I think you're mostly right. Since Dahlin already plays like he's a fourth forward out there, he can move the needle from the blue line, if allowed to do so (hasn't happened much this year)

Someone did a study I think 2 years ago? that found teams could earn about 7 more points on average if they played 4 forwards and scrapped their bottom pair. I think that's coming soon to the NHL, especially with everything so matchup heavy. Most bottom pairs in the league are providing negative impact over 82 games.
- Michael Ghofrani

That's interesting. I'm sure Krueger has thought about these things. He always talks about playing connected as a 5 man unit. At some point we may see the league get to a point where a team is down a goal with 10 minutes left and Eichel and Dahlin are playing D together and you let the 2nd line center (assuming we find one - inshallah) lead the forwards. Eichel playing "defense" would allow him to conserve energy

More fluidity in positions is what I'm getting at. I think Krueger is the man for that

- homiedclown

What's so funny ?

Didn't mcdavid get injured twice from collisions with the boards? Goal post too?
That's kinda what I meant
- Boss34

Boss come on... You are better then this... Do you think management of the oilers is telling Mcdavid to seek or avoid contact?

I would bet that the coaching staff is telling McDavid to avoid unnecessary hits at all costs. They need him healthy and scoring not out injured.

What's so funny ?
- gerbe75pts

you want to replace a 70 point winger with a guy that has 1 point in the nhl

why trade for that bum, Jean-Sebastien Dea has the same result in the AHL

No one is saying this, but adding more defense and non-scoring forwards to teh Sabres is redundant at this point.

The Sabres need scoring in the worst way. They have the defense. They need the scoring.
- ImThatGuy

Agree to disagree , although I think we agree.

Sabres need more scoring and in my opinion toughness.

Scoring is tougher to find.

That's interesting. I'm sure Krueger has thought about these things. He always talks about playing connected as a 5 man unit. At some point we may see the league get to a point where a team is down a goal with 10 minutes left and Eichel and Dahlin are playing D together and you let the 2nd line center (assuming we find one - inshallah) lead the forwards. Eichel playing "defense" would allow him to conserve energy

More fluidity in positions is what I'm getting at. I think Krueger is the man for that
- jcragcrumple

100%, defensemen becoming more like wingbacks in soccer. Technically listed as defenders, but primary objective is being responsible for build up play and transitioning defense to offense.

As for whether Krueger is the guy Im not sure. He's said the right things but playing 7D is the exact opposite of that. So I don't know what to believe.

Scoring is tougher to find.
- Boss34

ironic since you dis a top 20 scoring winger that plays for the sabres on a daily basis

He will probably do 25g to 50 points
- gerbe75pts

So less than the production of Sam Reinhart.

Neat.

you want to replace a 70 point winger with a guy that has 1 point in the nhl

why trade for that bum, Jean-Sebastien Dea has the same result in the AHL
- homiedclown

And then suggests that player would produce less on a line with Eichel.

As for whether Krueger is the guy Im not sure. He's said the right things but playing 7D is the exact opposite of that. So I don't know what to believe.
- Michael Ghofrani

krueger is a yes man

exactly what kim and terry want

Good post

I'm wondering if other players could put up good points with jack? Or do we need to possibly overpay sam, for Jack's skill?
- Boss34

yes of course other skilled wingers are and can score with Jack on their line. Jack is an elite player.

Over paying Sam is managements call not mine. So I really dont care.

you want to replace a 70 point winger with a guy that has 1 point in the nhl

why trade for that bum, Jean-Sebastien Dea has the same result in the AHL
- homiedclown

Robertson is going to be way better and younger with a smaller cap hit and the Pieces you get from Sam could help us become contenders

Boss come on... You are better then this... Do you think management of the oilers is telling Mcdavid to seek or avoid contact?

I would bet that the coaching staff is telling McDavid to avoid unnecessary hits at all costs. They need him healthy and scoring not out injured.
- hehateme

Yes, mcdavid is an all out player, which leads to injury.

That's my point.

They definitely aren't telling him to slow down.

And then suggests that player would produce less on a line with Eichel.
- ImThatGuy

Nothing against the push for adding toughness, because i do believe on some level it does even in this day and age have merit. However, more often than not buzzwords like "sandpaper" and "toughness" are just narratives designed to help provide an answer that makes people feel better/rationalize defeat that the true (or truer i guess) answer doesn't.

That truth being that there's a huge element of luck in hockey, probably more so than any of the other major sports in north america. Which makes sense given all the variables in hockey like speed, injury risk, what happens with the puck post shot etc.
- Michael Ghofrani

All due respect, this is a lot of words but no real point.

Yes, mcdavid is an all out player, which leads to injury.

That's my point.

They definitely aren't telling him to slow down.
- Boss34

McDavid got hurt while fighting.

People called him an idiot, and said he has no business fighting.

McDavid, rarely fight, Rarely hits.

he is tough to play against because he is so offensively gifted and the fastet player in teh league.

Robertson is going to be way better and younger with a smaller cap hit and the Pieces you get from Sam could help us become contenders
- gerbe75pts

we need to get better players

trade 2 or 3 guys for 1 player that is much better then those 2 or 3


the last thing we need is to trade one of our better players for pieces


you want to contend, trade risto and johansson for RNH

trade mccabe, davidsson and the 2021 first round pick for mantha



that is how you get better and compete right away

olofsson-eichel-mantha
skinner-RNH-reinhart


instant playoffs

ironic since you dis a top 20 scoring winger that plays for the sabres on a daily basis
- homiedclown

Ironic that sam plays with the best current player in the nhl. Wow , he's a top 20 scoring winger.

Why aren't you bringing up leon and his he only scores because of McDavid anymore?

10 points in 4 games without McDavid

Yes, mcdavid is an all out player, which leads to injury.

That's my point.

They definitely aren't telling him to slow down.
- Boss34

So you would like to see Sam skate as fast as he can on a play lose control, crash into the boards and break his collar bone and be out of 8 weeks, that constitutes Effort?

So less than the production of Sam Reinhart.

Neat.
- ImThatGuy

For his first year sure then after 70 -80 points

That's why we need to change the "core" .
- Boss34

The change that the core needs is we need more of them.

We have 4 or 5 guys that are trying to be an entire team of 20. The other 5 or 16 are crap or vanilla.

Keep the 4 or 5 we have and add like 4 or 5 more and then we will be the perennial contenders everybody wants.

Boss come on... You are better then this... Do you think management of the oilers is telling Mcdavid to seek or avoid contact?

I would bet that the coaching staff is telling McDavid to avoid unnecessary hits at all costs. They need him healthy and scoring not out injured.
- hehateme

McDaivd is not physically touigh.

He is an offensive Dynamo.

You can guran-damn-tee the Oilers Mgmt has stated we dont need yo fighting or Crashing in to the boards to lay big hits.

yes of course other skilled wingers are and can score with Jack on their line. Jack is an elite player.

Over paying Sam is managements call not mine. So I really dont care.
- hehateme

.All of the calls are management's calls. Why care about or discuss any of it?

For his first year sure then after 70 -80 points
- gerbe75pts

Just like Okposo was supposed to do.

just like Sheary was supposed to do.

Hes going to outperform Skinner.


Because he has so much NHL experience and has 1 point.


And how are the Sabers acquiring this offensive Dynamo, and why are the Stars giving up on him?

All due respect, this is a lot of words but no real point.
- Der Kaiser

My point is that the buzzwords you hear after a team loses in the playoffs like toughness, sandpaper, snarl are hogwash.It's easier to talk about and direct anger at irrationally rather than accept the fact that sometimes your team loses due to puck luck.