it was also the birth of middlingstats (sbroads) and my first head scratch at botterill.
- Sabresfan-365

I still think he'll be fine. The only reason I'd send him to Rochester is if his confidence was in the pooper and he needs to dominate some teams to get it back. But if he's good, let him stay up and work through it and get experience.

I still think he'll be fine. The only reason I'd send him to Rochester is if his confidence was in the pooper and he needs to dominate some teams to get it back. But if he's good, let him stay up and work through it and get experience.
- Wetbandit1

yeah i never actually said bust, people just love to take it that way. I just thought his overall body of work was more in line with players taken 15-20. Thats still a first rounder.

I think the length of his development will be like any other non top 5 pick, the fact that buffalo chose to pretend like he was jesus on skates is their problem, not his. His agent finessed that hype proper though.

I still think he'll be fine. The only reason I'd send him to Rochester is if his confidence was in the pooper and he needs to dominate some teams to get it back. But if he's good, let him stay up and work through it and get experience.
- Wetbandit1

I'd put him at wing for now. Maybe that will allow him to find his game a bit without being as worried about the defensive responsibilities. The problem is that we don't have anyone else to put in at C in his spot.

I'd put him at wing fo now. Maybe that will allow him to find his game a bit without being as worried about the defensive responsibilities. The problem is that we don't have anyone else to put in at C in his spot.
- HonkFortheGoose

He's not really doing much at C anyways, and thats with favourable usage. I doubt anyone would be worse off, only change we'd see is in mittelstadt. Seems like it's worth a shot at least in the short term.

I'm waiting patiently to see Okposo on the top line soon.

He's not really doing much at C anyways, and thats with favourable usage. I doubt anyone would be worse off, only change we'd see is in mittelstadt. Seems like it's worth a shot at least in the short term.
- Sabresfan-365

If Eichel is out for tomorrow's game, I could be intrigued to see them put Mittelstadt at wing on the top line and shift Sam to center.

Not sure what I'd do with the rest of the lineup, but I'd be interested to see if that line can do anything.

Okposo and Sheary are trash, Thompson and Mittelstadt aren't ready to drive their own lines but could be productive if they played with actual Top 6 level talent, Sobotka, Elie, Girgensons, Pominville, Larsson are either 4th line players or don't belong in the league at all anymore. Erod is possibly a 3rd line guy or lumped together with the aforementioned.
- Pegullaville

you pretty much covered it all..

yeah i never actually said bust, people just love to take it that way. I just thought his overall body of work was more in line with players taken 15-20. Thats still a first rounder.

I think the length of his development will be like any other non top 5 pick, the fact that buffalo chose to pretend like he was jesus on skates is their problem, not his. His agent finessed that hype proper though.
- Sabresfan-365

Did they though? Other than making the team what have they done? Like I said before I'm not sure how much benefit he'd get out of going to Rochester. Maybe 1PP time? But that's not really a reason to send a guy down. Even if he's playing bottom 6 guys mainly here, that's still way, way better than even top line guys in the A.

I'd put him at wing for now. Maybe that will allow him to find his game a bit without being as worried about the defensive responsibilities. The problem is that we don't have anyone else to put in at C in his spot.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yeah, I think the only reason they haven't is because they have no centers that can play offense outside of Jack(even if the production isn't there). I really don't mean to bring it up, but if ROR was still here I'd be willing to bet he'd be riding ROR's wing.

Edit: It's not a slight to be drafted as a center, but to be more effective as a winger in the NHL. Tons of guys are like that, Marner isn't a center. Draisaitl isn't(much). And a bunch of guys start at wing and "graduate" to center after a couple of years. Getzlaf and Kesler are a couple I can think of.

I dont' know why the secondary scoring is such an issue all of a sudden. And I honestly don't know what the answer is. I think part of it has to do with injuries on the blueline to begin with, but that shouldn't be the issue now as they've all come back.
- HonkFortheGoose

Possibly coaching or the system?

Did they though? Other than making the team what have they done? Like I said before I'm not sure how much benefit he'd get out of going to Rochester. Maybe 1PP time? But that's not really a reason to send a guy down. Even if he's playing bottom 6 guys mainly here, that's still way, way better than even top line guys in the A.
- Wetbandit1

i meant the fans, not the organization. He's not creating at even strength, and hasn't really since high school. Some time in Rochester wouldn't kill him...or this team.

Possibly coaching or the system?
- Boss34

I don't think so. Because like I said in another post, they're not getting killed out there night in and night out. They literally just need like 1 extra goal a game from what they're getting now.

I think it's just that they got alllllllllll kinds of puck luck before and now are getting 0.

yeah i never actually said bust, people just love to take it that way. I just thought his overall body of work was more in line with players taken 15-20. Thats still a first rounder.

I think the length of his development will be like any other non top 5 pick, the fact that buffalo chose to pretend like he was jesus on skates is their problem, not his. His agent finessed that hype proper though.
- Sabresfan-365

His dominant WJC is hurting him right now expectations wise just like the Sabres' 10 game winning streak affected the perception of our season. I think when its all said and done Mittetstadt ends up being the 2C we need and the Sabres end up as a consistent playoff team and cup threat over the forseeable future. Just this year is not that year.

You made that up. That's not a real word.
- Wetbandit1

I make up alot of words.

I appreciate the back up
👍

I don't think so. Because like I said in another post, they're not getting killed out there night in and night out. They literally just need like 1 extra goal a game from what they're getting now.

I think it's just that they got alllllllllll kinds of puck luck before and now are getting 0.
- HonkFortheGoose

Could be puck luck.
But, at some point can we rule out bad luck?

The power play is bad.
Puck luck?

Could be puck luck.
But, at some point can we rule out bad luck?

The power play is bad.
Puck luck?
- Boss34

They scored a power play goal on Monday. They're 19th in the league, so they're not killing it on the PP but they're not at the very bottom and completely inept either.

I think it's just that everything literally went their way before and now it's literally all NOT going their way. It's basically a case of feast or famine.

They scored a power play goal on Monday. They're 19th in the league, so they're not killing it on the PP but they're not at the very bottom and completely inept either.

I think it's just that everything literally went their way before and now it's literally all NOT going their way. It's basically a case of feast or famine.
- HonkFortheGoose

Could be. Hopefully it's just bad luck.
Kinda worried it's bad skill or bad design

I think the pp has drastically dropped recently though too.

Could be. Hopefully it's just bad luck.
Kinda worried it's bad skill or bad design

I think the pp has drastically dropped recently though too.
- Boss34

It's a bit of all of it I think. They're not as good as they were during November, but they're not actually this bad either. I don't expect for things to go back to the way they were in November, but something a bit more in the middle would be nice. Essentially 1 goal a game average from the 2nd-4th lines would be nice. They were getting 1.6 per during November (removing the D and Skinner/Eichel/Reinhart line).

It's a bit of all of it I think. They're not as good as they were during November, but they're not actually this bad either. I don't expect for things to go back to the way they were in November, but something a bit more in the middle would be nice. Essentially 1 goal a game average from the 2nd-4th lines would be nice. They were getting 1.6 per during November (removing the D and Skinner/Eichel/Reinhart line).
- HonkFortheGoose

Most of the games this season could have gonna either way. Especially the 10 straight wins.

Hopefully eichel gets back soon

Could be puck luck.
But, at some point can we rule out bad luck?

The power play is bad.
Puck luck?
- Boss34

They've clawed their way to 19th, so they're getting better, but with the 5 guys they can put out there they should be top 5.

I make up alot of words.

I appreciate the back up
👍
- Boss34

Yeah, no expectations for this year, streak didn't change it, just along for the ride.

Could be puck luck.
But, at some point can we rule out bad luck?

The power play is bad.
Puck luck?
- Boss34

All of the advanced stats say that we are a middling team. We had fantastic luck for 10 games and what's on the ice now is what we are. Playoffs doubtful.

Super Dave died and I blame you people.

Super Dave died and I blame you people.
- jochfr

I'm waiting patiently to see Okposo on the top line soon.
- SABRES 89

Egads.