Been thinking about this a bit recently... optimizing the Sabres lines for both financial and production purposes.

It seems like a given that
Line 1 = Hall & Jack
Line 2 = Skinner - Staal - Cozens
Line 3 = Eakin, with help needed
Line 4 = Girgenson & Lazar

With that in mind, I'm beginning to believe that it MAY make sense to give Okposo a shot...
Yup, on Line 1 with Hall & Eichel, while moving Sam to Line 3 with Olofsson and Eakin.
- Hall is more of a set-up guy than a finisher
- Jack and Okposo can finish off Hall's line drives
- Jack can carry play like few others, so Okposo fits there to finish his set-ups well
- Okposo has proven to be a good posession and board player that is needed there, and he also crashes the net too
Having that line drive play and get actual $6m production from Kyle would be a huge benefit to the team.

Sam on line 3 with Eakin and Olofsson makes them a responsible 200 foot Line 3 that is a dual threat offensively. They could feast on opponents go a considerable degree. Having Sam drive Line 3 would be huge for the team.

On Line 2, Staal with Cozens would be a great way to drive Skinner's revival at the same time providing considerable developmental learning for Cozens as a solid 2C eventually.

Line 4 with Girgs, Lazar and Routsolainen could provide impressive results for a 4th line while serving as an audition season for Ruoto to move up a line or 2 when the roster transition - phase 2 occurs next season.

It's making me wonder if TT and Mitts really have a place here, or if they are serious trade bait to get that Goalie and LhD needed in packages.
- IonSabres

Okposo doesn't have the footspeed to match those two Ferraris. He's a '92 Ford Escort with a blown head gasket riding on a donut. He'd still be in the neutral zone while Eichel and Hall are at the net

Okposo doesn't have the footspeed to match those two Ferraris. He's a '92 Ford Escort with a blown head gasket riding on a donut. He'd still be in the neutral zone while Eichel and Hall are at the net
- jcragcrumple

Lol, in no way am I comparing Okposo to Jagr, but this makes me think of Jagr saying in a post game interview after scoring a big goal (as the trailer coming down the slot). “Sometimes it’s good to be slow, you end up getting there at just the perfect time.” Jagr was awesome.

Happy Thanksgiving b!tchers, moaners, complainers, and know-it-alls.

Happy Thanksgiving b!tchers, moaners, complainers, and know-it-alls.
- dadeadhead

someone is triggered

Happy Thanksgiving b!tchers, moaners, complainers, and know-it-alls.
- dadeadhead

How you feeling?

That will never get old.
The Benny Hill theme music fits perfectly.
Happy Thanksgiving, hope your family is well.
- Ratsreign

Yep, buttfumble will never NOT be funny. It's also a Thanksgiving tradition !

I will never get sick of buttfumble.

Right now they literally couldn't match a 7 million dollar offer sheet. They can't exceed the cap by more than 10% Granted they have, I believe, 14 days to match an offer sheet. They could try to swing a trade to get cap compliant in that time. But this is the time to do an offer sheet to Tampa.

I understand that the NHL will probably never ever see an offersheet again, but if I'm Nashville or a team like that, this is the moment
- jcragcrumple

And Tampa knows this too, so if they can’t negotiate a deal with Cirelli, they possibly would just trade him.

Adams hasn’t proven capable of signing anyone to any deal with term so I have 0 faith he’d have the slightest clue how to even maneuver an OS so the point is moot.

He also isn’t a Ralph Krueger disciple so I doubt he signs here.

He also wasn’t teammates with Adams in 05/06 so I doubt the Harbor Center GM knows who Anthony Cirelli is.

He’s working on the 2021 draft where he’s gonna select the 19th best prospect at pick 11

How you feeling?
- Buff36

Right as rain.

Out of quarantine
Luckily never developed symptoms
Son and Girlfriend tested negative

Right as rain.

Out of quarantine
Luckily never developed symptoms
Son and Girlfriend tested negative
- dadeadhead

That's cool,,that's good with the Son and Girlfriend. Hope you have a good Turkey Day,

And Tampa knows this too, so if they can’t negotiate a deal with Cirelli, they possibly would just trade him.

Adams hasn’t proven capable of signing anyone to any deal with term so I have 0 faith he’d have the slightest clue how to even maneuver an OS so the point is moot.

He also isn’t a Ralph Krueger disciple so I doubt he signs here.

He also wasn’t teammates with Adams in 05/06 so I doubt the Harbor Center GM knows who Anthony Cirelli is.

He’s working on the 2021 draft where he’s gonna select the 19th best prospect at pick 11
- sbroads24

Tampa will not trade Cirelli. If a team wants him, here's the opportunity to do so by offer sheeting while Tampa literally cannot match it. I understand the way the NHL works and I also understand that an offer sheet will not happen. They'll jettison Killorn or Palat or whoever and Cirelli will still be there. We can't offersheet even if we wanted to because of Jason "raw deal pt. deux" Botterill

Decided to do 2 Turkey's this year. Really had no choice, wouldn't have made it another year. So I got a 12lbs in the oven with Stuffing, and decided to Smoke one this year, that one's been cooking since about 6 this morning.

Tampa will not trade Cirelli. If a team wants him, here's the opportunity to do so by offer sheeting while Tampa literally cannot match it. I understand the way the NHL works and I also understand that an offer sheet will not happen. They'll jettison Killorn or Palat or whoever and Cirelli will still be there. We can't offersheet even if we wanted to because of Jason "raw deal pt. deux" Botterill
- jcragcrumple

You’re insulting TB’s intelligence here. If we both know they can’t match an OS, then they know this too. If they aren’t making “progress” on a contract as its being reported, then they absolutely have to be open to trading him.

The odds are 10x better to voluntarily trade for him with TB, then to get him to voluntarily sign a contract with the poorest run organization in hockey. It’s common sense

You’re insulting TB’s intelligence here. If we both know they can’t match an OS, then they know this too. If they aren’t making “progress” on a contract as its being reported, then they absolutely have to be open to trading him.

The odds are 10x better to voluntarily trade for him with TB, then to get him to voluntarily sign a contract with the poorest run organization in hockey. It’s common sense
- sbroads24

The odds are 0% that he's traded a-tall, to anyone, at any price

The odds are 0% that he's traded a-tall, to anyone, at any price
- jcragcrumple

That’s nonsense at this point.

Usually when it becomes public that there’s been “no progress” on a contract with a pretty good player, on a team that’s over the cap, it’s absolutely GM and agent code for “someone come try and trade for me”

Especially with Sergachev signing now. He’s available

He’s been made their last priority

He will be traded. Book it

That’s nonsense at this point.

Usually when it becomes public that there’s been “no progress” on a contract with a pretty good player, on a team that’s over the cap, it’s absolutely GM and agent code for “someone come try and trade for me”

Especially with Sergachev signing now. He’s available

He’s been made their last priority

He will be traded. Book it
- sbroads24

Noted and booked. I think theyll dump Laurel Gourde and then sign him

Noted and booked. I think theyll dump Laurel Gourde and then sign him
- jcragcrumple

Might not be this year, but within next offseason Cirelli will be gone.

And the reason I say that is in case he actually doesn’t get traded this offseason, I have until next offseason for you to forget about this and then I won’t be wrong

Might not be this year, but within next offseason Cirelli will be gone.

And the reason I say that is in case he actually doesn’t get traded this offseason, I have until next offseason for you to forget about this and then I won’t be wrong
- sbroads24

Touché

Touché
- jcragcrumple

In all seriousness I usually say that TB will just trade someone else and keep all the good players, and that probably happens, but the “report” that they aren’t close or there’s been no progress, while everyone else important is signed is very interesting to me

Okposo doesn't have the footspeed to match those two Ferraris. He's a '92 Ford Escort with a blown head gasket riding on a donut. He'd still be in the neutral zone while Eichel and Hall are at the net
- jcragcrumple

I think the call that a Trailer, or you can think of it as him playing the high F position, lol!
Happy Turkey Day

Might not be this year, but within next offseason Cirelli will be gone.

And the reason I say that is in case he actually doesn’t get traded this offseason, I have until next offseason for you to forget about this and then I won’t be wrong
- sbroads24

At that point I'mma gonna to insist the bet was the standard HB bet...a gram of coke!

And Tampa knows this too, so if they can’t negotiate a deal with Cirelli, they possibly would just trade him.

Adams hasn’t proven capable of signing anyone to any deal with term so I have 0 faith he’d have the slightest clue how to even maneuver an OS so the point is moot.

He also isn’t a Ralph Krueger disciple so I doubt he signs here.

He also wasn’t teammates with Adams in 05/06 so I doubt the Harbor Center GM knows who Anthony Cirelli is.

He’s working on the 2021 draft where he’s gonna select the 19th best prospect at pick 11
- sbroads24

Jesus fn Christ, did Adams sleep with your girlfriends or something? Do you have to be such a buzzkill? Adams has had a great offseason, have you noticed this thing called Covid and very few UFAs have been signed long term.

If you think Adams sucks, why don’t you look at the projected lineup for this year compared to last.

Jesus fn Christ, did Adams sleep with your girlfriends or something? Do you have to be such a buzzkill? Adams has had a great offseason, have you noticed this thing called Covid and very few UFAs have been signed long term.

If you think Adams sucks, why don’t you look at the projected lineup for this year compared to last.
- turbo044

Lmao what?

Because he traded for Eric Staal? Who’s 129 years old and totally didn’t want to come here?

You aren’t actually going to say he had 1 word of input on whether the Pegula’s were gonna sign Hall, do you?

Oh not to mention reaching farther than Stretch Armstrong on Quinn

Jesus fn Christ, did Adams sleep with your girlfriends or something? Do you have to be such a buzzkill? Adams has had a great offseason, have you noticed this thing called Covid and very few UFAs have been signed long term.

If you think Adams sucks, why don’t you look at the projected lineup for this year compared to last.
- turbo044

Better for sure. Great, not so much. Yet he had a couple of surprisingly Great moves in landing Staal and Hall. I think the jury is out on the rest of the moves.

In any event, Happy Thanksgiving!

Better for sure. Great, not so much. Yet he had a couple of surprisingly Great moves in landing Staal and Hall. I think the jury is out on the rest of the moves.

In any event, Happy Thanksgiving!
- IonSabres

He completely bungled the bottom 6 and had a bad draft where he passed on a guy multiple scouting agencies said could be a top 3-5 player in that draft, but of course fell because he’s small.

Rossi will be a Marchand type of player who puts up 75-85 points yearly and plays solid two ways while Quinn maybe scores 25-30 goals on Eichel’s wing.

Adams blows. It’s obvious already

Hope runs eternal for Bill's and Sabres fans.
Exhibit A = 24 years of the Bill's incompetence and fans having hopeful thoughts only to get gashed 5 games in season after season.
Exhibit B = Sabres 9 years of absolutely putrid play, some by design, and some with limited success(10 games) ...and continued hopeful thinking expressed as I think we may be good.

So I get the "we have to get off to a good start" thinking. Yet, in a year where the team has overhauled a significant portion of the roster, I suspect tinkering to find the optimal fit will occur. Hopefully they find that optimization early on and it stays consistent. Also, Krueger has revealed that he prefers a balanced scoring approach through out the various lines when he had Skinner on lines 2, 3 and 4, but never 1 last season...purely to try to spread the scoring around. Lastly, he made a comment about find pairs to play together, and find a fit for the 3rd...very similar to Dancin Dufus' strategy. Lastly, it was Krueger who placed Sobotka with Skinner and Mojo; puting Okposo there is the same kind of logic.

Contrary to some, especially the renown Sam-hater seemingly perma-banned here; Sam has proven he can drive line play previously.

It makes sense on many fronts. Will it work? There are many arguments against as well (as with anything in life).

Edit:
I believe it will be difficult for the Sabres to make the playoffs in a realigned Division of:
Boston, Washington, Pittsburgh, Philly, Ny Islanders, NY Rangers, NJ Devils.
That is going to be very, very difficult to break into the 4th position...that's not to say it couldn't happen and it must be the Team's only Goal.
- IonSabres

I think Okposo has played well,
but i just doubt he can do that in a top6 role

And there’s been times over the years when it made all the sense in the word to break up Jack & Sam, yet under multiple coaches & multiple GMs they stay together for whatever reason
So while i do understand what you’re trying to do....
I’ll have to actually see them do it before i believe it’s gonna happen