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.
- Pegullaville

57 and 32 goals. Granted, he's shooting 16%, but it sure puts a huge dent into the sentiment of all the "he rides Eichel's coattails" people.

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
- sbroads24

It feels like an assumption, and possibly a big one, that reuniting Skinner with Eichel and Reinhart would make them a dominant line again.

To me, the Cozens and Mittelstadt lines are strong middle 6 lines, although I understand one would be a top 6 line by default.

The combination of skillset and abilities on the Cozens and Mittelstadt lines are what is making them productive.

It's interesting what you said about Bjork above while being a bit of a Tage stan.

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

I don't think anybody would disagree if they could upgrade from Ruotsalainen and Asplund on their respective lines, but if they cannot, why not go forward for next year with those 2 players in the roles that are working well with them while neither costing much in terms of cap hit?

Quinn a possibility too
Maybe Jj Peterka challenges as well ?
- jdfitz77

nah

It feels like an assumption, and possibly a big one, that reuniting Skinner with Eichel and Reinhart would make them a dominant line again.

To me, the Cozens and Mittelstadt lines are strong middle 6 lines, although I understand one would be a top 6 line by default.

The combination of skillset and abilities on the Cozens and Mittelstadt lines are what is making them productive.

It's interesting what you said about Bjork above while being a bit of a Tage stan.
- kingcong39

I’m not penciling Tage into a top 6 role

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

Trade Sam for a Mantha return then protect both.

Trade Sam for a Mantha return then protect both.
- Fattony1187

Would they get a Mantha return as Sam does not have 3 years left on his deal at under $6M per?

Wouldn't you also want to protect the player you get back in the return for Sam, assuming it's a forward?

Trade Sam for a Mantha return then protect both.
- Fattony1187

Late 1st, late 2nd, a middle six winger with an effort problem and a cap dump?

No.

Eakin played 5:55 yesterday. Dahlin/Joker led in ice time, Risto was 5th in ice time on D.

Eakin played 5:55 yesterday. Dahlin/Joker led in ice time, Risto was 5th in ice time on D.
- TheSabresTaco

I wonder what Eakin's average ice time was under Ralph

I wonder what Eakin's average ice time was under Ralph
- kritter65

What I can tell you, which is probably obvious at this point, is that Mitts' ice time rose by about 3-4 minutes.

I wonder what Eakin's average ice time was under Ralph
- kritter65

January-14.1 minutes
February-13.6 minutes
March-12.2 minutes
April-12.5 minutes

That's all situations.

What I can tell you, which is probably obvious at this point, is that Mitts' ice time rose by about 3-4 minutes.
- TheSabresTaco

What’s great about the emergence of Mitts/Cozens is that they can run three talented centers down the middle (4 with Reinhart) and not exhaust Eichel by game 40 playing him 24 minutes in every game they are losing

The true way to judge these players and coaches will be on their first 20 games next year. It’s very easy to get locked into a false sense of Stanley Cup fever at this point.
Let the kids play and gain experience. There will be surprises this year and even more next year. Right now they all look great and are making it very enjoyable to watch.

I think people need to chill out on who we is being traded and who is being protected. Let's finish out the year and see the progress of each player. And Rhino is not a 1C.

January-14.1 minutes
February-13.6 minutes
March-12.2 minutes
April-12.5 minutes

That's all situations.
- TheSabresTaco

I love that Granato benched him for the second half of the second and then again in the third after he had that awful giveaway in his own zone. I suspect that he is going to find the press box more often than not going forward.

I think people need to chill out on who we is being traded and who is being protected. Let's finish out the year and see the progress of each player. And Rhino is not a 1C.
- Buff36

I'd do 6 x 6 for Rhino and not a drop more. I think at that celery you're assuming that he is a winger on Jack's line. Sure, he didn't look terrible at center but we have plenty of centers and he surely is not a 1C.

Eakin played 5:55 yesterday. Dahlin/Joker led in ice time, Risto was 5th in ice time on D.
- TheSabresTaco

The stars are aligning. My tea leaves are all pointing to good things as well

I love that Granato benched him for the second half of the second and then again in the third after he had that awful giveaway in his own zone. I suspect that he is going to find the press box more often than not going forward.
- Slump Buster

Finally. Ralph put way too much faith in this clown.

I think people need to chill out on who we is being traded and who is being protected. Let's finish out the year and see the progress of each player. And Rhino is not a 1C.
- Buff36

I believe it's partially the excitement of seeing the young players stepping up and attempting to make sense of all the moves needed when the offseason begins.

There is a LOT to unpack.

What’s great about the emergence of Mitts/Cozens is that they can run three talented centers down the middle (4 with Reinhart) and not exhaust Eichel by game 40 playing him 24 minutes in every game they are losing
- sbroads24

Considering the amount of offense those 'middle 6' lines are getting right now, we went from wholesale reconstruction with Ralph to, I think we have a (frank)ing team here. We're showing 3 lines who are competent scorers, and I'd be really hard pressed to think Granato shouldn't be the one going forward. With this team's age and makeup, I don't know what coach is going to produce a better result than what we have today. They play hard, aggressive, and usually for 50-60 minutes a game. They've become difficult to play against, even considering their ages and/or inexperience.

You inject Eichel into this and now teams need to defend against 3 legitimate scoring lines. All credit due to Reinhart for continuing to play the way that his analytics suggested all along (that he doesn't need Eichel to be useful), but not having Eichel there damages our other very high priced asset.

Skinner-Jack-Sam
Asplund-Casey-Thompson/X
Bjork-Cozens-Ruotsalainen
Girgensons-X-Okposo/X
Fogarty

Dahlin-Joker
McCabe-Risto(be honest)
Bryson-Borgen
Junk D

I think one of Asplund or Tallness is claimed without the use of influence picks. What does the UFA market for middle 6 wingers look like? Saad? Armia? It's a bad market. Tatar and Coleman could be decent options too. And then where does Kyle go. Does he stick for one more year before a BO? You save more money sending him to waivers. If you want Seattle to take Jeff, it'll cost a fortune.

Eakin played 5:55 yesterday. Dahlin/Joker led in ice time, Risto was 5th in ice time on D.
- TheSabresTaco

I will be curious to see what Risto's metrics are over the last 20 games playing less minutes

The true way to judge these players and coaches will be on their first 20 games next year. It’s very easy to get locked into a false sense of Stanley Cup fever at this point.
Let the kids play and gain experience. There will be surprises this year and even more next year. Right now they all look great and are making it very enjoyable to watch.
- Camel

I disagree. The Sabres were good for the start of 18-19 and 19-20 and died, because they ran out of gas, the goalie luck fell off and frankly they were poorly coached. I think it's this time of year that shows you what you've got. We're done with the Devils, and every other team is in an honest playoff hunt. You should be getting their best efforts. The Sabres are not only keeping up with the good teams, but they're beating them by being hard to play against and offensively aggressive without giving up defense. Win or lose, they're playing a very solid game for the roster we have.

I disagree. The Sabres were good for the start of 18-19 and 19-20 and died, because they ran out of gas, the goalie luck fell off and frankly they were poorly coached. I think it's this time of year that shows you what you've got. We're done with the Devils, and every other team is in an honest playoff hunt. You should be getting their best efforts. The Sabres are not only keeping up with the good teams, but they're beating them by being hard to play against and offensively aggressive without giving up defense. Win or lose, they're playing a very solid game for the roster we have.
- TheSabresTaco

In other words, what they are doing now is sustainable. The underlying numbers while not always great match the eye test.

https://www.tsn.ca/free-a...aking-nhl-rounds-1.474440

Popped up in my memories