Buffalo Sabres Training Camp (2020/21)

[dudacek]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

 

 

Montour gets the Dahlin slot, Miller shifts sides, Olofsson on line one, Sam driving line2 and Eakin as the new Larry answers our biggest questions off the hop. Cozens will be added, plug in Jack, make a decision on Sheahan and that’s our roster.

42 minutes ago, inkman said:

So Borgen and Bryson are already after thoughts.  Sigh. 

They may get looks as camp goes on, maybe Asplund and a few others as well, but I think it was pretty clear they were starting camp on the outside.

[dudacek]

Olofsson, Montour, Mittelstadt, R2 the happiest guys in camp right now?

Borgen and Asplund the most upset?

It will be interesting to see the traffic between groups -who and how often.

I am not expecting the starting roster to be much different than this, but I would be surprised if Ralph didn’t pull a few strings to keep the carrots and the sticks very much visible.

I am happy the approach and focus seems to be almost entirely on winning right now.

[LGR4GM]

 

 

Edited January 1, 2021 by LGR4GM

[LGR4GM]

 

Edited January 1, 2021 by LGR4GM

[Weave]

Hall- Eichel - Olofsson could be fun as hell to watch.  It's been a long time since we saw the fun that LaFontaine - Mogilny provided.

[LGR4GM]

Reinhart with Staal and Skinner, guess that slots Cozens into the 3rd line. 

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Reinhart with Staal and Skinner, guess that slots Cozens into the 3rd line. 

Would expect it slots him onto the 4th line in either Reider or Lazar's spot.

[dudacek]

17 minutes ago, Weave said:

Hall- Eichel - Olofsson could be fun as hell to watch.  It's been a long time since we saw the fun that LaFontaine - Mogilny provided.

Definitely.

I also think Skinner Staal Reinhart could be a dominant 2nd line in the offensive zone: three guys with exceptional puck skills in traffic, two of them very smart.

Sam’s presence addresses any potential entries and exits issues, but I am curious about how they will move the puck through the neutral zone; there is no Johansson on that line. Maybe we see Montour, Miller and Dahlin carrying in transition more. (Semi-related, this is one area where Eakin should be an upgrade on Larry)

Maybe Sam can develop in that area. I’ve always thought deference to Jack has stunted the puckhandling portion of his game I saw in juniors. Excited to see how he does as a line driver, particularly with two very good players. Staal/Granlund was an excellent combo for the Wild and Sam’s game has similarities to Granlund’s.

Edited January 1, 2021 by dudacek

[spndnchz]

Just the sound of skates, pucks hitting sticks etc. is enough to make me cry tears of joy. 😋

[dudacek]

7 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Reinhart with Staal and Skinner, guess that slots Cozens into the 3rd line. 

 

3 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Would expect it slots him onto the 4th line in either Reider or Lazar's spot.

I think we will see the current 3rd line until someone gets hurt, or one of the kids outplays somebody.

The fourth line is going to be a rotating mishmash of kids and specialists.

[fiftyone]

1 hour ago, Taro T said:

Me likey the lines & pairings.

Was hoping Montour would be with Dahlin & expected McCabe-Ristolainen.  Mildly surprised that Krueger moved Miller to his off-hand as that didn't work well the couple of times it was tried last season, but that keeps the best 6 on the ice & lets Dahlin play w/ Montour who IMHO was his best partner last year.

Thought Eakin might end up with Thompson/Reider/Cozens but he definitely SHOULD be better than Lazar & Girgensons & Okposo will likely be getting 3rd line minutes, so that line makes sense. 

Admittedly I don't know much about Rieder's game, but what do we think the plan is for the 4th line? It doesn't seem to be a traditional "banger" line if Thompson/Cozens are possibilities there. Doesn't seem like it's going to be an offensively focused line if Rieder is part of it. Just a mashup of our best remaining forwards? Spots filled by PKers and high potential youngsters? A little bit of everything?

[erickompositör72]

13 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Definitely.

I also think Skinner Staal Reinhart could be a dominant 2nd line in the offensive zone: three guys with exceptional puck skills in traffic, two of them very smart.

Sam’s presence addresses any potential entries and exits issues, but I am curious about how they will move the puck through the neutral zone; there is no Johansson on that line. Maybe Sam can develop in that area. I’ve always thought deference to Jack has stunted the puckhandling portion of his game I saw in juniors. Excited to see how he does as a line driver, particularly with two very good players. Staal/Granlund was an excellent combo for the Wild and Sam’s game has similarities to Granlund’s.

I think the bolded is a very astute observation. He looked like a different player during that stretch a couple years ago when Jack was injured, when Sam was forced to handle/carry the puck much more. If that element of Sam's game could take off again, he will start turning heads around the league.

Edited January 1, 2021 by erickompositör72

[LabattBlue]

I’d really like to see Borgen or to a lesser extent Bryson get some chances early in the season, over old man Hal Irwin, or the other blueline fodder signed during the off-season.  

[tom webster]

15 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

I’d really like to see Borgen or to a lesser extent Bryson get some chances early in the season, over old man Hal Irwin, or the other blueline fodder signed during the off-season.  

The problem this year is that their is no room for on the job training this year. Every point will be even more at a premium then usual.

[PromoTheRobot]

10 minutes ago, tom webster said:

The problem this year is that their is no room for on the job training this year. Every point will be even more at a premium then usual.

That's true for every team.

[tom webster]

7 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

That's true for every team.

Exactly, my only point is there may be no room for on the job training.

[Brawndo]

 

[spndnchz]

Woof!

[Zamboni]

14 pounds of muscle is great for an off season. No issues with that.

[Brawndo]

47 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

I’d really like to see Borgen or to a lesser extent Bryson get some chances early in the season, over old man Hal Irwin, or the other blueline fodder signed during the off-season.  

I think the Blue Fodder will fill out the taxi squad, while Borgen and Bryson get games in Rochester. Any injuries that cause the Top Six to miss time probably results in one of them getting a call up over the taxi squad players. 

[dudacek]

15 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

I think the Blue Fodder will fill out the taxi squad, while Borgen and Bryson get games in Rochester. Any injuries that cause the Top Six to miss time probably results in one of them getting a call up over the taxi squad players. 

From what I’ve seen, COVID is an obstacle to that scenario.

Taxi squad guys can slide right in, but there is a quarantine period for guys getting called up from the AHL.

If that’s the case, I think it will take an unlikely run of injuries, or a special performance before we see any Rochester guys in blue and gold this year, especially given the short, tight season.

[LabattBlue]

9 minutes ago, dudacek said:

From what I’ve seen, COVID is an obstacle to that scenario.

Taxi squad guys can slide right in, but there is a quarantine period for guys getting called up from the AHL.

If that’s the case, I think it will take an unlikely run of injuries, or a special performance before we see any Rochester guys in blue and gold this year, especially given the short, tight season.

Good insights. 

[LGR4GM]

I bet we see increased scoring in the NHL just like the wjc when this thing starts. 

[Taro T]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

I bet we see increased scoring in the NHL just like the wjc when this thing starts. 

Why?

[Taro T]

2 hours ago, fiftyone said:

Admittedly I don't know much about Rieder's game, but what do we think the plan is for the 4th line? It doesn't seem to be a traditional "banger" line if Thompson/Cozens are possibilities there. Doesn't seem like it's going to be an offensively focused line if Rieder is part of it. Just a mashup of our best remaining forwards? Spots filled by PKers and high potential youngsters? A little bit of everything?

Am expecting that with the Sabres FINALLY having a legit 2nd scoring line for the 1st time in ages & players that should be able to be a reasonably effective checking line that we'll see that 4th line be primarily about having PP/PK specialists that can take the odd ES shift.  Expecting them to be getting ~10 minutes/ game most nights and maybe 12-13 when things are going well.

Expecting they'll nominally be a 3rd scoring line but they'll probably also be essentially an energy/ 2ndary checking line as well.

And, which guys end up on that line will likely be dictated by opponent.  If Krueger is concerned w/ the other team's PP maybe Sheahan, Reider, & Lazar fill those slots.  Think there's an exploitable PK? At least 2 of Cozens, Ruutsalainen, Thompson, & maybe Mittelstadt are there.  Face off concerns?  Lazar definitely dresses.

So, yeah, a little bit of everything.