Guess it all comes down to what Rhino is thinking contract wise.

There’s a certain poster who hasn’t been around and it just has to kill this person that the Sabres are winning games with Reinhart as the 1C and Skinner 1LW

And no it’s not Boss
- sbroads24

I hate to be particular, but judging by line usage 5v5 I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that it’s actually been the Cozens line as the first line.

Cozens has also been our best forward imo.

Sam has been great though. Skinner has been good but that contract still stinks

hopefully flat cap drives him down to 7 mil

id start at 6x6 and try to get 6x6.5

???
- Michael Pachla

I don’t think his reputation around the league is on par with his impact on the ice

I don’t think his reputation around the league is on par with his impact on the ice
- sbroads24

hockey reputation as opposed to personal?

hockey reputation as opposed to personal?
- Michael Pachla

Hockey

Hockey
- sbroads24

his metrics are below average and his game is about as soft as any i've seen, but his production this year typical...he's 'the quiet one'...truly amazing in his consistency

his metrics are below average and his game is about as soft as any i've seen, but his production this year typical...he's 'the quiet one'...truly amazing in his consistency
- Michael Pachla

Be interesting to see what the Sabres think his worth is.

his metrics are below average and his game is about as soft as any i've seen, but his production this year typical...he's 'the quiet one'...truly amazing in his consistency
- Michael Pachla

He’s Pominville.

Or Ryan Nugent Hopkins.

He’s on a 50 point pace without Eichel. I mean it’s nothing crazy but considering he’s been playing center as well and with two coaches it’s admirable.

If he’s looking for a big pay day though I go calling around looking for a Mantha type deal.

Watching highlights of Samuelsson clearing the crease is certainly nice to see.

Thats that toughness I posted about before and have people telling me it wont stop cheap shots and fighting.

People should stop confusing the three.
- sabresfan69

First things firsts.. let’s see if the same effect happens against the Bruins or Caps. The penguins aren’t exactly the physical type of team that my point isn’t going to be deterred by Samuelson clearing the crease. There is no second because your trying to compare apples to oranges and take underhanded shots. I gave you my definition of physical, which included, but was not limited to cheap shots and fighting. Sorry you keep putting vague “playing physical” with no definitive answers to what that exactly is. Also, what Samuelson is doing is also in my definition. They are all pieces of a whole.

Assuming the following 2 lines are for real and continue to be high quality:

Bjork - Cozens - Ruotsalainen
Asplund - Mittelstadt - Thompson

And a 4th line of Girgensons, Okposo, whatever.

Is a top line of Skinner - Eichel - Reinhart good enough to be a serious playoff team?

I know they have Peterka and Quinn developing, but it feels like the top line needs a bit more then the trio I mentioned, and I like and respect Reinhart as a player.

Further, what do you do with Olofsson and where does he fit in the lineup? I'm not a huge fan but he's looked much better the last 2 to 3 games.

There are some fascinating offseason decisions that are going to need to be made by Adams/Karmanos.

Finish this forward lineup...

Skins - Eichel - ______
______ - Cozens - Ruotso
Asplund - Mitts - Tallness
Bjork - Girgs - Okposo

Is Rhino here? Olofsson?
- Powerslave

Why move Bjork off the Cozens line when that trio is playing very well, and while receiving difficult matchup assignments?

I like Reinhart, but if you can get a return for him like Detroit got for Mantha ( similar player/production with an edge ++), I think I would make that deal.

I also like how Olofsson has played lately, but the 4th line doesn't make sense for him or Ruotsalainen.

The 2 kid lines playing so well has actually made the picture more murky heading into the offseason, as strange as that sounds.

Assuming the following 2 lines are for real and continue to be high quality:

Bjork - Cozens - Ruotsalainen
Asplund - Mittelstadt - Thompson

And a 4th line of Girgensons, Okposo, whatever.

Is a top line of Skinner - Eichel - Reinhart good enough to be a serious playoff team?

I know they have Peterka and Quinn developing, but it feels like the top line needs a bit more then the trio I mentioned, and I like and respect Reinhart as a player.

Further, what do you do with Olofsson and where does he fit in the lineup? I'm not a huge fan but he's looked much better the last 2 to 3 games.

There are some fascinating offseason decisions that are going to need to be made by Adams/Karmanos.
- kingcong39

Why do you feel it would be the top line that needs more?

Even if those kids’ lines are “for real” they still aren’t gonna produce near what the top line will

Having Sam at RW1 won’t sink us, & it won’t be what puts us over the top either

What will determine that,
is just how well lines 2&3 do
And even though the kids are looking good right now, we just don’t know if that’s gonna carry over to next season or not

Why move Bjork off the Cozens line when that trio is playing very well, and while receiving difficult matchup assignments?

I like Reinhart, but if you can get a return for him like Detroit got for Mantha ( similar player/production with an edge ++), I think I would make that deal.

I also like how Olofsson has played lately, but the 4th line doesn't make sense for him or Ruotsalainen.

The 2 kid lines playing so well has actually made the picture more murky heading into the offseason, as strange as that sounds.
- kingcong39

Depends on expansion. Also does Reinhart stay at C ?

Lots of moving parts.

Impossible to do any mock-ups until after the expansion draft

Depends on expansion. Also does Reinhart stay at C ?

Lots of moving parts.

Impossible to do any mock-ups until after the expansion draft
- Pegullaville

My mindset is to take my medicine with the expansion draft, meaning begging Skinner to waive his NMC for the draft and leaving Girgensons unprotected in hopes Seattle takes him.

If Skinner says no, then leave both Girgensons and Thompson unprotected and understand that one of the two will be gone.

I'd be looking to trade Reinhart for a similar player in terms of production who has more of an edge to their game, but I agree with Broads that I'm not sure Reinhart gets a Mantha type return.

Mantha being signed for 3 additional seasons at a cap hit of $5.7M is a big reason why.

My mindset is to take my medicine with the expansion draft, meaning begging Skinner to waive his NMC for the draft and leaving Girgensons unprotected in hopes Seattle takes him.

If Skinner says no, then leave both Girgensons and Thompson unprotected and understand that one of the two will be gone.

I'd be looking to trade Reinhart for a similar player in terms of production who has more of an edge to their game, but I agree with Broads that I'm not sure Reinhart gets a Mantha type return.

Mantha being signed for 3 additional seasons at a cap hit of $5.7M is a big reason why.
- kingcong39

I protect Tage over Asplund.

Other than that I agree with the rest of the post.

I protect Tage over Asplund.

Other than that I agree with the rest of the post.
- Pegullaville

How come?

Assuming the following 2 lines are for real and continue to be high quality:

Bjork - Cozens - Ruotsalainen
Asplund - Mittelstadt - Thompson

And a 4th line of Girgensons, Okposo, whatever.

Is a top line of Skinner - Eichel - Reinhart good enough to be a serious playoff team?

I know they have Peterka and Quinn developing, but it feels like the top line needs a bit more then the trio I mentioned, and I like and respect Reinhart as a player.

Further, what do you do with Olofsson and where does he fit in the lineup? I'm not a huge fan but he's looked much better the last 2 to 3 games.

There are some fascinating offseason decisions that are going to need to be made by Adams/Karmanos.
- kingcong39

Easily yes. It was one of the most dominant lines in hockey 2 years ago and hasn’t been back together since

I think people need to pump the brakes a tad on Bjork and Ruostolainen as top 6 wingers in that scenario.

Bjork has never been a big scorer and has yet to prove really anything except that the talent is there

Ruostolainen looks solid but his defensive numbers so far are bad.

I’d let the last stretch of games play out

How come?
- jdfitz77

Asplund has never been a big point producer at any professional level.

Once he regresses from his 35% shooting percentage this season he’ll be redundant as we now have Bjork and Girgensons (unless he’s claimed).

Tage has the higher ceiling, I don’t think he has topped out yet. He can still had another 15 pounds to his frame as well.

Plus the fact that we have several Left handed shots and we have a lack of right handed shots in the organization.

Asplund to me is 4th Liner that doesn’t look out of place on a third line right now but those guys are a dime a dozen.

Asplund has never been a big point producer at any professional level.

Once he regresses from his 35% shooting percentage this season he’ll be redundant as we now have Bjork and Girgensons (unless he’s claimed).

Tage has the higher ceiling, I don’t think he has topped out yet. He can still had another 15 pounds to his frame as well.

Plus the fact that we have several Left handed shots and we have a lack of right handed shots in the organization.

Asplund to me is 4th Liner that doesn’t look out of place on a third line right now but those guys are a dime a dozen.
- Pegullaville

Tage has never been a high point producer at any level either- what do u think his ceiling is?

Tage has never been a high point producer at any level either- what do u think his ceiling is?
- jdfitz77

Can be a 15-20 goals guy on the third line.

With added weight could possibly sneak into a top 6 RW role and be a 50 point guy.

Poor mans Alex Tuch.

Can be a 15-20 goals guy on the third line.

With added weight could possibly sneak into a top 6 RW role and be a 50 point guy.

Poor mans Alex Tuch.
- Pegullaville

He was really good today. He’s not bad in his end at all.

Honestly the jump he and Mittelstadt have made is great. Asplund is good too.

He was really good today. He’s not bad in his end at all.

Honestly the jump he and Mittelstadt have made is great. Asplund is good too.
- sbroads24

Yeah I like Asplund as well as cheap bottom 6 depth. I have no reservations against the player.

If I have to decide between Asplund and Tage though and can’t keep both. I’m choosing Tage

Yeah I like Asplund as well as cheap bottom 6 depth. I have no reservations against the player.

If I have to decide between Asplund and Tage though and can’t keep both. I’m choosing Tage
- Pegullaville

Tough call for me.

Asplund sample size is so small

Tage sample size of good play is also small, however Tage was much better than Asplund in Rochester last season.

If they went either way I wouldn’t be too upset

Tough call for me.

Asplund sample size is so small

Tage sample size of good play is also small, however Tage was much better than Asplund in Rochester last season.

If they went either way I wouldn’t be too upset
- sbroads24

Tage looks better, but it’s such a small sample size that I’m still not convinced
And since I’ve never really been a fan of his,
it’ll probably take a significant amount more

I have more faith that Asplund could fill a bottom6 role, than Tage can a middle6 role
I think Tage would occupy a spot that I’d wanna see improved on

Although again, he has looked better lately
I’m just not as high on him as you are