Practice Lines 2/5/24

[K-9]

11 hours ago, JohnC said:

Okposo on the first line make little sense to me. I would move Tuch back up to the first line and put Olofsson on the Mitts line. At this stage in his career, Okposo is a fourth liner. The Quinn injury had ramifications for all the lines. It was a consequential loss. 

If last season taught us anything, it’s that Mitts and VO must NEVER be linemates again. Never. Ever. Again. 

[SABRES 0311]

15 hours ago, Brawndo said:

 

I kind of like that middle six. Replace KO with a healthy Quinn and we’re off.

[bob_sauve28]

 

[JohnC]

6 hours ago, K-9 said:

If last season taught us anything, it’s that Mitts and VO must NEVER be linemates again. Never. Ever. Again. 

I'm not worried about last season. In order to get the best out of Mitts he needs to play with wingers who can shoot. I'm not over-evaluating VO and try to make him out to be something he is not. But at least this year (when he plays) there is an effort to check and play a tighter game compared to his previous seasons. When injuries happen you go down your list to come up with an acceptable option that is available. 

[JohnC]

6 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

One of the reasons for that is that we keep a guy like VO on the roster all season but he can't crack the line up ever so why is he here??? It's as ridiculous as the 3 goalie situation was. 

Where's the half dozen fringe NHL vets that can be called up when needed and/or waived and sent back down when not needed? Other teams have them. If the kids aren't ready for call ups the organization HAS to have those guys. 

We don't have any more injuries than any other team (at times) so for the roster to look this bad with a few guys out is just ridiculous and the GM didn't do his job.

Your criticisms are valid about the lack of options to turn to when injuries happen. My point is simple: You go with what you got. If VO is our best option, then so be it. 

[Porous Five Hole]

14 hours ago, JohnC said:

Even if the front office prefers to keep Kulich in the AHL, I just think that there are better options for the first line. I would rather re-assemble the first line with Tage in between Tuch and Skinner, and move Mitts onto the second line as either a center or winger with JJ and Cozens. It just seems to me that with Okposo on the first line you are suppressing the offense and I'm not sure that he could keep up with his line-mates. 

Injuries are part of the game. However, the Quinn injury seems to have reverberated throughout all the lines. 

Seth Appert was on Sabres Live last Friday and it sounded like Rousek was the most “deserving” because he’s “earning it” right now.  Maybe not exactly quoted, but that was the message. He left room for Kulich saying while he’s slumping, he’s also working hard.

[K-9]

4 hours ago, JohnC said:

I'm not worried about last season. In order to get the best out of Mitts he needs to play with wingers who can shoot. I'm not over-evaluating VO and try to make him out to be something he is not. But at least this year (when he plays) there is an effort to check and play a tighter game compared to his previous seasons. When injuries happen you go down your list to come up with an acceptable option that is available. 

Never. Again. 😂

[JohnC]

3 minutes ago, K-9 said:

Never. Again. 😂

Never say never! With this team the never keeps coming up again, and again!😂

[K-9]

11 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Never say never! With this team the never keeps coming up again, and again!😂

[inkman]

3 hours ago, Porous Five Hole said:

Seth Appert was on Sabres Live last Friday and it sounded like Rousek was the most “deserving” because he’s “earning it” right now.  Maybe not exactly quoted, but that was the message. He left room for Kulich saying while he’s slumping, he’s also working hard.

He’s not wrong. If anyone is getting the call from the forward group it’s Rousek or Jost.