Ruff has been playing 3 and a half lines this year, it and it looks like it has been by design. He seems perfectly happy with playing the 4th line to wear out teams in the first two periods, and going almost exclusively with the top 3 lines in the 3rd.
It's hard to argue with that plan, considering the Sabres lead the league in goals and points. So it was never a question of Stafford or Paille being better than Peters; that's a no-brainer. It's a question of the rookies being better than the top six wingers; because who do you sit to give them ice time in the 3rd? Even when Ruff has benched a top six winger, Gaustad has filled in well.
So, like Roy and Pominville last season, Paille and Stafford are getting big minutes in Rochester to start the year.
Now that Max is injured, the Sabres will probably need some goals from the 4th line, so bringing up both Stafford and Paille, and benching Peters makes sense. If and when the Sabres get healthy, however, I wouldn't be surprised to see the rookies back in Rochester and Peters back in the lineup.