If they're looking at the Flames, I wonder at renting Lindholm and Zadorov moreso than Coleman. Weeger's contract length seems like it would be an anchor eventually but there are moments of weakness when I'm really intrigued there.
Roster Thread (2023-2024 Season)
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Djp
Registered User
Unless this team is sitting in 1st place in the division, I don’t see them trading a 1st for a rental player.
Man, I really wish they would have addressed the bottom six this off-season. So much opportunity to shake things up. I'm not saying it would make a difference, but I'm tired of seeing Okie, Girgs, and Olafsson. I'd rather see a line of AHLers than that. Or at least some new mediocre players.
Old Navy Goat
Registered User
Girgs and OK played a good game, Toronto kept trying the Matthews line against them but were shut down
Aladyyn
they praying for the death of a rockstar
Doug Prishpreed
Registered User
Same exact thoughts on Weegar. I usually underrate these type of defensemen until just before they start deteriorating - then when I finally come around, I start overrating them lol.
Anyway, I love the Lindholm/Zad rental idea, but wonder if they wouldn’t be looking more at Hanifin, considering the rumors and types of players Adams likes. Either way, that sounds realistic and super helpful move.
GrierIsGod123
Registered User
I think Granato gave you the 1st, 2nd and 4th lines during last night's game with who played and who rode the pine. He finally saw the light that Jost is a much better/smarter player than Krebs and rolled him with Kyle and Zemgus. They looked better with Jost helping to drive the play. The other lines just looked like a real top 6 for once all season
If Cozens can return next game and with Savoie likely headed up, I'd look to them for Line 3. Then it's a choice between Biro and Krebs for the other wing spot. See about sending Krebs and Rousek down to bolster Rochester's lineup a bit. Give Biro a longer look, not on a top line and see if he is a fit for the bottom 6 moving forward. Can't wait for Quinn to come back and solidify this team's vision. I think once we have three offensive lines we'll see less dips in their play. We're not built like Toronto with high-end elite players at the top, we're built with what should be three or four really good lines.
If Cozens can return next game and with Savoie likely headed up, I'd look to them for Line 3. Then it's a choice between Biro and Krebs for the other wing spot. See about sending Krebs and Rousek down to bolster Rochester's lineup a bit. Give Biro a longer look, not on a top line and see if he is a fit for the bottom 6 moving forward. Can't wait for Quinn to come back and solidify this team's vision. I think once we have three offensive lines we'll see less dips in their play. We're not built like Toronto with high-end elite players at the top, we're built with what should be three or four really good lines.
GrierIsGod123
Registered User
Agreed ... wing allows him to calm down and just play straight ahead. He gets himself into trouble when he has to think too much. That's where you start seeing him give the puck away in traffic. He should be more of a straight line winger that can hopefully develop his 2way game there.
I personally like centers to be more high IQ and able to drive play with smart passing. Neither Cozens or Tage have that, so might make sense to develop Cozens into a Tuch-like winger.
What in the world?
Dylan Cozens Scouting Report: 2019 NHL Draft #6
After being the 19th overall pick in the 2016 WHL Draft, Dylan Cozens came into the league and made an immediate impact for the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
lastwordonsports.com
NHL Draft Prospect Profile #6: Dylan Cozens
No player up for the 2019 NHL draft has a better story following them...
wingsnation.com
2021 Player Report Card: Dylan Cozens
Our report card series continues today with the Sabres latest young, offensive stud Dylan Cozens. Total Season Stats: 41 GP | 4 G | 9 A | 13 PTS Age: 20 Contract Status: Under contract through 2023-24…
www.diebytheblade.com
Literally no one has ever questioned his hockey IQ and ability to drive play.
Your take is as ice cold as the caller to WRG yesterday who suggested moving Tage to wing. The guy became a super star when he moved to center and people are ready to panic because he is two points under a point per game 12 games I to the season (while being on a 40 goal pace).
Both have great IQ and drive play when they are on the ice.
This is a young team. They’re still finding their game. They could easily go on a roll.
HaNotsri
Regstred User
- Dec 29, 2013
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Look at the difference Greenway makes. Now he was a bargain but just getting one more forward with a more complete two way game would make such a difference.
I'm guessing Adams is expecting prospects to fill the spots during this season but it seems like an extreme plan. Especially since they might not fit the role.
Tatar hasn't exactly been great and he was one of my targets as a safe filler forward.
I just want a guy that doesn't bring his line down.
HaNotsri
Regstred User
- Dec 29, 2013
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You are probably right Around 20 games left until WJC so it could be hard to juggle both until then.
My solution would still be a tryout
Rousek-Cozens-Savoie/Benson
If both Savoie and Benson are healthy bench Rousek. Mittelstadt, Thompson and Jost lines can all handle match ups. Having a mayhem line with Cozens could be exciting.
Krebs, Biro, Olofsson to the AHL.
Bendium
Registered User
- Oct 18, 2019
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I think Cozens has the Hockey IQ to play center, but he is just overthinking it right now and that's slowing him down. I see it no different than Mittlestadt. For years he struggled in the center because it required to much thinking. That has nothing to do with intelligence of hockey IQ, but more with having to do with the process of learning and automating processes, so that the mental part of quickness is faster. It happens at different rates for every player. Mitts found his game on the wing where he had less responsibility and could just play faster. Eventually that allowed the move back to center with less to automate. I believe the same could work for Cozens, spending time on the wing to find his game.
Tage definitely should never go back to the wing for more than a couple games here or there. He has to have the open space to work with.
I agree that Cozens IQ is fine, but I agree with @GrierIsGod123 that some time on the wing for now could be more productive for him and the team.
HOOats
born Ruffian
It's more like ~15 games before Canada's WJC selection camp, which I'm guessing is the weekend of Dec. 8-10. Slight difference, but it makes this roster shuffle a bit more feasible with Benson's three and Savoie's nine remaining games. We should be able to account for the other three games with the Jost/Vic/Biro/Rousek group. We can paper Levi to Roch for any 23-man needs while holding both Benson and Savoie active.
HOOats
born Ruffian
I'll bite. I think Cozens has slightly below average IQ for a top 6 forward.What in the world?
Dylan Cozens Scouting Report: 2019 NHL Draft #6
After being the 19th overall pick in the 2016 WHL Draft, Dylan Cozens came into the league and made an immediate impact for the Lethbridge Hurricanes.lastwordonsports.com
NHL Draft Prospect Profile #6: Dylan Cozens
No player up for the 2019 NHL draft has a better story following them...
2021 Player Report Card: Dylan Cozens
Our report card series continues today with the Sabres latest young, offensive stud Dylan Cozens. Total Season Stats: 41 GP | 4 G | 9 A | 13 PTS Age: 20 Contract Status: Under contract through 2023-24…
Literally no one has ever questioned his hockey IQ and ability to drive play.
Your take is as ice cold as the caller to WRG yesterday who suggested moving Tage to wing. The guy became a super star when he moved to center and people are ready to panic because he is two points under a point per game 12 games I to the season (while being on a 40 goal pace).
Both have great IQ and drive play when they are on the ice.
This is a young team. They’re still finding their game. They could easily go on a roll.
Scouting reports from four years ago based on his play against his teen peers aren't particularly relevant anymore. What appeared to be high IQ could have just been his athleticism and compete taking over.
His strengths (speed, transition carrying, shot, competitiveness) are significant, which is why even with a slow start to his overall 200 ft game this year, he still finds moments to impact the scoresheet. But against NHL competition, to my eye he lacks the high-level problem solving required to counter teams focused on taking away his strengths. Fortunately, his game is the type that should be "simplifiable" in getting back to the basics, which is what Granato is attempting right now.
In our org, guys like Ostlund and Benson represent great to elite IQ. Cozens is nowhere near them and that's ok because it's rare to have it all (he'd be a top 10 player in the league if he had Benson's brain). To me, a guy like Tuch (when he's going) is more of a cerebral player in the north-south style similar to Cozens. I think he'll continue to develop his IQ, but right now it's fair to call him below average relative to his aspirational high-end peer group.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I did include a 2021 review of him that highlights his hockey IQ. And here is one from 2023: Sabres Getting Strong but Underrated Season From Cozens
I think maybe folks standards are too high if his hockey IQ isn’t up to par for your liking as a second line center. His hockey IQ is above average. I guess some folks want it to be elite
Djp
Registered User
Benson is out while Savoie gets his games. Benson probably gets AHL rehab assignment like Savoie had.
they have to watch the 30 day roster day count if thry don’t want to burn their first year contract.
they can do the Levi, Krebs, Peterka paper shuffle in managing a 23 man roster with Benson and Savoie.
I think a trade occurs in early January when Benson and Savoie would return from WJC that opens up roster spots.
I doubt that Benson and Savoie gets sent back to CHL.
HOOats
born Ruffian
I'd be interested to hear others' opinions on this because we obviously disagree. His IQ is not above average. Is it higher than Mitts? What about Tuch? Granted it took place in the context of whatever the hell our team defense was last year, but Cozens had like worst-in-the-league defensive metrics last year iirc. We play like a team that has below average IQ overall, not sure how he isn't part of that problem.Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I did include a 2021 review of him that highlights his hockey IQ. And here is one from 2023: Sabres Getting Strong but Underrated Season From Cozens
I think maybe folks standards are too high if his hockey IQ isn’t up to par for your liking as a second line center. His hockey IQ is above average. I guess some folks want it to be elite
That 2023 article adds nothing to the conversation about his IQ btw. The closest it comes is touting his role on our 28th ranked PK last year (he's been entirely removed from this year's elite unit).
Doug Prishpreed
Registered User
Check out the scouting reports on Alex Nylander regarding his IQ.What in the world?
Dylan Cozens Scouting Report: 2019 NHL Draft #6
After being the 19th overall pick in the 2016 WHL Draft, Dylan Cozens came into the league and made an immediate impact for the Lethbridge Hurricanes.lastwordonsports.com
NHL Draft Prospect Profile #6: Dylan Cozens
No player up for the 2019 NHL draft has a better story following them...
2021 Player Report Card: Dylan Cozens
Our report card series continues today with the Sabres latest young, offensive stud Dylan Cozens. Total Season Stats: 41 GP | 4 G | 9 A | 13 PTS Age: 20 Contract Status: Under contract through 2023-24…
Literally no one has ever questioned his hockey IQ and ability to drive play.
Your take is as ice cold as the caller to WRG yesterday who suggested moving Tage to wing. The guy became a super star when he moved to center and people are ready to panic because he is two points under a point per game 12 games I to the season (while being on a 40 goal pace).
Both have great IQ and drive play when they are on the ice.
This is a young team. They’re still finding their game. They could easily go on a roll.
The Eastern Conference is really clumped up right now.
Dubi Doo
Registered User
- Aug 27, 2008
- 20,308
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I honestly believe we can take the third spot. The Leafs are a fair bit worse than last year, Detroit isn't going to continue putting up Ws, Ottawa is injured and demoralized, and Montreal is still rebuilding. TB and BOS are locks, imo.
If Buffalo can start playing a more gutsy style of hockey like we saw to end the year last season, then I like are chances.
Matt Ress
Don't sleep on me
Gabrielor
Registered User
Next game:
Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
Peterka-Mittelstadt-Greenway
I'm good there. Now, the 3rd line should be Rosen-Cozens-Kulich, but due to dumb CHL stuff....
Krebs-Cozens-Savoie. Give Krebs an honest run in this grouping.
Roll Girgensons-Jost-Okposo on the 4th and tell them not to get scored on.
Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
Peterka-Mittelstadt-Greenway
I'm good there. Now, the 3rd line should be Rosen-Cozens-Kulich, but due to dumb CHL stuff....
Krebs-Cozens-Savoie. Give Krebs an honest run in this grouping.
Roll Girgensons-Jost-Okposo on the 4th and tell them not to get scored on.
jc17
Registered User
- Jun 14, 2013
- 11,392
- 8,203
I'm ready to see Krebs get a chance with some more offensive potential, and while I don't think 35 minutes proves a whole lot, I'd rather roll with what's working because it seems your 4th line has done exactly what you're looking for
I agree with this. Just have Jost as the 4th line center. And he can be upgraded at the trade deadline.
Then have Krebs and Savoie as the wingers for Cozens. If they don't work out, then Savoie can be sent back and Krebs can be the 13th forward. Quinn will be coming back, and Kulich and Rosen can have a go as well for those roles
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