Speculation: Sabres Roster Speculation - Pre-season 2023 Edition

[Remparts666]

It's been mentioned because of how well Mitts played in that role at the end of the season. Personally I would have Tage and Cozens both center their own lines as well because I think neither are wings. With that, the wing depth isn't great.

After the top 2 you have JJ, Greenway, VO and here's hoping Quinn comes back strong and healthy.

This. Tage drives its own line. He is that good. On the road, it is much better to have two 1st lines. Much tougher for the opposition who usually have one shut down line

 

[Matt Ress]

This. Tage drives its own line. He is that good. On the road, it is much better to have two 1st lines. Much tougher for the opposition who usually have one shut down line

I think our forward depth is overstated at times. While our center depth is enviable, once you get past the top line there's not a lot of proven middle 6 wings, or any. I assume Donny will at least try to use that center depth to elevate the young or unimpressive winger group.

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

It's been mentioned because of how well Mitts played in that role at the end of the season. Personally I would have Tage and Cozens both center their own lines as well because I think neither are wings. With that, the wing depth isn't great.

After the top 2 you have JJ, Greenway, VO and a rookie and here's hoping Quinn comes back strong and healthy. If it is effective to string out that strong center depth, you can really solidify the lineup. We'll have good wingers coming out of our ears soon but they're not quite here yet.

We were top 5 in the league in scoring and at the bottom in goals by defenders. We had 150+ goals from wingers, not including Mitts. I think our forward depth is fine and promising to improve year by year.

I get that Mitts was good between Skinner and Tuch when Thompson was injured for a few games. If he gets injured again, that should be the solution.

If we're trying to create a good second line, why not just play Mitts there with Cozens?

 

[Irie]

This. Tage drives its own line. He is that good. On the road, it is much better to have two 1st lines. Much tougher for the opposition who usually have one shut down line

Does he though?

When Tuch was out late in the season, opposing coaches started to shadow Thompson and limit his space and he pretty much vanished at 5 on 5.

With Tuch's size and speed, he's a handful and creates so much space, which allows Thompson to thrive.

Thompson produces on the PP with his bomb of a shot even when the other teams PK knows exactly what the Sabres' PP is going to do. His shot is unstoppable if placed in certain areas on net, but at even strength, I think Thompson needs help on his line to open up space, or he is much too easy to defend.

Take away his space, and he is unable to ramp up his speed while possessing the puck, and that effectively neutralized his game-breaking skill.

 

[Matt Ress]

We were top 5 in the league in scoring and at the bottom in goals by defenders. We had 150+ goals from wingers, not including Mitts. I think our forward depth is fine and promising to improve year by year.

I get that Mitts was good between Skinner and Tuch when Thompson was injured for a few games. If he gets injured again, that should be the solution.

If we're trying to create a good second line, why not just play Mitts there with Cozens?

There's no proof to be right or wrong, I just wanted to point out the reason that I've hoped Granato will at least try other line possibilities. Once you get past Skinner and Tuchs 71 goals, there's not a whole lot left especially if you're not an Olofsson fan in spite of his career high 28 goals. Quinn is up next at 14.

But I'm an optimistic fan as well. I expect the defense and center spine to continue to get better. We can even see a slight uptick from Tuch but that's probably the extent of optimism for the wings. Unfortunately Quinn could reasonably take some time to get back to 100% and perhaps JJ puts up better numbers but he didn't really pop even as the season moved along so I'm not convinced he has turned a corner. After that are we expecting bigger things from VO, Girgs, Okie Rousek, Greenway...? There's just not a whole lot there now behind the 1st line.

 

[Matt Ress]

Does he though?

When Tuch was out late in the season, opposing coaches started to shadow Thompson and limit his space and he pretty much vanished at 5 on 5.

With Tuch's size and speed, he's a handful and creates so much space, which allows Thompson to thrive.

Thompson produces on the PP with his bomb of a shot even when the other teams PK knows exactly what the Sabres' PP is going to do. His shot is unstoppable if placed in certain areas on net, but at even strength, I think Thompson needs help on his line to open up space, or he is much too easy to defend.

Take away his space, and he is unable to ramp up his speed while possessing the puck, and that effectively neutralized his game-breaking skill.

To be fair, you're talking about Thompson battling through injuries at the end of the season which is why he wasn't playing on the top line. But I would agree Tuch does everything well. Easily the most underrated Sabre.

 

[SundherDome]

That goalie rumor is interesting, curious if it has legs

 

[Zman5778]

That goalie rumor is interesting, curious if it has legs

It's Eklund. I'm sure it doesn't.

 

[MOGlLNY]

That goalie rumor is interesting, curious if it has legs

About as many as Lt. Dan

 

[Fjordsen]

It's Eklund. I'm sure it doesn't.

Seravalli and John Scott said Buffalo is interested in Thompson and it's heating up. AVS is also in the game.

 

[sabremike]

 

[MOGlLNY]

Seravalli and John Scott said Buffalo is interested in Thompson and it's heating up. AVS is also in the game.

Where did you see Seravelli saying that? Haven’t seen anyone quote that report from either source you mentioned.

 

[Irie]

To be fair, you're talking about Thompson battling through injuries at the end of the season which is why he wasn't playing on the top line. But I would agree Tuch does everything well. Easily the most underrated Sabre.

This was actually in late February when the team went 2-6

I don't think Thompson was fighting any serious injuries then.

While Tuch was out, there were several games where even Razor was commented on how frustrated Thompson was and how the opposition wasn't giving him any space.

I worry that if shadowing him becomes the "book" on how to shut down his line, the Sabres will be easier to play against. With Tuch on the ice, that is a big handicap for the opposition. If their center is shadowing Tage, their defensive structure has huge holes and Tuch's size and speed will eat them alive.

 

[Fjordsen]

Where did you see Seravelli saying that? Haven’t seen anyone quote that report from either source you mentioned.

On another Buffalo fan site. Maybe it was some kind of podcast, I don't know. Also John Scott mentioned Buffalo and Thompson again on the podcast.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Found money if he can pot 20 while playing a physically defensive game.

I know people want to shit on Adams TDL, but if Greenway turns into a 20-20 defensively responsible winger for the next few years, then I'd call that deadline a success.

 

[joshjull]

Breaking up Skinner Thompson Tuch makes no sense to me and moving Thompson to wing is a total non-starter.

This isn't a one line team. We have talent up and down the lineup and capable centers behind Thompson. We're looking for combos that work, and the top line has worked as good as just about any line in the league for the last 2 years. There's no reason to break it up.

Breaking them up would be done with the hopes of creating a more consistent and better overall top 6 with improved defensive play. Assuming Donny tries it, that would be his rationale.

Granato tried that to start last season and then quickly went back to it when those players weren't as effective apart.

Not quite the same situations. Both do involve breaking up the top line before the start of the season. But thats where the similarities end.

Last season

Skinner/Tage/VO
Quinn/Mitts/Tuch

This year

Skinner/Mitts/Tuch
XXX/Cozens/Tage

This years group is much better and already has a small sample of successful games together. Games that were during the toughest stretch of the season. So it won’t be a blind experiment like last season. There also won’t be wingers who don’t belong in the top 6 (for different reasons) like VO/Quinn in the mix.

 

[joshjull]

It's been mentioned because of how well Mitts played in that role at the end of the season. Personally I would have Tage and Cozens both center their own lines as well because I think neither are wings. With that, the wing depth isn't great.

After the top 2 you have JJ, Greenway, VO and a rookie and here's hoping Quinn comes back strong and healthy. If it is effective to string out that strong center depth, you can really solidify the lineup. We'll have good wingers coming out of our ears soon but they're not quite here yet.

It’s being mentioned because Granato has said he wants to try it. He also said in that same interview that when he created the top line, he never intended for them to be together forever.

 

[Sabre the Win]

I know it's just 1 prospect game but I still think Novikov could see some games in Buffalo this year.

He was lights out in development camp as well.

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

Breaking them up would be done with the hopes of creating a more consistent and better overall top 6 with improved defensive play. Assuming Donny tries it, that would be his rationale.

Not quite the same situations. Both do involve breaking up the top line before the start of the season. But thats where the similarities end.

Last season

Skinner/Tage/VO
Quinn/Mitts/Tuch

This year

Skinner/Mitts/Tuch
XXX/Cozens/Tage

This years group is much better and already has a small sample of successful games together. Games that were during the toughest stretch of the season. So it won’t be a blind experiment like last season. There also won’t be wingers who don’t belong in the top 6 (for different reasons) like VO/Quinn in the mix.

Granato has been praised for 2 years for being the one who recognized that Thompson would be better as a center.

And now we're going to move him back to wing???

We were dying for a top center for years, even tanked to get one, had to trade him, and then we miraculously found another one. Have we risen so far that now we're moving a top 10ish center in the game back to wing??

I mean no disrespect... but that is insane. If we're going to break up one of the top lines in hockey to improve our second line, can we at least have Cozens be the one who plays wing?

Or better, could we even try Mitts and (pick your highly promising young player)?? That might not be horrible!! The kids are good!

 

[Matt Ress]

This was actually in late February when the team went 2-6

I don't think Thompson was fighting any serious injuries then.

While Tuch was out, there were several games where even Razor was commented on how frustrated Thompson was and how the opposition wasn't giving him any space.

I worry that if shadowing him becomes the "book" on how to shut down his line, the Sabres will be easier to play against. With Tuch on the ice, that is a big handicap for the opposition. If their center is shadowing Tage, their defensive structure has huge holes and Tuch's size and speed will eat them alive.

Gotcha. I thought you were talking about when Mitts was the 1C while Tage was out hurt then playing hurt.

Either way, I agree with you on Tucher so would that leave us with really only one game changer in the forward ranks. And if so I suppose it wouldn't matter who played where

 

[Matt Ress]

Granato has been praised for 2 years for being the one who recognized that Thompson would be better as a center.

And now we're going to move him back to wing???

We were dying for a top center for years, even tanked to get one, had to trade him, and then we miraculously found another one. Have we risen so far that now we're moving a top 10ish center in the game back to wing??

I mean no disrespect... but that is insane. If we're going to break up one of the top lines in hockey to improve our second line, can we at least have Cozens be the one who plays wing?

Or better, could we even try Mitts and (pick your highly promising young player)?? That might not be horrible!! The kids are good!

Personally, I like something around...
Skinner-Mitts-Tuch
Greenway -Tage-Paterka
Savoie -Cozens-VO
Girgs-Krebs-Okie

I'd just like to see what works and what doesn't. Some size and speed on line two and Cozens gets the short straw again but hopefully Savoie finds his way and Quinn can replace VO when he's healthy or bump JJ down. You can also sub in Rousek if things tilt that way. We'll argue about this stuff again but I think Granato will experiment. Whatever is determined is up to the players.

 

[Irie]

Gotcha. I thought you were talking about when Mitts was the 1C while Tage was out hurt then playing hurt.

Either way, I agree with you on Tucher so would that leave us with really only one game changer in the forward ranks. And if so I suppose it wouldn't matter who played where

From a production standpoint and the current season success metrics, totally true.

But I feel strongly that regardless of how successful this season is, this year should still be viewed as a development year from the perspective of how young all the players still are and how much learning they have yet to do. I think some of the decisions should be driven by a long-term vision of the roster and not just a "let's try something new today" indifference.

Your point about Tuch being underrated as a sabre is so true. Many early roster predictions for Team USAs world cup currently don't have him on itl, which is just crazy to me.

 

[StrompTroller]

Personally, I like something around...
Skinner-Mitts-Tuch
Greenway -Tage-Paterka
Savoie -Cozens-VO
Girgs-Krebs-Okie

I'd just like to see what works and what doesn't. Some size and speed on line two and Cozens gets the short straw again but hopefully Savoie finds his way and Quinn can replace VO when he's healthy or bump JJ down. You can also sub in Rousek if things tilt that way. We'll argue about this stuff again but I think Granato will experiment. Whatever is determined is up to the players.

I like these lines for NHL24 (and I dont mean that in a disrespectful way at all). but the fact of the matter is that there is only so much ice time to go around. Granato will play that "4th line" a lot of shut down minutes so it's not a traditional 4th energy line. With your lines Tage potentially sees less time on ice which is the last thing we need, or cozens sees ALOT less time than would be good for him. The balance is there and is something I'd love to roll but it kinda hamstrings who I consider our 1st and 3r best player into less ice time (obviously this varies dependant on PP time etc)

 

[Matt Ress]

I like these lines for NHL24 (and I dont mean that in a disrespectful way at all). but the fact of the matter is that there is only so much ice time to go around. Granato will play that "4th line" a lot of shut down minutes so it's not a traditional 4th energy line. With your lines Tage potentially sees less time on ice which is the last thing we need, or cozens sees ALOT less time than would be good for him. The balance is there and is something I'd love to roll but it kinda hamstrings who I consider our 1st and 3r best player into less ice time (obviously this varies dependant on PP time etc)

There was an insignificant amount of ice time separating the 2, 3 and 4th lines.

 

[Matt Ress]

From a production standpoint and the current season success metrics, totally true.

But I feel strongly that regardless of how successful this season is, this year should still be viewed as a development year from the perspective of how young all the players still are and how much learning they have yet to do. I think some of the decisions should be driven by a long-term vision of the roster and not just a "let's try something new today" indifference.

Your point about Tuch being underrated as a sabre is so true. Many early roster predictions for Team USAs world cup currently don't have him on itl, which is just crazy to me.

Not to be discounted, the idea is built on the notion of enhancing depth and not just trying something new. Surprisingly, I'm looking for some stability this upcoming year. I want to know if some guys have another gear and if some guys can maintain a pace. I guess one can describe that as a development year as well lol.