21/22 Roster Speculation Thread Part VIII

[StrompTroller]

Revisiting the Foligno/Ennis for Scandella/Pominville might be a perfect microcosm for the point from former players on how the culture was just terrible in the 2010’s. Foligno seemed to stagnate as a player and never really broke out like a lot of us hoped. He was a guy that just was Buffalo, though. The family roots to the area, his physicality, character, leadership and even some skill. He should’ve been a core complimentary player here for years like how Girgensons is still here. The fact that he never really improved or blossomed here is probably no coincidence considering all we’ve heard about how things operated here. Minnesota clearly had the culture, team and environment for him to succeed that we did not.

Foligno showed his defensive chops being a part of varying lines with Larsson and Gionta and Girgensons etc. Granted he never had the skill of an EK guy on his line but he showed he could be a linch pin member of a defensive shut down line and provide all those "intangibles while you waited for his offensive ability to progress,

It was a dumbass trade from square one. People thought Scandella would solve the defense even though his own team deemed him expendable because they knew it was the unit around him building him up and not his own play.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

You people really need to stop worrying about the cap floor. I promise, giving people millions of dollars is not hard.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

You people really need to stop worrying about the cap floor. I promise, giving people millions of dollars is not hard.

It's not reaching the floor that's worrisome, it's reaching it with albatross contract spending like a Westpac sailor hitting Thailand after 30 days at sea

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

It's not reaching the floor that's worrisome, it's reaching it with albatross contract spending like a Westpac sailor hitting Thailand after 30 days at sea

They can acquire Bishop’s contract if it becomes that dire. There are easy fixes, I assure you.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

They can acquire Bishop’s contract if it becomes that dire. There are easy fixes, I assure you.

They won't need to acquire retirement contracts like Boychuk, they'll hit the floor with their rfas, a few ufa d and goalie. I just don't want contracts like Petry

 

[Djp]

You people really need to stop worrying about the cap floor. I promise, giving people millions of dollars is not hard.

im not worried JT I want a actual useful player on short term.

I don’t want to do pass thru retains.

if they were totradeOlofsson fir picks/ELCs will force buffalo to acquire some dead weight next year.

or it for es them to keep kids in Rochester.

 

[Fjordsen]

I was a little surprised when I saw Carolina's defense and how many hits. They don't have much physical D and it's not a problem for them.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

I was a little surprised when I saw Carolina's defense and how many hits. They don't have much physical D and it's not a problem for them.

They're physical in muscling out forwards from their goal and taking them out along the wall but they don't line up many hits. Also those numbers aren't always the most accurate as one rink's hit isn't counted at different rink

 

[Chainshot]

I was a little surprised when I saw Carolina's defense and how many hits. They don't have much physical D and it's not a problem for them.

Watch how Slavin and Pesce defend. They are both great with their sticks and make smart reads. They're also good at moving the puck and the forwards are all invested in getting back to make the transition game easier.

 

[Fjordsen]

They're physical in muscling out forwards from their goal and taking them out along the wall but they don't line up many hits. Also those numbers aren't always the most accurate as one rink's hit isn't counted at different rink

Watch how Slavin and Pesce defend. They are both great with their sticks and make smart reads. They're also good at moving the puck and the forwards are all invested in getting back to make the transition game easier.

Yes, but my main point is that you don't have to have the most physical defense in the league to be very good. You do not need Risto or Gudas, who can do nothing but hit.

 

[Chainshot]

Yes, but my main point is that you don't have to have the most physical defense in the league to be very good. You do not need Risto or Gudas, who can do nothing but hit.

Hits are not indicative of success.

 

[Fjordsen]

Hits are not indicative of success.

This is an added bonus if the player is otherwise good.

 

[Chainshot]

This is an added bonus if the player is otherwise good.

And to ONG's point - not every arena counts hits the same way. The off-ice officials in Florida used to have some of the most ridiculous hit totals for games that were relatively pedestrian compared to other more physical contests in other rinks. That's why guys like Robert Svehla would lead the league in the hit stat and he was much more like Pesce/Slavin than Gudas/Risto.

 

[Fjordsen]

And to ONG's point - not every arena counts hits the same way. The off-ice officials in Florida used to have some of the most ridiculous hit totals for games that were relatively pedestrian compared to other more physical contests in other rinks. That's why guys like Robert Svehla would lead the league in the hit stat and he was much more like Pesce/Slavin than Gudas/Risto.

I understand that there may be some mistakes, but hardly much.

 

[Fezzy126]

Foligno showed his defensive chops being a part of varying lines with Larsson and Gionta and Girgensons etc. Granted he never had the skill of an EK guy on his line but he showed he could be a linch pin member of a defensive shut down line and provide all those "intangibles while you waited for his offensive ability to progress,

It was a dumbass trade from square one. People thought Scandella would solve the defense even though his own team deemed him expendable because they knew it was the unit around him building him up and not his own play.

I keep preaching this but there is so much revisionist history with Foligno it is infuriating. Here's his impacts with us:

Most fans were pissed that he never developed into a 30 goal power forward and were upset that a "4th liner" was making $2.25M per year. There were many fans that didn't want to qualify him at the end of the year because they deemed it too much, despite his elite defensive impacts.

The fact that he had any offensive impact at all when you look at his teammates was incredible. I hated that trade and f***ing hated Botts for it.

I may not know how this roster build will go, and the jury on Adams is absolutely still out, but I'm confident he would never trade away a heart and soul player like Foligno with good underlying metrics.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

This is an added bonus if the player is otherwise good.

Definitely a Scott Stevens type that put the fear of God into forwards entering the zone is always desirable

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Definitely a Scott Stevens type that put the fear of God into forwards entering the zone is always desirable

The Sabres should add any HOF caliber player they can find.

 

[UnleashRasmus]

They won't need to acquire retirement contracts like Boychuk, they'll hit the floor with their rfas, a few ufa d and goalie. I just don't want contracts like Petry

I doubt they're trading for Petry. Does he not have some sort of coverage of where he goes. I imagine he got at least a partial NMC or NTC.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

I doubt they're trading for Petry. Does he not have some sort of coverage of where he goes. I imagine he got at least a partial NMC or NTC.

Whether he does or not I was talking about over-priced under performing albatross deals like his

 

[Sabresbyswords104]

Lol cap floor is so easy to reach . Remember moulson contract etc …. Dont give to long term to these players like okposo, Skinner etc it just hurts the team . Sign 1-2 years and go with youth .

 

[UnleashRasmus]

Whether he does or not I was talking about over-priced under performing albatross deals like his

Makes sense. We have one of those. Enter, Jeff Skinner.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Makes sense. We have one of those. Enter, Jeff Skinner.

For that 6mil I'd rather Myers on his 2yr deal, especially if Vancouver is looking to sell at a discount like Myers + 2nd for Fla 1st

 

[itwasaforwardpass]

Granato seems to really want Fitz and Samuelsson to be paired, and Dahlin and Jokiharju to be paired. Neither pairing has been working out.

 

[Jim Bob]

That's such a crap take. His skating is just fine. He's not a physical guy that's going to run you through the boards, but saying he's soft because he was injured this year is on par for those two.

I'd like to know exactly what makes him soft, and what's wrong exactly with his skating? He showed big upside last year under Granato, and now these two are talking smack because of an injury? My goodness haven't we driven enough guys out of town? Maybe I'm higher on him than most people, but he still has so much more potential to grow into.

I do not believe that the injury was why they called him soft. Mitts is a skilled guy and not a guy that finishes checks or can be counted on to drop the gloves from time to time to stand up for a teammate ala Cozens.

And Mitts has never been known as an athletic guy and there have been plenty of questions since the combine about his dedication to improving his body in the weight room. I think that is a factor in his skating. He just isn't an explosive athlete.

Peters & Rivet have a difference in opinion when it comes to Granato and the work he has done. How Mitts looked last year for Granato did lead one of them (I think it was Rivet, but don't quote me) to be more optimistic about Mitts moving forward.

But, they did tend to have Mitts in the VO category of guys that they are not big on being a part of the solution moving forward when compared to other guys.

 

[Jim Bob]

You should listen to what they said. A lot of words have been put in their mouth. None of them used the word "soft" (Peters did say, there is no jam to his play.

This isn't the first time they have talked about how the Sabres lack toughness. And Mitts has been a guy that has consistently come up as not playing with enough jam. Soft is just another way to talk around how they tend to categorize Mitts when compared to a guy like Cozens. Even a guy like Krebs has a little more jam to their game when compared to Mitts.