I don't remember OV getting demoted to the 3rd line multiple times in a season, let alone his career. If we can get 3 1st round picks including 7 overall for Skinner why didn't we do that yet?
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

He’s 20 you guys act like he’s 28 and done for i Remember a player in the sabres Organization that was benched for the playoffs etc

Who cares if he was demoted to the 3rd line did he cry and demand to be moved up or put the Organization on blast ? No he just played his game

He’s 20 you guys act like he’s 28 and done for i Remember a player in the sabres Organization that was benched for the playoffs etc

Who cares if he was demoted to the 3rd line did he cry and demand to be moved up or put the Organization on blast ? No he just played his game
- gerbe75pts

But his game is HORRIBLE unless he is scoring goals.

It only took Ovie 14 years to learn how to play defense.
- Powerslave

If Patrick Laine is scoring 50 a year I don’t care people that are worried about defense drive me nuts

If Patrick Laine is scoring 50 a year I don’t care people that are worried about defense drive me nuts
- gerbe75pts

No one is saying he is bad... but you said 3 1st round picks including 7 OA to get him... put the Kale pipe down!

If Patrick Laine is scoring 50 a year I don’t care people that are worried about defense drive me nuts
- gerbe75pts

Ovie was scoring 50 a year and they were always being bounced in the first and second round because, why??

It's been well documented that Ovie was his own guy, never played defense or the system that the coaches wanted him to play and then one day it clicked and, ala peanut butter sandwiches, they won!! It's like magic! 😉

But his game is HORRIBLE unless he is scoring goals.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

He’s 20 you act like he can’t learn and transform himself I’ve seen tons of players in the NHL transformer their game like for example Blake Wheeler he was absolutely horrible at everything sure he scored but that’s why he was passed around now look at him one of top players in the nhl

He’s 20 you act like he can’t learn and transform himself I’ve seen tons of players in the NHL transformer their game like for example Blake Wheeler he was absolutely horrible at everything sure he scored but that’s why he was passed around now look at him one of top players in the nhl
- gerbe75pts

Like CoHo said, 3 firsts? That's karayzee.

No one is saying he is bad... but you said 3 1st round picks including 7 OA to get him... put the Kale pipe down!
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

2 late round picks and a high pick are you saying is not enough or too much because I think we need to add

If Patrick Laine is scoring 50 a year I don’t care people that are worried about defense drive me nuts
- gerbe75pts

But he's not.

Like CoHo said, 3 firsts? That's karayzee.
- Powerslave

Your getting a guy that will get you 30-50g a year if that’s the price so be it

Players like him become available once in a decade you Trade for him

2 late round picks and a high pick are you saying is not enough or too much because I think we need to add
- gerbe75pts

False: 3 first round picks is acceptable for Laine
True: "I think we need to add" - to the team, reasonably, as the statement above is false and therefore unreasonable.

Zegras or Dach. Not Krebs.

here's one for the hypothetical crowd.

Let's take Gerbe's offer and turn it into Point instead. Now, do you guys do that?

I don't think this is an either / or scenario, rather both can be achieved at the same time.

Build a decent middle six through trades and FA.
That enables them to push down guys who were playing over their level into roles they can excel at.
If, for example, they were able to trade Risto for say RNH as a 2C
And
Acquire a 3RW through FA,
That would
-push Sheary and mitts to 3rd line with said FA 3Rw
- put Skinner-RNH- Sam as 2nd line
-Push Smith-ERod -Okposo as 4th line

That would be a decent 4th line that could reasonably be expected to kick in 35 goals
- IonSabres

This is both realistic and not horribly depressing

Good work

Zegras or Dach. Not Krebs.
- RhinoFan

yessuh. I'd be frightened he'd turn out like Crouse. They're not exactly the same player, and the ceiling for Krebs is much higher. But the offense is too low. Personally I think Krebs will have a much more fruitful career than Crouse. I never understood the hype with that kid.

But he's not.
- TheSabresTaco

He’s 20 come on he was probably going to hit 50 but he just hit a wall this year which is a head scratcher but not a big deal

He’s 20 come on he was probably going to hit 50 but he just hit a wall this year which is a head scratcher but not a big deal
- gerbe75pts

He did hit 50 this year. Points, but still

here's one for the hypothetical crowd.

Let's take Gerbe's offer and turn it into Point instead. Now, do you guys do that?
- TheSabresTaco

You have to add Ristolainen, 7th , late first

And yes

So who plays with jack?
- Der Kaiser

The point was more about replacing Girgs and Larry on line 4 and having a productive line 4.
Doing so through building a strong get middle 6. I think that strategy accomplishes that.

To answer your question directly, I see 3 good options.
I really like Olofson and Jack together, so now they need a #1 RW since I have Sam as 2RW.
Further, I do see Skinner and Olofsson as interchangeable. But... ( I know you love those "...")
1) Be bold. Package 7OA, 25th-sh, Nylander, and say next years 2nd for 2OA. At 2nd, draft Kakko.
(Add/change as required within reason [Borgen, Bogo, etc])
2) Acquire a RW in FA.
3) Trade for one. Toffoli, Teams w Cap issues

3 is easier said than done, but several teams "up against it" could be opportunities.

here's one for the hypothetical crowd.

Let's take Gerbe's offer and turn it into Point instead. Now, do you guys do that?
- TheSabresTaco

Is Point the same player on the Sabres as he is on the Bolts?

Zegras or Dach. Not Krebs.
- RhinoFan

I have Krebs ranked top 10. Could be in the option for our pick. If you like Sam you’d love Krebs. Played on a Kootenany team that won 15 of 65 games this year and put up points similarly to Dach. Can play Centre or wing and scouts rave about his 200 ft game and leadership (selected as captain of U18 team)

He’s 20 come on he was probably going to hit 50 but he just hit a wall this year which is a head scratcher but not a big deal
- gerbe75pts

Laine had a bad year, and even with his 30 goals, he was a negative impact player. He will have better years, that is of little doubt. He's still not worth 3 1st round picks, especially with a top 10 and a potential lottery pick next year.

Is Point the same player on the Sabres as he is on the Bolts?
- Powerslave

He be a 7m - 8m I’m thinking 70-80 points

But maybe he’s the James harden of the Tampa Bay Lightning and he can be his own player

Fun little do-dad.. Jeff Skinner was defensively more reliable than Ovechkin.

Skinner-Eichel-_______
Olofsson-_______-Reinhart
Sheary-Mitts-Nylander/Thompson
Erod-Larsson/Sobotka-Okposo
Smith

Dahlin-Bogo
McCabe-Montour
Pilut-Risto

Eventually Mitts can graduate into the 2C role once he shows he’s capable and I like the look of that line moving forward. We need to find veteran stop gap 2C and another veteran top 6 winger.

In terms of the d-pairs I just tried to even everything out. I think Risto had his most success playing with Pilut this year and McCabe can be a stay at home guy for Montour. Dahlin and Bogo played together frequently this year and I think Dahlin will take a huge step next season while Bogo can settle in to a stay at home role and provide a bit of sandpaper.
- Pegullaville

reading this depressed me.. i thought we lost Bogo this summer..