Interesting morning read. Also confirms statistically what I always thought of having Larry with Skinner as our best option of a 2nd line (as currently constructed with no outside help

https://www.expectedbuffa...tocol-second-line-center/
- Pegullaville

Thanks for sharing.
Some interesting articles there.

My favorite quote from the 2nd Line Center article, regarding the prospect of Cozens at 2C out of the gate

With trade assets like Rasmus Ristolainen and Brandon Montour on the blue line, there is no excuse for Botterill to fail to put a fair package together to avoid gambling with another promising teenage player.

Thanks for sharing.
Some interesting articles there.

My favorite quote from the 2nd Line Center article, regarding the prospect of Cozens at 2C out of the gate
- IonSabres

Let's not lose sight of the fact that a "gambling with another promising teenage player" may be a better bet than gambling with a "steady vet" who is really a borderline 3C/4C or a converted winger.

5.5 to 6 per?
- homiedclown

Evolving Hockey predicts Craig Smith's next contract with a different team to be 3 years @ $4.4M per.

Part of that is due to his age (he is turning 31 in September) and partly due to the potential for a flat cap for this coming season.

If the suggestion is that Bonino is a "steady veteran presence", I'm kind of getting tired of the idea that we need one of those. Isn't that what we were supposed to get with Johannson, and Okposo, and Pomminville, and Berglund, and all sorts of guys we've tried.

At this point I just want some freaking TALENT.
- Der Kaiser

The big difference is Bonino is actually a quality veteran center. He has talent and he's a good player.

Let's not lose sight of the fact that a "gambling with another promising teenage player" may be a better bet than gambling with a "steady vet" who is really a borderline 3C/4C or a converted winger.
- Der Kaiser

I certainly hope you don't mean Bonino with the bolded above, because if you mean Bonino, you are WAY off.

If Bonino is the move botts needs to gtfo then
He should be getting a young 2nd line center
People need to stop worrying about cozens
- gerbe75pts

Bonino would be an excellent pick up. A two time Cup winner who learned from Getzlaf and Koivu and then Crosby and Malkin. He was on a 22g, 40+ point pace playing 3C on a team that didn't score a lot all while starting 63% of the in the Dzone. Can play PP2 and PK1.
How much should we give up for a young 2nd line center when we still have two good young centers in the system?
A stopgap center is the better option and use the assets that it would require to get a yound 2nd line center on a good young right wing.

Let's not lose sight of the fact that a "gambling with another promising teenage player" may be a better bet than gambling with a "steady vet" who is really a borderline 3C/4C or a converted winger.
- Der Kaiser

The better point is that Botts needs to find a true 2C and just plain end the gambling altogether.
Bonino is a good add, as a friggin 3C.
All too often the Sabres go value contract and promote the player into a role over their capabilties.
Let's just stop the friggin non-sense.

Bonino would be an excellent pick up. A two time Cup winner who learned from Getzlaf and Koivu and then Crosby and Malkin. He was on a 22g, 40+ point pace playing 3C on a team that didn't score a lot all while starting 63% of the in the Dzone. Can play PP2 and PK1.
How much should we give up for a young 2nd line center when we still have two good young centers in the system?
A stopgap center is the better option and use the assets that it would require to get a yound 2nd line center on a good young right wing.
- adambuffalo

Dude that was in the stone Ages he's old as dirt now ...

I can't understand why people scream about old vets and they want more SMH


Bonino would be fine for the 3rd line let's get a young center for the 2nd

I certainly hope you don't mean Bonino with the bolded above, because if you mean Bonino, you are WAY off.
- kingcong39

I really liked him ten years ago in Anaheim. But he's got a lot of miles on him now, and he's never, ever, scored 50 points. He's only come close ONCE. He's no borderline 4C, but he's certainly not a lock at 2C, either.

If the suggestion is that Bonino is a "steady veteran presence", I'm kind of getting tired of the idea that we need one of those. Isn't that what we were supposed to get with Johannson, and Okposo, and Pomminville, and Berglund, and all sorts of guys we've tried.

At this point I just want some freaking TALENT.
- Der Kaiser

Solid post.
The excuse making for Botts needs to come to an end.
Either make the necessary moves to significantly upgrade the roster or get out of the way.
His evaluation of Pro Players is suspect at best, he absolutely needs to hit on these moves and stop trying to middle it.

The better point is that Botts needs to find a true 2C and just plain end the gambling altogether.
Bonino is a good add, as a friggin 3C.
All too often the Sabres go value contract and promote the player into a role over their capabilties.
Let's just stop the friggin non-sense.
- IonSabres

common ground

The better point is that Botts needs to find a true 2C and just plain end the gambling altogether.
Bonino is a good add, as a friggin 3C.
All too often the Sabres go value contract and promote the player into a role over their capabilties.
Let's just stop the friggin non-sense.
- IonSabres

I would still go and get Strome.

I would still go and get Strome.
- Buff36

They should and have the players to do it

Well, off to move 4,200 lbs of stone into the back garden.
Should be a blast.in the mean time , identifying trades for a solid younger 2C would be a worthwhile effort for this board.

Strome >> Montour, Mitts 2021-2nd.

Dude that was in the stone Ages he's old as dirt now ...

I can't understand why people scream about old vets and they want more SMH

Bonino would be fine for the 3rd line let's get a young center for the 2nd
- gerbe75pts

If the idea is to get somebody like Monahan to go with Cozens for the next half decade to decade, sure.

But if the idea is to get two veterans for this year and perhaps next year, so you don't make Cozens play 3rd line center right from the start of his pro career, then Bonino fits that perfectly as his contract is up after this upcoming season.

Well, off to move 4,200 lbs of stone into the back garden.
Should be a blast.in the mean time , identifying trades for a solid younger 2C would be a worthwhile effort for this board.

Strome >> Montour, Mitts 2021-2nd.
- IonSabres

yes ..done deal


are you putting a pool in ?

Bonino would be an excellent pick up. A two time Cup winner who learned from Getzlaf and Koivu and then Crosby and Malkin. He was on a 22g, 40+ point pace playing 3C on a team that didn't score a lot all while starting 63% of the in the Dzone. Can play PP2 and PK1.
How much should we give up for a young 2nd line center when we still have two good young centers in the system?
A stopgap center is the better option and use the assets that it would require to get a yound 2nd line center on a good young right wing.
- adambuffalo

I don't believe that number is correct.

From Evolving Hockey, here is what they have:

- Offensive Zone Start = 9.7%
- Neutral Zone Start = 14.4%
- Defensive Zone Start = 21.98%
- On The Fly Start = 53.92%

His defensive zone starts were more than double his offensive zone starts, which is the most important thing.

I love that they also track neutral zone starts and on the fly (shift change) starts.

Overall, if the Sabres traded for Bonino and Larsson, you would no longer be relying on one center to take all the defensive minutes.

That would be a huge relief to Eichel, and whoever centers the other line (Cozens).

If the idea is to get somebody like Monahan to go with Cozens for the next half decade to decade, sure.

But if the idea is to get two veterans for this year and perhaps next year, so you don't make Cozens play 3rd line center right from the start of his pro career, then Bonino fits that perfectly as his contract is up after this upcoming season.
- kingcong39

we have done this stop gap thing for how many years ? it has blown up in our face the last 3 years ..

people really need to stop with this cozens needs a vet crap we need to get players right now and worry about cozens when he is a full time NHL player get strome and let things work it self out

I really liked him ten years ago in Anaheim. But he's got a lot of miles on him now, and he's never, ever, scored 50 points. He's only come close ONCE. He's no borderline 4C, but he's certainly not a lock at 2C, either.
- Der Kaiser

He would check all the boxes of what they have needed as far as center depth for years.

His contract also only lasts one more year.

If it does not cost much to trade for him, why not?

I say all of above as I would go get him AND Strome.

They have the assets to do so, and it would massively improve their center depth.

we have done this stop gap thing for how many years ? it has blown up in our face the last 3 years ..

people really need to stop with this cozens needs a vet crap we need to get players right now and worry about cozens when he is a full time NHL player get strome and let things work it self out
- gerbe75pts

If you read what I just posted, I am advocating for getting Strome AND Bonino.

Then you don't have to worry about Cozens at all this year in terms of playing center.

Plus you could lean on Eichel and Strome offensively while leaning on Larsson and Bonino defensively.

Not bad 39, what happened to Maroon though.
- Buff36

I was building off of what Broads posted originally, and I highly doubt Maroon would come to Buffalo.

Ideally:

Olofsson - Eichel - Reinhart
Skinner - Strome - Craig Smith
Kahun - Bonino - Johansson
Asplund - Larsson - Okposo

Bonino would be an excellent pick up. A two time Cup winner who learned from Getzlaf and Koivu and then Crosby and Malkin. He was on a 22g, 40+ point pace playing 3C on a team that didn't score a lot all while starting 63% of the in the Dzone. Can play PP2 and PK1.
How much should we give up for a young 2nd line center when we still have two good young centers in the system?
A stopgap center is the better option and use the assets that it would require to get a yound 2nd line center on a good young right wing.
- adambuffalo

Bonino and dillon 👍

He would check all the boxes of what they have needed as far as center depth for years.

His contract also only lasts one more year.

If it does not cost much to trade for him, why not?

I say all of above as I would go get him AND Strome.

They have the assets to do so, and it would massively improve their center depth.
- kingcong39

Over the last 6 years he's basically a 35 point guy. I'm having a hard time even getting a chubby over that, much less getting really worked up.

Bonino and dillon 👍
- Boss34

As long as you are OK with and understand that Brenden Dillon will provide absolutely no offense and will be good strictly defensively only, and that his projected next contract is between 3 to 4 years for $3.2M-$3.7M, then all good.

Bonino and dillon 👍
- Boss34

We will be at the bottom of thats all we do and Jack will. Likely be done with us if that happens