matter2003 Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 As if we weren't already the best team in the NHL without Tim Connolly all year, we go out and pick up another almost point per game scorer in Zubrus... So, I believe it is possible that we can field a 4th line now that might have more points than half the other teams in the NHL's first lines do...our depth just became unbelievable... Line 1: Drury Kotalik Zubrus Line 2: Briere Pominville Hecht Line 3: Connolly Vanek Afinigenov Line 4: Roy Stafford/Paille/Paetsch Mair If Ruff wanted to, he could even put Zubrus on the checking line, as he apparently really enjoys playing physical and shutting down other teams lines... I cannot believe just how good this team will be when healthy---it almost won't be fair...
Corp000085 Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 i hate to say this with 6 or 7 injured forwards, but DON'T JINX IT!
deluca67 Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 I think some of the guys on IR might want to come back real soon. Does Wally Pip ring a bell. :lol:
topshelfcookies Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 First off...it'd be pretty amazing if every forward we have, except the Goose is healthy throughout the remainder of the season and the playoffs. There will be at least nights like tonight, where someone catches the flu, etc. That being said, I've had a blast playing with the lines all day as well. Here's what I would do, provided everyone is healthy. Hecht - Briere - Pominville Kotalik- Drury - Paetsch/Mair Vanek - Roy - Stafford Afinogenov - Conolly - Zubrus Obviously, you're not going to break up Briere's line. The way that Vanek Roy and Stafford have been playing the last week, I see no reason to bust them up either. I think if you put Mair with Drury, you're still able to play that line against any #1 line in the league and be effective. The problem is, if you put Roy back on the wing w/ Drury (a move that I LOVE) I think you can put just about anyone else with that line and have an absolute lock-down defensive line that you can play against anyone, yet still create some offense. If Connolly is back and healthy, he could take Roy's spot between Vanek and Stafford. Then suddenly you're left with Afinogenov, Kotalik, Mair and Zubrus and you need to find them all a home. What a wonderful problem to have. Not to mention, what the hell are you going to do with Paetsch? I don't see how you can take him out of the lineup, especially with the way his play has sparked the PP.
JohnRobertEichel Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 Assuming a completely healthy playoff roster, I'd prefer this: Line 1: Hecht - Briere - Pominville Line 2: Vanek - Roy - Afinogenov Line 3: Kotalik - Drury - Zubrus Line 4: Paille - Connolly - Stafford 9th winger: Peters 5th center: Mair Sent back down to Rochester: Mancari, Kaleta, Ryan, MacArthur Oh yeah, and IR: Gaustad
topshelfcookies Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 I think that a player like Mair is extremely valuable in the playoffs. It's never a bad thing to have a winger that can hit and grind. I was pretty unimpressed with Paille's play the last couple weeks to be honest. He's got to play his way back into a roster spot. If he doesn't watch it, MacArthur might just outplay him. What's great about our forward depth though, is that Ruff will have no problem penciling someone like MacArthur, Stafford or Keleta into the lineup if someone begins to disappear in the playoffs (like Vanek did last year). It's great pressure to know that someone is waiting to take your job over.
Samson's Flow Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 lindy said today on WGR that zubrus really wants to play with maxim afinogenov. and since zubby is now the second best faceoff man we have besides drury he should center that line to give them a better faceoff win %. This line with three 20 G scorers on it is a huge weapon to have if we can build chemistry for the remainder of the season (there already seems to be some with the russians) the briere line is the only one that hasnt been affected by the injuries lately, so no sense changing that, and putting roy on wing seems to be where he is most effective, and would make a very nice shutdown defensive line with drury and roy. The new fourth line is far more capable than what it was during the reg. season, and if connolly comes back that could be a serious threat with connoly and stafford. so the lines that i think lindy will prolly do is this... Hecht - Briere - Pommer Roy - Drury - Kotalik Vanek - Zubrus - Afinogenov Paille - Mair (Connolly!) - Stafford Paetsch will be the extra forward/defenseman to be used at lindys discretion, maybe as the fourth line wing instead of paille/stafford or a guy whose sole responsibility is his play on the PP - how cool would that be? Sounds pretty scary to me!! :w00t:
drnkirishone Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 All I know is if I am Stafford I would be loving you guys right now lol. Cause if Connelly comes back and is even 60% as effective as last year then Drew is gonna put up some solid numbers cause they gonna be playing againest the worst players the opposition has lol. Cause you gotta at least play solid players againest any line Vanek and Briere are on, and you know Drury is going againest your top line. It's scary just thinking about it lol. As far as Paetsch............... I'm not convinced he sits at all. Lindy loves his game right now and has called Spacek out already and Kalinin has been in his doghouse before............. I don't think it's unreasonable to see either of them sitting as the 7th D come playoff time.
Stoner Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 The interesting (to me) variant of the question is how can this team be apparently better than it was when healthy? Am I being ridiculous, or can some of these kids actually challenge for ice time in the playoffs?
Rock DJ Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 The interesting (to me) variant of the question is how can this team be apparently better than it was when healthy? Am I being ridiculous, or can some of these kids actually challenge for ice time in the playoffs? I don't see how you can sit Paetsch. He has really pushed to stay. Stafford and MacArthur both have a shot if they keep improving. They can push Mair, Paille, and even kotalik if his play drops off again. Either way, I think it's notice to a couple of the vets. Play hard or watch from the press box for a few games.
Fronz1103 Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 Watching yesterday game I got excited because Paetsch is actually doing Spacek's job... Shooting from the point on the power - play... finally a guy who isnt afraid to let it rip! and he moves so fluently on his skates, its awesome! He is quickly looking like last years Soupy (minus the red hair) IMHO, therie no way he is getting sent back down anytime soon!
matter2003 Posted February 28, 2007 Author Report Posted February 28, 2007 Watching yesterday game I got excited because Paetsch is actually doing Spacek's job... Shooting from the point on the power - play... finally a guy who isnt afraid to let it rip! and he moves so fluently on his skates, its awesome! He is quickly looking like last years Soupy (minus the red hair) IMHO, therie no way he is getting sent back down anytime soon! Yeah no chance of him going back down---even when he wasn't playing he was with the team as the 7th defenseman---he was last year's version of Rory Fitzpatrick, although a much better one... His PP play that has effectively turned a 23rd ranked PP into what now might be the best in the NHL since he has been QB'ing it(they are clipping along at roughly 30% on the PP since the AS break)... Not to mention that he has been playing very solid in his own end.... IMHO, Paetsch is turning into a very good NHL player....this kid will be a force in the next few years
cdexchange Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 Either way, I think it's notice to a couple of the vets. Play hard or watch from the press box for a few games. I think this is huge. Nobody can slack off now. All the starters have to play with 100% intensity or they sit. I'm thinking particularly about a guy like Max, who really disappeared for long stretches in the playoffs last year. I doubt that will happen this year! And I really hope they can find a way to keep Stafford and Paetch up here from now on.
MDFan Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 All I know is if I am Stafford I would be loving you guys right now lol. Cause if Connelly comes back and is even 60% as effective as last year then Drew is gonna put up some solid numbers cause they gonna be playing againest the worst players the opposition has lol. Cause you gotta at least play solid players againest any line Vanek and Briere are on, and you know Drury is going againest your top line. It's scary just thinking about it lol. As far as Paetsch............... I'm not convinced he sits at all. Lindy loves his game right now and has called Spacek out already and Kalinin has been in his doghouse before............. I don't think it's unreasonable to see either of them sitting as the 7th D come playoff time. I would not be disappointed to see kalinen sitting and Paetch in his place. I thinkl he is playing far more consistently already - on O and D.
X. Benedict Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 I would not be disappointed to see kalinen sitting and Paetch in his place. I thinkl he is playing far more consistently already - on O and D. Kalinen is still a big body on the bottom of the PK. The nice thing about Paetch is he can kill at the top. Using Paetch as a swinging D/W is a great option.
drnkirishone Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 Just to be clear in what I said. Kalinin has been in Lindy's doghouse before. I'm not saying he is now nor that he is not playing a good game atm. Cause he is playing a good defensive game for us atm I think. But if anyone ends up sitting on D i think it's Spacek or him.
Bmwolf21 Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 In a weird way, I think the injuries have helped awakened the veteran guys a little. During their on-again, off-again stretch of piss-poor efforts between November and mid-January, I was begging for Lindy to healthy scratch a couple guys to upset the veterans' comfort level. Now, as the injuries have mounted, the younger guys have come in and really stepped up and pushed the older guys a little. In turn, I think it has made some of the older guys realize that there are some damn good players down in Rochester who want their roster spots, and the Sabres' vets better pick up their games and move their butts if they want to be part of this team's playoff run. The injuries have also forced some guys into playing some roles they haven't had a lot of experience in - PK, PP, enforcers - making the veterans step up their games and try to "be the man" for the younger guys to look up to and to take the pressure off them as well.
niagara66 Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 In a weird way, I think the injuries have helped awakened the veteran guys a little.... Very good points. Also, our young guys are getting significant playing time against NHL talent that is fighting for playoff spots, and more than holding their own! We, Lindy, and most importatntly, THEY now KNOW they can play at the highest levels. Should the injury bug strike during the playoffs, our FWD and D depth is no longer a question. So what did we get out of this injury run? 1. The injured players will be rested at the start of the playoffs, going against teams that have just fought hard down the stretch. 2. The returning starters are on notice that their jobs aren't safe 3. The injuries laid the groundwork for our guys fighting off the "soft " label culminating in that team-forging epic against OTT 4. Our SABERKS got tested under fire and can confidently provide relief if called This team looks very, very good right now. I'm beginning to let myself hope.
Samson's Flow Posted February 28, 2007 Report Posted February 28, 2007 This team looks very, very good right now. I'm beginning to let myself hope. hope in buffalo? what is that!? I'm starting to get that giddy feeling that comes from sabres playoff hockey - that and my school just picked up MSG!!! :worthy:
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