Speculation: Roster Speculation Part VII

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La Cosa Nostra

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Jun 25, 2009
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Our 11th and 12th ranked forward regulars in TOI are Poms and Thompson and they have 20 goals 56 games in. last year our bottom THREE forwards in Josefson, Pouliot and Nolan had 19 goals combined. Cannot see how we can brush off Thompsons goals in minimal ice time at a young age as nothing.
 

Team Cozens

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Oct 24, 2013
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Devils getting crushed tonight. They could really use a defensive specialist like Sobotka. Have we been scouting them? :thumbu:
Speaking of scouts, the Hurricanes had 3 at our game tonight. Probably watching the islanders
 

truthbluth

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Feb 2, 2011
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The biggest issue with giving more ice time to Mitts and Thompson is both of them look gassed regularly as it is. Those two dudes more than anybody need to hit the cardio.
 

dotcommunism

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Aug 16, 2007
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@dotcommunism paging you on this. Have we missed the window on when Mitts and Tage would need to get some Rochester time in to be available for the Calder Cup run?

As I recall they need to get at least a game in before the trade deadline? Or be on the ahl team at the time of the deadline?

It would be valuable for both of those guys to get serious development on a deep run at that level.
They'd just need to be in the AHL at the time of the deadline. That said, I doubt either of them goes down. Pilut I could see, and Smith if he's still up, but that's about it. They can't really send down all four of them since calling them back up post-deadline would burn through the limited post-deadline recalls, and I'm pretty sure they don't have four of those (and I don't think they can paper transaction themselves below 12 forwards on the roster).
 

sabrebuild

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Apr 21, 2014
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They'd just need to be in the AHL at the time of the deadline. That said, I doubt either of them goes down. Pilut I could see, and Smith if he's still up, but that's about it. They can't really send down all four of them since calling them back up post-deadline would burn through the limited post-deadline recalls, and I'm pretty sure they don't have four of those (and I don't think they can paper transaction themselves below 12 forwards on the roster).

That’s too bad. I’d love to see them get that experience.
 

Jim Bob

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Feb 27, 2002
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Not defending Tage but it takes big players longer to develop that's a fact

I'd love to see examples of big players with Thompson's kind of track record that have developed into a solid top 6 winger at the NHL level.

Most late developing big guys have a previous track record of solid offensive production. The ones that don't tend to never be big time top 6 NHLers outside of a good season here or there when they get to ride shotgun with a great player that elevates their production.
 

Jim Bob

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Our 11th and 12th ranked forward regulars in TOI are Poms and Thompson and they have 20 goals 56 games in. last year our bottom THREE forwards in Josefson, Pouliot and Nolan had 19 goals combined. Cannot see how we can brush off Thompsons goals in minimal ice time at a young age as nothing.

If you are happy with Thompson being better than Jordan Nolan as a 4th line winger, then I guess he is living up to expectations.

I thought most people were hoping for more from him given where he was drafted and the talk about how the ROR trade was about adding depth to the team.
 

Fezzy126

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Anything interesting on this article?
Sabres’ fourth line of Larsson-Girgensons-Okposo continues...

I'm geoblocked in Europe. :thumbd:

Eh, not really, nothing we really haven't been saying around here for quite some time.

Summary:
  • Larsson & Girgs have been really good together this year: positive corsi, tough minutes, defensive zone starts, etc
  • KO brings a bit of offensive touch to line
  • The trio may be labeled a "4th line", but they actually get the 2nd most 5v5 minutes as a trio
  • Fluff quotes from each of the trio and Phil talking about how much they like playing with each other and how good they've been together
Overall message is they're getting the dirty work and getting the job done recently, specifically citing stats from the last 3 games.
 
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truthbluth

Registered User
Feb 2, 2011
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Anything interesting on this article?
Sabres’ fourth line of Larsson-Girgensons-Okposo continues...

I'm geoblocked in Europe. :thumbd:
Sort of. That trio has been deployed as a 2nd line in terms of 5v5 ice time. And while they play generally low event hockey, they are rolling with a 52% corsi in about 100 minutes, which is small but not trivial sample size.

It's basically making the argument that they are good, which I think is almost right. The only frustrating thing to me about that line, is that they waste more scoring chances than any line that I can remember. But they do out work every single opponent. I think every good team needs a line like that.
 
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Sabresfansince1980

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Aside from Okposo's terrible cap hit, which nothing can be done about for a few years anyway, that line needs to stay intact barring injury. I think any speculation for next season's roster has to have them inked in the 4th line, with each of Girgensons and Larsson having a new contract with a 2-ish mil cap hit. I'd be shocked to see Botterill trade either of them.
 
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MtlsabresFAN

Registered User
Nov 17, 2018
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Thompson and Mitts will be better next year. They need to add some upper body weight just like Reino had to in the beginning. I can see Mitts putting up the same points as Reino and Thompson being a consistent 20 goal scorer in the future.
 

Fezzy126

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Is finding his first line in 12 games particularly impressive over Bylsma?

Honest question, because Bylsma certainly put Kane with Sam and Jack. Seems like kind of an obvious choice to try amongst the options available.

With some of the shared roster options I would have been impressed if Phil had played O’Reilly and Jack together for some extended looks, to see if their games complemented each other like the pp.

I don't know if I should be happy that Phil found a line with natural chemistry in less than a dozen games, it could just be a product of having better players to work with. But the last 4 years we haven't once constructed a successful line (or if we did their impact was nullified with terrible usage). So yeah, he gets credit in my book.

Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of complaints about the coach, the GM, and the players. I have wanted to see Sam at center, Jack get a run with ROR, ROR not buried with terrible usage, Mitts & Tage spend some time in Roch, and Sobotka shot into the sun, etc. etc. etc. Many of the thoughts that get tossed around the echo chamber here are valid.

At the same time, I'm not going to knock the coach and gm for every bad aspect of the team, and then turn around and make an excuse for every good thing about the team. Far too many posters engage in this, but you have to be able to objectively recognize the good and the bad to make an intelligent decision.
 

Aladyyn

they praying for the death of a rockstar
Apr 6, 2015
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I don't know if I should be happy that Phil found a line with natural chemistry in less than a dozen games, it could just be a product of having better players to work with. But the last 4 years we haven't once constructed a successful line (or if we did their impact was nullified with terrible usage). So yeah, he gets credit in my book.

Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of complaints about the coach, the GM, and the players. I have wanted to see Sam at center, Jack get a run with ROR, ROR not buried with terrible usage, Mitts & Tage spend some time in Roch, and Sobotka shot into the sun, etc. etc. etc. Many of the thoughts that get tossed around the echo chamber here are valid.

At the same time, I'm not going to knock the coach and gm for every bad aspect of the team, and then turn around and make an excuse for every good thing about the team. Far too many posters engage in this, but you have to be able to objectively recognize the good and the bad to make an intelligent decision.
Foligno-Larsson-Gionta would like a word there. Funnily enough the only line combination to play more than 400 minutes for us over the 4 years lol. So your point stands.
 
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Fezzy126

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Foligno-Larsson-Gionta would like a word there. Funnily enough the only line combination to play more than 400 minutes for us over the 4 years lol. So your point stands.

Touche, I can't believe it, I completely forgot about FLG!
 

snoop244

Registered User
Oct 16, 2010
38
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I'd love to see examples of big players with Thompson's kind of track record that have developed into a solid top 6 winger at the NHL level.

Most late developing big guys have a previous track record of solid offensive production. The ones that don't tend to never be big time top 6 NHLers outside of a good season here or there when they get to ride shotgun with a great player that elevates their production.
The guy is 21. Is it fair to say he has a track record at all?

He looks awesome to me. Big guy with really good hands. Strips pucks from guys regularly in both zones. His conditioning is improving.

His problem is that he is stuck with crap line mates.
 

Aladyyn

they praying for the death of a rockstar
Apr 6, 2015
18,092
7,213
Czech Republic
The guy is 21. Is it fair to say he has a track record at all?

He looks awesome to me. Big guy with really good hands. Strips pucks from guys regularly in both zones. His conditioning is improving.

His problem is that he is stuck with crap line mates.
His problem is that his best attributes are being 6-6 and being 21.
 

dasaybz

da saybz
Aug 2, 2005
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The guy is 21. Is it fair to say he has a track record at all?

He looks awesome to me. Big guy with really good hands. Strips pucks from guys regularly in both zones. His conditioning is improving.

His problem is that he is stuck with crap line mates.
His biggest problem is effort away from the puck. When the puck is on his stick, he flies all over the ice and looks really engaged and like a pro. When the puck is not on his stick, he's stuck in 2nd gear, and looks almost lost out there.
 
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TehDoak

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I'm curious what people would pay for:

A) Rental of Marcus Johansson
B) Marcus Johansson as a UFA

IF the plan would be to take a run at him this summer regardless, would it make sense for us to pay the rental price now if we felt we could get a good UFA value for him.
 

Zip15

Registered User
Jun 3, 2009
28,120
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Devils getting crushed tonight. They could really use a defensive specialist like Sobotka. Have we been scouting them? :thumbu:
Speaking of scouts, the Hurricanes had 3 at our game tonight. Probably watching the islanders

Random, but I had a dream in which we had traded Nylander in a deal for MoJo and Miles Wood. The dream wasn't about hockey or trades, but I recall that particular background fact from the dream. :laugh:
 
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Jim Bob

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Feb 27, 2002
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