I don't wanna incite a back and forth here over 4th liners, but how exactly was Lazar a breathe of fresh air? He was measurably inconsequential, and barely played.
- sbroads24

He crashed the net and pissed people off. He brought badly needed energy to a team with mostly boring and nondescript forwards. The Sabres could use a few more guys who play with his enthusiasm. The FO ability (specifically in overtime to get Eichel the puck) was a bonus too

I don't wanna incite a back and forth here over 4th liners, but how exactly was Lazar a breathe of fresh air? He was measurably inconsequential, and barely played.
- sbroads24

Lazar @ $800K on the 4th line is a prudent move IMO. As Rhino and others have pointed out, we can't make this decision in a vacuum. We already have a $6 million albatross in Okposo playing 4RW. We need an $800K left winger (hello CJ Smith or Ruostellen(sp) in order free up cash to upgrade our Top 9, D and goalie positions. Plus we are dealing with an internal cap in the low 70's.

Lazar playing limited minutes on the 4th line is not going to make or break the team. However, spending an additional $2 or $3 million dollars on UFA salaries for 4th liners like Clifford or Maroon will break the team.

He crashed the net and pissed people off. He brought badly needed energy to a team with mostly boring and nondescript forwards. The Sabres could use a few more guys who play with his enthusiasm. The FO ability (specifically in overtime to get Eichel the puck) was a bonus too
- jcragcrumple

Agreed with all of the above.

Lazar @ $800K on the 4th line is a prudent move IMO. As Rhino and others have pointed out, we can't make this decision in a vacuum. We already have a $6 million albatross in Okposo playing 4RW. We need an $800K left winger (hello CJ Smith or Ruostellen(sp) in order free up cash to upgrade our Top 9, D and goalie positions. Plus we are dealing with an internal cap in the low 70's.

Lazar playing limited minutes on the 4th line is not going to make or break the team. However, spending an additional $2 or $3 million dollars on UFA salaries for 4th liners like Clifford or Maroon will break the team.
- SabreWest

I'm fine if he's 12/13 forward. I think anything else is a giant stretch for an AHL level player

Lazar @ $800K on the 4th line is a prudent move IMO. As Rhino and others have pointed out, we can't make this decision in a vacuum. We already have a $6 million albatross in Okposo playing 4RW. We need an $800K left winger (hello CJ Smith or Ruostellen(sp) in order free up cash to upgrade our Top 9, D and goalie positions. Plus we are dealing with an internal cap in the low 70's.

Lazar playing limited minutes on the 4th line is not going to make or break the team. However, spending an additional $2 or $3 million dollars on UFA salaries for 4th liners like Clifford or Maroon will break the team.
- SabreWest

Who will play center as a Pker? Who will be the checking line center against the skilled lines?

I hate when espn talks bills they say some of the dumbest poop ...

Josh had a great interview but the first take guys ate annoying..

Here is the interview

https://youtu.be/GW79XZYCch4

Who will play center as a Pker? Who will be the checking line center against the skilled lines?
- GilPerreault11

PK is definitely TBD but it was god awful with the lockport twins leading the charge anyway

Who will play center as a Pker? Who will be the checking line center against the skilled lines?
- GilPerreault11

Eric Staal

Who will play center as a Pker? Who will be the checking line center against the skilled lines?
- GilPerreault11

Can Eichel not kill penalties?

Sounds like the Sabres better get Crosby, McDavid, Matthew's, MaKinnon, etc...
Or else Jack won't be happy.
- IonSabres

Think Jack is a little happier, Staal will take a little pressure of, and should help on the PK.

Can Eichel not kill penalties?
- BINGO!

In his small sample size he looked very capable.

Our PK coach though was determined to put guys out there though that enjoyed getting scored on.

Can Eichel not kill penalties?
- BINGO!

He's a good PKer but he already plays 22 minutes a night. And do you really want to risk your premier player taking a Shea Weber clapper off the ankle? Ideally the bottom 6 guys are the pkers. But Okposo doesn't kill penalties because he is slow as (frank)

Can Eichel not kill penalties?
- BINGO!

He could but playing most PP, big regular minutes and the lead PKer is a bit much. PK takes a lot of energy it might weaken what they pay him for - to score. He would also be blocking point shots and risk injury during PK. I don't think he would be all world as a PKer either.

He's a good PKer but he already plays 22 minutes a night. And do you really want to risk your premier player taking a Shea Weber clapper off the ankle? Ideally the bottom 6 guys are the pkers. But Okposo doesn't kill penalties because he is slow as (frank)
- jcragcrumple

You could use him like CAR uses Aho and Teravainen. Get him out on the ice on the first change of the PK, that way he's more likely to be able to create shorthanded opportunities vs either the second PP unit or a tired version of the 1st unit.

He could but playing most PP, big regular minutes and the lead PKer is a bit much. PK takes a lot of energy it might weaken what they pay him for - to score. He would also be blocking point shots and risk injury during PK. I don't think he would be all world as a PKer either.
- GilPerreault11

Having E.Staal should help cut down on the number of even strength minutes he needs to eat.

Having E.Staal should help cut down on the number of even strength minutes he needs to eat.
- BINGO!

Does Staal PK?

Does Staal PK?
- GilPerreault11

Yes

You could use him like CAR uses Aho and Teravainen. Get him out on the ice on the first change of the PK, that way he's more likely to be able to create shorthanded opportunities vs either the second PP unit or a tired version of the 1st unit.
- BINGO!

Disco Dan Bylsma used him like that with Evander Kane occasionally

Does Staal PK?
- GilPerreault11

I know he used to. He only saw 18 minutes on the PK this past season.

He still has a good top speed but he hasn't been as explosive a skater as he used to be after he got his knee blown up by Alex Edler at the world championships in 2013.

Yes
- Buff36

Not over the last two years.

He's been on the ice for 38 minutes shorthanded the last two years combined.

Yes
- Buff36

NO


One important caveat to that statement however, is the fact that he’s almost exclusively served in offensively-tilted zone-deployments rates throughout the entirety of his career. For that reason, the Sabres will likely need to find another defensively competent centerman to handle the lion’s share of defensive zone draws, similar to the way Johan Larsson did from 2018-20.

From a special teams standpoint, don’t expect Staal to make a very big impact. He doesn’t really play on the penalty kill, and his power-play contributions are historically unspectacular for a player of his ability. In 357 minutes on the man-advantage this season, he did cause a minor xGF increase for the Wild, but his unit still produced at a 10-percent lower xGF clip than the league average.

https://www.diebytheblade...zing-the-eric-staal-trade

Not over the last two years.

He's been on the ice for 38 minutes shorthanded the last two years combined.
- BINGO!

Thanks. They are going to need another D oriented center not named Lazar.

Not over the last two years.

He's been on the ice for 38 minutes shorthanded the last two years combined.
- BINGO!

Him and pomms made up a good duo a few years ago in Minn.

NO


One important caveat to that statement however, is the fact that he’s almost exclusively served in offensively-tilted zone-deployments rates throughout the entirety of his career. For that reason, the Sabres will likely need to find another defensively competent centerman to handle the lion’s share of defensive zone draws, similar to the way Johan Larsson did from 2018-20.

From a special teams standpoint, don’t expect Staal to make a very big impact. He doesn’t really play on the penalty kill, and his power-play contributions are historically unspectacular for a player of his ability. In 357 minutes on the man-advantage this season, he did cause a minor xGF increase for the Wild, but his unit still produced at a 10-percent lower xGF clip than the league average.

https://www.diebytheblade...zing-the-eric-staal-trade
- GilPerreault11

Well him and Pomms made up a good duo on the PK a few years back. Maybe he hasn't done it in a few years, but he has played on it.

NO


One important caveat to that statement however, is the fact that he’s almost exclusively served in offensively-tilted zone-deployments rates throughout the entirety of his career. For that reason, the Sabres will likely need to find another defensively competent centerman to handle the lion’s share of defensive zone draws, similar to the way Johan Larsson did from 2018-20.

From a special teams standpoint, don’t expect Staal to make a very big impact. He doesn’t really play on the penalty kill, and his power-play contributions are historically unspectacular for a player of his ability. In 357 minutes on the man-advantage this season, he did cause a minor xGF increase for the Wild, but his unit still produced at a 10-percent lower xGF clip than the league average.

https://www.diebytheblade...zing-the-eric-staal-trade
- GilPerreault11

Would be nice to just bring back Johan Larsson himself.

I think he would be more universally liked if our 2nd line did it’s job and scored goals.