Roster thread: Get To Work (2022-2023 Season)

[Matt Ress]

Power might be fine with 30 minutes a game. He seems to not need to skate as much if that makes sense. Calm and deliberate. But Sam and Dahlin are always churning. I'm sure DG and KA are well aware.

 

[debaser66]

Asplund will be a RFA and won't cost much. With him I think you sign him to a cheap one year deal and hope you get last years version of him (which was a welcome contribution as one of our few forwards with good defensive impacts) rather than this year's crummy version. Also he has no trade value.

I was just asking what might have happened to him, not to include him in a trade or anything

 

[Chainshot]

Some random thoughts:

Max Domi is 55.9% on faceoffs this year....

Doesn't make up for him being a runny dog turd in his own zone. And that may be a generously positive description.

 

[toddkaz]

Some random thoughts:

Max Domi is 55.9% on faceoffs this year....

Horvat is the best in the game and is a free agent this off season.

He is probably a luxury we can't really afford.

 

[Jim Bob]

Nashville’s Mattias Ekholm is available on first 2023 Trade Targets board

Just 60 days away from the deadline, some big names litter the list.

www.dailyfaceoff.com

7. Mattias Ekholm
Left Defense, Nashville Predators
Age: 32
Stats: 35 GP, 2 G, 9 A, 11 Pts
Contract: 3 more seasons, $6.25 million AAV
Scoop: Yes, it was just over a year ago that Ekholm signed a 4-year deal worth $25 million with the Predators, mainly to avoid a situation exactly like this one – where he is on the market. But Predators GM David Poile has some uncomfortable decisions to make as Nashville has regressed to a likely non-playoff team saddled with expensive, term-laden contracts. We’re told Poile is ready to consider moving Ekholm, and will have a few other cards are on the table. Could Ryan McDonagh also be available? McDonagh was convinced to waive his ‘no-trade’ clause to leave Tampa Bay, and that might be a tall ask this time around. And Ekholm doesn’t have any ‘no-trade’ protection in his deal. Buckle up on Lower Broadway.

And as far as rental centers that are really good at faceoffs, there is one out there that is a seriously good leader, too...

But, I doubt Adams is big game hunting for rentals at the TDL.

 

[MOGlLNY]

You guys are out of your f***ing minds if you want to put Olofsson back on the PP. Completely changed for the better since we put Cozens on it.

 

[DustyZ]

Horvat is the best in the game and is a free agent this off season.

He is probably a luxury we can't really afford.

Why can't we?

If it's associated with making a few tough decisions we should be able to do it. That's me guessing anyway

 

[Chainshot]

You guys are out of your f***ing minds if you want to put Olofsson back on the PP. Completely changed for the better since we put Cozens on it.

Fezzy's stat package above is so clear. EVERYTHING got better.

 

[Zman5778]

Movement, passing, zone entries... Cozens brings those things and Vic does not.

And it's not like Cozens has a muffin for a shot......he's a pretty good shooter in his own right.

Horvat is the best in the game and is a free agent this off season.

He is probably a luxury we can't really afford.

But keep in mind that Horvat is Domi-like in the defensive zone.....which is to say, not very good at all. He's not the guy we need at 3C going forward.

 

[GrierIsGod123]

26 and 23 look noticeably worn the last few games

They're getting three nights in a row off, and then a home game. That should help things, plus there will be an all-star break coming up in early Feb. Obviously, Dahlin should make it there, but it won't be as strenuous as regular NHL games playing 28 minutes. Donnie really needs to manage the top pair's minutes more wisely in January. It'd be really smart to make an addition sooner than later to help these guys.

 

[Chainshot]

And it's not like Cozens has a muffin for a shot......he's a pretty good shooter in his own right.



But keep in mind that Horvat is Domi-like in the defensive zone.....which is to say, not very good at all. He's not the guy we need at 3C going forward.

The 3C seems like they've found/developed in Krebs. And Jost as 4C is wildly working. Last night it was again a time where I was wishing they had Jost to forecheck the puck below the puck to pass to Jost in front of the net. Mitts and Jost seem to fit with some low triangle play but Vic has limits to how he initiates that hold that line back IMO. Someone faster or someone with more battle would be an improvement there IMO, though the loss of that lethal shot is not to be taken lightly.

 

[Zman5778]

though the loss of that lethal shot is not to be taken lightly.

It's been very effectively shown in this thread how VO's presence on PP1 was hindering PP1.

However, I think his effect on PP2 is profound. Teams have focused on trying to stop VO's one-timer from the right dot and it's giving Peterka and Quinn more room to operate. I worry that taking VO off that unit entirely (IE, by trade or benching) will yield an entirely ineffective PP2.

 

[Diaspora]

26 and 23 look noticeably worn the last few games

Agree. And that's a bad sign, given the density of the schedule for the remainder of January.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Agree. And that's a bad sign, given the density of the schedule for the remainder of January.

I'm sure sports science has made them aware, but the tape and eye test is there too.

 

[Chainshot]

It's been very effectively shown in this thread how VO's presence on PP1 was hindering PP1.

However, I think his effect on PP2 is profound. Teams have focused on trying to stop VO's one-timer from the right dot and it's giving Peterka and Quinn more room to operate. I worry that taking VO off that unit entirely (IE, by trade or benching) will yield an entirely ineffective PP2.

I've liked how PP2 has added low elements to their game that involve the net front drag play and finding the bumper rather than just relying on getting Vic the shot.

 

[Der Jaeger]

The 3C seems like they've found/developed in Krebs. And Jost as 4C is wildly working. Last night it was again a time where I was wishing they had Jost to forecheck the puck below the puck to pass to Jost in front of the net. Mitts and Jost seem to fit with some low triangle play but Vic has limits to how he initiates that hold that line back IMO. Someone faster or someone with more battle would be an improvement there IMO, though the loss of that lethal shot is not to be taken lightly.

Agreed. If the Sabres re-sign Okposo and Girgensons to something workable for next season (and short term), and replace Olofsson with someone who can get his nose dirty, then you've got a legit set of lines.

Preferably getting a winger with size to replace Olofsson, who can miz it up a bit. But Krebs is excelling as a two way center, and Mittelstadt and Jost are surprisingly good as a speed-grind combo.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

The 3C seems like they've found/developed in Krebs. And Jost as 4C is wildly working. Last night it was again a time where I was wishing they had Jost to forecheck the puck below the puck to pass to Jost in front of the net. Mitts and Jost seem to fit with some low triangle play but Vic has limits to how he initiates that hold that line back IMO. Someone faster or someone with more battle would be an improvement there IMO, though the loss of that lethal shot is not to be taken lightly.

Clone Tuch, now clone Jost ? It worked in Weird Science! I agree Just make sure that 2nd Jost wing is a little tougher (lumberjack mode), rat like, and can body check a little more.

 

[Jim Bob]

Agreed. If the Sabres re-sign Okposo and Girgensons to something workable for next season (and short term), and replace Olofsson with someone who can get his nose dirty, then you've got a legit set of lines.

Preferably getting a winger with size to replace Olofsson, who can miz it up a bit. But Krebs is excelling as a two way center, and Mittelstadt and Jost are surprisingly good as a speed-grind combo.

I wish Don would give VO a few nights in the pressbox and we see Asplund and/or Hino with Jost & Mitts.

 

[Chainshot]

Agreed. If the Sabres re-sign Okposo and Girgensons to something workable for next season (and short term), and replace Olofsson with someone who can get his nose dirty, then you've got a legit set of lines.

Preferably getting a winger with size to replace Olofsson, who can miz it up a bit. But Krebs is excelling as a two way center, and Mittelstadt and Jost are surprisingly good as a speed-grind combo.

It's either an applied size guy or a speed guy IMO. Bring more cycle and puck battle through either. And it may be someone internal.

 

[Chainshot]

I wish Don would give VO a few nights in the pressbox and we see Asplund and/or Hino with Jost & Mitts.

Hino is fast but there is so little traffic play. He turns away from tough areas. He gets there quickly, but that part of his game is just not there.

Asplund... not sure what has happened there.

 

[Zman5778]

I've liked how PP2 has added low elements to their game that involve the net front drag play and finding the bumper rather than just relying on getting Vic the shot.

And I think that's because they've HAD to in order to be effective. They can't just feed VO relentlessly since it's just not there.

But Krebs is excelling as a two way center, and Mittelstadt and Jost are surprisingly good as a speed-grind combo.

I wonder if Mitts/Krebs/Jost is a thing that could exist and thrive. They all have speed and can show bits of grinding.

Go into next year with that line and get a vet 4th line center to center Girgs and maybe KO (if he comes back)? I can run with that.

 

[Jim Bob]

Hino is fast but there is so little traffic play. He turns away from tough areas. He gets there quickly, but that part of his game is just not there.

Asplund... not sure what has happened there.

I am just at the point where we know that VO is not adding much of anything right now.

Getting Asplund and/or Hino some games in VO's spot just makes sense to me.

At least with Mitts you are getting a game every so often where you keep coming back for more. I cannot even remember the last game that VO had that gave you that kind of hope afterward.

 

[Zman5778]

I cannot even remember the last game that VO had that gave you that kind of hope afterward.

Wasn't he starting to look better right before the extended break? I have a distinct memory of him putting together 2 solid games in a row and was thinking that maybe he was coming out of it.

And then he's been terrible since the break.

 

[Chainshot]

And I think that's because they've HAD to in order to be effective. They can't just feed VO relentlessly since it's just not there.



I wonder if Mitts/Krebs/Jost is a thing that could exist and thrive. They all have speed and can show bits of grinding.

Go into next year with that line and get a vet 4th line center to center Girgs and maybe KO (if he comes back)? I can run with that.

More of a mind to see if Murray has really added the step he's seemed to have added in Rochester or how Rousek and his wheels would fit into a bottom 6 role. Some of this also requires the punks to get going again, particularly Quinn who seems to be over-thinking his shot-pass decisions again. *shrug*

Jost for what he does will be an interesting off-season RFA. Not sure he's worth his QO, but would he be interested in staying as a depth guy on a more affordable deal (say half his current, so about what Hino is making) for 2 or 3 years?