Nice! Merry Chrismas!

Today/Tonight:
Appetizers -
▪Giant Stone Crab Claws, w/ sauce
▪Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce
Dinner -
▪Filet Mignon
▪Lobster Tail
▪Bacon-wrapped Scallops
▪Rice Pilaf
▪Asparagus

Tomorrow:
Bourbon-Maple spiral Ham
Mashed Potatos w/ Sour Cream
Corn
Rutabaga
Brussel Sprouts
- IonSabres

Yum. What time is dinner?

A hole on your 4th line instead of your 2nd line.

That’s not a good answer
- Stripes77

Larsson on the second line isn't ideal, and the LOG line was the 3rd, not the 4th, and was occasionally the 2nd line

U have a great Xmas too sir

In all seriousness, i wouldn’t mind Vanek or Pommer on the taxi squad- assuming they’re still in shape
I feel like it should be made up of Vets like that,
and not kids who need to be playing to further their development
- jdfitz77

Fish industry lobbying the Catholic church would be my guess

Larsson on the second line isn't ideal, and the LOG line was the 3rd, not the 4th, and was occasionally the 2nd line
- jcragcrumple

So continuing to handcuff your second highest paid player...

Jeff Skinner and him returning to form are more important to this team than the LOG line.

At least in my opinion.

I have been wondering how he made it and Beasley didn't for days now.
- 3rd GM's the charm

Or Poyer?

Larsson on the second line isn't ideal, and the LOG line was the 3rd, not the 4th, and was occasionally the 2nd line
- jcragcrumple

If he helps Skinner put the puck in the net, it's a huge help.

They didn't have 2 lines that could score. They might have, but Ralph was stubborn and also had an issue with Skinner.

If you believe in Lazar, why not have him center Girgensons and Okposo?
- kingcong39

The numbers say Larsson is superior to Lazar defensively. There would have been a decline defensively in that line.

I get that you and others have questions about Krueger, but I really don't think you're going to see wacky line combinations and Montour on the 4th line because the team is now built in a more rational way. Accepting that Larsson is superior to Eakin defensively, the forward structure of the bottom 9 makes far more sense:

Skinner-Mojo-Sobotka
Larry-Larry-Larry
Vesey-Mitts-Sheary

Vs

Skinner-Staal-Reinhart
Thompson-Eakin-Cozens
Girgensons-Lazar-Okposo/Rieder/Various Larrys


I'm not saying thats the final lineup, but the options make more sense and fit together better. I am giving Ralph the benefit of the doubt that lineup decisions were based on a largely unwinnable roster with pieces that didn't make sense

For sure I expect him to produce if he’s playing with Staal and say Cozens.

However with how Ralph was horrible with his lines last year I could see him with Eakins and Thompson and expecting him to produce at a 30 goal pace is setting yourself up for disappointment.

I really don’t like Ralph as a coach. He continues to ride Risto. He makes weird lines and refuses to change it up.

Hopefully I’m wrong but I don’t see it.

Make him president and get a real coach in here if this season goes tits up.
- Stripes77

Agreed.
He is a President more than a Coach.
He is questionable hockey tactics, game management, asset management, etc ,
Yet superb with motivational and organizational (from his Soccer Exec days) skills.

Anyway guys. I’m out. Spending time with my family via Zoom this year...

Have a great holiday no matter how you celebrate it. Be safe, eat well, drink even better and see you guys in a few days.

If he helps Skinner put the puck in the net, it's a huge help.

They didn't have 2 lines that could score. They might have, but Ralph was stubborn and also had an issue with Skinner.
- kingcong39

They didn't have a 2C or 2RW either. Or a 3RW or 3C with an offensive capability. He was in a no-win situation.

If he deploys players nonsensically again, I will agree with you but as of now I'm inclined to give him a mulligan based on the roster

The numbers say Larsson is superior to Lazar defensively. There would have been a decline defensively in that line.

I get that you and others have questions about Krueger, but I really don't think you're going to see wacky line combinations and Montour on the 4th line because the team is now built in a more rational way. Accepting that Larsson is superior to Eakin defensively, the forward structure of the bottom 9 makes far more sense:

Skinner-Mojo-Sobotka
Larry-Larry-Larry
Vesey-Mitts-Sheary

Vs

Skinner-Staal-Reinhart
Thompson-Eakin-Cozens
Girgensons-Lazar-Okposo/Rieder/Various Larrys


I'm not saying thats the final lineup, but the options make more sense and fit together better. I am giving Ralph the benefit of the doubt that lineup decisions were based on a largely unwinnable roster with pieces that didn't make sense
- jcragcrumple

I will want to see something along the lines of
Hall - Eichel - Routsolainen
Skinner - Staal - Cozens
Olofsson - Eakin - Reinhart
Girgensons - Lazar - Okposo
Tage

And if Cozens proves to do well at the 200 ft game while producing well, he moves to 3C to get that C experience, pushing Lazar to 13th, while Sam replaces Cozens as 2RW while Tage moves into 3RW.

I have no issue with Oloffson playing the power play. He has an incredible shot.


I have an issue with Oloffson playing 5 on 5 with Eichel when he doesn’t belong.

How did Skinner play himself out of a spot he didn’t play last season?
- Stripes77

28 goals in the first 1/2 of the 2018/19 season
12 goals in the second 1/2

Krueger had a look at skinner the previous 1/2 season as well as camp and practice. Even if Phil was coach. These guy's study film and play their hunches.

Olloffson is going to suprise people on here, his 5 x 5 numbers were better near the end of the season

He was a rookie, Maybe a bit of experience changes his numbers? I'm not writing him off as a 5 x5 regular. The nhl is an adjustment

Jack was trending up, he was supposed to have a better year. We have literally zero clue as to whether or not it was because he didn't play with Skinner.

Olofsson, I have no idea why you'd mention him?
- 3rd GM's the charm

Gm3:

Trending up , sure. Could you say that with %100 certainty? Could go either way....
Eichel's season was impeccable without skinner.
We needed more from every other line.

Olo a rookie. looked good with eichel. My point being, why change that?

Skinner was paid to score. He didnt, and now its Ralph's fault? Nope....

I think larrson held girgs back, annually.

Also , not so sure girgensons is the 4th line guy. I bet he plays up and down the line up.

Krueger likes grit and sandpaper on each line.

Also lazar / okposo and rieder/ eatkids are lower on the totem pole.

You don't pay 2.2 x 3 if you expect just defense. And as crags pointed out, his pk wasnt sellars, (maybe Larsson's fault)
- Boss34

What’s that based on?
Last year we had:
Olofsson-Jack-Sam.... no grit there
Girgs-Larsson-Okposo.... gritty defensive line

The other 2 lines shuffled a bit with:
Skinner, Johansson, Vesey, Sheary, Lazar, E Rod, Mitts & Asplund.... i wouldn’t say there’s too much “grit or sandpaper” in that group

So it seems to me we had one line like that
Not one guy on each line

Idk that i put much stock into the handful of games Simmonds played here- he had to line up somewhere after all
Who else did we have that u considered gritty?

I realize that YOU want grit on each line,
and that’s fine
I just don’t know what u saw outta Kruger that makes u think that HE does

For $9M a year he should score 30 with me as his Center.
- Pegullaville

You’re right. I’m convinced. He’s overpaid I just realized this the day the contract was signed

I always wondered why if it comes from sea animals it isn’t considered “meat”
That never made sense to me
I grew up Catholic, and no one ever had a good answer why fish fry was ok but a burger wasn’t
Nbd, just curious
Merry Xmas
- jdfitz77

The answer is actually pretty simple. Church law is and always was written in Latin. In that language, there are two distinct and separate words for "meat" referring to flesh of land animals and "fish", those of sea animals. The law only uses the first word and never referred to the 2nd. Now there are all sorts of conspiracy theories attached to that, such as the Church trying to help out the sales of local fishermen, but that's how the rule was always written and worded in the Latin language.

Or Poyer?
- Michael Pachla

Or our RB's

28 goals in the first 1/2 of the 2018/19 season
12 goals in the second 1/2

Krueger had a look at skinner the previous 1/2 season as well as camp and practice. Even if Phil was coach. These guy's study film and play their hunches.

Olloffson is going to suprise people on here, his 5 x 5 numbers were better near the end of the season

He was a rookie, Maybe a bit of experience changes his numbers? I'm not writing him off as a 5 x5 regular. The nhl is an adjustment
- Boss34

a 24-year old rookie

I have been wondering how he made it and Beasley didn't for days now.
- 3rd GM's the charm

Who’s he replacing?
Diggs, Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen, Aj Brown?

Or our RB's
- 3rd GM's the charm

Oh my.

Touchdown Jesus released. Sounds like Smoke coming back.

Or Poyer?
- Michael Pachla

Pegulaville would probably have a good take on that, since Simmonds for Denver made it as the 3rd safety

What’s that based on?
Last year we had:
Olofsson-Jack-Sam.... no grit there
Girgs-Larsson-Okposo.... gritty defensive line

The other 2 lines shuffled a bit with:
Skinner, Johansson, Vesey, Sheary, Lazar, E Rod, Mitts & Asplund.... i wouldn’t say there’s too much “grit or sandpaper” in that group

So it seems to me we had one line like that
Not one guy on each line

Idk that i put much stock into the handful of games Simmonds played here- he had to line up somewhere after all
Who else did we have that u considered gritty?

I realize that YOU want grit on each line,
and that’s fine
I just don’t know what u saw outta Kruger that makes u think he does
- jdfitz77

Sabres added lazar, frolic and Simmonds- 3 physical type guys

This year. Resigned girgs, signed eatkids, reider isnt a goal scorer. Tage resigned - expectations are based on size over skill.

Let erod, sheary, vesey, pilut, ka boo hun and other soft players leave since the trade deadline.

Seems obvious. Stahl isnt getting pushed around either.

Pegulaville would probably have a good take on that, since Simmonds for Denver made it as the 3rd safety
- jdfitz77

Elway franked up by not signing him long term this past offseason and only franchising him.

I think the world of Poyer as well though he’s fantastic.

Idk who else made the probowl at the safety position in the AFC but Simmons more then deserved his honour. Should have made it last year too

The answer is actually pretty simple. Church law is and always was written in Latin. In that language, there are two distinct and separate words for "meat" referring to flesh of land animals and "fish", those of sea animals. The law only uses the first word and never referred to the 2nd. Now there are all sorts of conspiracy theories attached to that, such as the Church trying to help out the sales of local fishermen, but that's how the rule was always written and worded in the Latin language.
- buffalofan19

Appreciate the info
Interesting