Gaustad a wing? Hecht a center?

[tom webster]

According to Paul Hamilton,

Lindy Ruff's preferred scenario is to have Gaustad play wing with Hecht at center allowing Gaustad to take some if not all the draws. If this happens, the lines would look something like this;

 

Vanek - Roy - Stafford(Max)

Gaustad - Hecht - Pominville

Paille - Connolly - Kotalik

??????????????????????????

 

I like the fact that this would create less reliance on Connolly to stay healthy but I still prefer having a dedicated shut down line. On the other hand, Hecht, Gaustad and Pominville is a pretty responsible combination. These combos further illustrate the need to get rid of Max. He just doesn't fit. Lindy wants him gone, he wants to be gone and the longer he stays, the more likely that it becomes Matt Barnaby all over again.

Of course Darcy turned that into Stu Barnes.

Of course Craig Patrick said that trade could have been done two months sooner.

Any comments?

[LabattBlue]

According to Paul Hamilton,

Lindy Ruff's preferred scenario is to have Gaustad play wing with Hecht at center allowing Gaustad to take some if not all the draws. If this happens, the lines would look something like this;

 

Vanek - Roy - Stafford(Max)

Gaustad - Hecht - Pominville

Paille - Connolly - Kotalik

??????????????????????????

 

I like the fact that this would create less reliance on Connolly to stay healthy but I still prefer having a dedicated shut down line. On the other hand, Hecht, Gaustad and Pominville is a pretty responsible combination. These combos further illustrate the need to get rid of Max. He just doesn't fit. Lindy wants him gone, he wants to be gone and the longer he stays, the more likely that it becomes Matt Barnaby all over again.

Of course Darcy turned that into Stu Barnes.

Of course Craig Patrick said that trade could have been done two months sooner.

Any comments?

I don't like those line combos and I agree that the Sabres need a "true" checking line. They need two solid scoring lines and playing Gaustad on one of them is going to hurt the cause on offense.

 

Working with what they have and still assuming that Max will be traded, I would go with something like this...

 

 

Vanek-Roy-Stafford

Kotalik-Connolly-Pominville

Hecht-Gaustad-Paille

Kaleta-Mair-Peters-MacArthur

[inkman]

Vanek - Roy - Stafford(Max)

Gaustad - Hecht - Pominville

Paille - Connolly - Kotalik

??????????????????????????

 

I like the fact that this would create less reliance on Connolly to stay healthy but I still prefer having a dedicated shut down line. On the other hand, Hecht, Gaustad and Pominville is a pretty responsible combination. These combos further illustrate the need to get rid of Max. He just doesn't fit. Lindy wants him gone...

 

I hate that lineup. This team need a little juggling among the forward ranks. I don't think Stafford or Max is a good fit with Roy and Vanek. Is Pominville on the same side as Vanek? I'd rather see him with a playmaker like Roy or Connolly. Speaking of Connolly, that hodge podge line he's on sucks. He need to be with finishers, like Pommers, not stone hands Paille. Goose is falling into the tweener category. Too good for 4th line duty, doesn't really fit anywhere else.

 

As for the 4th line, who plays with Mair and Kaleta? MaCarthur?

[LabattBlue]

As for the 4th line, who plays with Mair and Kaleta? MaCarthur?

This is where a vet like Gelinas would fit in perfectly, but DR is too in love with his prospects to bring in a vet.

[Taro T]

I don't like those line combos and I agree that the Sabres need a "true" checking line. They need two solid scoring lines and playing Gaustad on one of them is going to hurt the cause on offense.

 

Working with what they have and still assuming that Max will be traded, I would go with something like this...

Vanek-Roy-Stafford

Kotalik-Connolly-Pominville

Hecht-Gaustad-Paille

Kaleta-Mair-Peters-MacArthur

While I would not have Goose-Jochen-Poms as my 1st choice for a shutdown line, it does conjure memories of when Gare played on the checking line and scored 50 goals. Hecht and Poms have been together for 2 years, I doubt Lindy will separate them.

 

At least until Max is gone and assuming Paul is right about the "shutdown" line, I'd probably go w/

 

Vanek-Roy-Stafford

Kotalik-Connolly-Afinogenov

Gaustad-Hecht-Pominville

Paille-Mair-Kaleta

 

and I would roll all 4 lines.

[Kristian]

This is where a vet like Gelinas would fit in perfectly, but DR is too in love with his prospects to bring in a vet.

 

Yeah, in that regard, the 06-07 season hurt us more than it did us good.

 

We had a ton of youngsters filling in for injured regulars, kicking butt in the process.

 

Somehow, this seems to have led the front office to believe they don't need a veteran presence.

 

Shame, cause it was quite evident last year what happens WITHOUT a veteran presence, not just on the blueline, but also up front.

 

Now, I know this team needs to spend it's money wisely with it's owner-imposed cap, but if this experiment goes like last year, it'll also hamper the development of our prospects, so it's bad decision IMHO.

[Guest Sloth]

While I would not have Goose-Jochen-Poms as my 1st choice for a shutdown line, it does conjure memories of when Gare played on the checking line and scored 50 goals. Hecht and Poms have been together for 2 years, I doubt Lindy will separate them.

 

At least until Max is gone and assuming Paul is right about the "shutdown" line, I'd probably go w/

 

Vanek-Roy-Stafford

Kotalik-Connolly-Afinogenov

Gaustad-Hecht-Pomminstein

Paille-Mair-Kaleta

 

and I would roll all 4 lines.

 

I liked your set up the best. Kotalik put up good numbers whenever he got to play on the 2nd line last year. I also like the 4th line. That line seemed to get the Sabres fired up when they needed it most last year. They would lay a HUGE hit or score a goal, which told the other lines to pick their game up. Plus, Kaleta can pisss the other team off and draw a penalty. I love watching that guy.

If he's not traded, maybe Max will turn things around this year...he is in the last year of is contract. Right now, he's messing up the line configuration. Pomminstein belongs in the top two lines.

[Stoner]

Today's Snooze has Ruff liking Paille on left wing with Hecht and Pominville.

 

This is a ridiculous exercise, trying to predict how Lindy is going to set up his lines.

 

Almost as ridiculous as comparing Afinogenov's situation with Barnaby's. Matt was an immature baby who quit on the team. I've never heard any criticism to that effect directed toward Max.

[Guest Sloth]

Today's Snooze has Ruff liking Paille on left wing with Hecht and Pominville.

 

This is a ridiculous exercise, trying to predict how Lindy is going to set up his lines.

 

Almost as ridiculous as comparing Afinogenov's situation with Barnaby's. Matt was an immature baby who quit on the team. I've never heard any criticism to that effect directed toward Max.

 

Yeah, I'll admit I'm too obsessed w/ Sabres hockey. Thanks for slapping me in the face! ha ha

Ok, back to the lineups... :lol:

 

I'll agree it is somwhat pointless, but it is fun to debate different line setups.

[tom webster]

Today's Snooze has Ruff liking Paille on left wing with Hecht and Pominville.

 

This is a ridiculous exercise, trying to predict how Lindy is going to set up his lines.

 

Almost as ridiculous as comparing Afinogenov's situation with Barnaby's. Matt was an immature baby who quit on the team. I've never heard any criticism to that effect directed toward Max.

 

I realize that you sometime need help comprehending what requires a little thought but the comparison is that in both cases Ruff wanted the player gone, in both cases there were or are offers on the table, and apparently in both cases Reiger is going to let the situation drag out a little longer than Ruff would like.

Hope that helps you understand.

[shrader]

I really liked Connolly and Vanek together for that one game last year. That combination of vision and scoring had all the makings of an elite line.

[nfreeman]

I think TBN yesterday and today speculated that the top 3 lines (the 4th wasn't specified) would look like:

 

Roy-Vanek-Stafford

Hecht-Pominville-Paille

Gaustad-Connolly-Kotalik

 

...which, assuming Max is gone, would leave Mair, Kaleta and MacArthur for the 4th line.

 

I see 2 big issues with this scenario:

 

1. Max is quite likely to be on the team when the season starts. If that's the case, he will be on a top 3 line.

 

2. after last year's poor showing, I'm far from convinced that Stafford is ready for prime time, let alone the top line.

 

 

So, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the lines on opening night were:

 

Roy-Vanek-Max (Max was on Roy's line in the game vs the Habs the other night, along with Gerbe)

Hecht-Pommer-Connolly (if Connolly is healthy, he will play on the top 2 lines)

Gaustad-Kotalik-Paille

Mair-Kaleta-Stafford

 

with MacArthur and Petey in the press box. Stafford needs to earn his way up.

 

In fact, I'll go on record as calling these my preferred lines, assuming no trades and no Gerbe. That's right -- I'm not giving up on Max or Connolly.

 

Go Sabres.

[tom webster]

I think TBN yesterday and today speculated that the top 3 lines (the 4th wasn't specified) would look like:

 

Roy-Vanek-Stafford

Hecht-Pominville-Paille

Gaustad-Connolly-Kotalik

 

...which, assuming Max is gone, would leave Mair, Kaleta and MacArthur for the 4th line.

 

I see 2 big issues with this scenario:

 

1. Max is quite likely to be on the team when the season starts. If that's the case, he will be on a top 3 line.

 

2. after last year's poor showing, I'm far from convinced that Stafford is ready for prime time, let alone the top line.

So, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the lines on opening night were:

 

Roy-Vanek-Max (Max was on Roy's line in the game vs the Habs the other night, along with Gerbe)

Hecht-Pommer-Connolly (if Connolly is healthy, he will play on the top 2 lines)

Gaustad-Kotalik-Paille

Mair-Kaleta-Stafford

 

with MacArthur and Petey in the press box. Stafford needs to earn his way up.

 

In fact, I'll go on record as calling these my preferred lines, assuming no trades and no Gerbe. That's right -- I'm not giving up on Max or Connolly.Go Sabres.

 

For the record as well,

I haven't given up on Connolly, just don't think he was ever as good as some remember him to have been and think it is foolhardy to count on him. If he stays healthy and the Hecht line can create some semblance of a checking line, Connolly could be the ideal third center and power play specialist.

As for Max, I think he is a lot better then some think but don't see how he fits in here and no matter what he does this year, will not be here next year and thus should have been or should be moved in an attempt to improve other parts of this team. If you plan on keeping payroll in the bottom third of the league, you cannot afford to pay a player the coach doesn't want $3 million.

[carpandean]

So, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the lines on opening night were:

Roy-Vanek-Max

Hecht-Pommer-Connolly

Gaustad-Kotalik-Paille

Mair-Kaleta-Stafford

I would say that these are the expected lines coming off of last year (your positions, based on order of players, are a little mixed up, though.) That is, these are the lines that we would default to if someone said "quick, pick four lines." They're basically what we saw last year when Max and Connolly were healthy enough to stay in the lineup.

 

I'm glad to hear that they acknowledge that Hecht can't take faceoffs on a regular basis, but putting Goose on his wing just because he is the best faceoff guy (other than Roy, who's numbers are a little lower, but who consistently faced top line centers) seems like a bandaid. Paille-Hecht-Pommer didn't work because Hecht is terrible on faceoffs and Hecht-Goose-Pommer didn't work because Goose doesn't quite have the skills to be a true top-two-line center, so lets put Goose on the wing (not his natural position) where he's still hampered by less than stellar skills just to take faceoffs and Hecht at center (again, not his natural position) to be slightly better as a playmaker? Doesn't seem like a great idea to me. It I were to shake up lines, I could think of some better option, though it's still hard to come up with one that doesn't rely on Timmy at center on the second line.

 

Want to mix things up, why not:

Hecht-Roy-Pommer

Vanek-Connolly-Max

Paille-Goose-Kotalik

Kaleta-Mair-Stafford

(Using LW-C-RW notation)

 

The big concern there is goals against on the V-C-A line. They would likely have a lot of goals for, though, too. The HRP would be a great line to matchup against any line. They would be as defensively responsible as any line in the league, but at the same time, would be able to score against just about anyone. The PGK line would be decent offensively and defensively, though not stellar in either direction.

[nfreeman]

For the record as well,

I haven't given up on Connolly, just don't think he was ever as good as some remember him to have been and think it is foolhardy to count on him. If he stays healthy and the Hecht line can create some semblance of a checking line, Connolly could be the ideal third center and power play specialist.

As for Max, I think he is a lot better then some think but don't see how he fits in here and no matter what he does this year, will not be here next year and thus should have been or should be moved in an attempt to improve other parts of this team. If you plan on keeping payroll in the bottom third of the league, you cannot afford to pay a player the coach doesn't want $3 million.

 

Regarding Connolly -- I think Lindy has a very high opinion of his all-around game. Lindy used him as our #1 center in 05-06 (when we had Drury & Briere) and I think he will get at least top-2-line minutes this year if he's healthy. I agree that it is foolish to rely on him being healthy, which is why I've been beating the drums for another center, but Darcy doesn't seem to listen to me.

 

Regarding Max -- while it's quite possible that Lindy has decided he doesn't want him anymore (and that you've heard as much), the amount of ice time Lindy has given Max over the years tells me that Lindy sees value in him. Even if Lindy would prefer that he be traded, if he's on the opening night roster, I think Lindy will use what he provides. I also think Lindy will give Max a chance to redeem himself. Given the chance, I think Max will perform well (albeit not without more than a few maddening Max moments). As for unloading him, I don't think it's a wise move to trade a guy that good for a low draft pick just for the sake of dumping salary -- and I think this is how Darcy thinks too.

 

 

Want to mix things up, why not:

Hecht-Roy-Pommer

Vanek-Connolly-Max

Paille-Goose-Kotalik

Kaleta-Mair-Stafford

(Using LW-C-RW notation)

 

Interesting combos. The issue I see is that Lindy historically likes to keep guys together who have historically performed well together. So I think he'll keep Pommer and Hecht together, as well as Roy and Vanek.

[Barnabov]

I think TBN yesterday and today speculated that the top 3 lines (the 4th wasn't specified) would look like:

 

Roy-Vanek-Stafford

Hecht-Pominville-Paille

Gaustad-Connolly-Kotalik

 

...which, assuming Max is gone, would leave Mair, Kaleta and MacArthur for the 4th line.

 

I see 2 big issues with this scenario:

 

1. Max is quite likely to be on the team when the season starts. If that's the case, he will be on a top 3 line.

 

2. after last year's poor showing, I'm far from convinced that Stafford is ready for prime time, let alone the top line.

So, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the lines on opening night were:

 

Roy-Vanek-Max (Max was on Roy's line in the game vs the Habs the other night, along with Gerbe)

Hecht-Pommer-Connolly (if Connolly is healthy, he will play on the top 2 lines)

Gaustad-Kotalik-Paille

Mair-Kaleta-Stafford

 

 

Those are the lines I would come up with - if Max gets traded (& assuming we don't get a top 6 forward in return) & Connolly succumbs to injury as is the norm, then I'd guess the lines to become this:

 

Vanek - Roy - Stafford

Paille - Hecht - Pominville

Gaustad - MacArthur - Kotalik

Peters - Mair - Kaleta

 

Overall though, I hope Max has a career year & Connolly stays healthy & has a career year. That would give us our strongest lineup. Stafford has some rebounding to do before he deserves top line game time again.

[Stoner]

I realize that you sometime need help comprehending what requires a little thought but the comparison is that in both cases Ruff wanted the player gone, in both cases there were or are offers on the table, and apparently in both cases Reiger is going to let the situation drag out a little longer than Ruff would like.

Hope that helps you understand.

 

Geez, sorry, I forgot you're our big Sabres "insider." Keep regaling us on the offers that Darcy has received for Max. You would know. I mean, your brother is dating the arena security guard's sister, right? Didn't you also see George Seifert at the airport?

 

You can't even spell the frickin' GM's name. Artie says spare me with that garbage.

[spndnchz]

I don't have enough time right now to read the whole thread, but an interesting topic.

 

If I remember correctly Paille really stepped up his game when he was with Hecht and Pommers.

[tom webster]

Geez, sorry, I forgot you're our big Sabres "insider." Keep regaling us on the offers that Darcy has received for Max. You would know. I mean, your brother is dating the arena security guard's sister, right? Didn't you also see George Seifert at the airport?

 

You can't even spell the frickin' GM's name. Artie says spare me with that garbage.

 

Your response was so predictable. Thank you for being consistent. Do you put as little thought in everything?

[That Aud Smell]

So, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the lines on opening night were:

 

Roy-Vanek-Max (Max was on Roy's line in the game vs the Habs the other night, along with Gerbe)

Hecht-Pommer-Connolly (if Connolly is healthy, he will play on the top 2 lines)

Gaustad-Kotalik-Paille

Mair-Kaleta-Stafford

 

with MacArthur and Petey in the press box. Stafford needs to earn his way up.

 

In fact, I'll go on record as calling these my preferred lines, assuming no trades and no Gerbe. That's right -- I'm not giving up on Max or Connolly.

 

Go Sabres.

 

other than my preference to see max moved (although i accept the likelihood that he starts the season here), free's post perfectly reflects my thoughts on the subject, albeit in a more coherent fashion than i can muster today (or ever).

 

there's been a fair amount of talk about how uninspired macarthur has looked -- didn't a rah-cha-cha poster or 2 then weigh in to say that this kid's desire/focus had been called into question in the ahl?

[Stoner]

Your response was so predictable. Thank you for being consistent. Do you put as little thought in everything?

 

You knew I was going to mention George Seifert?! Impressive.

 

No, seriously, what offer was or is on the table for Max? Certainly Deep Throat has met you in the parking garage next to the arena to feed you the details. Or is he usually on the receiving end?

 

You must know. Otherwise, how would you form an opinion on Regier's decision to keep Max around? Or do you just want Max gone for a bag of pucks?

[inkman]

Geez, sorry, I forgot you're our big Sabres "insider." Keep regaling us on the offers that Darcy has received for Max. You would know. I mean, your brother is dating the arena security guard's sister, right? Didn't you also see George Seifert at the airport?

 

You can't even spell the frickin' GM's name. Artie says spare me with that garbage.

:lol:

Your response was so predictable. Thank you for being consistent. Do you put as little thought in everything?

 

:lol:

[carpandean]

I just listened to the Ruff interview from yesterday and he said that he'd like his centers to be Roy, Connolly and Hecht, with Gaustad on wing. I'm wondering if he thinking of Gaustad-Hecht-Kotalik/Stafford as a third, shut-down line, with Paille-Connolly-Pommer as the second, scoring line. Of course, if Mair isn't healthy by the start of the season, then Gaustad will likely center the fourth line to start the season, so that would muck things up a little.

 

(Oops, this is along the lines of what Labatt and few others said at the start of the thread.)

[stenbaro]

I just listened to the Ruff interview from yesterday and he said that he'd like his centers to be Roy, Connolly and Hecht, with Gaustad on wing. I'm wondering if he thinking of Gaustad-Hecht-Kotalik/Stafford as a third, shut-down line, with Paille-Connolly-Pommer as the second, scoring line. Of course, if Mair isn't healthy by the start of the season, then Gaustad will likely center the fourth line to start the season, so that would muck things up a little.

 

(Oops, this is along the lines of what Labatt and few others said at the start of the thread.)

I just cant seem to get too excited about these lines...Somethings missing..

[inkman]

I just cant seem to get too excited about these lines...Somethings missing..

 

Chroise?