I'd assume Nylander, Smith, Oloffsson, Bailey will get looks. Botts is going to have to shed some of the deadweight in the bottom 6 however at some point this season
- Pegullaville

at this point i assume Pommer will be out for a while.

They're 20-10-5 without secondary scoring maybe they can continue to win
- mattmoulson

thats fine in the regular season.. but that is a recipe for round one embarrassing exit in the playoffs

the top line makes great stories but i really think they need to spread it out

theres 0 threat on the ice when they aren't out there

thats fine in the regular season.. but that is a recipe for round one embarrassing exit in the playoffs
- SabresFaninIndiana

100% but this year I just want to make it Dahlin and Mittelstadt are a year older add some secondary scoring in the off-season

the top line makes great stories but i really think they need to spread it out

theres 0 threat on the ice when they aren't out there
- robz228

Sounds good, but the reality is, imo, you're more likely to get 3 goals from Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart as a line than you are to get a goal from Eichel on the top line, and 2 from Skinner on the second.

really hope they call up a RW too and don't plug elie in. he's fine for emergency depth but cannot be a multiple game solution.

thats fine in the regular season.. but that is a recipe for round one embarrassing exit in the playoffs
- SabresFaninIndiana

I disagress that a round one exit would be embarrassing for this franchise, especially if they remain calm by not making major moves.
I would consider qualifying for the playoffs as an accomplishment.
No, doesn't mean I be complacent during round 1, I'll 100% want them to win for sure.

This roster still needs an overhaul, especially the middle 6, and an upgrade on the 4th.
I do believe they are in need of a truculent forward, like one of the Tkachuk boys.
I was hoping Yanni Gourde would be available, but that ship has sailed.
I do wonder if JBotts has inquired about Keiffer Bellows from thd Isle's...he looked absolutely awesome with CM in last year's WJ20...could that fire be reignited?

the top line makes great stories but i really think they need to spread it out

theres 0 threat on the ice when they aren't out there
- robz228

Rodrigues/Eichel/Thompson
Skinner/Mittelstadt/Reinhart
Smith /Sobotka/Sheary
Girgs/Larsson/Okposo

Hutton definitely took a hard shot to the right neck/,,shoulder in the 2nd. Looked like a stinger
- Boss34

It hurt him and took him quite a while to even look like he was able to shake it off.

I wondered if he was going to be able to finish, and I think it impacted the rest of his game.

Sounds good, but the reality is, imo, you're more likely to get 3 goals from Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart as a line than you are to get a goal from Eichel on the top line, and 2 from Skinner on the second.
- jcragcrumple

i kind of agree with this, but when they're down 2 with 10 minutes left last night.. it was really like there was 4 minutes left because the other 6 minutes was just waiting for the top line to get back on the ice.

i kind of agree with this, but when they're down 2 with 10 minutes left last night.. it was really like there was 4 minutes left because the other 6 minutes was just waiting for the top line to get back on the ice.
- robz228

pretty much

really hope they call up a RW too and don't plug elie in. he's fine for emergency depth but cannot be a multiple game solution.
- robz228

Sheary-Eichel-Nylander
Skinner-Casey-Skunk
Smith-E-Rod-Thompson
Larsson-Pod Racer-Girgens

Okposo in presser
Elie on waivers

Sheary-Eichel-Nylander
Skinner-Casey-Skunk
Smith-E-Rod-Thompson
Larsson-Pod Racer-Girgens

Okposo in presser
Elie on waivers
- homiedclown

I’d waive Okposo today.

17 straight games no goals. 6 mil.

It’s basically the Lucic contract

i kind of agree with this, but when they're down 2 with 10 minutes left last night.. it was really like there was 4 minutes left because the other 6 minutes was just waiting for the top line to get back on the ice.
- robz228

Yup

7 stages of no secondary scoring

Shock - I can't believe this is happening
Denial - Let me crunch the numbers again. Can't be this bad
Anger - Somebody not on the first line score a (frank)ing goal
Bargaining - Pat Kane for 3 Firsts, Jessie Pegula and the Rochester Americans
Depression - We're never going to score again
Testing - Call up a kid
Acceptance - This problem will have to wait until next off season


I'd say we're at step 6 out of 7

The season really comes down to this. When healthy, the D is actually pretty darn good. Sounds like Pilut and McCabe might be back this weekend Goaltending is much improved from last year, enough to make the playoffs and perhaps win a round.

When we get zero secondary scoring and Jack's line doesn't score 3+ goals a game, we lose. 37 just isn't at a point yet where he can elevate the guys around him yet. You can see flashes of it and it's going to happen, just probably not this year. An interview in TBN this morning w/ JB states that help is coming from Rochester. Sounds like a guy like Nylander/Olofsson might be on the way soon. I sure hope so, because Elie and Wilson aren't the answer here.
- The_Inkwell

The power play went dry last night. When you only have one line that can score 5v5 and you depend on your PP to operate at a 25% clip to win hockey games its not sustainable. We are good enough to claim a wildcard spot due to Jack playing like MacKinnon and Hall did last year but if we want to even have a chance at winning a round we need somebody other then the first line to make a difference.

I hope cleaning out the trash is infact priority #1 after Skinner for JBotts.
Pommer and Moulson come off the books after this season.
Berglund, I trust, is as good as gone
That is about $13.5m off the books and opens 2 spots.
If he could ditch the 2 of Okposo and Scandella somehow....Scandella at the TDL, Okposo during the offseason....wow! There is another $10m.
Blow-you and Larsson is another $3.9m

Man, that's alot of bread. ($33m-sh)

Edit: was a little gidfy there when tallying that up...really is more like $27.5m
But still enough to attract a couple of FA's if desired.

It hurt him and took him quite a while to even look like he was able to shake it off.

I wondered if he was going to be able to finish, and I think it impacted the rest of his game.
- Der Kaiser

He may not have if Ullmark was good to go last night. But even though he was the backup he was sick.

Sheary-Eichel-Nylander
Skinner-Casey-Skunk
Smith-E-Rod-Thompson
Larsson-Pod Racer-Girgens

Okposo in presser
Elie on waivers
- homiedclown

I have been kne of Nylander's biggest critics.
That said, sure...let's get this cleaned up once and for all...put him there for 15 friggin games and let's see what we have.
Time is ripe for a fair evaluation...then figure out IF he fits here...take action accordingly if not

I hope cleaning out the trash is infact priority #1 after Skinner for JBotts.
Pommer and Moulson come off the books after this season.
Berglund, I trust, is as good as gone
That is about $13.5m off the books and opens 2 spots.
If he could ditch the 2 of Okposo and Scandella somehow....Scandella at the TDL, Okposo during the offseason....wow! There is another $10m.
Blow-you and Larsson is another $3.9m

Man, that's alot of bread. ($33m-sh)
- IonSabres

I was one of his biggest critics going into this offseason. I was pissed about his comments especially since our bottom 6 was so brutal last year.

However, Larsson is NOT the problem. In fact, outside the 1st line, he's the forward that's probably played the best this year. That line goes out and does what it needs to night in and night out.

I hope cleaning out the trash is infact priority #1 after Skinner for JBotts.
Pommer and Moulson come off the books after this season.
Berglund, I trust, is as good as gone
That is about $13.5m off the books and opens 2 spots.
If he could ditch the 2 of Okposo and Scandella somehow....Scandella at the TDL, Okposo during the offseason....wow! There is another $10m.
Blow-you and Larsson is another $3.9m

Man, that's alot of bread. ($33m-sh)
- IonSabres

Including Sobotka, Sheary, and Hunwick that gives us around $42M to play with roughly. The ROR trade gave us NHL ready bodies and a way to get out of his contract easier.

I have been kne of Nylander's biggest critics.
That said, sure...let's get this cleaned up once and for all...put him there for 15 friggin games and let's see what we have.
Time is ripe for a fair evaluation...then figure out IF he fits here...take action accordingly if not
- IonSabres

I think Nylander can be our Kasperi Kapanen. I think Olofsson can eventually be our version of Andreas Johnsson. Im sure we can make the comparison with other teams players but the Sabres and Leafs are the only teams I watch consistently. If Nylander is our 5th best option and we aren't counting on him to be a star he'll be just fine for us.

I was one of his biggest critics going into this offseason. I was pissed about his comments especially since our bottom 6 was so brutal last year.

However, Larsson is NOT the problem. In fact, outside the 1st line, he's the forward that's probably played the best this year. That line goes out and does what it needs to night in and night out.
- HonkFortheGoose

I still can't believe people complain about secondary scoring and then defend the guy that scores below a 4th line level - 4 points. On pace for 8

20-25 points. that's a good 4th liner (who can also play the PK)

I still can't believe people complain about secondary scoring and then defend the guy that scores below a 4th line level - 4 points. On pace for 8

20-25 points. that's a good 4th liner (who can also play the PK)
- jcragcrumple

Hi, but where did I complain about the secondary scoring?

Oh wait, that's right, I didn't.

Move along.

Did my boy nylander get the call

Sheary-Eichel-Nylander
Skinner-Casey-Skunk
Smith-E-Rod-Thompson
Larsson-Pod Racer-Girgens

Okposo in presser
Elie on waivers
- homiedclown

They need to find a middle 6 center