They've let him drift past plenty of times so I doubt they look there this year. He's been a wishlist depth guy for a while for some of us but not ever someone they stumbled into.
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They've let him drift past plenty of times so I doubt they look there this year. He's been a wishlist depth guy for a while for some of us but not ever someone they stumbled into.
Well the teams he's signed with after SJS were attractive. Florida and Toronto.
Who is the vet version of Ryan McLeod that would be available?
That's who the sabres need to grab, going into next season with guys who can play center as follows : Norris, Thompson, kulich, McLeod, new player, and Krebs is actually very solid
Especially since Thompson, McLeod and kulich to an extent have shown ability to play wing at a good level
That's who the sabres need to grab, going into next season with guys who can play center as follows : Norris, Thompson, kulich, McLeod, new player, and Krebs is actually very solid
Especially since Thompson, McLeod and kulich to an extent have shown ability to play wing at a good level
He went to Florida by trade. Same with how he got to San Jose. Toronto is the only team that has signed him as a free agent and that was after he got passed over for a contract over the summer and was a camp invitee this year.
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ValJamesDuex
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Der Jaeger
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I see Adams offering up something to Colorado for Drury.
Doug Prishpreed
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Isn’t he kind of redundant with McLeod? He’s a poor man’s McLeod…not particularly tough but good defensively, fast, good at faceoffs, doesn’t score, not a playmaker.
I’m not against it, especially if it’s to replace Quinn/Lafferty.
This would be the funniest desperation/nostalgia move ever.
debaser66
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We need a 1C plamaker or at least a 2C who can step up.
Norris isn't going to be around much.
No need to aquire another 3C.
Its the top end talent that is missing at C.
Easy to forget our 1C hasn't played hockey for us. Peterka for Rossi is kind of a dream scenario to me.
debaser66
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Do you mean Tage? I see him more as a top line winger.
The last natural 1C with elite playmaking skills was Eichel.
jc17
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Hot take: the playmaking center shouldn't be high on the priority list
Sure, its something we lack, but how many of our problems is it solving? The whole point of a playmaker is to facilitate goals. If we drop Peterka for a set-up man, we're maybe re-allocating goals, but not scoring more. Not to mention, some of our scorers like JJ, tuch, and tage, are actually good at setting up goals as well. They aren't olofsson type of scorers.
This team was 3rd in the league in scoring rate at 5v5. We usually don't lack scoring, and when we do, its not because the offense is stalling after entering the zone, its because they can't get there.
So, if we still want to improve our offense what we really need are possession drivers.
When the offense is stalling its because we're not getting shots, and presumably aren't even in the offensive zone. Whether its forwards or defensemen that can transition the puck (notice how much we suck without Dahlin and Power), or forwards that can retrieve pucks and maintain possession after dump-ins (notice how much we don't suck with benson), we need those possession drivers.
As much as I'd rather have Rossi to Quinn at the draft, or would have traded cozens for him, I don't think he or EP really address the questions that need to be answered, particularly at whatever it would cost
Sure, its something we lack, but how many of our problems is it solving? The whole point of a playmaker is to facilitate goals. If we drop Peterka for a set-up man, we're maybe re-allocating goals, but not scoring more. Not to mention, some of our scorers like JJ, tuch, and tage, are actually good at setting up goals as well. They aren't olofsson type of scorers.
This team was 3rd in the league in scoring rate at 5v5. We usually don't lack scoring, and when we do, its not because the offense is stalling after entering the zone, its because they can't get there.
So, if we still want to improve our offense what we really need are possession drivers.
When the offense is stalling its because we're not getting shots, and presumably aren't even in the offensive zone. Whether its forwards or defensemen that can transition the puck (notice how much we suck without Dahlin and Power), or forwards that can retrieve pucks and maintain possession after dump-ins (notice how much we don't suck with benson), we need those possession drivers.
As much as I'd rather have Rossi to Quinn at the draft, or would have traded cozens for him, I don't think he or EP really address the questions that need to be answered, particularly at whatever it would cost
Der Jaeger
Generational EBUG
I think Ruff is after mentality over roster positions and construction. I think Drury was the target in Carolina, not Necas.
If you’re bottom 6 centers are McLeod and Drury, you’re set for a while.
I think Drury projects as Marcus Kruger.
Agree, but those don't become available unless you can find a clown willing to trade one or develop one yourself
I think you need to let the young centers develop and not automatically put them in key roles. It's not fair to them or the team. Another mid six vet center allows the sabres to go with vets down the middle when kulich and or ostland go through slumps or struggle
also this post reads like it word for word could have been copy and pasted from 2010 haha. We have come full circle
Jim Bob
RIP RJ & ONG
What if, a "playmaking center" actually improves your time with the puck?
I think the box the Sabres have gotten into is too much of a focus on shooting talent and not enough of a focus on players that can play a 200 foot game and play whichever way the game calls for. Especially a "boring game" where most shifts are about not allowing a goal against more than trying to score a goal.
Dahlin has talked about that shift late in the season.
For me, a good playmaking center would help with possession AND be a quality setup guy for the wingers they have with plus shooting talent.
jc17
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Oh definitely. Of course there can be overlap of skillsets.
But I think the term "playmaker" usually connotes a player who is racking up assists with nice passes in the offensive zone. Again, I think that skill can translate to more as you said, I just wouldn't want to get hellbent on a playmaker for the sake of a playmaker and miss the forest through the trees.
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HOOats
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Time for my annual "hanging with Sabres in public" update.
UPL, JJ, and Kulich took in some Champions League soccer at a North Buffalo pub yesterday. They kind of got pulled into our crew due to the bar being jammed.
UPL was really nice and happy to chat about all kinds of things. JJ was funny and very locked in on his Bayern Munich match. Kulich was glum and left at halftime to the others' protestation. He was very down on Buffalo - no girls and nothing to do here. Stark difference in maturity between him and the other two.
Funny to watch pro athletes cheer and talk shit about games like any other fan.
UPL, JJ, and Kulich took in some Champions League soccer at a North Buffalo pub yesterday. They kind of got pulled into our crew due to the bar being jammed.
UPL was really nice and happy to chat about all kinds of things. JJ was funny and very locked in on his Bayern Munich match. Kulich was glum and left at halftime to the others' protestation. He was very down on Buffalo - no girls and nothing to do here. Stark difference in maturity between him and the other two.
Funny to watch pro athletes cheer and talk shit about games like any other fan.
Doug Prishpreed
Registered User
Upgrading Krebs to Drury is an improvement, but a small one. I don’t see this move having much of an impact, but an upgrade is an upgrade so I’ll take it. Just might be low on the priority list.
Doug Prishpreed
Registered User
I left Buffalo because there was no girls too. Everyone is married young so the number of attractive single girls over like 25 is extremely small compared to other places I’ve been.
TheMistyStranger
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This made me think about how Buffalo is a city that is perfect for veterans with families, but as a team, the Sabres are constantly rostered by children. The irony is palpable.
Dubi Doo
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You're probably right, and that may be Adam's 'big' addition. Tbf, I like the idea of adding Drury. Just not sure where he fits in. If Adams trades for him, then I'd assume that means McLeod is going to be a top-6C next year, and we'd be hoping Drury or Krebs can hold down the 3rd line C. If that's the case, then Adams would need to build the flanks to support our Cs giving them the best chance to thrive in their bigger roles.
If the idea is to add a C who has played a limited role on a contender, and hope that he can progress into a more impact player with a bigger role- I think we'd have to do something like this:
Peterka-Norris-XXX (two-way forward who can facilitate the puck well)
Thompson-McLeod-Benson
Kulich-Drury-Zucker
Greenway-Krebs-Malenstyn
At least it would give us a center on each line who knows what he's doing in his own zone. I'm concerned with their ability to put up points, especially if Norris misses any time. This is probably the best we can hope for from Adams, though.
TheMistyStranger
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Dubi Doo
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Oh wow, completely forgot about him. He'd actually be a good player to put there. I think @Der Jaeger may be on to something there. I can see Adams going that route. Add Drury and a top-4RD, and call it a day. Wouldn't surprise me at all unless Peterka wants out.
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