Speculation: Opening Night Roster Surprises?

Dreakon13

Registered User
Jun 28, 2010
4,276
1,305
Mighty Taco, NY
Figure first round of cuts will probably be coming in the next few days and we have a few preseason games under our belts... so anyone want to predict some surprises they think could happen for opening night?

Cozens/Jokiharju/Asplund/Lazar make the team? Sobotka/Scandella waived or scratched? Nothing/business as usual? Can probably safely assume Olofsson will make the team at least.
 
Last edited:

La Cosa Nostra

Caporegime
Jun 25, 2009
14,073
2,335
The pre game show threw out the idea of Mitts starting in Rochester and Cozens getting the 9 game look. I do not know how Mitts has looked in camp and practice. And doesn't the AHL start a few weeks after the NHL does? So hy the time Casey gets 5 or 6 games to rack up points his direct replacement has to either go back or burn a year of his ELC. I only mention this because I want to see Cozens get a look...even a 4 or 5 game one. And it should be done regardless of Mitts.

Cozens getting a 5-9 game look is intriguing. Putting him on a line with either Skinner or Sam and/or Olofsson would definitely help his chances to succeed that Mitts didn't get himself. Big difference from Sheary being your best linemate then Jeff Skinner or Sam Reinhart.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tromps

Team Cozens

Registered User
Oct 24, 2013
6,566
3,863
Burlington
Skinner - Eichel - Reinhart
Johansson - Asplund - Olofsson
Lazar - Mittelstadt - Vesey
ERod - Larry - Thompson

No Okposo, Sobotka, Sheary or Girgs
 

Buffaloed

webmaster
Feb 27, 2002
43,324
23,584
Niagara Falls
I hope Lazar makes the opening night lineup.
Krueger talked about roster trimming in his post-game presser and mentioned that making sure they have enough grit is a consideration. Lazar has made the rosters of better teams than the Sabres. I don't see him as that much of a long shot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mitts888

lauraP

Registered User
Aug 4, 2019
1,249
784
ever since lazar scooped up that Cheeseburger off the ice and ate it i knew this kid was a total nasty filthy untamed BEEAST,

what i'd like to see

Skinner-Eichel-Vesey
Oloffson-mittlestadt-reinhart
Sheary-MoJo-Erod
Lazar-larson-girgs

what will probably see :sarcasm:

Sheary-eichel-okposo
Vesey-erod-reinhart
Mojo-mittlestadt-sobotka
girg-larson-thompson
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Blitz

CrazyPsycho

Elite Drafter
Sep 25, 2003
17,670
5,251
Adding Lazar/Asplund we could move away from Girgensons, get Mitts confidence in Rochester. Cozens didnt have much in the tank tonight, no need to rush him as much fun as it might be.

Pretty sure CJ would clear waivers at this point

Skinner - Eichel - Tage
Olofsson - Johansson - Reinhart
Vesey - ERod - Sheary
Asplund - Larsson - Lazar
Okposo
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rasmus Reichel

Aladyyn

they praying for the death of a rockstar
Apr 6, 2015
18,090
7,213
Czech Republic
Adding Lazar/Asplund we could move away from Girgensons, get Mitts confidence in Rochester. Cozens didnt have much in the tank tonight, no need to rush him as much fun as it might be.

Pretty sure CJ would clear waivers at this point

Skinner - Eichel - Tage
Olofsson - Johansson - Reinhart
Vesey - ERod - Sheary
Asplund - Larsson - Lazar
Okposo
Lazar isn't half the player Girgensons is, this would be a big mistake.
 

Duddy

Everyday is
Dec 24, 2005
12,044
1,366
Yeah, let's f*** up one of the few things that work. That'll make the team better.
 

old kummelweck

Registered User
Nov 10, 2003
25,082
5,217
I think it's the kind of surprise we wont like. Players on the roster that should have been demoted.
 

Dreakon13

Registered User
Jun 28, 2010
4,276
1,305
Mighty Taco, NY
I think it's the kind of surprise we wont like. Players on the roster that should have been demoted.
Given the Sabres track record, would this count as a surprise? I think we're all basically expecting that certain players/vets to get the benefit of the doubt for yet another year.

Stapling Sobotka's behind to the bench or waiving him is such an obvious thing to do, and it'd be so refreshing to see from a fan perspective to know somewhere, someone in management feels it's more important to ice a better roster than it is to kowtow to vet players and not burn a meaningless bridge or two. But I believe with so many underperforming vets with one year left in their respective deals, that Botteril is happy to let every last one of them ride it out and maybe start getting more creative next year. As such, I expect camp to end in the most vanilla, least reassuring way possible. :laugh:

But I'd certainly like them to surprise me.
 

old kummelweck

Registered User
Nov 10, 2003
25,082
5,217
Given the Sabres track record, would this count as a surprise? I think we're all basically expecting that certain players/vets to get the benefit of the doubt for yet another year.

Stapling Sobotka's behind to the bench or waiving him is such an obvious thing to do, and it'd be so refreshing to see from a fan perspective to know somewhere, someone in management feels it's more important to ice a better roster than it is to kowtow to vet players and not burn a meaningless bridge or two. But I believe with so many underperforming vets with one year left in their respective deals, that Botteril is happy to let every last one of them ride it out and maybe start getting more creative next year. As such, I expect camp to end in the most vanilla, least reassuring way possible. :laugh:

But I'd certainly like them to surprise me.
Interesting statement by Krueger when asked 'How confident are you in the split' between Roch and Buf sending players down. Starts at around th 4:00 mark.

"People might not understand why the final few players maybe next week are going to go down and the ones that are staying here."

Don't think he's talking about the players themselves who will know exactly why they ended up where they did, and considering the media and fans are pretty much in lock step with some of the marginal NHL vets losing their jobs to young guys, he's and Botterill are going to be making some pretty unpopular decisions around the likes of Okposo, Sobotka, etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mitts888

CrazyPsycho

Elite Drafter
Sep 25, 2003
17,670
5,251
Borgen beating Joki out for that last RHD spot

Ellie making the team

Asplund won't make it, Cozens won't make it, Casey will be gifted a spot, and Vlad, Kyle, and Marco will somehow still be in the lineup. I guess Lazar might be the only other wild card.

Why would Elie make it lol
 

old kummelweck

Registered User
Nov 10, 2003
25,082
5,217
Borgen beating Joki out for that last RHD spot

Ellie making the team

Asplund won't make it, Cozens won't make it, Casey will be gifted a spot, and Vlad, Kyle, and Marco will somehow still be in the lineup. I guess Lazar might be the only other wild card.
This is pretty much what I'm expecting. But they won't hesitate in waiving any of Vlad, Kyle, and Marco if the team struggles at all and anyone they send down starts to light it up.

The one guy I'm struggling with is ERod. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in preseason as he, like other players, is still getting used to new line mates and getting his timing, but I think they are asking too much of him to try and be a number 2 center. He's doing too much.

One thing that I found EXTREMELY interesting at the end of last nights came is WHO Krueger sent out there to lock the game down in the last few minutes of the game. That was almost certainly audition time for the likes of Nelson, Asplund, Smith and they did an admirable job.

Sobotka- they look like they expect him to be a specialist and he'll be taking those tough dzone faceoffs. Sink or swim in that role. Maybe with good coaching, the can get maximum value out of him when he's not expected to produce at all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Doug Prishpreed

Deleted member 27798

Guest
Borgen beating Joki out for that last RHD spot

Ellie making the team

Asplund won't make it, Cozens won't make it, Casey will be gifted a spot, and Vlad, Kyle, and Marco will somehow still be in the lineup. I guess Lazar might be the only other wild card.
I'd like to see Borgen make the team. I think a 3rd pairing of Joker and Nelson will get destroyed in their own end.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Doug Prishpreed

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad

-->