Firzgerald is a career AHLer.
- Sabretooth9

He filled a massive void in the roster last season providing toughness, I agree he won’t make starting roster, 36 is right.

New season needs a new spark plug.

More relevant than a 20 year old QB decision?
- Lunaion

I'm sure the analytics community loved rob Johnson.

Ventura had a #11 jersey too

I'm sure the analytics community loved rob Johnson.

Ventura had a #11 jersey too
- Boss34

Who is the Girgs in this analogy? This is strained way beyond what I can follow.

Who is the Girgs in this analogy? This is strained way beyond what I can follow.
- Lunaion

Maybe it means Girgs sitting in the press box wearing his #11 Rob Johnson jersey pulling a #2 pencil out of his Elementary School Sabres pencil pouch taking notes.

Maybe it means Girgs sitting in the press box wearing his #11 Rob Johnson jersey pulling a #2 pencil out of his Elementary School Sabres pencil pouch taking notes.
- Buff36

Girgs: the Rob Johnson of 4LW's.

That's what I'm taking from it.

Girgs: the Rob Johnson of 4LW's.

That's what I'm taking from it.
- Lunaion

Looks like girgensons is starting at 4C tonight, not 4lw ☝️

He filled a massive void in the roster last season providing toughness, I agree he won’t make starting roster, 36 is right.

New season needs a new spark plug.
- Theguywiththething

I don’t see a player that can’t make simple breakout passes and regroups a spark plug.

He always make a massive mistake during the game that sometimes leads to goals against.

Easy pass. Toughness is overrated

..... but it won't help them either. Been there, succeeded at that.
- Slump Buster

Just thinking they go veteran team to start

And Quinn could learn how to fight thru being keyed on
(Playoffs)

Just my opinion

Looks like girgensons is starting at 4C tonight, not 4lw ☝️
- Boss34

Just like year ago.

I expect Don to try to force it this year...and a less effective LOG this year.

Just like year ago.

I expect Don to try to force it this year...and a less effective LOG this year.
- Lunaion

I see your point of view, but the kids are pushing on the wings more than at center. IMO

Sheehan will not replace a healthy girgensons in the lineup. Ahl tweener , Injury protection signing.

Asplund better be listening to the whispers....

I don’t see a player that can’t make simple breakout passes and regroups a spark plug.

He always make a massive mistake during the game that sometimes leads to goals against.

Easy pass. Toughness is overrated
- Sabretooth9

While you overrate it, winning requires it.

Going down tonight to check the Sabres out. Got tickets from a Buddy Sec 118 row 22
- Buff36

Sec 111

I see your point of view, but the kids are pushing on the wings more than at center. IMO

Sheehan will not replace a healthy girgensons in the lineup. Ahl tweener , Injury protection signing.

Asplund better be listening to the whispers....
- Boss34

There isn't a significant difference between Sheahan and Girgs, other than 1 is a C and the other has an inflated contract.

Asplund is much better than either of them and a key part of the lineup.

super interesting lines tonight. excited to watch.

also, kozak, my new son, wonderful performance.
- TheSabresTaco

I'll take Kozak over Bjork already. Get the 19 yo up here and let him learn in the fire. Anders is 26. We know what he is.

Asplund is much better than either of them and a key part of the lineup.
- Lunaion

Maybe. The fact of the matter is Asplund almost never saw the best forwards from the other team while Z Train does every night he plays. I 100% want to see Asplund play the best forwards, but it hasn't happened yet.

Edit: Same thing with Eakin. We don't know who is going to replace him yet. Now, he was pretty awful a lot last season, but he also had some shutdown moments.

Last year the Sabres 4th line was called upon to play the top forwards night in night out. Not every team does it that way. When you have a Barkov or Bergeron etc you present the matchup nightmare to the other team. Is this the transition year where our "4th line" is expected to score a modicum of points?

Asplund - Cozens - Tuch, for example, would be a line I would try and match against Austin Matthews AND I would want them to be + players at the end of the game. Last season, that's all Eakin Okposo and Girgs. Good defensively, but only scoring by accident.

Maybe. The fact of the matter is Asplund almost never saw the best forwards from the other team while Z Train does every night he plays. I 100% want to see Asplund play the best forwards, but it hasn't happened yet.

Edit: Same thing with Eakin. We don't know who is going to replace him yet. Now, he was pretty awful a lot last season, but he also had some shutdown moments.
- lacaprup

Different players. Girgs is a checking line LW. Asplund compliments a defensively deficient middle 6 line. He makes any line he's on better, but those lines aren't going to be given the toughest matchups.

Last year the Sabres 4th line was called upon to play the top forwards night in night out. Not every team does it that way. When you have a Barkov or Bergeron etc you present the matchup nightmare to the other team. Is this the transition year where our "4th line" is expected to score a modicum of points?

Asplund - Cozens - Tuch, for example, would be a line I would try and match against Austin Matthews AND I would want them to be + players at the end of the game. Last season, that's all Eakin Okposo and Girgs. Good defensively, but only scoring by accident.
- lacaprup

I agree with your points, but if they make that line, the other 2 lines are just dreadful defensively. Hoping this is the final year of over-reliance on LOG.

I agree with your points, but if they make that line, the other 2 lines are just dreadful defensively. Hoping this is the final year of over-reliance on LOG.
- Lunaion

I think fatboy Mits is going to be a (cookie) monster this year. Maybe we'll be better.

I think fatboy Mits is going to be a (cookie) monster this year. Maybe we'll be better.
- lacaprup

Hope so, not sure if he'll ever be a strong two-way player though. Hoping Quinn or Peterka will be, but not expecting that as rookies.

Bill's signed OL Justin Murray

Hope so, not sure if he'll ever be a strong two-way player though. Hoping Quinn or Peterka will be, but not expecting that as rookies.
- Lunaion

I think there's a lot more to Fatty than he's given credit for. There were games plural last season where he was the best player on the ice for either team. March 10th against the Vegas Golden Knights A#1. If he's healthy, and that is a big if, people are going to know why he was a first rounder.

Bill's signed OL Justin Murray
- Buff36

Gotta be proactive. People dropping like flies.

There isn't a significant difference between Sheahan and Girgs, other than 1 is a C and the other has an inflated contract.

Asplund is much better than either of them and a key part of the lineup.
- Lunaion

You really think Sheehan's contract is inflated?

Asplund is more likely to be watching as a healthy scratch than a "key part" of the line up

Gotta be proactive. People dropping like flies.
- lacaprup

Should have bet the dolphins +4 and the under .....