Roster Speculation 2017-18 - Seven Deadly Roster Sins Edition

[Snippit]

As much as I have been wanting Sam to play centre, I don't think we have the wing depth to support 3 lines. Not until Mittelstadt and Nylander get here.

My ideal solution is to put Eichel and ROR on the same line. But I doubt that will happen, so I wouldn't mind seeing Sam back at wing:

Girgs-ROR-KO
Moulson-Eichel-Reinhart
Kane-Larsson-Pominville
Josefson-ERod-Nolan

Wanted to put someone better at 2LW but I didn't really want Kane there...

 

[Rasmus CacOlainen]

If Casey abeolutely rips up college, at what point would be able to get him on the roster if we wanted to? Feb? March? Playoffs?

 

[dotcommunism]

If Casey abeolutely rips up college, at what point would be able to get him on the roster if we wanted to? Feb? March? Playoffs?

Technically speaking they could sign him at pretty much any point (though I'm not 100% sure on the holiday roster freeze). Realistically speaking, though, he shouldn't be expected to leave until after his college season is over, which takes you to about mid-March at the earliest (it's not unprecedented for college players to leave their teams early - Okposo did it his sophomore year, but it is rare). If you're talking about him making the jump right to the NHL, they can sign him as long as they have games to play. If the situation necessitates it, he could sign during the playoffs. In any case, so long as he signs an ELC that commences this season, he'd be playoff eligible. From March 1 to June 1 (and after July 1, of course), he'll be eligible to sign an ELC that starts during the 2018-19 season.

 

[Samsonite23]

As much as I have been wanting Sam to play centre, I don't think we have the wing depth to support 3 lines. Not until Mittelstadt and Nylander get here.

My ideal solution is to put Eichel and ROR on the same line. But I doubt that will happen, so I wouldn't mind seeing Sam back at wing:

Girgs-ROR-KO
Moulson-Eichel-Reinhart
Kane-Larsson-Pominville
Josefson-ERod-Nolan

Wanted to put someone better at 2LW but I didn't really want Kane there...

Idk why i haven't thought of that. That would make the lines so much better.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Lots of placeholder forwards on the team. Pouliot is just here for the season. Griffith, Nolan, and Moulson are placeholders as well. I think Josefson might have a future next season as the 4C or 13th forward if he plays well. I also think Kane gets traded before GMBOT loses and asset for nothing. And Moulson is probably bought out after the season. That's 4-5 forward spots potentially open next season. Also, Larsson's ability to play wing in the new system really makes things interesting, since he's the type of defense/physical/dirty work glue forward that lines need.

I think GMBOT might see his shell like this:

AAA - Eichel - BBB
Girgensons - ROR - Okposo
CCC - Reinhart - XXX
YYY - Josefson - ZZZ

Larsson and Pominville plug in there somewhere. And the team has a glut of forwards who could fill those spots: Fasching, Bailey, Baptiste, Nylander, Asplund, Rodrigues, Malone, Smith. And Mittelstadt and Davidsson are in the pipeline.

I think enough of them will fit in and produce for the team to be fine. GMBOT needs to focus on defensive organizational depth, particularly high end prospects, since the team only has Guhle. A Kane trade for Fabbro, Bean, Fleury, etc. would go a long way.

 

[Der Jaeger]

As much as I have been wanting Sam to play centre, I don't think we have the wing depth to support 3 lines. Not until Mittelstadt and Nylander get here.

My ideal solution is to put Eichel and ROR on the same line. But I doubt that will happen, so I wouldn't mind seeing Sam back at wing:

Girgs-ROR-KO
Moulson-Eichel-Reinhart
Kane-Larsson-Pominville
Josefson-ERod-Nolan

Wanted to put someone better at 2LW but I didn't really want Kane there...

I disagree. I think the last pre-season game showed a glimpse of what Housley could do with Larsson at wing.

Kane - Eichel - Pominville
Girgensons - ROR - Okposo
Pouliot - Reinhart - Larsson
Moulson - Josefson - Nolan

And if Rodrigues made the team in Housley's determination, you get him into the line-up for Moulson as soon as he's healthy. That's not a bad line-up and that's not a bad 3rd line. Larsson played 3rd line minutes last year, and Pouliot played in Edmonton's top 9 last year.

Now that Larsson showed glimpses of playing wing, think about this type of lien construction for the future:

Larsson - Reinhart - Mittelstadt

Larsson does the dirty work, plays defense, retrieves the puck, and goes to the net, all with a high level of hockey IQ. Reinhart has the passing, defense, positioning, and hockey IQ to make a line go. Mittelstadt has the hockey IQ to fit right in, and the explosiveness to take advantage of everything Reinhart and Larsson create, as well as creating himself. Housley doesn't need to shelter that line either, since they have the defensive ability to hold their own, and put pressure back on the opposition. I think that's very good line construction. I want that as my third line.

 

[Aladyyn]

As much as I have been wanting Sam to play centre, I don't think we have the wing depth to support 3 lines. Not until Mittelstadt and Nylander get here.

My ideal solution is to put Eichel and ROR on the same line. But I doubt that will happen, so I wouldn't mind seeing Sam back at wing:

Girgs-ROR-KO
Moulson-Eichel-Reinhart
Kane-Larsson-Pominville
Josefson-ERod-Nolan

Wanted to put someone better at 2LW but I didn't really want Kane there...

IF we are putting Reinhart at wing, playing him with ROR is just better for everyone involved imo. Sam shouldn't be used as training wheels for Eichel for the 3rd season in a row.

 

[Sabre Dance]

As much as I have been wanting Sam to play centre, I don't think we have the wing depth to support 3 lines. Not until Mittelstadt and Nylander get here.

My ideal solution is to put Eichel and ROR on the same line. But I doubt that will happen, so I wouldn't mind seeing Sam back at wing:

Girgs-ROR-KO
Moulson-Eichel-Reinhart
Kane-Larsson-Pominville
Josefson-ERod-Nolan

Wanted to put someone better at 2LW but I didn't really want Kane there...

We have the wing depth as soon as our coaches understand Eichel doesn't need/use skilled wings.

Pouliot - O'Reilly - Okposo
Girgensons - Eichel - Rodrigues
Kane - Reinhart - Pominville

 

[AustonsNostrils]

IF we are putting Reinhart at wing, playing him with ROR is just better for everyone involved imo. Sam shouldn't be used as training wheels for Eichel for the 3rd season in a row.

I want Reinhart at center, he played pretty well the last 2 games there.

 

[joshjull]

As much as I have been wanting Sam to play centre, I don't think we have the wing depth to support 3 lines. Not until Mittelstadt and Nylander get here.

My ideal solution is to put Eichel and ROR on the same line. But I doubt that will happen, so I wouldn't mind seeing Sam back at wing:

Girgs-ROR-KO
Moulson-Eichel-Reinhart
Kane-Larsson-Pominville
Josefson-ERod-Nolan

Wanted to put someone better at 2LW but I didn't really want Kane there...

Think of it like this. We're building the best center spine we can while using the wingers we have. Basically we are doing what we should have done two years ago. Put our best top 3 centers out there and start working to fill in around them.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

Struck's overthinking preseason boxscore and roster projection corner:

• Eichel is getting pronounced OZS both at-home and on the road and is the #1 offensive line (duh)
• Eichel got the checking line at home and Crosby on the road, expect those splits to continue
• Housley is staggering O'Reilly's matchup across the Reinhart and Larsson lines. Tavares/Malkin was each player's most-matched forward. Just something to keep track of
• Kane-Pominville is a possession hellscape
• The Islanders had over 82% of shots and 9/0 scoring chances with Gorges on the ice. I thought maybe he could hang on as a defensive specialist, but nooooope. Washed
• Beaulieu has posted encouraging splits, but has largely been sheltered outside of the Pens game
• We've seen every version of defensive deployments. Risto got offensive zone minutes against the Leafs, balanced shutdown minutes against the Islanders, and Beauliu-Bogo reprised 4-55's role against the Pens. I think the Islanders game was the most instructive, but Bogosian's injury throws a wrench into things. Interesting to see if Risto or Antipin steps up to that #1 offensive RD role

The biggest question moving forward, is what to do with the totally ineffective Kane/Pominville tandem, especially because there isn't really an obvious answer. Neither is a great fit with a solo Eichel/Reinhart, and Kane-Eichel-Reinhart gets us away from the center spine. It also appears that they don't want to break up the O'Reilly unit, even though 90's RW might be the best spot for Poms.

Unless there's some stubbornness, they'll probably go with some combination of:

Kane-Eichel-Reinhart
Girgensons-O'Reilly-Okposo
Pouliot-Larsson-Pominville
Nolan-Josefson-Griffith

Or

Kane-Eichel-Griffith
Girgensons-O'Reilly-Okposo
Pouliot-Reinhart-Pominville
Nolan-Josefson-Larsson

With Rodrigues as the wildcard, but I'd like to see Housley get more inventive with the lines. Something like...

Girgensons-Eichel-Griffith
Pouliot-O'Reilly-Pominville
Larsson-Reinhart-Okposo
Kane-Josefson-Nolan

With a lot of fluidity on that LW, because I'm really not sure whether Pouliot is dead weight or Girgs/Larry can really hang.

Projecting the defense is a lot easier though (hopefully Phil realizes Risto is not his shutdown guy after Friday night).

Beaulieu-Ristolainen (top minutes, high OZS, medium QoC)
Scandella-Antipin (#2 minutes, 50% OZS, top QoC)
McCabe-Tennyson (bottom pairing minutes, low OZS, low QoC)

 

[Rasmus CacOlainen]

Why is Kane still with Jack? Also that "AHL signing" is now playing one our 1/2 line...

 

[CrazyPsycho]

Yikes I hope its not a choice of Larsson or Josefson to keep Nolan and Moulson in. Not reading too much into these yet.

Seems Housley is shouldering Eichel with worse wingers to get Reinhart going

 

[joshjull]

Why is Kane still with Jack?

I'm guessing the same thing that seduced Disco to put them together (Two big, fast and powerful skaters could do a lot of damage if they click) has seduced Housely as well. It will either work better in the new system or it won't. If it doesn't, I hope Housley isn't as stubborn about it as Disco was. Time will tell.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

Yikes I hope its not a choice of Larsson or Josefson to keep Nolan and Moulson in. Not reading too much into these yet.

Seems Housley is shouldering Eichel with worse wingers to get Reinhart going

Eh, O'Reilly is the guy losing something, not Jack. Reinhart-Griffith was our best forward tandem vs the Islanders. Girgensons had to drop to add footspeed and consistency.

 

[Rasmus CacOlainen]

No Gorges! Please!

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

Antipin is effectively an RHD Phil!

 

[Rasmus CacOlainen]

Antipin is effectively an RHD Phil!

If it keeps Gorges out of the team I'm fine with him on the left. Hope Bogo is back by game time on the 2nd pairing.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

I'm guessing the same thing that seduced Disco to put them together (Two big, fast and powerful skaters could do a lot of damage if they click) has seduced Housely as well. It will either work better in the new system or it won't. If it doesn't, I hope Housley isn't as stubborn about it as Disco was. Time will tell.

It appears Phil is putting their lack of success on Pominville for the moment. Jack got his only scoring chances of the evening once Griffith got the promotion, and the line looked visibly better with Reinhart at RW as well. Also, Housley felt the need to drop what has been his best glue player to offset Poms.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

If it keeps Gorges out of the team I'm fine with him on the left. Hope Bogo is back by game time on the 2nd pairing.

Flip Tennyson and Antipin, Falk is a placeholder for McCabe anyway.

 

[Chainshot]

It'll be interesting to see if Housley continues to work players in on different lines over the course of the week or if they will start trying to get some consistency for the season opener.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Hey guys, just wondering who plays on your top PP unit beyond Eichel and Risto? Wondering who will benefit from playing with them for pool reasons. Thanks!

 

[Aladyyn]

Hey guys, just wondering who plays on your top PP unit beyond Eichel and Risto? Wondering who will benefit from playing with them for pool reasons. Thanks!

So far it looks like the unit will stay the same, so O'Reilly, Okposo, Reinhart.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

So far it looks like the unit will stay the same, so O'Reilly, Okposo, Reinhart.

Wow, 4 RH shooters on the same unit! Thanks

 

[Paxon]

Wow, 4 RH shooters on the same unit! Thanks

Yeah, it's a odd, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The top unit last season gave the Sabres the #1 PP in the league. The second unit is what needs improvement (along with zone entries).