The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[Jacob582]

I did have a dream (nightmare?) that they bring Risto back as the RD option for Power.

Same here. We had to take Risto to dump Sammy on them.

 

[Digable5]

3 of 4 lines are playing pretty well and the team is on a three game winning streak, so now is not the time for many changes, but considering the lack of production from Benson-Cozens-Quinn I would like to see something like...

Peterka-Thompson-Quinn
Zucker-Cozens-Tuch
Benson-McLeod-Greenway
Malenstyn-Krebs-Lafferty

 

[Fjordy]

3 of 4 lines are playing pretty well and the team is on a three game winning streak, so now is not the time for many changes, but considering the lack of production from Benson-Cozens-Quinn I would like to see something like...

Peterka-Thompson-Quinn
Zucker-Cozens-Tuch
Benson-McLeod-Greenway
Malenstyn-Krebs-Lafferty

I'm not sure I'd want to shuffle the lines. The first and third lines are working and have chemistry. Also, Quinn's problem doesn't seem to be the line, but his physicality.

 

[Jacob582]

Interesting how badly some Montreal fans want RD and the team gave one away (Kovacevic) before the season.

3 of 4 lines are playing pretty well and the team is on a three game winning streak, so now is not the time for many changes, but considering the lack of production from Benson-Cozens-Quinn I would like to see something like...

Peterka-Thompson-Quinn
Zucker-Cozens-Tuch
Benson-McLeod-Greenway
Malenstyn-Krebs-Lafferty

That fourth line is feeling left out from all the changes.

How about:
Malenstyn-Krebs-NAK

 

[Chainshot]

Interesting how badly some Montreal fans want RD and the team gave one away (Kovacevic) before the season.


That fourth line is feeling left out from all the changes.

How about:
Malenstyn-Krebs-NAK

His fancy stats have been good. His eye test is good. I don't get it but maybe they thought one of their kids would step into that spot and wanted to clear a space?

 

[Digable5]

I'm not sure I'd want to shuffle the lines. The first and third lines are working and have chemistry. Also, Quinn's problem doesn't seem to be the line, but his physicality.

Agreed about the 1st and 3rd lines. Hence, the preface in my post. This is with the assumption we start losing again because they aren't producing anymore.

That fourth line is feeling left out from all the changes.

How about:
Malenstyn-Krebs-NAK

I left the 4th line out because it doesn't impact the 2nd line I am trying to get going.

 

[Djp]

3 of 4 lines are playing pretty well and the team is on a three game winning streak, so now is not the time for many changes, but considering the lack of production from Benson-Cozens-Quinn I would like to see something like...

Peterka-Thompson-Quinn
Zucker-Cozens-Tuch
Benson-McLeod-Greenway
Malenstyn-Krebs-Lafferty

I've said up thread of having brnson, cozens, and Quinn on different lines with tuch with Cozens

I'm not sure I'd want to shuffle the lines. The first and third lines are working and have chemistry. Also, Quinn's problem doesn't seem to be the line, but his physicality.

I dont know if quinn is still dealing with an injury

 

[joshjull]

I agree that Dahlin-Byram pass the eye test.

BUT.....there's a whole causality/correlation thing. Is the team winning simply because we broke up Dahlin/Joker, even though it seemed analytically solid?

Breaking them up may have helped but they weren’t even the worst pair. That was Byram/Power and thankfully they've been broken up.

 

[Fjordy]

I dont know if quinn is still dealing with an injury

I have no idea, but when I watch games, Quinn looks sluggish, he's not on his feet, he's slow, it looks more like a physical problem than a mental one.

 

[joshjull]

So this is the maddening part. If they're playing completely different why doesn't it result in better outcomes?

Bryam-Dahlin
47.4% xGF
5 GF 3GA
3.75GF/60
2.25 GA/60

Dahlin-Jokiharju
59% xGF
7GF 3 GA
3.25 GF/60
1.39 GA/60 (12th best among Pairings >100 minutes)

I would chalk it up to Joker being a whipping boy and posters viewing him through that jaundiced lens. Not that he doesn’t have flaws but they are amplified due to how many feel about him.

Well I don't like Power with Joki but I'm willing to give them another chance, it's weird to keep a guy like Sammy in the press box.

Ruff has that old school coaching mentality/superstition of not breaking up a winning roster.

 

[Fjordy]

Ruff has that old school coaching mentality/superstition of not breaking up a winning roster.

Well, he already breaking it, Sammy is playing instead of Gilbert.

 

[joshjull]

Unless you’re moving out cozens or Quinn, which I don’t think is realistic so it’s not worth discussing, I just don’t see a path to upgrading the forward core. Thompson, Tuch, Peterka, Benson, Cozens, Quinn, Zucker, Greenway, and McLeod all have a spot.

Which brings me to the defense. That’s where you can make a legit impact addition. And I’d do it sooner than later. Power, Dahlin, Byram are all looking good and are young players with huge ceilings. Clifton has a role. Samuelsson needs to get his shit together but has an unmovable contract. Which leaves Joker as movable and Power’s partner as the clear spot to upgrade.

You have the assets. You have the cap space. Go acquire a legit partner for Power

*Its also a wild failure of this organization to not only not have a quality veteran in your top 4, but not having a stable partner for you first overall draft pick Power…years after he was drafted. Really inexcusable neglect there

They have more than enough non-roster assets to upgrade at forward without using Cozens/Quinn. Assuming the reporting is accurate, Adams isn’t looking to move any roster players, so Cozens/Quinn wouldn’t be in play anyway. Does that mean Kulich is in play? He’s technically not a roster player since he didn’t make the 23 man roster.

To have have my Captain Obvious moment, it’s a matter of what they’re looking to acquire, whats available and what the cost would be. For the right price another vet like Zucker would be a great add.

Agree about Power’s partner. An interesting element to this is how Granato and Ruff view handedness. Granato didn’t care about it so adding another lefty like Bryam wasn’t a big deal. But Ruff is not a big fan of guys playing their offhand. Which is why I think Joker got a shot on the top 4 to start the season and not Sammy.

 

[joshjull]

Well, he already breaking it, Sammy is playing instead of Gilbert.

Maybe he’s using the technicality of not winning in regulation to justify it.

 

[Fjordy]

They have more than enough non-roster assets to upgrade at forward without using Cozens/Quinn. Assuming the reporting is accurate, Adams isn’t looking to mvoe any roster players. Does that mean Kulich is in play? He’s technically not a roster player since he didn’t make the 23 man roster.

To have have my Captain Obvious moment, it’s a matter of what they’re looking to acquire, whats available and what the cost would be. For the right price another vet like Zucker would be a great add.

I mentioned Bjorkstrand a while ago, it would be similar to the Zucker move. I think if you dig you can find 3-4 more players like that that could be acquired. The train with Ehlers and Necas has already left. Kulich or Rosen could play in place of Quinn if Jack needs a break to recover.

Agree about Power’s partner. An interesting element to this is how Granato and Ruff view handedness. Granato didn;t care about it so adding another lefty like Bryam wasn;t a big deal. But Ruff is not a big fan of guys playing their offhand. Which is why I think Joker got a shot on the top 4 to start the season and not Sammy.

Well, we have four lefties in the top 4 now and Ruff doesn't seem to be grumbling. Sammy was bad, but he will have a chance to come back. Joki is a strange guy and that's why we need a top 4 RD to play with Power.

 

[joshjull]

Well, we have four lefties in the top 4 now and Ruff doesn't seem to be grumbling. Sammy was bad, but he will have a chance to come back. Joki is a strange guy and that's why we need a top 4 RD to play with Power.

He doesn’t have much choice if he feels Joker should sit. We only have 2 RHD and Clifton isn’t getting top 4 minutes.

 

[Fjordy]

He doesn’t have much choice if he feels Joker should sit. We only have 2 RHD and Clifton isn’t getting top 4 minutes.

That's true, but it was Adams who put together this defense.

 

[joshjull]

That's true, but it was Adams who put together this defense.

I know. My only point about Ruff vs Granato was Ruff caring more about handedness. I think thats why we started the season with Sammy on the 3rd pair and Joker in the top 4. But once the season gets rolling, Ruff will adapt to the facts on the ground.

 

[TehDoak]

I think the posters who wanted to add a RHD to specifically play with Power have been pretty vindicated so far.

Adams seems to be following a pattern of doing everything one off season later.

He should have re-done his 4th line LAST summer, he did it this summer.

He should have gotten rid of Joker this summer, he'll likely do it next summer. (well, if he's still the GM, that is)

 

[Chainshot]

I think the posters who wanted to add a RHD to specifically play with Power have been pretty vindicated so far.

Adams seems to be following a pattern of doing everything one off season later.

He should have re-done his 4th line LAST summer, he did it this summer.

He should have gotten rid of Joker this summer, he'll likely do it next summer. (well, if he's still the GM, that is)

He won't have say in where Jokiharju goes as much as UFA Jokiharju will.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Watching The Fan Hockey Show, and they literally said that the Sabres should have kept Reimer and sent Levi down, as Levi staying up isn’t doing him any favours.

Almost like we all said that already.

 

[TehDoak]

He won't have say in where Jokiharju goes as much as UFA Jokiharju will.

I'm assuming, barring a huge in season correction on his role, he's going to be allowed to walk (if he isn't moved on sooner via trade/waivers).

Healthy scratching a vet is usually not a good thing for player/coach relationships. Maybe Ruff has changed, but in previous iterations, escaping his doghouse was often a season(s) long endeavor. If Joker and his agent haven't already asked for a trade, that is.

 

[Dirty Dog]

They have more than enough non-roster assets to upgrade at forward without using Cozens/Quinn. Assuming the reporting is accurate, Adams isn’t looking to move any roster players, so Cozens/Quinn wouldn’t be in play anyway. Does that mean Kulich is in play? He’s technically not a roster player since he didn’t make the 23 man roster.

To have have my Captain Obvious moment, it’s a matter of what they’re looking to acquire, whats available and what the cost would be. For the right price another vet like Zucker would be a great add.

I’m not saying they’d have to use cozens or Quinn in a trade, they have plenty of assets. The point is who are they getting out of the lineup?

 

[itwasaforwardpass]

All of our defensemen have better xGF% with Dahlin. Joker and Byram have both had the opposite effect on whoever they play with. I wouldn't look deep into Joker or Byram having better numbers paired with Dahlin. That appears to just be the effect of having Dahlin on the ice.

 

[joshjull]

I’m not saying they’d have to use cozens or Quinn in a trade, they have plenty of assets. The point is who are they getting out of the lineup?

The better question is what has a youngster like Quinn done to warrant untouchable starter status? Make these young guys fight their way into the lineup and have to keep fighting to stay there.


Adams love affair with his guys is killing this team.

 

[Dirty Dog]

The better question is what has a youngster like Quinn done to warrant untouchable starter status? Make these young guys force fight their way into the lineup and have to keep fighting to stay there.

I’m not disagreeing. But I don’t think Quinn getting pushed to the press box while stuck in the NHL is something the team is going to do. Same with Cozens