Sabres' Training Camp Opens Thursday September 17th

[21]

I love Larsson-Reinhart-Girgensons as a line, though it does tie up three centers. Switching Kane and Moulson is interesting. I'm not that hot about keeping Gionta on Eichel's wing.

Why is Gionta still in Buffalo anyway? Good teamplayer, nice etc but simply not good enough for his paycheck.

 

[Jim Bob]

Why is Gionta still in Buffalo anyway? Good teamplayer, nice etc but simply not good enough for his paycheck.

Intangibles, leadership, and he signed a multi-year guaranteed contract before last season.

But, I do believe that down the stretch last season he showed that he still has some game left in the tank.

 

[Jim Bob]

But where are you getting that the lines from this morning, as per twitter, is the lineup for Friday?

Does that lineup look like it has a handful of vets or what the expected lineup for opening night should look like?

 

[sabrebuild]

The only things that McGinn or Foligno do better than Gionta are skate faster and play more physical.

Gionta is still a better playmaker, scorer and defensive player. There is absolutely a place for him in our top 9, let alone top 12.

I would disagree about the scoring skill at this point for both guys.

Playmaking? Maybe, but he certainly wouldn't be the top playmaker on any of top 3 lines, so its a marginal advantage.

Defensively, again, I'm not sure that's true. If he is, it's marginal.

I don't think Gionta is a duster out there, but at his age and skill set, he just isn't a better fit than other options.

 

[Myllz]

Why is Gionta still in Buffalo anyway? Good teamplayer, nice etc but simply not good enough for his paycheck.

Size of paycheck doesn't mean much for Buffalo right now.

 

[Paxon]

Gionta looked good after returning from his concussion. He looks good in the preseason. He has a place on the team aside from being the captain. He just isn't my ideal winger for Eichel.

 

[dire wolf]

Gionta looked good after returning from his concussion. He looks good in the preseason. He has a place on the team aside from being the captain. He just isn't my ideal winger for Eichel.

I agree. He's an ideal 3rd line player at this point.

 

[sabrebuild]

Gionta looked good after returning from his concussion. He looks good in the preseason. He has a place on the team aside from being the captain. He just isn't my ideal winger for Eichel.

Ya, i agree he has looked good, but to me these are the tough choices when you have a deep team. Is he a more effective player at this stage of his career than Foligno, McGinn, Larsson or Reinhart?

On merits Reinhart is the only one that i think you can objectively say is less effective than Gionta, today, as a winger. So if we need to win a game tmrw my top 12 would be

Kane ROR Ennis
Moulson Ike Girgs
McGinn Larsson Foligno
Des. Legwand gionta/Reinhart

If we need to win next year im plugging reinhart in the mcginn spot or moving Larsson to the wing if Reinhart has developed enough.

So ya, on this team, with this depth, gionta can certainly cover and play anywhere in the lineup and should be decent.

But his role is a gap filler now, there are simply better options for the different roles needed in the lineup.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Gionta just needs to be a calm leader during the regular season. He knows how to pace himself at this point in his career. If they make the playoffs or get into a playoff race we'll see another gear, no doubt. Until then, I'm not worried about him at all. He'll be a safe choice on whatever line he's put, no need to worry about him.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[26CornerBlitz]

9-30: TSN'S TRAVIS YOST TALKS BILLS AND SABRES ON WGR (24:59)

Good interview with Yost where he discusses Eichel, Reinhart, how the Sabres will do this season, and more.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[DatGuy]

Might be a long night in Minny. I like this though. It will give Dan a change to see how players handle 20 plus minutes vs top line NHLers.

 

[Chainshot]

There are 23 guys listed on that roster. If Kaleta is in a red, non-contact jersey, that brings them down to 22.

 

[Nibbler]

Why is Gionta still in Buffalo anyway? Good teamplayer, nice etc but simply not good enough for his paycheck.

I disagree. He looked pretty damn good in the second half of last season. Give him a solid line to play on and I bet he can still put up 40-50 points.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Might be a long night in Minny. I like this though. It will give Dan a change to see how players handle 20 plus minutes vs top line NHLers.

I like it too. Definitely no pressure to win with this squad, but there will be a lot to analyze. I hope to see a top line of Foligno/Larsson/Reinhart just to see what they can do in that role. Should be a fun game, with none of the big names.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[Dubi Doo]

That would be quite the improvement! It'd also be awesome to see the Leafs floating in no-man's land at season's end.

 

[Paxon]

I like it too. Definitely no pressure to win with this squad, but there will be a lot to analyze. I hope to see a top line of Foligno/Larsson/Reinhart just to see what they can do in that role. Should be a fun game, with none of the big names.

You mean hear what they can do in that role.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[Jacob582]

I guess that answers the question of which forward is first callup.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[LaxSabre]

Reminder - Tonights game in Minnesota will be third game of three pre-season games where they will be playing a five minute 3 on 3 overtime period - no matter what the regulation score ends up being. Sabres are 0 for 2 in these mandatory 3 on 3 overtime periods - losing at Minnesota (winning goal was scored with 8 seconds left in the overtime period) and at home vs Ottawa (winning goal was scored 39 seconds into the overtime period).

 

[sabres4ever]

Let's go Buffalo!