actually I think he was demoted to the 4th line for the last cup
- homiedclown

they were more of a winger by comity depending upon who was playing well

they were more of a winger by comity depending upon who was playing well
- SabresFaninIndiana

game 6 vs the preds, final game

cullen gets almost 20 minutes ice time
crosby 17 minutes
malkin 15 minutes

game 6 vs the preds, final game

cullen gets almost 20 minutes ice time
crosby 17 minutes
malkin 15 minutes
- homiedclown

does coaching and managing the game matter?

Could of traded for pacioretty or Hoffman and got the same result.
- Swedish_Jesus

Not at all a fan of pacioretty .....

I cannot believe there are people who wanted Skinner to walk over 1-2 mil or 1-2 years on his contract

I cannot believe there are people who wanted Skinner to walk over 1-2 mil or 1-2 years on his contract
- sbroads24

but we could have traded for hoffman.. i have a feeling whatever assets we gave up to get hoffman had more value than the 1 mil we may have overpaid him

I cannot believe there are people who wanted Skinner to walk over 1-2 mil or 1-2 years on his contract
- sbroads24

If you're perpetually rebuilding and don't have good players, you never need to pay anyone

I cannot believe there are people who wanted Skinner to walk over 1-2 mil or 1-2 years on his contract
- sbroads24

no comment

Skinner scored 40 goals once. Coincidentally beside a superstar centre. He is a 25-30 goal scorer and perennial 55 point player. He should be blowing Eichel for that contract he just received.
- Swedish_Jesus

Would you say the same about Marchand next to Bergeron, Rantanin next to MacKinnon, Benn next to Seguin etc. etc. It takes a good center to get good production out of a winger and it takes a winger that has elite scoring ability to help that center rack up the points. Yes, Skinner needed Jack, but Jack also needed Skinner. All good teams have an ELITE combo or combo+ on their top line.

I cannot believe there are people who wanted Skinner to walk over 1-2 mil or 1-2 years on his contract
- sbroads24

Pure insanity

cap space wins championships
- TheSabresTaco

It does!
It allows teams to invest in quality players at positions of need at the moment they are needed.
Trades weaken a team at one position while strengthening another.
Drafts normally require 2 -3 years for the prospect to begin to contrubute.

The proper answer is it takes all three, used at the proper time.
You can through Offer Sheets in there as well, but they are a form of FA as we all know

Would you say the same about Marchand next to Bergeron, Rantanin next to MacKinnon, Benn next to Seguin etc. etc. It takes a good center to get good production out of a winger and it takes a winger that has elite scoring ability to help that center rack up the points. Yes, Skinner needed Jack, but Jack also needed Skinner. All good teams have an ELITE combo or combo+ on their top line.
- Bufsaints8

Marchand and Rantenen are elite. Skinner isn’t a top 20 winger in the NHL. Unless the winger is Patrick Kane their importance is irrelevant.

Without having two top 20 Centres in the NHL in Kuznetsov and Backstrom, a Norris caliber season out of John Carlson, and stud goaltending from Holtby, quite arguably the best goal scoring winger of all time would still be looking for his first ring. Not to mention Kuznetsov had one of the best post season performances this century on that cup run.

Wingers are a piece of the puzzle, but really are the least important position in hockey.

It does!
It allows teams to invest in quality players at positions of need at the moment they are needed.
Trades weaken a team at one position while strengthening another.
Drafts normally require 2 -3 years for the prospect to begin to contrubute.

The proper answer is it takes all three, used at the proper time.
You can through Offer Sheets in there as well, but they are a form of FA as we all know
- IonSabres

The best teams win championships. Not cap space. Having some cap space to work with can help you build a championship team. Is this what you all meant?

All good teams have an ELITE combo or combo+ on their top line.
- Bufsaints8

skinner/eichel
larkin/mantha
boesser/pettersson
giroux/couturier
hall/hischier
barkov/huberdeau
mcdavid/draisaitl

The best teams win championships. Not cap space. Having some cap space to work with can help you build a championship team. Is this what you all meant?
- Bufsaints8

The best teams are usually the ones that manage the cap the best.

I cannot believe there are people who wanted Skinner to walk over 1-2 mil or 1-2 years on his contract
- sbroads24

Seriously.

Since there are:

A) 31 teams, with each having 4 of LW, C, RW; 6 of D; 2 of G
B) only 1 team that wins the Stanley Cup each year

Shouldn't we conclude based on the data of 30 loser teams each year, that none of the positions matter. After all, as an example, while there are 4 "winning" C's, there are also 120 "losing" C's. Clearly then, C's simply cannot be important.

Marchand and Rantenen are elite. Skinner isn’t a top 20 winger in the NHL. Unless the winger is Patrick Kane their importance is irrelevant.

Without having two top 20 Centres in the NHL in Kuznetsov and Backstrom, a Norris caliber season out of John Carlson, and stud goaltending from Holtby, quite arguably the best goal scoring winger of all time would still be looking for his first ring. Not to mention Kuznetsov had one of the best post season performances this century on that cup run.

Wingers are a piece of the puzzle, but really are the least important position in hockey.
- Swedish_Jesus

I disagree....Winger is the most abundant position in hockey and because of that most wingers are easily replaceable (5-20 goals scores). Once a winger becomes an established 20 goal scorer if becomes more difficult to replace him. 25-30 goal scorers harder yet.

(Side note: Wouldn't we love to add an established 20 goal right winger right now? Why doesn't botts just go out a snag one from somewhere?)

That's why when you have one you lock him up. Also, not a huge fan of the NHL Network top 20 list. While Skinner has been a perennial 25-30 goal guy he has never had a legit top line center to play with, therefore, we might find out that he is actually more than that. So, are most wingers replaceable...I would say that more than 50% of them can be replaced pretty easily. Vesey for a 3rd comes to mind. However, once they become established 20 goal or more guys it becomes much more difficult. Are championship teams very strong down the middle and on D, yes for sure, BUT they all have a couple goal scoring wingers to help their elite center(s) rack up points...score more than the other team...win games.

The best teams win championships. Not cap space. Having some cap space to work with can help you build a championship team. Is this what you all meant?
- Bufsaints8

Teams need Cap Space to acquire players.
Btw, this is tongue in cheek.
Move along, nothing to see here.

Marchand and Rantenen are elite. Skinner isn’t a top 20 winger in the NHL. Unless the winger is Patrick Kane their importance is irrelevant.

Without having two top 20 Centres in the NHL in Kuznetsov and Backstrom, a Norris caliber season out of John Carlson, and stud goaltending from Holtby, quite arguably the best goal scoring winger of all time would still be looking for his first ring. Not to mention Kuznetsov had one of the best post season performances this century on that cup run.

Wingers are a piece of the puzzle, but really are the least important position in hockey.
- Swedish_Jesus

Eichel and ROR looked terrific playing with Wilson, girgs and pominville

Skinner isn’t a top 20 winger in the NHL.
- Swedish_Jesus

https://www.quanthockey.c...easons-players-stats.html

the only winger to have more even strength goals in the last 3 seasons then skinner is kane


the fact that someone posts skinner is not a top 20 winger, is beyond stupid

but we could have traded for hoffman.. i have a feeling whatever assets we gave up to get hoffman had more value than the 1 mil we may have overpaid him
- SabresFaninIndiana

The Laws of NHL 20 apply to life.

I disagree....Winger is the most abundant position in hockey and because of that most wingers are easily replaceable (5-20 goals scores). Once a winger becomes an established 20 goal scorer if becomes more difficult to replace him. 25-30 goal scorers harder yet.

(Side note: Wouldn't we love to add an established 20 goal right winger right now? Why doesn't botts just go out a snag one from somewhere?)

That's why when you have one you lock him up. Also, not a huge fan of the NHL Network top 20 list. While Skinner has been a perennial 25-30 goal guy he has never had a legit top line center to play with, therefore, we might find out that he is actually more than that. So, are most wingers replaceable...I would say that more than 50% of them can be replaced pretty easily. Vesey for a 3rd comes to mind. However, once they become established 20 goal or more guys it becomes much more difficult. Are championship teams very strong down the middle and on D, yes for sure, BUT they all have a couple goal scoring wingers to help their elite center(s) rack up points...score more than the other team...win games.
- Bufsaints8

Best post so far are this subject.
As mentioned before, it is a team game and teams need a mixture of players who excel in their defined role, along with some luck to win it all.

I just saw Botts walking out to the RW Tree with a bug, tall extendable ladder, looks like he is going to just pluck a high-end player from the top.

I know this has nothing to do with the Sabres or Buffalo sports at all, but it's columns like these that make The Athletic so great.

https://theathletic.com/1...-mike-leachs-qb-meetings/

Marchand and Rantenen are elite. Skinner isn’t a top 20 winger in the NHL. Unless the winger is Patrick Kane their importance is irrelevant.

Without having two top 20 Centres in the NHL in Kuznetsov and Backstrom, a Norris caliber season out of John Carlson, and stud goaltending from Holtby, quite arguably the best goal scoring winger of all time would still be looking for his first ring. Not to mention Kuznetsov had one of the best post season performances this century on that cup run.

Wingers are a piece of the puzzle, but really are the least important position in hockey.
- Swedish_Jesus

Oxygen is more important than water is more important than food. But you need all 3 in high amounts.