Speculation: Sabres Roster Speculation - Pre-season 2023 Edition

[OkimLom]

Sounds like there are a few problem players in that Jets dressing room. Need to be careful who you want to acquire.

I'll take one Ehlers, put him with Mittelstadt (I'm happy I can positively feel good about pairing people with him) and keep the Kid line together.

 

[Sabresbyswords104]

Were Can Buffalo pick in draft ? Highest possible position ?

 

[DJN21]

Were Can Buffalo pick in draft ? Highest possible position ?

3 i believe

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Were Can Buffalo pick in draft ? Highest possible position ?

3rd overall if they win the 1st lottery.

They can get 1st or 2nd if they can trade up.

 

[Matt Ress]

I know Tage was playing hurt at the end but with Mitts showing well between Tuch and Skinner, is Thompson, Cozens Quinn a good way to to create 2 scary lines?

 

[Aladyyn]

I know Tage was playing hurt at the end but with Mitts showing well between Tuch and Skinner, is Thompson, Cozens Quinn a good way to to create 2 scary lines?

Neither Thompson nor Cozens should be on the wing.

 

[Matt Ress]

Neither Thompson nor Cozens should be on the wing.

That's fair. It does leave the lineup 1 C short also.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I know Tage was playing hurt at the end but with Mitts showing well between Tuch and Skinner, is Thompson, Cozens Quinn a good way to to create 2 scary lines?

I get it, but if you have someone dominant at center, you play them. Mitts can center another line

 

[Diaspora]

I get it, but if you have someone dominant at center, you play them. Mitts can center another line

I'm thinking Mitts/Greenway/Savoie might be an interesting line to watch.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I'm thinking Mitts/Greenway/Savoie might be an interesting line to watch.

That would be fun, though I’d love to pair Savoie with Quinn if possible.

 

[Diaspora]

That would be fun, though I’d love to pair Savoie with Quinn if possible.

Lots of fun stuff to try with this bunch.

 

[dkollidas]

If I’m doing the lines this season I think I start the following way;


Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
-it’s a legit #1 line. Probably top-5 in the league, at least offensively.


Peterka-Cozens-Quinn
-let the kids keep the chemistry working as they develop their game. Being comfortable with their linemates gives Peterka & Quinn one less thing to worry about going into year 2.


Greenway-Mittelstadt-Savoie
-this is imo a good line to start Savoie on. He can use his speed in transition, rotate a bit with Mittelstadt at center, and has a big body in Greenway that hopefully won’t let him get shoved around too much.

Rousek-Krebs-Okposo
-I think Girgensons will unfortunately move on. I also think Rousek is the perfect fit for a 4th liner in our system. Good speed, tenacious, and enough offensive chops to not be a black hole.

Extra skaters: Jost

Now this is without any additions. I believe Savoie will get a similar treatment to what Shane Wright got this season in Seattle but that could change with time.

I could see them adding one more forward. Maybe a Miles Wood type? But I think they have so many guys in Rochester they don’t want to block. Guys like Kulich are right on the precipice & then I’m sure they’d feel ok with guys like Biro Weissbsch and Cederqvist getting a taste. Not to mention Kisakov, Kozac (not that they’re necessarily ready), and they have so many others coming up next year as well.

 

[joshjull]

If I’m doing the lines this season I think I start the following way;


Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
-it’s a legit #1 line. Probably top-5 in the league, at least offensively.


Peterka-Cozens-Quinn
-let the kids keep the chemistry working as they develop their game. Being comfortable with their linemates gives Peterka & Quinn one less thing to worry about going into year 2.


Greenway-Mittelstadt-Savoie
-this is imo a good line to start Savoie on. He can use his speed in transition, rotate a bit with Mittelstadt at center, and has a big body in Greenway that hopefully won’t let him get shoved around too much.

Rousek-Krebs-Okposo
-I think Girgensons will unfortunately move on. I also think Rousek is the perfect fit for a 4th liner in our system. Good speed, tenacious, and enough offensive chops to not be a black hole.

Extra skaters: Jost

Now this is without any additions. I believe Savoie will get a similar treatment to what Shane Wright got this season in Seattle but that could change with time.

I could see them adding one more forward. Maybe a Miles Wood type? But I think they have so many guys in Rochester they don’t want to block. Guys like Kulich are right on the precipice & then I’m sure they’d feel ok with guys like Biro Weissbsch and Cederqvist getting a taste. Not to mention Kisakov, Kozac (not that they’re necessarily ready), and they have so many others coming up next year as well.

I would prefer Girgs to stay. But if he goes, Rousek makes a ton of sense as his replacement.

 

[Chainshot]

Am I the only one who is still uncomfortable with the defensive sinkhole that Peterka-Quinn are as a tandem?

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

If I’m doing the lines this season I think I start the following way;


Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
-it’s a legit #1 line. Probably top-5 in the league, at least offensively.


Peterka-Cozens-Quinn
-let the kids keep the chemistry working as they develop their game. Being comfortable with their linemates gives Peterka & Quinn one less thing to worry about going into year 2.


Greenway-Mittelstadt-Savoie
-this is imo a good line to start Savoie on. He can use his speed in transition, rotate a bit with Mittelstadt at center, and has a big body in Greenway that hopefully won’t let him get shoved around too much.

Rousek-Krebs-Okposo
-I think Girgensons will unfortunately move on. I also think Rousek is the perfect fit for a 4th liner in our system. Good speed, tenacious, and enough offensive chops to not be a black hole.

Extra skaters: Jost

Now this is without any additions. I believe Savoie will get a similar treatment to what Shane Wright got this season in Seattle but that could change with time.

I could see them adding one more forward. Maybe a Miles Wood type? But I think they have so many guys in Rochester they don’t want to block. Guys like Kulich are right on the precipice & then I’m sure they’d feel ok with guys like Biro Weissbsch and Cederqvist getting a taste. Not to mention Kisakov, Kozac (not that they’re necessarily ready), and they have so many others coming up next year as well.

Your lines are exactly what I have at this point, except I'm predicting Girgs is back and Okposo retires.

If Okposo or Girgs isn't back, I think you have the opportunity to see if you can find someone who has size, experience, and especially pk chops. Bonus if they can play C.

I would of course like Miles Wood on my team, but he doesn't PK and that makes it not possible to add him unless someone else is moved out, IMO.

The only thing that would really shake me off that 2nd line is if we could acquire a really good power LW to go with Cozens/Quinn. Someone like an Evander Kane or Tkachuk, maybe Bertuzzi if he's gonna stay healthy. Imagine the nightmare third line that create too... Peterka/Mitts/Savoie or maybe Peterka Savoie Kulich.

Fun times.

Am I the only one who is still uncomfortable with the defensive sinkhole that Peterka-Quinn are as a tandem?

I'm just assuming they'll get better.

 

[Zman5778]

Am I the only one who is still uncomfortable with the defensive sinkhole that Peterka-Quinn are as a tandem?

I think they'll develop. Neither really had the "offense only" scouting report when drafted. Quinn showed a bit towards the end of the year.

They'll get there

 

[TehDoak]

If I’m doing the lines this season I think I start the following way;


Skinner-Thompson-Tuch
-it’s a legit #1 line. Probably top-5 in the league, at least offensively.


Peterka-Cozens-Quinn
-let the kids keep the chemistry working as they develop their game. Being comfortable with their linemates gives Peterka & Quinn one less thing to worry about going into year 2.


Greenway-Mittelstadt-Savoie
-this is imo a good line to start Savoie on. He can use his speed in transition, rotate a bit with Mittelstadt at center, and has a big body in Greenway that hopefully won’t let him get shoved around too much.

Rousek-Krebs-Okposo
-I think Girgensons will unfortunately move on. I also think Rousek is the perfect fit for a 4th liner in our system. Good speed, tenacious, and enough offensive chops to not be a black hole.

Extra skaters: Jost

Now this is without any additions. I believe Savoie will get a similar treatment to what Shane Wright got this season in Seattle but that could change with time.

I could see them adding one more forward. Maybe a Miles Wood type? But I think they have so many guys in Rochester they don’t want to block. Guys like Kulich are right on the precipice & then I’m sure they’d feel ok with guys like Biro Weissbsch and Cederqvist getting a taste. Not to mention Kisakov, Kozac (not that they’re necessarily ready), and they have so many others coming up next year as well.

Yeah we'll be 33rd in the league on the PK with that forward group.
35th in faceoffs.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

Yeah we'll be 33rd in the league on the PK with that forward group.
35th in faceoffs.

The league is adding 3 more teams next year?

 

[Chainshot]

I think they'll develop. Neither really had the "offense only" scouting report when drafted. Quinn showed a bit towards the end of the year.

They'll get there

I think relying on 2 2nd year guys who kind of suck at defense and kind of dragged the responsible guy on the line into sucking as well as the 2nd line is faulty planning. I can see them split up with Greenway being the defensive cover for one or the other.

 

[Aladyyn]

Am I the only one who is still uncomfortable with the defensive sinkhole that Peterka-Quinn are as a tandem?

I'd like to see Mittelstadt-Cozens-Quinn get a run

 

[Matt Ress]

Lots of fun stuff to try with this bunch.

If Savoie comes out ready we are going to give people fits. Still lots of "ifs" but Levi, D4, Savoie fills a lot of holes.

 

[TehDoak]

The league is adding 3 more teams next year?

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

I think relying on 2 2nd year guys who kind of suck at defense and kind of dragged the responsible guy on the line into sucking as well as the 2nd line is faulty planning. I can see them split up with Greenway being the defensive cover for one or the other.

If Greenway becomes a legit 2nd line caliber forward this season, that would be huge for us. To me though, that's less likely than Peterka/Quinn improving, and I love the potential continuity of rolling with these top 2 lines for a long time. If I think Peterka and Quinn can reach a level that their line is winning the 5v5 time on the ice, I'd rather let them figure it out together knowing that even a little improvement this year could be enough to get us over the hump.

 

[Chainshot]

If Greenway becomes a legit 2nd line caliber forward this season, that would be huge for us. To me though, that's less likely than Peterka/Quinn improving, and I love the potential continuity of rolling with these top 2 lines for a long time. If I think Peterka and Quinn can reach a level that their line is winning the 5v5 time on the ice, I'd rather let them figure it out together knowing that even a little improvement this year could be enough to get us over the hump.

Having someone to be the defensive conscience rather than getting their asses kicked and giving back more than they get is an issue. It's like when Hecht was the blanket for Briere. People didn't like it but it kept that line from being stepped on in their own zone.

 

[Matt Ress]

Still don't really get why Girgs would move on. Pretty effective guy at everything aside from the stone hands. He rolled through numerous coaches, GMs, and loser seasons. Would the Sabres not make another 1 year offer?