LGR4GM

I like this lineup and think it makes sense. I will add that I think it more likely Benson gets scratched than Olofsson. My guess is they want to see how the JJP - Cozens - Olofsson works in a game. Rousek - Jost - Biro makes sense to send too, as they will be the first callups or 13th forward once the final roster is done. Donny G talked about how he talks to his veterans to find out what they need to get ready for a season. Do they want 4 games, 2 games, all the games. Sounded like Johnson and Clifton wanted more practice reps to learn the new system over games. Smart IMPO.

A few thoughts here. Mitts has shown multiple times in the last 3 years short stretches of great play. Injuries have often derailed that, so there was evidence that he could be better. I still do have a small question if he can really and truly be that over a full season but I hope so. Mitts was also 22-24 during the timeframe you are talking about and Olofsson is now 28. A 22 year old player getting better, makes perfect sense to me. A 28 year old better getting better, less likely. If VO was new to the league or had some injury that precluded him from playing better, sure, we could argue we haven't seen him at 100%. However, I think we have seen his best and I also think he is not well suited for Granato's system. VO is not particularly fast or agile on his skates. His entire game severely lacks deception or manipulative elements. The higher end hockey IQ needed that we see in Benson is not present. VO does not possess great hands. He is not particularly big, in fact, VO is a whopping 1 inch and 12lbs bigger than Zach Benson and yet this board never seems to question his size. His defensive game is similarly bland in comparison to his offensive game. I think what VO is, is well established. He is a 22g, 15a floatey player with deficiencies that might contribute lower in the lineup and on the PP. If you need goals as a team, he might be an option. The one thing he has is a great shot, but teams know that so they make sure they shadow into his shooting lane because he is not a threat passing wise and he isn't going to make a move to get into a better position to shoot.

"So childish" hrrumph

To the first question, yes. Environment matters. If I take a tray of flowers and give some more and and some less water, some will flourish while others wilt. To the second, idk. Jury is still out.

I probably didn't scroll back far enough

If the 3 of Kulich, Benson, and savoie hit, that means Tuch, Tage, Skinner, Cozens, Mitts, Quinn, JJP and then those 3 are on the team. That's 10 forwards all with 50pt or more ability and 7 with 65+ ability. You don't even need any of the later round forwards to hit to have by next year a very deep and talented forwards group.

When was this? I scrolled through Quinns minutes from February to April and only found a few games that look more sheltered than normal, most games he's right around 13-14 min.

Couple of things. The first, this is strangest "flex" attempt I've ever seen. Second, his sh% last year was 3.6% higher than his career average and his total number of shots almost exactly the same. So unless he continues to shoot above his average and ups his shot total, he will regress back to the average which is 22.5 goals. I personally think he'll get pp2 time but it won't be enough to make up for the decreased 5v5 time he will get. I also don't believe olofsson is a Sabre by March.

Just so we're clear, I'm not really asking. I'm being snarky and know that his xgf% is negative, his corsi is positive, and his eye test is woof. He's replaceable and that time is now. Wanna bet? 22.5 or less

And what was his on ice goal differential? Asking since the "snickering" lgr didn't know VO had 28 entire goals. What's his xgf% or corsi% or eye test looking like? I'll predict if, and that's a big IF, vo stays in Buffalo all season he had 22.5 goals or less.

He's 201lbs according to the above roster.

I can't really think of a time either JJP or Quinn in particular were "taken advantage of"

I'm trying to imagine thinking anyone needs to sit Tuch down and explain any of this. He's also not on the 3rd line and will get at minimum 2nd pp time.

He has elite manipulation skills

I have seen nothing in the preseason to make me think VO can do this. I saw nothing last year when it was ABUNDUNATLY obvious he needed to play better to make me think he can do this. I have seen nothing that makes me think VO has it in him to improve his game to a level above liability and he has had multiple chances to do that.

The more I look at this the more this makes total sense to my brain... Skinner-Thompson-Benson Peterka-Cozens-Olofsson Savoie Greenway-Mittelstadt-Tuch Girgensons-Krebs-Okposo Rousek-Jost Olofsson is traded or waived and Biro is waived? or sent to Rochester. I am fine with swapping Biro for Rousek as I think both players are somewhat interchangeable. That gives you 14 forwards and you only keep 7 defenders and 2 goalies. Of course... Savoie hasn't practiced so maybe I am wrong.

Here are Sabres lines as Rochester also opens camp today. Skinner-Thompson-Benson = I like it and think this could work Peterka-Cozens-Olofsson = I think within a week they'll realize that you can't saddle Olofsson this high up. Greenway-Mittelstadt-Tuch = This has a lot of potential but only if Mitts can replicate last years abilities. Girgensons-Krebs-Okposo = Pretty much what we expected Rousek-Jost-Biro = The island of misfit toys or first callups/subs Murray-Kulich-Rosén = Eastbound and down... shortly Dahlin-Clifton = Yup Power-Jokiharju = idk if I trust joker but donny does Samuelsson-E. Johnson = solid R. Johnson-Bryson = sorry little johnson Stillman-Clague = yupers If I could swap in Savoie for Olofsson right now, I actually kinda like that forward lineup. Savoie has the speed to keep up with Cozens.

It is a really good question. They have similarities such as high motors, both think the game well, lots of chaos generation, and I would say both are smart. Where they are different is what you say here. Benson is smarter and that allows him to have all these finer details to his game. Savoie is faster and more dynamic on his skates. Both have solid shots and good passing. They are fun players and I hope they get a couple inches taller and pack on about 20lbs of muscle because they have dynamic traits that would allow them to be dangerous in the NHL.

FTR, I really like Kulich a lot. My issue is that he doesn't effect the game enough away from the puck. Benson is almost the ideal player because he creates chaos with or without the puck he is a disruptive force and chaos is what you want. I say almost because I do wish Benson was 6'2" 205lbs but that's fine. Kulich can create chaos but he doesn't thrive on creating it. He tends to float a bit more and sit in open ice as opposed to attacking opponents and probing for weakness. It is a different style and it is a reason I worry a little about Kulich's game translating. It mirrors some of what makes Olofsson frustrating although to a lesser extent. Rosen falls into a similar category but he seems to be able to play that 200ft game where Kulich really lacks in the defensive end and could be better on puck retrievals. I do like Kulich and I think with good coaching and a little time, you can get a solid player out of him who probably always leans more offensive such as 65/35 or something. I hope he uses his time in the AHL well.

I would say that Savoie is closer to Benson than Kulich is to Savoie. Östlund is a wildcard because he isn't in jrs and he plays in a men's league, really hard to compare that to any of the rest (yes ik the AHL is a men's league but it is different).

To give Beane credit, I think it was wise that he stopped wasting draft assets on defensive end and especially RB. He instead used picks to fix problem spots including Torrence (who thankfully slid). What he couldn't draft he found good UFA options between Rapp and Ford, the defense has better depth. Also I personally think Bernard has been more influential on the game than Edwards was. Edwards was an athlete with IMPO poor instincts for the position. I questioned Beane going into this season and honestly I think that was justified. He however has restored much faith through the first 4 games. Also Ken Dorsey seems to have finally settled in but I am concerned that he lacks the ability to adapt to good defenses such as the jets. The Dolphins, the Raiders, and the Commanders don't necessarily have rock star complicated defenses. My concern is that Allen and Dorsey seem to panic a little against complex defenses which doesn't make sense because they see a complex defense in practice every day. Either way, for now they are humming and I think the improved O-line is a big reason for it. You gotta win in the trenches. If college football has taught me anything is that you win in the trenches first and I think last year especially the o-line just couldn't handle it and that got into Josh's head and he honestly panicked and went into hero ball land. All of that said, Dorsey and McDermott have done very well since the Jets game and deserve a lot of credit. White going out is a tough loss but Vonn's return is intriguing. I would personally limit Vonn's snaps for the next few weeks especially if we are dominating like we did against the last 3 opponents.

I think the Sabres very honestly told Johnson that if he wants to be in Buffalo, his best chance is the right side unless he wants to sit behind at a minimum Power and Dahlin and possibly Samuelsson as well. Samuelsson is the perfect 4/5 defender since you can move him up and it doesn't hurt anything because Dahlin and you can move him down as a shutdown pair and it doesn't hurt anything because Power. Razmataz - Cliff Bar Power Ranger - Big Johnson Muel - The Joker Little Johnson

I keep saying to ppl look at the prospects we think will make it, now pick half of them and toss them out. The NHL shows you who's marginal and who's got it, it's the great equalizer. Asplund, never managed to take that final step. It's what worries me most about Rosen or kisakov or a few others.

We've seen nothing this preseason to think olofsson has improved either. Also the points here really show how undervalued Quinn is if anyone thinks VO can be plugged into his spot.