forward goes, Stafford, MacArthur, Paille are the only roster players in that category. They're all tradable, but not enough to bring in an impact player. To me, the Sabres would need to include one of Mancari, Gerbe, or Kennedy to get another team interested. Possible, though Gerbe seems like he's got a future here.

Lastly, if they're really trying to fix the recent injury problem at defense, they're not going to trade any defensemen. Even still, it's more likely they'll do what they did last year and bring in a veteran like Nolan Pratt to temporarily fill the gap until Weber and Sekera are healthy again (a few weeks?). I haven't looked to see who like that is available, but they found someone last year and could probably do it again.

We Sabres fans have gotten used to the fact that Darcy rarely makes any moves. In fact, who really does anymore? I'd love to be wrong, but not at the expense of 26 / 9 / 30 / 29. You can have Peters. Twice.
- Mentalorgasm5

Just wish the original author was known.

Girgs on a 4th line, playing an actual defined role
- sbroads24

this is actually a big problem with him. Im pretty sure he doesn't know what he's supposed to do on our team and he doesn't have the skill to fill some of the roles he has been thrust in to because there isn't anyone else to fill them.

this is actually a big problem with him. Im pretty sure he doesn't know what he's supposed to do on our team and he doesn't have the skill to fill some of the roles he has been thrust in to because there isn't anyone else to fill them.
- seedy

honestly I am not sure any sabre other then Jack knows his roll on this team

Just wish the original author was known.
- Da_Cashman