The GLO Line: Girgs, Larsson, Okposo

[LGR4GM]

 

[LGR4GM]

 

[Scottysabres]

Love that they are clicking so well.

[Brawndo]

They have to sign Larsson to an extension. 

[Weave]

6 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

They have to sign Larsson to an extension. 

Larsson is getting all the love, but Girgensons is playing equally well IMO.  They both need to be here a few more years.

[LGR4GM]

So Larsson at 4 years x3mil

Zemgus at 3 years x2.75?

Edited December 13, 2019 by LGR4GM

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

So Larsson at 4 years x3mil

Zemgus at 3 years x2.75?

God no.  

[LGR4GM]

3 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

God no.  

less term or money?

[tom webster]

Larsson and Girgs are the kind of guys that Boston keeps. Now that they have accepted their roles, they are valuable pieces and still relatively young.

[LGR4GM]

Larsson's career high is 17 points in 80 games. He currently is at 12 points in 30 games (0.4ppg). Career ppg 0.25

Zemgus has 9pts in 33 games (0.27ppg). Career ppg  0.28

Okposo has 7pts in 23 games (0.30ppg). Career ppg 0.52 (Buffalo years only)

So other than Larsson they are not over producing relative to who they are. I think Okposo could give a little more but still a small sample size. That's good though because they are not playing offense way over their heads. On defense they are extremely effective which makes any offense they provide extremely positive. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

10 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

less term or money?

And less players.  
Jack, Skinner, Mojo and Ko are under contract. Sam, VO and Mitts are RFAs.  Cozens is making the  team and we need to add at least one more top 6 forward.  Then you have Asplund and Thompson likely making this team for cap and youth reasons.

That brings us to 11 forwards.  My guess is we only sign Larsson for 2 years at 2.5 max and trade Girgensons. 

As much as I love what they have done as a line periodically over the last couple of years.  You can’t overpay 4th line players. Larsson makes that line go and we are stuck with KO.  Z is extremely replaceable for less money.
 

Edited December 13, 2019 by GASabresIUFAN

[Weave]

Here we go again.  Penciling in guys who haven’t proven anything.

Tom Webster has it right.  Those are the kinds of players teams like Boston hang on to.

[LGR4GM]

21 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

And less players.  
Jack, Skinner, Mojo and Ko are under contract. Sam, VO and Mitts are RFAs.  Cozens is making the  team and we need to add at least one more top 6 forward.  Then you have Asplund and Thompson likely making this team for cap and youth reasons.

That brings us to 11 forwards.  My guess is we only sign Larsson for 2 years at 2.5 max and trade Girgensons. 

As much as I love what they have done as a line periodically over the last couple of years.  You can’t overpay 4th line players. Larsson makes that line go and we are stuck with KO.  Z is extremely replaceable for less money.
 

When Thompson and Cozens make the team, I will worry about it.

I would not trade Zemgus if the goal of the season is to make the playoffs. 

I would argue that the GLO is not the 4th line. 

To the bolded, that is 10 names there. Or are you counting the need for another top 6 forward as the 11th? I am assuming that's it. 

13 minutes ago, Weave said:

Here we go again.  Penciling in guys who haven’t proven anything.

Tom Webster has it right.  Those are the kinds of players teams like Boston hang on to.

I agree. I want the young kids to force their way onto the team. We need 13 forwards anyways so there is room at least next year and probably the 1 after for GLO. 

Edited December 13, 2019 by LGR4GM

[nfreeman]

I would keep Larsson but not Zemgus. 

[...]

10 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

I would keep Larsson but not Zemgus. 

Why?  Z makes it possible. We have seen that line without Okposo and it's equally effective.  Z hasn't done anything but be on a line that is as effective in its role as the first line is in producing points.  He's still young and takes a pounding every night without complaining.

[woods-racer]

Botterill will keep both as long as the term and price is right.

They are playing 3rd and possibly 2nd  line minutes at a 4th line cost.

They are out at the end of games with 1 goal leads and winning.

I just don't think they are *that easy* to replace.

Edited December 13, 2019 by woods-racer

[nfreeman]

1 minute ago, ... said:

Why?  Z makes it possible. We have seen that line without Okposo and it's equally effective.  Z hasn't done anything but be on a line that is as effective in its role as the first line is in producing points.  He's still young and takes a pounding every night without complaining.

I agree with all this, but I think they need more scoring throughout the lineup and Zemgus provides close to zero, with close to zero possibility for improvement.  As I've said previously, possession and Corsi are nice, but at some point they need to translate into production.  I also think someone else with more offensive upside could play with Larsson and KO (whom they are stuck with) could take Zemgus' spot without much of a dropoff in possession/forecheck.

I'd rather that roster spot go to TT, Cozens or an offseason pickup. 

[LGR4GM]

What if Vesey replaced Zemgus?

[Taro T]

27 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

What if Vesey replaced Zemgus?

There's a greater likelihood he (or Asplund) will replace Okposo on that line when Kyle suffers what is very realistically (unfortunately) his next concussion this season or next.  Kyle works great with those 2 and has accepted his role on that line.  Doesn't change the fact that with his past history, he is very susceptible to another concussion, and his power forward style of play increases the odds of him ending up in those heavy collisions that can cause them.

And, give Larsson and Girgensons each 2 year deals in the low $2's.  They both should be back next year and have a job until somebody takes it from each.

[Zamboni]

32 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

What if Vesey replaced Zemgus?

I don’t think Vesey views himself as equal to Girgs. I would guess that Vesey IS gonna ask and get “middle six” money in his next contract. If not by Sabres, then someone. If he was put long term on a line with Larsson and Okposo, especially after he signed a new contract, he would want to be traded. 

[Taro T]

36 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

I agree with all this, but I think they need more scoring throughout the lineup and Zemgus provides close to zero, with close to zero possibility for improvement.  As I've said previously, possession and Corsi are nice, but at some point they need to translate into production.  I also think someone else with more offensive upside could play with Larsson and KO (whom they are stuck with) could take Zemgus' spot without much of a dropoff in possession/forecheck.

I'd rather that roster spot go to TT, Cozens or an offseason pickup. 

Which is more valuable to a win: keeping the other team's top line off the scoresheet (which oftentimes means multiple goals NOT scored and always means at least 1 on average) or getting a goal in 3 out of 4 games (what you'd get in the unrealistic scenario all 3 members of your checking line are 20 goal scorers)?

[Doohicksie]

1 hour ago, Weave said:

Larsson is getting all the love, but Girgensons is playing equally well IMO.  They both need to be here a few more years.

I don't see Girgs as quite as physical, but he does seem to be more disruptive to puck movement for other teams trying to maneuver in the Buffalo zone.  It's kind of like each player has skills that complement the other two.

[Doohicksie]

1 hour ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Z is extremely replaceable for less money.

I tend to agree.  The one wildcard is chemistry.  You could replace Girgs but will the line still function as well?  We saw what happened when KO was out for a bit, not as good without him.  Would losing Gus have a similar effect?

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

When Thompson and Cozens make the team, I will worry about it.

I would not trade Zemgus if the goal of the season is to make the playoffs. 

I would argue that the GLO is not the 4th line. 

To the bolded, that is 10 names there. Or are you counting the need for another top 6 forward as the 11th? I am assuming that's it. 

I agree. I want the young kids to force their way onto the team. We need 13 forwards anyways so there is room at least next year and probably the 1 after for GLO. 

Yep the top 6 forward is the 11th guy.  They may not be the 4th line this season but for this team to contend they should be.

2 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

I tend to agree.  The one wildcard is chemistry.  You could replace Girgs but will the line still function as well?  We saw what happened when KO was out for a bit, not as good without him.  Would losing Gus have a similar effect?

No.  My guess is Lazar would be nearly as good for 700k.

[matter2003]

1 hour ago, nfreeman said:

I agree with all this, but I think they need more scoring throughout the lineup and Zemgus provides close to zero, with close to zero possibility for improvement.  As I've said previously, possession and Corsi are nice, but at some point they need to translate into production.  I also think someone else with more offensive upside could play with Larsson and KO (whom they are stuck with) could take Zemgus' spot without much of a dropoff in possession/forecheck.

I'd rather that roster spot go to TT, Cozens or an offseason pickup. 

Hockey is the only sport where players are drafted in the first round with the expectation they turn into good 3rd line players with little to no offense. Could you imagine a team in the NFL drafting someone in the first round expecting them to be a good 3rd down RB that is good at pass protecting?

Edited December 13, 2019 by matter2003