List your necessary attributes for a Stanley Cup competitive team

[SDS]

Every team needs players with certain characteristics to slot in roles given typical game play:

Guys who:

• Carry the puck into OZ
• Face other teams' top line
• PP specialist
• PK
• Winger who plays off top center
• Speed guy that puts others on heels (maybe more than one)
• Plays in front of keeper and tips shots
• etc....

I'm sure there is a better list to make, but you get the idea. Certain roles need to be filled. Obviously, the next step is to map current players into those roles, but if anyone has a good list I'd like to see it.

[inkman]

I think they need more speed and physical play on the wing.  A couple of real bangers we can sprinkle in the lineup to keep opponents on their toes.  Also could use the same on the backend.  I think Risto (if kept), Borgen and Samuelsson are a nice start.  I’d like to see them add one more guy that is the bowling ball with butcher knives type that opponents want nothing to do with.  
 

I kinda envision Olofsson as a PP specialist that we can move in and out of the lineup based on the need that day.  

[dudacek]

1 minute ago, inkman said:

I think they need more speed and physical play on the wing.  A couple of real bangers we can sprinkle in the lineup to keep opponents on their toes.  Also could use the same on the backend.  I think Risto (if kept), Borgen and Samuelsson are a nice start.  I’d like to see them add one more guy that is the bowling ball with butcher knives type that opponents want nothing to do with.  
 

I kinda envision Olofsson as a PP specialist that we can move in and out of the lineup based on the need that day.  

The concept of Borgen Samuelsson Risto Johnson Jokiharju Bryson and Dahlin is an almost perfectly balanced 7 with snarl, size, skating, skill and smarts.

None of them are one-trick ponies and some of them tick several of SDS' boxes. There's enough overlap that we have backup for any role, but no two guys exactly the same creating redundancies.

The issue is experience, and how many will actually fulfill their potential.

[sabremike]

Giraffes. Lots and lots of Giraffes:

That is all.

[bob_sauve28]

Above average goaltending 

 

[Doohicksie]

A coach that can actually coach.

[Scottysabres]

1. Win

2. Win some more

3. Win until your the last team winning

[mjd1001]

1.) a Goalie who is at least average to slightly above average all the time, with the ability to get really hot.

2.)  above average (top 10 in the league) scoring from your top 3 lines.  I don't care how...if it is equally spread between the lines or all the first line...just when you total the production of the top 3 lines, it has to be above average)

3.) a dominant D-man who controls the game when on the ice who can do so with 24 minute of ice time per game.

[Carmel Corn]

LUCK - as in a team that can stay healthy enough to survive the playoff grind.  I still say that we would have won the cup in 2006 if our defense was able to stay healthy.

[RangerDave]

They need a leader.  Someone who can:

• hold others accountable,
• keep them grounded when they are on a hot streak,
• keep their chins up when things are not going their way,
• keep them loose with some laughter
• stick up for them with the coaches and referees

[GASabresIUFAN]

A top line.  Depth scoring. At least one Norris quality D man and solid goaltending.  Not much really.  It also helps to pay productive players.

[LabattBlue]

- Minimal roster deadweight i.e. Skinner and Okposo

- Top half of the NHL PP and PK

- Top 10 starting Goalie...and backup ranking in the Top 20.

- Grit sprinkled throughout the forward and blueline groups. 

- Dominating top line and two all-star caliber defensemen

- Excellent FO and coaching staff 

[Norcal]

Ideally I'd like 3 scoring lines and a defensive specialist 4th line with grit and size sprinkled throughout. It wouldn't hurt to have someone who can fight, if needed. 

Need atleast one pair of shut down  defensemen.

Goaltending combo in the top 7 of the NHL 

Competition for roster spots. Depth players ready in Rochester. 

A good health and wellness program 

 

 

[Gabrielor]

Broadly:

Elite talent at key positions

Team-wide chemistry

Timely goaltending

 

More acutely, often (but not always): 

(I'm going to use 09-10 Blackhawks, the last cup winner I loved)

-An elite scorer (Kane, Hossa)

-A top-tier defensive center (Toews)

-An all-situations Top d pair that can be shutdown and also score (Keith, Seabrook)

-Different impact elements in the bottom 9 / bottom 4:

  Bolland(shutdown c)

  Campbell(top 4 mobile d)

  Hjalmarsson(top 4 shutdown d)

  Byfuglien(size + PP specialist)

  Versteeg,Sharp,Ladd (opportunistic depth scorer)

  Niemi(goalie getting hot at right time)

  Madden(still useful veteran center)

  Eager(size + pugilist)

-Team chemistry (they had it in abundance

 

 

 

The team they beat (Philly) also had everything on this list...except timely goaltending.

 

 

Edited April 20, 2021 by Gabrielor

[pi2000]

FOW%

 

[Zamboni]

Above average goaltending 

Very few injuries 

Above average D that chips in 20-25% of the goals 

Comfortable with a physical game

Deep roster 

Lady Luck

[drnkirishone]

does winning count as an attribute?

[Curt]

-Above average goaltending

 

Defensemen:

-make good exit passes

-skate well in transition forward/back

-win physical/puck battles 

-QB the PP

 

Forwards:

-At least one top 6 level C who you want on the ice in any situation

-a guy can really control the puck and be dangerous making plays on the PP or ES

-plenty of guys who forecheck and back check hard and fast, and win one on one battles

-plenty of guys who will go hard to the front of the net

-depth through the lineup.  3rd line should be productive and there should be multiple players in the bottom 6 who can move up and play in the top 6 without much drop off.

[Stoner]

Chemistry. Don't ask me to define it or explain it. The right mix of the right guys at the right time in the right place?

[miles]

#1 not be the sabres

[Scottysabres]

2 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Chemistry. Don't ask me to define it or explain it. The right mix of the right guys at the right time in the right place?

Right!

[DarthEbriate]

Quality, consistent goaltending. (And a coach who isn't opposed to attempting to score 5 on 5 or play to the strengths of the roster. You know: anyone but RaKru)

We see it year-in, year-out... a hot goalie for a couple months and you're in the playoffs (let alone that the hot goalie inspires all sorts of team confidence). A hot goalie during the playoffs and you're another round further.

Some of them had great teams around them, but there's also a reason that Hasek, Brodeur, and Roy were always in the playoffs (I'll even throw in Belfour because he's also a HOFer). And that reason was that they were always consistently better than their goalie peers. Get a healthy HOF-caliber goalie for 10 years and you're always in the conversation.

[North Buffalo]

No clue Im a Sabres fan

[Hawerchuk]

It's always guys on the team who don't make a big splash. Look at the St Louis Blues Cup team in 2019. Defenseman Colton Parayko and Vince Dunn were not sexy names at all, yet they were indispensable for the Finals. Those are the guys you need to win. OK, and a goalie like Hasek helps too LOL.

[Stoner]

It's not a checklist and then expect success.

At this point in my hockey fan career, I'm down to luck, magic and the Hockey Gods. Release a rehabbed bat! I'm telling ya.