Michael Pachla: Buffalo Sabres get five games on NBCSN

I think by mid season they will be sorry they didn’t include more Sabres games.

2 games with Buffalo and Philly.

Looks like they figured out the wildcard race

I think by mid season they will be sorry they didn’t include more Sabres games.
- gordong

I don't think they want a lot of question marks and there still are a lot of them with the sabres

I will def. watch the McDavid of the Defencemen.

I hope everyone read this about the skunk.

https://theathletic.com/4...uffalo-sabres-nhl-center/

I will def. watch the McDavid of the Defencemen.
- Leniwm1

he looks real good...whether he reaches, or comes close to reaching, that level remains to be seen, but the excitement seems warranted at this point

I hope everyone read this about the skunk.

https://theathletic.com/4...uffalo-sabres-nhl-center/
- TheSabresTaco

didn't read, but he's a better winger than center...

got a reader's digest version?

didn't read, but he's a better winger than center...

got a reader's digest version?
- Michael Pachla

"So what should the Sabres do? Reinhart can be a strong presence, both offensively and defensively, in either the RW role where he’s already excelled, or in the 2C role.

But let’s say Reinhart stays at RW on a line with Eichel at C. Who fills in at the 2C spot? Patrik Berglund is ideally your 3C or 4C who is coming in to do the job O’Reilly did, and he’ll be fine at that, but is Casey Mittlestadt going to start in that 2C spot? Will he be ready?

My hesitation with keeping Reinhart on the wing is that the dropoff from Eichel to 2C if Reinhart is on his wing is much greater than the drop off from Reinhart as top line RW to Okposo in that spot.

So, when it comes to the best thing for the team, my vote is for Reinhart as 2C. There’s plenty of data in his favor, and it’ll make the Sabres a deeper and more balanced team. Could that change in the future if another young player emerges this season? Absolutely, but the 2018 – 2019 season, I think this is the best move in balancing the team’s assets on a nightly basis."

Basically, there's a lot of data suggesting that since Reinhart can drive play and is very responsible defensively, that he can carry a line sufficiently.

I read the piece in the Athletic about that. Most of those stats were gathered with Reinhart at wing if I'm not mistaken. I'll love it if he can demonstrate that he's a legit 2C, but really has he demonstrated he's even an effective C at the NHL level?

I get better complementary players though. Just a little nervous at the thought of handing him 2C.

"So what should the Sabres do? Reinhart can be a strong presence, both offensively and defensively, in either the RW role where he’s already excelled, or in the 2C role.

But let’s say Reinhart stays at RW on a line with Eichel at C. Who fills in at the 2C spot? Patrik Berglund is ideally your 3C or 4C who is coming in to do the job O’Reilly did, and he’ll be fine at that, but is Casey Mittlestadt going to start in that 2C spot? Will he be ready?

My hesitation with keeping Reinhart on the wing is that the dropoff from Eichel to 2C if Reinhart is on his wing is much greater than the drop off from Reinhart as top line RW to Okposo in that spot.

So, when it comes to the best thing for the team, my vote is for Reinhart as 2C. There’s plenty of data in his favor, and it’ll make the Sabres a deeper and more balanced team. Could that change in the future if another young player emerges this season? Absolutely, but the 2018 – 2019 season, I think this is the best move in balancing the team’s assets on a nightly basis."

Basically, there's a lot of data suggesting that since Reinhart can drive play and is very responsible defensively, that he can carry a line sufficiently.
- TheSabresTaco

so he mined some data and came up with skunk as 2c?

got it

"So what should the Sabres do? Reinhart can be a strong presence, both offensively and defensively, in either the RW role where he’s already excelled, or in the 2C role.

But let’s say Reinhart stays at RW on a line with Eichel at C. Who fills in at the 2C spot? Patrik Berglund is ideally your 3C or 4C who is coming in to do the job O’Reilly did, and he’ll be fine at that, but is Casey Mittlestadt going to start in that 2C spot? Will he be ready?

My hesitation with keeping Reinhart on the wing is that the dropoff from Eichel to 2C if Reinhart is on his wing is much greater than the drop off from Reinhart as top line RW to Okposo in that spot.

So, when it comes to the best thing for the team, my vote is for Reinhart as 2C. There’s plenty of data in his favor, and it’ll make the Sabres a deeper and more balanced team. Could that change in the future if another young player emerges this season? Absolutely, but the 2018 – 2019 season, I think this is the best move in balancing the team’s assets on a nightly basis."

Basically, there's a lot of data suggesting that since Reinhart can drive play and is very responsible defensively, that he can carry a line sufficiently.
- TheSabresTaco

Is the entire premise built on the supposition that Mittelstadt isn't ready for 2C, and will instead play wing? If so, I think that's wrong, or at least flawed logic. He needs the experience at center, regardless. He's not gonna learn how to be a center by playing the wing. I know that was the idea with Reinhart, but that didn't really play out

so he mined some data and came up with skunk as 2c?

got it
- Michael Pachla

I'm not really sure I trust the argument of "well, since he can do a and b, he can do c", which is essentially what the write up is. It goes on to explain his quality traits and how his shooting % was much lower than it was post Jan 1.

The disconnect for me was that him and ROR essentially fed off of each other and they helped each other boost their offensive numbers.

I don't think the article proved that he very well could carry his own line, just that he has the qualities to physically do it.

I'm not really sure I trust the argument of "well, since he can do a and b, he can do c", which is essentially what the write up is. It goes on to explain his quality traits and how his shooting % was much lower than it was post Jan 1.

The disconnect for me was that him and ROR essentially fed off of each other and they helped each other boost their offensive numbers.

I don't think the article proved that he very well could carry his own line, just that he has the qualities to physically do it.
- TheSabresTaco

I think he could do it...it might take w bit for him to get acclimated, but he has the wherewithal...from what we've seen of him over the last two seasons, he seems to be a much better winger who could roll in the top-six

Is the entire premise built on the supposition that Mittelstadt isn't ready for 2C, and will instead play wing? If so, I think that's wrong, or at least flawed logic. He needs the experience at center, regardless. He's not gonna learn how to be a center by playing the wing. I know that was the idea with Reinhart, but that didn't really play out
- jcragcrumple

if you re-read the conclusion, he basically states that CM is an unknown, which is a fact. He basically says that if CM isn't all that and a bag of chips on day one, there's a significant hole at 2C if Reinhart doesn't play it.

I've come to notice that Botts is pretty sincere with a lot of what he says publically. He'll name names specifically, and those he names, such as Risto being a fixture and Reinhart trying at center multiple times, holds true. Risto won't be traded, and Sam will indeed be tried at center.

if you re-read the conclusion, he basically states that CM is an unknown, which is a fact. He basically says that if CM isn't all that and a bag of chips on day one, there's a significant hole at 2C if Reinhart doesn't play it.

I've come to notice that Botts is pretty sincere with a lot of what he says publically. He'll name names specifically, and those he names, such as Risto being a fixture and Reinhart trying at center multiple times, holds true. Risto won't be traded, and Sam will indeed be tried at center.
- TheSabresTaco

So,

Skinner-Eichel-Okposo
Mitts-Reinhart-Erod??
Sheary-Berglund-Pominville

Now the left looks good, and the right looks poopty

So,

Skinner-Eichel-Okposo
Mitts-Reinhart-Erod??
Sheary-Berglund-Pominville

Now the left looks good, and the right looks poopty
- jcragcrumple

^this^

I will def. watch the McDavid of the Defencemen.
- Leniwm1

He is not the Mcdavid of defenseman, Connor Mcdavid is the Dahlin of forwards. Fixed.

So,

Skinner-Eichel-Okposo
Mitts-Reinhart-Erod??
Sheary-Berglund-Pominville

Now the left looks good, and the right looks poopty
- jcragcrumple

Sheary-Eichel-Okposo
Skinner-Reinhordt-CM/Erod
ZG/Wilson-CM/Erod-Thompson
Sobotka-Berglund-Pommer
ZG/Wilson, Larsson, Nick Bailey

"So what should the Sabres do? Reinhart can be a strong presence, both offensively and defensively, in either the RW role where he’s already excelled, or in the 2C role.

But let’s say Reinhart stays at RW on a line with Eichel at C. Who fills in at the 2C spot? Patrik Berglund is ideally your 3C or 4C who is coming in to do the job O’Reilly did, and he’ll be fine at that, but is Casey Mittlestadt going to start in that 2C spot? Will he be ready?

My hesitation with keeping Reinhart on the wing is that the dropoff from Eichel to 2C if Reinhart is on his wing is much greater than the drop off from Reinhart as top line RW to Okposo in that spot.

So, when it comes to the best thing for the team, my vote is for Reinhart as 2C. There’s plenty of data in his favor, and it’ll make the Sabres a deeper and more balanced team. Could that change in the future if another young player emerges this season? Absolutely, but the 2018 – 2019 season, I think this is the best move in balancing the team’s assets on a nightly basis."

Basically, there's a lot of data suggesting that since Reinhart can drive play and is very responsible defensively, that he can carry a line sufficiently.
- TheSabresTaco

but
but
but

but
but
but
- homiedclown

hat-trick!

casey-eichel-reinhart
skinner-e-rod-bailey/baptsite/thompson
sheary-berglund-okposo
wilson-dirty pod racer-pommer

hat-trick!
- Symba007

just had 10 hot wings for breakfast with 2 oatmeal cookies

2017 PP

PP1-

Eichel, Reinhart, ROR, Okposo, Risto

PP2-

Kane, Larsson, Erod, Pominville, Bogo/Scandella


2018 PP

PP1-

Eichel, Reinhart, Mittelstadt, Skinner, Dahlin

PP2-

Okposo, Sheary, Pomineville, Erod, Ristolainen

just had 10 hot wings for breakfast with 2 oatmeal cookies
- homiedclown

I had breakfast wings at the camp yesterday morning. Just an absolute delight.