Lineup 2021-22

[mjd1001]

55 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I just don’t see Kevyn Adams as at all invested in this roster and I think he genuinely understands the need for significant change.

Jeff Skinner, Dylan Cozens, Curtis Lazar are the only players on this roster guaranteed to be back next year, in my opinion.

Cozens and Lazar because they are under contract and have the compete Adams has identified as missing.

Skinner, of course, is untradeable.

I'm OK with that.  I argue with many people on this board, but I think much of the core (jack and Sam included) are overrated by the fanbase. That doesn't mean they aren't good players, just not as good as many here think.

Oddly enough, I'll add Girgensons to the player list of not only who I think will be back but actually WANT back.  The guy chips in more than an occasional even strength goal, and he is one player you can't say doesn't play hard almost all the time.  

Girgs wouldn't turn this team around, but his style of play, and quite honestly, his production (he was in the top 5 in even strength goals  for the Sabres, over the last few years he is one of the better players on this team in even strength goals per 60 minutes) is something they need/miss.

[Randall Flagg]

40 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Have Rieder and Sheahan looked good because they have been good or just better then the rest of the crap on the roster?

IMO, they're decent players in their roles - 4th line PK specialists. But you should have 2-3 guys like that on your team, and we have 5, and they all play 

[GASabresIUFAN]

I have added a poll.  I left off Hutton and JJ because I assumed no one wants them back.

Just now, Randall Flagg said:

IMO, they're decent players in their roles - 4th line PK specialists. But you should have 2-3 guys like that on your team, and we have 5, and they all play 

I’ve said that since camp and got roundly criticized.  I said it was one of the issues with the team and nothing has changed my opinion.

[Thorner]

Girgs has been here through so much bad hockey, let him go 

[Weave]

I couldn't pick a single player off that list.  What an unlikeable team.

[Marvin]

58 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Girgs has been here through so much bad hockey, let him go 

If he is exposed in the expansion draft, I expect Seattle to take him.

[dudacek]

39 minutes ago, Weave said:

I couldn't pick a single player off that list.  What an unlikeable team.

I don’t dislike many of the players, but the group is broken.

[Curt]

27 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I don’t dislike many of the players, but the group is broken.

Are there many that you really like?

[SwampD]

I like that I get two chances to keep Girgs.

[GASabresIUFAN]

I forgot Cozens somehow in the poll.  I swapped Cozens for Okposo. I figure no one wants Okposo back.

[Huckleberry]

I want Eichel back

But I would look at anaheim and trade Eichel / Ullmark / Joker for Zegras / gibson.

[dudacek]

1 hour ago, Curt said:

Are there many that you really like?

Not really. Sam. McCabe. Lazar for that role. Linus. Jack finally got there last year and then took it away.

And the contrarian in me has a soft spot for Risto despite his flaws frequently pissing me off over the years. He’s been kicked so often and never stopped battling, I want to see him succeed. The Sabre fan in me can relate.

How about you?

[Curt]

2 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Not really. Sam. McCabe. Lazar for that role. Linus. Jack finally got there last year and then took it away.

And the contrarian in me has a soft spot for Risto despite his flaws frequently pissing me off over the years. He’s been kicked so often and never stopped battling, I want to see him succeed. The Sabre fan in me can relate.

How about you?

I like Sam for his stoic professionalism.  I like angry Skinner.  Jack is ok, but I can’t quite get past his slight Mass-hole vibe.  I love Linus, seems like a great, funny guy.  Olofsson and Dahlin are milk toast.  McCabe and Lazar are definite favorites.  Risto I just feel bad for mostly.  I think he is broken.

So I guess Sam, Linus, McCabe, Lazar.  Oh, Girgensons too.

I like the group coming up now though.  Love Cozens, and I see Borgen & Bryson becoming fast favorites.

[thewookie1]

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/2283675

What do you guys think?

Tried to add a combination of vets, toughness, and some solid roleplayers while jettisoning a large portion of the unhappy guys.

[PerreaultForever]

5 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Have Rieder and Sheahan looked good because they have been good or just better then the rest of the crap on the roster?

It's the latter. They're like Lazar was when he got here. Fringe players giving effort to keep jobs. It's that simple effort that makes them stand out. Really they shouldn't but the rest are just that bad and lacking. 

[PerreaultForever]

42 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/2283675

What do you guys think?

Tried to add a combination of vets, toughness, and some solid roleplayers while jettisoning a large portion of the unhappy guys.

There are some gritty names on there I like,  Especially Nick Foligno, but I really don't see the Islanders making that deal, Reinhart is over valued, and nobody's going to want Thompson. Overall however I agree with the direction and the tone/character that line up might bring. 

[thewookie1]

16 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

There are some gritty names on there I like,  Especially Nick Foligno, but I really don't see the Islanders making that deal, Reinhart is over valued, and nobody's going to want Thompson. Overall however I agree with the direction and the tone/character that line up might bring. 

To me Nick Foligno and Savard would be key targets this offseason.  Corey Perry to a lesser degree. 

[Broken Ankles]

36 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

To me Nick Foligno and Savard would be key targets this offseason.  Corey Perry to a lesser degree. 

I can get behind Nick.  He is a Buffalo boy.  But only as a Captain and assuming a void in leadership.  He’s not coming to Buffalo to win a cup in his twilight.  He’s coming because they overpaid and need true professionals to show young men how to play the game properly.  This means Jack and others are gone.  
 

Interesting bridge deal for young Rasmus.  The lowest bridge AAV of recent history for a #1 overall was Nail at $2.5m.   I was thinking $3.5m.  

 If Adam’s is still here next year so will Tage.  He signed the extension and will most likely see it through.  Joki on the other hand is part of a JB trade and we all know new GMs love to trade previous GMs parts.  Not a big loss. 

if I had to predict, I think Jack, Risto, Mitts, Miller and Joki are gone.  Sam signs a one year and is traded in 2022 unless a new coach can right the ship quickly.  I’d prefer to see Eakin waived and Okposo finds a way to LTIR.   I predict the Sabres add a veteran D man.  Maybe from Tampa as they hasten to shed cap space after the season.
 

Solid 4th line.   

[pi2000]

Reinhart is a good player, a good good player, but he's a microcosm of what plagues this team.    Disappears for  stretches, weak on pucks, turns pucks over in key areas of the ice, falls down a lot, isn't physical, skating is below league average, can't defend to save his life, always late on the backcheck.     Again, if he's not scoring, he's a liability.     He has a very tradeable expiring contract with RFA status, the return could be significant.    He'd be a very good piece for a team that already excels at the details.

[thewookie1]

34 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

Reinhart is a good player, a good good player, but he's a microcosm of what plagues this team.    Disappears for  stretches, weak on pucks, turns pucks over in key areas of the ice, falls down a lot, isn't physical, skating is below league average, can't defend to save his life, always late on the backcheck.     Again, if he's not scoring, he's a liability.     He has a very tradeable expiring contract with RFA status, the return could be significant.    He'd be a very good piece for a team that already excels at the details.

You trade Reinhart and Eichel is gone which literally means we will break the playoff drought record and likely watch them all flourish elsewhere. I’d much rather avoid that.

 

38 minutes ago, Broken Ankles said:

I can get behind Nick.  He is a Buffalo boy.  But only as a Captain and assuming a void in leadership.  He’s not coming to Buffalo to win a cup in his twilight.  He’s coming because they overpaid and need true professionals to show young men how to play the game properly.  This means Jack and others are gone.  
 

Interesting bridge deal for young Rasmus.  The lowest bridge AAV of recent history for a #1 overall was Nail at $2.5m.   I was thinking $3.5m.  

 If Adam’s is still here next year so will Tage.  He signed the extension and will most likely see it through.  Joki on the other hand is part of a JB trade and we all know new GMs love to trade previous GMs parts.  Not a big loss. 

if I had to predict, I think Jack, Risto, Mitts, Miller and Joki are gone.  Sam signs a one year and is traded in 2022 unless a new coach can right the ship quickly.  I’d prefer to see Eakin waived and Okposo finds a way to LTIR.   I predict the Sabres add a veteran D man.  Maybe from Tampa as they hasten to shed cap space after the season.
 

Solid 4th line.   

I don’t see how Foligno’s arrival requires Jack’s departure. If he isn’t planning on going on some cup chase then I’d think 5milx2 should be very fair for bringing more leadership here.

Jack isn’t going to pout if the Sabres bring in more vet leadership with some grit and vigor left in the tank. He literally asked for it last offseason to which KA tried to get through Eakin and Staal. Sadly the former has been a  train wreck and the latter has been only slightly helpful on the ice. (Can’t guess at Staal’s impact on Cozens and Mitts though)

Savard is a crucial pickup in order to aid Dahlin’s growth. Eventually Borgen would take Savard’s role. Every great offensive defenseman nowadays has had a steady partner to start. Hedman had Stralman, Karlsson had Methot, Doughty had Muzzin, Regehr, and Scuderi. Offensively gifted Dmen need a steady partner to help nurture them and slowly teach them NHL level defensive play. He needs his training wheels back so that he can regain confidence and get a real solid grasp on how to play D.

 

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, thewookie1 said:

You trade Reinhart and Eichel is gone which literally means we will break the playoff drought record and likely watch them all flourish elsewhere. I’d much rather avoid that.

They aren't a good leadership core though so I'd say yes, trade them both. Similar to the above, there's no real point to keeping Reinhart if you trade Jack. It's possible they will excel elsewhere, but I don't think that's guaranteed. If they were THAT good, we'd not be where we are. 

[Broken Ankles]

6 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

You trade Reinhart and Eichel is gone which literally means we will break the playoff drought record and likely watch them all flourish elsewhere. I’d much rather avoid that.

 

I don’t see how Foligno’s arrival requires Jack’s departure. If he isn’t planning on going on some cup chase then I’d think 5milx2 should be very fair for bringing more leadership here.

Jack isn’t going to pout if the Sabres bring in more vet leadership with some grit and vigor left in the tank. He literally asked for it last offseason to which KA tried to get through Eakin and Staal. Sadly the former has been a  train wreck and the latter has been only slightly helpful on the ice. (Can’t guess at Staal’s impact on Cozens and Mitts though)

Savard is a crucial pickup in order to aid Dahlin’s growth. Eventually Borgen would take Savard’s role. Every great offensive defenseman nowadays has had a steady partner to start. Hedman had Stralman, Karlsson had Methot, Doughty had Muzzin, Regehr, and Scuderi. Offensively gifted Dmen need a steady partner to help nurture them and slowly teach them NHL level defensive play. He needs his training wheels back so that he can regain confidence and get a real solid grasp on how to play D.

 

Who was the last captain of a team that departed in UFA to a bottom 5 team? Shane Doan rejected $30m in 2012 and the Sabres finished 9th.  Can’t see Nick leaving his Captaincy for the 32nd ranked team in the NHL.  Especially after this season.  

[LGR4GM]

8 hours ago, pi2000 said:

Reinhart is a good player, a good good player, but he's a microcosm of what plagues this team.    Disappears for  stretches, weak on pucks, turns pucks over in key areas of the ice, falls down a lot, isn't physical, skating is below league average, can't defend to save his life, always late on the backcheck.     Again, if he's not scoring, he's a liability.     He has a very tradeable expiring contract with RFA status, the return could be significant.    He'd be a very good piece for a team that already excels at the details.

Still not true. 

[LGR4GM]

Here's the thing, could you convince me that Reinhart should be a 2nd line RW, yes. I think that is actually where he should slot and with a center like Cozens, he would probably do well. But when we trade Sam, we are going to get a NHL player for salary purposes, a prospect, and a pick. Unless that prospect is a right wing who can score 20goals a year and 35 assists with regularity, we are downgrading. I don't think Sam is the greatest player or anything crazy but he's a solid 2nd line RW with good instincts who stays healthy and positively contributes to his team. 

[pi2000]

I'm good with keeping him, sure put him w Cozens, but the LW needs to be defensively responsible and I'd be weary of DZ starts.   

There's a reason he's a -20 in 26 games.  Yeah I know plus minus is a flawed stat, but -20?  C'mon now.