Lines expected to remain until Tuesday. Forward lines that is.

.
. Jimmy Vesey-Jack Eichel-Conor Sheary

The burgeoning trend in the NHL is to split up the best players to provide more depth. Krueger certainly did that. The line of Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart was Buffalo’s only productive trio last season, and the coach wiped it out with a few swoops of his pen.

Skating on Eichel’s left wing was a nice “welcome to Buffalo” gift for Vesey, who was acquired from the Rangers during the summer and trains with Eichel in the offseason.

“It gives you a shot in the arm the first day of camp,” Vesey said in KeyBank Center. “He’s the captain, and for me, I think it helps things go a little smoother just because I have some familiarity with him. I don’t know many guys here that well, so being on the ice with him and being able to talk to him in between drills or not being afraid to yell for the puck just makes things easier.

“I thought we had some good chemistry, but we’ll see where it goes.”

Sheary, who has seen his goals drop from 23 to 18 to 14 the past three seasons, spent nearly all of last year on the left side. General manager Jason Botterill hinted that Sheary could move to the right wing, and there’s no better spot than next to Eichel.

2. C.J. Smith-Casey Mittelstadt-Sam Reinhart

It’s a gigantic opportunity for Smith. Though he scored 28 times in the AHL’s Rochester last season, he had just two goals in 11 games with Buffalo. He gets an early chance to show he should skate in more games this season.

Mittelstadt struggled centering the second line as a rookie, but Reinhart’s presence can certainly ease the burden.

“Something he’s going to learn is it is a new year,” Reinhart said. “Everyone starts with a clean slate, and I love what I’m seeing out of him already. I’m excited to see how he progresses through training camp and into the season. I can only imagine the opportunity he’s going to get, and we’re going to need him to step up.”

Though Botterill repeatedly said during the summer that Reinhart would drive his own line away from Eichel, the right winger says he wasn’t aware of the statements.

“I wasn’t really in the media,” Reinhart said. “I didn’t know that was a thing.”

3. Jeff Skinner-Evan Rodrigues-Curtis Lazar

Skinner scored 40 times last season. Eichel was on the ice for 31 of them. Obviously, they have a connection.

The Sabres will see if Rodrigues connects with Skinner, too.

“I’m coming in here to be a go-to centerman, a second-line center if you want to say,” Rodrigues said. “The depth on our wings has really increased from last year to this year. It’s obviously going to give a player like me more opportunity to make plays, have guys that can finish.

“I’m looking to take advantage of the opportunity that’s there and hopefully take it early and run with it.”

Lazar has to be feeling good, too. He signed with Buffalo after playing just one game with Calgary last season and immediately found himself with the Sabres’ top scorer.

4. Victor Olofsson-Rasmus Asplund-Marcus Johansson

How many Swedes does it take to light a goal lamp? Buffalo hopes the answer is three.

Fresh off their dominating performances in the Sabres’ prospect tournament, Olofsson and Asplund join one of the marquee offseason additions. Botterill and Krueger promised a true, open competition for roster spots, and Johansson’s presence proves Olofsson and Asplund will get every chance to make the NHL club.

5. Matej Pekar-Vladimir Sobotka-Kyle Okposo. Rasmus Dahlin-Henri Jokiharju

Dahlin is Buffalo’s top blueliner, so he goes in the No. 1 slot. But the odds of this pairing staying intact are slim. The Sabres have high hopes for Jokiharju after acquiring the 20-year-old from Chicago, but it’s not clear whether he’s ready for a full-time NHL gig.

Putting him next to Dahlin allows the Sabres to find out.

2. John Gilmour-Rasmus Ristolainen

Until Ristolainen gets beat out or traded, we’ll designate the longtime top-pair player as a No. 2. Krueger said he liked what he saw in the opening practice.

Gilmour, who signed after scoring 20 times for the Rangers’ AHL team, gets an opportunity to make a solid first impression.

3a. Casey Nelson-Brandon Montour

3b. Marco Scandella-Colin Miller

3c. Jake McCabe-Will Borgen

The first five are established NHLers, and Borgen is on the cusp of being ready. So they’re in a dead heat.

The good news for Buffalo is Montour has fully recovered from a knee sprain suffered at the World Championships.

“I have to wear a brace, but other than that it’s 100 percent,” said Montour, who wants to build on his 20 games with the Sabres last year. “I’m still a younger guy and still kind of coming into my role and knowing what my strengths are and how I can play and how I can be a key part of this team.”

6. Brandon Hickey-Casey Fitzgerald

They played together in the Sabres’ prospect tourney and could remain together as one of the Amerks’ top pairings.

7. Devante Stephens-Zach Redmond

Redmond has an AHL contract, and Stephens is hoping to play in Rochester after spending most of last season in the ECHL.
- Boss34

Smart fella supporting TA

Smart fella supporting TA
- TheSabresTaco

Nice birthday gift from my wife.

Lot less arguing and bullying when I read the athletic vs. Middlephatbuzz

Nice birthday gift from my wife.

Lot less arguing and bullying when I read the athletic vs. Middlephatbuzz
- Boss34

Sounds peaceful and informative, but man cannot live on facts and rational thought alone, you need some buzz in your life.

'It’s a gigantic opportunity for Smith. Though he scored 28 times in the AHL’s Rochester last season, he had just two goals in 11 games with Buffalo.'

Only 2 goals in 11 games was a 14 goal pace over an 80 game season from a player getting limited minutes at a cheap cap hit. Why is that bad?

such a little snitch .
- BeadyEyedDouche

'It’s a gigantic opportunity for Smith. Though he scored 28 times in the AHL’s Rochester last season, he had just two goals in 11 games with Buffalo.'

Only 2 goals in 11 games was a 14 goal pace over an 80 game season from a player getting limited minutes at a cheap cap hit. Why is that bad?
- kingcong39

considering he had sobotka and tage on his line, he should have received a promotion

How about let’s see how he plays? This kid was considered a top 2 picks for much of last year.

Let’s see how he does.
- Sabretooth9

No matter what you send him down

If he gets like 9pts or something crazy then he stays

- homiedclown

At least I can man up and admit that the ONE time I snitched, I lost my cool, but after that election, this place got really out of hand and we were all at each other's throats.

In all honesty, since then, this place mellowed out and turned more into playful banter and inside jokes than internet tough guys (like Hank! jerk!) all except for that one guy we all need not speak of.

'It’s a gigantic opportunity for Smith. Though he scored 28 times in the AHL’s Rochester last season, he had just two goals in 11 games with Buffalo.'

Only 2 goals in 11 games was a 14 goal pace over an 80 game season from a player getting limited minutes at a cheap cap hit. Why is that bad?
- kingcong39

I'm right there with you, honestly.

Let's all just agree Fillip was the problem and move on.

No matter what you send him down

If he gets like 9pts or something crazy then he stays
- gerbe75pts

which is it, send him down no matter what


or if he earns a spot in 9 games, he can stick


I mean either you can be open minded, or you can't


which is it?



again we will know a lot more about cozens and the 19-20 season in a few weeks

let it play itself out, our gm is, why can't you?

which is it, send him down no matter what


or if he earns a spot in 9 games, he can stick


I mean either you can be open minded, or you can't


which is it?



again we will know a lot more about cozens and the 19-20 season in a few weeks

let it play itself out, our gm is, why can't you?
- homiedclown

I see no reason why we shouldn't wait until March to give him his 9-game tryout.

Wow. Fresh off a ban. This place is horrible. You refs need to pull your head's out of your asses and stop banning the wrong people for stuff that isn't even a bannable offense or directed at a particular individual.

An absolute joke.

And as far as Fitz goes, you sir, are such a little snitch I don't care if I get banned anymore. You are un-believable.

I absolutely WILL keep bouncing my IP and making new accounts if I get perma-banned, too. So go ahead and hit report, dude, we all know you're going to.
- BeadyEyedDouche

This rant is absolutely much better than the normal 3 page harangue!
Good job!

At least I can man up and admit that the ONE time I snitched, I lost my cool, but after that election, this place got really out of hand and we were all at each other's throats.

In all honesty, since then, this place mellowed out and turned more into playful banter and inside jokes than internet tough guys (like Hank! jerk!) all except for that one guy we all need not speak of.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Countdown to ectasy... 14 months!

I see no reason why we shouldn't wait until March to give him his 9-game tryout.
- BeadyEyedDouche

I like this concept...maybe a bit earlier so it doesn't interfere with the kids junior playoffs, tourny's, etc.
February?

I'm right there with you, honestly.

Let's all just agree Fillip was the problem and move on.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Agreed to a degree, but the problem of playing safe, low risk veterans over rookies is a league wide issue.

considering he had sobotka and tage on his line, he should have received a promotion
- homiedclown

I do wish they were giving Routsolainen more of a chance with better linemates.
Maybe he'll center Laine on Tuesday

I see no reason why we shouldn't wait until March to give him his 9-game tryout.
- BeadyEyedDouche

IMO if this team makes the playoffs w/o Cozens, they should probably be the guys that determine how we do in the post season

Cozens will be playing playoff games for the last 8 or so regular season sabre games


There is a reason Herb Brooks left Tim Harrer off the roster

I do wish they were giving Routsolainen more of a chance with better linemates.
Maybe he'll center Laine on Tuesday
- IonSabres

Sounds peaceful and informative, but man cannot live on facts and rational thought alone, you need some buzz in your life.
- Chris16

🙂

I like this concept...maybe a bit earlier so it doesn't interfere with the kids junior playoffs, tourny's, etc.
February?
- IonSabres

pretty sure once they send him down, he can't get a look until his team's season is over

This rant is absolutely much better than the normal 3 page harangue!
Good job!
- IonSabres

I will get accused of "there you go running my mouth again" in t-minus 4 hours

pretty sure once they send him down, he can't get a look until his team's season is over
- homiedclown

that's right, unless they need him on emergency recall

In the 1982-83 season, former sabre Rob McClanahan had his best NHL season at the age of 24

in 78 nhl games he had 22 goals and 48 points, also chipped in 7 points in 9 playoff games


then never sniffed the nhl again


interesting

Agreed to a degree, but the problem of playing safe, low risk veterans over rookies is a league wide issue.
- kingcong39

you are not wrong, but it's the same at every job. they keep old, pot-bellied guys in managerial roles and they literally just throw temper-tantrums all day long instead of working, and when they do work, they're physically incapable of it.

I really wish they would get pushed out into being the wal-mart greeters they should be.