deluca67 Posted March 3, 2007 Report Posted March 3, 2007 Do we need the injured players back? 31 goals in 5 games. I would take this team into the playoffs. At this point it might be unfair to the league to bring back any of the injured players. I also wonder how many of the injured are watching what's going on and thinking they need to come back flying as to not lose their roster spot? Is there any other canidate for Executive of The Year other than Regier?
Corp000085 Posted March 3, 2007 Report Posted March 3, 2007 Yes, they all need to come back. I'm most interested in Spacek's return though. We all know that kotalik, max, and paille will come out flying because stafford, ryan, macarthur and kaleta will be breathing down their necks... Spacek on the other hand really has something to worry about. The forward lines are going to be set, and someone on defense will be the odd man out to give paetsch a spot for his PP skills. Someone on defense will be forced to sit down. Whether it be kalinin, numminen, or spacek, someone's gonna sit. If i were spacek, i'd be lined up at the starting gate ready to fly.
Orange Seats Posted March 3, 2007 Report Posted March 3, 2007 I'm actually worried that bringing back Max, Timmay, Kotalik, and Paille could throw us into a slump because 1) they'll be cold, 2) Max and Al are streaky players anyway, and 3) Maybe they're just not as good as Stafford, MacArthur, and (maybe) Ryan. I don't know, I have mixed feelings about this. We need to be healthy to win in the playoffs. We need Dru back, thats for sure. But I'm less convinced that we need Max around. Who needs a slumper out there you know (I remember beings so relieved when we dumped Satan for this same reason)? Maybe I'm being too hard on the "1st string guys." I guess it will be very very important for those guys to come out strong in their returns, or else the difference in scoring will be palpable. On the other hand... the young guys have been playing a rather defensive game, giving up a lot more goals than we usually do. So its a double edged sword. I guess in the playoffs this won't matter anyway becayse we can have as many guys as we want.
Corp000085 Posted March 3, 2007 Report Posted March 3, 2007 its good that these guys will be coming back in waves too... they can be evaluated one at a time vs. their minor league replacement.
SabresFan526 Posted March 3, 2007 Report Posted March 3, 2007 Well, here's what I figure. We know Stafford is going to be in the lineup for the rest of the season due to the Gaustad injury. So, then it really becomes an issue of Paille, Max, Kotalik, and Connolly vs. MacArthur, Michael Ryan, Mair, Kaleta, and Peters. So, you've got 9 guys fighting for 4 spots in the lineup. The guys who I feel are most vulnerable to lose their spots in the lineup are Kotalik and Paille due to production and Connolly and Max due to injury rather than production. One thing I love about this team is the depth at Center. On just about every line you basically have 2 centers that can take and win draws. Another thing that's important to remember are matchups during the regular season and playoffs. Depending on the team they play against and the tempo Lindy wants to set, he has his options of 9 guys for 4 positions. Lindy must absolutely love the position that he's in now. My suspicion is that come playoff time if Lindy wants to truly role 4 lines throughout the game without having to double shift anyone, assuming everyone is healthy, Peters will be a scratch and Kaleta will be in Rochester for the AHL Playoffs. The way I see things shaking out assuming everyone is healthy will be that Mair and Paille sort of platoon during the playoffs and alternate games. In terms of top subs/healthy scratches I see it going as follows: 1a. Mair 1b. Paille 2. Peters 3. MacArthur 4. Ryan 5. Kaleta I see the playoff lines shaking out as follows with the parantheses guys come in for injury or lack of production: Pominville Briere Hecht Stafford Drury Kotalik (Michael Ryan) Vanek Zubrus Afinogenov (MacArthur) Roy Connolly Mair/Paille (Peters/Kaleta) It's great that the kids are getting so much exposure to the NHL game and putting up so many points. This way, we know for certain that if someone goes down, these guys can be called upon come playoff time and step in with no problem. I think the forward depth on this team has really become strong. I think the options are a good thing come playoff time. Just my two cents.
mrjsbu96 Posted March 3, 2007 Report Posted March 3, 2007 i realize it is in jest and it is a good point, but we played 11 goals came via two circus-like games with OTT, another with a tired TOR team, and last night MONT had to play more wide-open b/c of the quick start. it's a marathon and those injured guys helped get us to the point we were 5 games ago - that said, what a great feeling watching these kids step in. it definitely makes you feel very good for the future, not just this season...
DR HOLLIDAY Posted March 3, 2007 Report Posted March 3, 2007 Man every team in the universe wishes they had issues such as these........... :beer:
LabattBlue Posted March 3, 2007 Report Posted March 3, 2007 Do we need the injured players back? 31 goals in 5 games. I would take this team into the playoffs. At this point it might be unfair to the league to bring back any of the injured players. I also wonder how many of the injured are watching what's going on and thinking they need to come back flying as to not lose their roster spot? Is there any other canidate for Executive of The Year other than Regier? Max has nothing to worry about as does Connolly (if and when he ever comes back). I don't think Kotalik should feel threatened either. Paille on the other hand should be standing up and taking notice.
jad1 Posted March 3, 2007 Report Posted March 3, 2007 It's really an embarassment of riches. Think about these center wing combinations: Drury-Zubrus; Briere -Pominville; Roy-Vanek; and Connolly-Afinegenov. So who's the number 1 line, and who's the number 4 line, and who in the league can match up with those combos, escpecially after you fill out the lines with Kotalik, Hecht, Stafford, Ryan, Mair, etc.
shrader Posted March 3, 2007 Report Posted March 3, 2007 Maybe the NHL will let us dress 24 skaters so we can roll 6 lines.
wjag Posted March 3, 2007 Report Posted March 3, 2007 Do we need the injured players back? 31 goals in 5 games. I would take this team into the playoffs. At this point it might be unfair to the league to bring back any of the injured players. I also wonder how many of the injured are watching what's going on and thinking they need to come back flying as to not lose their roster spot? Is there any other canidate for Executive of The Year other than Regier? No. Why upset the chemsitry of these guys? We are, hard to believe this, significantly faster, without them. Send them to Rochester to help the Amerks. :D
connee Posted March 3, 2007 Report Posted March 3, 2007 The Sabres will have the best pressbox team in the playoffs!
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